Patents Issued in January 15, 2019
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Patent number: 10180084Abstract: The structural case has an annular body having a central axis and including a plurality of boss sections circumferentially interspaced from one another around the axis by a plurality of arcuate panel sections, each panel section having: two parallel arcuate structural flange members being axially interspaced from one another; a sheet metal wall extending between and interconnecting the two flange members; and at least one rib having an edge welded to the sheet-metal wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: David Denis, Andreas Eleftheriou, David Harold Menheere
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Patent number: 10180085Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is described, comprising a steam turbine, a first heat recovery steam generator and a second heat recovery steam generator. The first heat recovery steam generator is attached to the steam turbine by a first steam pipe system and the second heat recovery steam generator is attached to the steam turbine by a second steam pipe system, to allow steam to pass from the first and second heat recovery steam generators to the steam turbine. The steam turbine is arranged in between the first heat recovery steam generator and the second heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbHInventors: Siegfried Trippold, Andre Koenig, Atish Dipankar Roy Choudhury, Patrice Richard Cantin, Reza Alikhani, Prashant Agrawal
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Patent number: 10180086Abstract: Heat recovery steam generator comprises a casing, low-pressure evaporator coils, preheater booster coils upstream thereof and feedwater heater coils downstream thereof, a water-to-water heat exchanger having low and high temperature paths; a first conduit from the preheater to the high-temperature path, and a second conduit from the feedwater heater to the preheater. A conduit can extend from feedwater heater to low-pressure evaporator. A conduit can extend from the water-to-water heat exchanger to the feedwater heater. High-pressure economizer coils can be upstream of the preheater, with a conduit exiting the feedwater heater to the high-pressure economizer. Additional coils can be upstream of the high-pressure economizer. The feedwater heater can comprise first and second sections, or first, second and third sections; or more sections. The connections among the various components and sections can be near their upstream and downstream faces.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: NOOTER/ERIKSEN, INC.Inventor: Daniel B. Kloeckener
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Patent number: 10180087Abstract: A switching rocker arm system includes a rocker assembly having a first end and a second end, and engaging a lash adjuster an and engine valve. The system further includes a first arm rotationally coupled to a second arm at the first or second end, and selectively rotationally coupled to the second arm at the other of the first end and the second end by a latch. In the latched position, a second cam engagement surface of the second arm engages the second cam to operate the engine valve in a high-lift mode, a biasing spring urges the second cam engagement surface into contact with the second cam, and a rotational stop prevents contact of the second cam engagement surface with a base circle portion of the second cam in the low-lift mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: EATON CORPORATIONInventors: Austin Robert Zurface, Daniel Bennett Trudell, Andrei Dan Radulescu
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Patent number: 10180088Abstract: An electric phaser for dynamically adjusting a rotational relationship of a camshaft with respect to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor and a tapered roller drive. The tapered roller drive includes a sun, rollers, a carrier, at least one ring, and at least one load generator providing an axial load. The rollers are maintained in rolling engagement with the sun and the ring without the use of teeth. In some embodiments, the tapered roller drive is based on a fixed-sun design. In other embodiments, the tapered roller drive is based on a split ring design.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventor: Chad McCloy
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Patent number: 10180089Abstract: A valvetrain includes a rocker arm assembly having an electromagnetic latch housed in a chamber formed by a rocker arm. The chamber may be a retrofit hydraulic chamber. A flux shifting bi-stable latch provides a sufficiently compact design. Isolation of the magnetic elements within the rocker arm chamber may provide protection from metal particles carried by oil in an operating environment for the rocker arm assembly. Wiring connections to the rocker arms may be made through spring posts on the rocker arms. Connection to the rocker arms may be made with springs that can endure the rapid motion induced by the rocker arms. A wiring harness for the rocker arms may attach to hydraulic lash adjusters of the rocker arm assemblies. The rocker arm assemblies and their wiring may be formed into a unitary module that facilitates installation.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power LimitedInventors: Petr Liskar, Mark Allan Juds, Mustafa Huseyin, Peter John Theisen, Amogh Vilas Kank, Dale Arden Stretch, Andrei Dan Radulescu, Douglas Anthony Hughes, Otto Schultheis, Kyle Crayne, James Edward McCarthy, Jr.
