Patents Issued in April 21, 2015
  • Patent number: 9010087
    Abstract: Various systems and method for detecting exhaust NOx sensor degradation are disclosed. In one example, degradation of the NOx sensor is indicated responsive to reductant injection in an exhaust passage under engine off conditions. For example, degradation of the NOx sensor is indicated when an actual NOx sensor output differs from an expected NOx sensor output by more than a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, In Kwang Yoo, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, David John Kubinski
  • Patent number: 9010088
    Abstract: A load application means, which applies a load to an engine such that a temperature of exhaust gas is raised to a temperature required to burn particulate matter, is comprised of an electric load application means for applying the load to the engine to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas by operating an electric assist motor to generate electric power and a hydraulic load application means for applying the load to the engine to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas by increasing a delivery pressure of a variable displacement hydraulic pump, and a selection control unit is provided for performing control processing to selectively actuate the electric load application means and/or the hydraulic load application means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Shinji Nishikawa, Takatoshi Ooki
  • Patent number: 9010089
    Abstract: A reductant delivery unit (10) includes a fluid injector (12) and a flange (20) coupled with the fluid injector. An exhaust boss (28) has a surface (39) defining a through-hole (40) that communicates with a vehicle's exhaust flow path. The flange is coupled to a mounting surface such that the outlet of the fluid injector communicates with the exhaust flow path so as to control injection of urea solution into the exhaust gas flow path. A gasket (32) is sandwiched between the flange and the mounting surface. The gasket has a surface (37) defining a through-hole (38) therein that communicates with the through-hole in the exhaust boss to permit the urea solution to pass from the fluid outlet to the exhaust flow path. Gasket shielding structure (44) covers the surface defining the through-hole in the gasket to prevent the urea solution from contacting the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Bugos, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 9010090
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged. The concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to vibrate within 200 ppm or more predetermined amplitude and within a 5 second or more predetermined period. At this time, when a predetermined amount or more of NOx is stored in the exhaust purification catalyst (13) or can be stored, the concentration of hydrocarbons flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is temporarily increased to desorb NOx which is stored at the exhaust purification catalyst (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Bisaiji, Kohei Yoshida, Mikio Inoue, Kazuhiro Umemoto
  • Patent number: 9010091
    Abstract: A system for storing ammonia in and releasing ammonia from a storage material capable of binding and releasing ammonia reversibly by adsorption or absorption for a process with a gradual ammonia demand that can vary over the time. The system has a container capable of housing the ammonia-containing storage material; a heating source arranged to supply heat for the desorption of ammonia from the solid storage medium; and a controller arranged to control the heating source to release ammonia. The heating source may be arranged inside the container and surrounded by ammonia storage material. A controllable dosing valve is arranged to dose released ammonia according to the ammonia demand. The controller comprises a feed-forward control arranged to control the heat supplied by the heating source, based on the ammonia demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Amminex Emissions Technology A/S
    Inventors: Tue Johannessen, Henning Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9010092
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a urea injection amount of a vehicle that controls urea injection in consideration of a difference between an internal temperature change rate and a regeneration temperature of an SCR integral diesel particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Daesu Jun
  • Patent number: 9010093
    Abstract: In cases where at the upstream side of an NOx selective reduction catalyst there is provided another catalyst, sulfur poisoning of both the catalysts is recovered in an appropriate manner. To this end, provision is made for an NH3 generation catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for generating NH3, the NOx selective reduction catalyst arranged in the exhaust passage at a location downstream of the NH3 generation catalyst for reducing NOx in a selective manner, an upstream side recovery unit to recover sulfur poisoning of the NH3 generation catalyst, and a downstream side recovery unit to recover sulfur poisoning of the NOx selective reduction catalyst after the sulfur poisoning of the NH3 generation catalyst has been recovered by the upstream side recovery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Toru Kidokoro, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Yuji Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 9010094
    Abstract: An engine command override may occur when a diesel particulate filter (DPF) requires regeneration. The need for regeneration may be indicated by regeneration level. The engine may be operated in a normal mode when the DPF regeneration level is below a regeneration level threshold, wherein the engine command is based on the throttle input. Additionally, the engine may be operated in an override mode when the DPF regeneration level is above a regeneration level threshold and the engine is operating in the idle state, wherein the engine command is based on a predetermined throttle regeneration setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin A. O'Neil, Arick M. Bakken, Andrew P. Bachle, John E. Preble, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9010095
