Patents Issued in December 19, 2017
  • Patent number: 9845707
    Abstract: An aircraft turbojet engine nacelle comprising an air intake assembly of substantially annular shape, the air intake assembly comprising an external wall and an internal wall which are connected to one another upstream by an air intake lip and downstream by an annular rear structure. The annular rear structure comprises, arranged concentrically, one or more monolithic panels forming a first annular zone and comprising one or more hollow casings forming at least a second annular zone, and at least one connecting ring which provides the connection with at least one of the external and internal walls. The annular rear structure thus has increased structural mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Alain Porte, Matthieu Fargues
  • Patent number: 9845708
    Abstract: A core cowl for use with an engine core of a gas turbine engine includes a first cowl section for covering a first side of an engine core and a second cowl section for covering a second side of the engine core. A locking retractor connects the first cowl section to a support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew J. Forcier
  • Patent number: 9845709
    Abstract: An exhaust gas liner for a gas turbine includes an annular inner shell and an annular outer shell, which are arranged concentrically around a machine axis of the gas turbine to define an annular exhaust gas channel in between. The inner shell and/or said outer shell are composed of a plurality of liner segments, which are attached to a support structure. To compensate thermal expansion and achieving resistance against dynamic loads, the liner segments are fixed to the support structure at certain fixation spots, which are distributed over the area of said liner segments, such that said liner segments are clamped to said support structure through a whole engine thermal cycle without hindering thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Igor Mihalic, Mirjana Mihelic, Mladen Matan, Pedja Milankovic, Juergen Pacholleck, Christian Joerg Kreutle
  • Patent number: 9845710
    Abstract: A start-up method of a steam turbine plant includes a first step and a second step. The first step is performed at an aeration start time. In the first step, a reheat steam pressure of an aeration boiler is set to be a reheat steam pressure required by a steam turbine or less. Besides, a reheat steam pressure of a standby boiler is set to be a reheat steam pressure required for the standby boiler or more. The second step is performed when a load of the steam turbine becomes a predetermined value. In the second step, the reheat steam pressure of the aeration boiler is increased to the same degree as the reheat steam pressure of the standby boiler. After that, steam from the aeration boiler and steam from the standby boiler are merged to be supplied to the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mai Ichinose, Hiroyuki Tao, Atsuo Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9845711
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a Rankine cycle (RC) circuit having a pump, a boiler, an energy converter, and a condenser fluidly coupled via conduits in that order, to provide additional work. The additional work is fed to an input of a gearbox assembly including a capacity for oil by mechanically coupling to the energy converter to a gear assembly. An interface is positioned between the RC circuit and the gearbox assembly to partially restrict movement of oil present in the gear assembly into the RC circuit and partially restrict movement of working fluid present in the RC circuit into the gear assembly. An oil return line is fluidly connected to at least one of the conduits fluidly coupling the RC components to one another and is operable to return to the gear assembly oil that has moved across the interface from the gear assembly to the RC circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., PACCAR, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, James A. Zigan
  • Patent number: 9845712
    Abstract: A cam system for operating a first engine valve and a second engine valve includes translatable first and a second sliding lobe packs. The first sliding lobe pack operates the first engine valve with one of a high lift lobe, a low lift lobe, and a zero lift lobe. The second sliding lobe operates the second engine valve with one of a high lift lobe or one of two low lift lobes. A shift barrel has a first groove configured to translate the first and a second sliding lobe packs in a first direction, and a second groove configured to translate the first and a second sliding lobe packs in a second direction, opposite the first. A shift actuator has a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, each selectively actuatable to engage the first groove or the second groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: David N. Hayden
  • Patent number: 9845713
    Abstract: A valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has a first set of cylinders having a first set of exhaust valves and a second set of cylinders having a second set of exhaust valves. The valve actuation system for the exhaust valves includes one or more first cams having a compression-release lobe and a main exhaust lobe adapted to transfer valve actuation motion to the first set of exhaust valves, and one or more second cams having an early exhaust valve opening (EEVO) lobe and a main exhaust lobe adapted to transfer valve actuation motion to the second set of exhaust valves. The valve actuation system may provide any combination of (i) main exhaust valve actuation with or without compression release actuation with (ii) main exhaust valve actuation with or without EEVO for the two sets of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven N. Ernest, Darius Mehta