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Patent number: 10180090Abstract: An internal combustion engine, which can improve an annual energy consumption efficiency, is provided. A gas engine 1 includes: an oil cooler 11 having a passage via which heat is exchanged between engine cooling water and lubricating oil; and a control unit 12 configured to control a temperature of the engine cooling water to a constant temperature so as to cool the lubricating oil during high load operation and to heat the lubricating oil during low to medium load operation. The control unit 12 increases the temperature of the engine cooling water during low to medium load operation compared with the temperature of the engine cooling water during high load operation. An oil jet 18a, which is configured to inject the lubricating oil into a rear surface of a piston 17, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Nakazono, Khandoker Abu Raihan, Hiroyuki Okada
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Patent number: 10180091Abstract: A breather apparatus for an engine includes a breather chamber, one side portion and other side portion of the breather chamber, and a bottom face of the other side portion. The breather chamber is formed, along substantially half a circumference of a cylinder bore, in a cylinder block. The one side portion of the breather chamber is provided with a blow-by gas introduction hole leading blow-by gas in the crank chamber to the breather chamber and a one-way valve opening and closing the blow-by gas introduction hole. The other side portion of the breather chamber has a pipe connection hole connecting a breather pipe to the breather chamber and with a breather oil return passage. The bottom face of the other side portion projects into the crank chamber to a level lower than a bottom face of the one side portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuomi Ishihara, Hideto Nakamura
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Patent number: 10180092Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system is provided that includes a first conduit and a second conduit that are joined to together to define an exhaust passageway. A valve flap is disposed within the exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the exhaust passageway for rotation between open and closed positions. First and second bushings support the shaft. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first or second conduit in the closed position and side wings that contact the first or second conduit in the open position. A resilient tongue may support the pad on an angle relative to the valve flap and a mass damper may be attached to one end of the shaft. These features dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Larry J. Geer, Erwin Peters, Stephen M. Thomas, William E. Hill
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Patent number: 10180093Abstract: A selectively tunable exhaust noise attenuation device includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an exhaust volume. An inlet is coupled to the body and fluidically connected to the exhaust volume. A first outlet is coupled to the body and fluidically connected to the inlet and selectively fluidically connected to the exhaust volume and a second outlet coupled to the body and fluidically connected to the exhaust volume. A first conduit including a primary exhaust gas flow path directly fluidically connects the inlet and the first outlet. A second conduit includes a first end and a second. The second conduit defines a secondary exhaust gas flow path. A valve is fluidically connected to one of the first and second conduits. The valve is arranged laterally off-set of the primary exhaust gas flow path.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Charles D. Rusher, Roger C. Barlow, Jr., Scott M. Reilly
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Patent number: 10180094Abstract: An internal combustion engine, wherein a chemical thermal storage device is provided with a first heater including a first element generating heat when chemically adsorbing a reaction medium supplied from a storage part through a first connection pipe and desorbing the reaction medium if heated by the heat of exhaust in a state chemically adsorbing the reaction medium and a second heater including a second element generating heat when chemically adsorbing a reaction medium supplied from a storage part through a second connection pipe and desorbing the reaction medium if heated by the heat of exhaust in a state chemically adsorbing the reaction medium and wherein the control device controls the opening degrees of the first valve and the second valve so that the reaction medium supplied to the second heater is preferentially recovered at the storage part.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroyoshi Ueda
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Patent number: 10180095Abstract: A NOx catalyst is provided that can realize a favorable NOx reduction in a broad temperature region and that can lighten the overhead involved in production.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Otsuki, Hiromasa Nishioka, Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Yasumasa Notake
