Patents Issued in January 24, 2017
  • Patent number: 9551300
    Abstract: A temperature regulation system for a vehicle includes a drive system configured to be coupled to an engine of the vehicle. The drive system is configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor of the vehicle. The system further includes a control unit for controlling the engine and drive system. The control unit is configured to automatically regulate a temperature of a vehicle component in dependence upon a detected reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry Todd Young, Timothy Brown, Ord Allen Randolph
  • Patent number: 9551301
    Abstract: A rotary-type carburetor (1) according to the present invention includes a body (4) having a bore (2) with a circular cross section, and a valve element (6) to be contained in the bore (2). The valve element (6) rotates between a closed position where the valve passage (16) is blocked from communicating with the body passages (10a, 10b), and a fully-opened position where the valve passage (16) and the body passages (10a, 10b) are aligned. When the valve element (6) is located in an idle position, an air flowing through the body passages (10a, 10b) and the valve passage (16) is prevented from being flown into the bore end part (12). When the valve element (6) is located in a fully-opened position, a portion of the air flowing from an upstream part (10a) of the body passage is bypassed into the upstream communication part (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: YAMABIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamotsu Saito, Tomoyoshi Kudo
  • Patent number: 9551302
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder and an exhaust-gas turbocharger comprising a compressor arranged in an intake system and a turbine arranged in an exhaust-gas discharge system. Various lines are provided for conducting gases including 1) a bypass line branching off from the inlet system downstream of the compressor so as to form an inlet-side junction, and 2) a recirculation line branching off from the exhaust-gas discharge system upstream of the turbine so as to form an outlet-side junction which opens into the bypass line. A first control element at the outlet-side junction adjusts an exhaust-gas quantity conducted through the recirculation line. A second control element at the inlet-side junction has a first position that separates the bypass line from the cylinder and connects the intake line to the cylinder, and a second position that separates the intake line from the cylinder and connects the bypass line to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed Sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 9551303
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system includes an EGR duct configured to effect fluid communication between an exhaust duct and an intake duct of an internal combustion engine; a heat exchanger having a first flow passage and a second flow passage, the first flow passage being in fluid communication with the EGR duct, the second flow passage being configured to receive a heat transfer medium from a heat transfer medium source; an upstream purge valve in fluid communication with the second flow passage of the heat exchanger, and configured to effect selective fluid communication between a purge fluid source and the second flow passage of the heat exchanger; and a controller operatively coupled to the upstream purge valve. The controller is configured to purge the second flow passage of the heat exchanger by opening the upstream purge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xinyu Ge, Yongli Qi
  • Patent number: 9551304
    Abstract: A tank venting system of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a fuel tank, and an activated carbon filter includes: a tank vent valve; at least one check valve; and a pressure sensor situated between the tank vent valve and the check valve. For diagnosing this tank venting system, a negative pressure which is lower than the ambient pressure outside the engine system is stored between the tank vent valve and the check valve. The stored pressure is changed by controlling the tank vent valve, and the change in the pressure is measured via the pressure sensor. The functioning of the tank venting line, of the check valve, and of the tank vent valve is deduced from the correlation of the opening state of the tank vent valve with the change in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Haefele
  • Patent number: 9551305
    Abstract: A safety and injection system for adding an additive to fuel in a fuel chamber, includes a portable additive source having a body, an additive chamber, a memory, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet. The system can also include a fuel inlet valve which is connected to the fuel chamber, and includes a connector for connecting to the fuel inlet; a fuel outlet valve which is connected to the fuel chamber and including a connector for connecting to the fuel outlet. The system can further include a platform having a memory reader/writer that reads the information in memory and is capable of writing information on memory, and on which the portable additive source is placed; and at least one control unit which is connected with the memory reader/writer, which includes a user interface device for receiving control information from the user, and which controls the operation of the safety and injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Aygaz Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Emrah Isbilen, Burak Yaman, Emrah Birsen
  • Patent number: 9551306