  • Patent number: 9845714
    Abstract: An electrically-heated catalytic converter includes: a substrate made of ceramic, the substrate including a catalyst coated layer; electrode films made of ceramic, the electrode films being disposed on a surface of the substrate; electrode terminals made of ceramic, each of the electrode terminals being secured to a corresponding one of the electrode films; and external electrodes each attached to a corresponding one of the electrode terminals via a brazing filler metal. A thermal expansion coefficient of the brazing filler metal is equal to or higher than a thermal expansion coefficient of the electrode terminals, and is equal to or lower than a thermal expansion coefficient of the external electrodes. The thermal expansion coefficient of each of the electrode terminals decreases from a portion at which the electrode terminal is joined to the brazing filler metal toward a portion at which the electrode terminal is joined to the corresponding electrode film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Mori, Sumio Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9845715
    Abstract: Such a mobile recycler that an operator can replenish a reducing agent tank with a reducing agent from the ground is provided. A reducing agent tank stores a reducing agent supplied to an exhaust gas treatment device treating an exhaust gas from an engine through reduction reaction. A tank case accommodates the reducing agent tank. The tank case has a support base supporting a container of the reducing agent for replenishment to the reducing agent tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yasukuni Suemitsu, Takahito Hashino, Yasutaka Nishida
  • Patent number: 9845716
    Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst is disposed in an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine. A reductant injector is coupled to the exhaust gas stream at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst, and first and second NOx sensors provide NOx measurements upstream of and downstream of the SCR catalyst, respectively. A system and method is disclosed for operating the system to determine a NOx amount and/or a NH3 slip amount downstream of the SCR catalyst by decoupling NOx-NH3 measurements from the output of the second NOx sensor to provide control of the reductant injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Michael Haas, Phanindra V. Garimella
  • Patent number: 9845717
    Abstract: A method for an exhaust system is provided, comprising adjusting reductant injection responsive to a reductant concentration, the reductant concentration based on concentration sensor readings and vehicle motion. If the reductant freezes, the reductant may stratify, leading to inaccurate concentration sensor readings. Vehicle motion may mix the reductant, thereby ensuring an accurate concentration measurement which may then be used to adjust reductant injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Girardi, Scott Donald Cooper, Cory Scott Hendrickson, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 9845718
    Abstract: A controller calculates a period travel distance that is a travel distance of the vehicle from when the available travel distance is calculated to when the available travel distance is calculated next. The controller, when the remaining amount of urea aqueous solution inside a tank exceeds a predetermined amount, executes a first calculation process in which the available travel distance is calculated with reference to the remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution. The controller, after the remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined amount, executes a second calculation process in which the available travel distance is calculated by subtracting the period travel distance from the previously calculated available travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takahiro Kiyofuji, Kingo Suyama, Gaku Kishimoto, Atsushi Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 9845719
    Abstract: An O2 sensor has a sensor element, which includes a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes, while the solid electrolyte layer is interposed between the electrodes. The O2 sensor outputs an electromotive force signal in response to an air-to-fuel ratio of exhaust gas of an engine, which serves as a sensing subject. A constant current circuit, which induces a flow of a predetermined constant electric current between the pair of electrodes of a sensor element, and a current sensing arrangement, which senses a current value of an actual electric current that is conducted through the sensor element, are provided. A microcomputer determines whether an abnormality of the constant current circuit is present based on the current value of the electric current, which is sensed with the current sensing arrangement, in a case where the constant current is induced by the constant current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikiyasu Matsuoka, Yasuo Mukai, Shingo Nakata, Yuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 9845720
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an isolator assembly for supporting an exhaust component from a structural portion of a vehicle. The isolator assembly has a mounting bracket having a pair of spaced apart rings defining a mounting bore. An elastomer shear hub component is disposed within the mounting bracket and has an outer diameter (OD) shear hub extending between the pair of spaced apart rings, and an inner diameter (ID) shear hub disposed within the OD shear hub. The ID shear hub defines a central mounting bore adapted to receive an external hanger component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Patent number: 9845721
