Patents Issued in November 14, 2017
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Patent number: 9816365Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising placing in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation a pad fluid and forming a fracture in the subterranean formation. Next, a first slurry fluid may be placed into the fracture in the subterranean formation. The first slurry fluid may comprise a reducible material and a first particulate material. Next, a second slurry fluid and a spacer fluid may be placed into the fracture in the subterranean formation in an alternating sequence. The second slurry fluid may comprise a second particulate material. Then, the fracture is allowed to close and the fluids are allowed to break. Finally, the reducible materials degrade, to form a particulate-laden proppant pack (PLPP).Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Jason E. Bryant
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Patent number: 9816366Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for optimizing the placement of wells in a reservoir. Embodiments include, for example, determining for a reservoir a productivity index for each coordinate of a reservoir using reservoir metrics associated with the reservoir, generating a grid pattern of the reservoir using the productivity index with time values extracted for each coordinate, determining a total dynamic productivity index for each coordinate, and determining placement of one or more wells responsive to the total dynamic productivity index and minimum spacing between the one or more wells. Embodiments further include, for example, generating a production analysis report for the reservoir that includes an assessment of well placement and generating a wells placement map using one or more total dynamic productivity index indicators.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Texas Tech University SystemInventors: Ghazi D. AlQahtani, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Ismael Regis de Farias, Jr.
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Patent number: 9816367Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, a system, and a method are provided for deliquification of a production well. The apparatus can be a production tube that receives produced fluid from a subterranean reservoir and provides a pathway for transmission of the produced fluid to a surface location. The production tube includes a nozzle disposed therewithin and an opening positioned proximate to the nozzle through which a foaming agent is introduced into the production tube. The nozzle has a first end that defines an inlet, a second end distal to the first end that defines an outlet, and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end such that the produced fluid received by the inlet is delivered to the outlet. The passageway defines a region of decreased cross-sectional area that agitates the produced fluid passing through the nozzle thereby increasing mixing of the foaming agent.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Jose Luis Arellano, Emee Ermel
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Patent number: 9816368Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a borehole into an earth formation includes: a drill bit configured to be rotated to drill into the formation; a drill tubular coupled to the drill bit and configured to rotate the drill bit; a steering device coupled to the drill string and configured to impart a force on the drill string to control a direction of drilling; and a controller configured to communicate a control signal to the steering device. The control signal includes information for directing actuation of the steering device for steering the drill bit in an intended drilling direction. The controller is further configured to direct the steering device to provide a compensating force on the drill string that prevents or reduces an azimuthal deviation from the intended drilling direction due to drill bit walking.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLCInventors: Donald Keith Trichel, Andreas Peter, Oliver Hoehn, Steffen Schulze
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Patent number: 9816369Abstract: A wellbore assembly is provided that can include a first motor housing assembly member and a second motor housing assembly member that can bend relative to the first motor housing assembly at a bend location. The assembly can also include a strain gauge positioned on a first side of the bend location to determine an amount of bend of the second motor housing assembly member relative to the first motor housing assembly member by determining a strain. Based on the strain, the amount of bend or bend direction of the second motor housing assembly member relative to the first motor housing assembly member can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Gustav Edward Lange, Kennedy John Kirkhope
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Patent number: 9816370Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a sensor controller configured to apply predetermined criteria to determine when a parameter value sampled by a sensor module meets the predetermined criteria, and in response to making such a determination, adjust a commanded data rate including an update time period. In an illustrative example, the predetermined criteria may be independently defined for each sensor in a network. In examples with a network of sensors, the sensor controller may dictate sensor module operation at differentiated data rates. In an illustrative example, a sensor controller may communicate with a series of pressure level sensor modules connected to a drilling apparatus in a mud logging application. Upon detection of a pressure level change that exceeds a critical condition as determined through comparison with the predetermined criteria, the sensor controller may increase or decrease a data rate of the respective sensor module, for example.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Sudheer Beligere, Gangi Reddy Rajula, Veeresh Shivaprakash Yagati, Sivaprakash Eswaran, Murali Ravipati
