Patents Issued in January 26, 2016
  • Patent number: 9243495
    Abstract: A tool for use in initiating a hydraulic fracture in a bore hole comprises an elongate cylindrical bore hole packer structure (11) having an inner longitudinal passage (12), a mid-portion (13) provided with ports (14) extending outwardly from passage (12) to the exterior periphery of the packer structure (11) and expandable circumferential well portions (15A) surrounding the inner longitudinal passage (12) to each side of the mid-portion (13). In use of the tool the circumferential wall portions (15A) can be expanded by injection of hydraulic fracturing fluid into passage 12) and exit of the injected fluid through the ports (14) to produce a pressure difference between the inside of the packer structure and the outside of the packer structure as the fluid passes through the ports (14) such that the hydraulic fluid exiting the packer structure can initiate a fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION
    Inventors: Robert Graham Jeffrey, Anthony Charles Coleman
  • Patent number: 9243496
    Abstract: A seafloor bulk mining tool for production cutting of a seafloor bench. The tool uses a tracked locomotion system to travel across a seafloor bench. Power and control interfaces receive power and control signals from a surface source. The tool has a drum cutter for cutting the bench, and a sizing grill adjacent the drum cutter for sizing cuttings as they are produced by the drum cutter. A drum shroud may also be provided to help contain cuttings. A suction inlet can be used to capture cuttings as they are produced, for example in conjunction with a spade and augers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nautilus Minerals Pacific Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Glen Robert Jones, Antony Eliot Inglis, Anthony Paul O'Sullivan, Michael Howitt, Glen Smith, Roland Gunter Berndt, Daal Hallam Jaffers, Nicholas William Ridley, Ian Maskell
  • Patent number: 9243497
    Abstract: A system for seafloor mining. A seafloor auxiliary mining tool works a seafloor site to prepare a bench, and deposits cut ore in a gathering area. A seafloor bulk mining tool undertakes production cutting of a bench and deposits cut ore in a gathering area. A seafloor gathering machine gathers cut ore deposited in the gathering area and pumps gathered ore as a slurry to a riser base. A riser and lifting system receives slurry from the gathering machine and lifts the slurry to the surface. A surface vessel receives slurry from the riser and lifting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nautilus Minerals Pacific Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Glen Robert Jones, Antony Eliot Inglis, Anthony Paul O'Sullivan, Michael Howitt, Glen Smith, Roland Gunter Berndt, Daal Hallam Jaffers
  • Patent number: 9243498
    Abstract: Gas Pressure Reduction Generator (GPRG) systems and methods for implementing a GPRG system are provided, where the GPRG systems comprise a gas inlet configured to receive a pressurized gas flow, at least one expander in gas flow receiving communication with the gas inlet wherein the expander is operable to convert the pressurized gas flow into mechanical energy and a depressurized gas flow, and a generator configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ElectraTherm, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Oxner
  • Patent number: 9243499
    Abstract: A gas turbine rotor for a gas turbine is provided. The gas turbine rotor includes a compressor rotor shaft, a turbine rotor shaft and a coupling device frictionally connecting the two rotor shafts, wherein the coupling device is designed in such a way that the friction connection also exists when the two rotor shafts are displaced relative to one another. In this case, the turbine rotor shaft is lengthened at the end facing the compressor rotor shaft in such a way that the turbine rotor shaft overlaps with the compressor rotor shaft in the axial direction and the coupling device connects this lengthened end of the turbine shaft to the compressor rotor shaft in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Braun, Christopher Butzeck, Jürgen Hahn, Peter Schröder, Hubertus Michael Wigger
  • Patent number: 9243500
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil including leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface extending in a radial direction. The trailing edge is arranged on an aft side of the turbine blade. A root supports a platform from which the airfoil extends and a cooling passage extends within the root in the radial direction to the airfoil. A lower wing is arranged beneath the platform on the aft side and extends in an axial direction to provide a U-shaped channel with the platform that extends in a circumferential direction. An impingement hole extends from the U-channel to the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Ricardo Trindade, Bret M. Teller, Scott D. Lewis, Jeffrey S. Beattie, Jeffrey Michael Jacques, Brandon M. Rapp
  • Patent number: 9243501
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine includes a shank interconnecting a root and a platform, and an airfoil extending radially from the shank. The shank includes a pocket with the platform overhanging the pocket. A rail extends axially along a lateral edge of the platform and extends radially inward from the platform in a direction opposite the airfoil. A gusset extends from an underside of the platform facing the pocket and in a circumferential direction between the rail and the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth J. Thomen, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 9243502
