Patents Issued in April 24, 2018
  • Patent number: 9951711
    Abstract: A control device for an engine includes an angular velocity detecting unit that detects the angular velocity of a rotating shaft which is driven according to an output of an engine, an angular acceleration calculating unit that calculates angular acceleration based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detecting unit, a heat generation timing calculating unit that calculates a certain timing when the ratio of an amount of heat generation in a cylinder to the total amount of heat generation of one cycle falls in a predetermined range, based on a change of the angular acceleration calculated by the angular acceleration calculating unit, and a combustion control unit that controls combustion in the cylinder by comparison between the certain timing calculated by the heat generation timing calculating unit and a predetermined heat generation timing reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Kurata, Jun Akasegawa, Koji Satake, Tetsuro Ishida
  • Patent number: 9951712
    Abstract: An engine has a cylinder block with first and second cylinders separated by a bore bridge, and a block cooling jacket having a slot in the bore bridge and intersecting a block deck face. The engine has one of a cylinder head and a head gasket with a surface configured to mate with the block deck face, the surface having a tab sized to be received by the slot to form a cooling passage therebetween. An engine has a cylinder block with a block deck face defining a first cylinder and a second cylinder separated by an interbore region. The block is independent of a cylinder liner. The block forms a cooling jacket with a fluid passage surrounding the first and second cylinders and an open channel extending across the interbore region and intersecting the block deck face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Donald Wicks
  • Patent number: 9951713
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus includes: an injector disposed at a position offset from an ignition plug toward an intake port and injecting a fuel spray toward a crown surface of a piston, and an injection controller causing the injector to perform injection in accordance with an amount and timing of fuel injection preset in accordance with an operating state of an engine. The piston includes: a first recess formed by recessing a central portion of the crown surface and a second recess formed by recessing part of the first recess on an injector side further than the first recess. The injector injects 50% or more of fuel to be injected for the last fuel injection toward the second recess during a compression stroke, and injects part of the fuel to be injected for the last fuel injection toward an area of the first recess other than the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Katakura, Koki Ando
  • Patent number: 9951714
    Abstract: A steel piston for an internal combustion including a cooling gallery containing a solid coolant, such as an aluminum-based material, is provided. The solid coolant has a thermal conductivity which is greater than the thermal conductivity of the steel material and fills at least 15 volume percent (vol. %) of the cooling gallery. The solid coolant provides for exceptional cooling along a crown of the piston, reduces corrosion and erosion along the crown, and avoids the problem of oil coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventor: Michael Weinenger
  • Patent number: 9951715
    Abstract: A sub-assembly may include a piston and an injection nozzle for cooling oil for an internal combustion engine. The piston may have a piston skirt and a piston head, where the piston may have a piston crown with an underside, a circumferential ring part, and in the region of the ring part, a circumferential cooling channel with at least one feed opening for the cooling oil. The piston may also have a jet divider for the cooling oil on the underside of the piston crown adjacent to the at least one feed opening. The injection nozzle may be arranged below the jet divider and may be oriented toward the jet divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Scharp
  • Patent number: 9951716
    Abstract: A device for anchoring components or parts to a rigid element, such as an engine block, for example, or to intermediate elements which are in turn fixed to rigid elements, such as an intermediate pin mounted on the engine block, for example. The anchor consists of a structure which can be manufactured from stamped and punched sheet metal parts giving rise to an inexpensive and easy-to-manufacture component. The particular configuration based on stamped and punched sheet metal parts shows high rigidity and is particularly suitable for anchoring heavy components. The fixing anchor is suitable for bolted joints of the components or parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Borgwarner Emissions Systems Spaion, S.L.U.
