Patents by Inventor Nicolas Serres

Nicolas Serres 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: 9222406
    Abstract: A wastegate assembly can include a plug configured to plug a wastegate opening where the plug includes a concave, at least partially spherical surface; a shaft configured for receipt by a bore in a wastegate chamber; and a rotatable arm extending from the shaft where the arm includes a convex, at least partially spherical surface configured for contacting the concave, at least partially spherical surface of the plug for a closed orientation of the plug with respect to the wastegate opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres
  • Patent number: 9194282
    Abstract: An engine cylinder head and turbocharger assembly includes a turbocharger having a turbine housing, wherein part of the turbine housing is integrated into a casting of the engine cylinder head. The turbocharger is arranged with respect to the engine cylinder head such that the rotational axis of the turbocharger is transverse to the engine axis along which the engine cylinders are spaced. A compressor housing of the turbocharger is oriented toward an air intake side of the engine cylinder head, and the turbine housing is oriented toward an exhaust side of the engine cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Serres, Alain Lombard, Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus
  • Patent number: 8966895
    Abstract: A turbocharger assembly includes a center housing rotating assembly, which comprises a center housing, bearings housed in the center housing, a shaft rotatably supported in the bearings, and compressor and turbine wheels affixed to opposite ends of the shaft; an engine cylinder head and a housing member formed together as a one-piece integral structure, wherein the housing member defines a compressor volute that receives compressed air from the compressor wheel, a turbine volute for receiving exhaust gas from the engine, a turbine nozzle for directing exhaust gas from the turbine volute into the turbine wheel, and a turbine contour; a compressor contour plug that defines an axial inlet for the compressor and a compressor contour; and a wastegate unit operable for allowing exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel when the wastegate unit is open and preventing exhaust gas from bypassing the turbine wheel when the wastegate unit is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus, Mani Palaniyappan, Alain Lombard, Quentin Roberts, Johann Kurtzmann, Aitor Herrera Celaya, Nicolas Serres
  • Publication number: 20150020523
    Abstract: A wastegate assembly can include a plug configured to plug a wastegate opening where the plug includes a concave, at least partially spherical surface; a shaft configured for receipt by a bore in a wastegate chamber; and a rotatable arm extending from the shaft where the arm includes a convex, at least partially spherical surface configured for contacting the concave, at least partially spherical surface of the plug for a closed orientation of the plug with respect to the wastegate opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres
  • Patent number: 8820709
    Abstract: A turbine housing includes a wastegate chamber with a wastegate opening; and a wastegate disposed in the wastegate chamber where the wastegate includes a plug configured to plug the wastegate opening and where the plug includes a surface; a shaft configured for receipt by a bore in a wall of the wastegate chamber; and a rotatable arm extending from the shaft where the arm has a surface configured for contacting the surface of the plug for a closed orientation of the plug with respect to the wastegate opening to transmit force from the arm more centrally to the plug. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres
  • Patent number: 8615996
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for an exhaust gas turbocharger has separate first and second volutes that are sequentially activated via a valve that receives exhaust gases from an engine. In a first position of the valve, only the first volute receives exhaust gas; in a second position, both volutes receive exhaust gases. In a third position, a bypass passage is also opened so that some exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel. Unlike conventional twin-scroll turbines, each volute receives exhaust gases from all engine cylinders, and the first volute feeds gas into the B-width portion of the wheel, while the second volute feeds gas into the wheel after the contour portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Serres, Michael Ladonnet
  • Publication number: 20130291540
    Abstract: An engine cylinder head and turbocharger assembly includes a turbocharger having a turbine housing, wherein part of the turbine housing is integrated into a casting of the engine cylinder head. The turbocharger is arranged with respect to the engine cylinder head such that the rotational axis of the turbocharger is transverse to the engine axis along which the engine cylinders are spaced. A compressor housing of the turbocharger is oriented toward an air intake side of the engine cylinder head, and the turbine housing is oriented toward an exhaust side of the engine cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Serres, Alain Lombard, Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus
  • Patent number: 8573929
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes an annular bypass passage to allow exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel. An annular bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage. The bypass valve comprises a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member. The turbine includes a nozzle having a vane assembly. In one embodiment the vane assembly has only fixed vanes. In another embodiment the vane assembly includes both fixed vanes and variable vanes, and the variable vanes are part of a rotor that rotates together with the rotary valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Michel Thirion, Nicolas Serres
  • Publication number: 20130251512
    Abstract: A turbocharger system is disclosed, including a turbine and compressor and a rotary valve unit. The rotary valve unit comprises a fixed valve seat and a rotary valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member. The valve unit includes a valve housing that defines a first flow passage and a second flow passage, and the valve member and valve seat are disposed in the second flow passage. A turbocharger system is also disclosed, including a turbine and compressor and the rotary valve unit. The rotary valve unit is coupled with the turbine such that exhaust gas that has passed through the turbine wheel is fed into the first flow passage of the rotary valve unit, and exhaust gas that has bypassed the turbine wheel is fed into the second flow passage of the rotary valve unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Johann Kurtzmann, Nicolas Serres, Jean-Jacques Laissus
  • Publication number: 20130247565
    Abstract: A turbocharger assembly includes a center housing rotating assembly, which comprises a center housing, bearings housed in the center housing, a shaft rotatably supported in the bearings, and compressor and turbine wheels affixed to opposite ends of the shaft; an engine cylinder head and a housing member formed together as a one-piece integral structure, wherein the housing member defines a compressor volute that receives compressed air from the compressor wheel, a turbine volute for receiving exhaust gas from the engine, a turbine nozzle for directing exhaust gas from the turbine volute into the turbine wheel, and a turbine contour; a compressor contour plug that defines an axial inlet for the compressor and a compressor contour; and a wastegate unit operable for allowing exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel when the wastegate unit is open and preventing exhaust gas from bypassing the turbine wheel when the wastegate unit is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus, Mani Palaniyappan, Alain Lombard, Quentin Roberts, Johann Kurtzmann, Aitor Herrera Celaya, Nicolas Serres
  • Patent number: 8534994
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine wheel mounted within a turbine housing and connected to a compressor wheel by a shaft. The turbine housing defines an exhaust gas inlet connected to a divided volute that surrounds the turbine wheel, and an axial bore through which exhaust gas that has passed through the turbine wheel is discharged from the turbine housing. The turbine housing further defines a pair of concentric annular bypass passages surrounding the bore and arranged to allow exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel as two separate bypass streams. An annular bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage. The bypass valve comprises a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres, Mani Palaniyappan, Aitor Herrera Celaya
  • Patent number: 8424304
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for an exhaust gas turbocharger has separate first and second volutes that are sequentially activated via a valve that receives exhaust gases from an engine. In a first position of the valve, only the first volute receives exhaust gas; in a second position, both volutes receive exhaust gases. In a third position, a bypass passage is also opened so that some exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel. Unlike conventional twin-scroll turbines, each volute receives exhaust gases from all engine cylinders, and the first volute feeds gas into the B-width portion of the wheel, while the second volute feeds gas into the wheel after the contour portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Serres, Michael Ladonnet
  • Patent number: 8352152
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an antisurge operating mode for a turbocharged engine may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of engine operating parameters and engine accelerator pedal position, determine whether the received indications correspond to antisurge mode activation conditions, and, in response to a determination that the received indications correspond to antisurge mode activation conditions, initiate control of selected engine components by directing the selected engine components to operate based on stored engine operating parameters recorded a predetermined time prior to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Nicolas Serres
  • Publication number: 20120234002
    Abstract: A turbine housing includes a wastegate chamber with a wastegate opening; and a wastegate disposed in the wastegate chamber where the wastegate includes a plug configured to plug the wastegate opening and where the plug includes a surface; a shaft configured for receipt by a bore in a wall of the wastegate chamber; and a rotatable arm extending from the shaft where the arm has a surface configured for contacting the surface of the plug for a closed orientation of the plug with respect to the wastegate opening to transmit force from the arm more centrally to the plug. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres
  • Publication number: 20120148386
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine wheel mounted within a turbine housing and connected to a compressor wheel by a shaft. The turbine housing defines an exhaust gas inlet connected to a divided volute that surrounds the turbine wheel, and an axial bore through which exhaust gas that has passed through the turbine wheel is discharged from the turbine housing. The turbine housing further defines a pair of concentric annular bypass passages surrounding the bore and arranged to allow exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel as two separate bypass streams. An annular bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage. The bypass valve comprises a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres, Mani Palaniyappan, Aitor Herrera Celaya
  • Patent number: 8123470
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for a turbocharger includes a variable nozzle formed by a sliding half-collar piston. A first-stage nozzle has a plurality of first vanes supported by a first nozzle ring and extending axially therefrom. A second-stage nozzle has a second nozzle ring connected to the ends of the first vanes, and a plurality of second vanes extending axially therefrom. The piston regulates flow through the second-stage nozzle, while the first-stage nozzle remains open when the piston is fully closed. The second nozzle ring at least partially divides the first vanes from the second vanes. The half-collar piston includes recesses that receive the second vanes and only partially surround the girth of each second vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Serres, Quentin Roberts, Sebastien Ferrari, Jerome Mitka
  • Patent number: 8113770
    Abstract: A turbocharger with an exhaust gas-driven turbine includes a variable nozzle formed by a stator supporting fixed vanes and defining bypass openings, and a rotor supporting movable vanes and defining bypass channels. Each fixed vane overlaps with a movable vane by a varying extent dependent on rotational position of the rotor. In a fully open position of the rotor, the movable vanes have a maximum extent of overlap with the fixed vanes, and the bypass channels align with the bypass openings so that some of the exhaust gas flows through the aligned bypass openings and channels, bypassing the turbine wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Nicolas Serres, Michael Ladonnet
  • Publication number: 20110268559
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes an annular bypass passage to allow exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel. An annular bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage. The bypass valve comprises a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member. The turbine includes a nozzle having a vane assembly. In one embodiment the vane assembly has only fixed vanes. In another embodiment the vane assembly includes both fixed vanes and variable vanes, and the variable vanes are part of a rotor that rotates together with the rotary valve member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Michel Thirion, Nicolas Serres
  • Publication number: 20110099998
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for an exhaust gas turbocharger has separate first and second volutes that are sequentially activated via a valve that receives exhaust gases from an engine. In a first position of the valve, only the first volute receives exhaust gas; in a second position, both volutes receive exhaust gases. In a third position, a bypass passage is also opened so that some exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel. Unlike conventional twin-scroll turbines, each volute receives exhaust gases from all engine cylinders, and the first volute feeds gas into the B-width portion of the wheel, while the second volute feeds gas into the wheel after the contour portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Nicolas Serres, Michael Ledonnet
  • Patent number: 7828517
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for a variable-geometry turbocharger includes a turbine housing defining a divided volute having first and second scrolls, wherein the first scroll has a substantially smaller volume than the second scroll. The first scroll feeds exhaust gas to a first portion of a turbine wheel upstream of the throat of the wheel, while the second scroll feeds gas to a second portion of the wheel at least part of which is downstream of the throat. Flow from the second scroll is regulated by a sliding piston. The first scroll can be optimized for low-flow conditions such that the turbocharger can operate effectively like a small fixed-geometry turbocharger when the piston is closed. The turbine housing defines an inlet that is divided by a dividing wall into two portions respectively feeding gas to the two scrolls, a leading edge of the dividing wall being downstream of the inlet mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicolas Serres