Patents Issued in February 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9890668
    Abstract: A method for detecting malfunction of a fastening bolt in a continuous variable valve timing (CVVT) includes: deciding whether a camshaft position sensor is operating normally; learning the most retarded angle position of the camshaft using the camshaft position sensor; deciding whether the learning of the most retarded angle position of the camshaft is normal; and comparing a PWM duty value used in the learning with a set first reference value when the learning of the most retarded angle position of the camshaft is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seung Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 9890669
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift apparatus may include a camshaft, a cam portion of which a cam is formed thereto and the camshaft is inserted into therein, a slider housing of which the cam portion is rotatably inserted therein, of which a position with respect to the camshaft is movable and of which a guide slot is formed thereto, a control portion selectively changing the position of the slider housing, a guide shaft disposed parallel to the camshaft and inserted into the guide slot for guiding movement of the slider housing, an output portion rotatable around a pivot shaft and of which a valve shoe is formed thereto and a valve unit driven by the valve shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: You Sang Son, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Kiyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9890670
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift apparatus may include a camshaft, a cam portion on which a cam is formed and into which the camshaft is inserted, a slider housing into which the cam portion is rotatably inserted and of which a position is rotatable around a pivot shaft, a control portion engaged with the slider housing and configured to selectively rotate the slider housing around the pivot shaft, an output portion rotatable around the pivot shaft, contacting the cam and onto which a valve shoe is formed, and a valve device contacting the valve shoe and driven by rotation of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: You Sang Son, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Kiyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9890671
    Abstract: A crankcase ventilation system having a crankcase ventilation filter and a filter drain. The crankcase ventilation filter vents blow-by gases from a crankcase and separates oil from the blow-by gases. The crankcase ventilation filter drain collects oil separated by the crankcase ventilation filter and returns the separated oil to the crankcase or another component of the engine. A nozzle is coupled to a pressurized oil supply and directs an oil jet into a mixing bore of the system, which draws the oil back into recirculation. A valve is coupled to the filter drain and is configured to prevent collected oil from reentering the crankcase ventilation filter through an opening that connects the filter drain to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Chirag D. Parikh, Brian W. Schwandt, Arun P. Janakiraman, Ashwin K. Koleshwar
  • Patent number: 9890672
    Abstract: A combustion gas cooling apparatus includes a cooling duct from which a cooling gas at a temperature lower than the temperature of a combustion gas flows out into a mixing duct to form a mixed gas in which the combustion gas and the cooling gas are mixed. The cooling duct has cooling gas flow inlets into which the cooling gas flows, a plurality of cooling gas outflow apertures through which the cooling gas having flowed into the cooling gas flow inlets flows out into the mixing duct, and distribution passages through which the cooling gas having flowed into the cooling gas flow inlets is distributed to the plurality of cooling gas outflow apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD., MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Hideo Miyanishi, Yasuyuki Kuroda, Rand Drake, Albert Bednarski, Paul Harris, James Paul, Kevin Linfield
  • Patent number: 9890673
    Abstract: A honeycomb filter, wherein when a thermal expansion coefficient at 300 to 600° C. of a material constituting a honeycomb substrate is indicated by A (×10?6/° C.), the four-point bending strength of the material constituting the honeycomb substrate is indicated by B (MPa), the thickness of a thinnest portion in a portion partitioning outlet plugging cells of a partition wall 1 is indicated by t (mm), the thickness of a portion partitioning an outlet plugging cell and an inlet plugging cell of the partition wall is indicated by WT (mm), and the distance between the center of the outlet plugging cell and the center of the inlet plugging cell adjacent to each other is indicated by CP (mm), a relation of the following equation (1) is satisfied. 0.714×WT+0.160?t/CP?0.163×A/B+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuyuki Kuki
  • Patent number: 9890674