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Patent number: 9816371Abstract: A control system for generating and utilizing at least one or more addressed datagrams that communicate information to and from devices along piping assemblies comprising; one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and one or more controllers and/or transponders wherein the transmitters transmit information via one or more addressed datagrams encoded within a fluid medium to one or more receivers among the piping assemblies, is described. Transmitters or transponders convert datagrams into signals that are transmitted within the fluid medium and the receivers receive signals from the transmitters and also convert signals from the fluid medium which is converted back into datagrams. The controllers receive and decode the datagrams so that the controllers selectively communicate and perform logical operations on piping assembly devices according to directions received from the addressed datagrams.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Advanced Oilfield Innovations (AOI), Inc.Inventors: Daniel Maurice Lerner, Andre Orban
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Patent number: 9816372Abstract: The disclosure discloses an oil well logging surface system, which consists of a depth system, downhole power supplies, a front-end computer assembly, a control panel assembly, an expansion card module, a system power supply, a cooling system and an Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) system. The well logging surface system is connected with downhole instruments through a well logging cable, has functions of depth data acquisition, downhole instrument power supply, cable mode control, signal processing, downhole instrument data acquisition, data transmission and the like, may display data acquired by an internal bus on own dedicated display, and may further upload the data to upper computer software for an upper computer to process through a communication line.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: ARENA PETRO LTD.Inventors: Jun Wu, Ming Yang, Junzhang Wu
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Patent number: 9816373Abstract: An electro-acoustic system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a string of casing within a wellbore. The nodes are placed within the annular region surrounding the joints of casing within the well-bore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between transceivers residing within the communications nodes and a topside communications node at the wellhead. More specifically, the transceivers provide for node-to-node communication up a wellbore at high data transmission rates for data indicative of a parameter within an annular region behind the string of casing. A method of evaluating a parameter within an annular region along a cased-hole wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along the casing string which send signals to a receiver at the surface. The signals are then analyzed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: David A. Howell, Timothy I. Morrow, Mark M. Disko, Max Deffenbaugh
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Patent number: 9816374Abstract: An example telemetry signal detection apparatus may include a optical splitter, a light source optically coupled to the optical splitter, and a light detector optically coupled to the optical splitter. The apparatus further may include a reference loop optically coupled to the optical splitter and a sensor loop optically coupled to the reference loop and the optical splitter. The reference loop may be contained within a reference loop enclosure. The sensor loop and reference loop may comprise a zero-area Sagnac loop with folded optical fiber or dual fiber cable configurations.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Zbigniew Stanislaw Sobolewski, Douglas Mark Knight, John Laureto Maida, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 9816375Abstract: Circuits including a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) that include an input transistor to receive a waveform control signal at a gate terminal are provided. The circuits include a control transistor configured to receive a gate signal from a source terminal in the input transistor when the waveform control signal is high and to discharge the gate signal into a current sink coupled to ground when the waveform control signal is low at a controlled rate based on a resistor-capacitor (RC) network and a changing gain of the control transistor. The circuits include a buffer and a dump transistor to connect the critical resistor for optimal damping to the input of LNA when the dump transistor is ‘on’ and disconnect when the dump transistor if off. Systems and methods for use in an NMR sensor including a circuit as above are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventor: Lakshmi Sri Jyothi Chimakurthy
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Patent number: 9816376Abstract: An analytical method that establishes a thermodynamic equilibrium or known dynamic relationship between the concentrations of gases, natural gas liquids and oils or pressures of gasses in an isolated zone of a shale, or group of distinct shale gas intervals, with the concentrations of fluids or pressures of gasses in a wellbore penetrating the shale interval or intervals. An analytical method for identifying the chemical composition of gas, natural gas liquids and oils and determining their origin in an isolated zone of a shale, or group of distinct shale gas intervals with the identification of chemical composition of gas, natural gas liquids and oils in a wellbore penetrating the shale interval or intervals. A surface measurement apparatus capable of performing the measurement ex-situ. A downhole measurement apparatus capable of reliably performing the measurement in-situ and a downhole straddle-packer assembly capable of isolating part of, or an entire shale interval.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Gas Sensing Technology Corp.Inventors: John Pope, Quentin Morgan
