Patents Issued in January 7, 2014
  • Patent number: 8621830
    Abstract: The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Raymond Uttaro, John Robinson, Michel Laurin
  • Patent number: 8621831
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for placing trays into sleeves is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor system for transporting a mail tray, a sleeve blank presentment device and a robotic arm. The robotic arm is provided with an end of arm tool which retains and opens a sleeve blank. A tray induction system including a plurality of paddles configured to guide a tray into an open sleeve blank is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Capstone Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Moylan, Timothy A. Mischnick, Francis J. Buglewicz, Troy Robert Power
  • Patent number: 8621832
    Abstract: For the production of cigarette packs (10) with shrink-treated outer film, the packs (10) are subjected in a continuously rotating shrinking revolver (19) to a heat treatment effecting the shrinkage. To each pack (10) there are assigned, in the region of the shrinking revolver (19), heating plates (22, 23), which bear against the front side and rear side of the pack (10) or of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventor: Hans-J. Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 8621833
    Abstract: A lawn moving vehicle (1) is for mowing lawn along the travel path of the vehicle. The lawn moving vehicle (1) includes: at least one electric reel unit having an electric reel (22) driven by a motor (24); sensors (34a-34c) for detecting the travel speed of the vehicle; and a control device (37) for controlling the motor (24) according to the result of the detection by the sensors (34a-34c) to thereby control the rotational speed of the electric reel (22) provided to the electric reel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, IHI Shibaura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Michinori Shida, Ikuo Iwasaki, Fumio Hasegawa, Takaaki Sudoh, Takushi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8621834
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a reel and a chaff spreader of a combine, having a first hydraulic motor for driving the reel and a second hydraulic motor for driving the chaff spreader, wherein the hydraulic motors are connected in series with regard to the flow of hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: John Deere Brasil Ltd. Av. Eng. Jorge A. D. Logemann 600
    Inventors: Angelo Giotto, Paulo C. Rodrigues, Aldo Bisson
  • Patent number: 8621835
    Abstract: A corn head includes a frame, an auger, and a finger. The frame includes a feeder house opening and a trough located in front of the feeder house opening. The auger is rotatably mounted in the trough and includes flighting for directing material into the feeder house opening. The finger is attached to the auger and extends radially outward from the auger. The finger is flexible and rotates along with the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Dragotec USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Bollig
  • Patent number: 8621836
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper with a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot where the draper frame projects forwardly from the pivot, such that the draper frame is operable to swing relative to the header frame. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Honas, Christopher T. Sauerwein, Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 8621837
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, a conveyor assembly, and a cutterbar drive. The support arms are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the flexible cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. The cutterbar drive includes a drive element and a forward gearbox drivingly connected between the drive element and the cutterbar assembly. The forward gearbox is supported on an outer support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Sauerwein, Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 8621838
    Abstract: The pneumatically-operated master chain link press tool is a press tool that is configured to press on a master link plate onto master link pins of a drive chain. The press tool includes a cylinder inside of which is a pneumatically-driven piston that is spring-loaded in order for the piston to return to a retracted position after pressing the master link plate onto the master link pins. A distal end of the cylinder includes a master link support jig that is partially exposed via a side opening. The master link support jig includes a master link recess that is configured to support a master link body of a drive chain there against. An opposing distal end of the cylinder includes a compressed air inlet and an air release. The compressed air inlet is configured for attachment and use with a compressed air hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: George W. Hill
  • Patent number: 8621839
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine oil system has an air-oil separator for removing air from an air/oil mixture. A breather tube is connected to an exhaust of the air-oil separator for receiving hot air removed from the air/oil mixture in the air-oil separator. The gas turbine engine oil separator exhaust is directed in a cooled oil collector to cause the oil mist remaining in the air at the exit from the engine air-oil separator to condensate. The oil condensate is returned back into the engine oil system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Bryan William Olver
  • Patent number: 8621840