    Abstract: An airfoil includes a body that includes leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. A cooling passage is arranged interiorly of the exterior airfoil surface and provides an interior surface. The interior cooling surface includes micro-bumps that protrude from the interior cooling surface into the cooling passage. The micro-bumps are discrete from and noncontiguous relative to one another in multiple directions along the interior cooling surface. The micro-bumps may be provided while forming the airfoil or using correspondingly shaped micro-depressions on an airfoil core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: JinQuan Xu
  • Patent number: 9243503
    Abstract: A component includes a substrate that has outer and inner surfaces. The inner surface defines at least one hollow, interior space. The outer surface defines pressure and suction sidewalls that are joined together at leading and trailing edges of the component and together form an airfoil portion of the component. The outer substrate surface further defines at least one platform and at least one fillet that extends between and integrally connects the airfoil to the respective platform. The outer surface defines one or more grooves that extend at least partially along a respective fillet. Each groove is in fluid communication with a respective hollow, interior space. The component further includes a coating disposed over at least a portion of the outer substrate surface and including at least a structural coating that extends over the groove(s). The groove(s) and the structural coating together define channel(s) for cooling the respective fillet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Patent number: 9243504
    Abstract: A damper pin for coupling platforms of adjacent turbine blades includes a first flat longitudinal end region, a second flat longitudinal end region and a reduced cross sectional area. The reduced cross sectional area is separated from the first flat longitudinal end region by a first main body region and the reduced cross sectional area is separated from the second flat longitudinal end region by a second main body region. The cross sectional area of the reduced cross sectional area is less than the cross sectional area of each of the first and second main body regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Seth J. Thomen, Christopher Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9243505
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for a silo combustor includes a first casing and a second casing each forming a passageway for a gas, an end portion of the first casing being disposed radially inside an end portion of the second casing such that the first and the second casing form an overlapping region having a radial gap. A segmented seal has at least two adjacent segments disposed in the overlapping region so as to seal the radial gap, wherein the first casing includes at least one opening disposed in a region between the at least two adjacent segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Vladimir Vassiliev, Fulvio Magni, Sergey Anatolievich Chernyshev, Victor Vladimirovich Odinokov
  • Patent number: 9243506
    Abstract: A transition nozzle for use with a turbine assembly is provided. The transition nozzle includes a liner defining a combustion chamber therein, a wrapper circumscribing the liner such that a cooling duct is defined between the wrapper and the liner, a cooling fluid inlet configured to supply a cooling fluid to the cooling duct, and a plurality of ribs coupled between the liner and the wrapper such that a plurality of cooling channels are defined in the cooling duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Patent number: 9243507
    Abstract: A late lean injection system transition piece includes a flowsleeve interface extending circumferentially around a transition interior. Also included is an impingement sleeve mounting surface extending circumferentially around the transition interior. Further included is a plurality of fuel injectors integrated substantially within the transition piece and disposed between the flowsleeve interface and the impingement sleeve mounting surface. Yet further included is an inner surface extending circumferentially around the transition interior, wherein the inner surface is spaced radially inward of the flowsleeve interface and the impingement sleeve mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 9243508
    Abstract: A system for recirculating a hot gas flowing through a gas turbine generally includes a transition piece having a downstream surface, a stationary nozzle having a leading edge surface adjacent to the transition piece downstream surface, a gap defined between the transition piece downstream surface and the stationary nozzle leading edge surface, and a projection having an inner arcuate surface radially separated from an outer surface. The projection generally extends from the stationary nozzle leading edge surface towards the transition piece downstream surface and at least partially decreases the gap. A seal extends across the gap and may be in contact with the transition piece and the stationary nozzle leading edge surface. A recirculation zone may be at least partially defined between the projection inner arcuate surface, the stationary nozzle leading edge surface and the transition piece downstream surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, Thomas James Brunt, Richard William Johnson