    Abstract: A segmented air filtration element is provided. The segmented air filtration element includes a center tube defining a central axis and an inner passage therein. The center tube includes a plurality of ribs extending along the central axis and spaced apart from one another. A plurality of segmenting surfaces is attached to the center tube in a radial arrangement with respect to the central axis. The plurality of segmenting surfaces is configured to accommodate a plurality of filter media therebetween such that each of the plurality of filter media is selectively replaceable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Bobby J. Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9551307
    Abstract: An engine cover system for joining a cover with an intake manifold body. A plurality of structural ribs project from an external surface of the body including a pair of parallel ribs. Each parallel rib carries an integrally-molded U-shaped receiver strip extending transversely from the parallel ribs to form slots having closed ends proximate a first edge of the body and slot openings defined by respective edges of the receiver strips. The engine cover is comprised of a shroud, first and second radial arms, and first and second hinge pins projecting from the first and second radial arms, respectively. The hinge pins are configured to slide into the slots via the slot openings into the closed ends. First and second elastomeric ferrules are installed on the first and second hinge pins, respectively, configured to be compressed by the receiver strips when captured at the closed ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Hamzeh, Milind B. Kulkarni, Christopher W. Newman
  • Patent number: 9551308
    Abstract: A bracket for mounting a multi-compartment fuel filter assembly to an internal combustion engine is provided. The bracket includes a base plate, a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, a plurality of mounting members, a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs. The first plate and the second plate are coupled to the base plate, and are perpendicular to the base plate. The third plate is coupled to the first plate and is parallel to the base plate. The plurality of mounting members is coupled to the first plate and the first plurality of ribs is coupled to the base plate, the first plate and the third plate, and disposed perpendicular to the base plate. The second plurality of ribs is coupled to the base plate, the first plate, and the second plate, and disposed perpendicular to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay S. Underwood, Colin A. Hawkins, Sravan K. Venne
  • Patent number: 9551309
    Abstract: A fluid injector includes a valve body, a valve needle and axially moveable in the valve body between a closing position that prevents a fluid injection and further positions that permit the fluid injection, an armature coupled to the valve needle for displacing the valve needle away from the closing position, and a solenoid assembly including at least a first and second coil and operable to magnetically actuate the armature via an electrical signal. A method for operating the fluid injector includes applying the electrical signal to the first coil to generate a magnetic field to move the armature for displacing the valve needle away from the closing position, evaluating a voltage across terminals of the first coil, and controlling the second coil with a further electrical signal to saturate a magnetic field in a portion of the valve body between the armature and solenoid assembly during evaluating the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefano Filippi, Mauro Grandi, Francesco Lenzi, Valerio Polidori
  • Patent number: 9551310
    Abstract: A valve device includes a housing, a flow duct and a valve body. The valve body is arranged in the flow duct and bears with a sealing section against a housing-side sealing seat when the valve device is closed. The valve body is guided along a movement axis by a housing-side guide surface and bears with a stop surface against a housing-side movement limiting surface when the valve device is open to the maximum. The guide surface is provided by a guide element, and the sealing seat and the movement limiting surface are provided separately by the guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kleindl, Tamim Latif
  • Patent number: 9551311
    Abstract: A nozzle body for a fluid injection includes a cavity and a bottom wall delimiting the cavity at a fluid outlet end. The bottom wall is perforated by an injection hole having an inlet opening at an inner surface of the bottom wall and an outlet opening at an outer surface of the bottom wall. The outlet opening has an elongated slit shape having a centerline which is a circular arc with respect to the longitudinal axis. The inlet opening is spaced apart from the longitudinal axis by a radial distance. The inner surface has a concave shape extending away from the fluid outlet end from an apex of the inner surface. Further, the inlet opening is spaced apart from the apex by an axial distance that is smaller than said radial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Antonio Agresta, Marco Maragliulo, Marco Mechi, Marco Fiaschi
  • Patent number: 9551312
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for voltage dip stabilization in a motor vehicle are described herein. The apparatus of one embodiment includes a first connection for connecting the apparatus to an energy source, in particular to a vehicle battery and a second connection for connecting the apparatus to a starting apparatus of a motor vehicle. The apparatus also includes a current-limiting module for limiting a starter current, a control unit for driving the current-limiting module, and at least one starting process detector, which is connected to the control unit, for identifying a starting process. The control unit, on the basis of a starting process signal from the starting process detector, prompts the current-limiting module to carry out a starter current-limiting measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Flextronics International Kft.
