Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9605559
    Abstract: A system may include a memory storing a turbomachinery degradation model configured to model degradation of a turbine system over time. Further, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the memory, which derives a turbomachinery wash timing based on at least one input signal from the turbine system and the turbomachinery degradation model. The turbomachinery degradation model may derive a desired wash point by estimating a modeled power of the turbine system, a modeled heat rate of the turbine system, or both. Furthermore, the controller may use the desired wash point to determine a time for washing components of the turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Meier Truesdale, David Spencer Ewens, Sidharth Abrol
  • Patent number: 9605560
    Abstract: A retention system for a fan in a gas turbine engine includes a shaft that is rotatable relative to a bearing support structure about an axis. The retention system includes fore and aft bearings that rotatably support the shaft, with the fore and aft bearings being spaced apart from each other in a direction along the axis. A machined spring reacts between the bearing support structure and the fore bearing to provide a desired axial preload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: United Technolgies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Kevin G. VanDuyn
  • Patent number: 9605561
    Abstract: An inlet transition section and an inlet bowl entry can be designed to reduce a number of turbomachine casing designs. Using relationships between flow properties, distances between elements, crossover/supply pipe diameter, ideal cross sectional area, aspect ratio, and inlet bowl entry size, a transition from circular cross section to substantially polygonal cross section can be made while enabling adoption of a single size of substantially polygonal inlet bowl entry for a plurality of turbine sizes and/or crossover/supply pipe sizes with minimal losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sean Allen Smith, Michael Christopher Jones, Erik Eduardo Lopez Partida, Daniel Ross Predmore
  • Patent number: 9605562
    Abstract: An exemplary gearbox assembly includes a shear bracket connectable to a flange of a housing structure, and a support pin extending along a longitudinal axis, the support pin supporting the shear bracket relative to a turbomachine, the shear bracket moveable axially relative to the support pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: United Techologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshminarayan S. Bettagere, Keven Van Duyn, Mark R. Sondeen, Jonathan F. Zimmitti
  • Patent number: 9605563
    Abstract: A method and tooling for assembling a guide vane stage that includes an inner shroud and an outer shroud that are coaxial and interconnected by radial airfoils, the method including holding plates pressed against an outer surface of the inner shroud so that the plates cover gaps formed between openings in the inner shroud and the airfoils at least in part and in a manner that is leaktight, and applying a sealing resin to the inner surface of the inner shroud so that the resin fills the gaps and so that radially inner ends of the airfoils are embedded in the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Romain Rene Marcel Chardonnet, Patrick Gilbert Petit, Alain Martinez
  • Patent number: 9605564
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a steam power plant, particularly a combined cycle power plant, which includes a gas turbine an a steam/water cycle with a heat recovery steam generator, through which the exhaust gases of the gas turbine flow, a water-cooled condenser, a feedwater pump and a steam turbine. A cooling water pump is provided for pumping cooling water through said water-cooled condenser. Evacuating means are connected to the water-cooled condenser for evacuating at least said water-cooled condenser. The method relates to a shut down and start-up of the power plant after the shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Franz Dietrich Mohr, Hamid Olia, Miguel Angel Carrillo Rubio, Juergen Reinhard
  • Patent number: 9605565
    Abstract: An Fe—Ni—Cr alloy is composed essentially of, in terms of weight percent: 1 to 3.5 Al, up to 2 Co, 15 to 19.5 Cr, up to 2 Cu, 23 to 40 Fe, up to 0.3 Hf, up to 4 Mn, 0.15 to 2 Mo, up to 0.15 Si, up to 1.05 Ta, 2.8 to 4.3 Ti, up to 0.5 W, up to 0.06 Zr, 0.02 to 0.15 C, 0.0001 to 0.007 N, balance Ni, wherein, in terms of atomic percent: 6.5?Al+Ti+Zr+Hf+Ta?10, 0.33?Al÷(Al+Ti+Zr+Hf+Ta)?0.065, 4?(Fe+Cr)÷(Al+Ti+Zr+Hf+Ta)?10, the alloy being essentially free of Nb and V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Govindarajan Muralidharan
  • Patent number: 9605566
    Abstract: An adjustment shaft actuator. The adjustment shaft actuator includes an adjustment shaft arranged parallel to a camshaft of a valve train and having a lever unit with a lever arm, a cam unit that has a cam and that is connected to the camshaft in a non-rotatable manner, whereby the lever unit is arranged so as to be axially movable on the adjustment shaft or the cam unit is arranged so as to be axially movable on the camshaft, and an adjustment unit provided in order to effectuate axial movement between the at least one lever unit and the at least one cam unit, by way of which the at least one lever arm can be brought into effective contact with the cam in order to bring about a rotation of the adjustment shaft by rotating the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IAV GMBH INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT AUTO UND VERKEHR