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment unit includes an exhaust treatment device that treats exhaust gas from an engine of a work vehicle, a bracket including an attachment portion attachable to a hoisting hook, and a detachable component. The bracket supports the exhaust treatment device. The detachable component is attachable to and detachable from the attachment portion. When the unit is attached, the hoisting hook is attached to the attachment portion, the unit is hoisted using a hoisting tool including the hoisting hook, moved to an attachment position and installed in the work vehicle. The hoisting hook is then detached from the attachment portion and the detachable component is attached to the unit using the attachment portion. When the unit is detached, the detachable component is detached from the attachment portion, the hoisting hook is attached to the attachment portion, and the unit is hoisted and detached using the hoisting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Himoto, Osamu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9010096
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system including an exhaust passage in communication with an engine that produces an exhaust. An exhaust canister is coupled to the exhaust passage, and the exhaust canister supports a plurality of exhaust treatment components therein for treating the exhaust, wherein exhaust canister is removable from the exhaust passage, and the exhaust treatment components are removable from the exhaust canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Golin, Dan Owen, Tanay Muthay, Keith Olivier
  • Patent number: 9010097
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (16), an exhaust purification catalyst (13), a particulate filter (14), and an NO2 reduction catalyst (15) are arranged. At the time of engine operation, the amplitude of change of the concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to become within a predetermined range of amplitude by control of the injection amount of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon feed valve (16). When the NO2 which is produced at the particulate filter (14) should be reduced to NO, the injection amount of hydrocarbons is increased whereby the pass through amount of hydrocarbons which pass straight through the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Inoue, Kohei Yoshida, Yuki Bisaiji, Kazuhiro Umemoto, Masahide Iida
  • Patent number: 9010098
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an after-treatment device. The after-treatment device may have a center plenum configured to be fluidly connected to an engine. The after-treatment device may also have a filter bank having a plurality of filter assemblies. Each filter assembly may have an inlet fluidly connected to the center plenum. The inlet may be oriented orthogonal to the center plenum. Each filter assembly may also have an outlet. Further, the after-treatment device may have an exhaust plenum fluidly connected to the outlet. The exhaust plenum may be oriented orthogonal to the outlet. The exhaust plenum may also have an outer wall disposed parallel to and located at a predetermined distance from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Ganesan, Satyajit Gowda
  • Patent number: 9010099
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe for two-stroke, internal-combustion engines in which there are multiple exhaust expansion chambers, each within one another, used in combination, the multiple chambers allow for the combustible fuel/air mixture to be delivered in more optimal reflective pressure waves throughout the RPM range of the engine. By changing the number of the chambers, their size and shape, the design of the exhaust pipe can be tuned for torque and power while requiring a minimum of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen B. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9010100
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal carrier configured to be coupled to and rotate with a shaft. The seal carrier defines at least three annular recesses configured to receive annular seals. The seal assembly further includes at least three annular seals configured to provide a seal between the seal carrier and a non-rotating housing defining an inner surface having a circular cross-section. One of the at least three seals is received in each of the at least three annular recesses, and one of the at least three seals has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of at least one of the other seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Walker, Cody A. McIntyre, William M. McClure
  • Patent number: 9010101
    Abstract: The invention is an accumulator system in which multiple elastomeric accumulators are attached in series or parallel in order to generate total differential pressure in excess of that generated in a non-series system. Also disclosed is a “stacked” accumulator system. The system stores energy when the accumulators deform from their original shape in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid. The stored energy is available for use when the fluid is released from the accumulators and the accumulators return to their original shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Eric J. Barth, Alexander V. Pedchenko, Wayne J. Book
  • Patent number: 9010102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling a hydraulic pump of construction machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Seok Bang, Woo Yong Jung, Won Sun Sohn
  • Patent number: 9010103
