Patents Issued in April 30, 2024
  • Patent number: 11970961
    Abstract: A pillar shaped honeycomb structure, including: a porous partition wall that define a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells forming flow paths for a fluid, the plurality of cells extending from an inflow end face to an outflow end face; and an outer peripheral wall located at the outermost circumference. The plurality of cells include: a plurality of first cells; and a plurality of second cells having a lower cross-sectional area than that of the plurality of first cells. An interior of each of the second cells is filled with a material comprising a magnetic substance. Each of the second cells are arranged adjacent to at least one of the first cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Masaaki Masuda, Kyohei Kato, Norihiro Wakida
  • Patent number: 11970962
    Abstract: A method for adapting a urea deposit build up model used for estimating an amount of urea deposits in an aftertreatment system of a vehicle including a catalytic reduction device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dan Stenqvist, Murtaza Khambaty
  • Patent number: 11970964
    Abstract: A method of predicting temperature of at least one location in a fluid flow system that has a heating system for heating fluid. The method includes obtaining a mass flow rate of fluid flow of the fluid flow system, obtaining at least one of a fluid outlet temperature and a fluid inlet temperature of a heater of the heating system, obtaining power provided to the heater, and calculating temperature at the at least one location based on a model of the fluid flow system and the obtained mass flow rate, fluid outlet temperature, and fluid inlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
  • Patent number: 11970965
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a prechamber with first and second sub-chambers. The first sub-chamber has a prechamber gas valve and an igniter. The second sub-chamber has a plurality of first orifices to couple with a main combustion chamber. The second sub-chamber is coupled to the first sub-chamber via a direct connection or an indirection connection. The direct connection includes at least one second orifice, such as a plurality of second orifices. The indirect connection includes a third sub-chamber, wherein the third sub-chamber is coupled to the first sub-chamber by at least one third orifice (e.g., a plurality of third orifices), and the third sub-chamber is coupled to the second sub-chamber by at least one second orifice (e.g., a plurality of second orifices).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fimml, Nikolaus Spyra, Stephan Laiminger, Matthias Raibel
  • Patent number: 11970966
    Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprises a combustion cylinder and a compression cylinder arranged to receive air and compress the air to provide a compressed working fluid to the combustion cylinder for combustion. The compression cylinder is coupled to a water reservoir. The engine further comprises a controller arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine and/or a fluid associated therewith, and control delivery of the mass of water delivered to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the total mass of water in the compressed working fluid at the end of the compression stroke results in a level of water concentration in the compressed working fluid that is less than a threshold water concentration level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Dolphin N2 Ltd
    Inventors: Nick Owen, Rhys Pickett, Rob Morgan, Andrew Atkins
  • Patent number: 11970967
    Abstract: A rotary engine comprised of a pair of counterrotating rotors within a non-rotating outer housing. Each of the rotors is coupled to a common power shaft, one directly and the other through a reversing gear arrangement. Both are driven by the hyper-expansion of combustion gases in a repeating combustion cycle. Each has a generally circular, nearly frictionless working surface perpendicular to the power shaft axis. Each rotor surface defines chambers which rotate past each other. Within such chambers, compressed air and fuel are introduced, mixed, ignited, allowed to hyper-expand (and thus cause the rotation) and exhausted. The power shaft may be connected to a conventional clutch, torque converter, gearbox, differential, alternator or a similar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Richard Baron
  • Patent number: 11970968
    Abstract: MHMF Alternating Internal Combustion Engine consists of a double sided piston dividing the cylinder in two regions. Both regions are functional in alternative manner. This design includes more than one cylinder. The power strokes from both regions of the main cylinder also aid the processes in both regions of supplementary cylinder. The formulated Pressure-Volume (PV) relationship between the regions of a cylinder demonstrates the operation of one region supplementing the operation in the other region. This design leads to weight reduction, reduction of power losses thus enhancing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Muhammad Hashier Muneeb Farrukh
  • Patent number: 11970969
    Abstract: An exhaust device for a compressor bypass bleed system of a ducted fan engine includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a centerline axis from the inlet end to the outlet end, an inlet flow conditioner arranged at the inlet end, the inlet flow conditioner including a plurality of inlet openings for conducting a flow of compressed air therethrough into the housing, and an exit screen arranged at the outlet end of the housing. The exit screen includes a plurality of exit openings therethrough arranged at an acute angle with respect to the centerline axis so as to provide a flow of compressed air therethrough into a bypass flow passage at least partially in a same direction as a bypass airflow through the bypass flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pugh, Mark E. Linz, Jarrod Paul Sands, John J. Rahaim
  • Patent number: 11970970
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a core flow path in communication with a compressor section, combustor section and a turbine section. A first bottoming cycle system includes a bottoming working fluid flow in thermal communication with a high energy exhaust gas flow that is generated by the core engine. The first bottoming cycle is configured to recover power from the high energy exhaust gas flow in a first engine operating condition and in a second engine operating condition. A second bottoming cycle system is configured to recover power from the high energy exhaust gas flow in the first engine operating condition and not to recover power in a second engine operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Malcolm P. MacDonald, Stephen H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 11970971
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, wherein the turbomachine, the fan, or both include an engine component; a heat source; and a heat transfer system configured to reduce ice buildup or ice formation in the engine component, the heat transfer system in communication with the heat source, the heat transfer system comprising: a first heat transfer component in communication with the heat source; and a second heat transfer component that extends from the first heat transfer component to or through the engine component, wherein the first heat transfer component comprises one of a heat pipe or a graphene rod, and wherein the second heat transfer component comprises the other of the heat pipe or the graphene rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: General Electric Company, General Electric Deutschland Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Rajani Bhanu Poornima M, Vilas Kawaduji Bokade, Subramani Adhiachari, Sesha Subramanian, Pankaj Sharma, Ashish Sharma, Scott Alan Schimmels