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Patent number: 10180096Abstract: An exhaust treatment fluid delivery system (16, 22, 116) may include a supply passageway (46, 146), a supply manifold (38, 138), injectors (42, 142), a bypass passageway (50, 150) and first and second pressure sensors (34, 134, 40, 140). The supply passageway (46, 146) receives the exhaust treatment fluid from a tank (26, 126) and provides the exhaust treatment fluid to the supply manifold (38, 138). The bypass passageway (50, 150) connects the supply passageway (46, 146) with the return passageway (48, 148) and includes a bypass valve (36, 136) controlling fluid flow therebetween. The first pressure sensor (34, 134) measures a first pressure of exhaust treatment fluid in the supply passageway (46, 146) based upon which the bypass valve (36, 136) is controlled. The second pressure sensor (40, 140) measures a second pressure of exhaust treatment fluid in the supply manifold (38, 138) based upon which the injectors (42, 142) are controlled.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Gaofeng Fan
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Patent number: 10180097Abstract: An apparatus of purifying an exhaust gas may include a catalytic converter which is disposed on an exhaust pipe and has a lean NOx trap (LNT) device in which a first LNT catalyst is coated and a catalyzed particulate filter (CPF) in which a second LNT catalyst is coated, and a regeneration method of the apparatus of purifying the exhaust gas may include determining whether a nitrogen oxide (NOx) amount absorbed in the LNT device is greater than a threshold NOx amount, determining whether a temperature of the LNT device is higher than a first predetermined temperature when the NOx amount absorbed in the LNT device is greater than the threshold NOx amount, and regenerating, both of the LNT device and the CPF or only the LNT device according to a temperature of the CPF when the temperature of the LNT device is higher than the first predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: ChangHo Jung, Pyung Soon Kim
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Patent number: 10180098Abstract: A control device of an exhaust sensor comprises a battery voltage detection part detecting a voltage of a battery, and a heater control part setting a target temperature of an electrochemical cell and controlling the electric power supplied from the battery to a heater. The heater control part sets the target temperature to a first temperature after startup of the internal combustion engine until the voltage of the battery recovers to a predetermined voltage, and switches the target temperature from the first temperature to a second temperature when the voltage of the battery recovers to the predetermined voltage. The first temperature is a temperature lower than an operating temperature of the electrochemical cell and at least a lowest temperature at which a Leidenfrost phenomenon occurs at the protective layer. The second temperature is a temperature of the operating temperature or more.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Koji Ide, Go Hayashita
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Patent number: 10180099Abstract: A heat insulating structure for an exhaust junction pipe to be disposed in an area in which exhaust gas passages having different respective lengths are merged together comprises a first heat insulation portion that covers and provides heat insulation for at least a portion of one branch part of branch parts that are branched in the exhaust junction pipe; the one branch part forms one exhaust gas passage in a not-yet-merged state of the exhaust gas passages, and forms the one exhaust gas passage having a short length.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTDInventors: Masahiro Jinda, Munehiro Tsubosaka, Takuya Kondo, Shinnosuke Toichi, Toshikazu Namikiri, Manabu Yokoyama
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Patent number: 10180100Abstract: A cooling system 100 includes an electric oil pump 18, an outside air temperature sensor 22, an oil temperature sensor 21, and a controller 30. The controller 30 permits the actuation of the electric oil pump 18 in one of a first case where an oil temperature To is equal to or greater than a first threshold (A) and where an outside air temperature Ta is equal to or greater than a second threshold (B), a second case where the outside air temperature Ta is less than the second threshold (B) and where the oil temperature To is equal to or greater than a third threshold (C) higher than the first threshold (A), and a third case where the oil temperature To is less than the first threshold (A) and where the outside air temperature Ta is equal to or greater than a fourth threshold (D) higher than the second threshold (B).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinjiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 10180101Abstract: A fail-safe control method for a vehicle cooling system, in which an engine and a vehicle can be properly operated even when a water temperature sensor malfunctions. When only one of two water temperature sensors malfunctions, control may be performed so that an engine and a vehicle can properly operate. When both the two water temperature sensors malfunction, the fail-safe function of the flow rate control valve can be enabled to entirely prevent cooling water from being overheated, thereby improving the reliability of the operation of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTO COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Cheol Soo Park, Dong Suk Chae, Jun Sik Park, Seong Kyu Park, Jea Woong Yi