    Abstract: A device (1) for driving working equipment (2) which can be connected to an agricultural commercial vehicle. The commercial vehicle has a combustion engine (6) and a generator (9) which can be driven by the combustion engine (6). The commercial vehicle and/or the working equipment (2) have at least a hydraulic pump (5), for the supply of a hydraulic working circuit (3), and a mechanical connection (4), for driving the working equipment (2). At least one hydraulic pump (5) and/or the mechanical connection (4) can be driven electrically and/or mechanically, and can be driven with a controllable rotational speed by way of the power branching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manuel Gotz, Olrik Weinmann, Mark Mohr, Martin Fellmann
  • Patent number: 9010104
    Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Artemis Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein, Niall James Caldwell, Stephen Michael Laird, Pierre Robert Joly, Michael Richard Fielding, Daniil Sergeevich Dumnov
  • Patent number: 9010105
    Abstract: A drive train configuration is disclosed. The drive train configuration has a transmission or transaxle assembly which may be directly mounted to a vehicle frame. The drive train configuration also comprises an engine that may be attached to a housing of the transmission or transaxle portion. The drive train configuration may also have a power take off mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael L. Bennett, Raymond Hauser
  • Patent number: 9010106
    Abstract: This invention relates to the exploitation of porous foam articles exhibiting the Shape Memory Effect as actuators. Each foam article is composed of a plurality of geometric shapes, such that some geometric shapes can fit snugly into or around rigid mating connectors that attach the Shape Memory foam article intimately into the load path between a static structure and a moveable structure. The foam is open-celled, composed of a plurality of interconnected struts whose mean diameter can vary from approximately 50 to 500 microns. Gases and fluids flowing through the foam transfer heat rapidly with the struts, providing rapid Shape Memory Effect transformations. Embodiments of porous foam articles as torsional actuators and approximately planar structures are disposed. Simple, integral connection systems exploiting the ability to supply large loads to a structure, and that can also supply hot and cold gases and fluids to effect rapid actuation are also disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Shape Change Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Peter Jardine
  • Patent number: 9010107
    Abstract: An electric motor is controlled based on an operation of a brake pedal to move a primary piston forward through a ball screw mechanism, thereby generating a hydraulic pressure in a master cylinder. At this time, a reaction force from the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder is fed back to the brake pedal through an input piston. Automatic brake control, which generates the hydraulic pressure by driving the electric motor regardless of whether there is the operation of the brake pedal, is carried out. During the automatic brake control, an actual relative position is compared with a determination threshold value set based on the relative position between the primary piston and the input piston which is generated by a movement of the primary piston, and it is determined that the brake pedal is operated in a case where the relative position is smaller than the determination threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Yamada, Kentaro Ueno, Yusuke Nozawa, Daisuke Kojima, Tohma Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9010108
    Abstract: An aftwardly-extending internally-threaded boss of a boreless-hub compressor rotor of a turbocharger engages a corresponding externally-threaded forward end portion of an associated rotor shaft of the turbocharger, wherein an internal surface of an inner race of an associated rolling-element bearing of the turbocharger is in engagement with both an external surface of the rotor shaft and an external surface of the internally-threaded boss of the boreless-hub compressor rotor, wherein the rotor shaft extends through the inner race of the rolling-element bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Williams International Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Williams, Mark E. Suchezky, Craig R. Miller
  • Patent number: 9010109
    Abstract: An assembly can include a turbine housing that includes a bore, a wastegate seat and a wastegate passage that extends to the wastegate seat; a bushing configured for receipt by the bore; a rotatable wastegate shaft configured for receipt by the bushing; a wastegate arm extending from the wastegate shaft; and a wastegate plug extending from the wastegate arm where the wastegate plug includes a profile, defined in part by a portion of a torus, for contacting the wastegate seat to cover the wastegate passage and, for example, defined in part by a portion of a modified sphere or a portion of a cone. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marques, Manuel Gonzalez, Lionel Toussaint
  • Patent number: 9010110
    Abstract: A regulating flap arrangement (1) in a flange connection (2) between a turbine housing of a two-stage exhaust-gas turbocharger and an exhaust manifold of an engine, having a regulating flap plate (5) which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing a connecting opening (6) arranged in the flange connection (2); having an insert ring (7) which is arranged in the connecting opening (6); and having a sealing arrangement (8), wherein the sealing arrangement (8) has two V-rings (8A, 8B), of which a first V-ring (8A) is arranged in a first groove (9) provided adjacent to the connecting opening (6), and the second V-ring (8B) is arranged in a second groove (10) which is arranged, spaced apart radially outward from the first groove (9), in the flange connection (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Grossmann
  • Patent number: 9010111
