Patents Issued in April 12, 2022
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Patent number: 11300064Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an aftertreatment system. In one example, a system comprising a spark-ignited engine comprising a selective catalytic reduction device (SCR) arranged in an exhaust passage downstream of a catalyst, and an injector positioned to inject a reductant directly into the exhaust passage downstream of the catalyst subsequent an engine shut-off event.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael James Uhrich, Giovanni Cavataio, William Charles Ruona, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
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Patent number: 11300065Abstract: A control unit (8) calculates a temperature difference (?Tg). The temperature difference (?Tg) is a value obtained by subtracting the temperature (Tg) of a GPF (22) from a target GPF temperature (Tgt). If the temperature difference (?Tg) is less than or equal to zero, the control unit (8) implements a fuel economy-oriented conventional control. If the temperature difference (?Tg) is greater than zero, the control unit (8) implements a filter temperature-increasing control. The filter temperature-increasing control causes the exhaust temperature to be increased so that the temperature (Tg) of the GPF (22) becomes greater than or equal to the target GPF temperature (Tgt).Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomohiro Sakata, Futoshi Yoshimura, Yoshihiko Iwabuchi
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Patent number: 11300066Abstract: An internal combustion engine (ICE) includes a crankshaft, a cylinder head defining in part a variable combustion chamber of the ICE, a direct fuel injector mounted on the cylinder head, a power source, an electric turning machine (ETM) rotating the crankshaft, an absolute position sensor providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM, and an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the absolute position sensor. The ECU controls a delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM based on the angular position of the rotor of the ETM and causes the direct fuel injector to inject fuel directly in the combustion chamber at a time selected based on the angular position reached by the rotor of the ETM.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.Inventors: Normand Lebreux, Michel Bernier, David Monfette, Bruno Schuehmacher
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Patent number: 11300067Abstract: An electromagnetic valve drive device, that drives a fuel injection valve having a solenoid coil, includes a drive unit configured to drive the solenoid coil, an energization control unit configured to control energization for the solenoid coil by controlling the drive unit, a processing unit configured to obtain a current value arrival time, which is a time having elapsed from a start of energization for the solenoid coil until a current flowing through the solenoid coil reaches a predetermined current value, and an estimation unit configured to estimate a valve opening start time, which is a time from the start of the energization to a start of opening of the fuel injection valve on the basis of the current value arrival time.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.Inventors: Noriaki Sumisha, Takahiro Kogure, Kyohei Matsumoto, Daichi Kawakami
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Patent number: 11300068Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector, and a fueling control unit electrically connected to a solenoid in the fuel injector. The fueling control unit energizes the solenoid with a lift current pulse to lift an armature, then energizes the solenoid with a separate capture current pulse to capture the armature at a lifted position. The solenoid is deenergized a dwell time while the armature is in flight toward the lifted position. Armature lifting speed is retarded based on the deenergizing of the solenoid so as to limit bouncing of a valve pin in the fuel injector against a stop. The techniques assist in linearizing a fuel delivery curve.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam Charles Hill, Zhenyu Li
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Patent number: 11300069Abstract: A method for self-generating an engine-specific model in an engine health monitoring system is provided. The method comprises generating a generic engine model including a generic physics-based model for each of a plurality of engine components in the specific engine; capturing a plurality of observed engine component parameters for each of the plurality of engine components and a plurality of observed environmental parameters during one or more pre-planned training missions; and training an engine-specific model using the plurality of observed engine component parameters and the plurality of environmental parameters captured during the one or more pre-planned training missions, wherein the engine-specific model includes an engine-specific physics-based model for each of the plurality of engine components in the specific engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Kevin Moeckly, Christopher Gill, Richard Ling