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Patent number: 9816377Abstract: An axial piston device configuration that includes a drive shaft, a piston block, pistons, a constant velocity joint assembly, a drive plate coupled to the constant velocity joint assembly, a swash plate, shoes, and piston rods may be provided. The piston block has an interior that is coupled to the drive shaft via a first torque transmitting mechanical interface. The constant velocity joint assembly includes multiple components, at least one of which is coupled to the drive shaft via a second torque transmitting mechanical interface.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Michael Joseph Voight, Yilmaz Bayazit
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Patent number: 9816378Abstract: A compressor/motor has fluid processing stages, each having ports through which a fluid is accepted in one volume and expelled in another volume. A system of valves selectively couples the ports to define, for a first process of a cycle, a unidirectional fluid path through the fluid processing stages that expels the fluid from path-adjacent fluid processing stages in incrementally smaller volumes. In a second process of the cycle, a reverse unidirectional fluid path is defined by the valves where the fluid expelled from path-adjacent fluid processing stages is in incrementally larger volumes. A mechanical interface coupled to the fluid processing stages conveys a force to the fluid processing stages to compel the fluid through the fluid path in the first process or conveys the force from the fluid processing stages that is compelled by the fluid traversing the reverse fluid path.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Harris CorporationInventor: Keith C. Sneddon
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Patent number: 9816379Abstract: The present invention relates to a balancing body (1) for fastening to a ring (4, 5) of a continuous blade arrangement of a compressor or turbine stage of a gas turbine, wherein the balancing body has a first stop (11) for the form-fitting attachment of the balancing body in one peripheral direction (R) to a first axial shoulder (6; 7) of the ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AGInventors: Manfred Feldmann, Andreas Holzel, Amelia Frodyma
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Patent number: 9816380Abstract: Low-pressure turbine rotors for a thermoelectric power station include an interconnection of slender blades. The rotor includes blades bearing caps being roughly in the shape of a chevron.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbHInventors: Michel Floch, Arnaud Buguin, Julien Lemaire
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Patent number: 9816381Abstract: The present application relates to a blade of low pressure rectifier axial turbomachine. The blade can also be a rotor blade and/or a turbine blade. The blade includes a composite material with a matrix and a reinforcement that includes a mesh forming a three dimensional structure with a plurality of rods that describe a three-dimensional mesh based on polyhedrons. The three-dimensional structure extends over the majority of the thickness of the blade between the pressure side surface and the suction side surface and/or the majority of the length of the blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The rods of the reinforcement are bonded to each other and are distributed throughout the volume between the pressure side surface and the suction side surface of the blade. The rods form a three-dimensional mesh occupying the entire blade. The present application also relates to an iterative method for manufacturing a blade by additional layer manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SAInventor: Jean-François Cortequisse
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Patent number: 9816382Abstract: A turbomachine blade having a metal coupling root, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member cantilevered from the coupling root; the airfoil-shaped oblong member being divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered from a coupling head towards the coupling root and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a main plate-like body which is shaped and positioned between the two connecting fins to form an extension of the fins, and is butt-welded to the same connecting fins to form one piece with the fins.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Pietro Rosa T.B.M. S.r.l.Inventor: Andrea Maurizio
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Patent number: 9816383Abstract: A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventor: Orville J. Birkestrand
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Patent number: 9816384Abstract: A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventor: Orville J. Birkestrand
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Patent number: 9816385Abstract: A control device of the pitch of blades of a rotor of a propeller is provided. The control device includes: a radial shaft; a pivot connected to the blade, the rotation of the radial shaft driving the rotation of the pivot for the modification of the pitch of the blade; an insert fixed rigidly to the pivot so as to block their relative displacement, the radial shaft being configured to drive in rotation the insert; at least one peg passing through the insert and the pivot for transmission of the rotation of the insert to the pivot; and a heat insulation element arranged between the insert and the pivot, whereof the thermal conductivity is less than the thermal conductivity of the pivot and of the radial shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Adrien Jacques Philippe Fabre, Sebastien Emile Philippe Tajan, Christophe Paul Jacquemard, Sarah Chartier
