Patents Issued in August 21, 2018
  • Patent number: 10053977
    Abstract: A tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve. A second housing moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber for containing MR fluid interconnected by an MR fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve to control flow of the MR fluid through the MR fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HUNT ENERGY ENTERPRISES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Todd W. Benson, Mohamed Ali Ahmed, Justin Hussey
  • Patent number: 10053978
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies are described for measuring isotropic, anisotropic, or directionally dependent, characteristics of a subterranean formation. Sensor assemblies can include sensors deployed on a tool string. One or more of the sensors can be rotatable relative to the tool string. Rotating one or more sensors relative to the tool string can provide data about the subterranean formation at multiple points around the tool string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Hay, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 10053979
    Abstract: A method of performing a wellbore operation includes: circulating a doped wellbore fluid comprising a non-radioactive doped particulate material in a wellbore; and logging the wellbore with a logging-while-drilling tool to determine at least one characteristic of the doped wellbore fluid. A method of performing a wellbore operation includes: circulating a doped wellbore fluid comprising a non-radioactive doped particulate material in a wellbore; logging the wellbore with a logging tool; and determining a location of at least one fracture by elemental spectroscopy measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John Rasmus, Alex Ahrenst, Ana Peternell, Jeffrey Miles, Martinus Johannes Bernardus Bogaerts
  • Patent number: 10053980
    Abstract: A Wellbore stress meter system and method for determining wellbore formation instability, comprising a first load cell, a first pressure sensor with a pressure output signal, a wireless communication system, a cable, and a surface device, said first load cell comprises; a second pressure sensor with a stress output signal, a cell element comprising a fluid, a first interface element in a first end of said first load cell with fluidly separated first and second surfaces wherein said first surface is in fluid communication with said fluid, and said first interface element moves relative said cell element as a function of a force applied on said first surface, and compresses said fluid acting on said second pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON AS
    Inventor: Øivind Godager
  • Patent number: 10053981
    Abstract: Methods including producing a bulk fluid from a subterranean formation, the bulk fluid comprising at least water and a hydrocarbon, and having certain constituent parameters; sampling a portion of the bulk fluid, thereby forming at least one sampled fluid; determining constituent parameters of the sampled fluid using the hydrophilic-lipophilic deviation (HLD) model; and determining an optimal hydrate inhibitor surfactant (HIS) or HIS mixture to achieve a first oil-water separation morphological phase of the sampled fluid at temperatures above about 10° C. and a first water-in-oil morphological phase of the sampled fluid at temperatures below about 5° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanja Natali
  • Patent number: 10053982
    Abstract: A milling device is disclosed. The milling device may have a shaft. The shaft may have a shaft axis (A). The milling device may also have a spindle drum rotatably mounted relative to the shaft axis (A) and rotatable about a spindle drum axis (B) coaxial to the shaft axis (A). Further, the milling device may have a plurality of tool spindles rotatably mounted in the spindle drum and rotatable about tool spindle axes (D). Each tool spindle axis (D) may be parallely arranged and spaced apart from the shaft axis (A) and may have a same distance to the shaft axis (A). The milling machine may also have a plurality of machining tools carried by the tool spindles. At least two of the plurality of machining tools may be positioned displaced from one another in a direction of the shaft axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Raschka, Jens Steinberg, Ulrich Bechem
  • Patent number: 10053983
    Abstract: A cutting bit assembly includes a block, a bit sleeve, and a seal. The block includes a first bore and a fluid passage. The fluid passage includes a first portion and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion. The first portion is oriented obliquely with respect to the first bore, and the second portion extends at least partially around the perimeter of the first bore. The bit sleeve includes a shank, a flange, and a second bore extending through the shank and the flange. The shank is positioned within the first bore of the block such that a surface of the flange engages a first end surface of the block. The seal is positioned between the second portion of the fluid passage and the shank to prevent contact between a fluid in the fluid passage and the outer surface of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    Inventors: Randy W. Arnold, Michael L. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 10053984
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drill and blast method for advancing the tunnel face in a mine, which makes use of a mobile canopy. The mobile canopy having vertical supports connected to a frame that supports a shield. The mobile canopy allows for face production activities and ground support activities to occur simultaneously or near simultaneously. This allows for more rapid advancement of the tunnel face compared to traditional batch drill and blast techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN MINING INNOVATION
