Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
  • Patent number: 8661781
    Abstract: An air vehicle propulsion system incorporates an engine core with a power shaft to drive an outer blade row. The power shaft extends through and is supported by a counter rotation transmission unit which drives an inner blade row in counter rotational motion to the outer blade row. The counter rotation transmission unit exchanges power from the engine core with the shaft. An actuator engages the shaft for translation from a first retracted position to a second extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Moore, Kelly L. Boren, Robin B. Langtry
  • Patent number: 8661782
    Abstract: A rotating valve assembly includes an inner cup having at least one inlet port; an outer cup having at least one inlet port, the outer cup rotatably mounted concentric with the inner cup by a bearing arrangement; and a cooling system located between the inner cup and the bearing arrangement for providing a thermal barrier between the inner cup and the bearing arrangement. The valve assembly also includes a labyrinth sealing arrangement located around the at least one inlet port of one of the inner and outer cups for preventing leakage of pressure waves generated by detonations or quasi-detonations within a combustion chamber of the inner cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ross Hartley Kenyon, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Adam Rasheed, Mark Joseph Pombles
  • Patent number: 8661783
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided for warming fuel prior to introduction of the fuel to an engine, the heat exchanger including: a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet; a heat exchange matrix having heat transfer components past which the fuel flows between said inlet and said outlet and which are arranged to be heated; and swirl inducing means arranged between said inlet and said matrix arranged to cause fuel from said inlet to swirl prior to entering said matrix. By causing the fuel to swirl prior to entering the heat exchange matrix, entrained ice in the fuel can be caused to concentrate at an outer region of the heat exchanger thereby allowing fuel to continue to flow through the heat exchanger to the engine even when ice is present in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Peter F W Foster
  • Patent number: 8661784
    Abstract: A method to improve NOx reduction in diesel engine exhausts by selective catalytic reduction using reductants comprising hydrocarbons, comprising passing the exhaust gases through a series of zones, said zones comprising a first zone in which a first catalyst is located that promotes HC SCR, to yield a first product gas; a second zone through which the first product gas is passed and in which a second catalyst is located that promotes the H2-promoted HC SCR reaction to produce a second product gas and a third zone through which the second product gas is passed and in which a third catalyst is located that promotes CO/H2 SCR to yield a final, NOx-depleted, exhaust gas, and admixing a reformate gas comprising CO and H2 with one or more of the exhaust gases, the first product gas and the second product gas. The use of the series of catalysts offers a sound alternative to urea-based SCR, without requiring a source and storage of urea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Toseef Aslam, Valérie Marie Renée Houel, Raj Rao Rajaram
  • Patent number: 8661785
    Abstract: A method for operating a liquid reductant injection system is provided. The method includes storing a reductant mixture of ethanol, water, and urea; drawing the stored mixture into an electrically heated pick-up tube for delivery via a delivery line to the exhaust by operating a pump in a first direction; and, clearing a return line that returns the stored mixture or the delivery line by operating the pump in a second, reverse, direction. In this way, by including ethanol in the reductant solution, a freezing point temperature of the liquid reductant may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Thomas A. McCarthy, Bret Alan Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8661786
    Abstract: A passive secondary air delivery system for a two bed catalyst is provided. The system delivers passive secondary air to the second catalyst bed to facilitate oxidation of CO and remaining unburned HC. In a turbocharged engine, the secondary air may be provided from the compressor side of the turbocharger. Control of the amount of air bled from the turbocharger is provided by an orifice in the pipe connecting the turbocharger to the catalyst bed. No active controls are required. In non-turbocharged engines, passive secondary air may be provided by a venturi mixer ported to ambient positioned between the two catalyst beds. In either embodiment, no moving parts or active controls are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey V. Hemsley
  • Patent number: 8661787
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a three-way catalyst cooled by a coolant and treating internal combustion engine exhaust by oxidizing HC and CO and reducing NOx is provided to prevent false-fail monitoring. An initial lean kick excursion of fuel-air ratio Phi is provided prior to the first reducing step or interval of the first cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Przybyl, William R. Robertson, Mark A. Frank, Kasser A. Jaffri, Ronald L. Hall
  • Patent number: 8661788
