Patents Issued in January 26, 2016
  • Patent number: 9243545
    Abstract: One approach to provide engine cooling for an internal combustion engine includes pumping coolant from a pump output, in parallel, directly to a block and a head upper coolant jacket; flowing coolant from the block directly to a head lower coolant jacket; discharging coolant from the upper and lower jackets only to a control block; and selectively directing cooling from the control block to each of: a cabin heater; radiator bypass line; and the radiator. In this way, an increased demand for pre-warmed coolant can be met, for example in the case of low outside temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hans Guenter Quix
  • Patent number: 9243546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling module for internal combustion engines, in particular of construction and/or mining machines, having at least one submodule with at least two heat exchangers arranged in a plane, wherein each of the heat exchangers has a network of passages for a medium to be cooled and passages for a cooling medium and manifolds for supplying and discharging the medium to be cooled, wherein the heat exchangers of the at least one submodule are interconnected via at least one connecting element through which the medium to be cooled can flow and the at least one submodule has a frame in which the interconnected heat exchangers are releasably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOKUHLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hans Jürgen Palm
  • Patent number: 9243547
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a parallel twin-turbocharged internal combustion engine. Using an EGR cooler with a single exhaust inlet and outlet to cool recirculated exhaust gas may increase the complexity and size of the engine package, along with adding unnecessary cost from extra ductwork to decrease the chance of turbocharger boost imbalance. To provide a way to reduce package size without affecting engine performance, an EGR cooler with two exhaust inlets and outlets is used to cool exhaust flows leading from two cylinder banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Vroman, Freeman Carter Gates
  • Patent number: 9243548
    Abstract: A first stage turbocharger configured to receive an ambient intake air stream. A compressor of the first stage turbocharger coupled to a first intercooler. The first intercooler coupled to a turboexpander stage. The turbine of the turboexpander discharging an expanded air stream to an intake manifold of an engine. The expanded airstream having a temperature of less than the ambient intake air stream, thereby reducing enabling operation of the engine under high load conditions while maintaining reduced emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu
  • Patent number: 9243549
    Abstract: An actuating device includes an exhaust flap of a supercharging pressure control of turbocharged internal combustion engines. The exhaust flap is arranged pivotably in an exhaust pipe, in particular in the housing of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger, and controls in dependence on the compressor-side supercharging pressure the opening cross section of a bypass line which circumvents the turbine. The exhaust flap is arranged on an actuator arm which is fastened on a shaft mounted rotatably in the exhaust pipe and adjustable from outside the exhaust pipe via an adjustment lever and a control rod which is articulated thereto and via a linear control motor. In order to avoid vibration-induced buzzing noise in the actuating device, a friction damper is connected into the force flow between the shaft and the control rod, in particular for system damping in the region of the exhaust flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: AUDI AG, SCHERDEL INNOTEC FORSCHUNGS—UND ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Hans Hinkelmann, Michael-Stefan Staneff, Rüdiger Seidel
  • Patent number: 9243550
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling compressor inlet flow in a turbocharger of an engine are described. In one example, a method for controlling a compressor inlet flow of an engine turbocharger system includes: directing air from a high pressure source to an inlet upstream of a compressor wheel via a conduit coupled to the inlet and the high pressure source, where the conduit is obliquely coupled to the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith D. Miazgowicz, Ahsanul Karim, Kevin Payne, Adam Michael Christian
  • Patent number: 9243551
    Abstract: A method for operation of an engine including a turbocharger system is provided. The method includes adjusting turbocharger rotational acceleration or deceleration in response to one or more resonant frequencies. Additionally in some examples, the method may further include increasing turbocharger rotation in response to one or more resonant frequencies during a first condition, and increasing turbocharger deceleration in response to one or more resonant frequencies during a second condition, the second condition different from the first condition. In this way, it is possible to enhance the useful life cycle of the turbocharger and associated engine by limiting the operating time in a resonant frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Yong Shu, Dave Hanna, Tim Schram
  • Patent number: 9243552
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the lift of a wastegate valve are provided. Methods comprise determining a relation between an actuator position and a lift of a wastegate valve at engine start-up in a temperature range. The relation may be modified based on a difference between a desired boost level and an actual boost level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9243553
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to detection of an end-stop position of a waste gate valve and calibration of a waste gate position sensor relative to the detected end-stop position are provided. In this way, it is possible to more accurately control the waste gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir V. Kokotovic, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9243554
