Patents Issued in March 29, 2016
  • Patent number: 9297268
    Abstract: A seal for sealing a gap between adjacent first and second components, includes a first portion for attaching to the first component and a second portion extending at an angle from the first portion, the second portion having a top extending therealong that is flat in an uninstalled position, a thickened portion beneath the top and a hinge wherein the thickened portion is disposed between the hinge and an end of the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew G. Alarcon
  • Patent number: 9297269
    Abstract: A gas turbine component (20) with a layer of ceramic material (22) defining a wear surface (21), in which an array of cross-shaped depressions (26A, 26B) formed in the wear surface (21) define a continuous labyrinth of orthogonal walls (28, 30) of the ceramic material, and reduce the area of the wear surface (21) by about 50%. Within a representative area (36) of the wear surface (21), the depressions (26A, 26B) provide a ratio of a lineal sum of depression perimeters (27) divided by the representative area (36) of the wear surface of least 0.9 per unit of measurement for improved abradability characteristics of the wear surface (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A. Morrison, Jay E. Lane, Gary B. Merrill
  • Patent number: 9297270
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core engine with a compressor section, a combustor and a turbine. The turbine drives an output shaft, and the output shaft drives at least four gears. Each of the at least four gears extends through a drive shaft to drive an associated fan rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Alan H. Epstein, Wesley K. Lord, Michael E. McCune, Brian D. Merry
  • Patent number: 9297271
    Abstract: A turbine blade monitoring arrangement includes a bucket tip located at a radial outer location of a bucket. Also included is at least one component disposed radially outwardly of the bucket tip. Further included is a hollow portion of the at least one component, wherein the hollow portion extends radially from a first end to a second end through the at least one component. Yet further included is a first sealing component operatively coupled to the at least one component proximate the first end of the hollow portion, wherein the first sealing component comprises a translucent material. Also included is a proximity sensor disposed radially outwardly of the at least one component and aligned with the hollow portion, the proximity sensor configured to generate a first signal through the hollow portion to the bucket tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 9297272
    Abstract: A fan rotor includes a rotor body with at least one slot receiving a fan blade. The fan blade has an outer surface, at least at some areas, formed of a first material and an airfoil extending from a dovetail. The dovetail is received in the slot. A spacer is positioned radially inwardly of the dovetail biasing the fan blade against the slot. The spacer includes a grounding element, which is in contact with a portion of the dovetail formed of a second material that is more electrically conductive than the first material. The grounding element is in contact with a rotating element that rotates with the rotor. The rotating element is formed of a third material. The first material is less electrically conductive than the third material. The grounding and rotating elements form a ground path from the portion of the dovetail into the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, Allan R. Penda
  • Patent number: 9297273
    Abstract: A cooling jacket capable of improving production efficiency. The cooling jacket includes a tubular main body having a first end face and a second end face, and a groove unit defining a flow channel of a cooling medium successively disposed axially on an outer periphery of the main body. The cooling jacket includes no portion located radially outward from a bottom of the groove unit between a first end portion of the groove unit located on the axial rear side of the main body and the first end face of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yohei Arimatsu
  • Patent number: 9297274
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes an expander; a central region having a first end attached to the expander; a compressor attached to a second end of the central region; an electrical device provided inside the central region; and an electrical connection including a first part and a second part, the first part being configured to be removably attached directly to the second part. The first part is configured to be removably attached to an external surface of an external casing of the central region, and the second part is configured to be fixedly attached to a bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.P.A.
