Patents by Inventor Kevin B. Fuqua

Kevin B. Fuqua 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: 11300071
    Abstract: A cylinder for opposed-piston engines includes a liner with a bore and longitudinally displaced intake and exhaust ports near respective ends thereof. An intermediate portion of the liner between the exhaust and intake ports contains a combustion chamber formed when the end surfaces of a pair of pistons disposed in opposition in the bore are in close mutual proximity. A compression sleeve encircles and reinforces the intermediate portion of the liner. An annular grid of pegs disposed between the intermediate portion and the compression sleeve supports the compression sleeve against the liner and defines a turbulent liquid flow path extending across the intermediate portion in a direction that parallels the longitudinal axis of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Patent number: 10323563
    Abstract: A configuration for a uniflow-scavenged, opposed-piston engine reduces exhaust cross-talk caused by mass flow between cylinders resulting from one cylinder having an open exhaust port during scavenging and/or charging while an adjacent cylinder is undergoing blowdown. Some configurations include a wall or other barrier feature between cylinders that are adjacent to each other and fire one after the other. Additionally, or alternatively, some engine configurations include cylinders with intake and exhaust ports sized so that there is an overlap in crank angle of two or more cylinders having open exhaust ports of about 65 crank angle degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Rodrigo Zermeño Benitez, Brian J. Callahan, Kevin B. Fuqua, Christopher J. Kalebjian
  • Patent number: 10190492
    Abstract: The timing or phasing of port openings and closings during operation of an opposed-piston engine is varied in response to changing engine speeds and loads by changing crankshaft phasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, Fabien G. Redon
  • Patent number: 10001057
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes an inline cylinder block with an open exhaust chamber that contains all of the engine's exhaust ports. Exhaust outlets open from the exhaust chamber through opposing sides of the cylinder block. A turbocharger is positioned on each side of the cylinder block and has an inlet closely coupled with a respective exhaust outlet. The exhaust chamber is divided into separate collector sections, each collector section containing the exhaust ports of one or more cylinders, and each turbocharger has a first inlet closely coupled with a first collector section and a second inlet closely coupled with a second collector section. The engine has a cylinder firing sequence which alternates between the cylinders in the first and second collector sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Patent number: 9849770
    Abstract: An engine placement configuration for a heavy-duty truck includes a chassis having two spaced-apart frame rails running in a longitudinal direction of the chassis, between front and rear ends, and a front wheel assembly with an axle attached to the frame rails. An opposed-piston engine is supported on the frame rails and positioned between the front end and the axle. The opposed-piston engine includes a cylinder assembly with a longitudinal axis disposed between the frame rails and oriented vertically with respect to the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the opposed-piston engine includes a row of cylinders disposed between the rails and running in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Publication number: 20170321591
    Abstract: A configuration for a uniflow-scavenged, opposed-piston engine reduces exhaust cross-talk caused by mass flow between cylinders resulting from one cylinder having an open exhaust port during scavenging and/or charging while an adjacent cylinder is undergoing blowdown. Some configurations include a wall or other barrier feature between cylinders that are adjacent to each other and fire one after the other. Additionally, or alternatively, some engine configurations include cylinders with intake and exhaust ports sized so that there is an overlap in crank angle of two or more cylinders having open exhaust ports of about 65 crank angle degrees or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: RODRIGO ZERMEÑO BENITEZ, BRIAN J. CALLAHAN, KEVIN B. FUQUA, CHRISTOPHER J. KALEBJIAN
  • Patent number: 9593627
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine includes a squish zone defined between circumferential peripheral areas of opposing end surfaces of the pistons, a cavity defined by one or more bowls in the end surfaces, and at least one injection port that extends radially through the squish zone into the cavity. The cavity has a cross-sectional shape that imposes a tumbling motion on air flowing from the squish zone into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, Fabien G. Redon, Huixian Shen, Michael H. Wahl, Brendan M. Lenski
  • Patent number: 9581024
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine has a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders arranged inline, with each cylinder including an intake port longitudinally separated from an exhaust port. The engine is equipped with an air handling system that includes intake and exhaust chambers inside the cylinder block. All of the cylinder intake ports are contained in the intake chamber to receive charge air therein. The intake chamber includes elongated air inlets opening through opposing sides of the cylinder block. The exhaust chamber includes at least one exhaust outlet opening through a side of the cylinder block; all of the cylinder exhaust ports are contained in the exhaust chamber to discharge exhaust thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, John J. Koszewnik, Suramya D. Naik, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Rodrigo Zermeño-Benitez
  • Patent number: 9551220
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine has a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders arranged inline, with each cylinder including an intake port longitudinally separated from an exhaust port. The engine's air handling system includes open intake and exhaust chambers in the cylinder block. The open chamber constructions eliminate the need for multi-pipe manifolds and smooth the flow of charge air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, John J. Koszewnik, Suramya D. Naik, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Rodrigo Zermeño Benitez
  • Publication number: 20160356241