    Abstract: A control device of a gas turbine electric energy production plant (1), which delivers a power (P) at a frequency (fl); the control device (8) comprising power control means (15), for controlling the power (P) delivered by the plant (1) according to a reference power value (PSETNEW), and frequency control means (16), for determining correction values (PFSETPR; PFSETINT) of the reference power value (PSETNEW) according to a frequency error (eF), given by the difference between the plant frequency (f1) and a nominal frequency (fN); the device (8) being characterized in that the frequency control means (16) comprise integral control means (22) configured to calculate the correction values (PFSETINT) if the frequency error (eF) is beyond a first frequency range (B1), and proportional control means (20), which are deactivated when the frequency error (eF) is beyond a first frequency range (B1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ansaldo Energia S.p.A
    Inventors: Flavio Ferrera, Paolo Pesce
  • Patent number: 8621841
    Abstract: A gasification power generation system provided with a carbon dioxide separation and recovery device is disclosed. The system includes a carbon dioxide separation and recovery device having a shift reactor to convert carbon monoxide contained in fuel gas into carbon dioxide by mixing steam into the fuel gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen to cause a shift reaction; a carbon dioxide absorption tower to produce fuel gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed by allowing an absorption liquid to absorb carbon dioxide from the fuel gas containing carbon dioxide flowing down the shift reactor; an absorption liquid recycling device to recycle an absorption liquid by separating carbon dioxide absorbed by the absorption liquid in the carbon dioxide absorption tower; and a gasification power generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Mishima, Yasushi Takeda, Kishu Hosoi, Hirotsugu Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 8621842
    Abstract: An example auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust silencer includes cooling features to protect the outer skin and other components from heat generated by gases passing through an exhaust duct. Cooling air flow through a cooling air passage in thermal contact with the exhaust silencer carries heat away from other nearby components and the aircraft skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jay M. Francisco, Greg R. Giddings, Anthony C. Jones, Nagamany Thayalakhandan
  • Patent number: 8621843
    Abstract: A diesel fuel composition is disclosed, as well as a method for reducing NOx emissions from a diesel engine at minimum fuel consumption wherein the diesel engine operates in a low temperature combustion mode, comprising the step of adding to the diesel engine at least one diesel fuel or blending component for a diesel fuel having a combination of a low T50 in the range of from 190° C. to 280° C., a high cetane number in the range of from 31 to 60, and an effective emissions reducing amount of a nitrogen-free cetane improver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Xu, Leslie R. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8621844
    Abstract: A system includes a voltage determination module and a fuel control module. The voltage determination module determines a first output voltage of a first oxygen sensor position upstream from a catalyst in an exhaust system of an engine, and determines a second output voltage from a second oxygen sensor positioned downstream from the catalyst, the first output voltage indicating a first oxygen level of exhaust upstream from the catalyst, the second output voltage indicating a second oxygen level of exhaust downstream from the catalyst. The fuel control module controls a fuel mass injected into the engine based on the first output voltage and the second output voltage when a temperature of the catalyst is greater than a light-off temperature, and controls the fuel mass based on the second output voltage and independent from the first output voltage when the catalyst temperature is less than light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Joshua Cowgill
  • Patent number: 8621845
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes an enable module, a status module and a temperature control module. The enable module enables generation of ammonia for use in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts of an exhaust system during a passive SCR mode. The status module determines whether the exhaust system is operating in a passive SCR mode and generates a passive SCR active signal. The passive SCR mode includes operating an engine with rich air/fuel ratios. The temperature control module activates electrical heating of an oxidation catalyst based on the passive SCR active signal and a temperature of the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, David B. Brown
  • Patent number: 8621846
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas conduit configured to receive and to deliver exhaust gas to a downstream exhaust treatment device. An injector bay extends outwardly from the exhaust gas conduit upstream of the exhaust treatment device and an exhaust fluid injector mounts through an opening in the injector bay and is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and oriented in an upstream direction to deliver an exhaust fluid to the exhaust gas in the upstream direction. An exhaust flow baffle extends outwardly from the injector bay and into the exhaust gas in an upstream direction. The exhaust flow baffle is located upstream of the exhaust fluid injector and is configured to define a turbulent, low pressure velocity field downstream thereof and proximate to the exhaust fluid injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Eric D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8621847
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for an engine includes a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) treatment module that controls a valve and an air pump to deliver air to an SCR catalyst in response to the engine turning off. An SCR loading module controls the valve and the air pump to deliver air to an exhaust manifold and controls a dosing system to deliver a dosing agent upstream of the SCR catalyst when a temperature of the SCR catalyst is less than a temperature threshold and the SCR catalyst is not saturated with ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chang H. Kim, Steven J. Schmieg