    Inventor: Douglas Morrison
  • Patent number: 10053985
    Abstract: The invention discloses a real-time water-level monitoring system for a dumping site of an open-pit coal mine. The dumping site of the open-pit coal mine comprises an aboveground part and an underground part, where the aboveground part is a stacking site (1) located above an original ground surface. The real-time water-level monitoring system for a dumping site of an open-pit coal mine comprises a first measuring well (2) and a second measuring well (3), where the first measuring well (2) is arranged vertically in the center of the stacking site (1), and the second measuring well (3) includes a vertical section (301), a horizontal section (302), and a free section (303) connected in sequence; and a first water-impermeable layer (4), a second water-impermeable layer (5), and a third water-impermeable layer (6) are provided internally in the stacking site (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY-BEIJING
    Inventors: Suping Peng, Feisheng Feng, Pingjie Fu, Wenfeng Du, Pan Wang
  • Patent number: 10053986
    Abstract: A method for making blade unit with divided shaft facilitating drastically the productivity and assembling compared to a method fixing blade to a shaft using many connecting parts. The method for making blade unit includes steps for making a blade with divided shaft comprising a blade and a divided shaft that is attached integrally to a root portion of the blade and divided into a plurality of portions in a direction of length of the shaft, and combining a plurality of made blades with divided shaft together with one another through the divided shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: The Archimedes B.V.
    Inventors: Marinus Mieremet, Joon Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 10053987
    Abstract: A manufacturing method includes forming one or more grooves in a component that comprises a substrate with an outer surface. The substrate has at least one interior space. Each groove extends at least partially along the substrate and has a base and a top. The manufacturing method further includes applying a structural coating on at least a portion of the substrate and processing at least a portion of the surface of the structural coating so as to plastically deform the structural coating at least in the vicinity of the top of a respective groove, such that a gap across the top of the groove is reduced. A component is also disclosed and includes a structural coating disposed on at least a portion of a substrate, where the surface of the structural coating is faceted in the vicinity of the respective groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Scott Andrew Weaver, Don Mark Lipkin, John Brian McDermott
  • Patent number: 10053988
    Abstract: An article and method of forming an article are provided. The article includes a body portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an inner region, and at least one cooling feature positioned within the inner region. The body portion includes a first material and the at least one cooling feature includes a second material, the second material having a higher thermal conductivity than the first material. The method includes manufacturing a body portion by an additive manufacturing technique and manufacturing at least one cooling feature by the additive manufacturing technique. The body portion includes a first material and the at least one cooling feature includes a second material, the second material having a higher thermal conductivity than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Michael Itzel, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Patent number: 10053989
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a pin fin bank cooling circuit; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the pin fin bank cooling circuit; wherein the pin fin bank cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum of a multi-wall blade and a first set of near wall cooling channels of the multi-wall blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Gary Michael Itzel, Brendon James Leary, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Patent number: 10053990
    Abstract: An internal rib for a blade airfoil has a concave surface defined to ensure durability and provide desired heat transfer. A concave surface faces a pressure side or suction side outer wall. A width is between a first end and a second end, and a depth is a length of a normal depth line between a midpoint of the concave surface and an intersection point of the depth line with the pressure or suction side outer wall. An irregular arc is defined within an arc angle centered at the intersection point, the irregular arc has a first arc radius equivalent to the depth at the midpoint of the concave surface and a second arc radius where the arc angle intersects the concave surface equivalent to a product of the depth and a shape factor. The shape factor has a substantially linear relationship with the aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Jacob Charles Perry, II
  • Patent number: 10053991
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes a platform having an outer surface and an inner surface. A cover plate can be positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the platform. The outer surface of the platform can include a pocket and the cover plate is positioned relative to the pocket to establish a platform cooling channel therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Willey, Matthew S. Gleiner, Russell Deibel