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Patent number: 11300070Abstract: An electromagnetic valve control unit for detecting operation of an electromagnetic valve on the basis of a drive voltage or a drive current applied to the electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve control unit includes an A/D converter, a filter, and a detection unit. The A/D converter converts the drive voltage or the drive current into a digital signal. The filter has a gain of about zero at a predetermined frequency. The detection unit detects operation of the electromagnetic valve on the basis of an output of the filter upon input of the digital signal into the filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Motoyuki Abe, Ryo Kusakabe, Teppei Hirotsu, Ayumu Hatanaka, Hideyuki Sakamoto, Takao Fukuda, Masahiro Toyohara, Osamu Mukaihara
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Patent number: 11300071Abstract: A cylinder for opposed-piston engines includes a liner with a bore and longitudinally displaced intake and exhaust ports near respective ends thereof. An intermediate portion of the liner between the exhaust and intake ports contains a combustion chamber formed when the end surfaces of a pair of pistons disposed in opposition in the bore are in close mutual proximity. A compression sleeve encircles and reinforces the intermediate portion of the liner. An annular grid of pegs disposed between the intermediate portion and the compression sleeve supports the compression sleeve against the liner and defines a turbulent liquid flow path extending across the intermediate portion in a direction that parallels the longitudinal axis of the liner.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Achates Power, Inc.Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
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Patent number: 11300072Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine includes a first wall, a second wall, and a post. The first wall defines an exhaust channel that is configured to direct exhaust gas away from the engine. The second wall forms an exterior of the cylinder head and defines a water jacket between the first wall and the second wall. The water jacket is configured to channel coolant through the cylinder head. The post is disposed within the water jacket. The post extends between and is secured to each of the first and second walls. The post tapers from the first wall to a center portion of the post. The post also tapers from the from the second wall to the center portion of the post. The post is configured to fracture in response to a thermal load generated by the engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Fluharty, Paul Thomas Reinhart, Chad Michael Strimpel, Dong-Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 11300073Abstract: A cylinder block assembly has: a cylinder block having three cylinders aligned side-by-side; and four crank caps arranged side-by-side in an alignment direction of the cylinders and fastened to the cylinder block. The crank caps and the cylinder block are provided with crank bearings which rotatably support a crankshaft. The crank caps are arranged at both sides of each cylinder in the alignment direction. Intermediate crank caps positioned at intermediate positions in the plurality of the crank caps include removed parts so as to more easily deform when receiving a load from the crankshaft compared with the side crank caps.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ippei Fukutomi
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Patent number: 11300074Abstract: The disclosure provides a vibration isolation structure for linear oscillating motor and Stirling engine, wherein the said vibration isolation structure comprises a first vibration isolation device and a second vibration isolation device. The first vibration isolation device is set between the fixed hood and the housing of the linear oscillating motor to attenuate the high-frequency and small-amplitude vibrations from the linear oscillating motor. The first vibration isolation device comprises a first set of tension springs and a second set of tension springs, and a lateral gap is formed between the fixed hood and the linear oscillating motor. The second vibration isolation device is set in the said lateral gap to attenuate the low-frequency and large-amplitude vibrations from the linear oscillating motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: NINGBO CHINA STIRLING ENGINE MANUFACTURING CO., LTDInventor: Lu Cheng
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Patent number: 11300075Abstract: A mechanical connection system is provided that includes a ceramic skin panel, at least one bushing, and at least one bolt. The ceramic skin panel includes a first surface, a second surface, and at least one aperture extending between the first surface and the second surface. The aperture has an axial centerline, a chamfered portion contiguous with the first surface, and an axial portion contiguous with the second surface. The chamfered portion includes a tapered surface disposed at a first angle such that a line extending along the tapered surface intersects the axial centerline at a plane of the second surface. The bushing has a housing and a collar. The housing is configured to mate with the chamfered portion of the aperture disposed within the ceramic skin panel. The collar is configured for engagement with the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Alloway, Vijay V. Pujar, Jinqiu Lu, Adam Saunders, Gary E. Bowman