    Abstract: A low-oxygen content exhaust flow produced by an engine that is combusting, on average, a stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel generally contains various unwanted gaseous emissions. The exhaust flow is treated by an exhaust aftertreatment system that includes a three-way-catalyst (TWC) and an ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (ammonia-SCR) catalyst positioned downstream from the TWC in a flow direction of the exhaust flow. The ammonia-SCR catalyst includes (1) a base metal ion-substituted zeolite and/or a base metal ion-substituted silicoaluminophosphate and (2) an oxygen storage material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide or a mixed metal oxide that exhibits oxygen storage and release capacity. The serial arrangement of the TWC and the ammonia-SCR catalyst enhances the conversion of NOX to N2 in the low oxygen-content exhaust flow produced by the engine and helps prevent ammonia slip to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gongshin Qi, Chang H. Kim, Wei Li, Steven J. Schmieg
  • Patent number: 8661789
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system for an internal combustion engine capable of lean-burn driving comprises: an NSR catalyst disposed in an exhaust passageway; an SCR disposed downstream of the NSR catalyst; a NOx sensor, disposed downstream of the SCR, for producing output in response to NOx concentration; and rich-spike means for causing a rich-spike. When the NOx sensor has produced output indicative of a NOx concentration higher than a given NOx concentration, the system increases the amount of the NOx contained in the exhaust gas discharged during the rich-spike. Under a given high-load condition, the air-fuel ratio is made stoichiometric during the rich-spike caused at a particular timing. Under a given low-load condition, the amount of exhaust gas is increased during the rich-spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8661790
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided, and includes an exhaust gas conduit, an upstream selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device, an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device, an oxidation catalyst (“OC”) device, a downstream SCR device, and a control module. The EHC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and is configured to receive the exhaust gas. The EHC device is located downstream of the upstream SCR device and is selectively activated to produce heat. The OC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit, and is selectively heated by the EHC device. At least one of the EHC device and the OC device have a NOx adsorber catalyst disposed thereon for selectively adsorbing NOx below a threshold temperature and substantially releasing NOx above the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Charles E. Solbrig
  • Patent number: 8661791
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system includes a nitrogen oxide (NOx) monitoring module and a regeneration control module. The NOx monitoring module monitors first and second NOx levels in an exhaust stream produced by an engine, wherein the first NOx level is measured between first and second portions of a substrate of a NOx adsorber, wherein the second NOx level is measured upstream from the first portion of the substrate, and wherein the first portion of the substrate is upstream from the second portion of the substrate. The regeneration control module initiates a regeneration cycle of the NOx adsorber when the first NOx level is greater than a predetermined percentage of the second NOx level, wherein the regeneration cycle includes injecting hydrocarbons (HC) into the exhaust stream at a location upstream from the NOx adsorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Mary Beth Furness
  • Patent number: 8661792
    Abstract: An exhaust line has upstream and downstream blocks for processing exhaust gases. An injection section is arranged between an upstream face defined by the upstream block and a downstream face defined by the downstream block and includes a circulation channel for the exhaust gas flow extending from the upstream face to the downstream face. The channel includes a central line having a determined length between the upstream and downstream faces. The injection section includes a reagent injector capable of injecting a reagent into the injection section. The injection section has a first cup inside the circulation channel in the flow path such that the average path of exhaust gas jets is higher by at least 20% in relation to the predetermined length. A second cup is arranged inside the circulation channel between the upstream face and the first cup. The reagent is done between the first cup and the second cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Systemes d'Echappement
    Inventors: Frederic Greber, Yohann Perrot, Jean-Paul Brunel
  • Patent number: 8661793
    Abstract: A construction machine including an engine, a fuel tank, and a liquid reductant tank. The construction machine further includes a tank cover, and the fuel tank has an upper surface including a high-position surface and a low-position surface located at a lower position than the high-position surface and adjacent to the high-position surface through a step. The tank cover is provided over the low-position surface and at a height position approximately equal to that of the high-position surface to define a liquid reductant tank installation space in cooperation with the low-position surface. The liquid reductant tank has a replenishment port, installed in the liquid reductant tank installation space so that the replenishment port is close to a lower surface of the tank cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Masaaki Murakami, Takayuki Okunishi
  • Patent number: 8661794