    Inventor: Thaddaus Sierak
  • Patent number: 9551313
    Abstract: A cooling-water temperature is detected at startup of an engine. When the detected temperature falls below a set water-temperature, a water pump is stopped independently of a normal control on rotational frequency of the water pump depending on engine operational state. Calculated is a total heat amount required for raising the current water-temperature to the set water-temperature, and integrated is an heat amount lost by the cooling water from the engine from the startup. When an integrated value reaches the total heat amount, the water pump is operated for a required time to uniformize temperature distribution of the cooling water. Then, the cooling-water temperature is detected again. If the detected temperature is still below the set water-temperature, the same control is repeated; if the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the set water-temperature, the normal control is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Ishimori
  • Patent number: 9551314
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine ignition coil apparatus, a high-voltage supplying portion has: a protector that is bonded to an ignition coil main body, an electrical conductor, and a resistor that is connected in series between the ignition coil main body and the electrical conductor, and that reduces conductive noise. An electromagnetic wave absorber that shields radiated noise that is generated in the high-voltage supplying portion is mounted to an engine block so as to surround the protector and the resistor. An end surface of the resistor near the ignition coil main body is disposed so as to be aligned with an end surface of the electromagnetic wave absorber near the ignition coil main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tada, Yuusuke Naruse
  • Patent number: 9551315
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting combustible materials in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine using corona discharge plasma from a quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A tapered quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is adapted to mate with the combustion chamber. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is coupled with an energy shaping means, or waveform generator, that develops the appropriate waveform for triggering radio frequency oscillations in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A loop coupling is angularly positioned within the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator to match impedances between the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and the energy shaping means, or waveform generator. Radio frequency oscillations produce a standing wave in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and a corona discharge plasma develops near the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 9551316
    Abstract: A power generator may generate power using buoyancy having a fluid column contained by a tank having a sealable drain and a piston having a substantially hollow interior capable of being filled with a fluid. The piston has a sealable outlet, a vent, an inlet, and a lateral cross-section that is smaller than a lateral cross-section of the tank. A rod is connected to the piston and a power generator is connected to the rod. The piston operates from a first position near the top of the fluid column to a second position near the bottom of the fluid column. The piston moves from the first position to the second position as fluid is added to the inlet. The piston moves from the second position to the first position as the fluid is drained from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LOOK FOR THE POWER, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Saavedra
  • Patent number: 9551317
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade for a wind turbine is a shell structure of a fiber-reinforced composite and comprises a root region and an airfoil region. The root region has a ring-shaped cross section and comprises a plurality of elongated bushings 7 with an inner thread 22 and embedded interspaced in the fiber-reinforced polymer so as to substantially follow the circumference of the root region and allow access from the outside to the inner threads. Each fastening member 7 is provided with a notch 60? in the periphery 11 thereof. A rod-shaped locking element 61 passes through the notch 60? in engagement therewith. The locking element 61 is fixedly and tightly fitting arranged in a through-going circular bore 65 extending through the wall of the root region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LM WP PATENTS HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Martin Dahl
  • Patent number: 9551318
