Patents by Inventor Michael Bunce

Michael Bunce 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: 11840954
    Abstract: A spark ignited engine is disclosed. The spark ignited engine includes a main combustion chamber and a cylinder head at least partially surrounding the main combustion chamber. A spark plug having a central axis is arranged in the cylinder head and an ignition end of the spark plug faces the main combustion engine. A pre-chamber with at least two nozzles is arranged in the main combustion chamber and connects the ignition end and the main combustion chamber via the at least two nozzles. A pre-chamber volume ratio corresponds to a ratio of a volume of the pre-chamber to a volume of the main combustion chamber at a top-dead-center and is between 1.9% and 3.1%. A nozzle factor corresponds to a ratio of a summed flowed-through area of the at least two nozzles to the volume of the pre-chamber and is between 0.085 l/cm and 1.15 l/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Michael Bassett, Michael Bunce, Adrian Cooper
  • Publication number: 20230124163
    Abstract: A spark ignited engine is disclosed. The spark ignited engine includes a main combustion chamber and a cylinder head at least partially surrounding the main combustion chamber. A spark plug having a central axis is arranged in the cylinder head and an ignition end of the spark plug faces the main combustion engine. A pre-chamber with at least two nozzles is arranged in the main combustion chamber and connects the ignition end and the main combustion chamber via the at least two nozzles. A pre-chamber volume ratio corresponds to a ratio of a volume of the pre-chamber to a volume of the main combustion chamber at a top-dead-center and is between 1.9% and 3.1%. A nozzle factor corresponds to a ratio of a summed flowed-through area of the at least two nozzles to the volume of the pre-chamber and is between 0.085 l/cm and 1.15 l/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Michael Bassett, Michael Bunce, Adrian Cooper
  • Publication number: 20220112835
    Abstract: Method for operating a hydrogen fuelled combustion engine 1 comprising the steps of providing an internal combustion engine 1 having at least one cylinder 2 and a piston 3 supported at a crankshaft 5 for repeated reciprocal movement in the cylinder 2 so as to define a main combustion chamber 21, the internal combustion engine 1 further having an ignition device 4 arranged in said cylinder 2 with an igniter portion 42 and a hydrogen fuel injector 43 which are both arranged at a pre-chamber 41, wherein the pre-chamber 41 has a plurality of orifices 44 for providing fluid communication between said pre-chamber 41 and the main combustion chamber 21; and operating the engine in cycles comprising the following steps: introducing hydrogen fuel in the pre-chamber 41; introducing hydrogen fuel in the main combustion chamber 21; and igniting the introduced hydrogen fuel in the pre-chamber 41 for combusting the introduced hydrogen fuel in the main combustion chamber 21.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Bunce, Nathan Peters
  • Publication number: 20210269850
    Abstract: The invention relates to a single novel dry reagent composition for use in subsequent nucleic acid amplification, such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and the isothermal LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification), the composition including a nucleic acid amplification enzyme; a corresponding enzyme binder; a sugar-based stabiliser; deoxyNucleotide TriphosPhates; oligonucleotides; and a zwitterionic agent where a tris-based buffer is specifically excluded. The invention further relates to methods for producing said single dry reagent composition using air drying processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin Lee, Michael Bunce
  • Patent number: 10458311
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder and a piston supported for repeated reciprocal movement in the cylinder so as to define a combustion chamber of an engine bore diameter A-A, the internal combustion engine further comprising an ignition device arranged in said cylinder having an igniter portion and an fuel injector which are both arranged in a pre-chamber, wherein the pre-chamber comprises a plurality of orifices for providing fluid communication between said pre-chamber and the combustion chamber, and wherein the plurality of orifices are of an overall orifice area so that the ratio between the overall orifice area and the engine bore diameter A-A ranges from 0.01 mm to 0.2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MAHLE Powertrain LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Michael Bunce
  • Patent number: 10400696
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: providing an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a piston supported at a crankshaft for repeated reciprocal movement in the cylinder so as to define a main combustion chamber, the internal combustion engine further having an ignition device arranged in said cylinder with an igniter portion and a fuel injector which are both arranged at a pre-chamber, wherein the pre-chamber has a plurality of orifices for providing fluid communication between said pre-chamber and the main combustion chamber, injecting fuel in the pre-chamber, and igniting the injected fuel in the pre-chamber for pre-heating of the pre-chamber prior to injecting fuel in the main combustion chamber for combusting the injected fuel in the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MAHLE POWERTRAIN, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Michael Bunce
  • Publication number: 20180010536
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: providing an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a piston supported at a crankshaft for repeated reciprocal movement in the cylinder so as to define a main combustion chamber, the internal combustion engine further having an ignition device arranged in said cylinder with an igniter portion and a fuel injector which are both arranged at a pre-chamber, wherein the pre-chamber has a plurality of orifices for providing fluid communication between said pre-chamber and the main combustion chamber, injecting fuel in the pre-chamber, and igniting the injected fuel in the pre-chamber for pre-heating of the pre-chamber prior to injecting fuel in the main combustion chamber for combusting the injected fuel in the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Michael Bunce
  • Publication number: 20170314456
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder and a piston supported for repeated reciprocal movement in the cylinder so as to define a combustion chamber of an engine bore diameter A-A, the internal combustion engine further comprising an ignition device arranged in said cylinder having an igniter portion and an fuel injector which are both arranged in a pre-chamber, wherein the pre-chamber comprises a plurality of orifices for providing fluid communication between said pre-chamber and the combustion chamber, and wherein the plurality of orifices are of an overall orifice area so that the ratio between the overall orifice area and the engine bore diameter A-A ranges from 0.01 mm to 0.2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Michael Bunce
  • Patent number: 9353674
    Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber where the ignition system includes a housing, an ignition device, an injector, and a pre-chamber having a nozzle disposed spaced from the proximal portion of the pre-chamber. The igniter portion of the ignition device and the nozzle of the injector are operatively supported in the proximal portion of the pre-chamber and disposed flush therewith. The igniter portion ignites the fuel in pre-chamber such that partially combusted pre-chamber products are forced through orifices in the pre-chamber nozzle and extinguish, but dispersed through the combustion chamber so as to ignite the main fuel charge therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE POWERTRAIN, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Bunce, Hugh Blaxill, William Attard
  • Publication number: 20160103135
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting the presence of anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and detecting the binding or absence of binding of antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules. This method allows the detection and/or identification of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicants: OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL NHS ("ORH") TRUST OF THE JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON, GUY'S & ST. THOMAS' HOSPITAL NHS TRUST ("GST")
    Inventors: Martin BARNARDO, Andrea Harmer, Michael Bunce, Robert Vaughan, Kenneth Welsh
  • Publication number: 20150260622
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of depleting anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and removing at least the recombinant MHC molecules to which antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules contained within the sample have bound. This method allows the depletion of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies from a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicants: OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL NHS ("ORH") TRUST OF THE JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON, GUY'S & ST. THOMAS' HOSPITAL NHS TRUST ("GST")
    Inventors: Martin BARNARDO, Andrea Harmer, Michael Bunce, Robert Vaughan, Kenneth Welsh
  • Publication number: 20150068489
    Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber where the ignition system includes a housing, an ignition device, an injector, and a pre-chamber having a nozzle disposed spaced from the proximal portion of the pre-chamber. The igniter portion of the ignition device and the nozzle of the injector are operatively supported in the proximal portion of the pre-chamber and disposed flush therewith. The igniter portion ignites the fuel in pre-chamber such that partially combusted pre-chamber products are forced through orifices in the pre-chamber nozzle and extinguish, but dispersed through the combustion chamber so as to ignite the main fuel charge therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Bunce, Hugh Blaxill, William Attard
  • Publication number: 20140273267
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of depleting anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and removing at least the recombinant MHC molecules to which antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules contained within the sample have bound. This method allows the depletion of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies from a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: GUY'S &ST THOMAS' HOSPITAL NHS TRUST ('GST'), OXORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL NHS ('ORH") TRUST OF THE JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
    Inventors: Martin Barnardo, Andrea Harmer, Michael Bunce, Robert Vaughan, Kenneth Welsh
  • Publication number: 20140178857
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting the presence of anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and detecting the binding or absence of binding of antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules. This method allows the detection and/or identification of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: GUY'S & ST THOMAS' HOSPITAL NHS TRUST ("GST"), OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL NHS ("ORH") TRUST OF THE JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
    Inventors: Martin C. Barnardo, Andrea Harmer, Michael Bunce, Robert Vaughan, Kenneth Welsh
  • Patent number: 8609436
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting the presence of anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and detecting the binding or absence of binding of antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules. This method allows the detection and/or identification of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust (“GST”), King's College London, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS (“ORH”) Trust of the John Radcliffe Hospital
    Inventors: Martin C. N. M. Barnardo, Andrea W. Harmer, Michael Bunce, Robert W. Vaughn, Kenneth I. Welsh
  • Publication number: 20130115601
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions of lyophilised reagents suitable for nucleic acid amplification use in in-vitro diagnostics. More particularly, the invention relates to lyophilised PCR reagent compositions and methods for genotyping including HLA and/or ABO and/or HFE typing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Bunce, Benjamin John Passey, David Charvill
  • Publication number: 20130024094
    Abstract: A closed-loop control algorithm that reduces the increases in nitrogen oxides (NOx) commonly observed with biodiesel combustion while retaining particulate matter (PM) reductions with variable biodiesel blend fractions. One embodiment includes a control algorithm that is closed-loop with regards to combustible oxygen mass fraction (COMF) instead of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fraction. Yet another algorithm includes biodiesel blend estimation and “fuel-flexible” accommodation. A physics-based model has also been developed which predicts experimentally observed engine performance and emissions for biodiesel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory Matthew Shaver, David Benjamin Snyder, Carrie Michele Hall, Gayatri Adi, Michael Bunce
  • Publication number: 20120220049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting the presence of an analyte. More particularly, the present invention relates to the method and device for detecting the presence of immunoglobulins directed at polymorphic alloantigens such as HLA antigens and/or other products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Biofortuna LTD
    Inventors: Michael Bunce, Benjamin John Passey, David Charvill
  • Patent number: 8088586
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of depleting anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and removing at least the recombinant MHC molecules to which antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules contained within the sample have bound. This method allows the depletion of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies from a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignees: Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust, King's College London
    Inventors: Martin C. N. M. Barnardo, Andrea W. Harmer, Michael Bunce, Robert W. Vaughan, Kenneth I. Welsh
  • Publication number: 20100317004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to probes, methods and apparatus for the detection of the presence or absence of non-contiguous cis-located nucleic acid sequences which are characteristic of alleles including those relating to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) which is of interest in the field of human transplantation and disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael BUNCE, Ian Crosby