    Abstract: An improved Diesel exhaust filter element of the type having a rigid porous wall portion formed of an acicular ceramic (such as acicular mullite), the porous wall portion having a first side and a second side, the porous wall portion being coated with a precious metal catalyst and a Nox absorbent, such that when exhaust gas from a Diesel engine is flowed through the rigid porous wall from the first side to the second side, the exhaust gas containing excess oxygen, Nox and soot, the soot in the exhaust gas in trapped within the rigid porous wall and catalytically oxidized to carbon dioxide, the NO is catalytically oxidized to NO2, which NO2 is then absorbed by the Nox absorbent, and such that when the exhaust gas is caused to contain excess hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide, then the Nox absorbent is regenerated and the remaining hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide are catalytically converted to nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Cheng G. Li, Robin Ziebarth, Martin C. Cornell, Steven B. Swatzmiller
  • Patent number: 8661795
    Abstract: An exhaust system for exhausting multiple cylinders of a small engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a plurality of exhaust units is described herein. Each exhaust unit of the exhaust system is operatively and fluidly connected to a separate cylinder of the small engine such that the exhaust gases from each cylinder remain separated as they pass through different exhaust units of the exhaust system. The exhaust system includes at least two exhaust units, and of the exhaust units is separated by an inner chamber wall that is shared by adjacent exhaust units yet prevents fluid communication between the adjacent exhaust units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Jimmy N. Eavenson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8661796
    Abstract: A vehicle control device applied to a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrically heated catalyst which is warmed by applying a current, and includes a catalyst carrier supporting a catalyst and a carrier retention unit that retains the catalyst carrier and has an electrical insulation property. The vehicle control device includes an insulation resistance determination unit which determines whether or not an insulation resistance of the carrier retention unit decreases to a value equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and an applying current prohibition unit which prohibits applying the current to the electrically heated catalyst when the insulation resistance determination unit determines that the insulation resistance decreases to the value equal to or lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Noriaki Kumagai, Naoya Takagi
  • Patent number: 8661797
    Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system for an engine comprises an oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber wherein an oxidation catalyst compound and a NOx adsorber compound are disposed. A fuel injector is connected to and is in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber device for delivery of a hydrocarbon fuel thereto and an air pump is connected to and is in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber device for delivery of air thereto. The fuel injector and the air pump supply fuel and air to the oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber device for oxidation thereof and heating of the NOx adsorber compound to a NOx release temperature following shut down of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Joshua Clifford Bedford
  • Patent number: 8661798
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an air entrainment component that is used to reduce exhaust gas temperatures exiting the vehicle exhaust system. The air entrainment component includes an exhaust pipe with a non-circular cross-section at one end and an overlap tube that substantially surrounds the non-circular cross-section to form an air gap between the exhaust pipe and the overlap tube. Cooling external air is drawn into the air gap to cool heated exhaust gases within the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies
    Inventor: David M. Prather
  • Patent number: 8661799
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine comprises an exhaust line, at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment device arranged in the exhaust line, and a heat source and a heat sink arranged in separate branches of the exhaust line upstream of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device, an exhaust gas flow rate through each respective separate exhaust branch controlled by at least one flow control device. In this way, the temperature of the exhaust entering the aftertreatment device may be controlled by an amount of exhaust that flows through each branch of the exhaust line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 8661800
    Abstract: A heat transfer method for an engine is disclosed herein utilizing a heat battery configured to store waste exhaust heat in phase-chase materials for use during a subsequent engine start. By reusing waste exhaust heat in this manner, exhaust emissions may be reduced, and delays in heating the vehicle cabin and other vehicle systems after engine start may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Donald Masch, Danrich Henry Demitroff, James Patrick O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8661801
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generator apparatus of a vehicle, may include a high temperature member installed on an external wall of the exhaust pipe inside a silencer of the vehicle and exchanging heat with the exhaust gas, a low temperature member installed on the external wall of the exhaust pipe and at a side of the high temperature member, and a thermoelectric module formed by joining a P-shaped semi-conductor and an N-shaped semi-conductor, wherein the thermoelectric module may be installed on the external wall of the exhaust pipe between the high temperature member and the low temperature member so that a side thereof may be heated by the high temperature member and the other side thereof may be cooled by the low temperature member in order to use a thermoelectric phenomenon caused by a temperature difference between the side and the other side of the thermoelectric module to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dea-Gil Hwang