    Inventor: Gabriele Mariotti
  • Patent number: 9297276
    Abstract: A side channel blower includes a housing comprising a substantially tangential outlet. A housing cover comprises an axial inlet. At least one conveying duct is configured so that the axial inlet fluidly communicates with the outlet. An impeller is driven by a drive unit. The impeller is rotatably supported in the housing and comprises conveying blades which cooperate with the at least one conveying duct. An interruption region is arranged between the outlet and the axial inlet. The interruption region comprises a radially limiting wall and interrupts the at least one conveying duct in a circumferential direction. A first recess is arranged in the radially limiting wall of the interruption region downstream of the outlet. Further recesses are arranged in the interruption region before the axial inlet and after the outlet. A smallest distance between the further recesses is 0.5 to 3 times a distance between two conveying blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Berthold Herrmann, Rainer Peters
  • Patent number: 9297277
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and includes components for generating power from fluids at high and intermediate pressures, a pathway defined between the components along which a heated fluid flows to the one of the components for generating power from fluids at intermediate pressures and a circuit fluidly coupled to the pathway to cool a portion of the heated fluid prior to the portion of the heated fluid reaching the one of the components for generating power from fluids at intermediate pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, Abhishek Agrawal, Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Donkada Santhosh
  • Patent number: 9297278
    Abstract: A structure, system, and method for controlling a power output and flue gas temperature of a power plant by adjusting final feedwater temperature are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a turbine having a plurality of valved steam extraction ports is provided. Each steam extraction port is fluidly connected with a feedwater heater. Each of the plurality of valves in the valved steam extraction ports may be opened and closed to the passage of steam therethrough, in order to vary a final feedwater temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Richard Eugene Kehl, Kamlesh Mundra, James Michael Stagnitti
  • Patent number: 9297279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pumping device using vapor pressure for supplying water for a power plant, which uses the vapor pressure that is stored in a vapor generator used in the power plant to more quickly and readily supply water to the vapor generator without separately using a high-capacity pump and a condenser. The present invention is characterized by significantly saving equipment cost, because various high-capacity pumps and condensers are not required at all, enhancing energy efficiency and operability by eliminating unnecessary power consumption that is used to operate same, reducing maintenance costs, and actively and efficiently preserving nature and the environment by fundamentally eliminating hot water and sewage, which are byproducts of nuclear or thermal power generation, that are discharged into the ocean without treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Joo Hyuk Yim
  • Patent number: 9297280
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine by using coolant vapor fed to a component converting the vapor energy to mechanical energy for supplementing the power of the engine when the engine is operating in a first state and bypassing the component when the engine is operating in a state other than its first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Reinhard Kreis
  • Patent number: 9297281
    Abstract: A variable cam timing apparatus (10) and method of assembly for transmitting rotational torque between a driving rotary member (15b) and a driven rotary member (15a). The flexible coupling (14) can include an axis of rotation coinciding with, and an outer peripheral edge (14a) extending at least partially around, or completely surrounding, a common rotational axis of the driving rotary member (15b) and the driven rotary member (15a). The flexible coupling (14) including a flexible body (14b) having a plurality of apertures (14c, 14d) formed therein at angularly spaced positions relative to one another for connection therethrough with respect to the driving and the driven rotary members (15b, 15a) permitting adjustment for perpendicularity and axial misalignment, while maintaining a torsionally stiff coupling between the driving and driven rotary members (15b, 15a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: James Sisson, Christopher J. Pluta
  • Patent number: 9297282
    Abstract: An engine system is provided. The engine system includes a drive component coupled to a first end of a camshaft and mechanically coupled to a crankshaft and a cam phaser coupled to a second end of the camshaft and mechanically coupled to and spaced away from the drive component, the cam phaser configured to alter the timing of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Durand Byrd, Jamie Charles Hanshaw
  • Patent number: 9297283