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Patent number: 10180102Abstract: An intake air cooling device includes an intake manifold communicating with intake ports, and an intercooler disposed laterally of a cylinder head for cooling intake air. The intake manifold includes a manifold body fastened to the cylinder head, and a cooler forming portion communicating with the upstream end of the manifold body and constituting the lower end of the intercooler. Assuming that the cooler forming portion is a second cooler forming portion, the intercooler includes a first cooler forming portion mounted on the upper portion of the second cooler forming portion. The intercooler is constituted by the first and second cooler forming portions. The manifold body includes a plurality of fixing portions fastened to the surface of the cylinder head. The fixing portions are located on the outside of the second cooler forming portion in a side view along a direction orthogonal to the cylinder array direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Hidenari Kondo
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Patent number: 10180103Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for providing an engine supercharger allowing an exhaust gas to efficiently act on a turbine in a wide operating range. A turbine for use in a supercharger includes a turbine housing, a turbine scroll formed inside the housing continuously with a turbine lead-in route, and a turbine wheel to turn on an axis of rotation close to a tongue portion. The turbine lead-in route is partitioned by a partition wall into first and second lead-in routes. Exhaust variable valves are provided upstream of the second lead-in route in order to change the flow rate of the exhaust gas to be introduced. When viewed in the direction in which the axis of rotation extends, a downstream end of the partition is aligned with the axis of rotation and the tongue portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshiyuki Uehane, Junji Umemura, Hideya Horii, Tomoaki Fujiyama
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Patent number: 10180104Abstract: A variable geometry may include a blade bearing ring, guide blades mounted therein or thereon in a rotatable manner, and an adjustment ring for simultaneously adjusting the guide blades. The adjustment ring may be in operative connection with adjusting levers of the guide blades, and may be mounted on the blade bearing ring via rollers. A roll engagement may be provided for each roller, which may be guided into and may roll onto the respective roll engagement. Each roller may have two guide collars between which a groove runs and on which the roller may roll onto the blade bearing ring. A rail may be arranged on the blade bearing ring, and may engage in the groove between the two guide collars for each roller. Each roller may be retained on the blade bearing ring and on the adjustment ring exclusively via the guide collars of the respective roller.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmBH & CO. KGInventor: Anatolij Martens
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Patent number: 10180105Abstract: A hanger includes a connector assembly for coupling the hanger to a first annular duct, a bracket for coupling the hanger to a second annular duct concentrically disposed within the first annular duct, and a cable formed by a plurality of wires bound together that extend from the connector assembly to the bracket. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced hangers placed in tension support an exhaust duct liner relative to an exhaust duct. The hangers permit circumferential and axial displacement at each hanger of the exhaust duct liner relative to the exhaust duct. The displacement of the exhaust duct liner relative to the exhaust duct at each hanger is permitted in a first radial direction that decreases tension in the cable and is restrained in a second radial direction that increases tension in the cable.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Donald W. Peters
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Patent number: 10180106Abstract: A solenoid for a bleed valve includes a solenoid body with an actuation fluid passage, a bleed valve passage, and a drive fluid chamber. A main armature is disposed within the solenoid body and is movable between open and closed positions, the actuation fluid passage being in fluid communication with the control outlet in the open position, the actuation fluid passage being fluidly isolated from the bleed valve passage in the second position. A pilot armature is disposed within the solenoid body, is movable relative to the main armature, and is operably coupled to the main armature by the drive fluid chamber to move the main armature between the open and closed positions by controlling issue of a drive fluid into and out of the drive fluid chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Lubomir A. Ribarov, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr.
