Patents Issued in March 8, 2016
  • Patent number: 9279337
    Abstract: A splitter apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a splitter including: an annular outer wall which defines a convex-curved leading edge at a forward end thereof; an annular floorplate positioned radially inboard of the outer wall; and an annular first bulkhead spanning between the outer wall and the floorplate. The outer wall, the floorplate, and the bulkhead collectively define an annular splitter plenum positioned adjacent the leading edge of the outer wall. At least one exhaust passage formed in the outer wall extends past the floorplate and communicates with the exterior of the splitter. At least one jumper tube assembly passes through the first bulkhead, each configured to pass air flow from the exterior of the splitter into the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Roby, Jarmo Monttinen
  • Patent number: 9279338
    Abstract: In order to eliminate or at least to reduce a possible unbalance of the propulsive system, counterweights are brought in locations that are provided on the hub envelope, near the ends of the latter and away from the planes of the propellers. More particularly, the counterweights are provided as discrete elements located in two planes spaced from the propellers and orthogonal to an outer surface of the hub envelopes, or are provided as a non-uniform mass ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventor: Esteban Quiroz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9279339
    Abstract: A turbine engine temperature control system configured to limit thermal gradients from being created within an outer casing surrounding a turbine airfoil assembly during shutdown of a gas turbine engine and for preheating an engine during a cold startup is disclosed. By reducing thermal gradients caused by hot air buoyancy within the mid-region cavities in the outer casing, arched and sway-back bending of the outer casing is prevented, thereby reducing the likelihood of blade tip rub, and potential blade damage, during a warm restart. The turbine engine temperature control system may also be used for cold startup conditions to heat engine components such that gaps between turbine airfoil tips and adjacent blade rings can be made larger from thermal expansion, thereby reducing the risk of damage. The turbine engine temperature control system may operate during turning gear system operation after shutdown of the gas turbine engine or during a cold startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jose L. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9279340
    Abstract: The present application provides a cooling system for a gas turbine. The cooling system may include a source of CO2, a stator blade cooling system positioned about a casing of the gas turbine and in communication with the source of CO2 and a number of stator blades, and a rotor blade cooling system positioned about a rotor shaft of the gas turbine and in communication with the source of CO2 and a number of rotor blades. A first portion of a flow of CO2 may flow through the stator blade cooling system and returns to the source of CO2 in a first closed loop and a second portion of the flow of CO2 may flow through the rotor blade cooling system and returns to the source of CO2 in a second closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Ashok Kumar Anand, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Patent number: 9279341
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame is disposed between high and low pressure turbine assemblies. A secondary air system is defined in the mid-turbine frame (MTF) to provide cooling to the turbine section of the engine. The secondary air system may be used to cool and pressurize seals to assist with oil retention in bearing cavities. The temperature gain of the secondary air may be reduced by flowing the secondary air through one or more external lines and then generally radially inwardly through air passages defined in the MTF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Pierre-Yves Legare, Alessandro Ciampa
  • Patent number: 9279342
    Abstract: A turbine casing is provided and includes first and second turbine casing shells configured to be removably coupled to one another. At least one of the first and second turbine casing shells is formed to define an access slot. At least one service wedge is configured to be removably installed in the access slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Davi, Thomas James Batzinger
  • Patent number: 9279343
    Abstract: A support housing for a turbocharger is provided. The support housing may include an end wall with a first side and a second side, and a protrusion extending from the first side of the end wall in a first direction and configured to receive the turbocharger. The support housing may also include a plurality of side walls extending from the second side of the end wall in a second direction opposite the first direction. The plurality of side walls together with the end wall may form a generally hollow enclosure. The support housing may also include a first mounting flange disposed at distal edges of the plurality of side walls and configured to engage an engine, and a first center opening disposed in the end wall and passing from the first side to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Adam Knaack
  • Patent number: 9279344