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Patent number: 11300076Abstract: A propulsion unit includes a nacelle, a turbojet engine, and a thrust reverser having gratings provided with movable thrust reversal gratings arranged around an annular duct for fresh air from the turbojet engine. The propulsion unit further includes actuators arranged around the annular duct and each actuator has a front end attached to the turbojet engine and a rear end which translates movable rear covers and gratings for opening, in the annular duct, radial passages which receive said gratings. The propulsion unit further has lifting points that are arranged around the annular duct for lifting the turbojet engine. At least one of the lifting points is formed on a beam for attaching an front end of an actuator.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignees: Safran Nacelles, Safran Aircraft EnginesInventors: Patrick Boileau, Quentin Garnaud, Antoine Elie Hellegouarch, Gina Ferrier
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Patent number: 11300077Abstract: A thrust reverser may include a frame, an actuation arrangement, a reverser door pivotally coupled to the frame, and a deployable fairing pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the deployable fairing is configured to move away from a central axis of the thrust reverser to provide clearance for one of more thrust reverser pivot doors to rotate into a deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: ROHR, INC.Inventor: Timothy Gormley
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Patent number: 11300078Abstract: A rocket catapult assembly for an ejection seat may comprise a drive motor, a metering tube, a first cartridge, and a second cartridge. The metering tube may include an outer wall having a gas pervious section and a gas impervious section. The drive motor may be configured to translate the metering tube and align the gas pervious section or gas impervious section with a first cartridge and a second cartridge to produce a desired thrust of the rocket catapult assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jeff Benjamin, Matthew D. Salois
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Patent number: 11300079Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for an evaporative fuel processing system includes a fuel tank retaining fuel to be fed to a pressure-charger-equipped engine, a canister communicating with the fuel tank and adsorbing evaporative fuel generated therein, an upstream purge line allowing the canister and an engine intake system to communicate at an upstream side of the pressure charger, an upstream purge valve that opens and closes the upstream purge line, a pressure detector detecting pressure in the upstream purge line; a valve controller that opens and closes the upstream purge valve during pressure-charging and non-pressure-charging, respectively, a first timekeeper measuring an accumulative time in which a diagnosis execution condition is satisfied after a purge-flow diagnosis is started, and a determiner determining that the system operates normally or abnormally depending on whether the pressure decreases or not by a predetermined pressure or more from the start of the diagnosis.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Kugo, Masahiro Ono
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Patent number: 11300080Abstract: A dual chamber fuel tank protector valve has a transversely oriented divider defining a plurality of apertures for fluid flow between a first port and a second port. Each chamber has a seal disk therein. The first seal disk is normally biased to an open position by a first biasing member. The second seal disk is normally biased to a closed position by a second biasing member having a preselected biasing force set to a preselected pressure differential that allows movement to its open position before the first seal disk moves to its closed position. When the first seal disk and the second seal disk move to their respective closed positions, the direction of movement is toward one another.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLCInventor: Chester E. Duffield, III
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Patent number: 11300081Abstract: An engine intake bypass system includes: an inlet pipe that supplies air, which passes through a throttle valve, to an intake manifold via a supercharging device along a first path, and directly supplies the air having passed through the throttle valve the intake manifold after bypassing the supercharging device along a second path; a bypass duct disposed in the second path to receive the air from the inlet pipe and deliver the air to the intake manifold in parallel; and a bypass valve installed to interrupt the air supplied to the bypass duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventor: Il Suk Yang
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Patent number: 11300082Abstract: A fuel filter element, which may be selectively arranged in a filter housing and may separate in the filter housing an untreated space communicating with an inlet and a return line of the housing from a treated space communicating with an outlet of the housing, may include at least one end disk, and at least one closure element, which in an operationally ready state of the fuel filter may close off the return line. The closure element may protrude eccentrically axially away from the at least one end disk. The closure element may have a seal on a surrounding surface and that, in the operationally ready state, may be in contact with a surface of the return line. In the operationally ready state, a portion of the closure element may be located in a filter chamber of the filter housing and another portion of the closure element may be located in the return line.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Michael Braunheim