  • Patent number: 8661802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flange plate for connecting exhaust pipes to a combustion engine, with at least two connecting sockets integrally moulded on the flange plate, on each of which an exhaust pipe can be fastened, and with a plurality of through openings for fixing the flange plate to the combustion engine. Thermal expansion effects can be better compensated if at least one of the connecting sockets is formed in a connecting region, which is surrounded by a slit penetrating the flange plate, wherein the respective slit comprises at least one interruption and the respective connecting region in the region of the respective interruption is connected to the remaining flange plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Riekers, Angela Hettel
  • Patent number: 8661803
    Abstract: An exhaust diluting and diffusing apparatus includes a first pipe forming a vertically directed outlet for an exhaust conduit and a second diffuser pipe mounted to receive an exhaust gas flow from the outlet of the first pipe, the second pipe having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first pipe to define an ambient air inlet gap surrounding the outlet of the first pipe, and being sufficiently wide to allow the exhaust gas to expand and diffuse in the second pipe. The device further includes a dispersing outlet mounted at an end of the second pipe and configured to direct exhaust gas radially outward, an area defined by the diffuser outlet being greater than an area of the outlet of the first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sponsky, Edward M Smith, III
  • Patent number: 8661804
    Abstract: A control system for a swashplate pump is disclosed. The control system may have a tiltable swashplate, at least one actuator movable to tilt the swashplate, a supply of pressurized fluid, and a drain. The control system may also have a first circuit connectable to the supply of pressurized fluid and to the drain and configured to control operation of the at least one actuator, and a second circuit connectable to the supply of pressurized fluid and to the drain and configured to control operation of the at least one actuator. The control system may further have a failsafe valve configured to connect the first circuit to at least one of the supply and the drain only during a normal operating condition, and to connect the second circuit to the supply and to the drain only during a failsafe condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph Wagner
  • Patent number: 8661805
    Abstract: A fluid type power transmission system includes a fluid type power transmission device and a control part. The fluid type power transmission device includes an inlet part and an outlet part for a working fluid. The fluid type power transmission device is configured to transmit power in response to circulation of the working fluid in the interior thereof. The control part is configured to control a pressure of the working fluid in the inlet part by regulating a pressure of the working fluid in the outlet part of the fluid type power transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuma, Osamu Kodama
  • Patent number: 8661806
    Abstract: An adaptive, low-impact vehicle energy harvester system, and a method of harvesting vehicle energy, is provided. The system includes a plurality of channels disposed longitudinally in a trafficway, wherein each of the plurality of channels includes one or more compressible, elongated hollow bodies such that a movement of a vehicle along the trafficway causes contents in the elongated hollow bodies to be expelled from one end, a motor in communication with the hollow bodies such that the contents expelled from one end of the hollow bodies actuate the motor, and a control unit that varies a resistance to the movement of the contents in the elongated hollow bodies based on at least one of a mass of the vehicle, a velocity of the vehicle, and a rate of change of velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kinetic Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Brian S. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8661807
    Abstract: The present invention provides a potential energy regenerating system and method and an electricity regenerating system and method. The potential energy regenerating system comprises: a liquid storage bag module, having a compressible liquid storage bag; a pipe line module, including a liquid access opening switch control device and a pipe line connected to the liquid access opening control device; a liquid storage tank module, including a liquid storage tank with a bottom higher than the highest position where the liquid storage bag module can reach; and a squeezing weight module, including a squeezing weight mass and a control device, wherein the squeezing weight mass is placed on a top of the compressible liquid storage bag, and the control device controls to lift and release the squeezing weight mass. The electricity regenerating system uses the foregoing potential energy regenerating system to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Yuh-Huei Shyu
  • Patent number: 8661808
    Abstract: In various embodiments, efficiency of energy storage and recovery systems employing compressed air and liquid heat exchange is improved via control of the system operation and/or the properties of the heat-exchange liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SustainX, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bollinger, Patrick Magari, Troy O. McBride