  • Patent number: 8621848
    Abstract: A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8621849
    Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for diagnosing a diesel combustion catalyst that is located in an exhaust line within a diesel engine system. The method comprising providing an unburned fuel mass flow through the diesel oxidation catalyst, determining the oxidation heat release rate which is related to the exothermic oxidation reactions of the unburned fuel into the diesel oxidation catalyst, integrating the determined oxidation heat release rate on a time interval, integrating the unburned fuel mass flow on the same time interval, dividing the integrated value of oxidation heat release rate and the integrated value of unburned fuel mass flow for determining an efficiency index (DOI) of the diesel oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Vernassa, Francesco Cianflone
  • Patent number: 8621850
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment device for a diesel engine is capable of smoothly starting the generation of a combustible gas and is provided with a small combustible gas generator. A core material is fitted in the center portion of an annular wall to form an air-fuel mixing chamber between the inner peripheral surface of the annular wall and the outer peripheral surface of the core material. An air-fuel mixture gas in the air-fuel mixing chamber is adapted to be supplied from the end of the air-fuel mixing chamber to a combustible gas generating catalyst to a portion near the center thereof. A heater is used as the core material, the heat dissipating outer peripheral surface of the heater is exposed to the air-fuel mixing chamber. Heat is dissipated directly from the heat dissipating outer peripheral surface of the heater to the air-fuel mixing chamber when starting the generation of the combustible gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: KUBOTA Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsugu Okuda, Toshio Nakahira
  • Patent number: 8621851
    Abstract: A particle filter arrangement for filtering exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine such as a diesel internal combustion engine, includes an inlet and an outlet and at least one particle filter arranged in the flow path of the exhaust gases between the inlet and outlet. The exhaust gases are conducted in a line, with the line having a first segment in which the exhaust gases are conducted substantially in the direction of the outlet. The line has a second segment in which the exhaust gases are conducted substantially in the direction of the inlet. An operating temperature of the arrangement sufficiently high to prevent full loading of the filter is generated particularly quickly in that the line also includes a third segment in which the exhaust gases are conducted substantially in the direction of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ark-Holding AG
    Inventor: Herbert Stieglbauer
  • Patent number: 8621852
    Abstract: The present detector for detecting sulfur components includes a storage portion for storing SOx and NOx in the exhaust gas passing through an exhaust passage, in which the more an amount of stored SOx increases, the more an amount of stored NOx decreases, and which does not release SOx but release NOx at a set temperature, and a temperature sensor, estimates the amount of stored SOx on the basis of a relationship between, after the storage portion becomes the set temperature by heating, a heating pattern of the storage portion and temperature change of the storage portion measured by the temperature sensor, and detects an integrated amount of SOx passing through the exhaust passage during a given period or an value on the basis of the integrated amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Oshikawa, Takamitsu Asanuma, Hiromasa Nishioka, Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Hiroshi Otsuki, Junichi Matsuo, Kazuhiro Umemoto
  • Patent number: 8621853
    Abstract: An exhaust gas-treating device (1) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, has a housing (2), which has a jacket (3) extending circumferentially on the side and two end-side end bottoms (4, 5). Maintenance is simplified with at least one mounting tube (6), which passes through one or the first end bottom (4) and into the outlet end (8) of which a particle filter (7) is plugged axially from the outside, with a deflecting housing (9). The deflecting housing (9) contains a deflecting chamber (10), and has at least one inlet (11) communicating with the deflecting chamber (10) and at least one outlet (12) communicating with the deflecting chamber (10). A fastening device (13) is provided for detachably fastening the respective inlet (11) at the respective outlet end (8) of the mounting tube (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Werni, Rainer Lehnen
  • Patent number: 8621854
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for exhaust gas produced by an engine includes a condition control module, a load determination module, and an age determination module. The condition control module decreases a load on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst below a predetermined load threshold and increases exhaust gas temperature (EGT) to a predetermined temperature. The load determination module increases injection of a dosing agent into the exhaust gas and determines a load on the SCR catalyst when dosing agent is detected downstream from the SCR catalyst. The age determination module determines an age of the SCR catalyst based the determined load and predetermined loads for first and second SCR catalysts, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Kyle E. Crawford, Rebecca J Darr
  • Patent number: 8621855
