Patents Issued in August 13, 2019
  • Patent number: 10378418
    Abstract: An isolator assembly has a housing with a bore. A resilient bushing is positioned within the bore of the housing. The bushing has a lower isolator spring element, a central region and an upper isolator spring element, wherein the central region has a smaller cross sectional area than each of the lower and upper isolator spring elements. The bushing has a bore extending at least partially axially therethrough. The lower and upper isolator spring elements are supported within axially spaced apart portions of the housing. A vertical hanger pin is secured within the bore of the bushing and projects outwardly therefrom to facilitate mounting the isolator assembly to an exhaust system component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Patent number: 10378419
    Abstract: A water jacket spacer adjusting a flow amount of cooling water in a water jacket, the water jacket spacer being inserted in the water jacket of a cylinder block, the water jacket spacer has a spacer body and a rectification means inhibiting flow of cooling water to an inner wall on a cylinder bore side of the water jacket, the rectification means having a form of a pocket and being provided on a face of the spacer body, the face being on a side of a cooling water introduction port of the water jacket, the rectification means being provided lower than the cooling water introduction port in a depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UCHIYAMA MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventor: Koji Makino
  • Patent number: 10378420
    Abstract: Provided is a saddle-ride type vehicle that can improve the cooling ability when a radiator fan is provided only on one radiator of right and left radiators. A saddle-ride type vehicle has a water-cooled engine, right and left radiators supported by a body frame, and a cooling water passage that connects the right and left radiators and the water-cooled engine. A radiator fan is provided only on one radiator of the right and left radiators. One cooling water passage that connects the one radiator and the water-cooled engine has a larger diameter than the other cooling water passage that connects the other radiator and the water-cooled engine. The one radiator is larger than the other radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kisaichi, Hiroyuki Kaga, Koichiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10378421
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission having a cooler, a coolant pump, a first coolant loop, a second coolant loop, and a flow regulator. The first coolant loop fluidly connects the coolant pump to the engine and returns to the coolant pump. The second coolant loop fluidly connects the coolant pump to the transmission cooler and returns to the coolant pump, bypassing the engine. The flow regulator is configured to selectively restrict coolant flow through the second coolant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Thomas Gooden, Michael Joseph Giunta, David Curtis Ives
  • Patent number: 10378422
    Abstract: This thermostat abnormality determining device includes a cooling water temperature sensor, an estimated temperature calculating unit and a determining unit. The cooling water temperature sensor detects the temperature of cooling water that cools an engine. The estimated temperature calculating unit calculates an estimated temperature, which is an estimated value of the temperature of the cooling water. The determining unit determines if the thermostat has become stuck open after warming-up of the engine is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Kaneta, Hitoshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 10378423
    Abstract: An exhaust manifold is for an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine. The exhaust manifold has an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the internal combustion, and a cooling jacket on the exhaust conduit. The cooling jacket defines a first cooling water passage that conveys cooling water in a first direction alongside the exhaust conduit, a second cooling water passage that conveys the cooling water from the first cooling water passage in an opposite, second direction alongside the exhaust conduit, and third cooling water passage that is separate from the first and second cooling water passages and conveys spent cooling water from the internal combustion engine to a thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Reichardt, Katelyn A. Vara, Daanish Tyrewala, Vinodh Kumar Balakrishnan, Chetan Avinash Dharmadhikari, Pankaj Ankush Jagadale
  • Patent number: 10378424
    Abstract: The exhaust gas recirculation system comprises an exhaust recirculation pipe configured to recirculate an exhaust gas from an engine into an intake pipe of the engine, an exhaust gas heat exchanger connected to the exhaust recirculation pipe and configured to perform an heat exchange between the exhaust gas and an engine cooling water used for cooling the engine, a cooling water pipe configured to circulate the engine cooling water to the exhaust gas heat exchanger, and a heat insulating member forming a heat insulating layer on a heat transfer path from the exhaust gas heat exchanger to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Okamura, Kenichi Nara