  • Patent number: 10053992
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine airfoil includes a body that provides an exterior airfoil surface that extends in a radial direction to a tip. The exterior surface has a leading edge in a forward direction and a trailing edge in an aft direction. The tip includes a squealer pocket that has a recess surface. A cooling passage is arranged in the body. Each of the cooling holes extends from an inlet at the cooling passage to an outlet at the recessed surface. The inlet and outlet are arranged at an angle in an angular direction relative to the recessed surface. The angular direction is toward at least one of the forward and aft directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: San Quach, Scott D. Lewis, Steven Bruce Gautschi, Christopher King, Christopher Corcoran, David Donald Chapdelaine
  • Patent number: 10053993
    Abstract: A shrouded turbine airfoil (10) with a leakage flow conditioner (12) configured to direct leakage flow to be aligned with main hot gas flow is disclosed. The leakage flow conditioner (12) may be positioned on a radially outer surface (18) of an outer shroud base (20) of the outer shroud (22) on a tip (24) of an airfoil (10). The leakage flow conditioner (12) may include a radially outer surface (28) that is positioned further radially inward than the radially outer surface (18) of the outer shroud base (20) creating a radially outward extending wall surface (30) that serves to redirect leakage flow. In at least one embodiment, the radially outward extending wall surface (30) may be aligned with a pressure side (38) of the shrouded turbine airfoil (10) to increase the efficiency of a turbine engine by redirecting leakage flow to be aligned with main hot gas flow to reduce aerodynamic loss upon re-introduction to the main gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kok-Mun Tham, Ching-Pang Lee, Li Shing Wong, Andrew S. Lohaus, Farzad Taremi
  • Patent number: 10053994
    Abstract: An abrasive sheath for application to a component surface is disclosed. The abrasive sheath may comprise a metallic layer and an abrasive layer plated on a surface of the metallic layer. The abrasive layer may include a metal matrix and abrasive particles protruding from the matrix. An exposed surface of the metallic layer of the abrasive sheath may be joinable to the component surface by a heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric W. Stratton, Michael J. Minor
  • Patent number: 10053995
    Abstract: A turbocharger with a turbine (10) having a turbine wheel (12) in a turbine housing (14) with an associated manifold (24) having individual ports (22) corresponding to unobstructed passageways (26) from each cylinder of an engine. The ports (22) are substantially equally spaced around a face of the turbine wheel (12) to preserve benefits of pulses without interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Grissom, Brock S. Fraser, Mike Ausbrooks
  • Patent number: 10053996
    Abstract: A vane includes a vane body extending from a root to an opposed tip along a longitudinal axis and first and second baffle bodies. The vane body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a cavity defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the root and the tip. The vane body includes at least one vane rib defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge inside the cavity. The first baffle body is defined in one of a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion of the cavity. The second baffle body is defined in a middle portion of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10053997
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising in axial flow series: a fan having a fan rotor; a series passages defined between adjacent outlet guide vanes for guiding flow from the fan; and a bifurcation. The gas turbine engine further comprises a substantially annular fluid passageway extending from the fan to the bifurcation, the outlet guide vanes being positioned within the passageway. The passageway includes a profiled region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Stephane Michel Marcel Baralon
  • Patent number: 10053998
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a first module, a second module rotatable about a center line of the gas turbine engine and fluidly coupled with the first module, and a multi-purpose seal support. The multi-purpose seal support includes an aft end secured to the first module, and a forward end disposed proximate the second module. The forward end has a discourager portion, a seal portion, and a meshing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tuan David Vo, Conway Chuong, Matthew Budnick, Jonathan Ariel Scott
  • Patent number: 10053999
    Abstract: A radial position control assembly for a gas turbine engine stage includes a case structure. A supported structure is operatively supported by the case structure. A support ring operatively supports the supported structure. The supported structure and the support ring have different coefficients of thermal expansion. A sealing structure is adjacent to the supported structure. The support ring maintains the supported structure relative to the sealing structure at a clearance during thermal transients based upon a circumferential gap between adjacent supported structure and based upon a radial gap between the support ring and the supported structure. A pin supports the supported structure relative to the case structure and is configured to isolate the support ring from loads on the supported structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey, Brandon T. Rouse, Mark Borja, Igor S. Garcia, John R. Farris, Thomas Almy, Brian R. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 10054000