    Abstract: A poppet element of a valve is provided. The poppet element is movable relative to a valve seat of the valve and includes a balance chamber wall defining a balance chamber with a center body partially fixed relative to the valve seat, an upper head, a balance chamber holder having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is matched with that of the upper head and a fastening element disposed to fasten the balance chamber holder to the upper head. The balance chamber holder is disposed between the center body and the balance chamber wall and configured to prevent thermal loading transfer from the balance chamber wall to the fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abhishek Chowdhury, Guido Felice Forte, Jr., Senthil Kumar Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 9279345
    Abstract: A steam turbomachine valve includes a valve body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and an interior portion. The interior portion includes an inner wall. A valve member is slidingly disposed within the interior portion of the valve body. The valve member includes an outer surface. A seal element is mounted to, and extends about, the outer surface of the valve member. The seal element is spaced from the inner wall by a gap. A seal assembly is mounted to the inner wall. The seal assembly spans the gap and is configured and disposed to contact the seal element of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Abhishek Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 9279346
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for determining online stress and life consumption of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for assessing components of a HRSG is provided. The method includes receiving HRSG design parameters; determining thermal stress data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on one or more historical, real-time, or calculated temperature sensor data associated with the one or more HRSG components; and determining cycle-related life consumption data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on the HRSG design parameters and the determined thermal stress data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William B. Julian, Ashok D. Acharya, Joel Donnell Holt, Robert John Gdaniec
  • Patent number: 9279347
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) for the conversion of thermal energy into electric energy, comprising at least one heat exchanger unit for re-superheating the working fluid by means of the thermovector fluid from the hot source, between the discharge of the first expander and the input of the second expander, and a regenerator unit including a first regenerator and at least one second regenerator for regenerating the working fluid in at least two successive stages, in said first regenerator and at least in said second regenerator respectively, with an additional regenerative heat exchange along the flow line connecting the liquid working fluid output of the second regenerator to the liquid working fluid input of the first regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Claudio Pietra
  • Patent number: 9279348
    Abstract: A mechanically controllable valve drive for a reciprocating piston engine configured to adjust a gas exchange valve includes the gas exchange valve, a cam assembly comprising a camshaft and at least one cam for the gas exchange valve, a valve, a valve lift adjustment assembly, a drag lift assembly, and a device. The valve lift adjustment assembly comprises a valve lift adjustment device, and an intermediate lever assembly comprising at least one intermediate lever comprising a working curve comprising curve portions. The valve lift adjustment assembly is configured to shift the valve between a zero lift and a maximum lift. The drag lever assembly is operatively connected to the working curve. The device is configured to provide a valve-lift standstill range so that, in a maximum lift position, the valve is opened for a turning angle ? of the camshaft with a flattened valve lift height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KOLBENSCHMIDT PIERBURG INNOVATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Frederic Lauer, Daniel Hosse, Rudolf Flierl
  • Patent number: 9279349
    Abstract: A lubricant delivery system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a pump that draws lubricant from a lubricant reservoir and expels lubricant for delivery to the inlet manifold of the engine; and a pump controller that receives a signal that is representative of an engine operating condition. The controller controls the lubricant delivery rate of the pump based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FLASHLUBE PTY LTD
    Inventor: Frank Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 9279350
    Abstract: A system and a method for actuating intake valves of an internal combustion engine. The system includes a hydraulic circuit including a master cylinder, a control valve, an accumulator, a first one-way valve and a slave cylinder. The slave cylinder accommodates a slave piston, which is coupled to the intake valves. The control valve is disposed upstream of the accumulator for controlling flow from the hydraulic circuit to the accumulator. The first one-way valve is disposed downstream of the accumulator for permitting flow from the accumulator to the hydraulic circuit and for preventing flow from the hydraulic circuit to the accumulator without first passing through the control valve. The control valve has an open position that provides communication between the hydraulic circuit and the accumulator for a Miller cycle or Miller-like cycle operation. The control valve also has a closed position that prevents communication between the hydraulic circuit and the accumulator during Otto cycle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kendall D. Yeager, Kevin J. Schreader, Victor I. Yacoub, Edwin Henry Langewisch