    Abstract: Described is an assembly for an internal combustion rotary engine of a single or multi-rotor type. The assembly includes parts without cooling channels that comprise a monolithic ceramic material or ceramic matrix composite material capable of allowing the engine when assembled to operate at elevated temperatures that would cause metal parts of a metal engine to lose strength, lose structural and mechanical integrity, suffer excessive oxidation/corrosion and/or fail. The ceramic material also allows the engine when assembled to operate with significantly lower heat loss to the surrounding environment as compared with a similar engine made using all metal parts. The ceramic material allows the engine when assembled to operate without requiring substantial cooling elements or an external fluid (e.g. water) cooling system. The engine when assembled as described will retain more heat or operate with a substantially reduced rate of heat rejection when compared to an entirely metal rotary engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ceramic Rotary Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Balendra, J. Leslie Henshall, Theyvendra S. Thuraisingham, Raymond J. J. Walker
  • Patent number: 9243555
    Abstract: A system, comprising a vehicle engine with a crankshaft, a bracket structure coupled to the vehicle engine, a thermostat positioned in the bracket structure, an accessory device coupled to the bracket structure, a water pump mounted to the bracket structure, and a drive loop coupling the accessory device and water pump with the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rick L. Williams, John Cornell, Thomas Polley
  • Patent number: 9243556
    Abstract: A mechanism for Internal Combustion (IC) engines, wherein such mechanism improves the efficiency and power output of IC engines through dividing the conventional connecting rod between the crank shaft and the piston into two parts; a first part and a second part, and connecting these parts together by a pin joint, wherein the second part slides through an oscillating rocker that is connected to an engine block by another pin joint, thus adding a degree of freedom to the conventional connecting rod. The mechanism may be retrofitted in an existing combustion engine without the need for any significant change in the design of the engine. The mechanism may replace the traditional connecting rod that connects the piston with the crank shaft of the engine and comprises essentially a primary connecting rod, a secondary connecting rod, and an oscillating rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: Mohammad Hesham Fayiz Abazid
  • Patent number: 9243557
    Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a positive displacement (PD) internal combustion engine (ICE) reduces pulsation, as well as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), and the overall size of the exhaust system, and also improves cycle (fuel) efficiency. A shunt pulsation trap for a PD-ICE is configured to trap and attenuate gas pulsations before discharge to engine outlet and includes a chamber (trap volume) adjacent to the PD-ICE cavity. The chamber houses at least one pulsation dampening device, at least one relief port (trap inlet) branching off from the PD-ICE cavity into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the PD-ICE outlet. The associated methods of reducing pulsations are included as another aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Xiubao Huang, Sean William Yonkers
  • Patent number: 9243558
    Abstract: Certain examples present an improved compressed-air energy storage system. The system can include multiple sequential stages, in which accumulators are charged with air, which influences a hydraulic fluid to influence a pump/motor, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: StorWatts, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Samara-Rubio, Elizabeth Samara-Rubio, Harold Ackler, Robert Moffat
  • Patent number: 9243559
    Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine has first and second electrical harnesses formed from respective first and second flexible printed circuit boards which each provides a plurality of spaced conductive tracks. The conductive tracks carry signal types which either (i) provide engine control and can cause hazardous engine conditions in the event of their failure, (ii) detect or prevent hazardous conditions of the engine, or (iii) are not of type (i) and/or of type (ii). The first flexible printed circuit board provides all the conductive tracks which carry signals of type (i) or the first flexible printed circuit board provides all the conductive tracks which carry signals of type (ii). The second flexible printed circuit board provides all the remaining conductive tracks. The first electrical harness is fire-resistant for a period of five minutes without any exposure of its conductive tracks so that the conductive tracks can carry their signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Andrew Young, Mark Harrison
  • Patent number: 9243560
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator having one or more actuators coupled to one or more heating elements in which the actuator(s) are used to improve the transfer of thermal energy from heating element(s) to one or more fuel units contained within the generator. In one embodiment, an actuator allows insertion and/or removal of packaged fuel units without the need of removing the heating element(s) and/or the actuator(s). When the actuator is in a retracted state (e.g., a low temperature state), the packaged fuel unit may be inserted and/or removed from a cavity of the hydrogen generator. When the actuator is in an extended state (e.g., a higher temperature state), the actuator forces contact between itself or the heating element and the fuel unit when a prescribed operating temperature is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Chad E. Law, Mark D. Vandayburg
