Patents by Inventor James W. Heilenbach

James W. Heilenbach 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).

  • Publication number: 20130000297
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, an exhaust emission reduction system is provided for an internal combustion engine. The engine receives an air stream for combustion with fuel in the engine and also generates an engine exhaust steam. The system includes a filter assembly having one or more exhaust emission reduction elements configured to process the exhaust stream, a performance of at least one of the one or more exhaust emission reduction elements being temperature dependent. The system also includes an apparatus for changing the temperature of the exhaust stream incident on the filter assembly. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to the apparatus, and adapted to regulate the temperature of the exhaust stream incident on the filter assembly based on the temperature of the exhaust stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Keith E. Moravec, Ajay Patel, James W. Heilenbach
  • Publication number: 20110155111
    Abstract: A locomotive two-stroke uniflow scavenged diesel engine system including an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is described for reducing NOX emissions and achieving improved fuel economy by recirculating exhaust gas through the engine. This system generally includes a turbocharger adapted to draw and compress fresh air. An aftercooler is coupled to the turbocharger adapted to cool the compressed air. A two-stroke uniflow scavenged diesel engine having a power assembly provides combustion and produces exhaust therefrom. The engine has a positive pressure gradient between the power assembly intake ports and the exhaust manifold to maintain scavenging and mixing in the power assembly. An EGR system includes a flow regulating device and a cooler. The flow regulating device is adapted to direct a select portion of the exhaust gas to be recirculated and direct the majority portion of the exhaust gas to the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: James W. Heilenbach, Keith E. Moravec, Ajay Patel, Joshua D. Schueler
  • Publication number: 20110036336
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a locomotive two-stroke uniflow scavenged diesel engine system including an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for reducing NOX emissions and achieving improved fuel economy by recirculating exhaust gas through the engine. The EGR system includes a flow regulating device and a cooler. The flow regulating device (e.g., a valve or positive flow device) is adapted to direct a select portion of the exhaust gas to be recirculated to the engine system. The cooler is coupled to the flow regulating device for decreasing the temperature of the exhaust gas. Additionally, a control system for the EGR system is provided which monitors and controls select components of any of the EGR systems described. Specifically, the control system may be adapted to control select components of an EGR system to adaptively regulate exhaust gas recirculation based on various operating conditions of the locomotive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Keith E. Moravec, James W. Heilenbach, Ajay Patel, Andrew J. Shakal
  • Publication number: 20110023811
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a piston with a unique bowl geometry for optimizing a two-stroke locomotive diesel engine having an exhaust gas recirculation (“EGR”) system. This piston achieves a reduced level of smoke and particulate matter; promotes the mixing process in the engine cylinder; and provides a lower compression ratio for reducing NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: James W. Heilenbach, Frank M. Grazyk, Kenneth M. Sinko
  • Publication number: 20110023854
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a piston arrangement with a unique bowl geometry for optimizing a two-stroke locomotive diesel engine having an exhaust gas recirculation (“EGR”) system. This piston arrangement achieves a reduced level of smoke and particulate matter; promotes the mixing process in the engine cylinder; and provides a lower compression ratio for reducing NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: James W. Heilenbach, Frank M. Graczyk, Kenneth M. Sinko
  • Publication number: 20110023844
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an engine exhaust valve timing and lift system for a uniflow two-stroke locomotive diesel engine having an EGR system. This system and method reduces NOx emissions while attaining desired levels of cylinder scavenging and mixing. Specifically, the present invention engine exhaust valve system controls the timing, lift and velocity of exhaust valve opening and closing in order to attain the desired NOx emission levels and the desired levels of cylinder scavenging and mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: James W. Heilenbach, Raji Rexavier, Keith E. Moravec, Randal K. Albright
  • Patent number: 7280950
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of a locomotive diesel engine turbocharger turbine stage so as to avoid harmonic vibration in the turbine blades when the engine is operated at pre-selected throttle settings. Upon determining throttle settings for the engine and modeling of the turbocharger therefor, at least one natural vibration frequency of the turbine blades and a turbine nozzle vane excitation frequency as a function of turbocharger rotation speed are determined. Then the data obtained is analyzed to ascertain whether at least one data coincidence, that is whether a rotation speed correlative of a throttle setting has a coincidence over a predetermined range of both a natural frequency and said turbine vane nozzle excitation. If not, the model is suitable for fabrication of the turbocharger; if so, the model is modified by changing blade stiffness and/or vane numbering until no data coincidences are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Heilenbach, Anthony T. Chobot, Daniel J. Meyerkord
  • Patent number: 5536144
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for a turbocharger or the like is mounted to an impeller shaft and optionally an additional drive shaft by annular rows of coupling teeth preferably of the CURVIC.TM. coupling type having radially and rotationally locking convex sided and concave sided interlocking teeth. Flexible webs connecting coupling rings on the turbine allow thermo and mechanical growth of the turbine wheel without excessive deflection of the coupling rings and the associated shaft flanges. A single central stud threaded into one of the shafts and retained by a bolt against the other maintains the components in assembly with the coupling teeth fully engaged. A radial slot formed in the coupling flange for one of the shafts prevents thermal distortion of the flange from substantially affecting an adjacent thrust bearing portion of the flange. The arrangement simplifies rotor assembly and avoids the need for rebalancing after disassembly and reassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Bednarz, Charles H. McCreary, James W. Heilenbach
  • Patent number: 5398791
    Abstract: A method is provided for improving the load distribution on a ramp-surface of a clutch mechanism, such as the camplate of an overrunning clutch for the turbocharger of a locomotive diesel engine. In addition, an improved camplate produced by such a method is also provided in accordance with this invention. The method involves an electroplating process in which the electrostatic field is uniquely shaped so as to concentrate the electrostatic flux at a central region of the ramp surface, such that a greater amount of plating metal is deposited in the central region of the ramp surface as compared to the edges of the ramp surface. As a result, the ramp surface has a crowned contour as defined by the plating alone, and does not require a pre- or post-plating crown grind operation. The crowned contour serves to advantageously distribute a load over the ramp surface, so as to promote a longer service life for the camplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Tombers, James W. Heilenbach, Justin E. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4077739
    Abstract: An improved turbine inlet screen for protecting the inlet to the turbine of an engine turbosupercharger and exposed to numerous substantial and rapid variations in exhaust gas temperature. The screen comprises a circular metal plate having an improved pattern of annularly arranged perforations providing radially non-linear mass relations from the plate center to its edge selected to reduce maximum thermal stresses, particularly at the plate edge, during transient gas temperature conditions.This invention relates to engine exhaust turbine inlet screens for protecting the exhaust turbine from the entry of potentially damaging foreign matter and, more particularly, to a plate type inlet screen having an improved pattern of perforations arranged to minimize internal stresses in the screen plate which are caused by the varying exhaust gas temperatures of transient engine operation.U.S. Pat. No. 3,286,459 Ephraim, Jr., assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses in FIGS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Heilenbach