  • Patent number: 9279351
    Abstract: A reagent dosing system for dosing a reagent into the exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine includes a reagent tank for storing a supply of reagent; an injector module including an atomizing dispenser and a positive-displacement metering pump which draws reagent from the reagent tank and delivers it to the dispenser; a supply line coupling the reagent tank to the injector module; a dosing control unit operable to control the injector module to inject reagent into the exhaust gas stream; and an additional priming pump arranged, in use, to urge reagent along the supply line toward the injector module under selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Philip J. G. Dingle, Martin Paul Hardy, Stefan Roman Zuelch
  • Patent number: 9279352
    Abstract: The invention discloses an integrated SCR metering injection system. The integrated SCR metering injection system includes a metering injection unit and a water heating unit for heating the metering injection unit. The metering injection unit includes a pump body, a membrane pump and a metering valve. The water heating unit includes a water inlet joint, a water inlet pipe, a water outlet pipe and a multi-section water circulation pipe communicated with each other. The water heating unit is used for heating the metering injection unit by heated engine cooling water, so that the heated engine cooling water passes by the metering injection unit directly to improve the recycling rate of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SUZHOU POWERGREEN EMISSION SOLUTION SYSTEM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Qingjun Hao
  • Patent number: 9279353
    Abstract: Two sets of assemblies are arranged such that a diesel particulate filter device of an assembly as a first set, a selective catalytic reduction device of the assembly as the first set, a selective catalytic reduction device of an assembly as a second set, and a diesel particulate filter device of the assembly as the second set are located next to each other in this order. Respective first and second connection pipes are routed through a region directly underneath an arrangement region where the two selective catalytic reduction devices and the like are arranged, and connected to the respective diesel particulate filter devices. Thereby, an engine unit and a work vehicle which facilitate connection between an engine and an exhaust gas treatment structure and can reduce a load on the first and second connection pipes due to vibration can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Tsutsumi, Hirofumi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9279354
    Abstract: A heating-controller controls an electric power supply from a battery to a urea-water heater based on a voltage of the battery detected by a voltage detector and an engine-state of an internal combustion engine obtained by an engine-state detector. When a voltage of the battery is low or when the internal combustion engine stops, the heating-controller prohibits the electric power supply from the battery to the urea-water heater. A urea-water adding device can avoid an excess decrease of a battery power by intermittently energizing the urea-water heater according to the engine-state of an internal combustion engine and the battery voltage VB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Yoshida, Masakazu Toukairin
  • Patent number: 9279355
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a urea solution injection nozzle in which deposition and growth of urea on the surface of the urea solution injection nozzle are minimized. A urea solution injection nozzle is provided with urea solution flow paths and gas flow paths. A mixture of urea solution and gas are injected from an injection port. A slit that is a side-surface discharge port is configured so that gas is discharged along a curved surface on the outer surface of the urea solution injection nozzle in the same direction as the injection direction of the urea solution. The slit and the flow path are connected by a branching flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: YANMAR CO., LTD., JAPAN SHIP MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inoue, Ryoji Murashima
  • Patent number: 9279356
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure includes a tubular honeycomb structure body having porous partition walls to define and form a plurality of cells and an outer peripheral wall, and a pair of electrodes disposed on a side surface of the honeycomb structure body. An electrical resistivity of the honeycomb structure body is from 1 to 200 ?cm, each of the pair of electrodes is formed into a band-like shape extending in an extending direction of the cells of the honeycomb structure body, one electrode in the pair of electrodes is disposed on a side opposite to the other electrode in the pair of electrodes via a center of the honeycomb structure body, the honeycomb structure body is constituted of an outer peripheral region and a central region, and an electrical resistivity of a material constituting the outer peripheral region is lower than an electrical resistivity of a material constituting the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Mase, Yoshimasa Omiya, Atsushi Kaneda, Takashi Noro
  • Patent number: 9279357