    Abstract: The invention relates to the operation of a supercharged internal combustion engine (2) of a vehicle, wherein an air/volumetric flow current is adjusted by means of an adjustable swirl generator (8) arranged upstream of a supercharge system, taking into consideration an adjustable valve overlap of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (2). The invention also relates to a vehicle drive comprising a supercharged internal combustion engine (2), a supercharge system of the internal combustion engine (2), an adjustable, variable valve train of the internal combustion engine (2), a control device and an adjustable swirl generator (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: FEV GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Wittler
  • Patent number: 9010112
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a charge air cooler coupled to an engine. One example method comprises collecting condensate discharged from the cooler in a condensation trap coupled to an outside surface of a bend in an outlet duct of the cooler; during a first condition, temporarily storing the condensate in a reservoir of the condensation trap; and, during first and second conditions, releasing the condensate to the outlet duct in a direction of airflow via a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Raymond Palm
  • Patent number: 9010113
    Abstract: A control apparatus judges an abnormality of an internal combustion engine. The engine has an external EGR apparatus, including an exhaust gas recirculation passage that connects an exhaust passage with an intake passage, and an EGR valve that can increase and decrease an outside EGR flow quantity that flows back into the intake passage from said exhaust passage through the exhaust gas recirculation passage by being adjusted in its opening angle. The control apparatus acquires an output value of the engine and determines occurrence of abnormality in the external EGR apparatus according to a predetermined criterion based on a difference between an output of the engine in which a first EGR flow quantity is flown back and an output of the engine in which a second EGR flow quantity is flown back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Harima
  • Patent number: 9010114
    Abstract: An air charge system for an internal combustion engine may include a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air, and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine; a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a motor and configured to receive the air from the charge inlet and increase temperature, pressure and volumetric flow rate of the air in the charge path; a first valve in the charge path downstream of the first compressor configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor from exiting the charge path through the charge outlet; and a controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David S. Krug, Travis A. Reynolds, Ian Whiteside, Christopher J. Thompson, Phil McGovern, Steve Higginson, Vladimir Anton
  • Patent number: 9010115
    Abstract: A vacuum source including an ejector is disclosed. In one example, vacuum is supplied via the ejector when a turbocharger has excess boost capacity. The approach can prioritize how excess boost may be used to provide vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 9010116
    Abstract: A vacuum source arbitration system is disclosed. In one example, vacuum is supplied to a vacuum reservoir via an ejector during a first condition, and vacuum is supplied to the vacuum reservoir via an engine intake manifold during a second condition. The approach may provide a desired level of vacuum in a reservoir while reducing engine fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Moses Alexander Fridman, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Mansour Beshay, Clifford E. Maki, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9010117
    Abstract: A turbocharged internal combustion engine system includes at least one high pressure turbocharger system and at least one low pressure turbocharger system. An air-to-air intercooler is connected between the low pressure compressor of the low pressure turbocharger system and the high pressure compressor of the high pressure turbocharger system. An air-to-water aftercooler is connected to the intake system between the high pressure compressors and the intakes of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: David P. Genter
  • Patent number: 9010118
    Abstract: An output controller for a stirling engine is provided in a cooling system that causes common cooling water to flow through both the stirling engine and an internal combustion engine serving as a motive power source other than the stirling engine. The output controller for the stirling engine includes a temperature adjustment portion that adjusts a temperature of the cooling water supplied to the stirling engine. Specifically, the temperature adjustment portion includes a temperature adjustment valve capable of adjusting the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the stirling engine by switchably setting at least one of partial cooling paths and into a communication state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Katayama, Manabu Tateno, Satoshi Komori
  • Patent number: 9010119
    Abstract: A premixing nozzle of a combustor is provided and includes a gas premixer module, a centerbody, which is breech-loadable into the gas premixer module and a deformable, compliant interface between the gas premixer module and the centerbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 9010120
    Abstract: A transfer tube for use in a late lean injection system of a combustor, wherein the combustor includes an inner radial wall, which defines a primary combustion chamber downstream of a primary fuel nozzle, and an outer radial wall, which surrounds the inner radial wall forming a flow annulus therebetween, the outer radial wall including a late lean nozzle, the transfer tube including flow directing structure that defines a fluid passageway. At a first end, the flow directing structure may include an inlet and attachment means that attach the transfer tube to the late lean nozzle. The flow directing structure may have a configuration such that the fluid passageway spans the flow annulus and positions the outlet at a desirable injection point in the inner radial wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 9010121