    Abstract: A method of removing impurities from a gas including the steps of removing impurities from biogas comprising at least one adsorbents via a process vessel or reactor, directing the purified gas to an device to generate power and/or heat, regenerating the saturated adsorption media with the waste heat recovered from the engine exhaust and directing the regeneration gas (hot air or engine exhaust) to flare, engine exhaust stack, or atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Granitefuel Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Shazam Williams, John Muter, Linjie Hu, William Z. Casolara
  • Patent number: 9890675
    Abstract: An oil separator includes a casing that has an inlet for air and an outlet for air, and an impingement member that is provided inside the casing. Air that contains oil is introduced through the inlet into the casing and caused to strike the impingement member so that the oil is separated from the introduced air and is recovered. The outlet opens in the horizontal direction of the casing. The oil separator further includes an L-shaped elbow member that is attached to the outlet. The elbow member protrudes in the horizontal direction from the outlet and is bent upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NABTESCO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Sugio, Ichiro Minato
  • Patent number: 9890676
    Abstract: A device includes a first catalyst 41 including a Pd-containing catalyst layer and a Rh-containing catalyst layer and a second catalyst 42 containing Pt-loaded alumina and containing neither Rh nor Pd. The first catalyst or the second catalyst are disposed in one place in such a manner that one of the first catalyst 41 or the second catalyst 42 is located upstream of the other in a flow direction of an exhaust gas from an engine 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisaya Kawabata, Yasuhiro Matsumura, Hiroshi Yamada, Masahiko Shigetsu
  • Patent number: 9890677
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a total emissions amount from a facility includes an emissions module structured to interpret data indicative of an emissions amount from a test cell system in the facility; an emissions threshold module structured to aggregate the emissions amount from each test cell system in the facility to determine a total emissions amount for the facility and compare the total emissions amount to a predetermined threshold for the facility; and an aftertreatment system control module structured to selectively control a component in an aftertreatment system associated with each test cell system responsive to the comparison of the total emissions amount to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Adams, Brian K. Rout, Duane A. Kruer
  • Patent number: 9890678
    Abstract: A multi-stage SCR control system including a front reductant dosing device, a front SCR device, a back reductant dosing device, a back SCR device, and a dosing controller. In normal control cycles, a NSR of the front SCR device is controlled below a stoichiometric reaction ratio to decrease system sensitivity to catalyst aging. In a diagnostic cycle, the NSR of the front or the back SCR device is controlled lower than the stoichiometric reaction ratio, and a reductant quality ratio, which is indicative of reductant quality and dosing accuracy, is calculated. In another diagnostic cycle, the NSR is controlled above the stoichiometric reaction ratio, and an average deNOx efficiency is calculated. The reductant quality ratio and the average deNOx efficiency values are further used in SCR feedback control and permanent catalyst damages can also be isolated from temporary catalyst poisons with these values after a thermal recovery event is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Baohua Qi
  • Patent number: 9890679
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which a hydrocarbon feed valve, exhaust purification catalyst, and NOX selective reduction catalyst are arranged in an engine exhaust passage. A first NOX removal method which injects hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon feed valve within a predetermined range of period and uses the reducing intermediate which is generated due to this so as to reduce the NOX contained in the exhaust gas and a second NOX removal method which makes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst rich with a period longer than this predetermined range are used. When the first NOX removal method should be used and the amount of adsorbed ammonia at the NOX selective reduction catalyst is large, use of the first NOX removal method is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Bisaiji, Kohei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9890680
    Abstract: A dosing unit for a diesel exhaust treatment system eliminates heat from the exhaust stream using an electrically operated fluid injector inside a cavity, sized and shaped to receive the electrically operated injector therein and surround the fluid injector in the cavity with engine coolant flowing through the cavity. Continuous welds aid heat transfer between the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Randolph W Carnell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9890681
    Abstract: A heat exchange device includes a thermoactuator that controls a valve to open and close one or the other of two fluid passageways. The thermoactuator includes a temperature-sensitive portion arranged to slidably advance a rod that actuates the valve as the temperature sensed by the temperature-sensitive portion increases. A stopper is positioned to abut the rod to limit advancement of the rod to thereby limit the degree of opening of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: YUTAKA GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Hisanaga, Tomoyuki Uchida, Teruaki Hyodo