    Inventors: José Antonio Grande Fernández, Emilio Vidal, Rui Natividade
  • Patent number: 9951717
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a variable area nozzle of a gas turbine engine. The variable area nozzle includes, among other things, a control unit, a translatable structure, and a plurality of actuators configured to adjust the position of the translatable structure. The plurality of actuators are fluidly coupled to a common fluid source. The control unit is configured to provide instructions to at least one of the actuators to compensate for an asymmetric load from the translatable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Craig T. Stambaugh
  • Patent number: 9951718
    Abstract: A nacelle may include a pylon and a thrust reverser having an inner fixed structure. A locking mechanism may automatically engage and prevent relative movement between a thrust reverser half and the pylon. A bumper may be coupled to the inner fixed structure. The locking mechanism may limit deflections between the thrust reverser and the pylon in response to a burst duct. The locking mechanism may allow the thrust reverser halves to be opened for access to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith T. Brown
  • Patent number: 9951719
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan nacelle bounding a bypass flow path. The fan nacelle includes a first nacelle section and a second nacelle section. The second nacelle section includes a moveable portion movable relative to a forward portion to define a secondary flow passage. The first nacelle section includes an inlet lip. A thrust reverser is configured to selectively communicate a portion of bypass airflow between the bypass flow path and the secondary flow passage. A pump is configured to selectively communicate airflow between the inlet lip and the secondary flow passage. A method of flow distribution for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott
  • Patent number: 9951720
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a thrust reverser including a plurality of blocker doors moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position. A gap is defined between adjacent blocker doors when in the stowed position. A plurality of divots are mounted forward of the plurality of blocker doors to substantially cover the gap between the adjacent blocker doors when in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward F. Migliaro, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9951721
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an auxiliary airflow control system to provide selective communication of a portion of a second stream from a second stream flow path into a third stream flow path, the auxiliary airflow control system in communication with a high temperature flow sourced from the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Walter A Ledwith, Jr., Christopher J Hanlon
  • Patent number: 9951722
    Abstract: A chamber for reducing operating noise of a purge control solenoid valve (PCSV) for an evaporative emission control system comprises a first housing into which operating noise of the PCSV enters. The first housing has an inner space to change a cross sectional area of an operating noise path or an operating noise transfer direction at least once. A second housing has an upper portion coupled to a lower portion of the first housing to transfer the operating noise outside. At least one end of the chamber in a length direction thereof is connected with a vapor hose which connects a canister collecting fuel evaporation gas generated from a fuel tank with the PCSV to deliver the fuel evaporation gas to an engine and through which the fuel evaporation gas flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: YoungMin Kim
  • Patent number: 9951723
    Abstract: A turbocharging system for use with an internal combustion engine, which includes an exhaust gas feeding passage configured to feed exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine to a turbine unit; an exhaust gas passage configured to release the exhaust gas discharged from the turbine unit outside of the turbocharging system; an intake air passage configured to feed intake air into the compressor unit; a compressed air passage configured to feed compressed air discharged from the compressor unit to the internal combustion engine; an intercooler configured to cool the compressed air flowing through the compressed air passage; and an LPL-EGR passage configured to recirculate at least a part of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passage, into the intake air passage, wherein the compressed air passage is provided with a cyclone-type collecting device arranged upstream of the intercooler to collect foreign substances contained in the compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: OTICS Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Isogai
  • Patent number: 9951724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchanger including: a heat exchanger body; a gas inlet for introducing exhaust gas into the heat exchanger body; a coolant inlet for introducing a coolant into the heat exchanger body; a gas outlet for discharging the exhaust gas that is cooled by heat exchange with the coolant; and a coolant outlet for discharging the coolant that completes heat exchange with the exhaust gas. In this case, the heat exchanger body includes: a laminated tube core formed by laminating a plurality of gas channels side by side; a housing formed so as to enclose the laminated tube core except for opposite ends thereof; and a wave fin plate integrally provided with a plurality of wave fins and arranged within each of the gas channels, wherein each of the wave fins includes a fixed pitch section, and a variable pitch section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KORENS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Kuk Cho