    Abstract: A combustion chamber has an outer wall supporting a number of wall elements or tiles. The tiles are located on the wall by bosses so that a cooling space is provided between the wall and the tiles. Air holes are provided through the wall and the tiles and a flow passage is provided adjacent the air holes. A flow passage is defined by changing the profiles of the air holes in the outer wall and/or the location features to provide a localized gap through which cooling air is directed to cool regions subject to overheating and extend service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Robert A J Taylor, Marcus Foale
  • Patent number: 9010122
    Abstract: A turbine engine assembly includes a combustor and a stator vane arrangement having a plurality of stator vanes. The combustor includes a combustor wall that extends axially from a combustor bulkhead to a distal combustor wall end, which is located adjacent to the stator vane arrangement. The combustor wall includes a support shell with a plurality of impingement apertures, and a heat shield with a plurality of effusion apertures. The combustor wall end includes a plurality of circumferentially extending film cooled regions. At least one of the film cooled regions is circumferentially aligned with one of the stator vanes and includes a cooling aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Bangerter, Dennis J. Duhamel, Robert M. Sonntag, Reza Rezvani
  • Patent number: 9010123
    Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes a first liner having a first hot side and a first cold side; a second liner having a second hot side and a second cold side, the second hot side and the first hot side forming a combustion chamber therebetween, the combustion chamber configured to receive an air-fuel mixture for combustion therein; and an insert including a body portion extending through the first liner, a shoulder circumscribing the body portion and abutting the first hot side, and an inlet portion coupled to the body portion and abutting the first cold side such that the inlet portion and the shoulder capture the second liner therebetween to retain the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Daniel Ludwig, Art Payne, Philip Smalley, Richard Bishop
  • Patent number: 9010124
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber includes a first wall and a second wall. The second wall is arranged within and spaced from the first wall to define a cavity between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall has a plurality of impingement apertures extending there-through and the second wall has a plurality of effusion apertures extending there-through. The impingement apertures have a first diameter, a first pitch, and a first area. The effusion apertures have a second diameter, a second pitch, and a second area. The ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter is at least 3, the ratio of the first pitch to the second pitch is at least 4 and the ratio of the first area to the second area is at least 9. This arrangement increases the cooling performance of the effusion apertures in the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul I. Chandler, Anthony Pidcock
  • Patent number: 9010125
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement (56) having: a duct (30) configured to receive hot gases (16) from a combustor; and a flow sleeve (50) surrounding the duct and defining a cooling plenum (52) there between, wherein the flow sleeve is configured to form impingement cooling jets (70) emanating from dimples (82) in the flow sleeve effective to predominately cool the duct in an impingement cooling zone (60), and wherein the flow sleeve defines a convection cooling zone (64) effective to cool the duct solely via a cross-flow (76), the cross-flow comprising cooling fluid (72) exhausting from the impingement cooling zone. In the impingement cooling zone an undimpled portion (84) of the flow sleeve tapers away from the duct as the undimpled portion nears the convection cooling zone. The flow sleeve is configured to effect a greater velocity of the cross-flow in the convection cooling zone than in the impingement cooling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A. Morrison, Ching-Pang Lee, Michael E. Crawford
  • Patent number: 9010126
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a variable area fan nozzle which effectively changes the physical area and geometry within a fan bypass flow path to manipulate the pressure ratio of the bypass flow with a multitude of bladders circumferentially located about a core cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred M. Stern
  • Patent number: 9010127
    Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 9010128
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a magnetocaloric unit disposed between a heat sink and a heat load, an electromagnet operably connected with the magnetocaloric unit, and at least one refrigerant storage included in the magnetocaloric unit, wherein the magnetocaloric unit is cooled down by using an evaporation heat of a refrigerant in the refrigerant storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Chun Shig Sohn
  • Patent number: 9010129