    Abstract: An exhaust volume for combustion gases from a motor vehicle engine comprises at least one exhaust duct delimited by a wall comprising an end segment, and at least one flange having a bearing surface. The flange delimits at least one exhaust gas inlet communicating with the exhaust duct. The exhaust gas inlet is delimited by a cannon connected to the flange, with the cannon being attached to the end segment. At least one outer neck is attached to the end segment. The end segment is arranged between the flange and the outer neck, with the end segment being pierced with at least one hole between the flange and the outer neck. The end segment, the flange, and the outer neck are being secured through the addition of a filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement
    Inventor: Serge Saint-Dizier
  • Patent number: 9279358
    Abstract: An acoustic baffle for reducing noise of a centrifugal fan includes a base for mounting with a fan outlet and a projection extending from the length of the base at a back side of the base and curving away from a top surface of the base. The projection continuously tapers from the base to an apex that aligns with a center line of the base. The projection extends over the fan wheel and tapers from left and right sides of the outlet to a fan tangency point at a midpoint of the outlet and aligned with the apex, when the acoustic baffle is installed in the outlet. The acoustic baffle effects a gradual variation in radial and tangential airflow at the blower outlet, to reduce fan blade passage tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Glynn Wiegers, Scott Alan Sanborn
  • Patent number: 9279359
    Abstract: A piston cooling apparatus includes: a main body including a communication passage communicating with an oil path formed in an internal combustion engine; a nozzle pipe portion including an oil injection port configured to inject oil having passed through the communication passage toward a piston; and a filter disposed upstream of the nozzle pipe portion on the flow passage of the oil and including a hole having a smaller diameter than the minimum diameter of the oil injection port, the oil being injected toward the piston from the oil injection port, wherein: the filter is removably mounted on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the main body existing upstream on the oil flow passage; and the main body is mounted on the internal combustion engine in a state where at least a portion of the filter is inserted into the oil path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., HIKARI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Tomokazu Kobayashi, Takayuki Osako, Masatoshi Ito, Kenichi Nishimura, Keiji Yamamoto, Masaki Sabato
  • Patent number: 9279360
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a cooling passage provided in an internal combustion engine, a water pump, a radiator, a first passage through which the water pump and the cooling passage are connected to each other, a second passage through which the cooling passage and the radiator are connected to each other, a third passage through which the radiator and the water pump are connected to each other, and an oil cooler passage provided with an oil cooler. An in-line type thermostat is provided at any position in a portion of a cooling water circuit which leads from a first end portion to a second end portion via the second passage, the radiator, and the third passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsu Miura, Kazuyuki Maeda, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9279361
    Abstract: A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including at least one surface feature as a target for the fuel spray, the surface feature angled 20° to 80° from the piston face. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Rainer J. Rothbauer, Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9279362
    Abstract: A method determining a rate of recirculated exhaust gas (EGR rate) at an inlet of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine at a moment t, the exhaust gas being conveyed in a recirculation duct connecting an exhaust line of the engine to an intake line, and the EGR rate being equal to the ratio between flow rate of the recirculated gas and total gas flow rate in the intake line at a location of the intake line in question and at the moment in question. The method: a) determines at which moment t_intro preceding the moment t the gas, having arrived at the inlet of the cylinder at moment t, was fed into the intake line; b) determines the EGR rate at an outlet of the recirculation line to the intake line at the moment t_intro; and c) determines the EGR rate at the inlet to the cylinder at moment t based on the EGR rate at the outlet of the recirculation line to the intake line at moment t_intro, as determined in b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Bruno Serra, Sylvain Hourlier
  • Patent number: 9279363
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston mechanism comprises a crankcase and a crankshaft (rotatable about a crankshaft axis) which has at least a crankpin having a crankpin. A connecting rod includes a big end rotatably mounted on the crankpin and a small end rotatably connected to a piston. The crank member is provided with a crank member gear that meshes with an intermediate gear, both gears of which are external gears along with first and second auxiliary gears. The intermediate gear meshes with the first auxiliary gear. The first auxiliary gear is fixed to the second auxiliary gear via a common auxiliary shaft that mounts to the crankshaft and rotates with respect thereto about an auxiliary shaft axis that extends parallel to the crankshaft axis. The second auxiliary gear meshes with a central gear. The central gear is an internal gear, which has a center line that coincides with the crankshaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Gomecsys B.V.