  • Patent number: 9890682
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a diesel engine is provided. The exhaust system includes a component body with a surface, and a surface treatment disposed on some of the surface or all of the surface. The surface treatment is disposed so as to receive Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) injected into the exhaust system during operation of the diesel engine. The surface treatment facilitates increased heat transfer to the received DEF to promote water evaporation and urea thermolysis of the received DEF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Clayton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9890683
    Abstract: It is an object to make it possible to burn and remove particulate matter without generating runaway even if the particulate matter is excessively accumulated at the time of regeneration of an exhaust gas purification device. A common rail engine and the exhaust gas purification device placed in an exhaust gas path of the engine are provided. A plurality of regeneration controls for burning and removing the particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust gas purification device can be executed. The plurality of regeneration controls include at least non-operation regeneration control for raising exhaust gas temperature by combining post injection (E) and predetermined high speed rotation speed, and recovery regeneration control which can be executed when the non-operation regeneration control fails. In the non-operation regeneration control and the recovery regeneration control, the engine is driven exclusively for burning and removing the particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Shiomi, Tomohiro Fukuda, Atsushi Ohta
  • Patent number: 9890684
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an exhaust gas aftertreatment, wherein a diesel particulate filter is regenerated during the operation, in particular passively regenerated, wherein a corrected differential pressure is calculated from a current differential pressure across the diesel particulate filter at a current exhaust gas volumetric flow rate and with a current correction factor. The current correction factor is determined by determining a lower differential pressure in a predetermined time interval at a defined exhaust gas volumetric flow rate, in particular in a specified exhaust gas volumetric flow rate interval around the defined exhaust gas volumetric flow rate, and comparing the lower differential pressure with a specified current reference value and, depending thereon, calculating a new correction factor or retaining the previous correction factor as the current correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Andrea Prospero, Tim Späder, Stefan Merk
  • Patent number: 9890685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of diagnosing a failure of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, the method including: injecting urea into the interior of an exhaust pipe using an injector; after the injection step, detecting an amount of NOx and an amount of ammonia through an NOx sensor provided at a rear end of the exhaust pipe; and diagnosing a failure of the injector based on at least one of the amount of NOx and the amount of ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hwa Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 9890686
    Abstract: An electrically motorized coolant pump includes a pump housing, a pump impeller being driven in a pump chamber, two suction-side intake ducts and a pressure-side outflow duct for the coolant. A control actuator that can be hydraulically actuated in response to a demand for coolant is disposed in a housing section of the pump housing between the suction side and the pressure side and the control actuator is coupled to a control element so as to open and close the intake ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuerzburg
    Inventors: Uwe Klippert, Christoph Otto
  • Patent number: 9890687
    Abstract: An engine system having two cooling loops may include a first coolant loop in which a first coolant circulates through an engine and a first radiator, a second coolant loop in which a second coolant circulates through a water-cooled intercooler and a second radiator, a first branch line that branches from one side of the first coolant loop, a second branch line that branches from one side of the second coolant loop, a mixture line allowing the first coolant and the second coolant to be mixed to flow therein, and branching to the first coolant loop and the second coolant loop, a temperature adjusting valve configured to control a temperature of the mixture coolant flowing in the mixture line, and a mixture coolant line allowing the mixture coolant to flow, and branching to the first coolant loop and the second coolant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Won Sup Kim
  • Patent number: 9890688