  • Patent number: 9243509
    Abstract: The present application thus provides a stator vane assembly for a turbine engine. The stator vane assembly may include a casing slot and a number of ring segments positioned within the casing slot. Each of the ring segments may include a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end may have a stepped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Hudson
  • Patent number: 9243510
    Abstract: A floating seal assembly for sealing two static parts is disclosed. Each static part has an opposing groove, and the opposing grooves define a seal cavity. Floating seal assembly includes a floating circumferential seal having a middle portion and opposing end portions, each opposing end portion is positioned within a groove in one of the static parts, wherein each end portion has a curved side facing a low pressure side of the seal cavity. The floating seal assembly according to embodiments of the invention is pressure driven in that each curved side of the end portions is configured to engage a low pressure side of the seal cavity in response to a pressure differential across the sealing cavity reaching a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Stephen Casavant, Kevin Thomas McGovern
  • Patent number: 9243511
    Abstract: Turbine and compressor casing abradable component embodiments for turbine engines, with zig-zag pattern abradable surface ridges and grooves. Some embodiments include distinct forward upstream and aft downstream composite multi orientation groove and vertically projecting ridges planform patterns, to reduce, redirect and/or block blade tip airflow leakage downstream into the grooves rather than from turbine blade airfoil high to low pressure sides. Ridge or rib embodiments have first lower and second upper wear zones. The lower zone optimizes engine airflow characteristics while the upper zone is optimized to minimize blade tip gap and wear by being more easily abradable than the lower zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Kok-Mun Tham, Gm Salam Azad
  • Patent number: 9243512
    Abstract: A rotary machine with at least one frangible composite blade that mitigates adverse conditions associated with release of material resulting from impact damage to the composite blade is provided. The composite blade having provisions for dissipating energy, self-shredding, and predetermined release trajectory. A method for manufacturing the composite blade and assembling the blade into a rotary machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell
  • Patent number: 9243513
    Abstract: A fluid impingement arrangement comprising a supply manifold and at least one nozzle exit coupled to the supply manifold. The nozzle exit is arranged as a Coanda surface having a restriction and has at least one static pressure tapping that cross-connects two regions of the restriction to induce passive oscillation in a fluid jet passing through the nozzle exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Zahid M Hussain, Christopher T J Sheaf, Andrew J Mullender, David MacManus, Brian A Handley
  • Patent number: 9243514
    Abstract: A hybrid radial gas turbine engine component comprises an inner hub portion joined to an outer ring portion. The inner hub portion is a first alloy and operates at temperatures less than 1200° F. The outer ring portion is a second alloy and is designed to withstand extended periods at temperatures greater than 1200° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: W. Samuel Krotzer, Jr., Michael D. Greenberg, Kevin W. Schlichting
  • Patent number: 9243515
    Abstract: A turbine engine case includes a first panel, a second panel and a support hanger. The second panel defines an aperture. The support hanger includes a strut that is connected to the first panel, and a base that is pivotally connected to the strut. The base includes a pivot member that is pivotally engaged with the second panel. The base extends away from the strut and through the aperture to the pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. McAlice, Carlos G. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 9243516
    Abstract: A steam exhaust device for a steam turbine module includes a steam exhaust duct having a steam diffuser and a steam exhaust bottom wall, the steam exhaust duct being delimited by a surface of the steam diffuser configured to guide steam and by a steam exhaust bottom wall. A rigid hub includes one of a circular and a semicircular shape, the steam diffuser being rigidly fixed on the rigid hub. A rigid fastening device is fixed on the rigid hub and configured to support the steam exhaust device on a rigid frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Julien Roge, Xavier Laurent
  • Patent number: 9243517