    Abstract: The invention proposes a casing (30) of an aircraft turbine (16), intended to support a set of ring sectors (28) which partly delimits a channel for the passage of a gas stream through the turbine (16), where the casing (30) includes means for dynamic adjustment of the radial position of the ring sectors (28) by controlled injection of an air stream on to portions (36) of an annular wall (34) of the casing (30), where the casing (30) includes an upstream radial tab (38) which connects an upstream end of each ring sector (28), in the flow direction of the gas stream, to the casing (30), and a downstream radial tab (40) which connects a downstream end of each ring sector (28) to the casing (30), where both upstream and downstream radial tabs (38, 40) are made from a single piece with the casing (30), characterized in that each radial tab (38, 40) is made as two portions (42, 44) from different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Fabrice Marcel Noel Garin, Florence Valerie Bon, Jerome Etienne Robert Cameau, Jean-Marc Michel Lesaine, Alain Paul Madec
  • Patent number: 10054001
    Abstract: A gearbox for driving equipment of a turbomachine, including a substantially V-shaped box having two arms joined together by a joining part, the arms containing gear trains joined together at the joining part, and an attachment to the turbomachine. The attachment include a mechanism for insetting and/or for attaching the joining part and a suspension device of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bruno Albert Beutin, Carmen Ancuta, Lambert Olivier Marie Demoulin
  • Patent number: 10054002
    Abstract: A method for assisting with the detection of damage to a duct, the duct being designed such as to convey a pressurized air flow collected at the outlet of a high pressure compressor of a turbine engine to a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor of a computer, the method including: (A) measuring a first air pressure at the first pressure sensor; (B) measuring a second air pressure at the second pressure sensor; (C) determining a theoretical pressure of the air flow at the outlet of the high-pressure compressor; (D) performing a first test regarding the difference between the first value and the theoretical pressure; (E) performing a second test regarding the difference between the second value and the theoretical pressure; and performing a final test, which is positive if the first difference test and the second difference test are positive, and negative otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Guilhem Alcide Auguste Foiret
  • Patent number: 10054003
    Abstract: A turbine system for recovering energy of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine is provided. The turbine system includes a first turbine device, a second turbine device, and a flow control valve for bypassing exhaust gases passed the second turbine device. The turbine system further includes a pneumatic valve arranged between the first turbine device and the second turbine device and being configured to control the flow of exhaust gas to the second turbine device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Pontus Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10054004
    Abstract: A turbine overspeed trip test data logging system is a portable system by which an operator can electronically gather and log data for a turbine overspeed test. A plurality of sensors can be affixed to various components of the turbine for gathering test data to be received and compiled into a turbine test log by a processing unit. A method for processing the gathered sensor data is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas William Revak
  • Patent number: 10054005
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, the turbocharger being supported by hydrostatic bearings in both a radial and an axial direction by a compressed air supplied from a compressor of the turbocharger and boosted in pressure by a separate boost pump to a high enough pressure to support the rotor of the turbocharger. The turbocharger hydrostatic bearings are damped using wire mesh or dispersed friction dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FLORIDA TURBINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Alex Pinera, Timothy J Miller
  • Patent number: 10054006
    Abstract: A latch assembly for securing a nacelle portion of a gas turbine engine includes an engine case structure that includes a core compartment. An inner flow structure has closed and opened positions with respect to the engine case structure. The inner flow structure encloses the core compartment in the closed position and provides access to the core compartment in the opened position. A bypass flowpath is provided by a portion of the engine case structure and the inner flow structure. A seal is engaged with the engine case structure and the inner flow structure in the closed position. A latch has a latched position in which radial movement of the inner flow structure relative to the engine case structure is impeded and maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the inner flow structure is permitted to move radially outward to the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Mercier, Thomas G. Cloft
  • Patent number: 10054007