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Patent number: 10180107Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more processor-executable instructions wherein the one or more instructions when executed by a processor of a controller, cause acts to be performed is provided. The acts to be performed include controlling a fuel split to a combustor of a gas turbine utilizing automatic tuning and switching control of the fuel split to the combustor of the gas turbine to utilizing an adjusted fixed fuel split schedule instead of automatic tuning. The adjusted fixed fuel split schedule includes a fixed fuel split schedule adjusted via a biasing value, and the biasing value is based on both the fixed fuel split schedule and an automatic tuning based fuel split.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Steven William Backman, Trevor Valder Jones, Daniel Joseph Flavin, Scott Michael Schaberg, Kelly Marie Kurylo
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Patent number: 10180108Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a controller configured to execute logic stored in a memory that causes the controller to determine two or more of a frequency, a coherence, a phase, and an amplitude, of a combustion instability; to compare two of more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability to a respective predetermined limit; and to adjust at least one parameter of the gas turbine if two or more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability are actionable relative to their respective predetermined limits. A related method of operating the gas turbine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day
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Patent number: 10180109Abstract: An internal combustion engine 100 comprises an air-fuel ratio control device. The air-fuel ratio control device controls the amount of fuel fed to the combustion chamber by feedback control so that the air-fuel ratio detected by the upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor matches the target air-fuel ratio when a blow-through amount of air blown from the intake passage through a cylinder to the exhaust passage due to an occurrence of valve overlap is a reference blow-through amount or less. The air-fuel ratio control device sets the target air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas based on the air-fuel ratio detected by the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor and, without performing the feedback control, feeds the amount of fuel calculated from the target air-fuel ratio to the combustion chamber when the blow-through amount is greater than the reference blow-through amount.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Okubo, Norihisa Nakagawa, Koichi Kimura
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Patent number: 10180110Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, having of the following steps: operating the internal combustion engine with a gas fuel; detecting a lambda value in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; determining at least one variable from the detected lambda value, characterizing the quality of the gaseous fuel; and controlling the internal combustion engine based on the at least one variable.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBHInventors: Andreas Flohr, Roland Werner
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Patent number: 10180111Abstract: An O2 sensor includes a sensor element using a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes placed at a position to interpose the solid electrolyte layer, detects an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine as an object of a detection, and outputs an electromotive force signal depending on an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas. The sensor element is connected with a constant current circuit supplying a constant current that is prescribed. A microcomputer calculates a resistance value (element resistance) of the sensor element, and performs a restriction on the constant current supplied by the constant current circuit on the basis of the element resistance.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takao Mishima, Mikiyasu Matsuoka, Shingo Nakata
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Patent number: 10180112Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis system of an air-fuel ratio sensor 40 or 41 provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine and generating a limit current corresponding to an air-fuel ratio, comprises a current detecting part 61 detecting an output current of the air-fuel ratio sensor and an applied voltage control device 60 controlling a voltage applied to the air-fuel ratio sensor. The abnormality diagnosis system applies a voltage inside a limit current region where a limit current is generated and a voltage outside the limit current region to the air-fuel ratio sensor when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas circulating around the air-fuel ratio sensor is made a predetermined constant air-fuel ratio, and judges a type of abnormality occurring at the air-fuel ratio sensor based on an output current of the air-fuel ratio sensor detected by the current detecting part at this time.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Go Hayashita, Hidenori Moriya
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Patent number: 10180113Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of controlling fuel injection valves while causing valve-closing delay time periods, which occur with the valves actually mounted on the engine, to be reflected thereon, thereby making it possible to improve exhaust emission characteristics and fuel economy performance. The ECU of the control system performs initial value-specific control in fuel injection control and ignition timing control, such that initial value acquisition conditions are satisfied, so as to calculate the initial values of the valve-closing delay time periods when the initial value acquisition conditions are satisfied. When normal-time control is performed, the valve-opening time periods of the valves are calculated using the initial values of the valve-opening time periods, and the valves are controlled to be open over the valve-opening time periods.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tatsuo Yamanaka, Susumu Nakajima, Naoki Yokoyama, Kenji Hirose, Hidekazu Hironobu, Seiichi Hosogai
