Patents Issued in April 14, 2015
  • Patent number: 9003780
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device capable of enhancing handling operability such as maintenance of an engine includes two gas purification bodies which purify exhaust gas discharged from the engine, inner cases in which the gas purification bodies are incorporated, and outer cases in which the inner cases are incorporated. The outer cases are arranged side by side in a moving direction of exhaust gas and connected to each other. One of the adjoining inner cases is inserted into the other inner case to form a double-layer structure. A loosely-fitting gap is formed between an inner side surface of the one inner case and an outer side surface of the other inner case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Mitsuda, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 9003781
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pre-turbo catalyst positioned within a turbine in a turbocharger of an engine are disclosed. In one example approach, a turbocharger for an engine comprises a turbine and a catalyst substrate mounted directly within the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Murphy
  • Patent number: 9003782
    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: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG, Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Marcus Werni, Rainer Lehnen
  • Patent number: 9003783
    Abstract: A diesel locomotive burner arrangement for controlling the temperature of exhaust gas at the exhaust aftertreatment system thereby controlling the oxidation of soot within the aftertreatment system filters. The burner is arranged in isolation of the locomotive engine to ensure freedom from vibration and excessive thermal input, as well as ease of servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Ajay Patel
  • Patent number: 9003784
    Abstract: A module for a thermoelectric generator includes first and second ends, at least one inner tube and one outer tube disposed around the outside of the inner tube and at least one thermoelectric element disposed between the inner and outer tubes. The inner and outer tubes are each electrically insulated from the at least one thermoelectric element. At least one electrically conductive first contact is provided on each of the first and second ends, for electrically conductively connecting the at least one thermoelectric element to an electrical conductor. The module can conduct a fluid or coolant flow through the module from the first end to the second end. An electrical conductor, a thermoelectric generator, a motor vehicle and a method for producing a module, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Sigrid Limbeck, Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 9003785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a facility for converting water power into mechanical or electrical energy, including at least one hydraulic turbine, a water reservoir (R), and a pipe (5) for supplying the turbine with water (E) from the water reservoir. The facility also includes a device (200) submerged in the water reservoir and suitable for imposing an ascending movement on a water flow (E0) moving in the water reservoir (R) towards the opening (51) of the supply pipe (5), and a gas-collecting means (400), arranged above a portion (V200) of the device (200) in which the ascending movement of the water flow (E0) takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Renewable Technologies
    Inventor: Paul Toulouse
  • Patent number: 9003786
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for pressure limiting a hydraulic system to a desired pressure value by a particular circuit by controlling and closing the compensator when the desired pressure setting is achieved. Closing the compensator will reduced the pressure head and flow in the circuit resulting in improved efficiency. One illustrated embodiment of the disclosure provides a relief valve in the pilot signal for a compensator. The method relates to limiting the pressure on an open side of the compensator, such that the pressure on the other side closes the compensator thereby limiting the pressure and also flow in the hydraulic circuit. In other words, the pressure on the open side is limited by the relief valve. Thus, the pressure on the other side increases thereby regulating the flow and pressure through the compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Bacon, Jason L. Brinkman, Timothy L. Hand, Randall A. Harlow
  • Patent number: 9003787
    Abstract: An ECU is used for a Stirling engine that is provided with a starter that drives an output shaft of the Stirling engine. The ECU includes a control portion that commences an engine-starting drive of the starter within a phase interval, during which the torque of the Stirling engine that varies according to phase of the output shaft is relatively small. The phase interval is an interval during which the torque of the Stirling engine is less than or equal to the torque obtained when the compression begins. The phase at which the driving of the starter is commenced is set to the phase at which the torque of the Stirling engine becomes smaller than the torque obtained when the compression begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Katayama, Manabu Tateno, Satoshi Komori
  • Patent number: 9003788
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Nilesh D. Mankame, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry
  • Patent number: 9003789
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Nilesh D. Mankame, Richard J. Skurkis, Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 9003790
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a compressor, a turbine, a shaft coupling the compressor to the turbine, and a turbo casing configured to improve pressure recovery and reduce energy loss from exhaust flow. In one embodiment, the turbo casing may include a geometry configured to improve exhaust flow towards an exhaust outlet. The turbo casing may include a torus shaped chamber having a cross-sectional area that progressively increases in an annular direction of the flow towards the exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Loringer, Anthony Holmes Furman, Kendall Swenson, Dale William Ladoon