    Abstract: A combustion engine having a crankcase and a cylinder, wherein a piston is guided to be movable in strokes inside cylinder, piston movably limiting a combustion chamber, and wherein in cylinder at least one transfer port is inserted, which extends between crankcase and combustion chamber, and through which an ignition mixture can flow from crankcase into combustion chamber, and which opens out into combustion chamber in an upper discharge area in such a way that ignition mixture preferably does not reach transfer ports and thus the crankcase, while at the same time a direct connection of crankcase to combustion chamber is maintained via a transfer port, which is as short as possible, it is suggested that at least one storage chamber is provided which is connected to upper discharge area and in which exhaust gas flowing from the combustion chamber into discharge area can be temporarily stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Schönfeld
  • Patent number: 9845722
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed. The engine system may have an engine having an accessory end and a drive end opposite the accessory end. The engine system may also have a turbocharger arrangement located adjacent the accessory end. The turbocharger arrangement may be configured to receive exhaust from the engine and to deliver compressed air to the air cooling arrangement. Further, the engine system may have an air cooling arrangement located adjacent the accessory end and configured to deliver fresh air to the engine. In addition, the engine system may have a mixing duct extending from the accessory end to the drive end and configured to receive the exhaust from the turbocharger arrangement. The engine system may also have an after-treatment system located adjacent the drive end. The after-treatment system may be configured to receive the exhaust from the mixing duct and to discharge the exhaust to an ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Joshua D. Schueler, Steven Dallas Johnson, Stephen M. Bednarz
  • Patent number: 9845723
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for a turbocharger includes an inlet-adjustment mechanism in an air inlet for the compressor, operable to move between an open position and a closed position in the air inlet. The inlet-adjustment mechanism includes a variable-geometry conical mechanism comprising a plurality of vanes that in the closed position collectively form a frusto-conical inlet member having a trailing edge inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the shroud surface of the compressor housing at the inducer portion of the compressor wheel such that an effective diameter of the air inlet at the inducer portion is determined by the trailing edge inner diameter of the variable-geometry conical mechanism. The vanes in the open position are pivoted radially outwardly so as to increase the trailing edge inner diameter of the inlet member and thereby increase the effective diameter of the air inlet at the inducer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Mohtar, Pascal Villemin, Stephane Pees, Aurelien Tingaud, Alain Lombard, Damien Marsal
  • Patent number: 9845724
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a variable compression ratio mechanism that changes the relative position of a cylinder block with respect to a crankcase and a controlling device that controls the variable compression ratio mechanism. The variable compression ratio mechanism contains a driving device that rotates a shaft that includes an eccentric axis, and the drive device includes a clutch that blocks reverse input and is disposed in a drive power transmission route that transmits the rotational power of a motor to the shaft. The control device fixes the mechanical compression ratio to a predetermined low mechanical compression ratio when the amplitude of the rotational power vibration applied to an output shaft of the clutch is less than a predetermined determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Okawa, Kazuhito Sakai
  • Patent number: 9845725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a melting unit and method in which: a melting chamber is heated by means of combustion, the combustion fumes are used to heat the air used as a heat-transfer gas, the heated air is used to pre-heat the combustion oxygen and/or the gaseous fuel, the tempered air resulting from the pre-heating is compressed, the compressed tempered air is heated by means of heat exchange with the combustion fumes, and the mechanical and/or electrical energy is generated by expansion of the heated compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Benoit Davidian, Youssef Joumani, Jocelyn Le Dirach, Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Patent number: 9845726
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a very high speed low pressure turbine such that a quantity defined by the exit area of the low pressure turbine multiplied by the square of the low pressure turbine rotational speed compared to the same parameters for the high pressure turbine is at a ratio between about 0.5 and about 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Frederick M. Schwarz, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 9845727
    Abstract: A non-metallic tailcone (202) in a tip turbine engine includes a tapered wall structure disposed (208) about a central axis. The non-metallic tailcone is fastened to a structural frame (44) in the aft portion of the tip turbine engine. The tip turbine engine produces a first temperature gas stream from a first output source and a second temperature gas stream from a second output source. The second temperature gas stream is a lower temperature than the first temperature gas stream. The second temperature gas stream is discharged at an inner diameter of the tip turbine engine over an outer surface of the tailcone. Discharging the cooler second temperature gas stream at the inner diameter allows a non-metallic to be used to form the tailcone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James W. Norris, Brian Merry