  • Patent number: 9243561
    Abstract: A combustor head arrangement including a heatshield including an aperture therethrough. A meter panel having a cold side and a hot side, an aperture and a slot. At least one of the meter panel and the heatshield has a retaining feature on the cold side; one of the meter panel and the heatshield has an anti-rotation feature. The arrangement includes a burner seal sized to fit through the aperture in the meter panel from the hot side towards the cold side. The burner seal has a tang configured to pass through the slot when the burner seal is in a first orientation and to be retained by the retaining feature and the anti-rotation feature when the burner seal is rotated to a second orientation. Also a method of assembling the combustor head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Michael Lawrence Carlisle
  • Patent number: 9243562
    Abstract: A rotating inlet cowl for a turbine engine includes a rotation axis. The rotating inlet cowl includes a forward cone defining a forward end of the inlet cowl. The forward end is configured to be eccentric relative to the rotation axis of the inlet cowl. Furthermore, the forward cone is truncated by a truncation surface defining the forward end of the inlet cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Mickael Delapierre, Herve Gignoux, Gael Loro, Sylvie Wintenberger
  • Patent number: 9243563
    Abstract: A system for supplying turbine cooling air flow includes a turbofan engine, a heat exchanger, and a door. The turbofan engine includes an engine case that has an inner volume within which at least a gas turbine engine is mounted, and a bypass flow passage that is defined by an outer fan duct and an inner fan duct and that is configured to direct fan air flow therethrough. The heat exchanger is disposed within the turbofan engine, is coupled to receive fluid and cooling air from the bypass flow passage, and is configured to transfer heat between fluid and the cooling air. The door is movably mounted in the turbofan engine and is movable between a closed position, in which the cooling air will not flow through the heat exchanger, and an open position, in which the cooling air may flow through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Charles Lo
  • Patent number: 9243564
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for use with a flow of heavy fuel oil for a gas turbine engine may include one or more fuel lines in communication with the gas turbine engine and a magnesium mixing system positioned upstream of the one or more fuel lines. The magnesium mixing system may include a flow of magnesium and a flow of a carrier fluid, a carrier mixing chamber to mix the flow of magnesium and the flow of the carrier fluid to form a mixed carrier flow, and a heavy fuel oil mixing chamber to mix the flow of heavy fuel oil and the mixed carrier flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9243565
    Abstract: A metering valve for a gas turbine engine fuel system includes a sleeve including first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth ports respectively axially spaced apart from one another. A spool is slidably received in the sleeve and includes first, second and third seal lands. The first seal land selectively connects the first and second ports to one another, and the third seal land selectively connects the third and fourth ports to one another and the fifth and sixth ports to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND SPACE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Montira Satienpoch, Todd Haugsjaahabink
  • Patent number: 9243566
    Abstract: To provide a method of controlling a turbine equipment and a turbine equipment capable of carrying out a starting operation of controlling a load applied to a speed reducing portion while complying with a restriction imposed on an apparatus provided at a turbine equipment. The invention is characterized in including a temperature elevating step (S1) of elevating a temperature of a working fluid flowing to the turbine portion, a flow rate increasing step (S2) of increasing a flow rate of a working fluid bypassed from a delivery side to a suction side of the compressing portion when a temperature of the working fluid flowing to the turbine portion is elevated by a heat source portion, and a flow rate reducing step (S3) of reducing the flow rate of the bypassing working fluid after an elapse of a predetermined time period after increasing the flow rate of the bypassing working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., PEBBLE BED MODULAR REACTOR (PTY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Hitoi Ono, Takashi Sonoda, Naoto Tochitani, Makoto Kato, Masahide Umaya, Fuminori Fujii
  • Patent number: 9243567
    Abstract: A system and method control a gas turbine subject to fuel composition variation. The method includes operating a first effector to control the gas turbine based on fuel composition. The method also includes operating a second effector to maintain operation of the first effector within a first boundary limit, the second effector operation being initiated when the operating the first effector reaches a second boundary limit within the first boundary limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Andrew Healy
  • Patent number: 9243568
    Abstract: A housing for a fresh gas supply device for an internal combustion engine with a turbocharger, includes a fresh gas connecting section which connects a charge air inlet and an air outlet. The housing has a main housing part and a housing cover, which can be removed from and secured to the main housing part. A corresponding fresh gas supply device includes the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Bacurin
  • Patent number: 9243569