    Inventor: Lambertus Hendrik De Gooijer
  • Patent number: 9279364
    Abstract: A system for the gradual oxidation of fuel is disclosed. The system includes an oxidizer that has a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The reaction chamber is configured to receive a fluid comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet. The oxidizer is configured to maintain a flameless oxidation process. The system also includes a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the heating chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet of the reaction chamber. The heating chamber is configured to receive the fluid from the reaction chamber and selectably heat the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Hamrin, Steve Lampe
  • Patent number: 9279365
    Abstract: The present application provides a combined cycle system. The combined cycle system may include a compressor water wash system in communication with a compressor and a water wash flow, a combustor water injection system in communication with a combustor and an injection flow, and a transient power augmentation system in communication with the compressor, the combustor, and a flow of supplemental water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Indrajit Mazumder, Rajarshi Saha
  • Patent number: 9279366
    Abstract: A rotary engine and method having a housing with a bore defining a cavity. A rotatable rotor in the cavity has a plurality of protuberant lobes with respective distal ends moving along the bore. Each of a plurality of vanes has a distal end biased to engage a perimeter of the rotor. The rotor rotates between neutral rotor positions where all of the lobes are simultaneously rotationally aligned with the vanes, and a plurality of different power stroke rotor positions between consecutive neutral rotor positions incrementally increasing in size a like plurality of volumetrically equivalent working fluid expansion chambers that are each in fluid communication with a respective working fluid inlet intersecting the bore and, in turn, incrementally decreasing in size a like plurality of volumetrically equivalent working fluid exhaust chambers each in continuous fluid communication with a respective working fluid outlet intersecting the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SPINDYNE LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Shields, David William Shields
  • Patent number: 9279367
    Abstract: The fluid pressure regulating valve is for use in an aircraft engine. The valve has at least a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet. The valve comprises: a valve housing having a first valve spool interior cavity; a first fluid path within the valve housing from the fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet; a second fluid path within the valve housing from the fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet; a first valve spool mounted for reciprocal motion within the first valve spool cavity between a first position and a second position, the first valve spool having a second valve spool interior cavity and being spring-biased to its first position; and a second valve spool mounted for reciprocal motion within the second valve spool cavity between a first position and a second position, the second valve spool being spring-biased to its first position, the second valve spool closing the first fluid path at its second position when the first valve spool is substantially at its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Johnny Vinski, Daniel Blais, Stephane Fortier
  • Patent number: 9279368
    Abstract: Undue flexing and cracking of an internal exhaust shield of a turbine is eliminated by isolating thermally-induced movement in the shield from that of strut apparatus passing therethrough to a surrounding outer exhaust casing. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: EagleBurgmann KE, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul C. Schubert
  • Patent number: 9279369
    Abstract: A turbomachine is provided and includes a combustor in which fuel and air are combusted, a turbine disposed for reception of products of combustion from the combustor, a transition piece fluidly interposed between the combustor and the turbine and including a body formed to define dilution holes configured to allow air to enter the combustor and for enabling steam injection toward a main flow of the products of the combustion proceeding from the combustor to the turbine and a fuel injection system supportively coupled to the transition piece and configured to inject fuel toward the main flow of the products of the combustion to thereby restore a flame temperature of the main flow of the products of the combustion reduced by steam injection enabled by the dilution holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carey Edward Romoser, Derrick Walter Simons
  • Patent number: 9279370
    Abstract: A turbomachine is provided and includes a compressor to compress inlet gas to produce compressed gas, a combustor coupled to the compressor in which the compressed gas is combusted along with a first fuel and/or a second fuel to produce a fluid flow, a turbine coupled to the combustor through which the fluid flow is directed for power and/or electricity generation and first and second supply circuits to supply the first fuel and the second fuel to the combustor, respectively. The first and second supply circuits are operable to enable transfers between operations associated with the first fuel and the second fuel being respectively supplied to the combustor at a high load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerardo Fidel Varillas, Mustafa Ahmed Abdullah, Scott Arthur Day, Stephen Robert Thomas
  • Patent number: 9279371