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Patent number: 11300083Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a fuel system that includes two separate fuel tanks are disclosed. In one example, fuel may be purged from a fuel rail in response to Reid vapor pressure of a fuel so that engine starting may be improved. A fuel with a higher Reid vapor pressure may be pumped into the fuel rail when the engine is expected to be cold started.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Aed Dudar
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Patent number: 11300084Abstract: A fuel heating apparatus and method are disclosed where a conductive coil is wrapped around an outer surface of at least a portion of a nozzle of a fuel injector. The coil and the nozzle are inductively cooperative with each other such that the coil, in response to a variable current through the coil, induces a heating of the nozzle. The inductively heated nozzle can heat fuel passing into an engine so as to cause the fuel to combust as it exits the heated nozzle. This arrangement allows for sparkless combustion of fuel in an internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Andrew Bradley Moragne
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Patent number: 11300085Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector. In one example, a system may include an injector comprising two or more passages shaped to flow a mixture in opposite directions before injecting the mixture.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Mark Meinhart, Joseph F. Basmaji, Jianwen James Yi
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Patent number: 11300086Abstract: A fuel and oil system includes a fuel pump, an oil pump, and a fixed electrical drive. A first electric motor controller of the fuel and oil system supplies a variable electrical drive, and a second electric motor controller supplies a variable electrical drive. The fuel pump is selectively connected to and driven by the first electric motor controller or the second electric motor controller. The oil pump is selectively connected to and driven by the second electric motor controller or the fixed electrical drive.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Gian Incerpi, Edward W Adams
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Patent number: 11300087Abstract: A valve including a magnet actuator (22) which has a magnet coil (6), a magnet armature (10) that moves in a stroke-like manner, and a pole core (20), wherein the magnet armature (10) and the pole core (20) together limit a working air gap (28), and the magnet armature (10) can at least indirectly contact the pole core (20), wherein the valve also has a valve element (14) which can be moved between an open position and a closed position, and which is at least indirectly in mechanical contact with the magnet armature (10). A separate magnet armature insert (8) arranged in the magnet armature (10) and/or a separate pole core insert (24) arranged in the pole core (20) is provided in the contact area of the magnet armature (10) on the pole core (20), in order to achieve a separation of the mechanical and magnetic forces.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Christian Langenbach, Francesco Lucarelli
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Patent number: 11300088Abstract: A valve body has a seat surface swollen toward a seating surface of an injection hole body having an injection hole. A fuel passage is between the injection hole body and the valve body and is opened and closed due to separation and seating of the seat surface. In a seat portion throttle state, a flow rate of injected fuel is throttled by a gap between the seat surface and the seating surface. In an injection hole throttle state, the flow rate of fuel is throttled by the injection hole. When the valve body is operated from a valve closing position to a full lift position, the seat portion throttle state is brought from the valve closing position to a predetermined intermediate position, and the injection hole throttle state is brought from the intermediate position to the full lift position.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki Watanabe, Kouichi Mochizuki, Atsuya Okamoto
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Patent number: 11300089Abstract: An injector (1) for injecting fuel and an additional fluid, is provided in that the injector (1) is designed for optimal space-saving yet exhibiting a simple construction. This construction results in a precise injection of a fuel and an additional fluid into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The arrangement has two solenoid valves, the first valve (2) and the second valve (3). The second solenoid valve (3) has a second nozzle needle (9) which is arranged in the injector (1), and the first nozzle needle (7) of the first solenoid valve (2) and the second nozzle needle (9) of the second solenoid valve (3) are arranged one behind the other on a longitudinal axis (10) of the injector (1). Further, the nozzle needles (7, 9) can be controlled independently of one another.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: OTTO-VON-GUERICKE-UNIVERSITAET MAGDEBURGInventors: Herrmann Rottengruber, Johannes Oder, Thilo Wagner