  • Patent number: 9951725
    Abstract: A two-stroke, opposed-piston engine with one or more ported cylinders and uniflow scavenging includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) construction that provides a portion of the exhaust gasses produced by the engine for mixture with charge air to control the production of NOx during combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Eric P. Dion, Iain J. L. Read, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Michael H. Wahl
  • Patent number: 9951726
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a butterfly valve rotatably moveable between a closed position and an open position, and a shaft extending from the butterfly valve and rotatable about a longitudinal axis to move the butterfly valve between the open position and the closed position. The valve assembly further includes an actuator having a body operable to maintain an end portion of the shaft, the actuator operable to cause the shaft to rotate about the longitudinal axis, a housing sized to retain a portion of the shaft, the housing operable to be in removeable contact with the body, a seal intermediate the body and the shaft, the seal having an outer sealing surface contacting the body and an inner sealing surface contacting the shaft, and an anti-rotation interface between the seal and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: G.W. Lisk Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Clapham, Jeffery Tyler
  • Patent number: 9951727
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a valve, particularly an exhaust gas recirculation valve, said valve comprising a conduit (4) for circulating a cooling fluid having a wall (10) intended to come in contact with a circulation flange of said cooling fluid, said wall (10) having a plurality of grooves (16) and ribs (14) configured to limit contact between said flange and said wall (1) at said ribs (14), said ribs (14) being formed by machining and said grooves (16) being produced from molding the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Sylvain Gautier, Frédéric Ribera
  • Patent number: 9951728
    Abstract: An acoustic attenuator 20 for an engine booster such as a turbocharger 10 for an engine 4 is disclosed in which the acoustic attenuator 20 includes an attenuator chamber 28 in which is located at least one absorption media 140. The acoustic attenuator 20 is located adjacent an inlet port of the turbocharger 10 so as to attenuate any acoustic pressure waves by dissipative reaction with the absorption media 140 before they have chance to reach other components of a low pressure supply system 50 for the engine 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Will Ostler, Robert Andrew Leeson
  • Patent number: 9951729
    Abstract: A fuel supply device has a cover member which is attached to an opening of a fuel tank, a pump unit comprising a pump, and a connecting portion configured to connect the cover member and the pump unit. A connecting shaft which is formed to one of the two connected members of the connecting portion is inserted into a connecting hole which is formed to the other of the two such that the pump unit is connected to be relatively movable to the connecting portion. The pump unit includes an upper base on which the pump is placed, and a lower base which contacts to the fuel tank. The upper base and the lower base are coupled through attachments whereby an engagement portion of the upper base is fitted into a recessed portion formed on the side of the lower base. The recessed portion has a pair of planes opposing to each other and oriented toward a bottom surface of the lower base from a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Koji Yoshida, Kensuke Niwa, Shinya Higashi, Yuichi Murakoshi, Hidetomo Ishida, Hiroyasu Kariya, Hironori Tanikawa, Takuhito Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9951730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel pump assembly for a motor vehicle, which can be upstream of a fuel pump of the motor vehicle in a fuel line of the motor vehicle, having a pump housing and a pump device arranged thereupon, by means of which fuel can be pumped into and/or through the pump housing when the pump device is in the active state thereof, wherein the pump device has at least one stroke piston pump having an inlet valve and an outlet valve which are opened and closed in alternation by pressure activation when the pump device is active. In order to provide a fuel pump assembly which enables a very energy efficient operation of a motor vehicle thereby equipped, according to the invention the inlet valve and the outlet valve are held in the open positions thereof when the pump device is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hengst SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Kasper
  • Patent number: 9951731
    Abstract: A holder of a fuel injection valve is press-inserted to a housing of the fuel injection valve so as to be fixed to the housing, a cap of the fuel injection valve includes a notch portion for notching an annular portion, and is arranged in such a way that an inner circumference surface of the cap is faced to an outer circumference surface of a core of the fuel injection valve via a gap, and an electrode terminal of the fuel injection valve is connected to a terminal of a solenoid of the fuel injection valve via the notch portion of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Shingu, Norihisa Fukutomi, Manabu Hirai, Tsuyoshi Munezane
  • Patent number: 9951732
    Abstract: An EFI-ECU determines an initial value of a correction value ekthwst for correcting an injection correction amount with reference to a non-heating initial value map if a heater is in operation, and determines the initial value of the correction value ekthwst for correcting the injection correction amount with reference to a heating initial value map if the heater is out of operation. It should be noted herein that the initial value of the correction value ekthwst is set lower under the same condition in the heating initial value map than in the non-heating initial value map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Seo, Tomoyuki Uchiyama, Takuya Takei, Tomohiko Satomi