  • Patent number: 8661809
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic system has at least one supply device, in particular a hydraulic pump (3) supplying different hydraulic consumers. A synchronizing device (33, 35) ensures that, if at least one hydraulic consumer is not supplied sufficiently, the deficit in volumetric flow for that consumer is compensated such that all the consumers compensate for the deficit equally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Winfried Rüb
  • Patent number: 8661810
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator includes an SMA element and a flexible outer coating or layer. The element is respectively activated by a heating source. The layer surrounds the element, and enhances the heat transfer characteristics of the element to increase the speed of the actuation cycle. The nominal geometry and/or thermal conductivity may be altered during an activation phase, and may include discrete elements oriented with respect to the element, and partially embedded in the layer. An end gripper assembly may be used to cause the layer to move in concert with the element during a phase transformation. An electro-mechanical system includes the cooling source and the actuator. A method includes connecting the actuator to a load, activating the element using the heating source, and deactivating the element using a cooling source or free/ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Xiujie Gao, James Holbrook Brown, Nilesh D. Mankame, Nicholas W. Pinto, IV
  • Patent number: 8661811
    Abstract: A vehicle brake device includes an elastic body being formed such that a circulation of an operation fluid is permitted from a front end to a rear end of the elastic body until a filling rate of the elastic body reaches a predetermined value in a filling area where deformation of the elastic body is stopped by restraint of a control piston in a state where a forward stroke of the control piston is less than at least a predetermined stroke, but the circulation of the operation fluid is stopped when the filling rate reaches the predetermined value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Risa Hirano, Kouji Sakai, Hiromitsu Takizawa, Hideki Hidume
  • Patent number: 8661812
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake pedal unit coupled to a vehicle brake pedal. The system includes an input piston connected to operate a pedal simulator during a normal braking mode, and coupled to actuate a pair of output pistons during a manual push through mode. The output pistons are operable to generate brake actuating pressure at first and second outputs of the brake pedal unit. A hydraulic pressure source supplies fluid at a controlled boost pressure. A hydraulic control unit is adapted to be hydraulically connected to the brake pedal unit and the hydraulic pressure source. The hydraulic control unit includes a slip control valve arrangement, and a switching base brake valve arrangement for switching the brake system between the normal braking mode wherein boost pressure from the pressure source is supplied to first and second vehicle brakes, and the manual push through mode wherein brake actuating pressure from the brake pedal unit is supplied to the first and second vehicle brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Blaise Ganzel
  • Patent number: 8661813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling and/or adjusting the charging pressure of an exhaust gas turbocharger of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas turbocharger having a turbine, a compressor which is driven by the latter and which makes available compressed fluid for the internal combustion engine, and a pressure setting device for setting the turbine inlet pressure. Here, it is provided that the turbine inlet pressure is set to a defined turbine inlet pressure such that for the internal combustion engine there is a maximum indicated medium pressure and/or a maximum effective medium pressure, the defined turbine inlet pressure being computed by means of an air model. The invention furthermore relates to an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Hermann Henning
  • Patent number: 8661814
    Abstract: A turbocharger compressor bypass valve is disclosed. In one example, the compressor bypass valve operates inversely proportional to engine throttle operation. The approach may simplify compressor bypass valve control and reduced engine system complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Keith Michael Plagens, Henry W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8661815
    Abstract: Various systems and method for heating an engine in a vehicle are described. In one example, intake air flowing in a first direction may be heated via a gas-to-gas heat exchange with exhaust gases. The heated intake air may then be used in a subsequent gas-to-liquid heat exchange to heat a fluid circulating through the engine. In another example, intake air flowing in a second direction may be heated via a heat exchange with exhaust gases in order to cool an exhaust catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8661816
    Abstract: A hybrid internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a piston disposed within the cylinder, the piston constructed and arranged to reciprocate within the cylinder, and a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder and the top of the piston. The hybrid internal combustion engine also includes an exhaust manifold and a heat exchanger disposed within the exhaust manifold. A pump disposed between the heat exchanger and a fluid reservoir is provided to deliver fluid from the reservoir to the heat exchanger, whereby the fluid in the heat exchanger is heated and turned into high pressure gas (HPG) when the combustion gases are exhausted from the combustion chamber via the exhaust manifold. The resulting HPG may then be introduced into the combustion chamber to provide a HPG power stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Will Weldon Mathews, Harry Bruce Crower, Tibor Kiss