    Abstract: Camshaft unit (1) having a first camshaft (2), which is phase-adjustable with respect to a crankshaft, a second camshaft (3), which is disposed concentric to the first camshaft (2) and is always in phase with the crankshaft, a camshaft adjuster (5) with which the first camshaft (2) is phase-adjustable with respect to the crankshaft, a connecting member (4), which is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshafts (2, 3) and has first toothed section (16) that meshes with counter-toothed section (6) on the first camshaft (2), and an adjusting drive (9) by which a connecting member (4) can be displaced axially, wherein through an axial advance, a relative rotation of the first camshaft (2) with respect to the connecting member (4) takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Sebastian Zwahr
  • Patent number: 9297284
    Abstract: An engine having a variable valve timing device may include a camshaft having a cam that lifts a valve, a valve body with one side fixed with the camshaft and the other side fixed with a fixed housing, variable wings protruding on an outer circumferential surface of the fixed housing, a sprocket housing forming a delay chamber and an advance chamber with the variable wings and having a sprocket on an outer circumferential surface, a control spool disposed coaxially with the camshaft and inserted in the valve body to selectively supply hydraulic pressure from an outside to the delay chamber or the advance chamber, and an actuator fastened to an outer end of the control spool, with a side fixed to a side of the engine, and advancing or delaying the sprocket housing with respect to the valve body by adjusting the hydraulic pressure supplied to the advance chamber or the delay chamber through the control spool by pulling or pushing the control spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chung Han Oh
  • Patent number: 9297285
    Abstract: A method and system are described for on-board treatment of an exhaust stream containing CO2 emitted by a hydrocarbon-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) used to power a vehicle in order to reduce the amount of CO2 discharged into the atmosphere which include: a. a first waste heat recovery zone on board the vehicle for receiving the high temperature exhaust gas stream in heat exchange relation and discharging the exhaust stream at a lower temperature, the waste heat recovery zone further including at least one heat exchanger and/or heat recovery device with an inlet for receiving the hot exhaust gas stream from the ICE for passage in heat exchange relation and an outlet for the cooled exhaust gas stream, the heat exchanger further including an inlet for receiving a heat exchange fluid at a first temperature and an outlet for discharging the fluid at a second higher temperature, the heat recovery device including power transmission means; b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Esam Zaki Hamad
  • Patent number: 9297286
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine. An aftertreatment system is coupled to the internal combustion engine to receive an exhaust gas stream. The aftertreatment system comprises one or modules. Each module includes one or more emission reducing devices to reduce undesirable constituents in the exhaust gas stream from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Justin Kruer, Atul Abhyankar, John Ringstad, Ken Hummel
  • Patent number: 9297287
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus includes a control device controlling a urea addition valve for adding urea from an upstream side of a NOx reduction catalyst. The control device obtains an ammonia adsorption amount distribution through the NOx reduction catalyst. When an ammonia adsorption amount in a predetermined part on a downstream side equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control device controls the urea addition valve to stop the urea supply or reduce the amount thereof. The urea addition valve is controlled based on an adsorption amount distribution obtained from a model on which the catalyst is divided into cells such that an ammonia adsorption amount in a first cell positioned furthest upstream equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold close to a saturation adsorption amount and an ammonia adsorption amount in a second cell positioned downstream of the first cell reaches a predetermined target value smaller than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shinya Hirota, Shunsuke Toshioka, Akira Mikami, Koichiro Fukuda, Sakutaro Hoshi, Takashi Endo, Ryoichi Hibino, Matsuei Ueda, Akihiko Asano, Takafumi Yamauchi, Akira Shichi, Makoto Koike, Masatoshi Maruyama, Masakazu Sakata
  • Patent number: 9297288
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust purification system for an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayuko Osaki, Kazutoshi Akashi, Masao Watanabe, Shigeharu Takagi, Takeshi Nobukawa
  • Patent number: 9297289
    Abstract: In cases where an NOx selective reduction catalyst is provided at a location downstream of an NOx storage reduction catalyst, NOx purification performance in an exhaust gas purification apparatus as a whole is maintained, irrespective of deterioration of the NOx storage reduction catalyst. For this purpose, the reduction of NOx in the NOx storage reduction catalyst is promoted more when the degree of deterioration of the NOx storage reduction catalyst or the NOx selective reduction catalyst is low than when it is high, and the reduction of NOx in the NOx selective reduction catalyst is promoted more when the degree of deterioration of the NOx storage reduction catalyst or the NOx selective reduction catalyst is high than when it is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Toru Kidokoro, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Tuyoshi Obuchi
  • Patent number: 9297290
    Abstract: An exhaust system for reducing infrared emissions of a rotary wing aircraft includes an exhaust duct having a fore end for connection with an aft turbine section of an engine of the rotary wing aircraft, the exhaust duct having an aft end having an exhaust opening to expel engine exhaust proximate to a tail fairing of the rotary wing aircraft; and a drive shaft collocated with the exhaust duct, the drive shaft configured to provide rotational force to an aft propeller of the rotary wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Pantalone, III, John S. Chapkovich, III, Ashley Devito, Erez Eller
  • Patent number: 9297292
    Abstract: An engine cooling device including a water pump, a radiator, an exhaust heat recovery unit, and a coolant circulation circuit for circulating a coolant in these apparatuses includes a flow rate limiting means that limits the flow rate of the coolant that circulates in the exhaust heat recovery unit in the case where a temperature of a sensor element of an A/F sensor, that is disposed downstream of the exhaust heat recovery unit in an exhaust path, is below a preset activation temperature. An extent of opening of a second switching valve is made smaller in the case where the temperature of the sensor element is below the activation temperature than in the case where the temperature is equal to or higher than the activation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobutaka Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9297293
    Abstract: A cooling structure of an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a gasket. In a cross-section defined through an inter-bore region and perpendicular to the cylinder bank center line, a first end and a second end which face a cylinder bank center line are disposed nearer to the cylinder bank center line than a third end and a fourth end which face the cylinder bank center line, respectively. In the cross-section, a fifth end of a first communication hole facing the cylinder bank center line is provided between the first end of the head opening and the third end of the block opening. In the cross-section, a sixth end of a second communication hole facing the cylinder bank center line is provided between the second end of the head opening and the fourth end of the block opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Wakamoto, Nobuyuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 9297294
    Abstract: A control valve for a cooling circuit of an automobile engine comprises a valve body (12) provided with an input (20) and a number of outputs (22, 24, 26) for a coolant, an adjustment member (14) designed to rotate about a rotation axis (XX), an electric motor (30) coupled to the adjustment member (14) to bring it into chosen angular positions to control the distribution of the coolant between the outputs (22, 24, 26), and an absolute position sensor (50) coupled in rotation to the adjustment member (14) to deliver an output signal (S) representative of the angular position of the adjustment member (14), wherein the motor is able to be driven by a position controller (CP) which is designed to receive the output signal (S) and which is used to adjust the angular position of the adjustment member (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Anne-Sylvie Magnier-Cathenod, Jean-Sylvain Bernard, Carlos Da Silva
  • Patent number: 9297295
    Abstract: In some embodiments, split-cycle engines are disclosed that are capable of operating in a normal firing mode in which a firing stroke is performed in the expansion cylinder only on every other rotation of the crankshaft. Fuel can be injected directly into the expansion cylinder during the non-firing rotation of the crankshaft over a period of time greater than what is possible with traditional split-cycle engines. A number of other advantages are associated with such engines. In some embodiments, two expansion cylinders can be provided such that a firing stroke is performed on every rotation of the crankshaft, even though each individual expansion cylinder only performs a firing stroke on every other rotation of the crankshaft. Air hybridized and/or Millerized variations of these engines, as well as various cylinder arrangements, are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Scuderi Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Scuderi, Ford Allen Phillips, David Branyon, Thomas E. Briggs, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9297296
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for discharging condensate from a turbocharger arrangement of an internal combustion engine. Specifically, in on example, condensate may be drained from a condensate reservoir by opening a drain valve coupled to the condensate reservoir. Further, the drain valve may be closed responsive to engine operating conditions indicating the condensate reservoir has been completely drained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Kuske, Christian Winge Vigild, Daniel Roettger
  • Patent number: 9297297
    Abstract: A system for reducing noise of a wastegate valve apparatus including a bypass passage, a wastegate valve, an actuator and a link unit delivering the power of the actuator to the wastegate valve, may have a first link connected to the actuator, a third link connected to the wastegate valve, a second link provided with a rod disposed between the first link and the third link, wherein the second link includes a rod end ball bearing having a penetration hole into which a bolt member is inserted and a ball coupled to the penetration hole, and a joint connecting the rod and the third link, and a first washer disposed between the rod end ball bearing and the first link, wherein the first washer includes a support body, and an elastic member disposed between the first link and the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Ho Chu
  • Patent number: 9297298
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for controlling dual wastegates via a single wastegate actuator are provided. In one example, a system comprises a first wastegate comprising a first wastegate valve, a second wastegate comprising a second wastegate valve, and a wastegate actuator coupled to each of the first and second wastegate valves to vary openings of the first wastegate valve and the second wastegate valve according to desired boost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9297299
    Abstract: A method for superheated glycerin combustion (SGC) combines fumigation and SGC to effect greater fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust gas pollutants from a compression ignition engine such as a diesel engine. The invention utilizes the fumigant method by combining two gases (dimethyl ether and propane) which autoignite prior to the injection of the liquid glycerin water solution (GWS) fuel. This pre-combustion of the fumigant gases combined with the engine's compression of the combustion chamber gases is managed to attain a supercritical combustion chamber environment into which the liquid GWS fuel is injected. This targeted supercritical combustion chamber environment causes the GWS fuel to first vaporize the water which leaves the glycerin, prior to combustion, as highly dispersed monomers within the combustion chamber which autoignite similar to a “homogenous charge compression ignition” (HCCI) event resulting in significantly greater efficiency and negligible exhaust gas pollutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher S. Stone
  • Patent number: 9297300
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame has a head pipe, a main frame, a down frame, and a lower frame. The main frame extends downward to the rear from the head pipe. The down frame extends downward to the rear from the head pipe in a position below the main frame. The lower frame connects an end of the down frame to an end of the main frame. An engine of the vehicle has a crankshaft, a crankcase, and a cylinder member. The crankshaft is housed in the crankcase. The cylinder member is attached to the crankcase. A cylinder is formed inside the cylinder member. An axis of the cylinder extends upward obliquely to the rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shidehiko Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 9297301
    Abstract: A remedial pollution control system for treating volatile organic compounds that may include a vapor concentrator connected to a line that is laden with volatile organic compounds, the concentrator has an organic condensate output line and a vapor output line; a mixing chamber adapted to receive air provided from an air supply line, combustible fuel from an alternate fuel supply line, and a vapor stream from the vapor output line to produce a mixed fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine, a control mixing system with a controller for producing a proper air to fuel ratio in the mixed fuel supply, and power generated to operate other devices used to more efficiently abate volatile organic compounds and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Joy, Lawrence Neill
  • Patent number: 9297302
    Abstract: An apparatus that improves rotation of a shaft. The shaft has a cyclical cogging torque acting thereon in a first direction. A support member is adjacent the shaft. The shaft is operable to rotate relative to the support member. A first anti-cogging member is coupled to the support member. A second anti-cogging member is coupled to the shaft to rotate based on rotation of the shaft. A cam surface has a lobe that is included on one of the first and second anti-cogging members. An abutment member is coupled to the other of the first and second anti-cogging members. The abutment member is operable to abut against the cam surface to provide an anti-cogging torque to the shaft in a second direction that opposes the first direction to at least partially offset the cogging torque. The biasing member biases the abutment member toward the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Raymond Towne
  • Patent number: 9297303
    Abstract: A connecting rod for internal combustion engines and the like has a rod, an upper connecting rod part, and a lower connecting rod part the rod is composed of at least two parts including a left part, as considered in direction of rotation of a crankshaft clockwise, having a straight shape and connected directly to the upper connecting rod part and to the lower connecting rod part, and a right preferably bent part connected directly to the lower connecting rod part and to the upper connecting rod part by an intermediate part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Yakiv Cherkasky
  • Patent number: 9297304
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine with a bleed air powered auxiliary engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for bleed air powered auxiliary engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl David Nordstrom, Ray F. Bowman
  • Patent number: 9297305
    Abstract: A free-turbine turboshaft engine including a gas generator including at least one compressor supplied with air, a combustion chamber receiving the compressed air at the output of the compressor, and at least one generator turbine mechanically connected to the compressor by a drive shaft and driven by gases from combustion of fuel carried out in the combustion chamber, and including a free turbine supplied by the gases from the combustion after passing through the generator turbine and which drives a power shaft positioned non-coaxially relative to the drive shaft of the gas generator and supplying the power of the turboshaft engine via a reduction gear. The combustion chamber is a substantially cylindrical or frusto-conical chamber, coaxial with the axis of the generator turbine, and includes a single injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Antoine Drachsler, Alain Michel Perbos, Joel Silet
  • Patent number: 9297306
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system that includes an exhaust gas recirculation regulator operatively connectable to a turbomachine system, and regulating a predetermined amount of exhaust gas to be recirculated. The exhaust gas recirculation system further includes a measuring unit that measures fuel composition of incoming fuel, and a control unit connected to the EGR regulator and the measuring unit, and determining a Wobbe Index and/or reactivity of the incoming fuel based on the measured fuel composition and determining the predetermined amount of exhaust gas to be recirculated based on the determined Wobbe Index and/or reactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Martin Gilchrist, III, Stanley Frank Simpson, Hasan Karim
  • Patent number: 9297307
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a nacelle including a moveable portion. A generator is configured to be received within a space established by the nacelle. A plurality of cables are at least partially supported on the moveable portion of the nacelle, the plurality of cables being selectively electrically coupled with the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Raphael Lior, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 9297308
    Abstract: A gas turbine according to the invention includes a seal housing in which a leaf-shaped seal is provided and a detection end space, a gas introduction path, and a gas discharge path are also formed. The detection end space is formed at a position on the outside in a radial direction from a leaf-shaped seal, and the gas introduction path has an introduction port formed at a position further on the downstream side than the leaf-shaped seal and also has a radially extending portion extending toward the outside in the radial direction from the introduction port and an axially extending portion extending in the direction of an axis from an end portion of the radially extending portion and reaching the detection end space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Eiichi Tsutsumi, Kenichi Arase
  • Patent number: 9297309
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for use in exhaust manifold assemblies of large diesel engines. In one aspect, a screen for use in an exhaust manifold assembly is provided. The screen includes a plate formed in a concave shape. The plate has a concave surface. The concave surface has a plurality of apertures and a plurality of non-intersecting, radially oriented slots formed therein. The plurality of slots and apertures have a size and open area selected to prevent debris from entering a turbo charger. The slots separate the apertures into predefined sections, and a radially outward end of the slots is spaced from a perimeter of the plate. In another aspect, a reducer assembly for use in an exhaust manifold assembly is provided. In yet a further aspect, a method of using a screen in an exhaust manifold assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: PARKER HANNIFIN CANADA
    Inventors: Sylvain Champoux, Alfin Leo, Ilko Paunov
  • Patent number: 9297310
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for a gas turbine engine. The cooling arrangement comprises a discharge channel for air flow from a compressor, a first cooling channel and at least one aperture providing communication between the flow of air through the discharge channel and the first cooling channel. A restrictor device in the aperture regulates the flow of air between the discharge channel and the first cooling channel. The restrictor device deforms to vary air flowing through the aperture in response to a physical condition of the engine. This physical condition of the engine may be that of the temperature of air flowing through the discharge channel, the restrictor device responding to regulate the flow of air based on that temperature. The restrictor device may be a two-way shape memory alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sheo Narain Giri, Sanjeev Kumar Jha, Bhaskar Pemmi, Harish Bommanakatte, Santhosh Donkada, Krishna Kishore Gumpina, Indrajit Mazumder, Rajarshi Saha
  • Patent number: 9297311
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a gas turbine power plant having a gas turbine, a heat recovery steam generator and an flue gas splitter which splits flue gases into a first flue gas flow for recirculation into an inlet flow of the gas turbine and into a second flue gas flow for discharge to an environment. An oxygen-depleted gas can be used in an open cooling system for cooling hot gas parts of the gas turbine. A split compressor intake can be provided for separate feed of recirculated flue gas and fresh air into a compressor intake. Compressor blades can include a separating band which blocks intermixing of recirculated flue gas and fresh air during compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Stefan Rofka, Michael Hoevel, Eribert Benz, Andre Burdet, Frank Sander, Felix Guethe
  • Patent number: 9297312
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a frame, a mount, and a fairing. The mount is attached to the frame and the fairing is connected to the mount. The fairing and mount have mating anti-deflection features that engage to prevent circumferential movement of the fairing relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Conway Chuong, Jonathan Ariel Scott, Matthew Budnick
  • Patent number: 9297313
    Abstract: A control apparatus for angling guide vanes of a torque converter is provided and includes a modeling unit configured to receive current condition data, to determine a current input power supplied by a starting motor from the current condition data and to output a result of the determination as a control signal and a controller, which is coupled to the modeling unit and thereby receptive of the control signal. The controller is configured to execute a comparison of the current input power with a rating of the starting motor and to angle the guide vanes of the torque converter at an angle in accordance with a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Dean Fuller, Justin Aaron Allen, Karl Dean Minto
  • Patent number: 9297314
    Abstract: A nacelle for incorporation into a gas turbine engine has an inner wall defining a bypass duct, and an outer wall. At least one drive shaft extends through the inner wall. The at least one drive shaft is connected to a gas turbine engine receiving the nacelle. The at least one drive shaft is connected to drive at least two accessory gear boxes, with the at least two accessory gear boxes being received between the inner and outer walls of the nacelle. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Robert L. Gukeisen, Claude Mercier
  • Patent number: 9297315
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for determining a target exhaust temperature for gas turbines. In one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a method for determining a target exhaust temperature for a gas turbine. The method can include determining a target exhaust temperature based at least in part on a compressor pressure condition; determining a temperature adjustment to the target exhaust temperature based at least in part on steam humidity; and changing the target exhaust temperature based at least in part on the temperature adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Derrick Simons, Douglas Dean, Carey Romoser, Kevin Wilkes, Predrag Popovic, Abhijit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 9297316
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Thomas John Freeman, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Michael Anthony Cocca, Mike Yarnold, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Klosinski
  • Patent number: 9297317
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine (1) comprising a number (W) of cylinders (3); the control method comprises determining the total target torque (Ci_obj) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1); determining a number (Wa) of active cylinders (3) to be controlled in use for injection and combustion; while a number (Ws) of cylinders (3) are not active and are not controlled for injection and combustion, but only for aspirating an air mass; determining the required target torque (Ci_obj) to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1) for each of the active cylinders (3); and controlling the internal combustion engine (1) as a function of the required target torque (Ci_obj) to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1) for each of the active cylinders (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Marco Panciroli
  • Patent number: 9297318
    Abstract: A crankshaft includes a plurality of crankpins. The crankpins are defined on the crankshaft and are longitudinally spaced apart from each other along a rotational axis. Each of the crankpins is configured to be operatively connected to a piston of an engine including a plurality of cylinders. The engine is configured to deactivate one of the cylinders. At least two of the crankpins are substantially aligned with each other along a pin axis. At least one of the crankpins is rotationally offset from the pin axis in a rotational direction of the crankshaft such that the engine has an even firing order even when one of the cylinders is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Robert S. McAlpine
  • Patent number: 9297319
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust gas recirculation circuit, an air throttle system, and a charging system. A method to control the engine includes determining a feed forward control command for a first selected one of the exhaust gas recirculation system, the air throttle system, and the charging system based on an inverse flow model of the first selected system. This includes monitoring a first input based upon an effective flow area of the first selected system, monitoring a second input based upon a pressure value within the first selected system, and determining the feed forward control command for the first selected system based upon the first input and the second input. The first selected system is controlled based upon the feed forward control command for the first selected system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Francesco Castorina