Patents Issued in October 11, 2016
  • Patent number: 9464517
    Abstract: An apparatus for remote monitoring of well operations. The apparatus may include an alerts module positioned proximate a well, at least one well parameter sensor in communication with the alerts module, and a well operation control module in communication with the alerts module. The apparatus may further include a remotely positioned well monitoring station in communication with the alerts module, and a plurality of user terminal in communication with the well monitoring station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris Papouras, Pradeep Annaiyappa, Hari Koduru
  • Patent number: 9464518
    Abstract: A method and a device for producing and measuring a borehole in the ground is provided, in that the borehole is produced through drilling, that between a carrier unit above a ground surface and a measuring body a measuring rope is tensioned, that the measuring body is inserted so as to fit into the borehole in the ground and lowered, that by means of angle and distance measurements the positions of at least two vertically spaced rope points of the tensioned measuring rope are ascertained and in that on the basis of the ascertained positions of the rope points the position of the measuring body in the borehole is determined as a measure for the location of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: BAUER SPEZIALTIEFBAU GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Schwanz, Ulli Wiedenmann
  • Patent number: 9464519
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a method for detecting gamma radiation downhole using a downhole probe assembly. The method includes rotating the downhole probe assembly and measuring gamma radiation passing through a window of a gamma sensor module and hitting a gamma sensor therebelow. A gyroscope output is sampled at predetermined time intervals to indicate the speed of rotation of the downhole probe assembly. The angle of rotation of the window is calculated based on the speed of rotation of the downhole probe assembly. Each revolution of the downhole probe assembly is conceptually divided up into a plurality of bins. Measured gamma radiation is allocated to one of the plurality of bins based on the calculated angle of rotation of the window to provide a real time indication of the direction and strength of gamma radiation emitted by the formation surrounding the borehole. This information can be used for real time geosteering of the drill bit during downhole drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jili Liu, Aaron W. Logan, David A. Switzer, Mojtaba Kazemi Miraki
  • Patent number: 9464520
    Abstract: Apparatus and corresponding method for remotely communicating with a device in a wellbore, comprising: an oilfield tubular handling apparatus (200); partial toroidal coil sections (304) integrated with the oilfield tubular handling apparatus, wherein the partial toroidal coil sections form a toroidal coil upon a tubular member (102) with the handling apparatus; and a microcontroller for communicating with the device via at least one of signals transmitted or received through the tubular member using the toroidal coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Sorin Gabriel Teodorescu, Hallvard Svadberg Hatloy, Tarald Gudmestad, Lev Ring
  • Patent number: 9464521
    Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus with a pulser assembly having a pulser assembly housing enclosing a pressure compensation device. The pulser assembly housing includes an interior wall with a plurality of primary apertures therethrough and an exterior wall with a plurality of secondary apertures therethrough, the exterior wall overlying the interior wall. The primary and secondary apertures are in fluid communication with a pressure compensation mechanism in the pressure compensation device such that drilling fluid contacts the pressure compensation mechanism for equalization of pressure of a lubrication liquid contained inside the pulser assembly housing with pressure of the drilling fluid when the fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus is positioned downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Justin C. Logan, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9464522
    Abstract: A diffusion sampler includes an elongated tubular support structure, a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a first coupling device, at least a first membrane and a reservoir mechanism. The support structure has an outer wall that defines an interior space therein. The outer wall defines a plurality of openings. A membrane is disposed around the outer wall at least in the area of the upper portion of the support structure and is configured to allow at least one first selected type of molecule to pass therethrough. A reservoir mechanism is coupled to a bottom portion of the support structure and is configured to define a reservoir in the lower portion of the support structure that prevents a selected liquid from flowing out of the lower portion of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: EON Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Varhol