  • Patent number: 9951733
    Abstract: A plug-in pump includes a cylinder and a pump housing, wherein the cylinder has a cavity in which a movable piston is accommodated, wherein a first end of the piston delimits a pump chamber, and a second end of the piston is connected to a drive device for the piston. An inlet valve is arranged in the cylinder, which inlet valve connects the pump chamber to a feed line for a first fluid, and an outlet valve connects the pump chamber to an outlet. The pump housing has a cavity that forms a first chamber connected to a feed line for the first fluid, and at least one second chamber which is separated from the first chamber and which is connected to a fluid system of a second fluid. The first chamber is fluidically sealed off with respect to the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Ngoc-Tam Vu, Uwe Nigrin
  • Patent number: 9951734
    Abstract: An actuator includes a roller, a roller pin, and a tappet. The roller is in contact with the cam. The roller pin rotationally supports the roller. The tappet is connected with the roller via the roller pin and is integrally movable with the roller and the roller pin. The tappet is movable back and forth integrally with an actuated object. The tappet has an accommodation chamber and a roller releasing portion. The accommodation chamber rotationally accommodates the roller. The roller releasing portion is located inside an inner wall of the accommodation chamber to restrict the tappet from making contact with an outer periphery of the roller. The roller releasing portion has a reinforcing rib in a recessed curved shape. The reinforcing rib is projected from a reference surface of the inner wall of the accommodation chamber toward the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto Oki
  • Patent number: 9951735
    Abstract: A filter for a fluid injection valve includes a filter sleeve and a fastening element. The fastening element includes a fitting portion for fastening the filter in the fluid injection valve and a connection portion mechanically interacting with a first part of the filter sleeve for connecting the filter sleeve and the fastening element. The filter sleeve includes a second part arranged inside the fastening element and disposed at a distance from the fitting portion of the fastening element. A fluid injection valve and a method for producing the filter are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Filippo Falaschi, Ivano Izzo, Luca Matteucci
  • Patent number: 9951736
    Abstract: A fuel injector tip for a fuel injector. The fuel injector tip includes an inner tip surface and an outer tip surface that is opposite to the inner tip surface. At least one orifice extends through the fuel injector tip from the inner tip surface to the outer tip surface, and is configured to atomize fuel flowing therethrough to generate a fuel mist. The fuel injector tip is three-dimensionally printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Powell
  • Patent number: 9951737
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) has a plurality of combustion cylinders at each of which a fuel injection device (120) is provided. Every combustion cylinder is provided with its own pilot unit (10c-10f) with a fuel accumulator which is integrated therein and which is connected by one of a plurality of first fuel lines (110) to the fuel injection device associated with the respective combustion cylinder for supplying fuel to the latter. A fuel pump which can be connected to a fuel source for supplying a predetermined fuel pressure is integrated in at least one of the pilot units (10d). The fuel accumulator of every pilot unit is so adapted that it ensures that fuel delivered by the fuel pump is supplied to the respective associated fuel injection device in a pressure-stable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Wolfgang Wagner, Markus Meixner
  • Patent number: 9951738
    Abstract: This invention provides a computer implemented method which allows the driver to request engine shut down and engine and restarts the engine of a motor vehicle by changing driver brake pedal force, that is, the force which the driver applies to the brake pedal, after the vehicle has stopped. After the vehicle has stopped, changes in the driver brake pedal force are compared to threshold values to determine if the driver is requesting an engine stop or an engine start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Voyomotive, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Yorke, Robert Vogt, IV, Adam Sloan
  • Patent number: 9951739
    Abstract: A method for preparing a start/stop system of a motor vehicle drive for a future driveaway process may include determining a future change time of a traffic light signal emitter from red light to green light; and automatically starting an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle drive at a start time which comes before the future change time by a predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Huber, Hans-Walter Woerz
  • Patent number: 9951740
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber, a fuel injector injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, a cylinder, a piston having a crown and reciprocating in the cylinder, the crown being exposed to the combustion chamber, and an ignition delay enhancer prolonging an ignition delay of a fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. A ceramic member is disposed on at least a fuel injection port, to which fuel is injected from the fuel injector, of the crown of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Iwasaki, Masahiro Kida, Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Tomonori Urushihara