    Abstract: A joint assembly between a first gas turbine engine casing and a second gas turbine casing, the first gas turbine engine casing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced attachment points and the second gas turbine casing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced attachment points for securing the first gas turbine casing and the second gas turbine casing together, wherein each attachment point on the first gas turbine casing is circumferentially offset from a respective attachment point on the second gas turbine casing, and connected by a flexure member that permits limited relative movement of the attachment point on the first gas turbine engine casing and its respective attachment point on the second gas turbine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Predrag Todorovic
  • Patent number: 10054008
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly includes a housing structure, a shear bracket that connects the housing structure to a hanger to hold the housing structure relative to a turbomachine, and a thermal spray layer between the shear bracket and the housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshminarayan S. Bettagere, Keven Van Duyn, Mark R. Sondeen, Jonathan F. Zimmitti
  • Patent number: 10054009
    Abstract: A turbine exhaust case (28) comprises a one-piece fairing (120) defining an air-flow path through the turbine exhaust case, and a multi-piece frame (100). The multi-piece frame is disposed through and around the one-piece vane fairing to support a bearing load, and comprises an inner ring (104), an outer ring (102), a plurality of covers (110), and a plurality of radial struts (106). The outer ring is disposed concentrically outward of the inner ring, and has hollow bosses (114) with strut apertures (SA) at vane locations. The covers are secured to the hollow bosses. The radial struts pass through the one-piece vane fairing and through apertures in the outer angled ring, and are radially fastened to the inner ring and the flat caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Ariel Scott
  • Patent number: 10054010
    Abstract: A drainage system includes at least one inflow pipe, a first outflow pipe, and a pressure vessel connected to the inflow pipe and the first outflow pipe separately. A throttle orifice plate and at least one switching valve are connected in series on each inflow pipe, and a throttle orifice plate and at least one switching valve are connected in series on the outflow pipe. The drainage system further includes a pressure release device, a check valve is also connected in series on each said inflow pipe, and a pressure measurement device is also connected to the pressure vessel. The pressure release device is an automatic pressure control valve connected to the pressure vessel. The drainage system for a gas turbine can remove condensate during operation of the gas turbine, thereby ensuring safe operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gilbert Braun, Shi Yun Tang
  • Patent number: 10054011
    Abstract: Systems and methods based on the systems to convert a portion of thermal energy into to mechanical and/or electrical energy including a power generation subsystem (PGSS) comprising a vaporization and power generation subsystem (VPSS) including a heat recovery vapor generator (HRVG) and a turbine T1, a heating and cooling subsystem (HCSS) including three parallel configured heat exchange units HE3, HE4, and HE5, a single heat exchange unit HE2, and a first separator SP1, and a condensing subsystem (CSS) including a final condenser HE1b from a heat source subsystem (HSSS) including a heat source producing an initial heat source stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 10054012
    Abstract: A water-steam circuit of a power plant includes at least one low-pressure steam system and a reservoir for waste water from the water-steam circuit, wherein the reservoir has, in addition to at least one waste water feed line, a further heat supply from the water-steam circuit and a steam outlet which is connected via a waste steam pipe to the low-pressure steam system of the water-steam circuit. A method for cleaning waste water from a power plant having a water-steam circuit, wherein the waste water is conducted into a reservoir and, in addition to a steam fraction generated by automatic evaporation of waste water in the reservoir, a water fraction that is also produced is evaporated using energy from the water-steam circuit, and the entire steam mass flow is introduced into a low-pressure steam system of the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Uwe Juretzek
  • Patent number: 10054013
    Abstract: A camshaft may include a shaft on which at least one sliding element is received in such a way as to be axially displaceable along a shaft axis. The shaft may comprise an external longitudinal spline structure that meshes with an internal spline structure of a passage in the sliding element such that the sliding element is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the shaft. The sliding element, on its axial end faces, may comprise guiding portions by way of which the sliding element is guided on the shaft to minimize an axial offset of the sliding element. Further, guiding sleeves against which the guiding portions of the sliding element are supported may be received on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Meusel, Michael Kunz
  • Patent number: 10054014
    Abstract: A rocker arm includes an outer arm; an inner arm which selectively pivots relative to the outer arm; and a latching arrangement which switches the rocker arm between a coupled state and a decoupled state. The latching arrangement includes a connecting bore which is terminated by a connecting bore floor; an oil supply bore which opens into the connecting bore through the connecting bore floor; a lock pin bore which opens into the connecting bore through the connecting bore floor; a lock pin within the lock pin bore where the lock pin prevents the inner arm from pivoting in the coupled state and where the lock pin permits the inner arm to pivot in the coupled state; and a retainer within the connecting bore which defines a chamber within the connecting bore which provides fluid communication between the oil supply bore and the lock pin bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph M. West, Ian R. Jermy
  • Patent number: 10054015
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser, including: an axis of rotation; a stator with a radially outer surface including a plurality of teeth; a rotor located radially inwardly of the stator; a chamber bounded at least in part by the stator and the rotor; a locking cover; a spring cover non-rotatably connected to the locking cover; a space enclosed, at least in part, by the spring cover and the locking cover; a plurality of fasteners non-rotatably connecting the stator and the locking cover; a spiral spring located in the space and including a first end fixed to the stator; and a magnetic trap located within the space and including a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: David Becker
  • Patent number: 10054016
    Abstract: In a flexible-fuel engine capable of using fuel containing alcohol as fuel to be combusted in a cylinder, the geometric compression ratio is set to 12 or more, the engine is started by using fuel containing alcohol, an intake valve closing timing at an engine start time is set to an advance angle side than a first reference timing being a timing corresponding to a most retarded angle position out of intake valve closing timings capable of starting the engine in combusting fuel of alcohol 100% in the cylinder at a first intake temperature, and is set to a timing on a retarded angle side than a second reference timing being a timing corresponding to a most advanced angle position out of intake valve closing timings capable of avoiding pre-ignition in combusting fuel of gasoline 100% at an engine start time at a second intake temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomomi Watanabe, Nobuyuki Furuichi, Sho Shimamoto, Mikinori Ohashi, Shigeyuki Hirashita
  • Patent number: 10054017
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve duration apparatus may include: a camshaft; first and second cam portions on which a cam is formed respectively; first and second inner brackets transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the first and second cam portions respectively; a slider housing in which the first and the second inner brackets are rotatably inserted; first and second guiding portions formed on the slider housing; a control shaft parallel to the camshaft; a control rod eccentrically formed on the control shaft; a guide head on which a head guiding portion and a head hole are formed; a cam cap supporting the control shaft; a cam cap guiding portion mounted to the cam cap; and a control portion selectively rotating the control shaft such that the slider housing is moved along the cam cap guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: You Sang Son, Woong Kim, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Dongheon Park
  • Patent number: 10054018
    Abstract: A catalyzed particulate filter includes at least one inflow channel including one end where a fluid inflows and another end that is blocked and extends in a length direction, at least one outflow channel including one end that is blocked and another end where the fluid outflows, and the other end extends in the length direction, at least one porous wall defining a boundary between the inflow channel and the outflow channel neighboring each other and extending in the length direction, and a catalyzed supporting member disposed on an inside of the outflow channel, wherein the supporting member includes a plurality of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Pyung Soon Kim, Chang Hwan Kim, Chun Yong Kang, ChangHo Jung
  • Patent number: 10054019
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the operation of an aftertreatment system for a motor vehicle having a Lean NOx Trap and a tail pipe for conveying exhaust gasses from the LNT to the external environment. Values are calculated for a NOx content in the exhaust gasses flowing in the tail pipe and the quantity of NOx stored in the LNT. A DeNOx request index is calculated as a function of these values. A raw threshold value of the DeNOx request index is calculated as a function of a LNT temperature and of an exhaust gas mass flow. A corrected threshold value of the DeNOx request index is calculated as a function of the raw threshold value of the DeNOx request index and of a correction factor. A DeNOx regeneration is initiated when the calculated value of the DeNOx request index is larger than the corrected threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Giacomo Latrofa, Giovanni Montinaro, Fabrizio Ramolivo, Luisa Cusanno, Matteo Venturini, Barbara Maisola
  • Patent number: 10054020
    Abstract: During execution of a first purification process of fluctuating a hydrocarbon concentration in exhaust gas flowing into a first catalyst with an amplitude within a prescribed range at a time interval within a prescribed range, when a switch request to a second purification process of purifying NOx in a second catalyst by adding urea water into the exhaust gas is generated, the switch to the second purification process is prohibited on the condition that a current NOx purification rate (a first purification rate R1) is higher than a purification rate (a second purification rate R2) on the assumption that the second purification process is executed, and an HC poisoning recovery stand-by process of reducing an additive amount of hydrocarbon per once in the first purification process is executed so as to reduce a slip amount of hydrocarbon into the downstream of the first catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10054021
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an accumulator is provided for an engine exhaust treatment system. The accumulator includes a container, an inlet portion for receiving exhaust treatment fluid, a conduit in communication with the inlet portion of the container to withdraw exhaust treatment fluid from the inlet portion, and an outlet portion configured to receive exhaust treatment fluid from the inlet portion and having an outlet for discharging exhaust treatment fluid. The accumulator includes a weir separating the inlet portion and the outlet portion that permits exhaust treatment fluid in the inlet portion to flow into the outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Hudgens
  • Patent number: 10054022
    Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system for treating an exhaust produced by an engine. The exhaust after-treatment system includes an exhaust passage, at least one catalytic exhaust after-treatment component in communication with the exhaust passage for treating the exhaust, and a water-removal device in communication with the exhaust passage that receives a portion of the exhaust therein at a location positioned upstream from the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component. The water-removal device is defined by a housing that includes a water-removal membrane that separates water from the portion of the exhaust to provide a permeate that is enriched with water, and to produce a retentate that is water depleted that facilitates the treating of the exhaust by the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
  • Patent number: 10054023
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system comprising: a first dosage device, arranged to supply a first additive into said exhaust stream; a first reduction catalyst device, downstream of said first dosage device arranged for reduction of nitrogen oxides in said exhaust stream through the use of said first additive; a particulate filter, at least partly comprising a catalytically oxidizing coating, which is downstream of said first reduction catalyst device to catch soot particles, and to oxidize one or several of nitrogen oxide and incompletely oxidized carbon compounds in said exhaust stream; a second dosage device, downstream of said particulate filter to supply a second additive into said exhaust stream; and a second reduction catalyst device, downstream of said second dosage device for a reduction of nitrogen oxides in said exhaust stream, with the use of at least one of said first and said second additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Magnus Nilsson, Henrik Birgersson
  • Patent number: 10054024
    Abstract: A honeycomb body includes at least one housing and a honeycomb structure with a plurality of channels. The honeycomb structure is formed from at least one at least partially structured metallic layer which forms connecting points fixing the honeycomb structure. A cross section of the honeycomb structure has radial zones with differing densities of the connecting points. In at least one zone, at least 1% and at most 20% of inner contact points in the cross section also form a connecting point. An exhaust-gas purification unit and a motor vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissiontechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Maus, Peter Hirth, Rolf Brück, Kait Althöfer
  • Patent number: 10054025
    Abstract: An external air introduction apparatus includes: an external air introduction opening that guides external air into an exhaust channel, and opened and closed by a pressure difference between an external air pressure and a pressure inside the exhaust channel; a valve plate having a valve body that elastically deforms due to the pressure difference; a base plate stacked on the valve plate and having an opening that faces the valve body and smaller than the valve body and a seat surface formed around the opening; and a restriction plate that restricts elastic deformation of the valve body. The opening is closed and opened by the contact and separation of the valve body and the seat surface. The plates are fixed to a wall that forms the exhaust channel with a fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10054026
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust heat recovery structure that may suppress boiling of coolant in a heat exchanger. The exhaust heat recovery structure includes a first pipe, a second pipe, a valve and a thermostat. Exhaust gas from an engine flows in the first pipe. The second pipe branches from the first pipe and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the coolant and exhaust gas is provided at the second pipe. The valve is provided at the first pipe or the second pipe. The valve adjusts a flow amount of exhaust gas flowing into the second pipe by opening and closing. The thermostat is equipped with a heat-sensing portion that is disposed inside the heat exchanger. When the temperature of the heat-sensing portion is high, the thermostat opens or closes the valve to reduce the flow amount of exhaust gas flowing into the second pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Murata, Tadashi Nakagawa