Patents Issued in January 12, 2016
  • Patent number: 9234452
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an engine system having liquid and gaseous fuel systems, each of which injects fuel directly into an engine cylinder. A controller monitors and controls engine operation in a normal mode, during which the engine produces rated power, and in a limp-home mode, which is used when an abnormal operating condition of the gaseous fuel system is present. During limp-home mode operation, the engine uses more liquid fuel and less or no gaseous fuel relative to the normal mode, and produces power that is less than rated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Frank J. Lombardi
  • Patent number: 9234453
    Abstract: A cover for a charge air cooler of a turbocharged engine. The cover body defines a cooling water plenum, which has an opening at a first side of the cover for attachment over a water outlet of the charge air cooler. A plurality of valve housings are formed integrally with the body of the cover at a second side of the cover opposite the cooling water plenum opening. Each valve housing has a peripheral wall that extends from the cover to define an inner chamber, which opens into an inner fluid passage formed in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Atz, Pranav Raina, Nitin Kumar N, Surendra Panwar, Anand Gosbal
  • Patent number: 9234454
    Abstract: Provided are an adiabatic compressed air energy storage for an automotive vehicle and an energy storage method using the same, whereby a new vehicle function is provided by using available energy from the discharged and expelled energy generated from a driven automotive vehicle or available energy source outside an automotive vehicle, and transforming the generated energy to convenient electric power and efficiently storing the energy, so that electric power can be supplied regardless of space or time constraint during the automotive vehicle in operation or parked or vehicle engine stop in view of the increase demands of electric power in automotive vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Yong Hoon Im, Byung Sik Park, Dae Hun Chung, Sae Byul Kang, Jae Yong Lee, Dong Hyun Lee, Kyu Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 9234455
    Abstract: In an actuating device for a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger for controlling the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger, wherein a valve of the exhaust gas turbocharger has an actuating shaft onto which a connecting arm is firmly mounted and is pivotally coupled to an actuating link via a connecting bolt by which the actuating shaft can be pivoted about an axis of rotation by a translatory motion of the actuating link, the actuating shaft and the connecting bolt are engaged via a single integral locking element for retaining the actuating link in engagement with the connecting bolt and the actuating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: IHI CHARGING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Vincent Fauconnier, Tim Lowak
  • Patent number: 9234456
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 9234457
    Abstract: A balance shaft arrangement is for a marine engine having a crankshaft supported for rotation about a crankshaft axis and a drive gear supported for rotation with the crankshaft. The balancing arrangement has at least one balance shaft, and a driven gear being driven into rotation by the drive gear, the driven gear being connected to the balance shaft so as to drive the balance shaft into rotation. The driven gear is selectively radially positionable towards and away from the drive gear. A dampening member is disposed between the driven gear and the balance shaft, the dampening member accommodating radial positioning of the driven gear with respect to the balance shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Yukioka
  • Patent number: 9234458
    Abstract: A cylinder head of a stationary gas engine is provided with a cylinder internal pressure sensor. An engine frame is provided with an instrumentation device installation device. An amplifier for amplifying a signal detected by the cylinder internal pressure sensor is fixed to the instrumentation device installation device. The instrumentation device installation device includes a suspending tool formed of a fixing plate which is in contact with a horizontal plane and is fixed thereto by bolts, an extension plate bent at a right angle to the fixing plate, and a suspending plate bent at a right angle to the extension plate and arranged in parallel with the fixing plate, and a coil spring connected at one end thereof to the suspending plate, and connected at the other end thereof to a fixing band for holding the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Okumura, Kimihiko Maehata, Yuta Furukawa
  • Patent number: 9234459
    Abstract: A turbine housing of a turbocharger is formed by joining a scroll body with a base body. An exhaust passageway is formed between the scroll body and the base body. At the joint portion between the scroll body and the base body, an inside corner portion is formed by an inner peripheral surface of the scroll body that faces the exhaust passageway, and an outer peripheral surface of the base body that also faces the exhaust passageway. An inside fillet that is shaped to change the direction of exhaust gas along the inner peripheral surface of the scroll body to a direction along the outer peripheral surface of the base body is formed on the inside corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sadamitsu, Tatsuo Iida
  • Patent number: 9234460
    Abstract: An inlet duct for an engine or multiple engines includes two or more joining duct legs and a pressure relief pathway located at each duct leg to condition inlet airflow from the duct legs. A method of operating an aircraft includes urging an inlet airflow into two or more duct openings disposed at a fuselage of the aircraft. The inlet airflow is urged through two or more converging inlet duct legs extending from the two or more duct openings toward an engine inlet. A portion of the inlet airflow is flowed from at least one inlet duct leg of the two or more inlet duct legs into a pressure relief pathway. An inlet duct for an engine or multiple engines includes one or more inlet duct legs and a bypass leg extending from an inlet duct leg of the one or more inlet duct legs through a bypass opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald William Lamb, Jr., Joseph Lawrence Simonetti
  • Patent number: 9234461
    Abstract: An environmental defense shield includes symmetric airfoil-shaped vanes contributing to and positioned around a plenum space and positioned in front of a turbine engine. An annular band stiffener is set into the vanes, which projects forward in a diminishing size, the vanes merging together to create or attaching to a solid nose. The environmental defense shield serves to protect the engine from debris while also smoothing airflow into the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Shield Aerodynamics LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Snyder
  • Patent number: 9234462
    Abstract: A fluidic dampening film supply method for a guiding bearing of a turbine engine shaft, said turbine engine being known to vibrate according to at least one given vibratory mode, said turbine engine being adapted to enter in resonance at a given resonance speed (wr) for said given vibratory mode, a monitoring range (P) being defined around the resonance speed (wr), a method wherein the fluidic dampening film of the guiding bearing being only supplied with fluid when the rotation speed of the turbine engine belongs to the monitoring range (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Fabrice Chevillot, Serge Rene Morreale
  • Patent number: 9234463
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine includes a high pressure compressor rotor having a plurality of disks and a shaft; at least one forward cavity between a rim of at least one of the disks and the shaft and at least one aft cavity formed between a rim of at least one other of the disks and the shaft; a first flow of cooling air in the at least one forward cavity; and a second flow of cooling air in the at least one aft cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: United Technologies Corporation, MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Daniel Benjamin, Daniel Carminati, David S. Jang, Stephan Proestler
  • Patent number: 9234464
    Abstract: A fuel metering system for supplying fuel to load includes a variable displacement piston pump having an adjustable hanger that is movable to a plurality of positions. The variable displacement piston pump is configured to receive a drive torque and, upon receipt of the drive torque, to supply fuel to the plurality of loads at a flow rate dependent on the position of the adjustable hanger. A hanger actuator is coupled to receive hanger position commands and is operable, in response thereto, to move the adjustable hanger to the commanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Dwayne Michael Benson
  • Patent number: 9234465
    Abstract: A flow divider valve for a gas turbine engine fuel supply system is provided. The flow divider valve is configured, whenever fuel pressure at its inlet port is between a first predetermined pressure and a second predetermined pressure, to supply the fuel to a start nozzle manifold outlet port at a substantially constant flow rate, and to direct any fuel flow in excess of the substantially constant flow rate to a run nozzle manifold outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Paul Futa, Brad McRoberts, Greg Lafferty
  • Patent number: 9234466
    Abstract: The disclosed internal combustion engine has an electric water pump and a water temperature sensor that detects coolant water temperature. An electronic control device stops the driving of the water pump when the coolant water temperature is lower than a baseline temperature. Meanwhile, the electronic control device drives the water pump in accordance with the coolant water temperature when the coolant water temperature is higher than the baseline temperature. When the driving of the water pump is stopped, the internal combustion engine forbids at least one engine control until the water pump is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yukari Araki, Takashi Suzuki, Masakiyo Kojima
  • Patent number: 9234467
    Abstract: A valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has a first set of cylinders having a first set of exhaust valves and a second set of cylinders having a second set of exhaust valves. The valve actuation system for the exhaust valves includes one or more first cams having a compression-release lobe and a main exhaust lobe adapted to transfer valve actuation motion to the first set of exhaust valves, and one or more second cams having an early exhaust valve opening (EEVO) lobe and a main exhaust lobe adapted to transfer valve actuation motion to the second set of exhaust valves. The valve actuation system may provide any combination of (i) main exhaust valve actuation with or without compression release actuation with (ii) main exhaust valve actuation with or without EEVO for the two sets of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: JACOBS VEHICLE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven N. Ernest, Darius Metha
  • Patent number: 9234468
    Abstract: A fuel system for a dual fuel power source includes a first fuel circuit fluidly connected to the power source, a second fuel circuit separate from the first fuel circuit and fluidly connected to the power source, and a pressure regulator fluidly connected to the first fuel circuit. The pressure regulator is configured to vent a first fuel from the first fuel circuit to an aftertreatment system fluidly connected to the power source in response to a pressure difference between the first and second fuel circuits being less than or equal to a pressure difference threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Dana Ray Coldren
  • Patent number: 9234469
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including an intake manifold selectably coupled to a boost tank. The method comprises pressurizing and storing air in the boost tank, discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold, and releasing condensate from the boost tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9234470
    Abstract: An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping an engine of the vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimal operation voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage decrease information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimal operation voltage. A power control unit stops supply of power to some of electrical loads to which power is supplied from the battery when the engine is started, if the voltage decrease information is stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryoh Izumoto, Motoki Komiya, Yuuichiroh Shimizu, Yoshinori Shibachi
  • Patent number: 9234471
    Abstract: A driver alert and de-rate control system for a vehicle includes a sensor configured to monitor an engine operating condition, and a control unit in communication with the sensor. The control unit is configured to estimate a time until automatic de-rate of the engine based on the engine operating condition and to modify a performance parameter of the vehicle in dependence upon the estimated time until automatic de-rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry Todd Young, Kenneth Paul Nedley, Sean Cillessen, Timothy Warren Brown
  • Patent number: 9234472
    Abstract: A dual fuel compression ignition engine operates by injecting gaseous fuel and liquid diesel fuel from a common fuel injector directly into each engine cylinder. The gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a small pilot injection quantity of the liquid diesel fuel. Evaporated natural gas from a cryogenic tank and/or a fuel conditioning module is dosed into an intake manifold of the engine with an electronically controlled supply valve. The electronically controlled supply valve may open to supply evaporated gas to the intake manifold contingent upon combustion conditions in the engine cylinder demonstrating a low risk of methane slip, and the dosing quantities are limited to reduce risk of ignition of an air/gas mixture in the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark F. Sommars, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 9234473
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio detector, a fuel amount controller, an operational state parameter acquiring device, an extractor, a failure determination device, a variation state parameter calculator, and a determination stopping device. The operational state parameter acquiring device is configured to acquire at least one operational state parameter. The failure determination device is configured to execute failure determination of determining a failure in an air-fuel ratio control system of the internal combustion engine based on a specific frequency component extracted by the extractor. The variation state parameter calculator is configured to calculate a variation state parameter. The determination stopping device is configured to stop the failure determination if the variation state parameter calculated by the variation state parameter calculator is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Sekiguchi, Atsuhiro Miyauchi, Takeshi Aoki, Seiji Watanabe, Kazunori Kawamura, Michinori Tani
  • Patent number: 9234474
    Abstract: A method of determining an amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) stored in a NOx trap of an engine exhaust assembly may include determining a mass flow rate of NOx into the NOx trap, determining an efficiency of storing of the NOx within the trap, and calculating the amount of NOx stored in the NOx trap based on the determined mass flow rate and the determined efficiency. The method may further include determining a mass flow rate of a reductant entering the NOx trap, determining a relationship between the determined reductant mass flow rate and the NOx removed from the NOx trap, and calculating the amount of NOx removed from the NOx trap based on the determined mass flow rate and the determined relationship. The calculated amount of NOx stored may be adjusted by subsequent amounts of calculated NOx stored and subsequent amounts of NOx removed from the NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: David J. Stroh
  • Patent number: 9234475
    Abstract: A cold start control module for a direct injection engine includes a fuel flow determination module and a cylinder activation/deactivation module. The fuel flow determination module determines a requested fuel flow. The cylinder activation/deactivation module deactivates at least one of cylinders when the requested fuel flow exceeds a maximum fuel flow of the fuel pump during cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Michael N. Kotsonas, Robert X. Monchamp, Karen Margaret-Bell Gwidt
  • Patent number: 9234476
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a fuel concentration in engine oil in an engine crankcase. In one example, an engine controller may adjust engine operation such as EGR flow and engine fueling based on the estimated fuel concentration in engine oil. The fuel concentration may be based on an output of an intake oxygen sensor when purge and EGR flow are disabled, engine oil temperature, and fuel composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 9234477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing the operation of a thermal engine having combustion parameters controlled by an electronic housing and at least one engine mapping, characterized in that the method comprises: a step of carrying out a near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of a bio-fuel containing a mixture of alcohols and/or ethers and/or water in order to determine the proportions of water and of at least one other oxygenated compound of the alcohol and/or ether type contained in the bio-fuel; and a step of selecting and/or modifying said mapping on the basis of the analysis result in order to optimize the operation of the thermal engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SP3H
    Inventors: Alain Lunati, Johan Fournel
  • Patent number: 9234478
    Abstract: A geometric compression ratio in an engine main body 1 is set to 15 or less. Injection control means (ECU 40) performs a main injection of injecting fuel near a compression top dead center, and a preceding injection prior to the main injection at a specific region of predetermined load within an operating region on a relatively low-speed side. The injection control means performs, as the preceding injection, a pilot injection of performing injection at a timing such that at least part of a fuel spray reaches outside a cavity 31 on a top face of a piston, and a pre-injection of injecting fuel at a predetermined timing after the pilot injection, to suppress thereby ignition of the fuel injected by the pilot injection and shorten an ignition delay of the fuel injected by the main injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Morinaga, Daisuke Shimo, Keiji Maruyama, Hiroshi Minamoto, Naotoshi Shirahashi, Daisuke Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9234479
    Abstract: The oil control ring (1) comprises a retaining ring (2) and a scraper (3) having a scraper fin (3a), wherein the scraper (3) is arranged in the retaining ring (2) in such a way that the scraper fin (3a) is oriented towards the center (1a) of the oil control ring (1) in order to scrape oil on a piston rod (6). The scraper (3) comprises a plurality of scraper segments (3e) which are arranged in succession in the circumferential direction (1b) of the oil control ring (1), and the retaining ring (2) has a groove (2b) for accommodating the scraper segments (3a) in a positive manner, and the retaining ring (2) has an abutment point (2g). The retaining ring (2) forms at least one plastic first end face (2d, 2e) which is oriented towards the center (1a) of the oil control ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG
    Inventors: Norbert Feistel, Andreas Allenspach
  • Patent number: 9234480
    Abstract: A compressor or expander has a variable-volume chamber with a heat exchanger located inside the chamber. The heat exchanger can have a helical structure and may be connected between walls of the chamber that move relative to one another during compression or expansion. The heat exchanger comprises a passage containing a heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid may add heat to or remove heat from a gas being expanded or compressed. Embodiments may provide isothermal or near isothermal compression or expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Donald Gayton
  • Patent number: 9234481
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least two of a multiple of heat exchangers arranged in an at least partial-series relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 9234482
    Abstract: Engine system using alcohol Rankine heat recovery where the engine heat converts alcohol into hydrogen-rich gas which is then introduced into the engine cylinders. The engine system includes a source of liquid alcohol along with an internal combustion engine generating a high temperature exhaust. Structure is provided for introducing a first portion of the liquid alcohol into the engine and a series of heat exchangers forming a Rankine heat recovery cycle is provided to extract heat from the exhaust and transferring the heat to a second portion of the liquid alcohol, causing it to change phase to a gaseous alcohol. A heat exchanger/catalyst is heated by the exhaust to reform the gaseous alcohol into a hydrogen-rich reformate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn
  • Patent number: 9234483
    Abstract: This invention relates to an engine cooling system in which the supply of fuel is cooled to prevent fuel vapors by cooling the fuel pump. The cooling system uses a thermoelectric material that, either entirely or partially, surrounds the fuel pump, is the housing of the fuel pump and/or is internal to the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Carter Fuel Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Dean Achor, Michael Shawn Richards
  • Patent number: 9234484
    Abstract: An integrated snorkel intake inertial separator is provided to remove dust and dirt contaminants from the engine intake system prior to reaching the air cleaner. The snorkel initiates a cyclonic motion at the snorkel inlet that propagates downstream in a downpipe towards the air cleaner. The cyclonic motion is initiated by radial stators mounted in one embodiment in the snorkel inlet cap or, alternatively, further down the throat of the downpipe. The contaminants in the intake flow are transported radially outwards by the cyclonic motion and are then expelled via a series of extraction ducts formed in the snorkel downpipe. The extraction vents are perpendicular to the cyclonic flow allowing dirt, dust and water particles to be extracted by means of cyclonic motion and gravity. The exit slots are located in regions of low pressure generated by the external aerodynamic airflow around the snorkel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Paul Lewington, Rodrigo Mendes Oliveira
  • Patent number: 9234485
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel gas supply system of a gas engine capable of supplying to a fuel gas supply unit a fuel gas of constant pressure which fluctuates little. In a fuel gas supply system, a high-pressure tank and a gas injector are connected to each other by a supply passage, and an electromagnetic pressure regulating valve is provided on the supply passage. The electromagnetic pressure regulating valve is configured to regulate the pressure of the gas, flowing through the supply passage, to pressure corresponding to a current supplied to the electromagnetic pressure regulating valve. The gas pressure downstream of the electromagnetic pressure regulating valve is detected by a low-pressure-side pressure sensor. A controller is electrically connected to the electromagnetic pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ninomiya, Kaoru Nomichi, Yutaka Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9234486
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a leakage passageway for a fuel injector of a common rail fuel system. In one embodiment, a fuel injector for an engine comprises an injector accumulator, an injector flow limiter valve configured to control a flow of fuel from a common fuel rail and into the injector accumulator, and a leakage passageway coupled between the injector accumulator and an inlet of the injector flow limiter valve, the leakage passageway bypassing the injector flow limiter valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sumit Kumar Das, Paul Gerard Nistler, Javier Rivera, Muthu Anandhan
  • Patent number: 9234487
    Abstract: An injection nozzle for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprises a nozzle body having a bore for receiving fuel from a supply line for pressurized fuel, an outlet from the bore for delivering fuel to the combustion chamber, in use, and a valve needle defining a needle axis and being slidable within the bore. The needle comprises a needle guide portion arranged to guide the needle within the bore. The injection nozzle further comprises a restriction within the bore for restricting fuel flow through the bore, and a restrictive element moveable with the needle and located upstream of the needle guide portion. At least a part of a downstream side of the restrictive element comprises a bevelled surface that extends to a peripheral edge of the restrictive element, the bevelled surface being non-perpendicular to the needle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Michael Peter Cooke
  • Patent number: 9234488
    Abstract: A quill connector for a fuel system in an engine includes an elongate quill body defining a fuel conduit having a proximal accumulator segment, and a flow limiter subassembly, for limiting oversupplying of a pressurized fuel, positioned at least partially within the accumulator segment. The subassembly includes a seat component attached to the elongate quill body and supporting a guide component wherein a hydraulically actuated valve and a biaser are disposed. The valve is movable to a closed position during supplying pressurized fuel to a fuel injector, to interrupt a flow of the pressurized fuel thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Gerstner
  • Patent number: 9234489
    Abstract: In a method for operating a temperature-limiting device of an electrical unit activatable for a limited time period by way of an activation signal, the temperature-limiting device permits activation of the electrical unit upon occurrence of the activation signal only if a counter value is greater than or less than a reference value, the counter value being incremented or decremented by a determined temperature equivalence value upon each activation of the electrical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Tumback
  • Patent number: 9234490
    Abstract: A linearly aligned four-cylinder internal combustion engine system operated in a 1-3-4-2 sequence, comprising a cylinder head connected with a cylinder block wherein each cylinder has at least one exhaust port to discharge exhaust gasses via an exhaust gas discharge system, for which an exhaust gas pipe is connected at each exhaust port; wherein the exhaust gas pipes of the cylinders that merge in stages into a common exhaust gas pipe and the exhaust gas discharge system emerges outside of the cylinder head. Thus exhaust gas from consecutive ignitions in adjacent cylinders is separated for a distance throughout the engine head to reduce mutual influencing in adjacent cylinders with consecutive ignitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Guenter Bartsch, Albert Breuer
  • Patent number: 9234491
    Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a tubular housing, a tubular insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode and a guide member. The guide member is configured to guide the flow of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of the engine to a spark gap formed between the center electrode and the ground electrode. Moreover, in the spark plug, the following dimensional relationships are satisfied: b??67.8×(a/D)+27.4; b??123.7×(a/D)+64.5; ?0.4?(a/D)?0.4; and 0°?b?90°. Further, with an oblique angle ? being in the range of 0 to 30°, the following dimensional relationship is also satisfied: 0.8?r/R?1. Consequently, the spark plug can secure, with a simple configuration, a stable ignition capability regardless of the mounting posture of the spark plug to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanobu Aochi, Masamichi Shibata, Noriaki Nishio, Kaori Doi
  • Patent number: 9234492
    Abstract: A method of testing a hydroelectric turbine before the turbine is installed and secured on the seabed, in order to ensure that the turbine is operating as expected, the method involving securing the turbine to a vessel and displacing the vessel through water in order to effect rotation while monitoring one or more operating parameters of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Openhydro IP Limited
    Inventors: Paul Dunne, James Ives
  • Patent number: 9234493
    Abstract: A wave power generation system includes a power generation component and a hydraulic component. The hydraulic component includes a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder connects to the power generation component. The cylinder has an accommodation space and a vent located in the middle section of the accommodation space such that the vent runs outside from the accommodation space. The accommodation space is used for accommodating a fluid. The piston is disposed in the accommodation space and is used for being guided by the accommodation space and sliding relative to the cylinder. Thereby, this drives the power generation component to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, and to force the remaining air in the accommodation space and remaining air in the fluid to be discharged via the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sheng-Chung Lo, Chen-Yang Lan, Wei-Ming Chen, Tzu-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 9234494
    Abstract: The power plant disclosed is an engine that derives is usefulness in the pursuit of energy generation by utilizing natural pressure differentials found in various liquids and gases, such as but not limited to water and air. It is generally a two-stroke piston cycle engine, wherein the actions of the pistons perform work or replenish working fluid from a lower head to a higher head, and can be utilized to generate power, pump fluids, or perform work, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Mark R. Anteau
  • Patent number: 9234495
    Abstract: The power plant disclosed is an engine that derives is usefulness in the pursuit of energy generation by utilizing natural pressure differentials found in various liquids and gases, such as but not limited to water and air. It is generally a two-stroke piston cycle engine, wherein the actions of the pistons perform work, which can be utilized to generate power, pump fluids, or perform work, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Mark R. Anteau
  • Patent number: 9234496
    Abstract: A swim current generator apparatus includes an enclosure and a motor shroud, the motor shroud enclosing a motor coupled to a propeller and having openings therein to permit the intake and discharge of water by the propeller, wherein the motor shroud is moveable between a retracted position within the enclosure and an extended position outside the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Keith Braswell
  • Patent number: 9234497
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided. The rotor blade includes an elongate blade base body with a number of connecting elements each having at least one axially extending connecting portion adapted to be connected with at least one corresponding connecting portion of a rotor hub of a wind turbine, wherein the respective connecting elements are connected to at least two circumferentially extending connecting members with the connecting members being adjacently disposed in circumferential direction so as to build a ring-like shape. Further, a wind turbine with such a rotor blade is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Erik Grove-Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9234498
    Abstract: A wind driven generator may have a first rotating element associated with a first set of vanes distributed so as to be driven by wind in a first rotational direction about an axis of rotation. A second element is associated with a second set of vanes distributed so as to be driven by the wind in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction concentric with the axis of rotation of the first rotating element. The first rotating element has magnetic elements disposed thereon that project a magnetic field towards and onto the second rotating element. The second rotating element has electromagnetic coils disposed thereon, the electromagnetic coils being exposed to the magnetic field projected from the first rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Albert Prindle
  • Patent number: 9234499
    Abstract: A split core for a composite structure is described. The split core includes a first core layer, a second core layer, and a functional interlayer disposed between the first and second core layers. The first core layer separates the functional interlayer from a functional layer of the composite structure and/or from an outer surface of the composite structure. The thickness of the first core layer is substantially uniform across the composite structure and the distance between the functional interlayer and the functional layer and/or the outer surface of the composite structure is substantially constant across the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Steve Appleton, Knud Stenbaek Nielson
  • Patent number: 9234500
    Abstract: A method of producing a composite shell structure in the form of a wind turbine blade shell part having a reinforced fiber material embedded in a cured resin includes: providing a mold part having a contour defining the outer surface of the composite shell structure; providing a preform forming part shaped complementary to the mold part molding surface; forming a preform of dry fiber material on the surface of the preform forming part; arranging the mold part and the preform forming part in an assembled position with the mold part molding surface facing the preform forming surface; releasing the preform from the preform forming surface so that it is received on the mold part molding surface; removing the preform forming part from the mold part; forming a mold cavity by means of a second mold part arranged on the preform; providing resin in the mold cavity; and curing the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 9234501
    Abstract: A method of using a bagged power generation system comprising windbags and water-bags for harnessing wind and water power to produce electricity to meet the escalating energy needs of mankind. Windbags integrated with aerodynamically shaped inflatable bodies filled with lighter-than-air gas: HAV, UAV, airplanes; enabling the apparatus to attain high altitude to capture and entrap high velocity wind. Water-bags integrated with hydrodynamic shaped bodies HUV, UUV, Submarine-boats; enabling the apparatus to dive, capture and entrap swift moving tidal-currents. Attached tether-lines pulling on the rotating reel-drums and generators to produce electricity. Active control surfaces, turbo-fans, propellers provide precision control of the apparatus. A system configured to maximize fluids capture, retention and optimized extraction of its kinetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Yik Hei Sia