Patents by Inventor Leon Hu

Leon Hu 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: 20190024574
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an active casing treatment of a compressor responsive to a predicted engine condition. In one example, a controller may actuate a sleeve of a variable geometry compressor casing to a position selected based on each of a compressor pressure ratio and a mass flow through the compressor, as well as driver behavior and predicted road conditions; and adjust each of an EGR actuator and a boost actuator based on the selected position to maintain the compressor pressure ratio during the actuating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, David R. Hanna, Leon Hu
  • Publication number: 20180340544
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a slidable sleeve valve actuation system for a turbocharger compressor. In one example, an actuator assembly for a slidable sleeve of a turbocharger compressor may comprise: a fork arm coupled to the slidable sleeve; a rotatable lever arm coupled to the fork arm via a rigid connecting shaft; a connector rod coupled between the lever arm and a rotatable element; and an actuator unit coupled to the rotatable element and attached to an attachment case, the attachment case coupled to the turbocharger compressor. The actuator assembly may be actuated to move the slidable sleeve from one position along a casing treatment to another position along the casing treatment, thereby adjusting the alignment of sleeve slots on the slidable sleeve relative to choke or surge slots on the casing treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: David R. Hanna, Leon Hu, Daniel William Kantrow
  • Publication number: 20180334920
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a nozzle blade for a variable nozzle turbine of a turbocharged engine. In one example, a nozzle blade for a turbine nozzle of a variable geometry turbine may include: a cambered outer surface that curves from an inlet end to an outlet end of the nozzle blade, relative to a chord of the nozzle blade, the chord having a chord length defined from the inlet end to the outlet end, the nozzle blade having an aspect ratio in a range of 1.54 to 2.95, a thickness that is greatest in a range of 47 to 61% of the chord length, and a camber line angle change ratio in a range of 0.94 to 1.16 from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Leon Hu, Jianwen James Yi
  • Patent number: 9945258
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a reinforcement element coupled to a sheet metal turbine housing that imparts desirable thermal-protective and structurally strengthening characteristics to the housing layers. In one example, a system may include a turbine comprising a housing surrounding a turbine rotor, the housing having an outer layer surrounding an inner layer at a distance to form an intermediate space between the inner and outer layers. Moreover, disposed in the intermediate space is a reinforcement element coupled to the inner and outer layers, providing strength and consistent rigidity without a significant increase in weight to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Leon Hu, David R Hanna
  • Publication number: 20180087453
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a variable geometry turbine. In one example, a nozzle vane includes a stationary having a first cambered sliding surface and a sliding vane having a second cambered sliding surface where the second cambered sliding surface includes a flow disrupting feature in contact with the first sliding cambered surface. The sliding vane may be positioned to slide in a direction from substantially tangent along a curved path to an inner circumference of the turbine nozzle and selectively uncover the flow disrupting feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Ben Zhao, Leon Hu, Jianwen James Yi, Eric Warren Curtis, Jizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9890700
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a variable geometry turbine. In one example, a nozzle vane includes a stationary having a first cambered sliding surface and a sliding vane having a second cambered sliding surface where the second cambered sliding surface includes a flow disrupting feature in contact with the first sliding cambered surface. The sliding vane may be positioned to slide in a direction from substantially tangent along a curved path to an inner circumference of the turbine nozzle and selectively uncover the flow disrupting feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Ben Zhao, Leon Hu, Jianwen James Yi, Eric Warren Curtis, Jizhong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170122339
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger system to reduce and balance axial thrust load on the turbine shaft and the associated bearing system and sealing. In one example, a partial back plate compressor may be used in combination with an axial turbine to reduce axial thrust load and to improve turbocharger transient response time. In another example, a regenerative turbocharger system with back-to-back turbo pump may be used to reduce and balance axial thrust load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Leon Hu, Dave R. Hanna, Jianwen James Yi, Eric Warren Curtis
  • Publication number: 20160146100
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a variable geometry turbine. In one example, a nozzle vane includes a stationary having a first cambered sliding surface and a sliding vane having a second cambered sliding surface where the second cambered sliding surface includes a flow disrupting feature in contact with the first sliding cambered surface. The sliding vane may be positioned to slide in a direction from substantially tangent along a curved path to an inner circumference of the turbine nozzle and selectively uncover the flow disrupting feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Ben Zhao, Leon Hu, Jianwen James Yi, Eric Warren Curtis, Jizhong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160102579
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a reinforcement element coupled to a sheet metal turbine housing that imparts desirable thermal-protective and structurally strengthening characteristics to the housing layers. In one example, a system may include a turbine comprising a housing surrounding a turbine rotor, the housing having an outer layer surrounding an inner layer at a distance to form an intermediate space between the inner and outer layers. Moreover, disposed in the intermediate space is a reinforcement element coupled to the inner and outer layers, providing strength and consistent rigidity without a significant increase in weight to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Leon Hu, David R. Hanna