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric variable cam timing (VCT) actuator is disclosed. The method includes during engine shutdown, adjusting camshaft position with an electric VCT actuator to a target starting location, applying a first current to the electric VCT actuator to maintain the target starting location, and during engine startup before camshaft position feedback becomes available, applying a second current to the electric VCT actuator to maintain the target starting location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, James Douglas Ervin, Kim Hwe Ku
  • Patent number: 9243570
    Abstract: A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located at a service location or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, Sangeetha Sangameswaran, John Anthony Lockwood, George Edmund Walley
  • Patent number: 9243571
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer system is described for identifying top dead center of a reciprocating piston. A piston is progressed in a first direction along a first piston stroke included in the cyclical motion, toward an expected top dead center position of the piston. A plurality of piston positions and corresponding pressure indicators are determined during the first-direction progression of the piston. The piston is progressed in a second direction along a second piston stroke included in the cyclical motion, toward the expected top dead center position of the piston. A plurality of piston positions and corresponding pressure indicators are determined during the second-direction progression of the piston. One or more symmetric aspects of the first- and second-direction data are determined, and an updated top dead center position is determined based upon, at least in part, the symmetric aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: George P. Lysenko, Kevin A. Price
  • Patent number: 9243572
    Abstract: A single-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a knock sensor mounted to apart other than a cylinder block to detect knocking. The engine includes a crankcase, a cylinder block, and a cylinder head connected by a bolt. A boss to mount the knock sensor is provided on the crankcase. A center of the boss is positioned on a same side of a cylinder axis as the bolt, when viewed in an axial direction of the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akitoshi Nakajima, Toshinori Inomori
  • Patent number: 9243573
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for deactivation and reactivation of a cylinder bank in a V-engine. In one example, the cylinder bank is deactivated responsive to an indication of misfire based on crankshaft acceleration and exhaust air fuel ratio. The cylinder bank is reactivated sequentially based on exhaust catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Scott Richard Hughes
  • Patent number: 9243574
    Abstract: To prevent a reduction in engine load detection accuracy due to variations in reluctor size within mass production tolerances, an engine control unit includes a pulse generator PC that detects a reluctor to output crank pulses. An angular velocity calculating unit calculates a first crank angular velocity on the basis of an interval between two crank pulses output in a predetermined section near compression top dead center TDC, and detects near overlap top dead center OLP the same reluctor used for calculating the first crank angular velocity to calculate a second crank angular velocity on the basis of an interval between generated two crank pulses. An engine load estimating unit calculates, as an engine load, a difference between the first crank angular velocity and the second crank angular velocity. The engine load is indicated mean effective pressure over a whole cycle including negative work done by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishida, Tetsuya Kaneko, Tomiyuki Sasaki, Koji Aoki, Ranju Imao, Kazuto Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 9243575
    Abstract: If an amount of fuel is not increased and a direct injection air-fuel ratio learning has not been completed, fuel injection from a port fuel injection valve is stopped without executing EGR, fuel injection control is executed such that the fuel injection occurs only from an in-cylinder fuel injection valve, and the direct injection air-fuel ratio learning is executed. If the amount of the fuel is increased, the fuel injection from the port fuel injection valve is stopped without executing EGR and air-fuel ratio feedback control, and an engine and an EGR valve are controlled such that fuel injection occurs only from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYODA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 9243576
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling NOx may include predicting NOx generation amount by using a virtual sensor; comparing the NOx prediction amount with a predetermined NOx target amount; and controlling the NOx generation amount so as for the NOx prediction amount to follow the NOx target amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Jun Yu, Kihoon Nam, Kyoungchan Han, KyoungDoug Min, Junyong Lee, Wonah Park
  • Patent number: 9243577
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the mass flow rate and the temperature of a fluid flow has a mass flow rate sensor having a mass flow rate sensor element, a temperature sensor having a temperature sensor element, and an interface for power supply. The sensor converts the measured values detected in analog by the mass flow rate sensor element and the temperature sensor element into digital output signals. In order to specify the simplest and most economical sensor possible for detecting the mass flow rate and the temperature of a fluid flow, at least one analog/digital converter is arranged in the sensor, which analog/digital converter converts the analog measured values of the mass flow rate sensor element and/or the analog measured value of the temperature sensor element into digital output signals and provides the digital output signals at a single digital interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Knittel, Stephan Schürer
  • Patent number: 9243578