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Patent number: 11300090Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an engine includes providing power to a control module and/or a controller included in the control module, providing an engine start input where the engine start input is communicated with the controller, determining or detecting actuation of the engine start input, sending a signal from the controller to begin an engine starting procedure to start the engine, providing multiple engine operating mode inputs via the module, determining or detecting actuation of one of the engine operating mode inputs, and controlling the engine in accordance with one or more predetermined engine control instructions associated with the engine operating mode that is associated with the actuated engine operating input.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: WALBRO LLCInventors: Andreas D. Dixon, Justin T. Dolane, Sean M. Murphy, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, Elizabeth M. VanSipe
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Patent number: 11300091Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to inhibit automatic engine stopping so that a lifespan of an engine starting device may be extended. In one example, the inhibiting is based on a ratio of an actual total number of engine starts generated via the engine starting device to an actual total distance traveled by the vehicle since the engine starting device was installed.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Jason Meyer
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Patent number: 11300092Abstract: An ignition coil control device includes: an energization control unit that controls to energize an ignition coil by first energization control and second energization control shorter in energization time than the first energization control; a cruise area determination unit that determines that a driving area of a vehicle is located in a cruise area on the basis of a throttle opening and an engine speed; and an integration counter that is incremented every predetermined time when the first energization control is being executed in the cruise area and is decremented every predetermined time in other cases. When a counter value of the integration counter reaches an upper limit value, a cooling process of switching from the first energization control to the second energization control is executed. Such ignition coil control device can appropriately switch energization time while preventing excessive heating of an ignition coil without using a current sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshifumi Osawa, Ryohei Kitamura, Nobuyuki Takenaka, Takahiro Kashima
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Patent number: 11300093Abstract: The present invention is a reversible pump-turbine installation positioned in a vertical borehole instead of in a conventional underground powerhouse or deep concrete powerhouse. The required plant cavitation coefficient may be achieved by simply boring a vertical borehole to the required depth rather than routing the water flow to and from a deeply buried powerhouse. A pneumatically controlled pressure relief valve may be incorporated into this invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Henry K. Obermeyer
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Patent number: 11300094Abstract: A high efficiency compressed-air power generation system has a main casing forming a main passage, a main rotor, an air distributor, and a main generator. The main passage has an intake section and a turbine section. The suction opening is connected to the intake section of the main passage, and the main outlet opening is connected to a turbine section of the main passage. The main rotor is rotatably mounted in the turbine section. The air distributor is configured to supply compressed air into the intake section via multiple nozzles directed toward the main turbine wheels. When compressed air is released from the air distributor, ambient air is sucked into the intake section by compressed air released by the air distributor utilizing Bernoulli's principle. The main rotor is rotated by a mixture of compressed air and ambient air to drive the main generator.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventors: Yu-Chieh Chang, Hung-Sen Chang, Yi-Hsuan Tsai
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Patent number: 11300095Abstract: This invention discloses an improved wind turbine suitable for mounting without a wind turbine tower. The wind turbine is based on a rotor with appropriately selected blades. A nozzle and diffuser in the wind flow increase the amount of wind energy available to the rotor. The rotor is interruptibly connected with one or more of a plurality of generators which allows generation at a wide range of wind speeds. The rotor is also interruptibly connected with a co-axial flywheel which allows for storage or use of rotational energy as needed by the availability of wind energy. One or more wind turbines can be grouped together in a common housing. Electricity can also be generated by means of stored energy. The lack of a wind turbine tower and the general compact design allows the wind turbine to be used in close proximity to or on buildings.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Peter K. O'Hagan