    Abstract: A hybrid, vertical axis helical turbine assembly capable of providing unidirectional rotation under an omni-directional low speed obverse fluid flow (gas or liquid), respectively gas flow is disclosed. The assembly comprises a minimum (but not limited to) of three hybrid (airfoil enhanced helical vane profile) wings, which are substantially spaced from the vertical axis (Z) and circumferentially spaced from one another. Each hybrid wing is fixed to the center hub in a rigid position by two or more arms, which are symmetrically located from each other in conjunction with the hub's horizontal axis (X). The hybrid, vertical axis helical turbine assembly provides high torque at very low wind speed because of the absolute symmetric airfoil enhanced helical vane profile wing, which design maintain adaptive lift to drag ratio over the one rotational revolution time line in coincidence of the upwind direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Kiril Stefanov Gochev
  • Patent number: 9551319
    Abstract: A yawing system (2) for a wind turbine and a method of operating the yawing system (2) are disclosed. The yawing system (2) comprises at least one yaw drive arranged to cause the yawing system (2) to perform yawing movements, a yaw bearing allowing mutual movement between two parts of the yawing system (2) during yawing movements, and a hydraulically driven preload mechanism (1) being adapted to provide an adjustable pre-load force to the yaw bearing. The preload mechanism (1) is automatically operated as a consequence of operating the yawing system (2). Thereby it can be ensured that the preload force is adjusted in accordance with whether yawing movements are being performed, or the position of the nacelle should be maintained. The preload mechanism (1) may be modular, in the sense that two or more preload mechanisms (1) operate independently of each other, thereby providing redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Vermund Rasmusen, Thomas Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 9551320
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing a torsional movement and/or a torsional loading of a tower of a wind turbine is disclosed includes generating a tower torsion signal with a detection system and providing the signal to an asymmetric load control assembly. The tower torsion signal may correspond to an actual torsional movement of the tower or a torsional loading of the tower. The asymmetric load control assembly is configured to mitigate an asymmetric load acting on the wind turbine using the tower torsion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Brandon Shane Gerber
  • Patent number: 9551321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes: measuring a loading condition acting on the wind turbine; determining a first scaler factor based on the measured loading condition; determining a correction parameter for the wind turbine, the correction parameter a function of at least two measured operating conditions and representative of a real-time operational state of the wind turbine; determining a second scaler factor based on the correction parameter; calculating an adjustment set point based on the first scaler factor and the second scaler factor; and, controlling the wind turbine based on the adjustment set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Shane Gerber, Thomas Franklin Perley, Rahul Rastogi
  • Patent number: 9551322
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for optimizing operation of a wind farm are presented. The method includes receiving new values corresponding to at least some wake parameters for wind turbines in the wind farm. The method further includes identifying new sets of interacting wind turbines from the wind turbines based on the new values. Additionally, the method includes developing a farm-level predictive wake model for the new sets of interacting wind turbines based on the new values and historical wake models determined using historical values of the wake parameters corresponding to reference sets of interacting wind turbines in the wind farm. Furthermore, the method includes adjusting one or more control settings for at least the new sets of interacting wind turbines based on the farm-level predictive wake model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Akshay Krishnamurty Ambekar, Krishnarao Dattaram Dhuri, Siddhanth Chandrashekar, Kalpit Vikrambhai Desai, Anup Menon
  • Patent number: 9551323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wind power plant, comprising one or more wind turbine generator(s) connected to an electrical grid, and a power plant controller having an operational mode, controlling electrical parameters, wherein the method comprises, determining a first voltage level of one or more wind turbine generator(s), determining if the first voltage level of one or more wind turbine generator(s) is outside a first predetermined range, in case the first voltage level of one or more wind turbine generator(s) is outside a first predetermined range then, changing the operational mode of the power plant controller between first and second operational modes, the first operational mode controlling a first electrical parameter, the second operational mode controlling a second electrical parameter, the first and second parameters being different. The present invention also relates to a power plant controller and a wind power plant operated according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jorge Martinez Garcia, Mu Wei, Kouroush Nayebi
  • Patent number: 9551324
    Abstract: A pitch bearing assembly for a wind turbine having a stiffener is disclosed. The pitch bearing assembly may include an outer race and an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race. The inner race may define a mounting surface and an inner circumference. The mounting surface may extend generally perpendicular to the inner circumference. In addition, the stiffener may include a body and a mounting flange. The body may extend axially within a volume defined by the inner circumference of the inner race. Further, the mounting flange of the stiffener may be coupled to the mounting surface of the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Adam Daniel Minadeo
  • Patent number: 9551325
    Abstract: A wind turbine flange connection between a hub and a nacelle of the wind turbine, a wind turbine, a wind turbine hub and a wind turbine nacelle is provided. The hub of the wind turbine comprises a first flange and the nacelle of the wind turbine comprises a second flange. The first flange and the second flange are connected to each other by a number of connection means, to transfer forces between the first flange and the second flange. The first flange comprises a plurality of holes and the second flange comprises a plurality of holes corresponding to the holes in the first flange. Shear pins are arranged in the holes in the flanges to transfer rotational forces between the hub and the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henning Ebbesen, Akhilesh Shukla
  • Patent number: 9551326
    Abstract: An apparatus for routing cables in wind turbines has a plurality of bushings (17) for cables distributed on at least one base body (3, 5) that has a preferably round contour. The bushings (17) are provided with a guiding arrangement (27; 38; 39, 41; 43; 48) permitting the cables to move relative to the part of the bushing (17) that surrounds the guiding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: HYDAC ACCESSORIES GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Caspari, Rainer Even, Helmut Hiss, Peter Maryniok, Martin Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9551327
    Abstract: A power generation switch apparatus including multiple switch keys, a power generation apparatus that is driven to perform power generation by an operation force applied to the multiple switch keys, multiple switches being supplied with an electric power generated by the power generation apparatus and performing a switching movement by an operation of the multiple switch keys, and a switch signal transmission circuit being driven by the electric power from the power generation apparatus and outputting multiple switch signals that are different from each other in correspondence with the switching movement of the multiple switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., Honda Access Corp.
    Inventors: Toshio Kaneko, Nobutaka Tsuneyoshi, Hidetaka Umeoka
  • Patent number: 9551328
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a vehicle uses a seal-less piston LPG injunction pump which pumps fluid from a storage tank to an engine. The pump uses the vehicle's pneumatic air system, wherein the pressurized air of this system alternatingly drives an actuator magnetically coupled to a piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E Frey, Richard E Foster, Michael D Walters, Jeffrey Jay Sietsema
  • Patent number: 9551329
    Abstract: Described are a method and system for diluting a sample in a liquid chromatography system. A sample flowing at a first flow rate is combined for a predetermined time with a diluent flowing at a second flow rate to generate a volume of diluted sample. The diluted sample has a dilution ratio determined according to the two flow rates. A portion of the volume is loaded into a sample loop of an injection valve and subsequently injected into a mobile phase flowing to a chromatography column. The method eliminates the need to have a technician available to perform dilutions or to transfer the sample to a remote location for dilution. Advantageously, manufacturing or processing downtime to perform the dilution is not required and the amount of sample flowing to waste is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvain Cormier, Richard W. Andrews, Robert Tacconi, Craig H. Dobbs
  • Patent number: 9551330
    Abstract: A frangible closure coupling is used with or on pipe of a tank that contains a potentially dangerous fluid, such as liquid natural gas. The closure coupling mitigates the uncontrolled release of fluid from the tank in the event of a rupture of a pipe attached to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Drube
  • Patent number: 9551332
    Abstract: An assembly for flushing a dispenser that internally mixes a first composition and a second composition; dispensers including said assemblies are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Lee Burrowes, Neil Charles Dring, Elaine Alice Marie Baxter, Madhuri Jayant Khanolkar, Julien Claude Plos, Alastair Robert Edward MacGregor, Jiten Odhavji Dihora, Adam Gaszton Horvath
  • Patent number: 9551333