    Abstract: Fuel efficiency of small carbureted engines can be improved through the use of a fuel shut off valve that ceases fuel flow in the carburetor upon determination that the engine throttle has been closed and the engine is not at or near an idle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Pinnacle Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Cleeves, Michael Hawkes
  • Patent number: 9243579
    Abstract: A method for operating an auto-ignition internal combustion engine that is operable in a single substance mode in which the internal combustion engine is supplied with self-igniting liquid fuel, and a dual substance mode in which the internal combustion engine is supplied with the liquid fuel as an ignition agent and gaseous or liquid alternative fuel, includes operating the internal combustion engine in the dual-substance mode at an increased exhaust gas recirculation rate relative to the single-substance mode, and throttling an air supply in an intake system of the internal combustion engine such that a lambda value in an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is in a range greater than 1 up to 1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
    Inventor: Franz Werner Pruemm
  • Patent number: 9243580
    Abstract: An engine system and method for reducing soot produced by an engine is disclosed. In one example, during purging of stored fuel vapors, a number of fuel injections to a cylinder during a cylinder cycle are maximized to reduce soot formation. The system and method may reduce soot formation within an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent Edward Mariucci
  • Patent number: 9243581
    Abstract: An engine control system and method includes sensing the quality of fuel in the engine relative to emissions, by for example sensing the level of an emission related constituent, such as sulfur. A fuel quality sensor detects a fuel quality of a fuel, such as the sulfur level in the fuel, and provides a signal in response to the fuel quality. The engine control system also includes a navigation device to determine whether an engine is located in a regulated or non-regulated region. The engine control system receives the signal and controls engine operation by, for example, enabling or disabling one or more engine algorithms to improve performance of the engine based on the fuel quality signal or, in other embodiments, the combination of the fuel quality and the location of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventor: Jennifer K. Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 9243582
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The piston crown is made by a cast metal or powder metal forming process. The oil gallery channel is formed to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original as-formed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9243583
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine has shaft elements which have inner surfaces that correspond to those regions of the shaft elements in which the shaft elements are thinner than 7% of the piston diameter “D”, and have outer surfaces that define in a radially outward direction those regions of the shaft elements which, viewed in the circumferential direction, lie outside angle ranges of more than 40° on both sides of the pin bore axis. The ratio of the content of the inner surface to the ratio of the content of the outer surface is more than 60%. The shaft elements hereby become elastically compliant, which upon a temperature-induced radial expansion of the piston shaft reduces the pressure that the shaft elements exert on the cylindrical inner wall, whereby the friction losses of the piston, and hence the CO2 emission of the engine fitted are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Alexander Hirsch
  • Patent number: 9243584
    Abstract: A cylinder head gasket including a first functional layer, a second functional layer, a first stopper, and a second stopper is provided. The first functional layer includes a first full bead extending around a combustion chamber opening and axially aligned with a second full bead of the second functional layer. The first stopper extends along the first functional layer between the combustion chamber opening and the first full bead for preventing over-compression of the first full bead. The second stopper extends along the second full bead of the second functional layer for increasing load on the second full bead, reducing head lift, and promoting an even distribution of the load. The second stopper includes a third full bead matching the second full bead of said second functional layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler Haberer, Takashi Okano, Daniel J. Vialard
  • Patent number: 9243585
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to energy storage systems, and in particular to energy storage systems using compressed gas as an energy storage medium. In various embodiments, a compressed gas storage system may include a plurality of stages to convert energy into compressed gas for storage, and then to recover that stored energy by gas expansion. In certain embodiments, a stage may comprise a reversible compressor/expander having a reciprocating piston. Pump designs for introducing liquid for heat exchange with the gas, are described. Gas flow valves featuring shroud and/or curtain portions, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LightSail Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Le Roux, Nicholas Peterson
  • Patent number: 9243586
    Abstract: A ventilation outlet of a generation unit case installed outdoors and housing a generation unit including a generator and an internal combustion engine to drive the generator. The outlet comprise a maintenance box whose inside surfaces are attached with sound insulators and bored with an inlet hole at its upper portion to be communicated with an inside of the generation unit case and bored with an outlet hole at its lower portion that connects the inlet hole to exterior through a passage formed among the sound insulators. A flow guide plate is installed near the outlet hole to guide rainwater entered from outside to flow upward and a shield is installed at the passage to prevent the rainwater from flowing further upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Ichikawa, Atsumu Naoi, Kotaro Sugi