    Inventors: Heiko Neukirchner, Andreas Werler, Uwe Richter
  • Patent number: 9605567
    Abstract: A first target module determines a first target output pressure of an engine oil pump based on a speed of the engine oil pump and an oil temperature. A second target module, based on a runtime period of an engine, sets a second target output pressure of the engine oil pump to one of greater than and equal to the first target output pressure. A third target module, based on an engine load, sets a third target output pressure of the engine oil pump to one of greater than and equal to the first target output pressure. A selection module selects one of the second and third target output pressures, sets a selected target output pressure based on the selected one of the second and third target output pressures, and controls displacement of the engine oil pump based on the selected target output pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Karnjate, David R. Staley, Mike M. McDonald, Gregory J. York
  • Patent number: 9605568
    Abstract: A cylinder lubricant having a BN determined according to the standard ASTM D-2896 greater than or equal to 15 milligrams of potash per gram of lubricant, including: one or more lubricant base oils for marine engines, at least one detergent based on alkali or alkaline-earth metals, overbased with metallic carbonate salts, at least one neutral detergent, one or more oil-soluble alkoxylated fatty amines, having a BN determined according to the standard ASTM D-2896 comprised between 100 and 600 milligrams of potash per gram, where the percentage by mass of alkoxylated fatty amines with respect to the total weight of lubricant is chosen such that the BN provided by these compounds represents a contribution comprised between 2 and 8 milligrams of potash per gram of lubricant, and where the BN provided by the metallic carbonate salts represents a contribution of at the most 65%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Total Marketing Services
    Inventors: Denis Lancon, Valérie Doyen
  • Patent number: 9605569
    Abstract: A closed-loop oil transfer system for a commercial vehicle includes a refill reservoir having a sufficient amount of fresh, unused engine oil to completely replace the existing oil within the vehicle engine, and a waste reservoir dimensioned to accommodate the entire volume of existing engine oil. A bidirectional pump is in fluid communication with both the waste reservoir and refill reservoir via a series of pipes and valves. A control switch allows an operator to easily reverse the direction of the pump to transfer oil from the engine to the waste reservoir, or to transfer the fresh oil from the fill reservoir to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Raymond Lekowicz
  • Patent number: 9605570
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body and an engine unit. The engine unit is installed on the vehicle body. The engine unit includes a crankshaft, an engine body, an oil tank, and an oil path. The crankshaft extends in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction. The engine body includes a crankcase, a cylinder unit, and a head cover. The crankcase supports the crankshaft. The cylinder unit is disposed over the crankcase. The head cover is disposed over the cylinder unit. The oil tank is disposed rearward of the engine body. The oil path communicates with a space inside the head cover and is at least partially integral with the oil tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Harada
  • Patent number: 9605571
    Abstract: In a general-purpose engine including a cylinder block extending obliquely from one side of a crank case, and a cylinder head connected to an end surface of the cylinder block via a gasket, a unidirectional valve for allowing a flow of a fluid from a crank chamber to a valve operating chamber and blocking a reverse flow of the fluid is installed in an upper oil passage. In a case where lubricant oil reserved in the crank chamber flows into the valve operating chamber via a lower oil passage when the engine inclines such that the inclined cylinder block further slants, positive pressures transmitted from the crank chamber to the valve operating chamber push the oil, which once flows into the valve operating chamber, back to the crank chamber via the lower oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9605572
    Abstract: A muffler for exhaust gases of a combustion engine includes walls forming a chamber through which the exhaust gases pass, a first inlet in the walls of the chamber configured to receive the exhaust gases from an exhaust duct of the engine, a first outlet in the walls of the chamber through which the exhaust gases exit the chamber, and a conduit having a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein a substantial length of the conduit is positioned within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jason J. Raasch, Gary J. Gracyalny
  • Patent number: 9605573