    Abstract: A work machine (10) comprises an auxiliary electro-hydraulic circuit (22) adapted to operate a hydraulic actuator (16) of an auxiliary tool (12) when the auxiliary tool (12) is attached to the work machine. The auxiliary electro-hydraulic circuit (22) is electrically controlled by a controller unit (24) in a proportional mode or a continuous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rian Scot Meyeres, Dennis Patrick Reiter, Paul Ernst, Glenn O. Scheer
  • Patent number: 8621856
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive train with energy dissipation for electrical generation. A hydraulic pump is provided in the nacelle of the windmill and powered by the wind turbine shaft. This hydraulic pump provides high pressure oil to generators, typically at ground level. The generators are protected from high pressure oil spikes by a pressure relief valve. Electric pumps on the ground level provide or supercharge the oil to the hydraulic pump in the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Windera Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Burt
  • Patent number: 8621857
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an energy storage device is presented. The energy storage device includes a porous material that adsorbs air and a compressor. The compressor converts mechanical energy into pressurized air and heat, and the pressurized air is cooled and adsorbed by the porous material. The energy storage device also includes a tank used to store the pressurized and adsorbed air and a motor. The motor is driven to recover the energy stored as compressed and adsorbed air by allowing the air to desorb and expand while driving the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Compression Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy F. Havel
  • Patent number: 8621858
    Abstract: An assembly (10) forming part of a regenerative drive system for a motor lorry. The motor lorry has a driven train that is operatively associated with the assembly (10) so as to cause operation of the assembly (10) to store energy, or alternatively to be driven by the assembly (10) by depletion of energy stored by the assembly (10). The assembly (10) includes a variable angled swash plate pump/motor (11) that is drivingly associated with the drive train and the motor lorry. The assembly (10) includes a clutch (13) that is engaged when the motor lorry is de-accelerating, to cause the pump/motor (11) to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Permo-Drive Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: John Graham Thompson, Christopher Scott Marshall
  • Patent number: 8621859
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for actuating a motor vehicle transmission by a control hydraulic power source that includes a control hydraulic pump for providing a high hydraulic pressure, a control pressure accumulator, and a low-pressure hydraulic pump for providing low-pressure volumetric flow of hydraulic fluid for operating a low-pressure hydraulic component. The low-pressure pump is operatively drivingly connected with the control hydraulic pump that is connected in a charged manner with the control pressure accumulator and with a transmission actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Marco Grethel
  • Patent number: 8621860
    Abstract: A work machine includes a fluid circuit for use with an attachment configured to operate using one of a uni-directional flow and a bi-directional flow through the attachment. An operator-enabled mode selection switch operably connects to a controller. An electrical circuit includes the operator-enabled mode selection switch and a second operator-enabled switch. A first control valve is in fluid communication with the attachment. In response to the mode selection switch being operator-actuated to a bi-directional mode setting, the first control valve via the controller is actuatable to one of the bi-directional positions, electrical power being unavailable to the second operator-enabled switch of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Hennemann, C. David Anderson, Garrett L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8621861
    Abstract: An actuating armature, in particular a brake and/or clutch armature, has a housing (2) in which is arranged a piston (5) moveable in a cylinder space (3) by an actuating element (7) in order to displace liquid. An equalizing space and/or storage tank (19) is arranged within the cylinder space (3) and/or within the piston (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Cherubin
  • Patent number: 8621862
    Abstract: A remote cooling system (10) for cooling turbocharged compressed air from a charge-air cooled engine (12) which is placed within an enclosed environment. The cooling system (10) comprises a charge-air cooler (14) located a predetermined distance from the engine (12). The charge-air cooler (14) comprises a fluid receiver (16) which receives turbocharged air from the engine 12, an air-to-water heat exchanger (24) which cools the turbocharged air received from the fluid receiver (16), and a fluid return member (26) for returning cooled air to the engine (12). A secondary cooling device (34), located outside of the enclosed environment, provides heat transfer from the heat exchanger (24) within the charge-air cooler (14) to an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Michael W. Sprenger, Matthew L. Warnick
  • Patent number: 8621863
    Abstract: In a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a turbine housing having first and second spiral passages, each of which is connected to at least one exhaust gas line of an exhaust train of the internal combustion engine and a turbine wheel disposed within a rotor chamber of the turbine housing and connected to a compressor impeller via a drive shaft for rotation with the impeller, the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine can be routed through the spiral passages for admission to the turbine wheel via the first and second spiral passages which have different wrap angles around the turbine wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Stephan Krätschrner, Wolfram Schmid, Michael Stiller, Siegfried Sumser