  • Patent number: 9845728
    Abstract: Methods are provided forming a metallic nacelle inlet structure for a turbine engine aircraft propulsion system with an axis. The nacelle inlet structure includes an inlet lip portion and an outer barrel portion. One of the method may include steps of: forming the inlet lip portion; forming the outer barrel portion; arranging the inlet lip portion axially adjacent the outer barrel portion; and friction stir welding the inlet lip portion to the outer barrel portion to provide a circumferentially extending weld joint between the inlet lip portion and the outer barrel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith T. Brown, Vijay V. Pujar, Russell B. Hayes, David L. Rose
  • Patent number: 9845729
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recuperator segment uses metal tubes deformed into air cells in a waved configuration. The air cells are stacked one to another to form a double skinned recuperator segment providing cold air passages through the respective air cells and hot gas passages through spaces between adjacent air cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel Alecu, David Menheere
  • Patent number: 9845730
    Abstract: An aeroderivative gas turbine including an air intake plenum; a compressor with a compressor air intake in fluid communication with the air intake plenum; a combustor; a high pressure turbine; a power turbine. A forced air-stream generator is arranged in fluid communication with the air intake plenum. A shutter arrangement is provided in a combustion-air flow path, arranged and controlled to close the combustion-air flow path for pressurizing said air intake plenum by means of the forced air-stream generator to a pressure sufficient to cause pressurized air to flow through the aeroderivative air turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Tommaso Betti, Antonio Baldassarre, Filippo Viti, Stefano Meucci, Marco Lazzeri, Roberto Merlo, Daniele Marcucci
  • Patent number: 9845731
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for passively managing cooling air in a gas turbine engine. A cooling air supply line may supply cooling air to a component in the gas turbine engine. A metering coupon may have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion. The metering coupon may allow more airflow through the metering coupon and through the component in response to an increase in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Carey Clum
  • Patent number: 9845732
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel conduit having a first plurality of injectors. The first plurality of injectors are disposed in a first configuration within the first combustor along a first fuel path, and the first plurality of injectors are configured to route a fuel to a first combustion chamber. The system further includes a second combustor having a second fuel conduit having a second plurality of injectors. The second plurality of injectors are disposed in a second configuration within the second combustor along a second fuel path, and the second plurality of injectors are configured to route the fuel to a second combustion chamber. The second configuration has at least one difference relative to the first configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Joseph Vincent Citeno, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9845733
    Abstract: A fire seal for use with a gas turbine engine is provided. The fire seal includes a body comprising a first metallic sheet and a second metallic sheet adjacent thereto, each sheet having a plurality of segmented fingers, the segmented fingers of the first metallic sheet and the second metallic sheet overlapped such that the space between fingers on one sheet does not overlap the space between the fingers on the other sheet, at least one finger of the first sheet having at least one first flow aperture therein and at least one finger of the second sheet having at least one second flow aperture, the flow aperture of one sheet overlapping the flow aperture of the other sheet. A mesh material is configured to cover the at least one flow aperture of the two sheets, wherein the mesh material is configured to allow the passage of air therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: David C. Brice
  • Patent number: 9845734
    Abstract: An air turbine start system is provided that includes an air turbine starter, a starter air valve, a turbine speed sensor, and a circuit. The starter air valve is movable between an open position, in which the pressurized air may flow into the air turbine starter, and a closed position, in which pressurized air does not flow into the air turbine starter. The turbine speed sensor is coupled to the air turbine starter, and is configured to sense the rotational speed of the turbine and supply a rotational speed signal representative thereof. The circuit is coupled to receive the rotational speed signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to determine whether the starter air valve is in the closed position or an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kenneth Zeiner, Dave Oman, Jimmy Wiggins
  • Patent number: 9845735
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly comprising, a gearbox including a first housing that includes a first auxiliary gear drive on a first portion thereof, a second housing that includes a second auxiliary gear drive on a second portion thereof, and a third housing that includes a third auxiliary gear drive on a third portion thereof, the housings being interconnected so that the first portion of the first housing, the second portion of the second housing and the third portion of the third housing form a substantially triangular polyhedron shape, with the second portion of the second housing disposed between the first portion of the first housing and the third portion of the third housing. The first auxiliary gear drive, the second auxiliary gear drive and the third auxiliary gear drive project outwardly in mutually divergent directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hung Duong, Nathan Snape, Gabriel L Suciu
  • Patent number: 9845736
    Abstract: A method of determining the timing and quantity of fuel injection to operate an internal combustion engine is disclosed. While operating the fuel injector to perform a fuel injection; a signal of a fuel pressure within the fuel rail during the fuel injection is sampled. The signal is used to determine first and second integral transforms yielding as output a value of first and second functions having as variables the fuel rail pressure drop caused by the fuel injection and the timing parameter indicative of the instant when the fuel injection started. Values of the first and second functions are used to calculate a value of the fuel rail pressure drop caused by the fuel injection and a value of the timing parameter. A value of a fuel quantity injected by the fuel injection is calculated as a function of the value of the fuel rail pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stefano Nieddu, Andrea Mollar
  • Patent number: 9845737
    Abstract: An engine system includes main exhaust ports fluidly communicating with each combustion chamber. An exhaust variable valve lift apparatus controls an operation of a main exhaust valve which closes or opens each main exhaust port. A main exhaust manifold is connected with the main exhaust ports. Scavenge exhaust ports fluidly communicate with each combustion chamber. A variable scavenge apparatus controls an operation of a scavenge valve which closes and opens each scavenge exhaust port. A scavenge manifold is connected with the scavenge exhaust ports. A controller is configured to control operations of the exhaust variable valve lift apparatus and the variable scavenge apparatus according to a vehicle operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Byong Young Choi
  • Patent number: 9845738
    Abstract: The variable compression ratio piston system for an engine adjusts the compression ratio of the engine piston by way of hydraulic fluid distributed between a pair of chambers formed in a pair of bores receiving control pistons mechanically coupled to the engine piston. A control valve selectively permits flow of hydraulic fluid between the high compression ratio line and the low compression ratio line. A variable force solenoid controlled by an engine control unit preferably controls the position of the control valve. The position of the spool controls whether hydraulic fluid can flow toward the first chamber, toward the second chamber, or not at all. Flow of hydraulic fluid is actuated by alternating forces from inertial and combustion forces on a crankshaft from operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Pluta
  • Patent number: 9845739
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling an engine of a turf-care vehicle. The method comprises receiving, at an engine speed control module, a mode selection input from an engine speed control mode selection device. The mode selection input is indicative of one a plurality of engine speed control modes, and all of the engine speed control modes are implementable by the engine speed control module. The method additionally comprises monitoring, via the engine speed control module, an operating status of one or more vehicle systems and/or one or more vehicle sensors. The method further comprises automatically controlling, via the engine speed control module, a rotational speed of the engine based at least in part on the selected engine speed control mode and the operating status of the one or more vehicle systems and/or one or more vehicle sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Diego Fuentes Utrilla, Joseph Lowell Harper, Gayatri A. Deshpande
  • Patent number: 9845740
    Abstract: A throttle body fuel injection system and method that is arranged to easily replace four-barrel carburetors includes a throttle body assembly with four main bores, each with a throttle plate and an associated fuel injector. Each injector feeds fuel into a circular fuel distribution ring via a fuel injection conduit, which introduces pressurized fuel into the air stream. The fuel distribution rings and bores have profiles that avoid constrictions for to prevent low pressure zones according to the Venturi effect. The throttle body includes an idle air control circuit having a port opening into main intake bores downstream of the point of fuel distribution into the air stream, thereby reducing the tendency for a lean fuel mixture at idle. An ECU “feed forward” algorithm controls fuel injection as a function of the position of the idle air control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MSD LLC
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Wittkopf, Todd Alan Petersen, Richard Kirk Bennett, Douglas David Webber
  • Patent number: 9845741