  • Patent number: 9003791
    Abstract: A casing treatment 4 including a recirculation passage 41 and a mixing piping 6 are provided. The recirculation passage 41 has a first recirculation opening 42 and a second recirculation opening 43 that are in communication with each other, the first recirculation opening 42 being formed inside a compressor housing 11 of an exhaust gas turbocharger and opening to an air passage 15 upstream of a compressor impeller 3, the second recirculation opening 43 being formed at the outer circumferential section of the compressor impeller 3. The mixing pipe 6 opens to the recirculation passage 41 and has a return opening 14 for introducing EGR gas and blow-by gas to the recirculation passage 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Ibaraki, Takashi Shiraishi, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9003792
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an internal combustion engine includes an oxidation catalyst configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine, a urea injector positioned downstream of the oxidation catalyst to inject a urea flow into the exhaust gas flow and a mixer positioned downstream of the urea injector to mix the exhaust gas flow and the urea flow to form a mixed exhaust gas and urea flow. The engine also includes a particulate filter and catalytic reduction assembly positioned downstream of the mixer to receive the mixed exhaust and urea flow from the mixer to form a treated exhaust gas flow and an exhaust gas recirculation system coupled to the particulate filter to receive a portion of the treated exhaust gas flow and recirculate the portion of the exhaust gas flow to be mixed with a fresh air flow for the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Manuel Angel Gonzalez Delgado, Julian C. Tan, Joshua Clifford Bedford, Yong Miao, Naser I. Hineiti, Steven M. Yocum
  • Patent number: 9003793
    Abstract: A turbocharger assembly includes a compressor assembly, a turbine wheel, a shaft, a bearing assembly, and a cooling gas conduit. The compressor assembly includes a compressor impeller. The compressor impeller includes an outermost impeller edge and has a maximum cross-sectional dimension at the outermost impeller edge. The shaft interconnects the compressor impeller and the turbine wheel. The bearing assembly surrounds at least a portion of the shaft. The cooling gas conduit is disposed in fluid communication with the compressor assembly and the bearing assembly. At least a portion of the cooling gas conduit is disposed adjacent the outermost impeller edge such that the cooling gas conduit is configured to receive a portion of intake gases flowing along the outermost impeller edge and guide the portion of the intake gases toward the bearing assembly to cool the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis Begin, Brian J. Edwards, Carnell E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9003794
    Abstract: A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small turbocharger and a second relatively large turbocharger connected in series and an exhaust gas flow control valve. The exhaust control valve has an inlet port communicating with the exhaust gas flow upstream of the first turbine a first outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said first turbine but upstream of said second turbine, and a second outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said second turbine. The valve is operable to selectively permit or block flow through the first and second outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Lee J. Robinson, James A. McEwen
  • Patent number: 9003795
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to methods and systems for operating a solar steam system in response to a detected or predicted reduced insolation condition (for example, sunset or a cloud condition). In some embodiments, for a period of time, enthalpy stored within a solid material of a conduit via which steam travels en route to a steam turbine is used to heat the steam to drive the turbine. In some embodiments, a net migration of heliostats away from the steam superheater is carried out in response to the detected or predicted reduced insolation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Brightsource Industries (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Sami Katz, Israel Kroizer
  • Patent number: 9003796
    Abstract: A system includes a heat exchanger and an organic Rankine cycle system. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between extraction air from a power block and nitrogen from an air separation unit. The organic Rankine cycle system is coupled to the heat exchanger. In addition, the organic Rankine cycle system is configured to convert heat from the extraction air into work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qiong Zhou, Deila Peng, Arnaldo Frydman, Thomas Glen Cobb
  • Patent number: 9003797
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting heat from a heat source to mechanical energy. The method comprises heating a working fluid using heat supplied from the heat source; and expanding the heated working fluid to lower the pressure of the working fluid and generate mechanical energy as the pressure of the working fluid is lowered. The method is characterized by using a working fluid comprising HFC-245eb and optionally Z-HFO-1336mzz. A power cycle apparatus containing a working fluid to convert heat to mechanical energy is also provided. The apparatus is characterized by containing a working fluid comprising HFC-245eb and optionally Z-HFO-1336mzz. A working fluid comprising HFC-245eb and optionally Z-HFO-1336mzz is also provided. The working fluid (i) further comprises E-HFO-1336mzz, (ii) has a temperature above its critical temperature, or both (i) and (ii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: E l du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
  • Patent number: 9003798
    Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cyclect Electrical Engineering Pte.
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi
  • Patent number: 9003799
    Abstract: Heat flow from a steam seal header could be used in a stage, such as a low pressure stage, of a steam turbine. However, the dump steam temperature from the steam seal header can be too high requiring removal of excess heat, typically through attemperation, before the dump steam is provided to the low pressure stage. Attemperation poses reliability and life issues and lowers efficiency. To address such short comings, one or more heat pumps are used to transfer heat from the dump steam to the fluid entering a boiler. This allows the dump steam temperature to be within acceptable limits, and at the same time, increase the temperature of the fluid so that the steam cycle performance is enhanced. Preferably, solid-state heat pumps are used as they are reliable, silent and can be precisely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanyaswara Rao Ganti, Rajasekar Natarajan, Rakesh Alamsetty
  • Patent number: 9003800
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor is provided with a combustor basket where combustion gas flows, the combustion gas being produced by combustion of fuel injected from a nozzle, and a first resonance device and a second resonance device mounted on an outer surface of the combustor basket. The second resonance device is disposed on a downstream side from the first resonance device in a flow of the combustion gas and damps combustion oscillation of a frequency higher than the first resonance device. The first and second resonance devices are acoustic liners each having a housing mounted to the outer surface of the combustor basket. A resonance space surrounded by the housing and the outer surface of the combustor basket communicates with an interior space of the combustor basket via a plurality of acoustic holes formed in the combustor basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Akamatsu, Hiroaki Kishida, Kenji Sato, Kentaro Tokuyama, Keisuke Matsuyama, Takayoshi Takashima
  • Patent number: 9003801
    Abstract: An electronic control apparatus is applied to a gas turbine including a cylindrical combustor, a plurality of fuel injection valves, and an ignition plug. Air compressed by a compressor is supplied to the combustor. The plurality of fuel injection valves are aligned in a circumferential direction in the combustor and are capable of injecting fuel into the combustor. The ignition plug is provided in the combustor and is capable of igniting a fuel-mixture within the combustor. The electronic control apparatus controls the operation of the plurality of fuel injection valves so that when the gas turbine is started up, fuel injection opening times of the #6 and #12 fuel injection valves which are positioned far from the ignition plug are later than fuel injection opening times of the #1 and #7 fuel injection valves which are positioned close to the ignition plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Tate
  • Patent number: 9003802
    Abstract: A fuel injector device for an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine, including a pilot circuit feeding an injector and a multipoint circuit feeding injection orifices formed in a front face of an annular ring mounted in an annular chamber, together with a thermal insulation mechanism insulating the front face and including an annular cavity formed around the injection orifices between the front face of the annular ring and a front wall of the annular chamber and configured to be filled in operation with air or with coked fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Emilie Lachaud, Thomas Olivier Marie Noel
  • Patent number: 9003803
    Abstract: A support structure for a burner tube in a combustor cap assembly for a gas turbine combustor includes an outer annular ring; an inner annular hub; and a plurality of struts extending radially between said outer annular ring and the inner hub. The inner hub is provided with a piston ring groove and a piston ring adapted to receive and seal an inner end of the burner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ansley Michelle Pangle, Matthew Bernard Wilson, William Michael Poschel
  • Patent number: 9003804
    Abstract: A multipoint combustion system for a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a pressure vessel. A master injector is mounted to the housing for injecting fuel along a central axis. A plurality of slave injectors are each disposed outward of the master injector for injecting fuel and air in an ignition plume radially outward of fuel injected through the master injector. The master injector and slave injectors are configured and adapted so the injection plume of the master injector intersects with the ignition plumes of the slave injectors. A primary manifold is included within the pressure vessel for distributing fuel to the slave injectors. An auxiliary manifold is in fluid communication with the auxiliary nozzles of the slave injectors for issuing an auxiliary flow of fuel from the auxiliary nozzles that is separate from the fuel flow of the primary manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventor: Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Patent number: 9003805
    Abstract: A turbomachine including an annular combustion chamber; a centrifugal compressor; an annular diffuser with a radially oriented upstream portion presenting diffusion passages connected to the outlet of the compressor; a curved intermediate portion; and a downstream portion having a series of circularly spaced-apart deflector vanes. The turbomachine also includes an outer casing externally surrounding the combustion chamber and the downstream portion. The zone of the outer casing that is situated facing the deflector vanes is covered in a coating of abradable material, and the flow passage through the downstream portion is defined on the outside by the outer casing and by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Patent number: 9003806
    Abstract: A method of operating a combustor having a central nozzle and a plurality of outer nozzles surrounding the central nozzle is provided. The method includes providing a liquid fuel to only the plurality of outer nozzles at a specified total energy input. The method includes decreasing the liquid fuel to the plurality of outer nozzles while simultaneously increasing a gas fuel to the central nozzle and the plurality of outer nozzles to substantially maintain the specified total energy input. The method includes supplying a fuel-air ratio of the gas fuel to the central nozzle that exceeds a threshold value such that a central nozzle flame is anchored. An air-fuel ratio of the gas fuel to the plurality of outer nozzles is less than the threshold value such that a plurality of outer nozzle flames are lifted until a purge flow is supplied to the outer nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Earl Jensen, Mark William Pinson, William Thomas Ross
  • Patent number: 9003807
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a gas turbine engine and a process for operating a gas turbine engine. A fluid structure receives compressed air from a compressor and extends toward a stationary blade ring in a turbine to discharge the compressed air directly against a surface of the blade ring such that the compressed air impinges on the blade ring surface. The compressed air then passes through at least one opening in the stationary blade ring and into cooling passages of a corresponding row of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Abdullatif M. Chehab, David A. Little
  • Patent number: 9003808
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises an outer engine case, a combustor, a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool. The combustor is disposed within the outer engine case. The high pressure spool is configured for rotation coaxially with the combustor. The low pressure spool is configured for rotation coaxially with the high pressure spool. The low pressure spool is configured to rotate at speeds faster than that of the high pressure spool during operation of the gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the low pressure spool includes a gear system configured to rotate a low pressure compressor faster than a low pressure turbine. In another embodiment, the high pressure spool rotates outward of the combustor within the outer engine case. In another embodiment, the high pressure spool includes a drum having radially inward projecting blades and vanes and radially outward projecting fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel B. Kupratis
  • Patent number: 9003809
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a power generation system that includes a steam turbine that is coupled to a gas turbine engine. The method includes calculating, by a control system, a gas turbine engine power output that is based at least in part on a predefined power generation system power output and a predefined steam turbine power output. The power generation system is operated to generate a power output that is approximately equal to the predefined power generation system power output. A signal indicative of a sensed operating power output of the gas turbine engine is transmitted from a sensor to the control system. A condition of the steam turbine is determined based at least in part on the sensed operating gas turbine engine power output and the calculated gas turbine engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jay Lynn Johnson, Edward Arthur Dewhurst, Charles Scott Sealing, Justin Aden Spade
  • Patent number: 9003810
    Abstract: An aircraft nacelle includes at its outside wall a cowl moveable relative to the nacelle so as to block or unblock an opening. The cowl includes an articulation and locking/unlocking elements distant from the upstream edge of the cowl that include elements for limiting the appearance of scooping phenomena. The limiting elements include at least one lock integral with the rest of the nacelle or respectively the cowl that can occupy a locked state in which part of the lock interferes with the cowl or respectively the rest of the nacelle and prevents a deformation that includes a radial component of the cowl, and another free state in which the part no longer interferes with the cowl or respectively the rest of the nacelle and allows the opening movement of the cowl, with the switch from one state to the next being generated by a gas pressure variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Alain Porte, Frederic Chelin, Thierry Surply
  • Patent number: 9003811
    Abstract: Devices and methods for supporting an accessory (32) in a gas turbine engine (10) are disclosed. The accessory (32) may have an interface (36) for coupling to a shaft (24) of the gas turbine engine (10). The device may comprise a first support (38) configured to support a first portion (34) of the accessory (32) proximal the interface (36) and a second support (40) configured to support a second portion (35) of the accessory (32) distal from the interface (36). The second support (40) may be configured to provide a lower resistance to relative displacement between the accessory (32) and structure (42) of the engine (10) than does the first support (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Barry Barnett, David Denis
  • Patent number: 9003812
    Abstract: A supporting structure for a gas turbine engine includes at least one annular member, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements that extend in a radial direction of the annular member and that are connected to the annular member. At least one of the circumferentially spaced elements has an airfoil shape in cross section. The annular member includes at least two substantially flat panel segments that are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction of the annular member. The panel segments are connected to each other in a connection region that extends along facing end parts of the two panel segments. The airfoil shaped element is connected to the annular member at the connection region. A mean camber line of the airfoil shaped element at least along a portion of its length is inclined in relation to an axial direction of the annular member, and the connection region at least along a portion of its length is inclined in relation to the axial direction of the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
    Inventor: Roger Sjöqvist
  • Patent number: 9003813
    Abstract: A water discharge system enhances heat transfer to the atmosphere by limiting the mixing of heated discharge water with the ambient water of a receiving water body. The heated water is maintained near the top surface of the receiving water body which increases the transfer of heat to the atmosphere as compared to a system where the discharge water is mixed quickly with the ambient water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventor: Daniel G. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9003814
    Abstract: A method for operating an air-conditioning system for an aircraft includes compressing ambient air with a compressor driven by a shaft in communication with a motor and a turbine. The method includes forwarding the compressed air to an aircraft cabin for circulation and removing circulated compressed air from the aircraft cabin. The method also includes forwarding the circulated compressed air to the turbine, depressurizing the circulated compressed air in the turbine and capturing energy created by depressurizing the circulated compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Zywiak, Louis J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 9003815
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system has a fresh air line connected to a fresh air inlet for supplying fresh air to the air conditioning system and a sorption device disposed in the fresh air line which contains a sorbent for taking up moisture from the fresh air flowing through the fresh air line. The sorption device is adapted to expose the sorbent contained in the sorption device to ambient pressure surrounding an aircraft carrying the aircraft air conditioning system when the aircraft is flying for the purpose of regeneration of the sorbent. The sorption device is thermally connectable to a heat source that is adapted, when the aircraft is flying and while the sorbent contained in the sorption device is exposed to the ambient pressure, to supply thermal energy from the heat source to the sorbent contained in the sorption device for the purpose of assisting the regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Baker Al-Ali
  • Patent number: 9003816
    Abstract: A thermostat includes a processing system configured to control an HVAC system. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system may be further configured to identify, based on the subset of HVAC connectors, whether (i) only a single possible HVAC system configuration is indicated thereby, or (ii) multiple possible HVAC system configurations are indicated thereby, resolve a particular one of the multiple possible HVAC system configurations that is applicable, and operate the HVAC system according to the HVAC system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Stefanski, David Sloo, Yoky Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9003817
    Abstract: A discharged warm/cold heat of a refrigerant circuit is effectively utilized in order to attain high energy efficiency. Appropriate operation control is executed when a hot-water supplying operation and an air cooling operation are simultaneously performed, whereby high energy efficiency is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Endoh, Tatsuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 9003818
    Abstract: A heat pump-type hot water supply apparatus may be provided that includes: a refrigeration cycle circuit (including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an indoor heat exchanger); a hot water supply heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle circuit to use the first refrigerant discharged from the compressor for a hot water supply; a cascade heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle circuit to allow the first refrigerant passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger to evaporate a second refrigerant and thereafter, to be condensed, expanded, and evaporated in the refrigeration cycle circuit; a heat storage compressor compressing the second refrigerant evaporated in the cascade heat exchanger, a heat storage tank to heat water using the second refrigerant compressed by the heat storage compressor, and a heat storage expansion device to expand the second refrigerant condensed in the heat storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hwanjong Choi, Noma Park, Heewoong Park
  • Patent number: 9003819
    Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor, an utilization-side heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger; an injection pipe which includes a solenoid switching valve and a second expansion valve; and an objective supercooling degree table which stores objective supercooling degrees according to condensing pressure in the refrigerant circuit and rotation number of the compressor. In the heat pump apparatus, liquid refrigerant is injected to the compressor by way of the injection pipe. The heat pump apparatus switches between a first case where the liquid refrigerant is injected to the compressor and a second case where the liquid refrigerant is not injected, and a value of the objective supercooling degree is changed between the first case and the second case to control the first expansion valve based on the value of the objective supercooling degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Itagaki, Takashi Sugiyama, Toshiyuki Fuji
  • Patent number: 9003820
    Abstract: A point-of-use food holding cabinet keeps food products hot and cold in different compartments, which are heated and refrigerated respectively. The refrigerated compartment is kept cold using a conventional refrigeration device. The heated compartment is kept hot using an electrically-resistive heater wire. One compartment or shelf of a holding cabinet can be refrigerated while an adjacent compartment can be kept warm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Prince Castle LLC
    Inventor: Loren Veltrop
  • Patent number: 9003821
    Abstract: A method of providing cooling by a cooling system to a computer data center. The method includes providing a plurality of air-and-water radiators and one or more chillers, the chillers each having a first side in fluid communication with a chilled water loop and a second side in communication with a condenser water loop. The method also includes circulating a first portion of return water coming from the computer data center to a first subset of the air-and-water radiators and through the condenser water loop, circulating a second portion of the return water from the computer data center to a second subset of the air-and-water radiators and through the chilled water loop, and circulating the first portion and the second portion of the return water to the computer data center as cooled supply water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Exaflop LLC
    Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Jimmy Clidaras, Michael C. Ryan
  • Patent number: 9003822
    Abstract: An apparatus for breaking ice clumps in a refrigerator. The apparatus includes an ice storage bin, an axle rotatably supported by an ice storage bin, an actuator operatively coupled to the axle and an ice breaker operatively coupled to the actuator. The ice breaker moves in a reciprocal manner upon the driving of the axle and the actuator. Such reciprocal movement of the ice breaker breaks ice clumps in the storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wayne E. Lawson, Daniel S. Renz, Arun Madhav Talegaonkar, Geoffrey Lee Ranard
  • Patent number: 9003823
    Abstract: A configuration provided with a heat source unit A, an indoor unit B, a circuit D for a hot-water supply heat source provided with a refrigerant-refrigerant heat exchanger and throttle for the hot-water supply heat source, and a branch unit C that distributes a refrigerant flowing through the indoor unit and the circuit for hot-water supply heat source and also provided with a refrigerating cycle for air conditioning in which the indoor unit and the circuit for hot-water supply heat source are connected in parallel and connected to the heat source unit by at least two connection pipelines via the branch unit and a refrigerating cycle for hot-water supply in which a compressor for hot-water supply, a heat-medium-refrigerant heat exchanger, throttle for hot-water supply, and the refrigerant-refrigerant heat exchanger are connected in series, in which the refrigerating cycle for air conditioning and the refrigerating cycle for hot-water supply are connected so as to exchange heat between the refrigerant for air
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Tanaka, Junichi Kameyama, Hirofumi Koge, Hironori Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 9003824
    Abstract: An aseptic ice making system includes an ice making system to receive water from a water supply. The ice making system includes an ice producing subsystem to produce ice and a positive air pressure subsystem to maintain a positive air pressure environment within the ice making system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Almblad, Susan Clickner
  • Patent number: 9003825
    Abstract: A refrigerator door includes the ability to mount a variety of modules requiring utilities, such as electricity and fluids, within adjustable locations in the door of the refrigerator. The door includes a conduit extending in at least one direction and including one or more plug-in connectors for allowing a module with a mating connector to be positioned on the door for supplying operating utilities to the module. This allows the purchaser of the refrigerator to add components and accessories to the refrigerator after purchase or select desired features at the time of purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, James W. Kendall, John J. Vonderhaar, Guolian Wu, Alan S. Lucas, Andrew M. Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 9003826
    Abstract: The motor (1) of the present invention is fed by the mains voltage (Vac), and comprises a main winding (MW), an auxiliary winding (AW), a first triac (2) connected in series to the auxiliary winding (AW) which provides to start up the motor (1) by being actuated at the moment of start up in order to operate the motor (1), a second triac (3) connected in series to the main winding (MW) which provides the motor (1) to continue operating and a control unit (4) which controls the start up and operation of the motor (1) by actuating the triacs (2 and 3) when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Oner Hatipoglu, Ahmet Ihsan Yuce, Mustafa Yuksel, Mucahit Bacaksiz
  • Patent number: 9003827
    Abstract: An expansion device unit (4) for a vapor compression system (1), and a vapor compression system (1) are disclosed. The expansion device unit (4) comprises an inlet opening (17) arranged to receive fluid medium, at least two outlet openings (18) arranged to deliver fluid medium, a main expanding section (6) adapted to expand fluid medium received via the inlet opening (17) before delivering the fluid medium to the outlet openings (18), and a distribution section (7) arranged to split the fluid flow received via the inlet opening (17) into at least two fluid flows to be delivered via the outlet openings (18). The main expanding section (6) and/or the distribution section (7) is/are arranged to cause pressures in fluid delivered via at least two of the outlet openings (18) to be distinct. The main expanding section (6) is operated on the basis of one or more parameters measured in the fluid flow delivered by one of the outlet openings (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Claus Thybo, Lars Finn Sloth Larsen, Gunda Mader
  • Patent number: 9003828
    Abstract: A process and system for liquefying a hydrocarbon gas is provided. The hydrocarbon feed gas is pre-treated to remove sour species and water therefrom. The pre-treated feed gas is then passed to a refrigeration zone where it is cooled and expanded to produce a hydrocarbon liquid. A closed loop single mixed refrigerant provides most of the refrigeration to the refrigeration zone together with an auxiliary refrigeration system. The auxiliary refrigeration system and closed loop single mixed refrigerant are coupled in such a manner that waste heat generated by a gas turbine drive of the compressor in the closed loop single mixed refrigerant drives the auxiliary refrigeration system and the auxiliary refrigeration system cools the inlet air of the gas turbine. In this way, substantial improvements are made in the production capacity of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LNG Technology Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Paul Bridgwood
  • Patent number: 9003829
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the separation of a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-containing feed fraction (1, 101), preferably natural gas, wherein the feed fraction (1, 101) is at least in part liquefied (E1, E2) and divided by rectification (T1) into a nitrogen-enriched fraction (14, 110) and a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-depleted fraction (11, 111) and wherein, in the upper region of the rectification (T1), a nitrogen-enriched stream (14) is taken off, cooled (E3) and applied (20) at least in part to the rectification (T1) as reflux and/or the nitrogen-enriched fraction (110) is cooled and partially condensed (E3), applied at least in part to the rectification (T1) as reflux (115) and the remaining stream (116) of the nitrogen-enriched fraction (110) is subjected to a double-column process (T3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Bauer, Martin Gwinner, Daniel Garthe