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Patent number: 11300096Abstract: A method for determining an arrangement position of a vortex generator on a wind turbine blade includes: determining, for a first region of a mounting range of the vortex generator in a blade spanwise direction, an arrangement position of the vortex generator to be an angular position offset by a predetermined angle toward a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade with reference to an inflow angle of wind to the wind turbine blade; and determining, for a second region closer to a blade tip, the arrangement position of the vortex generator to be a position between a separation position of a flow on a surface of the wind turbine blade under a rated wind speed condition and a transition position of the flow on the surface of the wind turbine blade under a variable speed operation condition of a wind turbine including the wind turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Motoshi Harada
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Patent number: 11300097Abstract: A wind turbine blade apparatus at least includes a wind turbine blade body, wherein a serration portion is disposed on at least on a part of a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade body, the serration portion having a saw-teeth shape where a mountain portion and a valley portion are arranged alternately in a blade longitudinal direction, and wherein a chord-directional cross section of the wind turbine blade body along a chord direction is formed to have an airfoil shape at any position in a region from the mountain portion to the valley portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shoeji Nakaye, Kentaro Hayashi, Atsushi Yuge, Kai Karikomi, Shinsuke Nishimura
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Patent number: 11300098Abstract: Provided is a blade mounting arrangement at the interface between a hub and a rotor blade of a wind turbine, which blade mounting arrangement includes at least an annular bearing including a stationary part mounted to the hub and a rotating part mounted to the root end of the blade; and a reinforcing ring arranged between the bearing rotating part and the root end of the blade, which reinforcing ring includes a cylindrical body portion shaped as an extension of the root end of the blade. A wind turbine including a hub and a number of blades mounted to the hub, and with such a blade mounting arrangement at the interface between the hub and each rotor blade is also provided. A method of realizing an interface between a hub and a rotor blade of a wind turbine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventors: Christian Laursen, Signe Lisby, Poul Seerup Thing
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Patent number: 11300099Abstract: A wind turbine controller includes a thrust limiter for controlling the thrust of the blades of wind turbine using an estimate of the air density at the wind turbine. In one embodiment, the controller receives the blade flap load indicating the current load on one of the blades which varies linearly to the air density experienced by the wind turbine. In one embodiment, the controller determines the mean of a plurality of the blade flap load values measured during a predefined time period. Using a transfer function, the controller converts the mean of the blade flap loads to an estimate of the air density at the turbine. Generally, higher air density results in greater loads on the blades while lower air density results in lower loads on the blades.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Karthik Krishnan Jamuna, Pankaj Dodla
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Patent number: 11300100Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine system with a plurality of wind turbine modules each with a rotor. A control system is arranged to execute a shutdown procedure with a first control command for terminating power production from a first subset of wind turbine modules resulting in a thrust force change with a reduced thrust force from the wind on a first part of the support structure carrying the first subset of wind turbine modules. A second control command is applied to a second subset of wind turbine modules for enabling thrust control of the second subset of wind turbine modules to oppose the thrust force change at the first part. Thus, there is obtained an improved and cost-effective way of stabilizing a wind turbine system with multiple rotors during shutdown.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventor: Kim Hylling Sørensen
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Patent number: 11300101Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a power plant for reducing spectral disturbances in an electrical grid being operative connected to the power plant, the power plant comprising a plant controller, at least one wind turbine and at least one auxiliary energy source, wherein the at least one wind turbine comprises a rotor adapted to drive a power generator via a shaft, wherein the generator is connectable with the electrical grid, and at least one damping controller configured to compensate structural oscillations of the wind turbine by controlling a torque on the shaft, wherein the at least one damping controller is capable of setting a limit of a control action on the shaft, the method comprising the steps of determining disturbance information for the power plant in the form of an electrical disturbance at a point of measurement electrically connected to the power plant, determining set-points for the at least one auxiliary energy source based on the determined disturbance informationType: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Tobias Gybel Hovgaard, Poul Brandt Christensen