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring an internal combustion engine are disclosed. In one example, output of a temperature sensor is converted into a fuel pressure variable to determine if fuel system components are operating as desired and cylinder air charge may be limited if degradation is determined. The methods and systems may reduce fuel system cost while also providing redundant system data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • Patent number: 9279372
    Abstract: In a multi-fuel system for diesel engines, natural gas is mixed with diesel fuel and conditioned in a mixing chamber before being injected into the mixing chamber of the engine. Filtered blow-by gas may also be introduced into the combustion chamber. A computerized controller is used to determine and control the proportion of diesel fuel, natural gas fuel, the mixing and conditioning of these fuels, and the supply of filtered blow-by gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Serge V. Monros
  • Patent number: 9279373
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine supplied with multiple fuels in which the vapor purge flow into the engine from multiple vapor storage devices each coupled to a respective, but equal number of multiple fuel tanks controlled to have the same proportion of total vapors purged as a proportion of liquid fuel delivered to the engine from said respective one of the said multiple fuel tanks. The method includes increasing the delivery of fuel from one of the multiple fuel tanks containing fuel with the highest-octane rating of all the fuel tanks when the vapor storage canister coupled to the fuel tank with the highest-octane fuel is not being purged of its fuel vapors. Additionally, the method further comprises a feedback control responsive to an exhaust gas oxygen sensor to adjust said fuel delivered from said multiple fuel tanks to the engine to maintain engine air-fuel ratio around stoichiometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, James Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 9279374
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recirculating compressed air across a compressor through a high flow and a low flow compressor recirculation path. Flow through the recirculation paths is controlled via respective valves and valve opening is adjusted based on a throttle mass flow so as to maintain a compressor flow rate at or above a surge constrained flow rate. By maintaining a sufficiently high compressor flow rate during steady state and transient conditions, the compressor state can be maintained outside a surge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Robert Andrew Wade, Gregory Patrick McConville, Kevin Payne, Joseph Ulrey
  • Patent number: 9279375
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes a low pressure EGR passage and a selective reduction catalyst are disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a NOx mass flow rate in the low pressure EGR passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Waheed Alashe
  • Patent number: 9279376
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes first and second modules. The first module estimates a total amount of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in the engine, wherein the total amount of EGR includes (i) EGR within cylinders of the engine and (ii) EGR flowing through an EGR system of the engine. The second module selectively controls an overlap of intake and exhaust valve timing in the engine based on (i) a position of an EGR valve in the EGR system and (ii) a comparison of the estimated total amount of EGR in the engine and an EGR threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: John R. Bucknell
  • Patent number: 9279377
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio sensor with a catalyst layer disposed in an exhaust passage of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; and a control unit configured: to perform determination regarding an air-fuel ratio imbalance state among cylinders of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine based on an amount of change per unit time in an air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor; to execute an air-fuel ratio enrichment control using an air-fuel ratio enrichment amount; and to correct a learned imbalance value when the air-fuel ratio enrichment amount is smaller than a predetermined determination threshold value in a case where an engine operation state is in an imbalance learning range during execution of the air-fuel ratio enrichment control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Genko
  • Patent number: 9279378
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes an imbalance determining unit programmed to determine imbalance in an air-fuel ratio of a first cylinder belonging to a cylinder group based upon a difference value between an index value correlative with a crank angular speed detected in the first cylinder and an index value correlative with a crank angular speed detected in a second cylinder belonging to another cylinder group, and further a correction unit programmed to correct the difference value for the first cylinder based upon the index value detected in at least one of other cylinders belonging to the same cylinder group as that of the first cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Katayama, Kazuhiro Akisada, Leuth Insixiengmai, Sei Maruta, Shinichi Nakagoshi, Masahide Okada
  • Patent number: 9279379
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an internal combustion engine that includes a combustion chamber and a rotating component. The internal combustion engine further includes a sensing system that detects an angular position of the rotating component. A controller calculates a ratio between air and fuel in the combustion chamber based on the detected position of the rotating component. As an example, the rotating component may be a crankshaft where the controller calculates a speed of the crankshaft and an acceleration of the crankshaft based on the detected position of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Robert J. Danforth, III