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide recovery system includes a high-pressure turbine 11, an intermediate-pressure turbine 12, a low-pressure turbine 13, a main boiler 15 that generates steam 14 for driving these turbines, a carbon dioxide recovery unit 24 including a carbon dioxide absorber 21 that absorbs and reduces carbon dioxide in flue gas (emission gas) G emitted from the main boiler 15 using a carbon dioxide absorbent and an absorbent regenerator 23 that regenerates a carbon dioxide absorbent having absorbed the carbon dioxide using a regenerating superheater 22 to obtain a regenerated carbon dioxide absorbent, an auxiliary boiler 30 that generates saturated water vapor 31 to be supplied to the regenerating superheater 22 in the absorbent regenerator 23, and a steam turbine 32 that is driven by steam from the auxiliary boiler 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 9243518
    Abstract: To mitigate the potential significant impact on our society due to the continued reliance on high-cost diesel hydrocarbon fuel and the implementation of increasingly strict emission controls, an apparatus is disclosed which provides the means for extracting additional heat from an internal combustion engine while providing the cooling needed to meet stricter emissions standards. The present disclosure describes an apparatus operating on a Rankine cycle for recovering waste heat energy from an internal combustion engine, the apparatus including a closed loop for a working fluid with a single shared low pressure condenser serving a pair of independent high pressure circuits each containing zero or more controlled or passive fluid splitters and mixers, one or more pressure pumps, one or more heat exchangers, and one or more expanders, and the means for controlling said apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: David Cook
  • Patent number: 9243519
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system for accelerating droop response in a combined cycle power plant may include a controller and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive frequency variation data associated with a frequency variation of an electrical grid, determine, based at least in part on the frequency variation data, a target operational level of the combined cycle power plant and the droop response associated with the target operational level, calculate a variable compensation value, and apply the variable compensation value to the droop response until the target operational level is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Sweet, Yuhui Chen
  • Patent number: 9243520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of managing large quantities of low-grade waste heat energy by 1) generating excess electric power via an ORC process driven by the removal and recovery of waste heat under favorable operating conditions, and 2) utilizing the same apparatus to provide waste heat removal via a refrigeration process that consumes electric power when environmental conditions do not permit operation in the ORC mode. The mode of operation of the system is principally determined by the thermal energy of the waste heat stream and the availability, or lack thereof, of adequate cooling resources. Such resources are often subject to local environmental conditions, particularly ambient temperature which varies on a diurnal and annual basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ElectraTherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Oxner, Hans Wain, August Brautigam
  • Patent number: 9243521
    Abstract: A tappet having a contiguous body, an outer wall and transverse web. The outer wall defines a cylindrically-shaped outer surface and a recess. The recess is disposed within cylindrical surface of the body. An alignment member is press-fit between two staked ends of the recess, which engage opposite sides of the alignment member. The alignment member extends outwardly from the cylindrically-shaped surface. A roller is mounted to the contiguous body at the cam contacting end of the tappet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Doug R. Cornett, John Page Chapman, Gary Lynn Janowiak, Daniel A. Nelson, Mark E. Jacobs, Brent L. Rehm, Pratap S. Murthy, Anthony Leon Spoor, James Roy Sheren
  • Patent number: 9243522
    Abstract: Provided is a valve timing controller capable of quickening a response in varying a relative rotational phase. When the valve timing controller is under a locking state, if an ECU outputs a phase maintenance signal indicative of a phase maintaining state wherein control for maintaining the relative rotational phase within a predetermined range by work fluid present in an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber is possible, an intermediate locking mechanism is switched to a lock-releasing state and also the relative rotational phase is maintained to an intermediate locking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9243523
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a lock mechanism having a hole portion formed in one of the driving-side/driven-side rotational members, a sleeve in the hole portion, a lock member in the sleeve and capable of projecting and retracting with respect to the other of the driving-side/driven-side members, and a lock hole formed in the other of the driving-side/driven-side members such that the lock member can be fitted to the lock hole when the lock member projects. The lock mechanism constrains a relative rotational phase of the driven-side rotational member with respect to the driving-side rotational member at a predetermined phase when the lock member is fitted to the lock hole. A first chamfered surface is formed in the circumferential direction at an inner-circumferential corner of an end of the sleeve on the side opposite to the side facing the lock hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Kazunari Adachi, Hideyuki Suganuma, Shinji Oe, Takeo Asahi