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Patent number: 10180114Abstract: A method includes spraying a coating on to an engine bore surface, honing the coated surface to create a honed surface region, and cleaning the honed surface region to remove material from the surface pores. The honed surface region includes a plurality of surface pores and upper, middle, and lower regions. Cleaning the honed surface region produces upper, middle, and lower region surface porosities, with the middle region porosity being greater than at least one of the upper and lower porosities.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Clifford E. Maki, Larry Dean Elie, James Douglas Ervin, Timothy George Beyer, Hamed Ghaednia, James Maurice Boileau
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Patent number: 10180115Abstract: A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine is defined between a pair of pistons disposed for opposing reciprocal movement in a cylinder. The combustion chamber is formed between crowns of the pistons and has a radius that decreases from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. Each crown includes a periphery, a bowl within the periphery defining a concave surface with a first portion curving inwardly toward the interior of the piston and a second portion curving outwardly from the interior, and a convex surface within the periphery curving outwardly and meeting the second portion of the concave surface to form a ridge. Each ridge has a height that decreases with the distance from a longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.Inventors: Tristan M. Burton, Fabien G. Redon
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Patent number: 10180116Abstract: The present invention provides a heat medium circulation structure for a micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) generator in which a heat medium that primarily looses heat by undergoing heat exchange with water in a hot-water tank and thus has a low temperature further performs heat exchange with low-temperature direct water supplied through a direct water line, thereby further loosing heat, in a return line heat exchanger, and then returns to a stirling engine through a heat medium return line, thereby effectively cooling a low temperature portion of the stirling engine. Thus, the heat medium circulation structure enables high electricity production efficiency. Further provided is a hot water temperature control method for a micro-CHP generator in which the consumption of hot water is detected by a flow sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTDInventors: Dae Woong Park, Duck Pyo Jang
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Patent number: 10180117Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first annular portion that is stationary and adapted for partially surrounding an engine core. The first annular portion includes a fore pylon connecting portion. The gas turbine engine also includes a rail coupled to the fore pylon and extending in the aft direction from the first annular portion. The gas turbine engine also includes a second annular portion, arranged aft of the first portion and coupled to the rail. The second annular portion is movable along an engine core centerline between a closed position and at least one open position. The second annular portion is configured to engage the first annular portion in the closed position, thereby providing access to the engine core. The gas turbine engine further comprises a thrust reverser arranged in the second annular portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler, T. David Bomzer
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Patent number: 10180118Abstract: A thruster operable in a chemical mode or in an electrospray mode using the same liquid monopropellant for operation in both modes is described having a multiplicity of a microthrusters made of a catalytic material having a bore therethrough, where, when operated in the chemical mode, the microthrusters are heated to decompose the monopropellant the monopropellant flows therethrough to generate relatively high thrust. An extractor is positioned downstream of the outlet ends of the microthrusters, such that when the system is operated in its electrospray mode the flowrate of the monopropellant through the microthrusters is substantially lower than in the chemical mode and the extractor is energized with an electric field so that ions and droplets are discharged from the microthrusters and accelerated so as to yield a relatively high specific impulse.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: Steven P. Berg, Joshua L. Rovey
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Patent number: 10180119Abstract: A system and method of providing HHO gas to an internal combustion engine in a vehicle involves providing a liquid electrolyte solution to at least one HHO generator including an HHO generating structure having a plurality of parallel plates suspended in a fluid compartment. Residual electrolyte solution is separated from the HHO gas output by the HHO generator, and a quantity of the HHO gas is stored in a pressure tank at a pressure level exceeding an ambient atmospheric pressure. The HHO gas is electively delivered to an intake side of the internal combustion engine by a valve structure coupled to the pressure tank, which is controlled at least in part by a throttle signal of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: THE HYDROGEN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Timothy Allen Watson, James Edward Lowe, Armand Rene Dauplaise
