Patents Issued in October 24, 2017
  • Patent number: 9797306
    Abstract: The portable generator is a portable electricity provisioning system that is adapted for use in generating electricity. The portable electricity provisioning system is mounted on a wheeled structure that allows the portable generator to be readily transported to locations where electricity is otherwise not available or is not adequate for the intended use. The portable generator is configured to provide electricity at 120 Vac, 12 Vdc and 5 Vdc and further comprises adequate energy reserves and connections to provide 625 amps at 12 Vdc for use in starting vehicles in maintenance situations. The portable generator comprises an inverter, a jump starting system, a plurality of ports, and a dolly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Jeff Stapleton, John Dunlap
  • Patent number: 9797307
    Abstract: An actuator of a variable compression ratio mechanism includes: a control link; an arm link; a control shaft; a housing including a receiving portion in which a connection portion between the second end portion of the control link and the arm link is received, and a support hole formed within the housing, and rotatably supporting the control shaft; and a speed reduction device, the control shaft including a fixing portion inserted and fixed within the receiving portion in a fixing hole formed in the arm link at a predetermined axial position, and a first journal portion which is formed at a tip end portion of the control shaft, which has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the fixing portion, and which is supported by a first bearing hole formed in the support hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichiro Onigata, Yoshihiko Yamada, Kishiro Nagai
  • Patent number: 9797308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover assembly for covering of a cylinder head with a lid, a frame and at least one air-oil separator, as well as the use of such a cover assembly as an enclosure for at least one cylinder head of a combustion engine of a vehicle or a combustion engine for stationary use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Erdmann, Francesco Zitarosa
  • Patent number: 9797309
    Abstract: A device powered by a method of heating a gas by directing X-rays at a mass of hafnium 178 to induce gamma rays. The gamma rays are directed at a heat exchanging apparatus, resulting in a stream of heated gas. This process powers a Hafnium gas turbine engine capable of providing shaft power or thrust to mechanical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: David J. Podrog
  • Patent number: 9797310
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor having an inter-stage gap between adjacent rows of rotor blades and stator vanes. A combustor is connected to the compressor, and a turbine is connected to the combustor. An intercooler is operatively connected to the compressor, and includes a first plurality of heat pipes that extend into the inter-stage gap. The first plurality of heat pipes are operatively connected to a first manifold, and the heat pipes and the first manifold are configured to transfer heat from the compressed airflow from the compressor to heat exchangers. A cooling system is operatively connected to the turbine, and includes a second plurality of heat pipes located in the turbine nozzles. The second plurality of heat pipes are operatively connected to a second manifold, and the heat pipes and the second manifold are configured to transfer heat from the turbine nozzles to the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Joseph Paul Rizzo, Alston Ilford Scipio, Timothy Tahteh Yang, Thomas Edward Wickert
  • Patent number: 9797311
    Abstract: A thermal system for a gas turbine engine includes a bypass flow duct and a compressor flow duct which meets with the bypass flow duct at an intersection. A valve is located within the intersection and is movable between a first position and a second position. First position is operable to selectively communicate fan bypass flow from the bypass flow duct and block the compressor flow duct. The second position is operable to selectively block the bypass flow duct and communicate bleed flow through the compressor flow duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Allan R. Penda, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 9797312
    Abstract: A supporting structure for a gas turbine engine includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, load carrying radial elements connecting the inner and outer rings. The radial elements have an airfoil shape with a leading edge directed towards the inlet side of the supporting structure, a trailing edge directed towards the outlet side of the supporting structure, and two opposite sides connecting the leading edge and the trailing edge. At least one of the radial elements includes a gas passage arrangement configured to lead a separate bleeding gas flow from the supporting structure. The gas passage arrangement includes a radially extending gas channel arranged inside the radial element and at least one opening in communication with the gas channel. The at least one opening is arranged at one of the two opposite sides of the radial element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
    Inventors: Goran Johnsson, Rickard Samuelsson
  • Patent number: 9797313
    Abstract: An internal fuel manifold assembly includes a fuel manifold ring having at least one fuel conveying passage in fluid flow communication with at least one inlet passage defined through an inlet member. The inlet member is connected to the manifold ring proximate its first end and connected proximate its second end to at least one transfer tube. The inlet member includes a drainage passage for collecting possible leaked fuel from an annulus, defined between the inlet member and a heat shield surrounding the inlet member and spaced apart therefrom. Any leaked fuel is discharged out of the inlet member at an exit of the fuel passage on an end surface of the inlet member proximate the second end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Oleg Morenko
