Patents by Inventor Howard Malm

Howard Malm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12196126
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, control systems and ejector systems related to introducing combustible vent gas to a unit using the combustible vent gas as a fuel, and/or to a gas compressor. Certain embodiments have a combustible gas provided to the unit through a first fuel line having a control valve to control the flow of the combustible gas. A portion of the combustible gas is selectively flowed to a second fuel line having a control valve to control the flow of combustible gas in the second fuel line. The flow of combustible gas in the second fuel serves as a primary flow to an ejector. The secondary flow to the ejector is vent gas. The output from the ejector is recombined with the flow in the first fuel line. Various control methodologies are possible using the control valves, vent gas flow and/or pressure of fuel to the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Publication number: 20230287832
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, control systems and ejector systems related to introducing combustible vent gas to a unit using the combustible vent gas as a fuel, and/or to a gas compressor. Certain embodiments have a combustible gas provided to the unit through a first fuel line having a control valve to control the flow of the combustible gas. A portion of the combustible gas is selectively flowed to a second fuel line having a control valve to control the flow of combustible gas in the second fuel line. The flow of combustible gas in the second fuel serves as a primary flow to an ejector. The secondary flow to the ejector is vent gas. The output from the ejector is recombined with the flow in the first fuel line. Various control methodologies are possible using the control valves, vent gas flow and/or pressure of fuel to the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Publication number: 20230168152
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for determining a flow of a combustible portion of vent gas delivered to an engine. The flow rate measurement may be performed by using the engine response to a relatively short (e.g. 1 to 5 s) reduction of the vent gas flow. A cross-correlation between RPM data of the engine and a reference signal corresponding to a state of a valve configured to reduce the vent gas flow is determined, and a flow rate of the combustible portion of the vent gas delivered to the engine is determined from the maximum value of the cross-correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventor: HOWARD MALM
  • Patent number: 11486794
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for determining a flow of a combustible portion of vent gas delivered to an engine. The flow rate measurement may be performed by using the engine response to a relatively short (e.g. 1 to 5 s) interruption of the vent gas flow. A cross-correlation between RPM data of the engine and a reference signal corresponding to a state of a valve configured to interrupt the vent gas flow is determined, and a flow rate of the combustible portion of the vent gas delivered to the engine is determined from the maximum value of the cross-correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: REM Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Publication number: 20210364389
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for determining a flow of a combustible portion of vent gas delivered to an engine. The flow rate measurement may be performed by using the engine response to a relatively short (e.g. 1 to 5 s) interruption of the vent gas flow. A cross-correlation between RPM data of the engine and a reference signal corresponding to a state of a valve configured to interrupt the vent gas flow is determined, and a flow rate of the combustible portion of the vent gas delivered to the engine is determined from the maximum value of the cross-correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: HOWARD MALM
  • Patent number: 10920682
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to assessing the intake air flow of industrial engines. For an industrial engine that receives vent gas added to intake air for combustion, a gas concentration sensor is used to measure a concentration of a particular gas, e.g. methane, in the intake air. An amount of the methane component in the intake air flowing to the engine that was added by the vent gas can be determined from the measured concentration of methane in the intake air and a flow rate of the intake air. The intake air flow rate may be directly measured, or calculated using instrumentation which may already be in place for engine air-to-fuel ratio control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: REM TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Patent number: 10760480
    Abstract: A chambered sparkplug carrier and a natural gas engine management system are provided for reducing NOx emissions of pre-chambered combustion natural gas engines. A method for retro-fitting a pre-chambered combustion natural gas engine with a chambered sparkplug is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: REM TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Howard Malm, Brian Robert Bobyk, Gregory Anthony Brown
  • Publication number: 20200141340
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to assessing the intake air flow of industrial engines. For an industrial engine that receives vent gas added to intake air for combustion, a gas concentration sensor is used to measure a concentration of a particular gas, e.g. methane, in the intake air. An amount of the methane component in the intake air flowing to the engine that was added by the vent gas can be determined from the measured concentration of methane in the intake air and a flow rate of the intake air. The intake air flow rate may be directly measured, or calculated using instrumentation which may already be in place for engine air-to-fuel ratio control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventor: Howard MALM
  • Publication number: 20190120133
    Abstract: A chambered sparkplug carrier and a natural gas engine management system are provided for reducing NOx emissions of pre-chambered combustion natural gas engines. A method for retro-fitting a pre-chambered combustion natural gas engine with a chambered sparkplug is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Howard Malm, Brian Robert Bobyk, Gregory Anthony Brown
  • Patent number: 10161306
    Abstract: A chambered sparkplug carrier and a natural gas engine management system are provided for reducing NOx emissions of pre-chambered combustion natural gas engines. A method for retro-fitting a pre-chambered combustion natural gas engine with a chambered sparkplug is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: REM TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Howard Malm, Brian Robert Bobyk, Gregory Anthony Brown
  • Patent number: 9534564
    Abstract: A system and method controls a flow of vent gases to a combustion engine. The system includes an inlet for receiving the vent gases, a pressure relief device that enables the vent gases to escape to atmosphere when a pressure in the inlet exceeds a predetermined relief pressure, a flow-restricting orifice, and a back pressure regulator disposed downstream of the orifice. A shut-off valve disposed between the back pressure regulator and the air intake is set to only open when an intake pressure falls below a predetermined negative intake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: REM TECHNOLOGY INC
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Publication number: 20160363082
    Abstract: A chambered sparkplug carrier and a natural gas engine management system are provided for reducing NOx emissions of pre-chambered combustion natural gas engines. A method for retro-fitting a pre-chambered combustion natural gas engine with a chambered sparkplug is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Howard Malm, Brian Robert Bobyk, Gregory Anthony Brown
  • Publication number: 20150176534
    Abstract: A system and method controls a flow of vent gases to a combustion engine. The system includes an inlet for receiving the vent gases, a pressure relief device that enables the vent gases to escape to atmosphere when a pressure in the inlet exceeds a predetermined relief pressure, a flow-restricting orifice, and a back pressure regulator disposed downstream of the orifice. A shut-off valve disposed between the back pressure regulator and the air intake is set to only open when an intake pressure falls below a predetermined negative intake pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Publication number: 20060204909
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for collecting fugitive combustible gases and adding the gases as a supplementary fuel source to an engine. The fugitive combustible gases are added to the air inletted to the air supply and a control is provided to allow adjustment of the normal fuel supplied to the engine following the addition of the fugitive combustible gases. The fugitive combustible gases provide an energy source for the engine and the combustion of the gases reduces the greenhouse effect if the gases contain methane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventor: Howard Malm
  • Patent number: 6567709
    Abstract: An integrated monitoring, control and shut-down (IMCS) system for monitoring and controlling the operation of a machinery is provided. The IMCS system includes: input ports for receiving sensor signals indicative of conditions of the machinery, output ports for outputting control signals to actuators of the machinery, signal conversion means coupled to the input and output ports, for converting the input sensor signals into data samples and for converting control data into control signals. The IMCS system also includes a data processor for controlling the signal conversion means, for processing the data samples into calculated values, for sending selected calculated values to be stored into a memory and for calculating control data. A communication bus couples the hardware elements of the IMCS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: REM Technology
    Inventors: Howard Malm, Sammy Ma, Lorne Tuck