  • Patent number: 9951741
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing cycle to cycle variation of an engine is provided. The system may determine fuel injection characteristics and predict a gas burning rate or flame speed based on the fuel injection characteristics. The system may adjust an ignition timing in response to the predicted gas burning rate within the same engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: Fadi Adly Anis Estefanous, Shenouda Mekhael, Naeim A. Henein
  • Patent number: 9951742
    Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine (1) includes a superpose voltage generation circuit (47) that, after the initiation of a discharge with the application of a discharge voltage by a secondary coil, applies a superpose voltage between electrodes of an ignition plug (29) in the same direction as the discharge voltage to continue a discharge current, and performs a superposed discharge in a superposed discharge activation range of high exhaust recirculation rate. Upon shift from the superposed discharge activation range of high exhaust recirculation rate to a superposed discharge deactivation range of low exhaust recirculation rate, the deactivation of the superposed discharge is delayed by a delay time ?T. Although the exhaust gas recirculation rate becomes temporarily increased with decrease in intake air after the closing of an exhaust gas recirculation control valve, the superposed discharge is continued for the delay time ?T so as to avoid misfiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taisuke Shiraishi, Tatsuya Yaguchi, Hirofumi Maeda
  • Patent number: 9951743
    Abstract: An igniter includes a central electrode terminating in a firing portion including a plurality of prong tiers distributed axially on the firing portion. Each prong tier including at least one firing prong extending radially outward from the firing portion. The igniter body includes a port end to be received into an engine igniter port, and a shank. The firing portion of the central electrode extends from the shank opposing the port end. A dielectric casing can fully encapsulate the firing portion of the central electrode to define a dielectric barrier adjacent the firing prong. The igniter may include a generally cylindrical ground electrode defining a discharge cavity surrounding the central electrode. The ground electrode includes a plurality of ground prongs defined by the ground electrode and extending radially toward the firing portion. A plurality of apertures defined by the ground electrode are in fluid communication with the discharge cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Cherian A. Idicheria, Paul M. Najt, Laxminarayan L. Raja
  • Patent number: 9951744
    Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes optical focusing lenses, including a center optical focusing lens and satellite optical focusing lens. The center optical focusing lens focuses laser light from a laser generator to a center ignition point in a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The satellite optical focusing lenses focus laser light from the laser generator to satellite ignition points in the combustion chamber of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The satellite optical focusing lenses are directionally angled away from the center optical focusing lens. A firing depth of the center ignition point is greater than a firing depth of the at least one satellite ignition point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeongung Hwang, Nicholas C. Polcyn, Jeremy Koscielny
  • Patent number: 9951745
    Abstract: An axial flow water turbine according to an embodiment includes a discharge ring and a runner vane. When seen in the runner meridional cross section, a straight line that passes a border between a cylindrical surface and a spherical surface of the discharge ring and that is perpendicular to a water turbine rotation axis is denoted as A. A crossing point between the straight line A and the water turbine rotation axis is denoted as B. A straight line inclined by an angle ? of 10 degrees or less is denoted as C. A cross point between the straight line C and the external peripheral end surface of the runner vane is denoted as D. In this case, the external peripheral end of the forward edge of the runner vane is located on the crossing point D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Sadao Kurosawa, Kazuyuki Nakamura, Pohan Ko, Koichiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9951746
    Abstract: A potential energy-based power generation system comprises a first reservoir disposed on an upper part of a building and configured to reserve water, a second reservoir located underground of the building and configured to reserve the water, a small hydro power generation unit including a small hydro power generation turbine to generate the power, a fuel cell power generation unit disposed at one side of the first reservoir and configured to generate the power using the hydrogen gas, an electrolysis device disposed in the second reservoir and configured to perform electrolysis for decomposition of the water into the oxygen and hydrogen gas by using the external power or the power generated by the small hydro power generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Yong Hoon Im, Dong Hyun Lee, Jae Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9951747