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Patent number: 9816386Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas turbine casing arrangement having a gas turbine casing element (10), a guide-vane ring with an outer ring (20), and a coated ring (30), which lies radially opposite a rotor grid (40) adjacent to the guide-vane ring, whereby an intermediate ring (50) by a downstream front face (51) engages behind an upstream stop (61; 61?) fixed in place on the casing element, and by an upstream front face (52) of a radial flange (53) of the intermediate ring engages behind a downstream stop (22) fixed in place on the outer ring, in order to secure the guide-vane ring axially at the gas turbine casing element in the direction of through-flow.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AGInventors: Manfred Feldmann, Franz-Josef Ertl
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Patent number: 9816387Abstract: An airfoil fairing shell for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil section between an outer vane endwall and an inner vane endwall, at least one of the outer vane endwall and the inner vane endwall including a radial attachment face, a suction side tangential attachment face, a pressure side tangential attachment face, and an axial attachment face.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Jesse M Carr, Bryan P Dube
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Patent number: 9816388Abstract: A seal in a gas turbine engine includes a shim base and a honeycomb structure having a number of cavities are formed as a single unitary structure using additive manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kevin Richard Kirtley, Ibrahim Sezer, Benjamin P. Lacy
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Patent number: 9816389Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a turbine rotor blade is provided for a turbine section of an engine. The turbine rotor blade includes a platform and an airfoil extending from the platform into a mainstream gas path of the turbine section. The airfoil includes a first side wall; a second side wall joined to the first side wall at a leading edge and a trailing edge; a tip cap extending between the first side wall and the second side wall; a first parapet wall extending from the first side wall; a first parapet wall cavity formed at least partially within the first parapet wall; and a first cooling hole extending between the first parapet wall cavity and a first surface of the first parapet wall such that cooling air flows through the first parapet wall cavity, through the first cooling hole, and out of the first parapet wall.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Malak Fouad Malak, Mark C. Morris, David Waldman
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Patent number: 9816390Abstract: An electric actuator for control of an engine includes an electric motor coupled to a drive shaft that extends to align a gear interface of the electric actuator with a variable geometry adjustment interface of the engine. A position feedback shaft extends coaxially with respect to the drive shaft. The position feedback shaft is coupled to an output shaft of the gear interface at a gear interface end of the position feedback shaft. A rotational position sensor is coupled to a motor end of the position feedback shaft proximate the electric motor. The drive shaft and the position feedback shaft are sized to position an output ring gear of the output shaft in contact with the variable geometry adjustment interface within a casing of the engine and to further position the electric motor and the rotational position sensor external to the casing of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Keith Bloxham, Derick S. Balsiger
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Patent number: 9816391Abstract: The present application thus provides a cleaning system for use with a compressor of a turbine engine. The cleaning system may include a wash nozzle positioned about the compressor and a spheroid injection port to inject a number of spheroids therein.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Timothy Joseph Rehg
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Patent number: 9816392Abstract: A method for fabricating thermal barrier coatings. The thermal barrier coatings are produced with a fine grain size by reverse co-precipitation of fine powders. The powders are then sprayed by a solution plasma spray that partially melts the fine powders while producing a fine grain size with dense vertical cracking. The coatings comprise at least one of 45%-65% Yb2O3 the balance zirconia (zirconium oxide), Yb/Y/Hf/Ta the balance zirconia (zirconium oxide) and 2.3-7.8% La, 1.4-5.1% Y and the balance zirconia (zirconium oxide) and are characterized by a thermal conductivity that is about 25-50% lower than that of thermal barrier coatings comprising YSZ. The thermal barrier coatings also are characterized by at least one of excellent erosion resistance, fracture toughness and abrasion resistance.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Padmaja Parakala, Surinder Singh Pabla, Joshua Lee Margolies, James Anthony Ruud, Krishnamurthy Anand, Jon Conrad Schaeffer
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Patent number: 9816393Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a turbine with a gas turbine blade and a rotor heat shield for separating a space region through which hot working medium flows from a space region inside a rotor arrangement of the turbine. The rotor heat shield includes a platform which forms an axial heat shield section and which is arranged substantially parallel to the surface of a rotor and a radial heat shield section at the upstream end of the axial heat shield section, which is extending in a direction away from the surface of the axial heat shield section towards the hot gas. Further the turbine comprises a blade rear cavity which is delimited by the downstream end of the platform and/or the downstream end of the blade foot, the radial heat shield section. The disclosure further refers to a gas turbine blade and a rotor heat shield designed for such a turbine.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITEDInventors: Carlos Simon-Delgado, Christoph Didion, Stefan Biedermann, Beat Von Arx, Thomas Zierer