  • Patent number: 8661817
    Abstract: The coolant in the cooling jacket of a dual cycle internal combustion steam engine is intentionally maintained at an elevated temperature that may typically range from about 225° F.-300° F. or more. A non-aqueous liquid coolant is used to cool the combustion chamber together with a provision for controlling the flow rate and residence time of the coolant within the cooling jacket to maintain the temperature of the coolant at a selected elevated temperature that is substantially above the boiling point of water but below the boiling point of the coolant. The coolant is passed from the jacket through a heat exchanger in a first circuit to transfer heat to a vaporizable working fluid such as water and is then returned. An optional second circuit is an intrajacket perturbation circuit within the engine can be used to disrupt and disperse pockets of vapor that may tend to form before damaging hot spots can develop around the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Thermal Power Recovery LLC
    Inventors: James V. Harmon, Sr., Jerry A. Peoples
  • Patent number: 8661818
    Abstract: A hot dry rock generation system, having: a recharge well that is formed from the ground to an underground hot dry rock into which a heat carrier streams through the recharge well; a production well that is formed from the underground hot dry rock from which the heated heat carrier is streams through the production well; a power generation plant that converts the thermal energy of the heat carrier streaming out of, into electric energy; a collecting tank that stores the heat carrier discharged from the power generation plant; a sealing water pump that sucks the heat carrier collected in the collecting tank and makes the heat carrier stream into the recharge well, whereby the hot dry rock generation system is provided with a heat exchanger into which the heat carrier streaming out of the production well streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Koji Hiramoto, Ichiro Nakajo, Yoshiyuki Yokohama
  • Patent number: 8661819
    Abstract: A system reclaiming contaminated water includes a heat exchanger that receives the contaminated water and converts at least a portion of the contaminated water into steam and collects at least a portion of the contaminants within the heat exchanger. A thermal transfer fluid is heated by a solar concentrator during daytime and by a biofuel combustion device during nighttime. The heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the contaminated water. A steam engine is coupled to a generator, the steam engine receives the steam from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to provide power for the system. Steam exhausted from the steam engine is supplied to supplemental heat loads. The collected contaminants are directed to an evaporation device to remove residual liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Morningside Venture Investments Limited
    Inventor: Frank Schubert
  • Patent number: 8661820
    Abstract: LNG is regasified with concurrent power production in systems and methods where the refrigeration content of the LNG condenses a low pressure working fluid vapor and in which the combined refrigeration content of the warmed LNG and low pressure working fluid condensate condenses an intermediate pressure working fluid vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8661821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing coal consumption in coal fired plant with fluidized-bed drying, namely a fluidized-bed drying system is provided between a coal powder bunker as well as a weighing belt and a coal grinding mill of the prior coal fired boiler generating set, and superheated steam which has done partial work is extracted from an steam turbine and used as a drying medium, moisture contained in the coal powder is evaporated with sensible heat and latent heat of the superheated steam, water resulted from the condensation of the superheated steam is fed into a deaerator of the steam turbine via a condensate pump for recirculation. The present invention has advantages of reducing coal consumption and saving coal, recovering residual heat, reducing emission of carbon dioxide and adopting to the national industrial policy on energy saving and emission reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Tianhua Institute of Chemical Machinery and Automation, National Engineering Technology Research Center of Drying Technology & Equipment, Lanzhou Ruide Drying Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xu Zhao, Maikui Zhang, Yan Dou, Yongzhong Jiang, Jinwen Shi
  • Patent number: 8661822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a variable geometry resonator configured to couple to a fluid path upstream from a combustor of a turbine engine. The variable geometry resonator is configured to dampen pressure oscillations in the fluid path and the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ilya Slobodyanskiy, John Lipinski, Shiva Srinivasan, Dmitry Tretyakov
  • Patent number: 8661823
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine includes a fuel nozzle body or endcover. The fuel nozzle body or endcover includes at least one seal surface. The fuel nozzle also includes at least one flexible hose and at least one flange connected to the flexible hose. The at least one flange is fastened to the fuel nozzle body at the at least one seal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Keith Cletus Belsom, Seth Reynolds Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8661824