    Abstract: An air guide collects air from a grille located at the front of a vehicle engine compartment to a vertical radiator located in the engine compartment and which is fixed to a vehicle chassis. The air guide includes a main casing including an upper casing and a lower casing. The upper and lower casings include an opening toward the front to receive the air. The lower casing includes at least one substantially horizontal lower wall and two substantially vertical lateral walls. The lower casing axially and transversely abut the rear portion of the lower casing of the air guide relative to the chassis of the vehicle, at least in a lateral region of the lower casing, and a local structure for controlled preferred compression of the walls of the lower casing, at least in a lower portion of the lateral region of the lower casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Joseph Bui
  • Patent number: 9890689
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, gaseous fuel is injected in a first injection through a pre-combustion chamber into the combustion chamber to mix with air in the combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber has a jet aperture in fluid communication between the pre-combustion chamber and the combustion chamber. Mixed gaseous fuel and air is then ingested into the pre-combustion chamber from the combustion chamber and ignited. In a second injection, injecting gaseous fuel into the pre-combustion chamber and expelling, with the second injection, ignited gaseous fuel and air from the pre-combustion chamber through the jet aperture and into the combustion chamber as a flaming jet with a core of gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Patent number: 9890690
    Abstract: An injector-igniter assembly includes a passive prechamber and a fuel injector. In an internal combustion engine, fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber to mix with air in the combustion chamber. Embodiments enable filing the prechamber at different air-fuel-ratio than the main chamber without directly filling the prechamber with fuel. The prechamber has jet apertures in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. In operation, fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber though nozzles to form a cloud adjacent to openings into the prechamber. Subsequently, mixed fuel and air is ingested into the prechamber from the combustion chamber and ignited. The degree of mixing prior to ingestion into the prechamber can be controlled using different nozzles configurations. Ignited gaseous fuel and air is expelled from the prechamber through the jet apertures and into the combustion chamber as a flaming jet with a core of gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Patent number: 9890691
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes a compressor and charge air cooler are disclosed. In one example, air flow through the charge air cooler is increased in response to condensation accumulating in the charge air cooler without increasing engine torque. Air flow through the charge air cooler is increased to gradually reduce condensation within the charge air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Baitao Xiao, Hamid-Reza Ossareh
  • Patent number: 9890692
    Abstract: An existing or new intercooler system is provided with modular fixed and removable mounting and support bracket plates that offers easy adaptability, reparability, serviceability that eliminates the need to replace an entire intercooler because a vehicle or automotive set up has been changed, portions of it has been damaged or because it has become clogged with debris. The modular and removable mounting and support bracket plates can turn existing or new intercoolers from a single automotive part into an automotive system with modular parts of different types and sizes that can be reconfigured, changed or replaced to make intercoolers fit different types of automotive system applications. These modular fixed and removable mounting and support bracket plates eliminates the need for all metal parts and permanent welding. The intercooler system having end tanks made of composite material with carbon fiber to eliminate heat retention and secured by bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Brett Turnage
  • Patent number: 9890693
    Abstract: A chamber for absorbing condensate formed in a charge-air-cooler of a turbocharged engine system. The chamber may include desiccant to absorb the moisture. The chamber may also include a valve that is controlled by the vehicle control module to open to allow airflow to pass by the desiccant and absorb the moisture from the desiccant or to place in a closed position to allow the desiccant to absorb the condensate formed in the charge-air-cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Bockstanz, Dwayne Robert Taylor
  • Patent number: 9890694
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger, a variable valve gear, an A/F sensor in an exhaust passage, A/F feedback control means, and scavenge A/F control means. The variable valve gear drives intake and exhaust valves, and can drive with a valve open characteristic with valve overlap. The A/F feedback control means performs feedback correction of a fuel injection amount based on an A/F sensor output, and acquires a learning value of information relating to A/F control from a feedback correction amount. The scavenge A/F control means carries out A/F control by a value learned during an operation of the engine with non-scavenge valve open characteristic, when the variable valve gear is operated with the scavenge valve open characteristic. The scavenge valve open characteristic has a valve overlap amount of such a degree that blow-by of intake air occurs in an intake stroke during a turbocharger operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 9890695