    Abstract: The invention relates to extracting kinetic energy from surface waves. Therein, at least one float (8) is kept floating in the area of the surface waves, while a working fluid is held in a reservoir structure (2, 3). The float is connected to a fluid displacement structure in such manner that an individual surface wave, which causes an upward stroke of the float, moves the working fluid within the reservoir structure in such manner that the potential energy of the working fluid is increased. Before the wave has reached the float, the wave is detected by a sensor (7). Based on said detection, a prediction is calculated of the amount of kinetic energy available in the wave. Tuned to said prediction, an energy transmission structure of the fluid displacement structure is adjusted for realizing the energy conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN
    Inventor: Wouter Adrianus Prins
  • Patent number: 9951748
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power system and pump suitable for the system are disclosed which can make efficient use of the energy available in water flows with considerably variable flow rates. A simple, compact variable displacement axial piston pump can be operated so as to provide an essentially constant output pumping pressure and variable output volume that varies efficiently in accordance with water flow rate. The system is particularly suitable for shoreline tidal power generation and provides firm power output throughout the tidal slacks occurring during the tidal reversals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: YOURBROOK ENERGY SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Laird Galen Bateham
  • Patent number: 9951749
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the operational noise of a blunt trailing edge of a wind turbine blade is described. The system involves increasing the trailing edge solid angle at the blade trailing edge by providing a wedge element or projection adjacent the trailing edge of the blade, the wedge element acting to provide improved mixing of the suction side and pressure side flows at the blunt trailing edge, thereby reducing the strength of vortex shedding at the trailing edge and the associated operational noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: LM WP PATENT HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Ashish Singh, Ganesh Ramanathan, Jitendra Bijlani, Naveen Parihar
  • Patent number: 9951750
    Abstract: A rotor blade may generally include a shell forming an outer skin of the blade, with the shell defining a chordwise curvature. The rotor blade may also include a spar cap extending within the shell along a spanwise direction of the blade. The spar cap may be formed from an assembly of pre-cured laminate plates. In addition, the rotor blade may include an interior shelf positioned directly between the shell and the spar cap. The interior shelf may include an outer surface extending adjacent to the shell and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface may define a curved profile generally corresponding to a portion of the chordwise curvature of the shell and the inner surface may define a planar surface along which the spar cap extends in a chordwise direction of the blade. The interior shelf may correspond to a pre-fabricated insert for the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum
  • Patent number: 9951751
    Abstract: A blade segment for a wind turbine rotor blade may generally include a body shell terminating at a joint end. The body shell may include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The blade segment may also include a plurality of pressure side tubes extending adjacent to the pressure side of the body shell and a plurality of suction side tubes extending adjacent to the suction side of the body shell, with the plurality of pressure side tubes being spaced apart from the plurality of suction side tubes along a flapwise direction of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron A. Yarbrough, Christopher Daniel Caruso
  • Patent number: 9951752
    Abstract: The current invention provides apparatuses and methods for protecting buildings/structures from wind damage and simultaneously harvesting energy from wind. The apparatuses of the current invention comprise horizontal axial wind turbines integrated to the roof-edge of the buildings/structures in an aerodynamically conducive and structurally viable configuration to reduce roof suction. The apparatuses of the current invention can further comprise aerodynamic roof gutter and structural supports/connections to alleviate wind-induced suction (negative pressures) on building roofs generated by separated flows and vortices. The apparatuses of the current invention can also comprise vertical axial wind turbines integrated to the wall-edge of the structures/buildings in an aerodynamically conducive and structurally viable configuration to reduce wind induced wall suction generated by separated flows and vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventors: Arindam Gan Chowdhury, Andres Tremante
  • Patent number: 9951753
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an offshore electrical energy generator is disclosed. The generator includes a buoy configured to float on a body of water. A wind turbine is mounted to the buoy. An air storage tank is configured for submersion. An air compressor is stowed within the buoy and coupled to the wind turbine and configured to charge the air storage tank in response to receiving wind energy collected by the wind turbine. An expansion turbine is stowed within the buoy and is configured to receive compressed air stored within the air storage tank and to decompress the compressed air to generate electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Nathan A. Sinclair, David P. Wilkinson, Jeffrey P. Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 9951754
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for assembling a tower section of a lattice tower structure for a wind turbine on a tower assembly fixture may generally include installing a first trolley onto a first fixture arm of the fixture and installing a second trolley onto a second fixture arm of the fixture. In addition, the method may include securing a first support leg of the tower section to the first trolley, securing a second support leg of the tower section to the second trolley and coupling at least one secondary support member between the first and seconds support legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Don Conrad Johnson, Cyler Barclay Beard, Todd D. Andersen, David D. Oliphant, Caroline Christine Williams, Jose Luis Virgen