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Patent number: 9816394Abstract: A panel for use in a gas turbine engine exhaust case is disclosed. The panel has an airfoil section and a flow diverting structure adjacent a leading edge, wherein the flow diverting structure directs fluid flow into an area of the airfoil that lacks sufficient internal pressure for cooling fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frank J. Cunha, Timothy S. Snyder
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Patent number: 9816395Abstract: A turbine housing includes a scroll passage, a medium passage, an exhaust introduction passage, and a partition wall. The scroll passage extends spirally and is located outside a turbine wheel. The scroll passage includes a spiral beginning and a spiral end. The exhaust introduction passage is connected to the spiral beginning and introduces the exhaust into the scroll passage. The partition wall is located between the spiral end and the exhaust introduction passage and extends in the circumferential direction of the turbine wheel. The medium passage includes a start section that includes an adjacent portion. The adjacent portion is adjacent to the partition wall in the direction of the rotation axis of the turbine wheel. The start section includes an inlet that introduces the cooling medium into the medium passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takanori Fukuda
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Patent number: 9816396Abstract: A system and method is provided for an integrated aircraft turbofan engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame that minimizes assembly interfaces and reduces overall aircraft engine weight. The system and method provide an integrated turbofan engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame system that decouples the fairing/aerodynamic duties from the struts/weight bearing duties thereby enabling efficient distribution of mechanical load.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Justin C. Mickelsen, Laurence David Noble Liston, Mark Knowles, Shawn Alstad
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Patent number: 9816397Abstract: A turbine bypass housing is provided. The housing includes a body having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining an interior, an outlet flange is configured at the outlet end and has a rim diameter, and an inlet flange is configured at the inlet end and has a flange thickness. An interior wall of the body has a first fillet radius proximal to the inlet flange and at least one boss is configured on an exterior of the body, wherein the boss defines a boss aperture therein, the boss aperture extending from an exterior of the body to the interior of the body. The flange thickness is 0.200±0.005 inches (0.508±0.013 cm).Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl A. Colson, Craig M. Beers
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Patent number: 9816398Abstract: A turbine shroud block removal apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first base plate including a first armature. The first base plate may be releasably coupled to a first shroud block. The apparatus also may also include a second base plate including a second armature. The second base plate may be releasably coupled to a second shroud block positioned adjacent the first shroud block. Additionally, the apparatus may include an actuator coupled to the first armature of the first base plate and the second armature of the second base plate. The actuator may change a distance between the first shroud block and the second shroud block.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lukasz Sajdak, John William Herbold, Philippe Monfort-Moros, Charles Vaughn Spanos, Michal Wojciech Wnuk
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Patent number: 9816399Abstract: A method and system using at least two different working fluids to be supplied to an expander to cause it to do mechanical work. The expander is started by providing a compressed gaseous working fluid at a sufficient pressure to the expander. At the same time the compressed gaseous working fluid is provided to the expander, a second working fluid that is liquid at ambient temperatures is provided to a heater to be heated. The second working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted to pressurized gas Once the pressure is increased to a sufficient level, the second working fluid is injected into the expander to generate power, and the supply of the first working fluid may be stopped. After expansion in the expander, the working fluids are is exhausted from the expander, and the second working fluid may be condensed for separation from the first working fluid. Control circuitry controls the admission of the first and second working fluids responsive to monitoring the load on the expander.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Averill Partners LLCInventor: Michael Jeffrey Brookman
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Patent number: 9816400Abstract: A unique method and ternary cycle process that captures heat from low temperature sources currently considered not commercially usable to produce electricity and desalinate water. In one cycle a novel flash tower operating at vacuum pressure causes a fraction of low temperature water to flash into steam. The steam passes to an indirect heat exchanger with a circulating refrigerating agent such as CO2, which condenses the steam on its outside surfaces to produce desalinated water product. The steam heat of condensation vaporizes the refrigerating agent, which is part of a binary refrigerate cycle that uniquely conditions it for turbine expansion to produce electricity in a connected electric generator.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventor: Calvin Eugene Phelps, Sr.