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for an internal combustion engine having improved mixing of an injected fluid comprises an exhaust gas conduit configured to receive exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and to deliver the exhaust gas to the exhaust treatment system. A fluid injector in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit configured delivers a fluid into the exhaust gas and an evaporation volume disposed in the exhaust conduit downstream of the fluid injector is configured to slow the bulk velocity of the fluid and exhaust gas mixture to thereby increase the residence time of the exhaust gas mixture therein. An exhaust treatment device is configured to receive the fluid and exhaust gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Melanie K. Corrigan, Ognyan N. Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 9605574
    Abstract: A clogging detection device includes a urea water sensor which detects temperature in a urea water tank, a pressure sensor which detects pressure in a urea water feed line, an exhaust gas temperature sensor disposed in an exhaust pipe upstream of a selective catalytic reduction device, and a determination unit. When a key switch is turned on, the determination unit performs a startup control to drive a supply pump and increase the pressure in a pipe segment extending to a dosing value. If a detection value of the exhaust gas temperature sensor is no greater than a predetermined temperature, and a detection value of the urea water sensor is no smaller than a freezing temperature, then the determination unit performs emptying control for returning the urea water from the pipe segment to the urea water tank to detect clogging of the pipe segment from the detection value of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Shigeru Nihongi, Masanobu Minezawa
  • Patent number: 9605575
    Abstract: A reducing agent supplying device includes a reforming device, an obtaining section and a controller. The reforming device mixes fuel, which is a hydrocarbon compound, with air, and reforms the fuel by partially oxidizing the fuel with oxygen in the air. A reformed fuel is supplied into the exhaust passage as the reducing agent. The obtaining section obtains a physical quantity as a property index. The physical quantity has a correlation with property of the fuel that is supplied to the reforming device. The controller controls the reforming device according to the property index obtained by the obtaining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto Yahata, Masumi Kinugawa, Yuuki Tarusawa, Keiji Noda, Mao Hosoda
  • Patent number: 9605576
    Abstract: A mounting mat for a pollution control device is disclosed. The device comprises at least a first sheet and a second sheet and at least one holding means for holding the at least first and second sheets together. The holding means are adapted to (i) hold the at least first and second sheets together while allowing movement of the at least first and second sheets parallel to each other in the region where the holding means is positioned; and/or (ii) to break upon wrapping around a body thereby allowing movement of the at least first and second sheets parallel to each other in the region where the holding means is positioned. A pollution control device containing such a mat and method of making a pollution control device containing such a mat are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ulrich Kunze, Stefan R. Reimann, Harald H. Krieg
  • Patent number: 9605577
    Abstract: An exhaust system comprises a conical shell having an indentation traversing the exhaust passage in a coiled path so as to impart mixing on an engine exhaust gas flowing through an inner passage defined by the conical shell. The indentation may be formed into the conical shell via a stamping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sudhakar Navathe, John Roberts, Joel John Beltramo
  • Patent number: 9605578
    Abstract: A PM sensing device including a front sensing piece receiving an exhaust flow, a back sensing piece posited downstream from the front sensing piece, and a sensor controller electrically connected to the sensing pieces for measuring their impedances and calculate a PM sensing value accordingly. The PM sensing device has two operating modes: an impedance measurement mode, in which a PM sensing value is calculated, and a regeneration mode, in which accumulated PM is removed. Since PM is only deposited in the front sensing piece, by comparing impedances of the front and the back sensing pieces, PM sensing values can be obtained insensitive to particle size, exhaust gas temperature, and exhaust gas species. When the PM sensor is positioned in a DPF system, sensor regeneration times in a predetermined period of time after a DPF regeneration completes can be used for triggering a new DPF regeneration and detecting DPF failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Baohua Qi
  • Patent number: 9605579
    Abstract: A system includes a controller that has a processor configured to receive a first signal from a first oxygen sensor indicative of a first oxygen measurement, wherein the first oxygen sensor is disposed upstream of a catalytic converter system; and to receive a second signal from a second oxygen sensor indicative of a second oxygen measurement, wherein the second oxygen sensor is disposed downstream of the catalytic converter system; and to execute a catalyst estimator system, wherein the catalyst estimator system is configured to derive an oxygen storage estimate based on the first signal, the second signal, and a catalytic converter model. The processor is configured to derive a system oxygen storage setpoint for the catalytic converter system based on the catalytic converter model and the oxygen storage estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prashant Srinivasan, Maruthi Narasinga Rao Devarakonda, Jassin Marcel Fritz, Daniel George Norton, Sharath Sridhar Aramanekoppa, Medy Satria, William Collins Vining, Dipankar Deb
  • Patent number: 9605580
    Abstract: An exhaust system is provided for an internal combustion engine having at least a first and a second cylinder, wherein the first cylinder is assigned a first exhaust gas pipe and the second cylinder is assigned a second exhaust gas pipe. The first exhaust gas pipe is assigned a first muffler, and the second exhaust gas pipe is assigned a second muffler. A first damping pipe branches off from the first exhaust gas pipe upstream of a first shut-off element. The damping pipe firstly opens into a first reflection chamber and is subsequently led through the first muffler and opens into the second exhaust gas manifold downstream of a second shut-off element. A second damping pipe branches off from the second exhaust gas pipe upstream of a second shut-off element. The second damping pipe firstly opens into a second reflection chamber and is subsequently led through the second muffler and opens into the first exhaust gas pipe downstream of the first shut-off element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Drees, Christian Eichmueller
  • Patent number: 9605581
    Abstract: A passive exhaust valve assembly includes an exhaust conduit or pipe section with a valve plate or vane member that can pivot within the interior section or volume of the exhaust conduit to regulate the flow of exhaust gases through the exhaust conduit. A flexible bumper element, such as a metal mesh pad, may be positioned on the interior surface of the exhaust conduit, such that an end portion of the valve plate may contact the mesh pad in the closed position. The bumper element may be disposed in a recessed pocket or depression and may be biased inward, such as with a spring, for the end portion of the valve plate to contact the bumper element as it moves toward the closed position, and thereby gradually reduce the closure speed of the valve plate to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Middleville Tool & Die Co.
    Inventors: Robert Leroy Middleton, Jr., Justin Tyler Middleton, Robert Leroy Middleton, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9605582
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe mounting unit for a vehicle is provided. The exhaust pipe mounting unit includes a main body that has an operation aperture formed at the center thereof and a connection aperture that is formed at a first side in a length direction of the main body to couple a connection load of a bracket mounted in a lower portion of a vehicle body. A mounting aperture is formed at a second side in a length direction of the main body to connect a hanger rod disposed in an exhaust pipe. A chamber is formed in a lower portion of the interior of the main body to be connected to an internal circumferential surface of the mounting aperture and a lubricant is filled therein. Further a piston within the chamber selectively supplies a lubricant filled in the chamber to an internal circumferential surface of the mounting aperture, upon translation of the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: SangHo Lee
  • Patent number: 9605583
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fan. An ECU estimates the time for an engine to reach a substantially decreased engine load relative to a current engine load. The ECU determines whether the time to reach the substantially decreased engine load is within a threshold. And the ECU controls a fan operating characteristic based on whether the time is within the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Dick J. Goering, Jason L. Jirovsky, Alan D. Sheidler
  • Patent number: 9605584
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine having a thermostat provided to selectively allow coolant flow through the engine, and a coolant temperature determination device that provides a coolant temperature value. The system further includes a controller structured to functionally execute operations to diagnose the thermostat. The controller determines whether the engine is providing a high output operation. When the engine is providing a high output operation, the controller determines the thermostat is passed in response to the coolant temperature value exceeding a first threshold temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah Nethercutt
  • Patent number: 9605585
    Abstract: A motor vehicle internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber delimited by at least one wall of the internal combustion engine, and at least one injector that is associated with the combustion chamber and that is at least partially accommodated in a receiving opening delimited by a first wall area of the wall extending at least essentially parallel to the axial direction of the injector The injector includes at least one injection opening that opens into the combustion chamber via the receiving opening, in the direction of the combustion chamber the first wall area being directly adjoined by a further wall area of the wall that extends at an angle to the axial direction and which delimits an at least essentially conical area of the receiving opening which expands toward the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Martin Bezner, Juergen Fischer, Helmut Gildein, Arnold Kaden, Dirk Sundheim
  • Patent number: 9605586
    Abstract: An intake pipe for an internal combustion engine, comprising an outer housing of the intake pipe, wherein a feed line for charge air opens into an inlet section of the housing, a heat exchanger that is integrated in the intake pipe and cooled by a coolant and that comprises a plurality of exchanger tubes, in particular flat tubes, and an engine flange for connecting the intake tube to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, wherein charge air flows through the exchanger tubes and at least a section of the outer housing is designed as a water jacket surrounding the exchanger tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Saumweber, Viorel Braic, Mark Schienemann
  • Patent number: 9605587
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing auxiliary heat to a charge air cooler to reduce condensate formation. A coolant valve may control the delivery of heated engine coolant to the inlet side of the charge air cooler. The coolant valve may be adjusted based on condensate formation in the charge air cooler and a temperature at the charge air cooler outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Chris Paul Glugla, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Patent number: 9605588
    Abstract: A supercharger (15) is provided with a bypass pathway (17). A backflow preventer (20) is provided to the air intake pathway (8) between an airflow meter (10) and the bypass pathway (17). The backflow preventer (20) has: a casing (41) formed by locally expanding the cross-sectional area of the air intake pathway; and an inner tube (42) substantially constructing a duct for the mainstream of air intake. The inner tube (42) is supported by a flange portion (50) and the downstream end (42a) opens within the casing (41). During backflow when the bypass pathway (17) opens, a portion of the intake air enters into an exit-side space section (55), and the flow is prevented by the flange portion (50). Consequently, reverse flow is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ookawa, Kiyoshi Ikegaya
  • Patent number: 9605589
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a barometric cell may include coupling the barometric cell to a control device via an actuating rod. The actuating rod may be movably mounted on a charging device in any desired position. The method may include applying a freely selectable pressure to the barometric cell so as to bring the actuating rod into contact with a stop, adjusting the barometric cell until a sensor registers a predefined value, and fixing the barometric cell on the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Schaeflein, Andreas Gail, Christian Rothe, Stefan Landerer, Anatolij Martens, Jochen Laubender, Stefan Bedoe, Christian Peschke, Jens Kreth, Alina Krause
  • Patent number: 9605590
    Abstract: Provided is a crosshead engine that includes: a cylinder; a piston; a piston rod; a crosshead; a connecting rod; a crankshaft; and a variable mechanism varies positions of top and bottom dead centers of the piston by changing a relative position between the piston rod and the crosshead in a stroke direction of the piston. The variable mechanism includes: a hydraulic pressure chamber which is provided in the crosshead and into which an end of the piston rod is inserted; and a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism which supplies hydraulic oil to the hydraulic pressure chamber or discharges the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pressure chamber and which adjusts an entering position at which the end of the piston rod is inserted into the hydraulic pressure chamber in the stroke direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Yoshiyuki Umemoto, Machiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9605591
    Abstract: The present invention provides an arbitrage control system for two or more available power sources (106, 108) that enables the automatic or manual control of one or more multi-source systems (202) to take advantage of price differentials across commodities, locations and/or time. The present invention selects a power source for a device or delivery point (110) from two or more available power sources (106, 108) by analyzing market and operational data (406). A power source (106 or 108) for the device or delivery point (110) is then selected from the two or more available power sources (106, 108) based on a set of financial parameters (408). If the device or delivery point (110) is not already connected to the selected power source, one or more signals are sent (418) to switch the device or delivery point (110) to the selected power source. The arbitrage controller (102) includes a user interface (300), market interface (302), multi-source interface (304), database (306) and processor (308).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Energy Transfer Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kelcy L. Warren, Mike Warren
  • Patent number: 9605592
    Abstract: A bearing lubrication tube for an APU is mounted on a bearing to permit expansion and contraction of the tube along its length while preventing rotational movement of the tube. The bearing lubrication tube is held by a bracket attached to a flange outside the engine. The bracket includes a double hex ring with the outer hex ring engaging the bracket and an inner hex ring engaging the tube to prevent rotation of the tube. A cover on the bracket maintains the double hex ring in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon F. Jewess
  • Patent number: 9605593
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine may include a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor disposed between the compressor and the turbine. The combustor generally may have an inner casing. The exemplary gas turbine may further include a pre-swirl nozzle configured to receive a cooling stream. The cooling stream may be supplied from a cooled cooling air stream. The pre-swirl nozzle may further be configured to direct at least a portion of the cooling stream to the turbine. The pre-swirl nozzle may be flexibly mounted to the inner casing of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North America Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Ress, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9605594
    Abstract: A fuel injection device for an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine, the device including a pilot circuit feeding an injector, a multipoint circuit feeding injection orifices formed in a front face of an annular chamber, and an annular ring mounted in the annular chamber and including fuel-passing orifices opening out into the injection orifices, each fuel-passing orifice formed in the annular ring including a zone of small section that is extended at least downstream or upstream by an orifice portion of increasing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Thierry Cortes, Laurent Bernard Cameriano
  • Patent number: 9605595
    Abstract: A method for eliminating rotational stall in a compressor of a turbine engine, includes automatically detecting surge in the turbine engine; automatically shutting-down the turbine engine; in the event surge is detected, automatically restoring a surge margin; and automatically re-igniting the turbine machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Cédrik Djelassi
  • Patent number: 9605596
    Abstract: A seal system for a gas turbine engine includes an annular seal carrier and an annular compliant seal mounted around the annular seal carrier, the compliant seal includes a multiple of legs in cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Lefevre, John J. Korzendorfer, Peter Balawajder, Paul W. Palmer, Paul J. Colucci, Mahamoud Coulibaly
  • Patent number: 9605597
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor adjacent the compressor, a turbine adjacent the combustor, a shaft, a motor, a variable frequency drive, a stored energy source and a ride thru unit. The motor is coupled to the shaft. The variable frequency drive is electrically connected to the motor and to an AC power source. The ride thru unit electrically connects to the variable frequency drive, the AC power source and the stored energy source. The ride thru unit includes at least one DC to DC voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Rachel Bruno, Daniel Fingleton, Scott Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 9605598
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to controlling a distribution of fuel to a plurality of nozzles associated with at least one aircraft engine by: determining a state of operation associated with the at least one aircraft engine, causing a valve coupled to a fuel supply and each of the nozzles to open when it is determined that the state of operation indicates a high power state relative to at least one threshold, and causing the valve to close when it is determined that the state of operation indicates a low power state relative to the at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Hoke, Anthony Van
  • Patent number: 9605599
    Abstract: A magnet holder (10) for use in an analogous or digital throttle position sensor for sensing the angle of a butterfly valve in a fuel supply unit of an internal combustion engine, said magnet holder (10) including a throttle lever member (11) adapted to be fixed to a shaft of the butterfly valve and carrying at least one magnet (17). A recess (12) for the magnet (17), or for each magnets if more than one magnet is used, is provided in the throttle lever member (11), the magnet (17) is located in said recess (12), or the magnets are located in said recesses if more than one magnet is used, and throttle lever member material (18) located around an entrance to the recess (12) or entrances to the recesses is staked over the magnet (17) or magnets, respectively, to cover each magnet (17) sufficiently to retain it in its associated recess (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Lindström
  • Patent number: 9605600
    Abstract: A control device and a method for shutting off and/or activating a cylinder of an internal combustion engine that has a plurality of cylinders is implemented in a substantially torque-neutral manner and substantially without increase in fuel consumption. The technique may be performed without requiring ignition retardation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9605601
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an engine with skip fire are provided. In one example, a method comprises during a skip fire mode or during a skip fire mode transition, port injecting a first fuel quantity to a cylinder of an engine, the first fuel quantity based on a first, predicted air charge amount for the cylinder and lean of a desired air-fuel ratio, and direct injecting a second fuel quantity to the cylinder, the second fuel quantity based on the first fuel quantity and a second, calculated air charge amount for the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Brad Alan Boyer, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 9605602