  • Patent number: 9243524
    Abstract: For an upshift of a transmission, a model predictive control (MPC) module sets target intake and exhaust valve timings for changes in a torque request that occur during the upshift. A phaser actuator module controls intake valve phasing of an engine based on the target intake valve timing and controls exhaust valve phasing based on the target exhaust valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Ning Jin, Kevin C. Wong, Robert J. Genslak
  • Patent number: 9243525
    Abstract: A valve control mechanism is configured that is capable of optimally controlling an engine by lifting an intake valve only by the necessary amount, while suppressing noise at the time of operation. This valve control mechanism includes a control member that rotates around a control axis due to a driving force of an actuator, and a base end portion of a rocker arm is pivotably supported around a pivot axis by an eccentric support portion of the control member. The rocker arm is pivoted by a cam portion of a camshaft abutting against an intermediate roller of the rocker arm, and an operation of opening the intake valve is performed due to a pressure force from the pivot end. The rocker arm is shifted in the longitudinal direction due to an operation of the actuator, and control for changing the lift amount of the intake valve is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Nunami, Hisashi Ono, Yuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 9243526
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine is provided. The method comprises adjusting an oil pressure in an oil circuit, the oil circuit including a pump in fluidic communication with a hydraulically adjustable cam follower and switching the hydraulically adjustable cam follower into a connected state to a disconnected in response to the oil pressure adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Klemens Grieser, Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Bernd Steiner
  • Patent number: 9243527
    Abstract: A vehicle system comprises an internal combustion engine including a PCV system fluidly coupled to a gaseous fuel source via a flow control valve. The gaseous fuel source may be fluidly coupled to an air inflow line of the PCV system, and the flow control valve may be configured to control a flow of gaseous fuel into the PCV system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: David Karl Bidner
  • Patent number: 9243528
    Abstract: A device for cleaning of crankcase gas including a centrifugal separator having a housing and a separation chamber in which a rotor is arranged. The separator is connected to a gas inlet for conducting crankcase gas from the crankcase to the centrifugal separator and a gas outlet for conducting the cleaned gas from the separator. A motor is arranged to rotate the centrifugal rotor. A sensor is provided for detection of a parameter and is arranged to communicate with the control equipment. The control equipment is operatively connected to a valve for adjusting the flow of gas through the centrifugal separator. The control equipment is arranged to change the position of the valve in response to a detected change of the parameter such that the gas pressure in the crankcase is maintained at a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Jan Skoog
  • Patent number: 9243529
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to improve space efficiency, while ensuring a desired blow-by gas processing performance. As gas routes that connect a crankcase and each of intake passages, a first gas route and a second gas route connected to respective throttle upstream parts of the intake passages on the upstream side of each throttle valve for each bank, and a third gas route connected to a throttle downstream part of the intake passage for one of the banks are provided. Separators are disposed in the respective gas routes, for separating oil mist from blow-by gas. Only the first separator having a comparatively large capacity is disposed in the first bank on the side where a crankshaft rotates upward from the bottom. The second and third separators are both juxtaposed to each other in the second bank on the side where the crankshaft rotates downward from the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Nakama, Nobuhito Arai, Takahiro Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 9243530
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a fuel injection technique suitable for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine equipped with a first fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a cylinder, a second fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into an intake passage, and a particulate filter provided in an exhaust passage thereof. To achieve the object, the fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine according to the invention reduces an in-cylinder injection ratio, which is the ratio of the quantity of fuel injected through the first fuel injection valve to the quantity of fuel injected through the second fuel injection valve, when the quantity of particulate matter trapped in the particulate filter is larger than a threshold value, thereby reducing the quantity of particulate matter discharged from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Irisawa
  • Patent number: 9243531
    Abstract: A burner for exhaust gas purification devices, comprising a base section, a first pipe section, and a second pipe section. The first pipe section has abase end section, a tip section, a combustion chamber, and a discharge port from which combusted gas is discharged. The base end section and the tip section are fixed to the base section. The second pipe section has a base end section and a tip section, and said base end and tip sections are fixed to the base section. The first pipe section also comprises an expansion/contraction section capable of expanding and contracting in a direction parallel to the central axis. The first pipe section and the second pipe section mutually overlap in the radial direction so as to form a multilayer tube structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Tsumagari, Ryo Shibuya, Atsushi Koide
  • Patent number: 9243532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pumping device (20) for supplying an exhaust gas aftertreament system (10) of an internal combustion engine with a reductant (14), in particular with a urea-water solution, in order to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine, comprising a motor (32) for driving two pumps (22, 24). According to the invention, the first pump (22) is connected to the motor (32) by means of a first coupling, and the second pump (24) is connected to the motor by means of a second coupling. In a preferred embodiment, the couplings are designed as freewheel couplings (26, 28) acting in opposite directions, so that a switch between a “pumping state” and a “suck-back state” can be made by simply reversing the direction of rotation of the motor (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Ulrich, Christoph Waletzek
  • Patent number: 9243533
    Abstract: An engine system includes: an exhaust path through which an exhaust gas of an engine passes; an urea injection valve that injects urea into the exhaust path; a catalyst that is provided in the exhaust path on a downstream of the urea injection valve, and that selectively reduces NOx by using ammonia acting as a reducing agent, the ammonia being generated by hydrolyzing injected urea from the urea injection valve; a heating portion that is capable of heating the catalyst and the injected urea; and a control unit that performs first control, in which the urea injection valve injects urea, the heating portion heats the injected urea to generate ammonia, or second control, in which the heating portion increases a temperature of the catalyst to a temperature at which NOx can be reduced, on a basis of an amount of ammonia adsorbed on the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamashita, Koichiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 9243534
    Abstract: A gaseous reductant injection control system for exhaust aftertreatment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst is in fluid communication with an exhaust stream generated from an engine. An oxidation catalyst (OC) is upstream of the SCR catalyst and in fluid communication with the exhaust stream. A gaseous reductant injector is upstream of the SCR catalyst and downstream of the OC and in fluid communication with the exhaust stream. A first gas sensor is upstream of the OC and a second gas sensor is downstream of the SCR catalyst. A controller receives signals representative of gas concentrations detected in the exhaust stream by the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor, and estimates concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and nitride dioxide (NO2) in the exhaust stream therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Maruthi Narasinga Rao Devarakonda
  • Patent number: 9243535
    Abstract: A method for controlling a reductant buffer level in an exhaust gas after treatment device connectable downstream of an internal combustion engine includes performing a first reductant injection of a first amount upstream the exhaust gas after treatment device, performing a second reductant injection of a second amount upstream the exhaust gas after treatment device, which second amount is different to the first amount, evaluating the NOx conversion resulting from the first and second reductant injections downstream the exhaust gas after treatment device to obtain a first and second result, controlling a further reductant injection in dependence of the first and second results from the first and second NOx conversion evaluations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Johan Dahl, Per-Olof Källen
  • Patent number: 9243536
    Abstract: In a method for enriching the exhaust gases of a combustion engine with unburnt hydrocarbon engine operating conditions are monitored and in-cylinder post injection of unburnt hydrocarbon into one predetermined cylinder of at least two cylinders connected to an exhaust manifold is performed when the monitored engine operating conditions equal predetermined engine operating conditions. The predetermined engine operating conditions are set for resulting in a substantially zero flow of the post-injected hydrocarbon to an EGR circuit for the specific design of the engine in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Annika Carlsson
  • Patent number: 9243537
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an engine includes an exhaust valve assembly having a first port, a second port, and a third port, the exhaust valve assembly being configured to effect selective fluid communication between the first port, the second port, and the third port; an exhaust conduit fluidly coupled to an exhaust port of the engine and fluidly coupled to the first port of the exhaust valve assembly; an exhaust aftertreatment device fluidly coupled to the second port of the exhaust valve assembly; a bypass conduit fluidly coupled to the third port of the exhaust valve assembly, the bypass conduit configured to bypass a flow of exhaust around the exhaust aftertreatment device; a reductant supply in selective fluid communication with the exhaust conduit; and a controller operatively coupled to the exhaust valve assembly and the reductant supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Xinyu Ge
  • Patent number: 9243538
    Abstract: Internal combustion diesel engine systems and methods of operation are disclosed that include a diesel engine, an exhaust gas recirculation system, a wastegated turbocharger, an exhaust throttle, and a vanadia selective catalytic reduction catalyst downstream of the exhaust throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer Kay Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 9243539
    Abstract: A catalyst composition comprises a mixed metal catalyst which comprises unalloyed palladium and palladium-gold alloy disposed on a support, wherein the palladium-gold alloy is enriched in gold and at least one promoter in which said promoter comprises at least one reducible metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Paul Richard Phillips, Agnes Suganya Raj, Raj Rao Rajaram
  • Patent number: 9243540
    Abstract: A catalytic converter has a catalyst support that is heated due to supply of electricity, and a pair of electrodes that are disposed so as to contact an outer periphery of the catalyst support as seen in an orthogonal cross-section that is orthogonal to a direction in which exhaust flows. By making a volume resistivity of the electrodes be higher than that of electricity supplying portions of external cables that are connected to the electrodes respectively and are for supplying current to the electrodes, heat generated at the electrodes is provided to the catalyst support, and a generated heat amount of the catalyst support in vicinities of the electrodes is made to be large as compared with a generated heat amount at an inner portion of the catalyst support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9243541
    Abstract: A method for controlling aftertreatment regeneration for a system having a hybrid powertrain is described. The method includes determining that an engine aftertreatment regeneration is indicated when a regeneration request index exceeds a first threshold. The method includes determining an acceptable battery usage amount based on a current battery state of charge (SOC) and a minimum battery SOC. The method further includes determining a battery usage amount for an engine aftertreatment regeneration operation. The method includes initiating an engine aftertreatment regeneration when the battery usage amount is less than or equal to the acceptable battery usage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Anand Sujan, J. Stephen Wills, Morgan MacKenzie Andreae, Martin T. Books
  • Patent number: 9243542
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for an exhaust gas treatment system. In one example, a system includes an exhaust gas treatment device and a wire wrapped around an exterior circumference of the exhaust gas treatment device. Continuity of the wire is monitored such that degradation of the wire due to degradation of the exhaust gas treatment device is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Sloss
  • Patent number: 9243543
    Abstract: An attenuation device for a vehicle is provided, including a housing having a chamber formed therein. The housing is coupled to and in fluid communication with an air-conditioning circuit of the vehicle. A dampening member is disposed within the chamber of the housing. The dampening member includes a partition plate having at least one pipe disposed therein. The dampening member is configured to attenuate acoustic energy produced by a fluid of the air-conditioning circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: David William Bertrand, Kastriot Shaska, Yafei Zhou
  • Patent number: 9243544
    Abstract: A flexible line element (14), for an exhaust system (4) of an internal combustion engine (1), especially of a motor vehicle, includes a metal bellows (15), which is corrugated in a ring-shaped or helical pattern and through which an exhaust gas stream (8) can flow. The risk of deposition of urea and/or urea derivatives in the metal bellows (15) is reduced by a conical flow guide body (16), through which the exhaust gas stream (8) can flow, and which tapers in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas stream and which protrudes into an inlet area (17) of the metal bellows (15). The flexible line element (14) is combined with the flow guide body (16) integrated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heike Többen, Silvia Calvo