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Patent number: 9816401Abstract: A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant. The system includes a modified Goswami cycle energy conversion system including a first group of heat exchangers configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream and a second group of heat exchangers configured to heat a second portion of the working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
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Patent number: 9816402Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to heat recovery systems that employ two or more organic Rankine cycle (ORC) units disposed in series. According to certain embodiments, each ORC unit includes an evaporator that heats an organic working fluid, a turbine generator set that expands the working fluid to generate electricity, a condenser that cools the working fluid, and a pump that returns the working fluid to the evaporator. The heating fluid is directed through each evaporator to heat the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit, and the cooling fluid is directed through each condenser to cool the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit. The heating fluid and the cooling fluid flow through the ORC units in series in the same or opposite directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2012Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Justin P. Kauffman, Andrew M. Welch, Gregory R. Dawson, Eric N. Minor
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Patent number: 9816403Abstract: A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a thermodynamic cycle includes placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger arranged in a working fluid circuit containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) and having a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The method also includes regulating an amount of working fluid within the working fluid circuit via a mass management system having a working fluid vessel, pumping the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and expanding the working fluid to generate mechanical energy. The method further includes directing the working fluid away from the expander through the working fluid circuit, controlling a flow of the working fluid in a supercritical state from the high pressure side to the working fluid vessel, and controlling a flow of the working fluid from the working fluid vessel to the low pressure side.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLCInventors: Timothy James Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Brian F. Hume
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Patent number: 9816404Abstract: In a hydraulic compensation element for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, with a circular cylindrical housing (32) that has, in its bore (35), an axially movable pressure piston (36) with a reservoir (37) for oil as a hydraulic medium, a sleeve-like deflection element for oil is arranged in the interior of the pressure piston (36). The oil can be introduced through a radial feed hole of the housing (32), a rising channel (42), and an end-side opening (46) of the deflection element into the reservoir (37) of the pressure piston (36). The deflection element is constructed as a circular cylindrical inner sleeve (40) that has, on one axial end, an oversize dimension relative to the inner diameter of the pressure piston (36), and the inner sleeve (40) is fixed in the pressure piston (36) with a positive and non-positive fit connection.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer
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Patent number: 9816405Abstract: A rocker base is disclosed for use with a valve actuation system. The rocker base may have a housing with a top, a bottom, side walls connecting the top to the bottom, and end walls disposed between the side walls. The rocker base may also have rocker arm supports located inside the housing and integrally formed with the side walls, and an injector spring pad extending from one of the end walls toward a center of the housing. The rocker base may further have a rib connecting the injector spring pad to one of the rocker arm supports.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Indrajith Kizhakkethara, Prabhu Nagaraj, Mallikarjuna Masala, John S. Pipis, Jr., Karen E. Snelling, Michael J. Motyl
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Patent number: 9816406Abstract: A multiple variable valve lift apparatus may include a camshaft rotating by driving of an engine, a cam portion formed in a cylindrical shape having a hollow that the camshaft is inserted into, rotating together with the camshaft, configured to move along an axial direction of the camshaft, and forming a zero cam and a normal cam, a valve opening/closing device configured to be operated by at least one of the zero cam or the normal cam which are formed at the cam portion, an operating device disposed on an exterior circumference of the camshaft so as to move together with the cam portion, and a solenoid configured to selectively move the operating device along an axial direction of the camshaft, in which a journal, which has a radius being equal to a radius of the zero cam, is formed at the cam portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Byong Young Choi
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Patent number: 9816407Abstract: When a lock demand of a camshaft phase occurs, a control mode of a hydraulic control valve is switched to a locking mode after the camshaft phase is controlled to a lock phase, and a lock pin is moved to a lock position. The camshaft phase is locked at the lock phase, and timing advance and timing retard chambers communicate with each other through a back space. In this state, a locking time filling control is executed. In the locking time filling control, the control mode of a hydraulic control valve is switched to a filling mode, the hydraulic oil is supplied to a timing advance chamber, both of the timing advance chamber and the timing retard chamber are filled with the hydraulic oil, the back space is filled with the hydraulic oil, and thereafter the control mode of the hydraulic control valve is returned to the locking mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Shuhei Oe, Shota Toda, Yoshiki Endo, Yuu Yokoyama, Toshiki Fujiyoshi
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Patent number: 9816408Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber; a valve spool having a valve spool bore; a first recirculation check valve and a second recirculation check valve disposed within the valve spool bore; and a biasing member which biases the first recirculation check valve and the second recirculation check valve away from each other. The first recirculation check valve allows oil to pass from the advance chamber to the retard chamber and prevents oil from passing from the retard chamber to the advance chamber when the valve spool is in a retard position. The second recirculation check valve allows oil to pass from the retard chamber to the advance chamber and prevents oil from passing from the advance chamber to the retard chamber when the valve spool is in an advance position.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Karl J. Haltiner, Jr.