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Patent number: 10180120Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a vehicle intake humidity sensor positioned in an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle. In one example, a method is provided, comprising in response to shutdown of the engine, and further responsive to conditions being met for calibrating the intake humidity sensor, requesting a humidity estimate from one or more weather devices, and calibrating the intake humidity sensor based on at least a confidence level in the one or more weather devices. In this way, the intake humidity sensor may be regularly calibrated, under conditions where accurate and robust calibration may be achieved, and where regularly calibrating the intake humidity sensor may improve engine operation and increase fuel economy.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla
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Patent number: 10180121Abstract: An outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine and a cowl covering the engine. An air vent allows intake air into the cowl, an air intake duct routes the intake air from the air vent to the engine, and a throttle body meters flow of the intake air from the air intake duct into the engine. A sound enhancement device is located proximate the throttle body. A sound duct is provided, and has an inlet end located proximate the sound enhancement device and an outlet end located proximate an outer surface of the cowl. The sound enhancement device is tuned to amplify a first subset of sounds having a desired frequency that are emitted from the throttle body, and the sound duct transmits the amplified sounds to an area outside the cowl. A method for modifying sounds produced by an air intake system of an outboard motor is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Andrew S. Waisanen, Jeffrey C. Etapa, Wayne M. Jaszewski
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Patent number: 10180122Abstract: A fuel pump includes a plunger that reciprocates inside a cylinder. The fuel pump includes a first movable element connected to the plunger, a second movable element that functions as a counterweight for preventing or reducing vibrations that are created by reciprocation of the first movable element, an electromagnet provided between the first movable element and the second movable element, a magnetic member that is provided between the first movable element and the second movable element and that attracts both the first movable element and the second movable element when the electromagnet is energized, and a first spring that urges the first movable element and the second movable element so as to move away from each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuhiro Asayama
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Patent number: 10180123Abstract: A method is provided for pairing at least two injectors, e.g., two fuel injectors for a direct injection system of an internal combustion engine, wherein a criterion for the pairing of the at least two injectors is a total leakage and/or a pressure difference at a transfer pin of the respective injector. A method for producing an injector, e.g., a fuel injector for a direct injection system of an internal combustion engine, is also provided, wherein at least two instances of mechanical backlash, e.g., instances of pairing backlash, that are relevant to injection amounts, leakage amounts, and/or pressure differences of the injector are paired with each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Willibald Schuerz, Roman Etlender, Werner Reim
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Patent number: 10180124Abstract: A laser igniter that avoids autoignition and soot formation within the prechamber and will minimize the formation of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). The laser igniter has a laser spark plug with a microlaser and a prechamber integrally formed with the laser spark plug. The prechamber has six nozzle holes with three of the nozzle holes having a large diameter and three of the nozzle holes having a small diameter. The large and small nozzle holes are in a staggered arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: U.S. Department of EnergyInventors: Sreenath Gupta, Roberto Torelli
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Patent number: 10180125Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining pressure and suction sides, and leading and trailing edges extending in a generally span-wise direction between an inboard region and an outboard region. The inboard region includes a blade root having a rounded trailing edge. Further, the rotor blade assembly further includes at least one airflow separation element mounted to either or both of the pressure or suction sides of the rotor blade within the inboard region and adjacent to the rounded trailing edge. In addition, the at least one airflow separation element corresponds to a contour of the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade. As such, the at least one airflow separation element is configured to provide a fixed airflow separation location in the inboard region during standard operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christian A. Carroll, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Stefan Herr
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Patent number: 10180126Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade, including a first blade section, a second blade section and at least one pre-stressed tensioning element for connecting the first blade section and the second blade section with each other, wherein the rotor blade is split at an interface thereof in a longitudinal direction into the first blade section and the second blade section, wherein the first blade section is arranged closer to a root of the rotor blade than the second blade section, wherein a length of the at least one pre-stressed tensioning element is larger than half of a chord length of the rotor blade at the interface and wherein the at least one pre-stressed tensioning element extends deeper into the first blade section than into the second blade section, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Erik Grove-Nielsen