    Abstract: A cylinder for opposed-piston engines includes a liner with a bore and longitudinally displaced intake and exhaust ports near respective ends thereof. An intermediate portion of the liner between the exhaust and intake ports contains a combustion chamber formed when the end surfaces of a pair of pistons disposed in opposition in the bore are in close mutual proximity. A compression sleeve encircles and reinforces the intermediate portion of the liner. An annular grid of pegs disposed between the intermediate portion and the compression sleeve supports the compression sleeve against the liner and defines a turbulent liquid flow path extending across the intermediate portion in a direction that parallels the longitudinal axis of the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Patent number: 9488099
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with a single crankshaft has a rocker-type linkage coupling the crankshaft to the pistons that utilizes a rotatable pivot rocker arm with full-contact plain bearings. A rocker-type linkage utilizes a rotatable pivot bearing with an eccentric aspect to vary translation of piston linkage along the axial direction of a cylinder, which shifts the top dead center (TDC) and bottom dead center (BDC) locations of a piston so as to change the volume of charge air compressed during the power stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Patent number: 9435290
    Abstract: An engine structure for a multi-cylinder, opposed-piston engine includes a cylinder block with a plurality of inline cylinders. Each cylinder has ends with an outside diameter and an intermediate portion between the ends of a relatively larger outside diameter than the ends. The cylinder block includes a bearing web structure that positions bearing web elements outside of a plane that longitudinally bisects all of the cylinders. The cylinder block is split into two sections so as to permit cylinder liners to be inserted into and removed from cylinder tunnels in the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Publication number: 20160252014
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with a single crankshaft has a rocker-type linkage coupling the crankshaft to the pistons that utilizes a rotatable pivot rocker arm with full-contact plain bearings. A rocker-type linkage utilizes a rotatable pivot bearing with an eccentric aspect to vary translation of piston linkage along the axial direction of a cylinder, which shifts the top dead center (TDC) and bottom dead center (BDC) locations of a piston so as to change the volume of charge air compressed during the power stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: KEVIN B. FUQUA
  • Patent number: 9359896
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with a single crankshaft has a rocker-type linkage coupling the crankshaft to the pistons that utilizes a rotatable pivot rocker arm with full-contact plain bearings. A rocker-type linkage utilizes a rotatable pivot bearing with an eccentric aspect to vary translation of piston linkage along the axial direction of a cylinder, which shifts the top dead center (TDC) and bottom dead center (BDC) locations of a piston so as to change the volume of charge air compressed during the power stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Publication number: 20160032824
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes an inline cylinder block with an open exhaust chamber that contains all of the engine's exhaust ports. Exhaust outlets open from the exhaust chamber through opposing sides of the cylinder block. A turbocharger is positioned on each side of the cylinder block and has an inlet closely coupled with a respective exhaust outlet. The exhaust chamber is divided into separate collector sections, each collector section containing the exhaust ports of one or more cylinders, and each turbocharger has a first inlet closely coupled with a first collector section and a second inlet closely coupled with a second collector section. The engine has a cylinder firing sequence which alternates between the cylinders in the first and second collector sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Publication number: 20160032861
    Abstract: An engine structure for a multi-cylinder, opposed-piston engine includes a cylinder block with a plurality of inline cylinders. Each cylinder has ends with an outside diameter and an intermediate portion between the ends of a relatively larger outside diameter than the ends. The cylinder block includes a bearing web structure that positions bearing web elements outside of a plane that longitudinally bisects all of the cylinders. The cylinder block is split into two sections so as to permit cylinder liners to be inserted into and removed from cylinder tunnels in the cylinder block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Publication number: 20150337727
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine has a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders arranged inline, with each cylinder including an intake port longitudinally separated from an exhaust port. The engine is equipped with an air handling system that includes intake and exhaust chambers inside the cylinder block. All of the cylinder intake ports are contained in the intake chamber to receive charge air therein. The intake chamber includes elongated air inlets opening through opposing sides of the cylinder block. The exhaust chamber includes at least one exhaust outlet opening through a side of the cylinder block; all of the cylinder exhaust ports are contained in the exhaust chamber to discharge exhaust thereinto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, John J. Koszewnik, Suramya D. Naik, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Rodrigo Zermeño-Benitez
  • Publication number: 20150337728
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine has a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders arranged inline, with each cylinder including an intake port longitudinally separated from an exhaust port. The engine's air handling system includes open intake and exhaust chambers in the cylinder block. The open chamber constructions eliminate the need for multi-pipe manifolds and smooth the flow of charge air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, John J. Koszewnik, Suramya D. Naik, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Rodrigo Zermeño Benitez
  • Patent number: 8997712
    Abstract: In a two-stroke opposed-piston engine, a ported cylinder with a pair of opposed pistons is equipped with an engine brake including an engine braking valve that can be opened to release air from the cylinder as the pistons cycle between BDC and TDC positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, Iain J. Read
  • Publication number: 20150068492
    Abstract: In a two-stroke opposed-piston engine, a ported cylinder with a pair of opposed pistons is equipped with an engine brake including an engine braking valve that can be opened to release air from the cylinder as the pistons cycle between BDC and TDC positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, lain J. Read