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Patent number: 9816409Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus to vary lift of a valve disposed at an engine may include an outer body selectively making a lever motion according to rotation of a cam, being adapted such that the valve is connected with one end thereof and a pivot axis of the lever motion is disposed at another end thereof, and forming an inside space, an inner body disposed in the inside space of the outer body and adapted such that one end thereof is rotatably connected with the one end of the outer body, a connecting shaft disposed so as to penetrate the one end of the outer body and the one end of the inner body and connect the outer body with the inner body, and a lost motion spring provided so as to return the inner body which is relatively rotated with the outer body around the connecting shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Myungsik Choi, Gee Wook Shin, Won Gyu Kim, Gyu Han Hwang, Young Hong Kwak, Yoonsik Woo
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Patent number: 9816410Abstract: A separator device for a system for recirculation of the blow-by gases of an internal combustion engine includes a casing containing a separation chamber and having an inlet for communication with the engine crankcase and an outlet for communication with the engine intake manifold, and drainage outlets ending in the engine crankcase, for returning the liquid separated in the separation chamber into the engine crankcase. Actuator means sensitive to pressure in the engine crankcase are associated to the inlet and to the drainage outlets so that when the pressure in the engine crankcase is higher than the pressure in the separator device, the inlet is open and the drainage outlets are closed, while when the pressure in the engine crankcase is lower than the pressure in the separator device, the inlet is closed and the drainage outlets are open.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: FIAT POWERTRAIN TECHNOLOGIES S.P.A.Inventor: Enrico Torella
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Patent number: 9816411Abstract: There is provided a breather device for an engine and capable of suppressing forming of separated oil into mist again. The breather device for the engine includes an oil filter chamber at a midpoint of a blow-by gas passing route and an oil filter housed in the oil filter chamber. The oil filter chamber is partitioned with a partition wall into an upstream filter chamber and a downstream filter chamber arranged in a front-back direction, the filter is formed by an upstream filter and a downstream filter, the upstream filter is housed in the upstream filter chamber and the downstream filter is housed in the downstream filter chamber, respectively, and a side gas expansion chamber is provided beside the oil filter chamber so that blow-by gas flows from the upstream filter into the downstream filter through the side gas expansion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: KUBOTA CorporationInventors: Kazuya Hamada, Yuya Kimura
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Patent number: 9816412Abstract: A muffler may include a main body, a perforated tube assembly disposed within the main body, inlet and outlet end cap assemblies connected to opposite ends of the main body, and inlet and outlet expansion chambers defined in opposite ends of the main body by the perforated tube assembly, the inlet and outlet end cap assemblies, and portions of the main body. The perforated tube assembly may include a plurality of perforated tubes with tube supports connected to opposite ends of the perforated tubes. Portions of each perforated tube located between the tube supports may be individually wrapped with insulating material and collectively wrapped with an additional layer of insulating material. Unwrapped portions of each perforated tube may extend into the inlet and outlet expansion chambers defined in the main body.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventor: Edmond Bruce Strickland, Jr.
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Patent number: 9816413Abstract: A muffler, in particular a rear muffler, for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, in particular a motor vehicle engine, comprises a housing, in particular a housing having a jacket and two end walls, and comprises at least one first pipe, in particular an inlet or outlet pipe which is in particular led through the jacket and which is connected to a second pipe, in particular to an inner pipe. The second pipe comprises a pipe piece into which a pipe piece of the first pipe led through an opening of an inner support element is plugged in an axially displaceable manner. In this respect, the pipe piece of the first pipe is preferably provided with slits into which nubs engage which are provided at the inner boundary of the opening of the support element. The end section of the first pipe is expanded in its region plugged into the pipe piece of the second pipe to fix the first pipe at the support element.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: FRIEDRICH BOYSEN GMBH & CO., KGInventors: Jurgen Schmidt, Georg Turowski
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Patent number: 9816414Abstract: An adaptive valve assembly includes a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases, a pivot shaft supported by the pipe, and a valve body coupled to the pivot shaft. The valve body is moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is reduced. A resilient member biases the valve body toward the closed position. A retainer assembly includes at least one damping feature that engages the resilient member to dampen vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLCInventor: Kwin Abram