  • Patent number: 9464523
    Abstract: A method for determining local permeability variations in a well core sample includes flowing a test fluid from an inflow surface of a core sample toward an exit surface of the core sample for a period of time, splitting the core sample along a splitting plane revealing an invasion depth of the test fluid and determining local permeability variations in the core sample using the invasion depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brenden Grove, Jeremy Harvey
  • Patent number: 9464524
    Abstract: An anchor rod is disclosed. The anchor rod includes an attachment region and an anchoring region which is insertable into a borehole and which has a profiled section. The profiled section interacts with a curable organic and/or inorganic mortar compound filled into the borehole. The profiled section includes a plurality of expansion sections disposed axially in a row which are conically shaped. For each of the plurality of expansion sections, a diameter of the expansion section increases in a direction toward a free front end of the anchor rod, a ratio of a distance of the expansion section to a mean borehole diameter is 0.40 to 0.60, a ratio of an outer diameter to a core diameter of the expansion section is 1.35 to 1.55, and a cone angle of the expansion section is 22.5° to 27.5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Glogger, Bernhard Winkler
  • Patent number: 9464525
    Abstract: An internal gear pump in which an inner rotor and an outer rotor are arranged in a rotor housing chamber. A deepest meshing section is located in the vicinity on a line connecting a center of the inner rotor and a center of the outer rotor. A center of the rotor housing chamber is offset, from a position in which the center and the center of the outer rotor coincide with each other, to the deepest meshing section side by an amount smaller than a tip clearance, which is a gap between the tooth tip of the inner rotor and the tooth tip of the outer rotor in the vicinity of a seal land between a terminal end side of an intake port and a start end side of a discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujiki, Masato Izutsu
  • Patent number: 9464526
    Abstract: An assembly including an airfoil for a bladed wheel together with a platform, the airfoils in association with such platforms forming a bladed wheel. The platform surface presents a circumferential depression between a leading edge of an airfoil at 60% of the airfoil going downstream. A skeleton curve designates a curve plotting variations in a skeleton angle of the airfoil as a function of position along the axis of the wheel; and a linearized skeleton curve designates a curve that provides a straight line connection between points representing the skeleton angle respectively at 10% and at 90% of an axial extent of the airfoil from its leading edge, and, in a vicinity of the platform, a lowered portion of the skeleton curve lying under the linearized skeleton curve extends axially over at least half of an axial extent of the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Damien Cellier, Vincent Paul Gabriel Perrot, Jean-Francois Rios
  • Patent number: 9464527
    Abstract: Liquid fuel from a rotary fluid trap is atomized by a sharp edge on an inside surface of an aft cavity of a bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine and directed into each of a plurality of associated hollow blades through corresponding blade inlet ducts that are in fluid communication with corresponding aft hollow interior portions of each blade. A radially-extending central rib within each blade partitions the hollow interior thereof into aft and forward hollow interior portions that are in fluid communication through an associated opening in the central rib and through a radially-extending gap between the central rib and the interior surface of the blade. A blade outlet duct provides for fluid communication between the forward hollow interior portion and a forward cavity of the bladed rotor, and a rotor outlet duct provides for discharging the fuel from a radially-inboard portion of the forward cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Williams International Co., LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Thompson, Jr., Gregg G. Williams, David W. Jarrell, Curtis E. Lynch, Mark E. Suchezky
  • Patent number: 9464528
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine. The turbine blade includes a base having a blade root, a platform, a cooling air inlet, and a base air passageway. The turbine blade also includes an airfoil section adjoined to the base and having an outer wall, an airfoil air passageway, a plurality of trailing edge slots in fluid communication with the airfoil air passageway and a plurality of directional film holes through the outer wall in fluid communication with the airfoil air passageway. The plurality of directional film holes includes a first portion configured to discharge the cooling air toward a tip end, and a second portion configured to discharge the cooling air toward the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Luzeng Zhang, Juan Yin, Hee Koo Moon