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Patent number: 11300102Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a data processing and control augmentation system capable of identifying overloading of one or more wind turbine assemblies and providing information to a wind farm controller to reduce a power output of each overloaded turbine. The augmentation system thus reduces the power output of each overloaded turbine and, in turn, reduces loads applied to the wind turbine assembly, such as for a period of time until conditions favorably change. A described analysis of the present disclosure is able to utilize several incoming data streams from sensors so arranged to measure wind effects on blades to calculate and compare cyclic loads to threshold limits to o keep the loads within design limits. The control strategy reduces premature failure of components within the wind turbine assembly, and can be applied across an entire wind farm, even with only a subset of wind turbine assemblies being retrofitted.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.Inventors: Mohit Dua, Nathan L. Post, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Brendan F. Taylor, David Hastings
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Patent number: 11300103Abstract: An energy generator system is provided that is capable of capturing the transitory energy contained within the wind and converting it to a form of storable energy for later use in generating electricity. The energy generator system includes a compression system including an air compressor for compressing incoming air and a rotor for operating the compressor in response to the wind flowing over the rotor. An intake system is associated with the compression system and provides clean ambient air to the air compressor. The compression system and the intake system c contained in a wind tower having a head for supporting the rotor and an elongate pylon for positioning the rotor at a sufficient height to capture the energy of the wind. The natural energy system additionally includes a storage system for storing the compressed air produced by the air compressor.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Haralambos Theodoros Dragonas
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Patent number: 11300104Abstract: An apparatus for removing and installing a blade for a wind turbine is provided, comprising a first set of cable guides mounted within the nacelle, and a second set of cable guides positioned on an exterior surface of the rotor hub. An upper pulley block is suspended from a first hub flange and a second hub flange, wherein the upper pulley block is positioned above a third hub flange in a position for accepting the blade. A winch is positioned at a ground level, and the winch contains a lifting cable guided by the cable guides, and then reeved through the upper pulley block and a lower pulley block on a blade holding bracket, allowing the lower pulley block to be raised and lowered relative to the upper pulley block. The blade holding bracket attaches to the root end of the blade, and the lower pulley block is allowed to pivot and swivel relative to the blade holding bracket.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Barnhart Crane and Rigging Co.Inventors: Kevin Reynolds, Eric Barnhart, Thomas A. Pepin, III, William Parker DePriest
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Patent number: 11300105Abstract: A wind turbine (1) comprising a tower (2) and a nacelle (3) mounted on the tower (2) is disclosed. A movable container (39) is mounted on a lower part of the nacelle (3) or suspended below the nacelle (3), the movable container (39) housing a hoisting mechanism for hoisting and/or lowering the movable container (39) and for hoisting and/or lowering wind turbine components (9, 10, 11).Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Joris Kofman
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Patent number: 11300106Abstract: A system and method employing wear debris sensors to monitor the operation of a lubricated mechanical system such as a gearbox (e.g., in a wind turbine), a transmission or an engine in order to control operation of the gearbox in order to reduce damage and/or extend the useful life of the gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Poseidon Systems, LLCInventors: Mark L. Redding, Ryan C. Brewer, Stephen N. Steen
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Patent number: 11300107Abstract: Provided is a system for determining an amount of oscillating movement of a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a tower, a non-rotating upper part supported by the tower, a rotor having a rotor axis, and a generator for generating electric power. The system includes (a) a sensor unit adapted to provide a rotor speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of the rotor relative to the non-rotating upper part, (b) a filtering unit adapted to, based on the rotor speed signal provided by the sensor unit, provide a filtered signal including information associated with an oscillating movement of the wind turbine, and (c) a processing unit adapted to determine the amount of oscillating movement based on the filtered signal provided by the filtering unit. Furthermore, a wind turbine and a method are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/SInventors: Samuel H. Hawkins, Gustav Hoegh