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device is mounted on an engine control device that calculates a target load factor by using a target torque, converts the target load factor to a target throttle opening, calculates a target ignition timing by using a target efficiency, and controls an engine based on the target throttle opening and the target ignition timing. In the abnormality detection device, a target efficiency for monitoring is calculated by using the target ignition timing, a target torque for monitoring is calculated by using the target efficiency for monitoring and the target load factor, a torque deviation between the target torque for monitoring and the target torque is calculated, and the presence or absence of an abnormality is detected by using the torque deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sugihira, Naoto Kato, Yoshitaka Ukawa
  • Patent number: 9845742
    Abstract: A turbocharger generating a vacuum negative pressure may include a compressor which receives, through a turbocharger shaft, a rotational force of a turbine which rotates based on exhaust gas from an engine and turbo-charges an intake which is supplied to the engine, and a motorless vacuum pump coupled to the turbine through a center housing which is coupled to the compressor and is configured to be rotated by the turbocharger shaft, thus generating a vacuum negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chul-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9845743
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine operating on at least partly gaseous fuel is disclosed. The method may include providing a desired burn rate profile corresponding to a desired operation of the internal combustion engine. The method may further include selecting first operating parameters such that an operation of the internal combustion engine with a first gas composition produces a first burn rate profile that corresponds to the desired burn rate profile. The method may also include operating the internal combustion engine with the first operating parameters using a second gas composition. The method may include determining that the second burn rate profile differs from the desired burn rate profile. In addition, the method may include adjusting an operating parameter from among the first operating parameters of the internal combustion engine to approach the desired burn rate profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hauke Holst, Hendrik Johannes Lange, Eike Joachim Sixel, Marius Wolfgramm, Arvind Sivasubramanian
  • Patent number: 9845744
    Abstract: A system and attendant structural assembly operative to establish a coordinated mixture of gaseous and distillate fuels for an engine including an electronic control unit (ECU) operative to monitor predetermined engine data determinative of engine fuel requirements and structured to regulate ratios of the gaseous and distillate fuel of an operative fuel mixture for the engine. The system and assembly includes at least one mixing assembly comprising an integrated throttle body and air gas mixer directly connected to one another, wherein the throttle body is disposed in fluid communication with a pressurized gaseous fuel supply and the air gas mixer is disposed in fluid communication with a flow of intake air to a combustion section of the engine. In use, the throttle body is structured to direct a variable gaseous fuel flow directly to the air gas mixer for dispensing into the intake air flow to the combustion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp.
    Inventor: Jason Green
  • Patent number: 9845745
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an evaporative emissions control system. In one example, a system for an engine may comprise a fuel vapor canister, a mixing valve positioned in a fresh air line upstream of the vapor canister, and an actuator physically coupled to the mixing valve for adjusting a position of the mixing valve to increase turbulence in air entering the vapor canister. The position of the mixing valve may be adjusted to increase an amount of turbulence in air entering the fuel vapor canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9845746
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (ICE) and method of control are provided to determine a value of a catalyst temperature and a value of a quantity of a reducing agent stored in the catalyst. The quantity of gas recirculated by an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of the ICE is calculated on the basis of the value of the catalyst temperature and of the value of the quantity of the reducing agent stored in the catalyst. This solution makes it possible to adjust the quantity of gas recirculated by the EGR system on the basis of parameters linked to an efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system associated with the ICE, in order to reduce the global quantity of pollutants produced by the ICE and released in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Marco De Luna
  • Patent number: 9845747
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the engine having exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) from at least one dedicated EGR (D-EGR) cylinder, with the other cylinders being main cylinders. The D-EGR cylinder is run at a richer equivalence ratio than the main cylinders, with the goal of providing increased H2 and CO in the recirculated exhaust. The rich limit of the D-EGR cylinder is maximized by dividing the fuel injection into multiple fuel injection events, with each fuel injection event occurring during the intake valve lift period of the engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Bradley D. Denton, Raphael Gukelberger, Christopher J. Chadwell
  • Patent number: 9845748
    Abstract: The invention reduces exhaust emission by quickly supplying CO2 into a cylinder, and restraining a delay in EGR, when an EGR request occurs. An engine 10 includes an upstream EGR passage 34, a middle EGR passage 36, a downstream EGR passage 38, a bypass passage 40, an EGR valve 42, a changeover valve 44, an EGR cooler 46, a CO2 adsorbent 48. When an EGR request does not occur, the ECU 70 keeps a temperature of the CO2 adsorbent 48 in a release temperature region by the heater 50, and opens the EGR valve 42 by a valve opening set time period t so that a gas in the middle EGR passage 36 is replaced with CO2 released from the CO2 adsorbent. When an EGR request occurs, CO2 accumulated in the middle EGR passage 36 can be quickly supplied into a cylinder, without releasing CO2 from the CO2 adsorbent 48.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hoki