  • Patent number: 10378425
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a cooling system for a vehicle engine. In one example, the cooling system includes a coolant solution circulated through both an engine cooling circuit and a vehicle interior heating circuit that is fluidly coupled to the engine cooling circuit, and a reservoir containing concentrated antifreeze. The concentrated antifreeze is flowed from the reservoir to the vehicle interior heating circuit via a shutoff valve to increase a concentration of antifreeze in the coolant solution. In some embodiments, a separation unit may be used to decrease the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, David van Bebber, Andreas Schmitt, Claudia Herudek, Klaus-Peter Heinig
  • Patent number: 10378426
    Abstract: A system for determining a remaining useful life of a cooling component operatively connected to a prime mover. A controller performs a thermal strain analysis that includes determining the power output of the prime mover based upon sensor signals, determining a temperature output of the prime mover based upon the power output, determining a temperature at each of the plurality of analysis locations based upon the temperature output, determining a temperature difference based upon the temperature at each respective one of the plurality of analysis locations, and determining a thermal strain based upon the temperature difference. The controller repeats the thermal strain analysis at time intervals over a period of time, determines an accumulated damage for the cooling component based upon the thermal strain from each thermal strain analysis, and determines a remaining useful life of the cooling component based upon the material characteristics and the accumulated damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Doug A. Long, Neil Terry, Anthony L. Deluca, Jianlong Xu, Rohit K. Paramatmuni, Joseph L. Kennedy, Michael J. Campagna
  • Patent number: 10378427
    Abstract: A gasoline compression ignition engine, a vehicle and a method of operating a gasoline compression ignition engine. An inlet air management system includes a membrane-based separator and an exhaust gas recirculation flowpath that cooperate to deliver a nitrogen enriched air stream to the engine to help reduce exhaust gas emissions. The separator segregates the incoming air into the nitrogen enriched air stream as well as an oxygen enriched air stream such that the latter can be used for various engine load conditions, as well as for supplemental air for a cabin or related passenger compartment within a vehicle that is powered by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Junseok Chang, Jaeheon Sim, Seung-Hak Choi
  • Patent number: 10378428
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes: a main combustion chamber; an intake port connected to the main combustion chamber at an intake opening; an exhaust port connected to the main combustion chamber at an exhaust opening; a sub-chamber provided between the intake opening and the exhaust opening, and connected to the main combustion chamber through a plurality of through-holes; a fuel injector injecting fuel into the sub-chamber; and a spark plug performing ignition in the sub-chamber. A tumble flow flows from a first side to a second side as seen from the sub-chamber. The through-holes include: a first through-hole formed in a first side part of a side wall of the sub-chamber; and a second through-hole different from the first through-hole. A diameter of the first through-hole is larger than that of the second through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Muto
  • Patent number: 10378429
    Abstract: A hybrid intercooler system is provided and includes an air cooler that is configured to exchange heat with exterior air passing through an outer wall of a plurality of compressed intake air paths to cool a compressed intake air passing through the inside of the compressed intake air paths. Further, a water cooler is configured to exchange heat between a water cooler coolant enclosing the outer wall of the compressed intake air paths and the compressed intake air which is cooled in the air cooler. The water cooler includes a water cooler coolant tank that encloses the compressed intake air paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dang-Hee Park
  • Patent number: 10378430
    Abstract: An integrated intercooler apparatus, which is supplied with intake air and recirculating exhaust gas, and cools the intake air and the recirculating exhaust gas, may include: a heat exchanger in which gas passageways through which the intake air and the recirculating exhaust gas pass and coolant passageways through which a coolant passes are alternately formed from a front side to a rear side thereof; and a variable device which controls an area of an exhaust gas supply region and an area of an intake air supply region at a front side of an inlet side of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Won Rok Choi, Seung Jae Kang
  • Patent number: 10378431
    Abstract: A split-cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) is provided, comprising a compression cylinder, an expansion cylinder and a crossover valve having a valve cylinder housing inside a shuttle and a combustion chamber structure defining a combustion chamber. The shuttle is configured to perform reciprocating motion inside the valve cylinder synchronously with a compression piston and an expansion piston, thereby alternatingly fluidly coupling and decoupling the combustion chamber with the compression cylinder and with the expansion cylinder, selectively. Sealing rings positioned between the valve cylinder and the shuttle prevent gas leaks between them during the reciprocating motion. In some embodiments, a phase shift between the pistons may be set or varied by a piston phase transmission gear. A bi-directional fluid flow split-cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) is also provided having a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a combustion chamber and a single crossover valve fluidly communicating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Tour, Oded Tour, Hugo Benjamin Tour
  • Patent number: 10378432
    Abstract: A casing for a radial turbine in an exhaust gas turbocharger for a motor vehicle includes a gas duct having an inlet section and an adjoining spiral section, between which a casing tab is arranged. The spiral section features a radially inner turbine inlet, the axial width of which in the region of the casing tab circumferentially decreases toward an end face of the casing tab in a circumferential section. An end face of the casing tab is inclined relative to a rotational axis of the radial turbine in an axial section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Franz, Hans-Joerg Heidermann
  • Patent number: 10378433
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a supercharged internal combustion engine with an intake system and an exhaust gas discharge system that include two turbochargers arranged in series, a turbo-generator, and an electrically-driven compressor. During engine operation with mid-to-high exhaust gas flow rates, excess exhaust gas that bypasses the high-pressure turbocharger may be directed through the turbo-generator to generate electricity that may be provided to drive the electrically-driven compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Forb Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Kemmerling, Hanno Friederichs, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Vanco Smiljanovski, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Andreas Kuske, Frank Wunderlich
  • Patent number: 10378434
    Abstract: A variable turbine geometry turbine turbocharger (1) includes a vane ring assembly (29) configured to control flow of exhaust gas to a turbine wheel (12), and retainers (60, 160) that are used to secure the vane ring assembly (29) to the bearing housing (16) in a desired axial and radial position and angular orientation relative to the bearing housing (16). In some embodiments, the vane ring assembly (29) is spring biased toward an axially outward position relative to the bearing housing (16), and the retainers (60, 160) retain the vane (30) ring in the desired position against the spring bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Alan Morgan, Greg Williams
  • Patent number: 10378435
    Abstract: A water injection device of an internal combustion engine is provided. The water injection device includes a water tank for storing water, and a delivery element for delivering the water. The delivery element is connected to the water tank. The water injection device further includes at least one water injector for injecting water. The at least one water injector is connected to the delivery element. The water injection device further includes a pressure sensor, which is arranged in a line region between the delivery element and the water injector, and a control unit, which is designed to determine, on the basis of pressure data of the pressure sensor, a formation of vapor in the aforementioned line region when the water injector is closed and the delivery element is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Obergfaell, Ingmar Burak, Peter Schenk
  • Patent number: 10378436
    Abstract: An internally cooled internal combustion piston engine and method of operating a piston engine is provided, with the combination of liquid water injection, higher compression ratios than conventional engines, and leaner air fuel mixtures than conventional engines. The effective compression ratio of the engines herein is greater than 13:1. The engines may employ gasoline or natural gas and use spark ignition, or the engines may employ a diesel-type fuel and use compression ignition. The liquid water injection provides internal cooling, reducing or eliminating the heat rejection to the radiator, reduces engine knock, and reduces NOx emissions. The method of engine operation using internal cooling with liquid water injection, high compression ratio and lean air fuel mixture allow for more complete and efficient combustion and therefore better thermal efficiency as compared to conventional engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NOSTRUM ENERGY PTE, LTD.
    Inventor: Nirmal Mulye
  • Patent number: 10378437
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for implementing the method so as to alleviate the disadvantages of a reciprocating combustion engine and gas turbine in electric energy production. The invention is based on the idea of arranging a combustion chamber (10) outside a turbine (22) and providing compressed air from serially connected compressors to the combustion chamber in order to carry out a combustion process supplemented with high pressure steam pulses. The combustion chamber (10) is arranged to receive compressed air from each compressing stage of the serially connected compressors (24) for gradually increasing the amount of compressed air in the combustion chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Finno Energy Oy
    Inventors: Timo Erämaa, Heikki J. Salminen
  • Patent number: 10378438
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a propulsor, a compressor comprising a compressor rotor, and a turbine comprising a turbine rotor fixedly mechanically coupled to the compressor rotor. The propulsor and the compressor are arranged in axial flow series. The turbine rotor is radially outward of the compressor rotor, and the direction of fluid flow through the turbine is generally opposite the direction of gas flow through the propulsor and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Joseph Skertic
  • Patent number: 10378439
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include unique gas turbine engines. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Cedoz, Syed J. Khalid
  • Patent number: 10378440
    Abstract: A disclosed gas turbine engine includes a fan section including a hub supporting a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis, and a bearing assembly supporting rotation of the hub about the axis. A compressor section is in fluid communication with a combustor and a turbine is in fluid communication with the compressor section. A speed reduction device driven by the turbine section for rotating the fan about the axis is mounted forward of the bearing assembly supporting rotation of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10378441
    Abstract: A burner module in an air stream has a feed pipe of substantially circular cross section and an axis, fuel injection orifices situated on the pipe and intended to produce a flame, oxidant injection orifices and fins arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane P of flow of the fuel upstream of the burner module and laterally on the pipe on each side of the fuel injection orifices. There are at least two fuel injection orifices in a section of the pipe and they have an axis that makes an angle ? with the plane of flow P of the oxidant. In this way, gas is injected at several orifices situated in at least two divergent planes. These two planes delimit a space to which fuel and to which oxidant are not supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FIVES PILLARD
    Inventors: Fouad Said, Louis Ricci, Yannick Boudet
  • Patent number: 10378442
    Abstract: A mechanical flywheel used to power an aircraft system. In one example, the flywheel is used to rotate a rotor shaft in the aircraft's engine and prevent bowing of the rotor shaft caused by a thermal gradient. In another example, the mechanical flywheel provides electrical power at peak demand times. In yet another example, the flywheel is used as a load source or sink by the engine's control system so as to aid engine operability and engine acceleration rates during abnormal flight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason J. Jackowski, Kent E. Karnofski
  • Patent number: 10378443
    Abstract: A fluid system may comprise a fluid passage comprising a passage inlet and a passage outlet, through which fluid may flow by entering the passage inlet as an inlet flow and exiting the passage outlet as an outlet flow; a bypass valve comprising a bypass inlet and a bypass outlet, the bypass inlet being in fluid communication with the passage inlet, wherein the bypass valve further comprises a piston coupled to a spring; and a position sensor coupled to the bypass valve and configured to detect a position of the piston in the bypass valve. The spring may retain the piston in a rest position, and the spring and the piston may be configured to block the fluid from passing through the bypass outlet in response to the inlet flow exerting a pressure below a bypass pressure threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard W. Clark, Javier A. Cué
  • Patent number: 10378444
    Abstract: An engine component for a gas turbine engine includes a film-cooled recess comprising a contoured portion defining a step. A hot surface facing hot combustion gas and a cooling surface facing a cooling fluid flow are fluidly coupled by a passage through the engine component. The passage further comprises an inlet in the cooling surface and an outlet in the step. The inlet, passage and outlet are oriented such that the cooling fluid flowing through the passage and exiting the outlet diffuses within the contoured portion prevents premature mixing out with the hot fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Francis Manning, Ronald Scott Bunker, Robert Frederick Bergholz, Robert David Briggs
  • Patent number: 10378445
    Abstract: The present application discloses a fuel system for a gas turbine engine. The engine includes a main alternating current electrical generator driven by an engine shaft such that the electrical output frequency of the electrical generator varies in dependence on shaft rotational speed. The fuel system includes a variable flow fuel pump for providing a fuel flow to the engine, a frequency and/or voltage controller configured to provide electrical power having at least one of a predetermined output frequency and a predetermined voltage, and a variable speed electric motor configured to drive the fuel pump. The electric motor includes an induction motor having a stator and at least a first rotor, the stator having first and second sets of stator windings. Each set of stator windings is configured to impart a torque on the rotor in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Huw Llewelyn Edwards, Stephen Mark Husband, John James Anthony Cullen
  • Patent number: 10378446
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine engine includes a feed arm including a primary and a secondary fluid passage. An inlet assembly is fixed at an upstream end of the feed arm having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the primary and the secondary fluid passages. A tip assembly is fixed at a downstream end of the feed arm having a fluid outlet in communication with the primary and secondary fluid passages for issuing a spray of fluid. The primary and secondary fluid passages are monolithically formed within the feed arm. At least one of the primary and secondary fluid passages includes a nonlinear section configured to provide increased residence time for cooling fluid in the first and second fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventor: Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 10378447
    Abstract: Systems and methods include one or more fluid lines configured to flow a fluid in a first direction in the gas turbine system. The systems and methods also include an eductor configured to reverse flow of the fluid in the one or more fluid lines during a reverse purge of the gas turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Arthur Simmons, Octavio Augusto Castillo Morales, Victor Alfonso Gonzalez Tellez
  • Patent number: 10378448
    Abstract: A water supplying step of supplying water to a liquid-fuel channel of a nozzle is executed during a liquid fuel supply state in which only liquid fuel is supplied to the nozzle; a post-switch water purging step of supplying water to the liquid-fuel channel of the nozzle is executed during a gas fuel supply state in which only gas fuel is supplied to the nozzle; and a mid-switch water purging step of supplying water to the liquid-fuel channel of the nozzle is executed during a fuel switching state which is a state of transition from the liquid fuel supply state to the liquid fuel supply state. A second flow rate of water supplied in the mid-switch water purging step is lower than a first flow rate of water supplied in the water supplying step. In the post-switch water purging step, water is temporarily supplied at a third flow rate which is higher than the second flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10378449
    Abstract: A seal (42, 82) for a shaft (22) of a turbocharger (10) to prevent liquid from leaking out of a bearing housing (16). The seal (42, 82) includes a cylindrical body extending between opposite end faces (116, 118) and has a cylindrical bore extending between the opposite end faces (116, 118) for receiving the shaft (22) therethrough. The cylindrical bore defines an inner surface (106) having at least one striation (112) extending in a helical direction about the shaft (22). Rotation of the shaft (22) relative to the seal (42, 82) causes a pumping effect on liquid present between the shaft (22) and the inner surface (106) of the seal (42, 82), thereby causing the liquid to flow back towards the bearing housing (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Chekansky
  • Patent number: 10378450
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas turbine engine air seal comprising forming at least one MAX phase particle. The method includes coating the at least one MAX phase particle with a metallic shell. The method includes applying the at least one MAX phase metallic coated particle to a surface of a substrate of the air seal to form an abradable layer of a MAXMET composite abradable material from the at least on MAX phase metallic coated particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shahram Amini, Christopher W. Strock, Weina Li
  • Patent number: 10378451
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for a gas turbine engine. This seal assembly includes a tadpole seal with a bulb and a tail, where the tail is directed toward a backwall. The seal assembly also includes a faying extension that at least partially extends into the channel and into contact with the bulb. An exhaust duct is also provided for a gas turbine engine. This exhaust duct includes a seal assembly between a first exhaust duct section and a second exhaust duct section. The seal assembly includes a tadpole seal with a bulb and a tail, where the tail is directed upstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gary J. Dillard
  • Patent number: 10378452
    Abstract: Hybrid turbine engines and methods of operating the same are disclosed herein. The hybrid turbine engines include a first thrust-generating device that includes a turbine with a turbine rotary shaft and a clutch, which includes a clutch input, which is operatively coupled to the turbine rotary shaft, and a clutch output. The clutch defines an engaged state and a disengaged state. The hybrid turbine engines also include a rotary electric machine including a machine rotary shaft that is operatively coupled to the clutch output, a second thrust-generating device that is operatively coupled to the machine rotary shaft, and an electric power system. The rotary electric machine is configured to selectively receive an electric power output from the electric power system, such as to selectively produce additional thrust, and to selectively receive in an input torque from the machine rotary shaft, such as to selectively produce additional electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sergey D. Barmichev, Mark E. Howe, Stephen T. Brown
  • Patent number: 10378453
    Abstract: A turbine section for a gas turbine engine includes a first rotor assembly with a first rotor assembly bleed air source and an aft cavity that is in fluid communication with the first rotor assembly bleed air source. A second rotor assembly includes a forward cavity. A vane bleed air source is in fluid communication with the forward cavity. A seal extends between the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Julian Partyka, David R. Pack, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 10378454
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes modulating a variable high pressure turbine inlet guide vane of a high pressure spool to performance match a first stage fan section of a low pressure spool and an intermediate stage fan section of an intermediate spool to maintain a generally constant engine inlet flow while varying engine thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 10378455
    Abstract: A system for generating a base point database for use by a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) to control a gas turbine engine includes a memory configured to store a model of the gas turbine engine. The system also includes a model generation processor coupled to the memory and designed to perform an initial simulation of the gas turbine engine using the model to determine ranges of sensitivity of desired engine parameters throughout an operating envelope, divide the operating envelope into a multiple regions based on the ranges of sensitivity of the desired engine parameters, select multiple combinations of base points within each of the multiple regions, perform an additional simulation of the gas turbine engine to determine an accuracy of interpolation between each of the multiple combinations of base points for each of the multiple regions, and select final base points from the multiple combinations of base points based on the accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sorin Bengea, Jeffrey C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 10378456
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel way of controlling a gas turbine engine using detected temperatures and detected turbine rotor speed. An operating system provides a series of operating modes for a gas turbine combustor through which fuel is staged to gradually increase engine power, yet harmful emissions, such as carbon monoxide, are kept within acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Peter John Stuttaford, Khalid Oumejjoud, Fred Hernandez, Hany Rizkalla, Timothy Hui, Matthew Yaquinto, Jesse Sewell
  • Patent number: 10378457
    Abstract: An engine speed control system for an internal combustion engine includes a throttle, and a sensor that monitors a parameter indicative of pressure or density of fuel and air in an inlet manifold of the engine. The electronic control unit is coupled with the throttle and the sensor and structured to calculate a target mass flow through the throttle, a feedforward control term based on the target mass flow, and a feedforward control term based on data produced by the sensor. The electronic control unit is further structured to vary a position of the throttle based on the feedforward and feedback control terms to adjust a mass flow through the throttle toward the target mass flow. The control system is applicable in throttle governed as well as fuel governed systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Jayasankaran, Arvind Sivasubramanian
  • Patent number: 10378458
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving calibration of a variable compression ratio engine. Cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations are detected and accounted for by comparing cylinder fuel flow and IMEP at each compression ratio setting. Dilution parameters including EGR and VCT schedule are also calibrated to account for the cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael Howard Shelby, Lyth Alobiedat
  • Patent number: 10378459
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating degradation of a VCR mechanism that mechanically alters a cylinder compression ratio. Degradation is detected based on an elevated knock incidence and increased spark retard usage. If the VCR mechanism is stuck, knock and pre-ignition that could be induced by continued operation in a higher than intended compression ratio is mitigated by limiting the engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 10378460
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating a VCR engine with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain a current compression ratio or transition to an alternate compression ratio based on the fuel economy benefit of the transition and further based on any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, a compression ratio transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 10378461
    Abstract: An engine device (21) including: an intake manifold (67) configured to supply air into a cylinder (77), an exhaust manifold (44) configured to output exhaust gas from the cylinder; a gas injector (98) which mixes a gaseous fuel with the air supplied from the intake manifold; and a main fuel injection valve (79) configured to inject a liquid fuel into the cylinder for combustion. At the time of switching the operation mode from one to another between a gas mode and a diesel mode, a supply amount of a first fuel to be supplied in a post-switching operation mode is increased to a switching threshold value through an increase control which monotonously increases the supply amount, and then is controlled by a speed-governing control based on the engine rotation number. The switching threshold value is set based on the engine rotation number or the engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Hagiwara, Masayoshi Doi, Taishi Murakami, Tatsuro Ohsara, Osamu Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10378462
    Abstract: A vehicular propulsion system, a vehicular fuel system and a method of operating an internal combustion engine. A separation unit that makes up a part of the fuel system includes one or more adsorbent-based chambers such that the separation unit may selectively receive and separate at least a portion of onboard fuel into octane-enhanced and cetane-enhanced fuel components. A supply tank includes three compartments where the first contains the onboard fuel, the second receives a vaporized adsorbate from the separation unit and condenses at least a part of it into one of an octane-rich fuel component or a cetane-rich fuel component, while the third may either store the condensed and enriched fuel component or help condense more of the vaporized adsorbate. The condensing takes place through heat exchange between the onboard fuel and the vaporized adsorbate that are present within the various compartments of the supply tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Esam Zaki Hamad, Eman AbdelHakim A. M. Tora, Amer A. Amer, Junseok Chang
  • Patent number: 10378463
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for an emissions control system for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine. The emissions control system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, an NOx sensor, and a controller for ammonia slip detection. The ammonia slip detection includes comparing an NOx measurement from the NOx sensor with a predicted NOx value. In response to the NOx measurement exceeding the predicted NOx value by a threshold value, the threshold value being calibrated to a first predetermined value, the threshold value is calibrated to a second predetermined value, a timer is initiated to a predetermined duration, and during the predetermined duration of the timer, in response to a second NOx measurement from the NOx sensor exceeding the predicted NOx value by the threshold value set to the second predetermined value, a reductant dosing rate of the SCR device is adapted according to the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Quigley, Sarah Funk
  • Patent number: 10378464
    Abstract: When it is determined that the igniting environment is out of the desired range, the variable valve mechanism is controlled so that the swirl ratio is increased. When the swirl ratio becomes high, the discharge spark and the initial flame move largely in the flow direction of the swirl flow SW and approach the closest fuel spray. Therefore, the discharge spark and the initial flame are attracted to the closest fuel spray and the initial flame enlarges by involving the closest fuel spray (middle stage of FIG. 7). Further, the initial flame enlarges further by involving surrounded fuel spray (lower stage of FIG. 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Hoshi
  • Patent number: 10378465
    Abstract: A fuel injection amount control device controls a fuel injection amount of an injector in an internal combustion engine including a blow-by gas ventilation system. The fuel injection amount control device includes a reflection rate setting section, a dilution correction section, and a dilution learning section. The reflection rate setting section sets a reflection rate proportional to the amount of a blow-by gas discharged to an intake air. The dilution correction section corrects a fuel injection amount by using, as a correction value, the product obtained by multiplying a reflection rate by a dilution learning value. The dilution learning section updates the dilution learning value such that an air-fuel ratio F/B correction value approaches 0 on the condition that a fuel dilution amount of engine oil is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Kitazume, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 10378466
    Abstract: The control system of the internal combustion engine comprises a control part controlling an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst. The control part alternately sets a target air-fuel ratio between a rich air-fuel ratio and a lean air-fuel ratio and controls the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas so that an output air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel ratio sensor becomes the target air-fuel ratio. The control part corrects the output air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel ratio sensor so that when a scavenging occurs, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas changes to a rich side more than an amount of deviation expected to occur in the output air-fuel ratio due to the occurrence of the scavenging. The control part increases a lean degree of the target air-fuel ratio when the scavenging occurs compared with when the scavenging does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Morita, Kinji Morihiro
  • Patent number: 10378467
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided with a target air-fuel ratio setting part including a first setting control part performing normal control alternately switching a target air-fuel ratio between a predetermined first lean air-fuel ratio and a predetermined first rich air-fuel ratio and a second setting control part performing control for restoration of the storage amount stopping normal control and increasing the oxygen storage amount of a second catalyst when an output air-fuel ratio of a third air-fuel ratio sensor becomes a predetermined rich judgment air-fuel ratio or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Shuntaro Okazaki, Yuji Miyoshi