  • Patent number: 9797314
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine compressor. The method includes: determining an operating point of the compressor, and modulating mass flow of environmental control system input air to maintain the operating point of the gas turbine engine compressor within predetermined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Malcolm Hillel, Thierry Moes, Rory Douglas Stieger
  • Patent number: 9797315
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; and setting a target operating condition for each GT to match the adjusted operating condition after the adjusting of the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr., Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, David Spencer Ewens, Rex Allen Morgan
  • Patent number: 9797316
    Abstract: An operating method and device for a permanent brake system of a motor vehicle. The brake system includes a primary and a secondary permanent brake. Each brake generates respective adjustable braking torque components. The first primary brake has a response than the second primary brake. A third braking torque component is adjusted by the secondary brake. The permanent-brake braking request is applied by the first primary brake until the braking request exceeds a first threshold. The first threshold corresponds to a value less than or equal to a maximum braking torque generated by the first primary brake. After exceeding the first threshold, a component of the request is applied by the secondary permanent brake. A second threshold value corresponds to a value less than or equal to a braking torque that can be generated when the first primary permanent brake device interacts with the secondary permanent brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: RĂ¼diger Palm
  • Patent number: 9797317
    Abstract: A method for controlling fuel switching of a fuel switching system in a vehicle via a controller configured to receive one or more measured signals in order to issue a fuel shortage warning or in order to control fuel switching is disclosed. The system includes an LPG rail pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in an LPG rail, and a bombe pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the bombe. The method includes a first LPG rail pressure determining step of determining whether the pressure in the LPG rail is lower than a second reference value or not and a first bombe pressure determining step of determining whether the pressure in the bombe is lower than a third reference value or not. If at least one of the first pressure determining steps is positive, the method further includes switching the fuel to gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoo Jin Seo
  • Patent number: 9797318
    Abstract: A tangible computer readable medium of a vehicle includes object code referencing a plurality of variables, the object code for: identifying sets of possible target values based on air and exhaust setpoints for an engine; generating predicted parameters based on a model of the engine and the sets of possible target values, respectively; selecting one of the sets of possible target values based on the predicted parameters; setting target values based on the selected one of the sets of possible target values, respectively; and controlling opening of a throttle valve based on a first one of the target values. The tangible computer readable medium also includes calibration data stored separately and that includes predetermined values for the variables referenced in the object code, respectively. At least one processor executes the object code using the predetermined values to perform the identifying, the generating, the selecting, the setting, and the controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sharon L. Storch, James A. Shore, Kevin C. Wong, Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 9797319
    Abstract: A handheld work apparatus has a combustion engine (4) for driving a tool. The combustion engine (4) has an ignition device, a device for metering fuel and a control device (31). The control device (31) engages when an engagement speed (nE1, nE2) is reached, in order to limit the speed (n) of the combustion engine (4). In order to allow the speed (n) to be set in an easy manner at full throttle, the work apparatus has a device for setting the engagement speed (nE2) by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manuel Dangelmaier, Tim Gegg
  • Patent number: 9797320
    Abstract: An object is to provide an engine system including an intake bypass device whereby it is possible to expand the operation range of a compressor without causing the output of a turbine to become insufficient. An engine system includes an intake bypass device including a bypass channel connecting a downstream side of a compressor of a turbocharger in an intake channel and an upstream side of a turbine of the turbocharger in an exhaust channel, a bypass valve disposed in the bypass channel and configured to control a flow of compressed intake air in the bypass channel, and a heating unit for heating the compressed intake air flowing through the bypass channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Yokoyama, Seiichi Ibaraki, Isao Tomita, Katsuyuki Osako
  • Patent number: 9797321
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block that defines a cylinder and a cylinder head positioned relative to the cylinder block. A reciprocating piston is arranged inside the cylinder for compressing an air and fuel mixture at a geometric compression ratio of at least 10:1. A crankshaft is arranged in the cylinder block and rotated by the piston. An intake valve is operatively connected to the cylinder head and controls delivery of air to the cylinder for combustion therein. A mechanism provides late intake valve closing via constant peak lift of the intake valve over at least 5 degrees of crankshaft rotation. A multi-stage boosting system, having a turbocharger, a supercharger, and a continuously variable transmission for varying the supercharger's rotating speed, is regulated by a controller to selectively pressurize air being received from the ambient for delivery to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Sun, Yongsheng He, Zhimin Liu, Chengwu Duan