  • Patent number: 9243587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nacelle (1) for an aircraft bypass turbojet engine comprising, in downstream cross section, an inner fixed structure (8) intended to surround part of the bypass turbojet engine and an outer structure (9) at least partially surrounding the inner fixed structure (8) so as to delimit an annular flow path (10), the outer structure (9) comprising at least one inner flap (101) positioned facing the annular flow path (10), an outer flap (103) not in contact with the annular flow path (10) at least partially surmounting each inner flap (101) in aerodynamic continuity with the rest of the outer structure (9), and an intermediate flap (105) positioned between each inner flap (101) and each outer flap (103), said intermediate flap (105) being capable of translational movement so as to increase or decrease the cross section of the annular flow path (10), and each inner flap (101) and each outer flap (103) being capable of rotational movement so as to remain in permanent contact with the interme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Herve Hurlin, Olivier Kerbler, Olivier Gilo
  • Patent number: 9243588
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for varying fuel injection pressure in a gaseous-fueled vehicle. A mechanical pressure regulator may be modified to regulate the pressure of gaseous fuel to varying pressures based on electronic pressure feedback and engine operating conditions. In one example, a regulating pressure in a low pressure chamber of a pressure regulator may be varied by controllably flowing gaseous fuel into or out of a reference chamber of the pressure regulator, and the gaseous fuel exhausted from the reference chamber may be directed to the engine for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9243589
    Abstract: Disclosed is a turbocharged internal combustion piston engine system that includes a waste-heat recovery system. The waste-heat recovery system involves injecting heated water into the cylinders during combustion to increase engine power and efficiency and to reduce emissions. The engine can be a spark or compression ignition type of engine, and can utilize fuels including but not limited to diesel, natural gas, gasoline, and ethanol. The engine also includes a turbocharger that utilizes a turbine in the exhaust gas flow to provide power to a compressor in the intake air flow to pressurize the intake air and provide additional charge flow to the engine to increase engine output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: Jared William Brown
  • Patent number: 9243590
    Abstract: A method determines a correction amount of an EGR valve opening degree. A basic correction amount map is generated indicating a correlation between rotating speed, load factor, and the correction amount, while the opening degree is maintained at a reference opening degree and the EGR rate is maintained at a target EGR rate, based on correction amounts obtained for mutually different individual combinations of the rotating speed and the load factor. Estimated values of the correction amounts not contained in the basic map are acquired by estimating the distribution of the amounts not in the basic map based on a distribution trend. An extended correction amount map is generated indicating a correlation between the estimated values of the rotating speed, the load factor, and the correction amount while the opening degree is maintained at a reference opening degree and the EGR rate is maintained at a target rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukuda, Atsushi Ueta
  • Patent number: 9243591
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for identifying unintended closing (or corking) of a mechanical valve coupled to a fuel tank. If tank vent valve corking is identified during a leak test, fuel tank pressure data collected during the leak test is disregarded and not used to determine a fuel system leak. Instead, a fuel system leak test is repeated to improve reliability of test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Mark W. Peters, Michael Casedy, Aed M Dudar
  • Patent number: 9243592
    Abstract: A method for a fuel system coupled to an engine comprising: under vacuum conditions, opening the fuel vapor canister purge valve, and generating pressure pulsations in a conduit coupled to the fuel vapor canister purge valve by opening and closing a fuel vapor canister vent valve one or more times while maintaining the fuel vapor canister purge valve open. In this way, contaminants and/or debris that may prevent the canister purge valve from closing completely may be dislodged and evacuated to the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Mark W. Peters, Kevin William Plymale
  • Patent number: 9243593
    Abstract: A device for ventilating a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine in particular of a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes an activated carbon filter and at least one valve which is controllable by a control unit. To prevent leakage of hydrocarbons into the environment without enlargement of the activated carbon filter the control unit controls the valve in dependence on a load factor of the activated carbon filter and/or in dependence on an operating cycle duration of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Harald Hagen
  • Patent number: 9243594
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle is provided herein. The system includes a fuel vapor canister comprising a shell, a compression plate within the shell and an end cap. The end cap includes a double sided spring interface and a double sided shell sealing surface having double sided identical grooves, only one of which is sealed to the shell. The system further includes a spring coupled to the compression plate and only one spring interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Mark Edward Hipp