    Abstract: A method of operating a reciprocating engine comprises recirculating exhaust gas from a first cylinder of the engine to an intake stream or air-fuel mixture of a second cylinder of the engine such that a boost pressure of the first cylinder is greater than a boost pressure of the second cylinder. An engine retrofit system and two-cycle engine employing aspects of the method are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Adam Edgar Klingbeil
  • Patent number: 9890696
    Abstract: A turbocharger system and method for a vehicle, wherein the system comprises a high pressure turbocharger and a low pressure turbocharger. Both the high and low pressure turbochargers are driven by exhaust gas on an exhaust side of the turbochargers. The system further comprises a first bypass conduit that bypasses the low pressure turbocharger during set events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Goran Almkvist, Jonas J. Bjorkholtz
  • Patent number: 9890697
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling boost pressure in a staged engine system comprising a turbocharger and an upstream electric supercharger. In one example, a method may include accelerating an electric supercharger to choke the flow of air to the engine in the event of turbocharger overboost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Baitao Xiao, Hamid-Reza Ossareh, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Patent number: 9890698
    Abstract: An engine system for controlling flow of exhaust gas may include an intake line to receive external air, an engine including a combustion chamber to combust the external air and a fuel supplied through the intake line, to generate driving torque, an exhaust line to exhaust the exhaust gas combusted in the combustion chamber of the engine, a turbocharger including a turbine operated according to exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust line and a compressor to compress the external air flowing through the intake line, a catalyst device to reduce a harmful component included in the exhaust gas passing through the turbine of the turbocharger, a bypass line branched from the exhaust line between the combustion chamber and the turbine and converged in the intake line between the compressor and the combustion chamber, and a bypass valve disposed in the bypass line to selectively open/close the bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kihoon Nam
  • Patent number: 9890699
    Abstract: An assembly can include a turbine housing that includes a wastegate passage that extends to a wastegate seat; a wastegate valve that includes a control arm coupled to a wastegate shaft that extends to a wastegate plug; a control linkage operatively coupled to the control arm where the control linkage includes a control axis; an actuator operatively coupled to the control linkage for translation of the control linkage in a direction of the control axis; and a spring operatively coupled at an off-axis angle to the control axis of the control linkage where no load or a partial load is exerted to provide a clearance for centering of the wastegate plug in a closed state and where an increased load is exerted to reduce the clearance in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vit Micanek, Petr Cizek, Stanislav Hahn
  • Patent number: 9890700
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a variable geometry turbine. In one example, a nozzle vane includes a stationary having a first cambered sliding surface and a sliding vane having a second cambered sliding surface where the second cambered sliding surface includes a flow disrupting feature in contact with the first sliding cambered surface. The sliding vane may be positioned to slide in a direction from substantially tangent along a curved path to an inner circumference of the turbine nozzle and selectively uncover the flow disrupting feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Ben Zhao, Leon Hu, Jianwen James Yi, Eric Warren Curtis, Jizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9890701
    Abstract: A toroidal engine that can be powered by a fuel/air mixture or by a compressed gas source. The toroidal engine uses one-way bearings to transfer torque generated in a toroidal chamber directly to a drive shaft. Pairs of pistons are mounted on two crank assemblies, which are concentric with the drive shaft. One-way bearings allow the crank assemblies to turn, one at a time, in one direction only. The crank assemblies are directly coupled to the drive shaft, which eliminates the need for complex gear and linkage arrangements. A system can be used with the toroidal engine to alternately stop the crank assemblies at a pre-determined position and to time the ignition of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MONASHEE PUMPS INC.