  • Patent number: 9797322
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the efficiency of canister purge completion. Based on engine operating conditions, a canister is purged to a compressor inlet or a throttle outlet. During purging conditions, as canister loads change, a purge flow through the canister is varied so that a fixed preselected portion of total engine fueling is delivered as fuel vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 9797323
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a PCV flow to an engine based on the output of an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. During DFSO conditions, a reference voltage of the sensor is modulated initially with an intake throttle open and then with the intake throttle closed. PCV flow leaking past the piston valves in an aging engine, as well as an ambient humidity estimate, are inferred based on the outputs of the sensor during the modulating with the intake throttle open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 9797324
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine, with at least one cylinder (Z1-Z4) having a combustion chamber (26), fuel is injected into the cylinder and a logic value (LV_FCUT) is set, in particular for stopping the injection of fuel into the cylinder, The method furthermore has the following steps: depending on a course of the highly time-resolved measurement signal of a rotational speed (N_FAST) of the internal combustion engine, a local maximum value (N_FAST_MAX) of the rotational speed is determined, a rotational speed difference (N_FAST_DIF) between the local maximum value (N_FAST_MAX) and a current measured value (N_FAST_MES) of the rotational speed is determined, and, depending on the determined rotational speed difference (N_FAST_DIF), the logic value (LV_FCUT) is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Franz Dietl
  • Patent number: 9797325
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control apparatus includes a turbocharger, a bypass passage, a wastegate valve, a catalyst device and a controller. The controller sets the wastegate valve to a closed state in a case where a warm-up execution condition is established, and performs A/F oscillation for increasing or decreasing the fuel injection amount so that lean combustion and rich combustion are alternately performed in a case where the temperature in the exhaust passage upstream of the turbocharger is beyond a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shingo Korenaga
  • Patent number: 9797326
    Abstract: Method for optimizing the current A/F settings when accelerating the engine over at least one defined speed interval, the method comprising comparing at least two acceleration times of different A/F ratio that each encompasses at least one defined speed interval. Adjusting the A/F ratio based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Stefan Wixe, Martin Axelsson, Björn Lundblad
  • Patent number: 9797327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting spark and/or fuel injection to a cylinder based on late combustion, partial burn, or misfire in a neighboring cylinder. In one example, a method may include deactivating spark and fuel injection to a second cylinder receiving exhaust residuals from combustion in a first cylinder, the first cylinder experiencing a misfire or late combustion event. Mitigating actions are performed in the second cylinder before the occurrence of a pre-ignition event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Patent number: 9797328
    Abstract: An Equipment Health Monitoring method for an engine and an Equipment Health Monitoring system for performing the method are provided. At least some of the following units are used: an Engine Simulation Unit, a Possibilistic Drift Computation Unit, a Fuzzy String Generator Unit, an Experience-based String Matching Unit and an Information Fusion and Prognosis Unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Alvaro Martinez, Luciano Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9797329
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for diagnosing degradation of a vacuum actuator in an engine system. An example method comprises indicating degradation of the vacuum actuator based on an estimate of flow of air into and out of a vacuum reservoir. The estimate is further based on flow of air generated via each of an aspirator in the intake system, an actuation of the vacuum actuator, and leakage during the actuation of the vacuum actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Gilbert Fournelle
  • Patent number: 9797330
    Abstract: At every ignition cycle, when a duration change amount ?T30[i] is equal to or less than a reference value ?T30ref2, a misfire counter Cmf is kept unchanged. When the duration change amount ?T30[i] is greater than the reference value ?T30ref2, on the other hand, the misfire counter Cmf is incremented by value 1. A misfire ratio Rmf is set to provide a smaller value when an amount increasing determination flag F[i] is equal to value 1 than a value when the amount increasing determination flag F[i] is equal to value 0. In the case where an ignition counter Ci reaches or exceeds a reference value Ciref, it is determined whether a conversion catalyst is overheated by comparison between the misfire counter Cmf and an accumulated misfire ratio Rmfsum that is an accumulated value of the misfire ratio Rmf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9797331
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is configured to: calculate measured data of MFB using an output signal of an in-cylinder pressure sensor after performing a first low-pass filtering; execute engine control based on the measured value of a specified fraction combustion point that is calculated based on the measured data of MFB; and prohibit the engine control when the first correlation index value is less than a first determination value and a first correlation degree is lower than a first degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9797332
    Abstract: A control device for an engine includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to: control an actual fuel pressure supplied to a fuel injector to a target fuel pressure; calculate a required energization time required for fuel injection equivalent in amount to a required injection quantity; set a energization time for each injection based on the required energization time; execute a switching processing for switching a manner in which the energization time is set when the required energization time is shorter than a predetermined time; set the required energization time as a set value of the energization time through the switching processing when a deviation between the actual fuel pressure and the target fuel pressure is equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and set the predetermined time as the set value of the energization time when the deviation is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 9797333
    Abstract: There is provided a configuration in which a cylinder which is in an inlet stroke when an internal combustion engine is in a stop (automatic stop) state is determined and stored, and when starting the engine upon detection of a start request, the fuel injection of an initial cycle to the cylinder, which has been determined as having been stopped in the inlet stroke when the engine was in the stop state before starting, is split into a plurality if injections at least including an injection before engine rotation, to thereby perform injections. As a result, startability is improved while suppressing pre-ignition at the time of starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitatsu Nakamura, Tomoyuki Murakami, Atsushi Murai
  • Patent number: 9797334
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments disclosed herein indicate a correlation exists between a specific gravity of combustible fuel and the occurrence of low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) within engines. Thus techniques are disclosed herein for online measurement of the specific gravity of fuel within an engine, and allow for preventative measures to be executed to minimize or otherwise mitigate the incidence of LSPI when the calculated specific gravity of the fuel exceeds a predefined threshold. In an embodiment, the preventative measures may include, for example, altering or otherwise adjusting an engine map such that an injection timing scheme injects less poor-quality fuel into engine cylinders, thus advantageously preventing the engine from operating at full-power when conditions for LSPI are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Garrett L. Anderson, Thomas E. Briggs, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9797335
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a cylinder block provided with cylinder bores, the cylinder block is held by a clamp device, stress is generated in the cylinder block by a holding force of the clamp device to duplicate deformations of the cylinder bores after assembling hearing caps thereon, boring is carried out with the cylinder bores deformed in a condition where the stress is generated, and a thermally sprayed coating is formed, after the boring, on each inner surfaces of the cylinder bores deformed in the condition where the stress is generated. According to the method for manufacturing a cylinder block, superior cylindricity, after assembling the bearing caps, of the cylinder bores on each of which the thermally sprayed coating is formed can be brought, and workability degradation of finishing works (honing) for each inner surface of the cylinder bores (thermally sprayed coatings) can be restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hayashi, Yoshiaki Miyamoto, Daisuke Terada, Eiji Shiotani, Yoshitsugu Noshi, Kazuaki Taniguchi, Takafumi Watanabe, Kiyokazu Sugiyama, Hirotaka Miwa
  • Patent number: 9797336
    Abstract: An intake device of an engine having cylinders is provided. The intake device includes a cylinder head formed with two intake ports per cylinder, and a forced induction system. One of the two intake ports is designed to have a smaller passage cross-sectional area at a throat portion thereof than that of the other intake port, and to cause a strength of a tumble flow strength of intake air formed within a combustion chamber to be stronger when a flow of the intake air into the combustion chamber is assumed to be caused only from the one of the two intake ports, than only from the other intake port. A tumble ratio of the intake air flow within the combustion chamber is a predetermined value or greater when the intake air is forcibly induced and flows into the combustion chamber from the two intake ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakahara, Yoshitaka Wada, Yohei Suzuki, Yuki Nabetani
  • Patent number: 9797337
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine. The piston comprises a piston head and an articulated piston skirt. The piston head includes a crown and pin bosses depending from the crown. The piston skirt includes opposed thrust walls, opposed sidewalls, and a transverse bridge extending diametrically across the piston skirt, between the opposed sidewalls. A circumferential cooling gallery is encompassed within an outer circumferential ring belt section of the crown and is in fluid communication with a central cooling passage that extends between the crown and the piston skirt. The central cooling passage extends diametrically across the piston skirt, beneath at least a portion of the ring belt section and beneath at least a portion of an inner combustion bowl section of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Giang The Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9797338
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder, a rocker chamber, an air filter, a crankcase and a rocker chamber cover, wherein the rocker chamber cover is disposed above the cylinder. The engine further includes a cover plate, wherein the cover plate is located at the top of the rocker chamber cover, and the rocker chamber cover and the cover plate are spliced to form a separation cavity and a connection channel. According to the engine provided by the invention, the top structure of the rocker chamber is re-designed and the top space of the rocker chamber is sufficiently used so as to achieve the objects of optimizing a lubricating system and reducing emission, as well as reducing the manufacturing cost and difficulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SUZHOU CLEVA PRECISION MACHINERY & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhao Kong, Ning Guo, Gan Chen, Keya Feng
  • Patent number: 9797339
    Abstract: A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Glyn Evans
  • Patent number: 9797340
    Abstract: A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: New Power Concepts LLC
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Prashant Bhat, Michael G. Norris, Stanley B. Smith, III, Christopher M. Werner
  • Patent number: 9797341
    Abstract: An external combustion engine including a burner element, a heater head, a piston cylinder containing a piston, a cooler and a crankcase. The crankcase includes a crankshaft, a piston rod connected to the piston, a drive mechanism for converting the linear motion of the piston rod to rotary motion of the crankshaft and a linear cross-head bearing that is connected rigidly to the piston rod at one end and to the drive mechanism at the other end. Also the external combustion engine includes a piston clearance seal and a piston rod seal unit that has floating rod seals. The piston includes a inner dome to reduce axial heat transfer via radiation and convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: New Power Concepts LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Prashant Bhat, Mithun R. Bhat, Dean Kamen
  • Patent number: 9797342
    Abstract: A port injection system for gaseous fuels may include an injector body defining a hydraulic fluid inlet chamber, a hydraulic fluid exit passageway, a hydraulic fluid actuation passageway, a check valve inlet passageway fluidly connected with the hydraulic fluid actuation passageway, a valve chamber, and a gaseous fuel inlet chamber. An electrical solenoid actuator may be mounted to the injector body, with the electrical solenoid actuator including a movable armature, and a poppet valve connected to the movable armature and disposed within the valve chamber. The poppet valve may be movable between a pressurized hydraulic fluid flow blocking position and a pressurized hydraulic fluid flow passing position. A check valve may be disposed within the check valve inlet passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Dennis Henderson Gibson, Lifeng Wang, Alan Ray Stockner
  • Patent number: 9797343
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining degradation of an EGR cooler based on differential pressure across the EGR cooler during EGR flow. In one example, the differential pressure across the EGR cooler may be based on differential pressure across an EGR valve and a pressure downstream from the EGR valve with and without EGR flow. The pressure downstream from the EGR valve may be a compressor inlet pressure or an intake manifold pressure in a low pressure EGR system or high pressure EGR system, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Freeman Carter Gates
  • Patent number: 9797344
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a valve control module, a purge fraction module, and a diagnostic module. The valve control module opens a purge valve in an evaporative emissions system to allow purge vapor to flow to an intake system of an engine. The purge fraction module determines first and second fractions of purge vapor delivered to the engine relative to a total amount of air and purge vapor delivered to the engine based on first and second inputs, respectively. The first input is from a hydrocarbon sensor disposed in the evaporative emissions system of the engine. The second input is from an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust system of the engine. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in at least one of the evaporative emissions system and the hydrocarbon sensor based on the first and second purge fractions when the purge valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Scott Jeffrey
  • Patent number: 9797345
    Abstract: A method for monitoring for a rupture in a storage element of a fuel tank system having a fuel tank includes: detecting, by a mass flow sensor, thermal conductivity of an unmoved air mass in a first line of the fuel tank system; and identifying a rupture in the storage element if the detecting by the mass flow sensor detects a change in the thermal conductivity of the unmoved air mass in the first line when a second valve is in a closed state and/or when an air pump is at a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Weigl, Philippe Grass
  • Patent number: 9797346
    Abstract: A fuel evaporative emission processing system suitable for a hybrid vehicle includes a shut-off valve, a first purge control valve and a second purge control valve. The shut-off valve is selectively opens and closes a fuel vapor passage between a fuel tank and a canister. The first purge control valve selectively opens and closes a purge passage between the canister and the intake passage of an internal combustion engine. The second purge control valve selectively opens and closes a tank opening passage between the canister and the fuel tank. When releasing a pressure for refueling, the second purge control valve with a small diameter opens prior to opening of the shut-off valve so that blow-by of gas associated with opening of the shutoff valve is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Takakura
  • Patent number: 9797347
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling fuel vapors are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises during a purge of a fuel vapor canister, adjusting a heater of the fuel vapor canister based on a rate of a purge flow exiting the fuel vapor canister and a concentration of hydrocarbons released from the fuel vapor canister. In this way, a fuel vapor canister purge efficiency may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Peters, Mark Daniel Bunge, Michael G. Heim, Russell Randall Pearce