  • Patent number: 9279380
    Abstract: An engine system is provided. The engine system includes an ambient air pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of ambient air. The engine system also includes an operational parameter sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of one or more operational parameters associated with the engine. The engine system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the ambient air pressure sensor and the operational parameter sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the pressure of ambient air and the signal indicative of the one or more operational parameters associated with the engine. The controller estimates the temperature of at least one of a valve, a piston, a liner, a cylinder head, and a pre-chamber of the engine as a function of the received signals and parameters associated with fuel delivery in a single fuel cycle of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Hergart, Jason J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9279381
    Abstract: To prevent particle emissions, the start of injection of an internal combustion engine is controlled as a function of a detected dynamics of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The dynamics is detected by comparing the temporal change of the operating parameter to a threshold value. The control may be carried out such that, in particular, a value of the start of injection, determined with the aid of a regulation, is frozen for a specific holding period following the detection of the dynamics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Eike Bunsen, Rene Fink, Kay Schintzel, Matthias Schultalbers, Olaf Magnor
  • Patent number: 9279382
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and a controller. The controller is configured to diagnose a responsiveness of the air-fuel ratio sensor on the basis of an output voltage of the air-fuel ratio sensor in a predefined period. The period is a period over which exhaust gas goes through the air-fuel ratio sensor during the internal combustion engine is rotating without fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Genko
  • Patent number: 9279383
    Abstract: A valve cover of a internal combustion engine is fixed on the cylinder head by a plurality of screwed joints, preferably with a circumferential gasket inserted in between. At least some of the screwed joints are provided and/or coupled in such a way with a resiliently and/or elastically flexible element (11) on a cold side (3) of the cylinder head (1), which faces away from the at least one exhaust port in the cylinder head (1) and hence faces a cold side of the engine, that the valve cover (2) lifts off from the cylinder head (1) in a defined area of the cover only in the area of said cold side (3) when there is a defined excess pressure in the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventors: Harald Sengstock, Andreas Dietmair, Tino Rudert, Udo Fakler
  • Patent number: 9279384
    Abstract: A sealing system comprising a cylinder head, a coupler, a fuel injector line, a seal retainer, and a seal. The coupler is positioned in the cylinder head, and the fuel injector line extends into the coupler so as to at least partially define a fuel leak passageway therebetween. The seal retainer yieldably urges the seal towards a seated position in which the seal established a sealed connection between the fuel injector line and the coupler, so as to block ingress of moisture into the fuel leak passageway. Further, the seal retainer allows movement of the seal away from the seated position to an unseated position in which the sealed connection between the fuel injector line and the coupler is broken in response to pressurized leaked fuel, in the fuel leak passageway, so as to allow the pressurized leaked fuel to flow out of the fuel leak passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Arpita Dugad, Umesh A Tol, Paul M Wynthein
  • Patent number: 9279385
    Abstract: A nacelle for an aircraft bypass turbojet engine includes downstream, an internal stationary structure surrounding part of the bypass turbojet engine, and an external structure surrounding the internal stationary structure, defining an annular flow path along which an air flow circulates. The external structure includes a mobile flap disposed at the downstream end of the external structure and positioned facing the annular flow path. Each mobile flap can rotate such as to move into a position that increases or reduces the height of the cross-section of the annular flow path in relation to an idle position, in response to the pressure exerted on the mobile flap by the air flow circulating through the facing annular flow path. The mobile flap can return from the cross-section-increasing or -reducing position to another position under the effect of an elastic return means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Nicolas Dezeustre, Patrick Stella
  • Patent number: 9279386
    Abstract: An exhaust duct through which an exhaust gas jet from a gas turbine engine flows comprises a duct wall, an inlet, an outlet and an eductor. The inlet, through which the exhaust gas jet enters the exhaust duct, is positioned at an upstream end of the exhaust duct. The outlet, through which the exhaust gas jet exits the exhaust duct, is positioned at a downstream end of the exhaust duct. The eductor is positioned proximate the downstream end. In one embodiment, the eductor comprises a perforated wall segment of the duct wall through which ambient air from outside of the duct wall is permitted to enter the exhaust duct. In yet another embodiment, the eductor is diverging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Pascu, Anthony C. Jones