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Patent number: 10180127Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a nacelle (1) installed on a tower (2) supported by a floating support. The nacelle is articulated with respect to the tower in a vertical plane, and it comprises means (12, 16) for correcting the nacelle tilt, means for automatically adjusting the correction means in accordance with sensors detecting the correction values, the adjustment means being synchronous with the movements of the floating support. Figure 4 to be published.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLESInventors: Christian Wittrisch, Pascal Longuemare
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Patent number: 10180128Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a method for managing and/or categorizing trip faults of an electrical component, such as power converter, of a wind turbine. The method includes receiving, via a local controller of the wind turbine, an indication of at least one trip fault in the electrical component of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining, via the local controller, a unique identifier for the trip fault. More specifically, the unique identifier contains information regarding a type of the trip fault and at least one of an origin or a cause, of the trip fault. Further, the method includes sending, via the local controller, the unique identifier to a supervisory controller of the wind turbine. Thus, the method also includes implementing, via the supervisory controller, a control action based on the unique identifier.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sidney Allen Barker, James Thomas Bailey, Bruce Allen Gerritsen, Minesh Ashok Shah, Ramy Michael Souri, Raju Singamsetti, Achchugatla Vikramaditya
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Patent number: 10180129Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer program products for coordinating the control of a floating wind turbine (101) between a wind turbine controller (111) and a platform controller (110). One or more wind turbine control systems and/or one or more platform control systems may be altered based on said coordinated control of said floating wind turbine (101).Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/SInventors: Ian Couchman, Robert Bowyer
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Patent number: 10180130Abstract: An electroproportionally controlled differential pressure valve cartridge includes actuation and tank ports on an outer circumference, and a pump port on a face-side. A spring preloads a piston into a position that relieves pressure from the actuation port to the tank port. A current increase through an electromagnet opposite the pump port and a pressure increase at the pump port counter the spring to open a connection from the pump port to the actuation port. A concentric opening extends from the pump port to a first piston surface. A duct extends from the first piston surface to a pump chamber. A further duct extends from the pump port to a spring chamber between the pump chamber and electromagnet. In the spring chamber, pressure over a second piston surface counters pressure over the first piston surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Nadine Klausmann, Fabian Ruethschilling, Andreas Apperger, Carola Diebold
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Patent number: 10180131Abstract: A reciprocating compressor according to an aspect includes a driving unit; a connecting rod; a piston; a cylinder; and a valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly includes a valve plate forming a main body, a suction inlet and a discharge outlet disposed at the valve plate and coming in communication with a compression space of the cylinder to guide a refrigerant flow, a suction valve and a discharge valve disposed at the valve plate and selectively opening the suction inlet and the discharge outlet, and a plurality of coupling portions disposed at the valve plate, and a plurality of corresponding coupling portions disposed to correspond to each of the plurality of coupling portions and preventing the valve assembly from being erroneously assembled are disposed at the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Dowan Kim, Jaeho Cho, Yongjin Yang, Inho Son, Kangkyun Park, Jeayoung Choi
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Patent number: 10180132Abstract: A flow generator includes pumps operated by motors to generate an amount of a hydraulic fluid, a proportional hydraulic control valve to control output hydraulic pressure according to the amount of the hydraulic fluid, a pressure sensor to detect the output hydraulic pressure, and a hydraulic servo loop controller to which a required hydraulic pressure and a required amount of fluid are input by a user. Based on a feedback signal representing the output hydraulic pressure, the controller generates a pressure control signal for controlling the proportional hydraulic control valve based on the required hydraulic pressure and a change in the output hydraulic pressure. It also generates an RPM input signal for controlling a motor's RPM.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: KNR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Sung Moo Ryu, Seong Cheol Jang, Hyoung Kwon Kim, Young Ho Choo, Dae Gyeong Kim
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Patent number: 10180133Abstract: A channel-less microfluidic pump includes a cartridge including a substrate and an actuatable film layer disposed on the substrate, and a manifold having at least three actuatable void volumes separated by a plurality of wall sections and an actuatable flexible layer disposed on the manifold interfacing the actuatable film layer. In operation, the pump can be in an unactuated state wherein the actuatable film layer is disposed against the surface of the substrate or an actuated state wherein at least a portion of the flexible layer and a corresponding portion of the actuatable film layer are deflected into a corresponding void volume thus forming a fluidic volume between the deflected portion of the actuatable film layer and the surface of the substrate. In the actuated state, there is a fluidic gap between immediately adjacent void volumes formed by a thinned region of the flexible layer at a point of contact with a top surface of a wall section.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: RHEONIX, INC.Inventors: Lincoln C. Young, Peng Zhou