    Abstract: A multi-stage vacuum pump may include first and second half-shell components defining a plurality of pumping chambers and for assembly together along respective longitudinal extending faces; first and second end stator components for assembly at respective longitudinal seals for sealing between the first and second half-shell stator components when assembled together at the longitudinally extending faces; and annular seals for sealing between the first and second end stator components and the first and second half-shell stator components when assembled; wherein the longitudinal seals have end portions which abut against the annular seals for sealing therebetween and the first and second half-shell stator components have formations for resisting movement of the end portions away from the annular seals when the end portions are compressed between the first and second half-shell stator components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: Neil Turner, Stephen Dowdeswell, Sivabalan Kailasam, Alan Ernest Kinnaird Holbrook
  • Patent number: 9551334
    Abstract: Provided is a control valve for a variable capacity compressor, the control valve including: a valve body including a crank-chamber port, a discharge port, a suction port, a control channel formed inside the control valve such that the crank-chamber port and the discharge port communicate with each other, and a first bleeding channel formed such that the crank-channel port and the suction port communicate with each other; an operating unit provided in the valve body and including a second bleeding channel communicated from a center area to a side surface of the operating unit; and a driving unit provided in the valve body and connected to the operating unit to enable the operating unit to reciprocally move according to a current applied by an external source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: DOOWON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, DOOWON ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yong Ju Lee, Geon Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9551335
    Abstract: A method for coordinating operation between at least two groups of compressors in a cooling circuit is disclosed. A first group of compressors forms part of a low temperature (LT) part of the cooling circuit and a second group of compressors forms part of a high temperature (MT) part of the cooling circuit. Each of the compressor groups comprises one or more compressors, and each of the compressor groups comprises a controller, the controllers being capable of exchanging signals. In the case that the LT compressor group needs one or more of the LT compressors to start operation, it is investigated whether or not one or more of the MT compressors is/are operating. If this is the case, one or more of the LT compressors is/are allowed to start operation. If it is not the case, the suction pressure in the MT part of the cooling circuit is established, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Jan Prins
  • Patent number: 9551336
    Abstract: In a compressor that changes a discharge capacity by using an actuator, a variable displacement swash plate type compressor capable of realizing reduction in manufacture cost is provided. In the compressor of the present invention, a ring groove is formed in a movable body, and the ring groove is provided with an annular member. The annular member has a joint gap formed by a first to a third cutouts, and the third cutout is an aperture. In this compressor, the annular member moves in the ring groove based on a pressure difference between a control pressure chamber and a swash plate chamber. Thereby, in the compressor, a pressure in the control pressure chamber is regulated by regulating a flow of a refrigerant that flows to the swash plate chamber from the control pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakaima, Shinya Yamamoto, Kengo Sakakibara, Yusuke Yamazaki, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9551337
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pump including a piston, an electromagnetic portion that moves the piston forward, and a spring that moves the piston backward. The piston including a discharge check valve built in the piston. The piston is formed with a hollow portion that opens in an inner peripheral portion of an end surface of the piston, and a spring receiving surface formed on an outer peripheral portion of the end surface to receive the spring. The discharge check valve is fixed through plastic deformation of the piston by inserting the discharge check valve into the hollow portion from an opening of the piston, and partially pressing a portion of the spring receiving surface of the piston on an inner peripheral side after the insertion to recess the spring receiving surface and elevate an inner peripheral surface of the piston surrounding the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., LTD
    Inventors: Takahiro Kokubu, Masaya Nakai, Kota Fukao, Noriomi Fujii
  • Patent number: 9551338
    Abstract: A pump for use in low-profile applications comprises a barrel for holding fluid; and a piston that converts a rotational driving force into a longitudinal driving motion within the barrel. The pump provides space saving advantages by reducing the need for external equipment and mechanisms around the pump for providing actuation or moving the actuating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony Jones, Jonathan Upsdell
  • Patent number: 9551339
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pump configured with an electromagnetic portion that generates an electromagnetic force for pressing the piston, and an urging member that urges the piston in a direction opposite to the electromagnetic force. A strainer member including a disk-shaped portion which has a disk shape and in which a strainer surface is formed, and a side portion that extends from an outer peripheral edge of the disk-shaped portion. A suction check valve being capable of sucking the working fluid via the strainer surface. The piston, the urging member, the suction check valve, and the strainer member are sequentially inserted into the cylinder from a side opposite to the electromagnetic portion, and the cover member is attached so as to press the strainer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Nakai, Kota Fukao, Noriomi Fujii
  • Patent number: 9551340
    Abstract: A displacement pump with a pot-shaped housing, a rotor which is swivel-mounted about a rotation axis inside the housing, and two blades which are guided in a movable manner insider the rotor, wherein the pot-shaped housing includes an inner peripheral wall which has a sealing portion for tightly adjoining the rotor and a chamber portion for tightly adjoining the blade tips, as well as for dividing the internal space of the housing into chambers. The rotor has two blade receptacles for receiving and guiding the blades, wherein each internal radially extending blade tip restricts a pressure chamber in the respective blade receptacle. Both pressure chambers are fluid-connected to one another via a connection element, wherein the total volume of both pressure chambers and the connection element remains at the same level during a rotation of the rotor, at least while the blade tips are attached to the chamber portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Joma-Polytech GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Blank
  • Patent number: 9551341
    Abstract: A scroll type fluid machine, for improving a dimensional accuracy with easy working, includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll arranged so as to oppose to the fixed scroll and executing an orbiting motion, a driving shaft driving the orbiting scroll, an eccentric shaft decentered from the driving shaft and connected to the orbiting scroll, and an eccentric bush connecting the driving shaft and the eccentric shaft to each other, in which the eccentric bush includes a main hole into which the driving shaft is fitted and an eccentric hole into which the eccentric shaft is fitted, and the eccentric hole is decentered with respect to the main hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kanemoto, Atsushi Kanaizumi
  • Patent number: 9551342
    Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a scroll compressor reduces gas pulsations, NVH and improves off-design efficiency. Generally, a scroll compressor with the shunt pulsation trap has a pair of orbiting and stationary scrolls for forming a compression chamber that moves gas pockets from a suction port to a discharge port with internal compression. The shunt pulsation trap is configured to trap and attenuate as pulsations before the discharge port and comprises a pulsation trap chamber adjacent to the compression chamber, therein housed various gas pulsation dampening means or gas pulsation containment means, at least one trap inlet port branching off from the compression chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a trap outlet port communicating with the compressor discharge chamber after the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Xiubao Huang, Sean William Yonkers
  • Patent number: 9551343
    Abstract: A fluid pump assembly is provided. The pump has a pair of units magnetically coupled to each other. The first unit contains a drive motor and a magnetic assembly. The second unit contains a magnetic assembly and a blade of a propeller/impeller for imparting movement to a fluid. As the first unit is activated by the drive motor, a magnetic flux is created which in turn rotates the magnetic assembly in the second unit, driving the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ecotech Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Marks, Patrick Clasen, Justin Lawyer
  • Patent number: 9551344
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, an interface associated with the pump designed to receive input instructions from a user, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller determines a blockage condition based on a power consumption value of the motor, and further includes an auto-restart function that is designed to allow the pump to automatically restart after detection of the blockage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Drives A/S
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Peter Westermann-Rasmussen, Gert Kjaer, Florin Lungeanu
  • Patent number: 9551345