  • Patent number: 9845749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining changes in a flow area of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve for EGR flow estimates due to soot accumulation on the EGR valve. In one example, a method includes indicating soot accumulation on the EGR valve based on a difference in EGR flow estimated with an intake oxygen sensor and with a pressure sensor coupled across the EGR valve. The determination of the difference of the EGR flow estimates may occur when the engine is not boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Daniel Joseph Styles, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Patent number: 9845750
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for exhaust gas heat recovery at a split exhaust gas heat exchanger. Exhaust gas may flow in both directions through an exhaust bypass passage and the heat exchanger coupled to the bypass passage. Warm or cold EGR may be delivered from the exhaust passage to the engine intake manifold and heat from the exhaust gas may be recovered at the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 9845751
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving combustion stability, in particular during transient operations such as tip-out to lower load conditions, when EGR is being purged. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jianwen James Yi, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Patent number: 9845752
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a filtering module and an indicated work module. The filtering module generates engine speeds based on positions of teeth of a toothed wheel that rotates with a crankshaft and based on a crankshaft position signal generated by a crankshaft position sensor. The crankshaft position sensor generates the crankshaft position signal based on rotation of the toothed wheel. The indicated work module generates an indicated work for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine based on squares of first and second ones of the engine speeds and outputs the indicated work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Nicholas John Kalweit, John V. Bowman, David S. Mathews, Jeffrey A. Morgan, Tameem K. Assaf, James R. Reeder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9845753
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine is provided. The control apparatus includes an intake control valve controller for fully closing, when an engine stop request is issued, an intake control valve for adjusting a flow rate of intake air passing through an intake passage of the engine, an engine speed increase controller for increasing an engine speed to reach a target speed after the intake control valve is fully closed by the intake control valve controller, and a fuel injection stopper for stopping a fuel injection after the engine speed is increased by the engine speed increase controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Tateishi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Sotaro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9845754
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders, with at least one of the cylinder(s) being a primary EGR cylinder that is dedicated to provided EGR flow during at least some operating conditions. A controller is structured to control combustion conditions in the cylinders in response to one or more operating conditions associated with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Alcides Lana, David J. Stroh, Samuel C. Geckler, Marten H. Dane, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Karthik Kappaganthu, Govindarajan Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 9845755
    Abstract: A combustion system controller controls an operation of a combustion system including an internal combustion engine. The combustion system controller includes a mixing ratio acquisition portion and a control portion. The mixing ratio acquisition portion acquires the mixing ratios of various components included in a fuel. The control portion controls the operation of the combustion system based on the mixing ratios acquired by the mixing ratio acquisition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Hoshi, Atsunori Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 9845756
    Abstract: A three-way catalyst and an NOx adsorption catalyst are disposed in an engine exhaust passage. In a predetermined low-load engine operation area, combustion in a combustion chamber is carried out at a lean base air-fuel ratio and an air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is changed to a rich range at the time of discharging NOx from the NOx adsorption catalyst. In a predetermined high-load engine operation area, the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is controlled to a theoretical air-fuel ratio in a feedback manner. In a predetermined middle-load engine operation area, the combustion in the combustion chamber is carried out at the base air-fuel ratio lower than the base air-fuel ratio in the low-load engine operation area and the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is changed to the rich range with a period shorter than a rich period of the air-fuel ratio for discharging NOx in the low-load engine operation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Bisaiji, Kohei Yoshida, Kenji Sakurai, Kohki Nakamura