Patents by Inventor Kevin McElhaney
Kevin McElhaney 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).
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Patent number: 11760335Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a method for a hybrid engine system. In one example, the method includes operating an electrical turbocharger to modify engine operating efficiency and to extend battery charge over a duration of a travel route based on a real-time status of the battery charge. The method allows fuel consumption to be decreased while meeting power demands of vehicle navigation.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Thomas Michael Lavertu, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Kevin McElhaney
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Publication number: 20230272737Abstract: A turbine-compressor assembly includes a turbine-compressor device fluidly coupled with a heat source, a compressor, and a turbine via plural valves. A power device is coupled with the turbine-compressor device via a shaft. A controller can control operation of the plural valves to control the movement of fluids within the assembly to selectively switch between the turbine-compressor device operating in one of plural operating modes. In a first mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device can generate electrical power and direct the electrical power to the power device to control an amount of power provided to or extracted from the shaft by the power device. In a second mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device can receive electrical power from the power device to consumer the electrical power.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Adam C. Felton, Christopher Joseph Homison, Oren Aharon
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Patent number: 11680517Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having a turbine-compressor device fluidly coupled with a heat source, a compressor, and a turbine via plural valves. A power device may be coupled with the turbine-compressor device. A controller may control operation of the plural valves to control movement of fluids within the assembly to selectively switch between the turbine-compressor device operating in one of plural modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device may generate electrical power and direct the electrical power to the power device. In a compressor mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device may receive electrical power from the power device to consume the electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Adam C. Felton, Christopher Joseph Homison
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Publication number: 20230125484Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a method for a hybrid engine system. In one example, the method includes operating an electrical turbocharger to modify engine operating efficiency and to extend battery charge over a duration of a travel route based on a real-time status of the battery charge. The method allows fuel consumption to be decreased while meeting power demands of vehicle navigation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Thomas Michael Lavertu, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Kevin McElhaney
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Publication number: 20230015517Abstract: A mixing structure can include a body having first conduits, mixture conduits, and second conduits extending through the body to the internal volume. The first conduits may be closer to a first side of the body than the mixture conduits and the second conduits. The second conduits may closer to another side of the body than the first conduits and the mixture conduits. The internal volume may receive liquid streams from an injector. The first conduits and the second conduits may receive gas streams from outside the body. The body may thermally modify the gas streams and entrain the gas streams into the liquid streams in the internal volume. The mixture conduits may be positioned to direct the gas streams entrained into the liquid streams out of the body in directions directed toward the second side of the body and away from the first side of the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Sreenivasa Rao Gubba, Bhaskar Tamma, Victor Manuel Salazar, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Roy James Primus, John Dowell, Kevin Bailey, Kevin McElhaney
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Patent number: 11549429Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas (e.g., air) from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also includes one or more upper channels and one or more lower channels that are configured to provide a substantially similar amount of flow relative to each other to the interior volume The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Sreenivasa Rao Gubba, Bhaskar Tamma, Victor Manuel Salazar, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Roy James Primus, John Dowell, Kevin Bailey, Kevin McElhaney
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Publication number: 20220316387Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having a turbine-compressor device fluidly coupled with a heat source, a compressor, and a turbine via plural valves. A power device may be coupled with the turbine-compressor device. A controller may control operation of the plural valves to control movement of fluids within the assembly to selectively switch between the turbine-compressor device operating in one of plural modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device may generate electrical power and direct the electrical power to the power device. In a compressor mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device may receive electrical power from the power device to consume the electrical power.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Adam C. Felton, Christopher Joseph Homison
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Patent number: 11359558Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having an engine includes an upstream valve coupled with a compressor and a turbine-compressor device, a downstream valve coupled with a turbine and the device, and a controller to control the upstream, downstream, and a control valve. The controller selectively operates the device in a plurality of operating modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the upstream valve directs inlet air to the compressor, the turbine receives engine exhaust, the downstream valve directs first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the device, and the control valve directs second turbine exhaust from the device to an outlet. In a compressor mode of operation, the control valve directs the inlet air to the device, the upstream valve directs first compressed air from the device to the compressor, and the downstream valve directs the first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil
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Publication number: 20210199062Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having an engine includes an upstream valve coupled with a compressor and a turbine-compressor device, a downstream valve coupled with a turbine and the device, and a controller to control the upstream, downstream, and a control valve. The controller selectively operates the device in a plurality of operating modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the upstream valve directs inlet air to the compressor, the turbine receives engine exhaust, the downstream valve directs first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the device, and the control valve directs second turbine exhaust from the device to an outlet. In a compressor mode of operation, the control valve directs the inlet air to the device, the upstream valve directs first compressed air from the device to the compressor, and the downstream valve directs the first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil
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Patent number: 11008932Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Roy James Primus, John Dowell, Victor Manuel Salazar, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Kevin Bailey, Kevin McElhaney, Bhaskar Tamma, Sreenivasa Rao Gubba
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Patent number: 10961902Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having an engine includes an upstream valve coupled with a compressor and a turbine-compressor device, a downstream valve coupled with a turbine and the device, and a controller to control the upstream, downstream, and a control valve. The controller selectively operates the device in a plurality of operating modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the upstream valve directs inlet air to the compressor, the turbine receives engine exhaust, the downstream valve directs first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the device, and the control valve directs second turbine exhaust from the device to an outlet. In a compressor mode of operation, the control valve directs the inlet air to the device, the upstream valve directs first compressed air from the device to the compressor, and the downstream valve directs the first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil
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Publication number: 20200256243Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having an engine includes an upstream valve coupled with a compressor and a turbine-compressor device, a downstream valve coupled with a turbine and the device, and a controller to control the upstream, downstream, and a control valve. The controller selectively operates the device in a plurality of operating modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the upstream valve directs inlet air to the compressor, the turbine receives engine exhaust, the downstream valve directs first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the device, and the control valve directs second turbine exhaust from the device to an outlet. In a compressor mode of operation, the control valve directs the inlet air to the device, the upstream valve directs first compressed air from the device to the compressor, and the downstream valve directs the first turbine exhaust from the turbine to the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Rogier Giepman, Michael Majewski, Kevin McElhaney, Najeeb Kuzhiyil
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Publication number: 20200191045Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas (e.g., air) from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also includes one or more upper channels and one or more lower channels that are configured to provide a substantially similar amount of flow relative to each other to the interior volume The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Sreenivasa Rao Gubba, Bhaskar Tamma, Victor Manuel Salazar, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Roy James Primus, John Dowell, Kevin Bailey, Kevin McElhaney
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Publication number: 20190218959Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Roy James Primus, John Dowell, Victor Manuel Salazar, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Kevin Bailey, Kevin McElhaney, Bhaskar Tamma, Sreenivasa Rao Gubba