    Inventors: Braden Murphy, Aziz Martakoush, Adam Krajewski, Brett Dickey, Jean-Francois Pelletier, Darrel Doman
  • Patent number: 9890702
    Abstract: A switching valve for an internal combustion engine, which has an adjustable compression ratio, namely to control a hydraulic oil flow particularly for an eccentric adjustment mechanism, having a control piston, which can be shifted by a switching mechanism similar to a ballpoint pen mechanism, wherein the control piston controls the hydraulic oil flow dependent on the switch position thereof, wherein the switching mechanism comprises at least one actuation element and a detent element, and wherein at least the control piston, the actuation element and the detent element are nested in each other so that they are implemented in a concentrically overlapping manner, at least in sections, when viewed in the shifting direction of the control piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FEV GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schaffrath, Karsten Wittek, Michael Paul, Paul Grzeschik
  • Patent number: 9890703
    Abstract: A cylinder head of an internal combustion engine includes a first exhaust port section having an upstream inlet opened and closed by a first exhaust valve, a second exhaust port section having an upstream inlet opened and closed by a second exhaust valve, and a collective exhaust port section into which the first and second exhaust port sections merge at downstream ends thereof. In a fixing structure for an exhaust gas sensor, the sensor is fixed to the collective exhaust port section with its sensing tip in the port section. An exhaust gas guide part is formed, at a position upstream of the sensor, on an internal wall of the port section, opposite the internal wall to which the sensor is fixed, so as to bulge out to guide exhaust gas toward the sensor, whereby exhaust gas is effectively intermixed and directed to the sensor with resultant increased sensing accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Inomoto, Hitoshi Yokotani, Kosuke Sakasai, Satoshi Okayama
  • Patent number: 9890704
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine, the booster compressor is driven by both the low pressure or fan shaft and high pressure shaft through a differential gear arrangement. The rotational speed of the booster compressor is intermediate between the speed of the fan and the speed of the high pressure compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Derwent Aviation Consulting Ltd.
    Inventors: Trevor H. Speak, Robert J. Sellick
  • Patent number: 9890705
    Abstract: An open cycle gas turbine system includes a storage tank, a closed helical supplier, a combustor, a gas turbine, a compressor, a propeller and a generator. After the combustion gas in the combustor enters the gas turbine, the combustion gas is expanded to apply a work and to produce a power to the gas turbine so as to operate the gas turbine so that the compressor is operated to compress the air, the generator is operated to generate an electric power, and the propeller is operated to propel vehicles. The closed helical supplier has a closely sealing effect so that the high pressure combustion gas in the combustor will not leak from the closed helical supplier and will not touch the solid fuel powder in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Kou
  • Patent number: 9890706
    Abstract: A method for producing energy including: producing fuel gases from biomass raw material in a main receptacle unit (8), feeding produced fuel gas to a consumer unit (2,3), transferring energy from the consumer unit to at least one energy user (7). The method includes recovering heat and producing pressurized superheated steam, intermittently loading biomass raw material into at least one vessel (8?), being included in the main receptacle unit (8), pressurizing the loaded at least one vessel (8?) with pressurized superheated steam, passing pressurized superheated steam through the loaded and pressurized at least one vessel (8?), thereby contacting and heat treating said biomass raw material with the pressurized superheated steam for the production of said fuel gases, supplying produced fuel gases together with still superheated steam to the consumer unit (2,3). The invention also concerns a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Phoenix BioPower AB
    Inventors: Hans-Erik Hansson, Hans Levander
  • Patent number: 9890707
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of a power plant. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include additional heated compressed air injection from a power augmentation system and a motor-generator in selective operation with the power augmentation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: POWERPHASE LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Kraft, Peter Perri
  • Patent number: 9890708
    Abstract: A method of managing a power plant for a rotary wing aircraft, said power plant comprising two main engines, a secondary engine, and a main power transmission gearbox (MGB). Said main and secondary engines mechanically driving said MGB so as to rotate a main rotor of said aircraft. Said secondary engine delivers two distinct mechanical power levels so that said main and secondary engines together deliver sufficient mechanical power to enable said aircraft to fly, firstly a first secondary mechanical power MPS1 and secondly a second secondary mechanical power MPS2 suitable for compensating for a loss of main mechanical power from at least one main engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Guido Borchers, Romain Stephant
  • Patent number: 9890709
    Abstract: A method and system to extract gas from a gas turbine having at least one gas extraction mechanism placed at the turbine section that extracts exhaust gas directly from the turbine stages through the turbine casing, providing a first exhaust gas path that extends from the turbine section through the exhaust section to the exhaust gas outlet, and a second exhaust gas path for extracted exhaust gas extending directly from the turbine stages inside the turbine casing to a duct outside of the turbine casing. The gas extraction system and method can be applied to a cogeneration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Patrick C. Bowling, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9890710