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas or dual fuel engine having a plurality of cylinders, includes monitoring a characteristic of each of the plurality of cylinders during operation of the gas or dual fuel engine. The method also includes detecting a pre-ignition condition associated with one or more cylinders of the plurality of cylinders based on the monitored characteristic. The method further includes reducing fuel supply to the one or more cylinders having the pre-ignition condition. The fuel supply to remaining cylinders of the plurality of cylinders is increased, to maintain a constant power output of the gas or dual fuel engine. The method further includes adjusting an amount of air supplied to each of the plurality of cylinders based on the increased amount of fuel supplied to the remaining cylinders, to maintain an air-to-fuel ratio within a desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eike Sixel, Adam Stubbs, Aradhita Subirkumar Chakrabarty, Daniel Wester, Rodney Stazicker, Michael Andrew Snopko, Arvind Sivasubramanian
  • Patent number: 9605603
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an active cam profile from a plurality of cam profiles is disclosed. The systems and methods may be used to determine how to operate an engine torque actuator or provide an indication of cam profile switching degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 9605604
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for controlling a turbocharger of an engine via a wastegate are described. In one example, the wastegate is adjusted according to a difference between the boost pressure and the atmospheric pressure. In this manner, the interdependency between controlling the boost pressure and using the boost pressure to actuate the wastegate in a boost-based wastegate configuration may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Amey Y. Karnik, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 9605605
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control apparatus. To start an engine by a motor-generator under the state that a vehicle is stopped, the vehicle control apparatus synchronizes a rotation of the engine with a rotation of the motor-generator at a synchronous rotational speed lower than a target rotational speed to start the engine, and increases a rotational speed of the engine by the motor-generator from the synchronous rotational to the target rotational speed, and starts the engine at the target rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shingo Eto, Yousuke Michikoshi
  • Patent number: 9605606
    Abstract: A method/system for optimizing vehicle operations for a predicted route and/or a route set. The method/system may record location data and time data for a route. Two or more routes can be linked to form a route set by analyzing the location data and time data of the routes using a linking threshold. The linking threshold may be based on a relationship between locations and/or times of different routes. The vehicle may predict that a particular route segment or route will likely be driven. An operation of a unit or a device of the vehicle over the predicted route and/or route set may be adjusted based on information stored regarding the predicted route and/or route set in order to enhance the energy efficiency of the vehicle. The links may be categorized as having different types in order to apply a different control strategy to different types of links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad E. Dufford, Joshua D. Payne, Geoffrey D. Gaither
  • Patent number: 9605607
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a filling (rl) of an internal combustion engine (2) including the camshaft phase adjustment in the case of a predefined setpoint filling (rlsol), including the following steps: carrying out the filling control based on an indicated pressure difference for obtaining a control variable (?Fuereg) for setting an air mass supply to the internal combustion engine (2); and ascertaining the indicated pressure difference (?pSR) as a difference between a predicted intake manifold pressure (psrpred) and an actual intake manifold pressure (pSR), the predicted intake manifold pressure (psrpred) corresponding to an intake manifold pressure which is necessary for reaching the setpoint filling (rlsol) at an aspiration curve which is predicted for a predefined time constant (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Isabelle Elsner, Sven Merkle, Matthias Pfau, Andreas Bethmann
  • Patent number: 9605608
    Abstract: In the control device, a relationship of a throttle-upstream pressure with respect to an exhaust-gas amount is used in a state where a supercharge pressure becomes the lowest by a WG-instruction value with respect to a WGV-control component 220 for driving a WGV 33a provided at a bypass passage 33 bypassing a turbocharger 32, and a relationship of a throttle-upstream pressure with respect to an aperture of a throttle valve 23, a rotational speed of an engine, and an intake-manifold pressure is used, and any of the throttle-upstream pressures, whichever is higher, being calculated in accordance with each of the relationship, is defined as a throttle-upstream-estimation value, whereby the throttle-upstream pressure is estimated by a cheap means with high accuracy so as to control the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Michihisa Yokono, Hideki Hagari