    Abstract: A space efficient system especially suited for use as an entirely self-contained stand-alone unit usable in any of multiple contexts where heating or cooling of a defined-volume or enclosure is required. Hot or cold sides of the thermoelectric assemblies face toward one another into a central airflow that enters and exits a housing through a top or bottom of the housing that faces into the enclosure, and the opposite sides of the thermoelectric modules face into channels on opposite sides of the central airflow. The channels can be connected to intake and exhaust air through a common end of the housing, or be separated to individually intake and exhaust air at opposing ends of the housing. Fastener-free mounting of components between insulation shells that cooperate with the thermoelectric assemblies to define the channel boundaries results in tool-free configurability of components for servicing, maintaining, reconfiguring, scaling or customizing of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Harvey D. Lilke
  • Patent number: 9010130
    Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes a housing having a sidewall defining a chamber in the housing for containing a cryogen; and a first insulation member movably mounted for coaction with the sidewall, the first insulation member moveable to a position to expose or cover a select portion of the sidewall to provide a heat transfer effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephen A. McCormick
  • Patent number: 9010131
    Abstract: A Dewar apparatus includes a focal plane array (FPA) component coupled to an FPA carrier, and a cold bridge coupled to the FPA carrier. A cold shield is aligned with the optical axis and coupled to the cold bridge (e.g., via a direct-metal bond), and at least one cryostat enclosure is similarly coupled to the cold bridge such that it has an axis that is noncollinear with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Daniel W. Brunton, Justin C. Jenia, Paul M. Lyons, Jim R. Hicks, Bret J. Ashby, Barry A. Rovner
  • Patent number: 9010132
    Abstract: Provided are methods, devices and systems for controlled removal of thermal energy from a fluid within a thermally conducting metal conduit. The system allows for the in situ formation of a reversible plug that can stop the flow of fluid through the conduit, particularly without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit. The devices and systems include a thermal transfer device that can be adapted to be in thermal communication with a thermal conducting metal conduit containing a fluid, particularly a flowing fluid. The devices and systems allows for controlled re-heating of the conduit without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit to restore fluid flow through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Biofilm IP, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel X. Wray, Robert J. Wray
  • Patent number: 9010133
    Abstract: An appliance includes an appliance housing, an interface adapted to receive power information, a plurality of sensors for sensing environmental conditions, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the appliance, and an intelligent control. The intelligent control is disposed within the appliance housing and operatively connected to the interface and the plurality of sensors and adapted to dynamically select control values associated with the plurality of controls based on at least one of the power information, the environmental conditions, or a combination thereof to increase energy efficiency of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Ali R. Buendia-Garcia, Alberto Regio Gomes, Tushar Kulkarni, Andrew D. Litch, Peter J. Richmond
  • Patent number: 9010134
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optronics system equipped with: a detector cooler having a cooling machine, a cryostat, an IR detector placed in the cryostat, and a sensor for measuring the temperature TD of the detector; and a processing card which includes means for servocontrolling the cooling machine according to the temperature TD. The system includes a sensor for sensing the system's internal temperature TS, and the processing card includes means for calculating: the refrigerating time (TMF) based on the temperatures TD and TS, on each “on-off” cycle of the detector cooler, the trend of the drift in the refrigerating time TMF, as a function of the number of “on-off” cycles of the detector cooler, a sudden drift as a function of said trend of the drift of the TMF, and means for storing data used in said calculations; these data are aggregated data and not the measurements of temperatures TD and TS, nor said TMFs, in order to limit the size of the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Didier Bihannic
  • Patent number: 9010135
    Abstract: To a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner as a refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of outdoor units are connected. In an operation state where the first outdoor unit is operated with the second outdoor unit stopped, the air conditioner performs refrigerant collection operation for collecting and retaining surplus refrigerant to and in a second outdoor heat exchanger of the second outdoor unit. During the refrigerant collection operation, a second outdoor expansion valve is closed fully, and a second outdoor fan is operated. Part of refrigerant discharged from a first compressor flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger during the refrigerant collection operation. The refrigerant flowing in the second outdoor heat exchanger dissipates heat to outdoor air to be condensed. Since the second outdoor expansion valve is closed fully, the condensed refrigerant is retained in the second outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Shinya Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9010136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a refrigerating installation, according to which the cooling liquid temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the expansion valve, and the suction vapor temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the condenser in dry expansion systems, thermosyphon installations, two-stage evaporation installations, dry expansion installations having a downstream internal heat exchanger (IWT), and all other refrigerating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BMS-Energietechnik AG
    Inventor: Remo Meister