  • Patent number: 9797348
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing individual components of an evaporative emissions system are presented. In one example, fuel vapor flow may be a basis for determining whether or not selected emission system components may be degraded. Further, fuel tank pressure may be another basis for determining component whether or not selected emissions system components may be degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9797349
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the level of hydrogen produced in an exhaust gas recirculation pathway within an internal combustion engine. A hydrocarbon water gas shift reformer is positioned in series with a water gas shift reformer within the exhaust gas recirculation pathway to improve the yield of hydrogen and to improve the relative efficiency of both catalytic procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Cary A. Henry
  • Patent number: 9797350
    Abstract: A fuel system includes an internal combustion engine, a fuel device and a heat exchanger. The internal combustion engine receives an air/fuel mixture and produces heated exhaust air. The fuel device receives fresh air and provides the air/fuel mixture that is received by the internal combustion engine. The heat exchanger receives the heated exhaust air from the internal combustion engine and fresh cool air, transfers heat energy from the heated exhaust air to the fresh cool air, and provides the fresh air to the fuel device. The provided fresh air is the fresh cool air that has received the heat energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Frank Raymond Jasper
  • Patent number: 9797351
    Abstract: A ducted combustion system is disclosed. The ducted combustion system may include a combustion chamber and a fuel injector in fluid connection with the combustion chamber and including at least one orifice opening from an injector tip of the fuel injector, the at least one orifice injecting fuel into the combustion chamber as at least one fuel jet. The system may further include at least one duct disposed within the combustion chamber such that the at least one fuel jet, at least partially, enters the at least one duct upon being injected into the combustion chamber. The system may further include a duct cooling system configured to cool a mixture of fuel and air of the at least one fuel jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth Svensson, Chad Koci, Christopher Gehrke
  • Patent number: 9797352
    Abstract: A compression limiting fastener assembly includes a plastic intake manifold having an attachment flange and a molded and tuned compliance ring formed on the attachment side of the flange, a plastic cam cover having a threaded attachment insert, a compression limiting bolt fastener for attaching the intake manifold to the cam cover, and a spring stem compression limiter that, when fully threaded into its attachment position, prevents over-compression and possible damage to the plastic components while providing 100% compression. The compliance ring of the intake manifold is concentric with a fastener bore formed through the intake manifold attachment flange. The spring stem compression limiter includes a tubular body having an upper end and a lower end. A spring stem flange is attached to the upper end of the tubular body while a depth limiting flange is attached to the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Nola
  • Patent number: 9797353
    Abstract: A thermal fuel delivery system includes an insertion assembly and a fuel device. The insertion assembly includes a housing defining a cavity for housing the fuel device. The housing is disposed above and coupled to a pair of frame members via a plurality of connecting members. The frame members extend laterally away from the housing. The insertion assembly further includes an intake manifold coupled to the housing via a tube. A plurality of runner tubes extend laterally away from the intake manifold and pass through the frame members at an inner portion of the frame members and terminate at an outer portion of the frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Frank Raymond Jasper
  • Patent number: 9797354
    Abstract: To provide a fuel line joint capable of improving resistance to an external force in a joint configured to store a liquid fuel. A fuel line joint is equipped with an integrally formed main body portion that has a storage region configured to store a liquid fuel in a lower part thereof and has an opening portion above the storage region of the liquid fuel; a lid that is formed separately from the main body portion, is attached to the main body portion so as to close the opening portion of the main body portion, and is not connected to members other than the main body portion; and a plurality of mounting portions that is formed integrally with the main body portion and mounted to each of a plurality of pipes forming a fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Asai
  • Patent number: 9797355
    Abstract: A connecting element connecting a fuel injection valve to a fuel-conducting component includes: a main body having a receptacle space into which a fuel connector of the fuel injection valve is introduced; and a fastening element. At least one opening is provided in a wall of the main body surrounding the receptacle space. The fastening element for fastening the fuel connector on the main body is brought into the receptacle space at least partly through the at least one opening. At least one elastic bearing element is provided, and the fastening element brought at least partly through the opening into the receptacle space is supported on the wall of the main body via the at least one elastic bearing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Reinhardt, Volker Scheef, Michael Mayer, Andreas Rehwald, Jan Herrmann, Philipp Rogler, Andreas Glaser, Hans-Georg Horst, Martin Riemer, Michael Knorpp, Michael Fischer