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Patent number: 11300108Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electric energy including a tower equipped with rotatable nacelle with rotor which is rotatable about a horizontal rotational axis and which comprises an electric generator. The wind turbine additionally comprises a device for determining flow direction and speed of the wind and a device for or regulating the alignment of the rotor against the wind. The device for determining speed and flow direction comprises pair of receiving antennas, for obtaining electric signals using electrically influenced particles, molecules carried by the wind and are supplied to a correlation measurement device. Here, the time needed by the electrically influenced particles/molecules to traverse the distance between the receiving antennas of a pair of receiving antennas is determined. Subsequently, speed and flow direction of the wind are calculated in a computing device and are supplied to the device for controlling or regulating the alignment of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: PROMECON process measurement control GmbHInventors: Hans Georg Conrads, Matthias Maede
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Patent number: 11300109Abstract: The present disclosure relates broadly to an energy apparatus comprising a flywheel assembly, drive means operatively coupled to the flywheel assembly, and an energy generator operatively coupled to the flywheel assembly via extraction means. The drive means includes biasing means connected to an actuator arranged to provide stored energy in the biasing means. The apparatus also comprises transmission means coupled between the flywheel assembly and the biasing means wherein release of stored energy from the biasing means provides a driving force which effects rotation of the flywheel assembly which gains momentum. The extraction means is arranged for rapid extraction of the momentum of the flywheel assembly. The energy generator generates electricity from the rapidly extracted momentum of the flywheel assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: CLEAN POWR PTY LTDInventors: Anatole Kononewsky, Mark McCutcheon
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Patent number: 11300110Abstract: A piston type pump includes a pump housing having at least one pump inlet, at least one pump outlet, and a piston arrangement connected to a drive shaft configured to, when driven, set the piston arrangement into movement. The piston arrangement includes a first primary stage piston, the first primary stage piston being slidably seated in a first primary stage cylinder formed in the pump housing, and a first secondary stage piston. The first secondary stage piston is slidably seated in a first secondary stage cylinder formed in the first primary stage piston.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventor: Peter Todman
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Patent number: 11300111Abstract: A fluid routing plug for use with a fluid end section. The fluid end section being one of a plurality of fluid end sections making up a fluid end side of a high pressure pump. The fluid routing plug is installed within a horizontal bore formed in a fluid end section and is configured to route fluid between an intake and discharge bore. The fluid routing plug comprises a plurality of first and second fluid passages. The first and second passages do not intersect and are offset from one another. The first fluid passages are configured to direct fluid delivered to the horizontal bore from intake bores towards a reciprocating plunger. The second fluid passages are configured to direct fluid pressurized by the plunger towards a discharge bore.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Kerr Machine Co.Inventors: Micheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Kelcy Jake Foster, Nicholas Son, John Keith, Mark S. Nowell
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Patent number: 11300112Abstract: A drive system for a fluid displacement pump includes an electric motor, a drive coupled to the rotor at a first end of the electric motor, a fluid displacement member mechanically coupled to the drive, and a pump frame mechanically coupled to the electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed on an axis. The drive coupled to the rotor converts the rotational output to a linear, reciprocating input to the fluid displacement member. The rotor is disposed about the stator to rotate about the stator.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Janecek, Tyler Kenneth Williams, Andrew J. Kopel, Jarrod C. Drexler, Douglas S. Ryder, Mark D. Schultz
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Patent number: 11300113Abstract: A system for retaining a valve assembly in a cavity formed in a cylinder body of a compressor includes a ring having a through-hole positioned adjacent to the cavity and a cover partially inserted inside a through-hole of the ring. The cover and the ring can slide relative to each other. The position of the cover relative to the cylinder body can be adjusted by tightening a cover retainer. The cover applies a downward force on the valve assembly via a cage. The downward force is used to compress a seal located between the valve assembly and the cylinder body. A seal is positioned between the ring and the cover. The seal remains squeezed when the cover and the ring slide relative to each other. The system can be used to convert a jackbolt cage-cover assembly and may not require significant machining of the cavity to provide a surface-finish with a suitable roughness for a sealing surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Zahroof Mohamed