    Abstract: A leading edge of a rotating blade of an impeller is formed in an arc recessed in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the impeller. An angle where an extended line of the recessed arc of the leading edge meets another extended line of a curve of a side edge is set in an acute angle of 30 to 37 degrees in a front view so that a leading tip of the rotating blade may be projected in the rotating direction. An opening angle of a suction-side slant portion of a venturi casing is set in the range of 12 to 17 degrees and an opening angle of a discharge-side slant portion is set in the range of 30 to 35 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 9551346
    Abstract: A fan includes a first motor portion, a first impeller fixed to a first rotating portion of the first motor portion, a second motor portion arranged along a central axis of the first motor portion, a second impeller fixed to a second rotating portion of the second motor portion, a tubular wind channel portion arranged to surround the first and second impellers, and support ribs arranged to join the wind channel portion to the first and second motor portions. The first impeller includes first blades arranged in a circumferential direction about the central axis and the second impeller includes second blades arranged in the circumferential direction, a rotation direction of the second impeller is opposite to a rotation direction of the first impeller. A surface of each first blade which faces the second impeller is concave. A surface of each second blade which faces the first impeller is concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Jumpei Kitamura, Hidenobu Takeshita, Tomotsugu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9551347
    Abstract: Provided are a water pump motor that employs a stator core of an outer winding method that can use a low-cost ferrite magnet by minimizing an air gap between a magnet of a rotor and a stator core, and that heightens a fill factor, to thereby maximize efficiency of the motor, and a water pump using the water pump motor. The water pump motor includes a stator and an inner type rotor, in which the stator includes: a stator core whose inner circumferential portion is annularly interconnected, in which a number of protrusions are radially extended and formed; insulating bobbins that surround the stator core; a coil wound around the outer circumference of each bobbin; and an annular back yoke that surrounds in contact with the outer end of the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: AMOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byoung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9551348
    Abstract: A slim-type fan structure includes a stator (1) and a fan blade (2). The stator includes a circuit board (11) and a plurality of layout circuits (12) disposed to circumference the circuit board (11). The stator (1) includes an axial center (10) at a center portion thereof. The fan blade (2) includes a blade wheel (20), an axial sleeve (21) at a center of the blade wheel (20) and extended axially therefrom, a plurality of blades (22) formed to circumference an outer of the blade wheel (20), and a magnetic unit (23) disposed on the blade wheel (20). Also, the axial sleeve (21) is pivotally attached to the axial center (10). Accordingly, the magnetic unit (23) is formed by a plurality of N and S pole areas (230), (231) arranged alternatively in circular rows and corresponding to the layout circuits (12) along a vertical direction for the slim design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Lung Lin, Shih-Wei Huang, Shui-Fa Tsai
  • Patent number: 9551349
    Abstract: A cooling system for a rotating machine, such as a centrifugal compressor. Specifically, the cooling system may be configured to cool radial and axial magnetic bearings in the rotating machine and the bearing control system that controls said bearings. The cooling system includes canned magnetic radial bearings on each end of the rotor and a canned bearing control system. The canned bearings and canned bearing control system may be filled with a dielectric cooling fluid and in fluid communication with each other via sealed conduits. Accordingly, the radial magnetic bearings and the bearing control system may be entirely immersed in the dielectric cooling fluid to regulate heat generation. An axial magnetic bearing may also be canned and fluidly coupled to the cooling system to immerse the axial magnetic bearing in the dielectric cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Tecza, H. Allan Kidd
  • Patent number: 9551350
    Abstract: A device for uncoupling a bearing carrier in a turbomachine, the bearing carrier including an upstream part and a downstream part including a plurality of upstream orifices respectively facing a plurality of downstream orifices. The uncoupling device includes rupture screws each passing through an upstream orifice and a downstream orifice, and at least a mechanism for double centering of a rupture screw with respect to the upstream orifice and to the downstream orifice respectively. The mechanism for double centering is independent of the upstream and downstream parts of the bearing carrier and of the rupture screw, and is configured to collaborate with the upstream part of the rupture screw such that when the rupture screw breaks, the upstream part carries with it the mechanism for double centering. A turbomachine can include such an uncoupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Eric Nicolas Decerle, Regis Eugene Henri Servant