  • Patent number: 8621864
    Abstract: A method for controlling charge flow in an internal combustion engine includes operating an engine having a VGT. The method includes determining a target and current charge flow and EGR flow. The method further includes determining an error term for the charge flow and the EGR flow, and determining an exhaust pressure feedback command in response to the error terms. The exhaust pressure feedback command is combined with an exhaust pressure feedforward command, and the VGT is controlled in response to the exhaust pressure feedback command. The method additionally includes determining the exhaust pressure feedback command in response to a current EGR valve position. The method further includes controlling an EGR flow rate with the EGR valve at relatively closed EGR valve positions, and controlling the EGR flow rate with exhaust pressure at relatively open EGR valve positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Osburn, Mert Geveci, Martin T. Books
  • Patent number: 8621865
    Abstract: Embodiments for cooling a turbine of an engine are provided. In one example embodiment, an internal combustion engine comprises a turbocharger including a turbine having a coolant jacket integrated in a housing of the turbine, and an oil circuit coupled to the coolant jacket of the turbine. By cooling the turbine with the oil circuit, the turbine may be constructed from less-heat resistant materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Ludwig Stump, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Bernd Steiner, Carsten Weber, Franz J. Brinkmann, Frank Kraemer, Jens Groeger
  • Patent number: 8621866
    Abstract: A steam power unit including a double-flow medium pressure turbine section that is fluidically connected to a low pressure turbine section is provided. A flow section of the medium pressure turbine section is configured to supply an external steam consumer. A throttle valve for adjusting the pressure in the steam extraction line is arranged only in a turbine discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Pieper, Rudolf Pötter
  • Patent number: 8621867
    Abstract: Provided is a rotating energy conversion device that includes a heat absorber having a working fluid therein, a power converter in fluid communication with the heat absorber, and a heat rejecter in fluid communication with each one of the heat absorber and the power converter. The device may utilize an energy source that provides radiant energy to the heat absorber. The device may utilize a segmented energy source that may have a plurality of segments, wherein each segment may be either activated or deactivated to deliver the radiant energy to the heat absorber. The device may utilize waste heat produced by the device to create additional work. Furthermore, the device may utilize multiple thermodynamic cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Separation Design Group, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Douglas Galbraith
  • Patent number: 8621868
    Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Research Foundation of the City University of New York
    Inventor: Reuel Shinnar
  • Patent number: 8621869
    Abstract: An air/fuel mixture is received in an oxidation reaction chamber. The air/fuel mixture has a low concentration of fuel, for example, below a lower explosive limit (LEL). The mixture is received while a temperature of a region in the oxidation reaction chamber is below a temperature sufficient to oxidize the fuel. The temperature of the region is raised to at least the oxidation temperature (the temperature sufficient to oxidize the fuel) primarily using heat energy released from oxidizing the air/fuel mixture in a different region in the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Edan Prabhu
  • Patent number: 8621870
    Abstract: A method is provided for fuel injection in a sequential combustion system comprising a first combustion chamber and downstream thereof a second combustion chamber, in between which at least one vortex generator is located, as well as a premixing chamber having a longitudinal axis downstream of the vortex generator, and a fuel lance having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, being located within said premixing chamber. The fuel injected is an MBtu-fuel. In said premixing chamber the fuel and a gas contained in an oxidizing stream coming from the first combustion chamber are premixed to a combustible mixture. The fuel is injected in such a way that the residence time of the fuel in the premixing chamber is reduced in comparison with a radial injection of the fuel from the horizontal portion of the fuel lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Adnan Eroglu
  • Patent number: 8621871
    Abstract: Systems and methods involving multiple torque paths of gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative method for reducing overspeed potential of a turbine of a gas turbine engine includes: providing a first load to the turbine via a first torque path; providing a second load to the turbine via a second torque path; and operating the turbine such that: mechanical failure of a component defining at least a portion of the first torque path does not inhibit the second load from being applied to the turbine via the second torque path; and mechanical failure of a component defining the second torque path does not inhibit the first load from being applied to the turbine via the first torque path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 8621872
    Abstract: A method and device for converting thermal energy from carbonaceous raw materials into mechanical work is provided. The device includes at least one first and one second device for storing and releasing thermal energy connected at least intermittently alternatingly in a turbine branch having a gas turbine connected downstream. The method includes the steps of: a) combusting a gas in a gas burner; b) passing the smoke gases arising in the gas burner through a device for storing thermal energy; and c) feeding the hot air released by at least one device into the gas turbine, wherein the gasification of the carbonaceous raw materials takes place in a gasifier in a first step and the product gas is fed into the gas burner connected downstream of the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Dragan Stevanovic, Sven Johannssen, Reinhard Pritscher
  • Patent number: 8621873
    Abstract: A system for moving an auxiliary component of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The system may have a mobile support platform configured to support the auxiliary component during operation of the gas turbine engine. The system may further have at least one guide assembly operably connected to the mobile support platform and configured to guide movement of the mobile support platform. The system may also have a drive assembly operably connected to the mobile support platform and configured to impart movement of the mobile support platform between an elevated position and a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Robertson, Ian Trevor Brown, Steven Gastelum, Daniel James Doll, John Raymond Hawley
  • Patent number: 8621874
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for an engine core of a turbomachine is provided. The coupling assembly comprises a duct having a substantially circular shape and surrounding the engine core, and a plurality of coupling struts, each coupling strut extending only in a substantially vertical direction relative to the direction of gravity when the engine core is at a rest position with zero pitch and zero roll, each of the plurality of coupling struts coupling the engine core to the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Russell Watson, Max Warden
  • Patent number: 8621875
    Abstract: A method of removing heat from a heat generating component. A geometrically reoriented heat pipe is formed including an evaporator section and a condenser section geometrically reoriented relative to the evaporator section. The evaporator section is positioned proximate to the heat generating component. A thermoelectric element is positioned between the at least one heat generating component and the evaporator section. Heat is transferred, via the thermoelectric element, from the heat generating component to a heat transfer fluid contained within the evaporator section. The heated fluid migrates to the condenser section. The fluid is cooled within the condenser section and the fluid is returned to the evaporator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ThermoTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Overton L. Parish, Tony Quisenberry, Clark R. Havis
  • Patent number: 8621876
    Abstract: Provided for an embodiment is a support member for a cryogenic cooler's expander. The support member provides stiffness to the expander to reduce movements at the expander's distal end and may increase the natural frequency of the expander. The support member may increase the natural frequency of the expander at least about two times in the bending and/or twisting sense. The bending natural frequency of the expander and support sub-assembly may be at least about two times greater or lower than the natural frequency of the electrical wires that connect an infrared sensor to a control processing unit to reduce the maximum stress applied to the electrical wires during use. In another embodiment, additional or redundant electrical pathways are provided for connections between the infrared sensor and the CPU. Furthermore, shock absorber and/or shock diverters are provided on rigid pins that connect the electrical wires to the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Bin-Nun, Jose P. Sanchez, Xiaoyan Lei
  • Patent number: 8621877
    Abstract: Kits for constructing a modular merchandizing unit include panels, frame members, joint pieces, and a cooling device. The frame members have a lengthwise shape defining outer and inner panel mounting assemblies and a joint capture region. The mounting assemblies include opposing legs extending from a base web to define a panel engagement region. The joint pieces each include a block core and orthogonally arranged plug assemblies projecting from faces of the core. The plug assemblies mate with the joint capture region. Construction of a unit from the kit includes the frame members retaining selected panels as paired inner and outer panels within corresponding engagement regions. The joint pieces interconnect the frame members and paired panels to form a cabinet. The cooling device is mounted the cabinet. A door assembly can also be mounted to the cabinet. Optionally, foam insulation is dispensed between the paired panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard
  • Patent number: 8621878
    Abstract: The injection device according to the invention, intended to be attached to the wall of the bottom of a container containing a product to be cooled in bulk, includes a hollow cylindrical body in which a valve forced by a spring is inserted, a throughchannel appreciably parallel to said valve intended to be fed by pressurized cryogenic fluid, one end of said through-channel being connected to the cryogenic fluid feed system and the opposite end opening into the seat of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Herve Flamant, Olivier Pouchain, Jacques Fouche, Jo Algoet
  • Patent number: 8621879
    Abstract: A method of charging or recharging an air conditioning wherein an initial amount of refrigerant is introduced, followed by additional introductions of refrigerant during injection pulses. The pulse periods are adjusted dynamically during the charging/recharging process based on feedback obtained after each pulse related to how much refrigerant was transferred during the previous pulse. Also, a system for implementing the above-mentioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC
    Inventors: William Brown, Mark McMasters