  • Patent number: 9951755
    Abstract: A processing device includes a mounting base, a cutter holder, and a brake. The brake includes a driving member, a resisting member, and an elastic member. The driving member includes a main body and a driving shaft movably placed in the main body. The driving shaft is driven to move in a straight line by the main body. One end of the driving shaft is movably coupled to the cutter holder, and another end of the driving shaft is coupled to the resisting member. The elastic member is positioned between the main body and the resisting member. The driving shaft is configured to move toward one side of the driving member adjacent to the elastic member under an elastic restoring force of the elastic member, whereby the cutter holder moves with the driving shaft toward one end of the driving member adjacent to the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: FU DING ELECTRONICAL TECHNOLOGY (JIASHAN), HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Lu Yang, Yang-Mao Peng, Jian-Shi Jia, Jing-Shuang Sui, Zhen-Guang Xu, Jie Li, Da-Qing Zhuang, Zhen-Lin Zhao, Jun Fu
  • Patent number: 9951756
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pipeline system for a linearly concentrating solar power plant (1) with at least one receiver line (13), in which a heat transfer medium is heated by radiating solar energy, or with a central receiver and at least one emptying tank (21) and/or one store for the heat transfer medium, the heat transfer medium having a vapor pressure of less than 0.5 bar at the maximum operating temperature. Furthermore, a gas displacement system (31) is comprised, which connects gas spaces in the at least one emptying tank (21) and/or in the store for the heat transfer medium to one another and which has a central gas store (35) and/or a central gas connection (37) and a central exhaust gas outlet (39), through which gas can be discharged into the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jürgen Wortmann, Michael Lutz, Katharina Federsel, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Stephan Maurer, Michael Ladenberger
  • Patent number: 9951757
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for combined direct current and alternating current activation of electroactive polymer devices. The combined direct current and alternating current activation may increase force generation compared to activation using direct current alone. For example, a method for actuating an electroactive polymer device may include providing the electroactive polymer device. The electroactive polymer device may include a first electrode and a second electrode electrically coupled to an electroactive polymer. The method may include applying a direct current across the electroactive polymer via the first and second electrodes. The method may include applying an alternating current across the electroactive polymer. The direct current and the alternating current may be effective to cause actuation of the electroactive polymer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Mark C. Stasik, Jay R. Sayre
  • Patent number: 9951758
    Abstract: An actuator includes a drum defining a longitudinal axis and having axially opposed first and second end portions that are rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis. A shape memory element is wrapped around the drum and extends from the first end portion of the drum to the second end portion of the drum to actuate relative rotation of the first and second end portions of the drum about the longitudinal axis by activation of the shape memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin E. Buttolph
  • Patent number: 9951759
    Abstract: A novel pumping device (1) with an actuator (4) and a head part (5) for dispensing a fluid from a container (2) is described. The actuator (4) comprises an outlet conduit (37) and a first cylindrical member (18) and the head part (5) comprises a second cylindrical member (20) which is arranged coaxially to the first cylindrical member. A folded membrane member (22) with an inlet valve (24) and an outlet valve (25) is provided between the first (18) and second (20) cylindrical members, such that the first (18) and second (20) cylindrical members and the folded membrane member (22) provide a variable pump chamber (27). The outlet valve (25) is arranged relative to the actuator (4) in such a manner that a suck-back chamber (38) with a variable volume is provided between the outlet valve (25) and the outlet conduit (37), which is simultaneously reduced as the pumping chamber (27) is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Airopack Technology Group AG
    Inventors: Roy Van Swieten, Johannes Hubertus Jozef Maria Kelders
  • Patent number: 9951760
    Abstract: Drive mechanism for rotary compressor or pump that consists of a casing (1) formed by two housings where two diametrically opposed cylinders (2), where the pistons (3) slide, are coupled, each of the pistons being attached by means of a connecting rod (5) to the end of a lever (4) which pivots about the other end (9), located on the periphery of the casing (1) and is forced by the journal of a crankshaft (6) that slides along a slot (7), made in the central area of this lever, and is operated by an external mechanism, the whole assembly being able to rotate about the crankshaft, which remains static and coupled to the structure or support and generates a linear piston cycle at each revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Francisco Javier Ruiz Martinez