  • Patent number: 9464529
    Abstract: A blade, for a gas turbine, includes a blade airfoil, having a shroud segment arranged on its upper end. The shroud segment together with shroud segments of other blades of a blade row forming an annular shroud which delimits hot gas passage of the gas turbine, and said shroud segment, on sides on which it adjoins adjacent shroud segments of the annular shroud, is provided with upwardly projecting side rails which extend along a side edge, to improve sealing to the hot gas passage. The side rails include rail-parallel or essentially rail-parallel, upwardly open slots through which cooling air, which is introduced via the shroud segment from an interior of the blade airfoil, discharges into the space above the shroud segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Chiara Zambetti, Sergei Riazantsev, Hélène Saxer-Felici
  • Patent number: 9464530
    Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide a turbine bucket for a gas turbine engine. The turbine bucket may include an airfoil, a tip shroud positioned radially outward from the airfoil, and a seal rail positioned radially outward from the tip shroud and extending in a generally tangential direction from a first end to a second end of the tip shroud. The seal rail may include a maximum axial thickness at a location positioned between the first end and the second end and offset from the airfoil in the generally tangential direction. The present application and the resultant patent further provide a gas turbine engine and a method for balancing a tip shroud of a turbine bucket of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Spencer Aaron Kareff, Matthew Robert Piersall, Danielle Werner
  • Patent number: 9464531
    Abstract: Locking spacer assemblies, rotor assemblies and turbomachines are provided. In one embodiment, a locking spacer assembly includes a first end piece and a second end piece each configured to fit into a space between platforms of adjacent rotor blades, the first end piece and second end piece each comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface having a profile adapted to project into an attachment slot, wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second end pieces generally face each other. The locking spacer assembly further includes an actuator movable between the inner surfaces, the actuator comprising a projection configured to engage the inner surface, the actuator further comprising a plurality of locating protrusions extending from the projection, the locating protrusions configured to fit within locating channels defined in the first end piece and the second end piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Michael Hansen, Michael James Healy, Brian Denver Potter
  • Patent number: 9464532
    Abstract: A rotor blade includes an active flap and an airflow disturber configured to selectively alter airflow across the active flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Drew Sutton
  • Patent number: 9464533
    Abstract: An inlet guide vane actuation apparatus is provided. The inlet guide vane actuation apparatus comprises an actuation ring with a first connector for connecting an actuator rod, wherein the first connector positions the actuator rod over the rotational axial center of the actuation ring, a plurality of crank rods with a first end connected respectively to a plurality of second connectors located on the rotational axial center of the actuation ring; and a plurality of cranks with each having a third connector connected respectively to a second end of the plurality of crank rods and respectively to vanes associated with a nozzle, wherein the third connector located on the rotational axial center of the actuation ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A
    Inventors: Giacomo Landi, Antonio Asti, Paolo Del Turco
  • Patent number: 9464534
    Abstract: A system configured to precisely control and/or modulate purge flow in a power plant system (e.g., a gas turbine) during operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: at least one computing device adapted to control a purge flow in a gas turbine by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational data from the gas turbine; determining an inferred gas path pressure value for the gas turbine; determining an allowable purge flow for the gas turbine as a function of the operational data and the inferred gas path pressure value; and adjusting the purge flow based upon the allowable purge flow determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Reed, Kevin Thomas McGovern
  • Patent number: 9464535
    Abstract: A stationary part sealing structure 10 of an embodiment has an insertion groove 20 formed annularly across a circumferential direction in a wall surface 111a and having a groove part 21 and projections 25, 26 projecting respectively from both side faces of the groove part 21 so as to narrow an opening 22 of the groove part 21, an insertion groove 30 formed annularly across a circumferential direction in a wall surface 110a which opposes the insertion groove 20 and having a groove part 31 and projections 35, 36 projecting respectively from both side faces of the groove part 31 so as to narrow an opening 32 of the groove part 31, and a platy annular sealing member 40 having an outer diameter side end 41 inserted in the insertion groove 20 and an inner diameter side end 42 inserted in the insertion groove 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Norikazu Takagi
  • Patent number: 9464536
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a turbine system includes a bucket having an outer tip and at least one bucket ridge extending radially outwardly from the outer tip, the at least one bucket ridge comprising an abradable material. Also included is a stationary shroud disposed radially outwardly from the outer tip of the bucket. Further included is at least one shroud ridge extending radially inwardly from the stationary shroud toward the outer tip of the bucket, the at least one shroud ridge comprising the abradable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiuzhang James Zhang, Gary Michael Itzel, Ibrahim Sezer
  • Patent number: 9464537
    Abstract: Solutions for clutching turbine wheels are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a turbine rotor shaft; a plurality of turbine wheels affixed to the turbine rotor shaft; an independent turbine wheel engagably attached to the turbine rotor shaft; and a clutch operably connected to the turbine rotor shaft, the clutch configured to couple and decouple the independent turbine wheel from the turbine rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Parry, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Michael Alan Davi
  • Patent number: 9464538
    Abstract: A shroud block segment for a gas turbine includes a main body having a leading portion, a trailing portion, a first side portion and an opposing second side portion that extend axially between the leading portion and the trailing portion. The main body further includes an arcuate combustion gas side, an opposing back side and a cooling chamber defined in the back side. A cooling plenum and an exhaust passage are defined within the main body where the exhaust passage provides for fluid communication out of the cooling plenum. An insert opening extends within the main body through the back side towards the cooling plenum. A cooling flow insert is disposed within the insert opening. The cooling flow insert comprises a plurality of cooling flow passages that provide for fluid communication between the cooling chamber and the cooling plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ibrahim Sezer, Anshuman Singh, Gary Michael Itzel, James William Vehr
  • Patent number: 9464539
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery device for a marine vessel is disclosed. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the waste heat recovery device for a marine vessel includes: a heat exchanger, which recovers heat from the exhaust fumes discharged from the engine, to heat a first refrigerant under uniform pressure; a turbine which is driven by adiabatically expanding the first refrigerant heated under uniform pressure; a condenser which condenses the adiabatically expanded first refrigerant; and a heat exchanging pump which compresses the condensed first refrigerant so as to re-circulate the compressed first refrigerant to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG HEAVY IND. CO., LTD
    Inventors: Moon Ho Son, Gun Il Park, Sung Jae Lee, Ho Ki Lee, Jung Kun Jin, Jae Woong Choi
  • Patent number: 9464540
    Abstract: A transfer assembly for a mechanically controllable valve train includes a transfer member in which a valve lift adjusting device is integrated. The transfer member is configured to be operatively connected to at least one gas exchange valve directly or indirectly via a coupling element, to be movably supported in a cylinder head via a bearing, and to be operatively connected to a camshaft and to the valve lift adjusting device so that different maximum lifts of the gas exchange valve can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventor: Dieter Jelinek
  • Patent number: 9464541
    Abstract: A control device of an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve device including: first and second rocker arms; a cam; a rocker shaft provided with a lubricating oil passage; a pin switching the first and second rocker arms between a coupling state and a non-coupling state; a biasing member biasing the pin; a switching oil passage capable of supplying oil pressure to the pin in a direction opposite to a biasing direction; a lash adjuster; and a supplying oil passage, capable of supplying oil pressure to the pin in the biasing direction of the biasing member and supplying oil pressure into the lash adjuster, a hydraulic pump; an oil pressure control valve; and a control unit controlling the oil pressure control valve to always supply the supplying oil passage with oil pressure higher than oil pressure within the lubricating oil passage, during driving of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Haga
  • Patent number: 9464542
    Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes: a variable valve timing mechanism; an intermediate locking mechanism that locks the valve timing at an intermediate timing; and a hydraulic pressure supply device that hydraulically actuates these mechanisms. The hydraulic pressure supply device uses a single oil control valve to control a state where lubricating oil is supplied to or drained from each of an advance chamber, a retard chamber and an intermediate chamber of an intermediate locking mechanism. The oil control valve has first to fourth modes. The oil control valve advances the valve timing and actuates the intermediate locking mechanism in a projecting direction in the third mode, and, under a situation that the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the variable valve timing mechanism is smaller than that in the third mode, advances the valve timing and actuates the intermediate locking mechanism in a release direction in the fourth mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Numakura, Yuu Yokoyama, Yoshiro Kamo
  • Patent number: 9464543
    Abstract: In a valve opening/closing timing control device, a fluid pressure chamber formed by a drive-side rotating and a driven-side rotating body is divided into an advance chamber and a delay chamber. The valve opening/closing timing control device includes an intermediate lock mechanism; an electromagnetic valve; a phase detection sensor; and a control unit that issues a command to the electromagnetic valve to switch a working fluid supply destination to a working fluid supply destination at which the driven-side rotating body shifts to an intermediate lock phase, when a relative rotation phase at the startup of an engine is positioned toward a most delayed phase or a most advanced phase with respect to the intermediate lock phase in case of the electromagnetic valve that sets the working fluid supply destination to the delay chamber or the advance chamber when supply of electric power to the electromagnetic valve is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kazuo Ueda
  • Patent number: 9464544
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus of an engine includes a first body rotated at within a preset angle range by rotating a high-speed cam coupled to a camshaft, a second body coupled to the first body or decoupled from the first body and rotated within a preset angle range by rotating a low-cam coupled to the camshaft when the second body is decoupled from the first body, a latching pin provided retractably forward of the first body such that the first body is coupled to or decoupled from the second body, and an actuating unit to retractably actuate the latching pin. The degree of the lift of the valve is variably controlled in two stages of high-speed and low-speed modes through the rotary motion of the high speed cam or low speed cam by coupling or decoupling the first and second bodies to or from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MOTONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soo Hyun Hwang, Jong Wung Park, Hye Yoon Choi, Do Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 9464545
    Abstract: A camshaft assembly includes a base shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The base shaft is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The camshaft assembly further includes a series of lobe packs mounted on the base shaft. The lobe pack includes a first cam lobe, a second cam lobe, and a third cam lobe. The lobe pack further includes a barrel cam defining a control groove. The camshaft assembly further includes an actuator including an actuator body and at least one pin movably coupled to the actuator body. The lobe pack is configured to move axially relative to the base shaft between a first position, a second position, and a third position. These three lobe pack positions are used to define three discrete valve lift profiles for the intake or exhaust valves in the cylinder. The lift profiles can be different for each engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Moran, Hans-Guido Kemmer, Kevin M. Luchansky
  • Patent number: 9464546
    Abstract: The assembly for purification of exhaust gases comprises an upstream conduit and a downstream conduit positioned parallel to each other. A space has an exhaust gas inlet communicating with the upstream conduit and an exhaust gas outlet communicating with the downstream conduit. A middle line divides the inlet into first and second areas providing a same passage section to the exhaust gases. The assembly comprises a baffle covering at least 75% of the first area and covering less than 25% of the second area. The baffle and the space are laid out so that a portion of the exhaust gases penetrate through the first area of the inlet flows into the space along flow lines forming a cusp around the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement
    Inventors: Yohann Perrot, Jean-Paul Brunel
  • Patent number: 9464547
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a vehicular lean burn internal combustion engine that emits oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) is disclosed. The system comprises a NOx reduction catalyst for reducing NOx in the presence of a reductant, means for introducing reductant into a flowing exhaust gas and a source of hydrocarbon reductant, a nitrogenous reductant, and/or hydrogen, a filter for removing PM from exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust system and a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit for connecting the exhaust system downstream of the filter to an air intake of the engine. The EGR circuit comprises a IMOx adsorber catalyst (NAC) comprising a NO adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Guy Richard Chandler, Alexander Nicholas Michael Green, Stuart David Reid
  • Patent number: 9464549
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device includes a catalyst support, a surface electrode disposed on an outer surface of the catalyst support and extending in an axis direction of the catalyst support, a wiring line member including a root section extending in the axis direction of the catalyst support and comb teeth-like wiring lines extending from the root section in a circumference direction of the catalyst support and fixed to the surface electrode, an outer cylinder covering an outer surface of the catalyst support, and a holding member holding the catalyst support and packed between the catalyst support and the outer cylinder, in which the catalyst support is heated by feeding a current through the surface electrode and the wiring line member. A slit extending from an outer edge in the circumferential direction of the catalyst support is formed in the root section of the wiring line member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Nishigaya, Natsuki Sugiyama, Masao Nakayama, Yuki Tomitaka, Hideji Naito
  • Patent number: 9464550
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system and method treats exhaust gasses produced by an internal combustion process or similar process. The system includes an aftertreatment module having at least one sleeve extending between a first end and a second end. One or more aftertreatment bricks may be axially inserted through an opening disposed in the first end of the sleeve. The aftertreatment brick may include an substrate matrix surrounded by a tubular, protective mantle. To prevent the aftertreatment bricks from unintentionally exiting the sleeve, a retention ring is releasably engaged with the first end of the sleeve. The retention ring may include a dimension that is less than a dimension of the opening in the first end so that at least a portion of the retention ring contacts the mantle of the aftertreatment brick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mirza P. Baig, Andrew M. Denis
  • Patent number: 9464551
    Abstract: There is disclosed a honeycomb catalyst body including porous partition walls in which a plurality of cells that become through channels of a fluid are defined and formed, and a plurality of pores are formed, wherein a cell density is from 93 to 186 cells/cm2, and onto the partition walls, a catalyst containing the zeolite is loaded in an amount of 100 to 300 g/L, a porosity (A) of the partition walls before the catalyst is loaded thereonto is 50% or more, and a porosity (B) of the partition walls in a state where the catalyst is loaded thereonto is from 0.3 to 0.6 times as much as the porosity (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shogo Hirose, Kazuto Miura, Hirotaka Yamamoto, Fumio Katsube
  • Patent number: 9464552
    Abstract: An exhaust system mixer (12) mixes a reactant with an exhaust gas flow (3) and includes a pipe section (13), which borders a flow cross section (16), through which the exhaust gas flows (3), in the circumferential direction (17), and which extends in an axial direction (18) from a first axial side (19) to a second axial side (20), and a plurality of guide blades (14, 15), which project from the pipe section (13) at least on one of the axial sides (19, 20), so as to protrude into the flow cross section (16). Guide blades (14, 15) on an axial side, which follow each other in the circumferential direction (17), include a first guide blade group (21), arranged on the respective axial side (19, 20), axially offset in relation to the guide blades (15) of the second guide blade group (22), to reduce a pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Silvia Calvo
  • Patent number: 9464553
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is powered on or using a mix of a liquid fuel and hydrogen, to produce energy that is converted into electricity using an alternator, which is subsequently used to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen is produced through the use of hydrogen generating cells which breaks down water using electrolysis and outputs hydrogen. The cell uses anode rods inserted into a tank containing cathode tubes. Additionally, the tank itself also acts as the cathode as the tank is connected to the negative end of a circuit. A current passes from the anode rods to the cathode through water to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen is off gassed and stored in a reservoir to be used in an internal combustion engine as fuel. The energy needed to perform electrolysis is garnered from an alternator and a turbine that is part of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Magnus L. Wold
  • Patent number: 9464554
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine provided with a filter supporting an SCR catalyst, the present invention is intended to suppress HC and CO from being discharged to the outside at the time of the execution of filter regeneration processing, and to carry out the filter regeneration processing in an efficient manner. In the present invention, a post-catalyst having an oxidation function is arranged in an exhaust passage at the downstream side of the filter. Then, when the temperature of the post-catalyst is lower than a predetermined activation temperature at the time the execution of the filter regeneration processing is requested, the temperature of the post-catalyst is raised by carrying out control of raising the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine, and control increasing the flow rate of the exhaust gas, before the execution of the filter regeneration processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Matsuo, Nobumoto Ohashi, Shigeki Nakayama, Kenji Sakurai, Akira Mikami, Keishi Takada, Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Hiroshi Otsuki, Ichiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9464555
    Abstract: A system for determining a regeneration phase of an exhaust gas particulate filter for an internal combustion engine may include a temperature sensor for detecting an elevated exhaust gas temperature, a sensor for detecting the particulate content in the exhaust gas stream exiting from the exhaust gas particulate filter, and a processing device for determining the regeneration phase on the basis of the detected values. A method for determining a regeneration phase of an exhaust gas particulate filter for an internal combustion engine may include detecting an elevated exhaust gas temperature, sampling a signal from a sensor for detecting the particulate content in the exhaust gas stream exiting from the exhaust gas particulate filter, detecting that the particulate content is elevated, and determining the regeneration phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Ante, Marcus Herrmann, Willibald Reitmeier, Denny Schaedlich
  • Patent number: 9464556
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-temperature sensor comprising contact wires in a metal tube, preferably a bent metal tube for arrangement especially inside the exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, and spacer bodies distributed in rows along the contact wires so as to maintain the contact wires at a predetermined distance to the inner wall of the metal tube. According to the invention, every spacer body is approximately ovoid, the diameter of the center portion of the egg being not wider than the inside width of the as yet unbent metal tube. The spacer bodies are injection-molded polymer ceramic parts molded onto the contact wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventors: Thomas Niemann, Torsten Eggers
  • Patent number: 9464557
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a muffler shield includes a shield body extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a middle portion positioned between first and second side portions along a transverse direction, a cross-section of the middle portion and at least one of the first and second side portions respectively defining a middle profile and a side profile shorter than the middle profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Allen Hornby, Erich James Nowka, Kerry Timothy Havener
  • Patent number: 9464558
    Abstract: An exhaust system (1) for an internal combustion engine has an exhaust line (2), which has at least one exhaust pipe (3) having a pipe wall (4) with an inner side (5) defining an exhaust gas path (6) guiding an exhaust gas flow (7) and an electric heating device (18) for heating at least one length section of the exhaust pipe (3). An efficient design is obtained if a heating coil (21) is wound several times around the exhaust pipe (3) on an outer side (22) of the pipe wall (4) in the respective length section and has an electric conductor (23) made of a resistance heating material. An electric insulator (24) is arranged between the conductor (23) and the outer side (22) of the pipe wall (4). A heat-insulating cover (25) envelops the exhaust pipe (3) at least in the area of the respective heating coil (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heike Többen, Georg Wirth
  • Patent number: 9464559
    Abstract: A passive valve assembly for an engine exhaust system includes an exhaust conduit for transferring exhaust gases from the engine and a valve plate that is operably disposed within the exhaust conduit. A pivot rod has an internal section that is coupled with the valve plate, such that the valve plate may pivot between an open position and a closed position. The pivot rod also has an external section that protrudes from the exhaust conduit. A stop feature is disposed at or near an exterior surface of the exhaust conduit in a location arranged to contact the external section of the pivot rod and prevent the valve plate from pivoting beyond one of the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MIDDLEVILLE TOOL & DIE CO.
    Inventors: Robert Leroy Middleton, Jr., Justin Tyler Middleton
  • Patent number: 9464560
    Abstract: Example embodiments for reducing thermal load in one or more exhaust gas lines are provided. One embodiment includes an internal combustion engine with liquid cooling, comprising at least one exhaust gas line, at least one coolant jacket, and a common boundary wall separating the at least one exhaust gas line and the at least one coolant jacket, wherein the common boundary wall includes a surface structure provided on sides of the coolant jacket in at least one locally limited region. In this way, the surface structure on the sides of the coolant jacket may increase heat transfer to reduce thermal loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Guenter Bartsch, Marcus Klaar
  • Patent number: 9464561
    Abstract: A cooling system for a hybrid powertrain of a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric traction assembly, comprising a main circuit that can be traversed by a coolant in order to cool the internal combustion engine to a first temperature level and a secondary circuit that can be traversed by a coolant to cool the electric traction assembly to a second temperature level, lower than the first level, each of the circuits and comprising a radiator capable of cooling the coolant by means of heat exchange with an air flow, at least one hydraulic pump for circulating the coolant in the coolant circuits, and one electronic control unit capable of controlling the hydraulic pumps. The control unit comprises a module for recovering information on the dynamics of the vehicle and a module for controlling the flow from the hydraulic pumps on the basis of that information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Hoang-Giang Nguyen, Jean Van-Frank, Ahmed Ketfi-Cherif, Christophe Dang-Van-Nhan, Robert Yu
  • Patent number: 9464562
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating air flow through a charge air cooler. In one example, an air flow regulating element may be positioned in a tank of the charge air cooler, the air flow regulating element including a cylindrical barrel valve rotatable about a rotational axis to adjust air flow through cooling tubes in the charge air cooler. A position of the barrel valve may be based on a mass air flow rate and/or a temperature at an outlet of the charge air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Patrick McConville, Daniel Joseph Styles, Mehdi Abarham, James Alfred Hilditch
  • Patent number: 9464563
    Abstract: A turbocharger wastegate is provided. The turbocharger wastegate comprises a cover plate actuatable in an open and closed position, the open position enabling exhaust gas flow through a turbine bypass conduit and the closed position inhibiting exhaust gas flow through the turbine bypass conduit and a vibration-dampening extension coupled to the cover plate radially extending beyond a radial periphery of the cover plate. Exhaust gas flow acting on the extension thus reduces vibration of the wastegate, thereby improving durability and reducing unwanted noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Eden, Anthony Morelli
  • Patent number: 9464564
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a boost control module and a temperature estimation module. The boost control module generates a wastegate command signal to control a position of a wastegate and thereby adjust an amount of exhaust gas allowed to bypass a turbine of a turbocharger through the wastegate. The temperature estimation module estimates at least one of a first temperature downstream from the turbine and a second temperature upstream from the turbine based on the wastegate command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jose C. Zavala Jurado, Yue-Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 9464565
    Abstract: A wastegate valve includes, a valving element 13 that opens and closes an exhaust gas bypass path, a valve stem 17 that extends from the valving element, an operating lever 15 having an insertion hole 29 where the valve stem is inserted with play, a support plate 31 provided on an open end of the valve stem, and a spring member 19 provided between the support plate and the operating lever 15. The spring member has a large-diameter part and at least two small-diameter parts, the large-diameter part and the at least two small-diameter parts being arranged concentrically with an axial center of the valve stem, and the at least two small-diameter parts constitute a first contact part 35 in contact with an operating lever side and a second contact part 37 in contact with a support plate side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Yasuaki Jinnai
  • Patent number: 9464566
    Abstract: An apparatus to deliver rotation power to a shaft delivering mechanical rotation power, by a cavity that is formed by a spherical or cylindrical housing. A Rotor attached to a shaft, centrally rotating inside the housing along the center line of the rotation of the housing. A combustion chamber is formed inside the housing by a blade like Blocker and the blade like Rotor to ignition takes place. The ignition chamber expands radially providing rotational power to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Ned M Ahdoot
  • Patent number: 9464567
    Abstract: A biased dual tip seal arrangement for the rotor (106) of a rotary engine (102). The dual tip seals (100-T, 100-L) are located on opposite corners of the tip (130) of a planetary rotor (106). The rotor (106) orbits within a cutout (126) in a main rotor (108). The seals (100-T, 100-L) are biased away from the corners to make sealing contact with the sealing surfaces of the asymmetrical lobe (112) and the cutout (126) of the main rotor (108). Biasing is implemented with springs (1202, 1302, 1412) and with conduits (1006) that pressurize the area under the seals (100-T, 100-L). An asymmetrical lobe (112?) includes a transition zone (802) on the surface of the lobe (112). In the transition zone (802), at least one seal (100-T, 100-L) on the tip (130) maintains contact with the surface (112?) while alternating contact from one seal (100-T, 100-L) to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Barton W. Watkins