    Abstract: An airblast fuel nozzle assembly (10) comprising a sleeve structure having a series of coaxial sleeves forming an inner-air circuit, an outer-air circuit, a main-fuel-feed circuit, and a pilot-fuel-feed circuit. The pilot-fuel-feed circuit includes a channel (44), and a discharge region (45) with exits (46). The exits (46) have a combined cross-sectional area that is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the channel (44) upstream of the discharge region (45). In this manner, the pilot-fuel-feed circuit itself can provide a relatively large pressure drop across the channel region (44), and thereby assist in self atomization during ignition stages of engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Pelletier, Michael K. Teter
  • Patent number: 8661825
    Abstract: A unitary fuel injection manifold for a secondary fuel nozzle improves fuel-air mixing and offers flexibility to alter the mixing profile through adaptability to a variety of number, types, and orientation of discharge outlets to the combustion air mixing space around the secondary fuel nozzle. An aerodynamic surface with reduced extension into the mixing space reduces pressures drop and interference with design airflow. Manifold integrity is enhanced by elimination of fillet welds to mount external pegs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Divyang Rajendra Desai, Sandeep Gopalakrishna, Kodukulla Venkat Sridhar, Amit Monga
  • Patent number: 8661826
    Abstract: A coated turbine engine article having a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first wall has a shielding feature integral with the article and which inhibits entry of a coating material into an open passage extending between the first wall and the second wall when the coating material is directed towards the article using a line of sight process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Ian M Garry, Michael N Wybro
  • Patent number: 8661827
    Abstract: A plate-like-object manufacturing method, plate-like objects, a gas-turbine combustor, and a gas turbine, in which degradation in the cooling performance can be suppressed, the time required for manufacturing a gas-turbine combustor can be shortened, and deterioration of the working environment can be prevented are provided. A plate-like-object manufacturing method includes a step of forming a plate-like object by stacking a plurality of plates and arranging a plurality of channels, through which a cooling medium flows, side-by-side between the plurality of plates; and a step of arranging a plurality of the plate-like objects side-by-side in a direction in which the channels are arranged, butting the plurality of plate-like objects against each other, and performing welding at an abutment section. The channels adjacent to the abutment section extend along the abutment section and have a greater dimension in the direction in which the channels are arranged, as compared with that of other channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Morimoto, Hidenori Kanki, Tatsuo Ishiguro, Hiroki Shibata, Tetsu Konishi, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 8661828
    Abstract: A turbomachine including an annular combustion chamber, a sectorized turbine nozzle arranged at an outlet from the chamber, and a sealing mechanism interposed axially between the chamber and the nozzle, the sealing mechanism including an annular gasket that is axially resilient. The gasket includes a first axial bearing mechanism for bearing against a downstream end of the chamber and a downstream annular lip that is sectorized, each sector of the downstream lip being in alignment with a sector of the nozzle and including a second axial bearing mechanism for bearing against an upstream end of the nozzle sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Christophe Pieussergues, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 8661829
    Abstract: An annular shroud (42), having an internal face intended to cover the back end wall (33) of an annular combustion chamber (12) of a turbomachine (14) fitted with a centrifugal compressor, together with an external face opposite said internal face, and where said shroud includes multiple apertures (54) intended to allow fuel injectors (38, 40) supported by said back end wall (33) to pass through, together with multiple bosses (56) which extend as projections on said external face radially towards the interior respectively from the respective radially internal edges (58) of said apertures (54), such that each of said bosses (56) delimits an extension (60) of the corresponding aperture (54) open radially towards the exterior so as to form an air intake scoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Sebastien Alain Christophe Bourgois, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8661830
    Abstract: A hybrid multichannel porous structure for processing between two fluid streams of different compositions includes a housing and one or more structures disposed within the cavity of the housing in a shell and tube configuration. Each structure includes a body made of a porous, inorganic material and a plurality of channels for processing an optional sweep stream. Each channel is coated with a membrane layer. A feed stream introduced into the housing is in direct contact with the structures such that a gas selectively permeates through the body and into the channels. The gas combines with the sweep stream to form a permeate that exits from each channel. The remaining feed stream forms a retentate that exits from the housing. The feed stream may consist of syngas containing hydrogen gas and the sweep stream may contain nitrogen gas. A power plant that incorporates the hybrid structure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Kevin Paul McEvoy, Patrick Daniel Willson, Parag Parkash Kulkarni, Roger Allen Shisler, Anoop Muralidhara Kurup