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine having a combustor downstream from a compressor, a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor and an exhaust duct downstream from an outlet of the turbine. The combustor includes an extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the combustor. The extraction port defines a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the hot gas path. The exhaust duct receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. A coolant injection system injects a coolant into the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct such that the stream of combustion gas blends with the exhaust gas from the turbine within the exhaust duct and forms an exhaust gas mixture within the exhaust duct. A heat exchanger is disposed downstream from the exhaust duct and receives the exhaust gas mixture from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9890711
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bleed structure which includes a forward wall and a rear structural wall to define a deposit space downstream of the bleed structure for a hail event of a predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Justin R. Urban, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 9890712
    Abstract: Cryogenic energy storage systems, and particularly methods for capturing cold energy and re-using that captured cold energy, are disclosed. The systems allow cold thermal energy from the power recovery process of a cryogenic energy storage system to be captured effectively, to be stored, and to be effectively utilized. The captured cold energy could be reused in any co-located process, for example to enhance the efficiency of production of the cryogen, to enhance the efficiency of production of liquid natural gas, and/or to provide refrigeration. The systems are such that the cold energy can be stored at very low pressures, cold energy can be recovered from various components of the system, and/or cold energy can be stored in more than one thermal store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Highview Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Robert Morgan, Stuart Nelmes, Nicola Castellucci, Stephen Gareth Brett
  • Patent number: 9890713
    Abstract: A silencer apparatus for a gas turbine inlet system ducting is disclosed. The inlet ducting contains a main silencer and a pre-silencer, and Inlet Bleed Heat (“IBH”) located between the silencers. The pre-silencer decreases the noise level from the turbine compressor and makes the air flow/temperature profiles more uniform. The main silencer reduces noise from the IBH and the remaining noise from the compressor to an appropriate level. The main silencer is comprised of a first plurality of sound-absorbing splitters disposed along the gas flow direction in the gas turbine inlet ducting. The pre-silencer is comprised of a second plurality of sound-absorbing splitters disposed along the gas flow direction in the gas turbine inlet ducting, but staggered with respect to the first plurality of splitters to thereby block a direct line of travel for noise acoustical waves from the compressor travelling opposite the gas flow direction in the inlet ducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Dinesh Venugopal Setty, Laxmikant Merchant, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin
  • Patent number: 9890714
    Abstract: An auto-tune controller and tuning process implemented thereby for measuring and tuning the combustion dynamics and emissions of a GT engine, relative to predetermined upper limits, are provided. Initially, the tuning process includes monitoring the combustion dynamics of a plurality of combustors and emissions for a plurality of conditions. Upon determination that one or more of the conditions exceeds a predetermined upper limit, a fuel flow split to a fuel circuit on all of the combustors on the engine is adjusted by a predetermined amount. The control system continues to monitor the combustion dynamics and to recursively adjust the fuel flow split by the predetermined amount until the combustion dynamics and/or emissions are operating within a prescribed range of the GT engine. Additionally, a method of automated extended turndown of a GT engine to find a minimum load is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Sumit Soni, Nicolas Roger Demougeot, Peter John Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 9890715
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vacuum generating devices. In one example, a system includes a vacuum generating device having an annular venturi passage located between two identical halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9890716
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing pre-ignition by mechanically varying a piston displacement within a combustion chamber. In response to pre-ignition, a static compression ratio may be reduced until a threshold lower compression ratio is reached. Further pre-ignition is then addressed with enrichment, thereby reducing the amount of pre-ignition mitigating enrichment required overall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 9890717
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for estimating the operating speed of a turbocharger. A first pressure value corresponds to pressure at or near the air inlet of the compressor, and a second pressure value corresponds to pressure at or near the air outlet of the compressor. A temperature value corresponds to a temperature at or near the air inlet of the compressor, and a flow rate value corresponds to a flow rate of air entering the air inlet of the compressor. The operating speed of the turbocharger is estimated as a function of the first pressure value, the second pressure value, the temperature value and the flow rate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri