Patents by Inventor James Alexander McEwen

James Alexander McEwen 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: 11598251
    Abstract: A turbine comprising: a turbine housing, a wastegate passage connecting the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet; and a wastegate valve comprising a movable valve member. The wastegate valve has an open state in which a first gas may pass between a turbine inlet a turbine outlet via the wastegate passage and a closed state in which the valve member substantially prevents said first gas from passing between the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet. The valve member is mounted to an actuation member that passes through a bore of the turbine housing. The actuation member is movable to move the wastegate valve between the open and closed states. The turbine comprises a fluid conduit configured to deliver a second gas to the bore to form a fluidic seal between the bore and the actuation member to substantially prevent the passage of said first gas along the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS LTD
    Inventors: Ivan Kaiser, James Alexander McEwen
  • Publication number: 20220186842
    Abstract: There is provided a seal assembly comprising: a first component and a second component spaced apart from the first component so as to define a passage for the transfer of fluid from an inlet of the seal assembly to an outlet of the seal assembly, wherein the first component comprises a concavity at least partially defining the passage, and wherein no part of the second component extends into the portion of the passage bounded by the concavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Robin Daniels, James Alexander McEwen, Levinia Mathews, Christopher Parry, Thomas Roberts, George E. Sandford, Stephen Caddy, Thomas Hulson, Dave Lee, Martin Selway, Kevin Franks, Lisa Jane Hill, Henry David Lambton Carr, Jonathan Wilson, Lee Curtis, Fahim Ismail Patel, Matthew Whittlesea, Matthew J. Purdey, Donald E. Willey
  • Publication number: 20210355863
    Abstract: A turbine comprising: a turbine housing, a wastegate passage connecting the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet; and a wastegate valve comprising a movable valve member. The wastegate valve has an open state in which a first gas may pass between a turbine inlet a turbine outlet via the wastegate passage and a closed state in which the valve member substantially prevents said first gas from passing between the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet. The valve member is mounted to an actuation member that passes through a bore of the turbine housing. The actuation member is movable to move the wastegate valve between the open and closed states. The turbine comprises a fluid conduit configured to deliver a second gas to the bore to form a fluidic seal between the bore and the actuation member to substantially prevent the passage of said first gas along the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Ivan Kaiser, James Alexander McEwen
  • Patent number: 11022031
    Abstract: The turbine arrangement includes a turbine including a turbine housing which defines a turbine cavity within which a turbine wheel is supported, an inlet upstream of the wheel and an outlet downstream. The arrangement also includes a flow passage configured to permit gas flow without interacting with the wheel, and a valve member moveable between an open configuration wherein gas may flow through the flow passage, and a closed configuration wherein gas is substantially prevented from flowing, a first actuator portion for moving the valve member between the configurations, and a second actuator portion in gas flow communication with a portion of the arrangement upstream of the wheel via an actuator gas passage. The arrangement is configured such that gas may flow through the actuator gas passage to the second actuator portion, where it acts on the second actuator portion to urge the valve member towards the closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: James Alexander Mcewen, Thomas Morton
  • Publication number: 20200340393
    Abstract: The turbine arrangement includes a turbine including a turbine housing which defines a turbine cavity within which a turbine wheel is supported, an inlet upstream of the wheel and an outlet downstream. The arrangement also includes a flow passage configured to permit gas flow without interacting with the wheel, and a valve member moveable between an open configuration wherein gas may flow through the flow passage, and a closed configuration wherein gas is substantially prevented from flowing, a first actuator portion for moving the valve member between the configurations, and a second actuator portion in gas flow communication with a portion of the arrangement upstream of the wheel via an actuator gas passage. The arrangement is configured such that gas may flow through the actuator gas passage to the second actuator portion, where it acts on the second actuator portion to urge the valve member towards the closed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS LTD
    Inventors: James Alexander Mcewen, Thomas Morton
  • Patent number: 10612458
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 10167774
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Publication number: 20180291802
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 10041398
    Abstract: A turbine comprises a turbine housing defining a turbine inlet upstream of a turbine wheel and a turbine outlet downstream of the turbine wheel; a wastegate passage connecting the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet; and a wastegate valve comprising a movable valve member. The wastegate valve has an open state and a closed state. The valve member is mounted to an actuation member passing through an actuator conduit of the turbine housing, and movable so as to move the wastegate valve between the open and closed states. The turbine further comprises a sealing arrangement configured to provide a seal arranged to substantially prevent gas from passing from the turbine outlet into the actuator conduit. The sealing arrangement is configured such that when the valve member is urged into the closed state by the actuator member the sealing effectiveness of the sealing arrangement is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventor: James Alexander McEwen
  • Patent number: 9752537
    Abstract: A unique engine system has an engine with a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder, an EGR system that receives exhaust gas from the dedicated cylinder, and a turbocharger having turbine inlet ports in fluid communication with other engine cylinders via a plurality of exhaust passages. At least two of the exhaust passages are substantially isolated from each other. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for engines and engine systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian P. Dale, Michael D. Dolton, Samuel C. Geckler, James Alexander McEwen, Nicholas Kenneth Sharp, Stephen Edward Garrett, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Publication number: 20160061103
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 9234456
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Publication number: 20150345433
    Abstract: A unique engine system has an engine with a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder, an EGR system that receives exhaust gas from the dedicated cylinder, and a turbocharger having turbine inlet ports in fluid communication with other engine cylinders via a plurality of exhaust passages. At least two of the exhaust passages are substantially isolated from each other. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for engines and engine systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Adrian P. Dale, Michael D. Dolton, Samuel C. Geckler, James Alexander McEwen, Nicholas Kenneth Sharp, Stephen Edward Garrett, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Patent number: 9163524
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; and a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the annular inlet, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; and a ring-like seal adjacent a free end of the sleeve, at least a part of the ring-like seal being located in-between the sleeve and the inlet portions, or a structure defining the inlet portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Moore, James Alexander McEwen, Ian Higgins, Matthew William Edwards
  • Patent number: 8961151
    Abstract: A turbocharger shaft interconnects the compressor impeller and the turbine wheel and a bearing housing between the compressor and turbine houses a bearing assembly supporting the turbocharger shaft rotation. A shaft bore defined in at least one of the compressor, turbine or bearing housings receiving the shaft. A sealing arrangement for restricting leakage of lubricant along the shaft bore from the bearing housing to the compressor or turbine housing. The sealing arrangement comprises at least one sealing ring around the shaft in the shaft bore and a gas passage communicating with the shaft bore. A gas distribution circuit includes a valve movable between a first position in which gas passage is in communication with a gas supply path for supplying gas to the shaft bore and a second position in which the gas passage is in communication with a vent path for venting gas from the shaft bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Fahim Ismail Patel, James Alexander McEwen
  • Publication number: 20150016963
    Abstract: A turbine comprises a turbine housing defining a turbine inlet upstream of a turbine wheel and a turbine outlet downstream of the turbine wheel; a wastegate passage connecting the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet; and a wastegate valve comprising a movable valve member. The wastegate valve has an open state and a closed state. The valve member is mounted to an actuation member passing through an actuator conduit of the turbine housing, and movable so as to move the wastegate valve between the open and closed states. The turbine further comprises a sealing arrangement configured to provide a seal arranged to substantially prevent gas from passing from the turbine outlet into the actuator conduit. The sealing arrangement is configured such that when the valve member is urged into the closed state by the actuator member the sealing effectiveness of the sealing arrangement is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: James Alexander McEwen
  • Patent number: 8721268
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; and a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; wherein the annular inlet is divided into at least three axially offset annular inlet portions by two or more axially spaced annular baffles disposed between the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet vanes extending axially into at least one of the inlet portions and defining circumferentially adjacent inlet passages; and wherein each of at least two of said baffles extends radially inboard of inlet vanes which extend into at least one of the inlet portions axially adjacent the respective baffle, and wherein a distance between an inner diameter of a first baffle of said at least two of said baffles and a trailing edge of a radially innermost vane in one of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Moore, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, James Alexander McEwen
  • Publication number: 20140105730
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Tim Denholm, James Alexander McEwen, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, Christopher Nomington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Edward Garrett
  • Patent number: 8696308
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Tim Denholm, James Alexander McEwen, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Edward Garrett
  • Patent number: 8696299
    Abstract: A compressor comprises an impeller wheel mounted within a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. The wheel has a plurality of vanes and is rotatable about an axis. The housing has an inner wall defining a surface located in close proximity to radially outer edges of the impeller vanes which sweep across said surface as the impeller wheel rotates about its axis. The inlet comprises inner and outer tubular walls extending away from the impeller wheel in an upstream direction and defining between them gas flow passage. A bleed passage between the gas flow passage and the impeller wheel is selectively opened and closed by movement of a sliding sleeve in a helical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: John Michael Bywater, James Alexander McEwen