  • Patent number: 11970972
    Abstract: A scupper suitable for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a windage blocker in a gutter section upstream of a drain hole, the windage blocker extends from a wall of the gutter section. A method for capturing wept oil in a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes positioning a windage blocker adjacent to a drain hole forming a passage space and increasing a pressure upstream of the windage blocker to generate a vortex downstream of the windage blocker creating an oil re-circulation zone promoting oil drainage into the drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew V. Schwendenmann, Todd A. Davis, Ryan Lureau, Reade W. James
  • Patent number: 11970973
    Abstract: An example system comprises an electric machine including a stator and a rotor, a cooling system configured to supply a cooling fluid to cool the electric machine, and a stator tube configured to contain the cooling fluid within a stator portion of the electric machine and prevent the cooling fluid from contacting the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce Electrical Norway AS, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, David Russell Trawick, Sean Morgan, Kolbeinn Kristjansson
  • Patent number: 11970974
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and engine mount structure includes a core engine including a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section mounted within a core engine housing. The fan, the compressor section and the turbine section rotate about an axis of rotation. An outer nacelle surrounds the fan, and is spaced from the core engine housing to define a bypass duct. The fan delivers air into the bypass duct and into the core engine housing. The nacelle is formed with camber so as to be curved in a first plane away from the axis of rotation in a first lateral direction. An engine mount structure extends from the nacelle at an angle that is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first plane, and has a component in a lateral direction that is opposed to the first lateral direction. An aircraft is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Malecki, Andrew Hahn, Marc J. Muldoon, Jesse M. Chandler, Joseph B. Staubach
  • Patent number: 11970975
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system (201) is shown for delivering the hydrogen fuel from a cryogenic storage system to a fuel injection system in a gas turbine engine. The fuel delivery system includes a pump (301), a metering device (302), and a fuel heating system (303,304) for heating the hydrogen fuel to an injection temperature for the fuel injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Chloe J Palmer, Guy D Snowsill, Jonathan E Holt
  • Patent number: 11970976
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a turbine engine includes a fuel scheduling valve configured for regulation of fuel flow from a fuel inlet, in response to fuel pressure received at the fuel inlet. Primary, secondary and auxiliary fuel circuits receive fuel from the scheduling valve, and an electrically-controlled valve is provided in fluid communication with the auxiliary circuit, which electrically-controlled valve is adapted and configured to actively control fuel through the auxiliary circuit in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Brandon P. Williams, Todd Haugsjaahabink, Charles E. Reuter, Jason A. Ryon, Kevin Gibbons, Jesse C. Peters
  • Patent number: 11970977
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a turbine engine includes a fuel scheduling valve configured for regulation of fuel flow from a fuel inlet, in response to fuel pressure received at the fuel inlet. Primary, secondary and auxiliary fuel circuits receive fuel from the scheduling valve, and an electrically-controlled valve is provided in fluid communication with the auxiliary circuit, which electrically-controlled valve is adapted and configured to actively control fuel through the auxiliary circuit in response to a control signal. The auxiliary fuel circuit joins with the secondary fuel circuit for delivery to a fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Brandon P. Williams, Jason A. Ryon, Todd Haugsjaahabink
  • Patent number: 11970978
    Abstract: An acoustic panel includes a front skin comprising a plurality of apertures, a back skin, and a core positioned between the front skin and the back skin. The core includes at least one primary core portion including a honeycomb structure defining a plurality of cavities extending from the front skin to the back skin. The core further includes a secondary core portion external to the at least one primary core portion and including a foam structure extending from the front skin to the back skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Nolan
  • Patent number: 11970979
    Abstract: A turbine engine and method of operating includes an engine core with a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in axial flow arrangement. A flow path extends through the engine core from the compressor to the turbine to define a flow direction for a working airflow through the engine core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Ryan Johnson, Paul Hadley Vitt, Eric Joseph Schroeder, Carlos Gilberto Fernandez-Soto
  • Patent number: 11970981
    Abstract: A planetary gear box (and method of assembly), where the gear box includes a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, a plurality of planet pins, an axially forward carrier plate and an axially rearward carrier plate. Each planet pin is fixed respectively at its axially forward end on the axially forward carrier plate and at its axially rearward end on the axially rearward carrier plate of the planetary gear box. The planet pin is of two-part design and forms a radially outer pin part and a radially inner pin part, which are connected to one another in a manner precluding relative rotation therebetween, wherein the radially outer pin part forms a bearing with the planet gear, and only the radially inner pin part is fixed at its axial ends to the forward and rearward carrier plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO. KG
    Inventors: Paul Gorenz, Hannes Wuestenberg, Jan Schwarze
  • Patent number: 11970982
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a propulsor section including a propulsor, a gear reduction, a first spool including a first compressor, a first turbine and a first shaft, and a second spool including a second compressor, a second turbine and a second shaft. The gear reduction includes a carrier and a plurality of gears. The plurality of gears include a sun gear, a ring gear, and a plurality of intermediate gears that engage the sun gear and the ring gear. At least two of the plurality of gears are double helical gears in meshed engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 11970983
    Abstract: An arrangement for an aircraft turbine engine, including a shaft and a follower element rotatably coupled to the shaft by a spline connection, the arrangement including upstream and downstream connections for radially centring the follower element relative to the shaft; means for spraying a lubricant into a collection cavity; a passage for receiving lubricant, which passage opens into the collection cavity and into a cavity for lubricating the splines which is partially defined by the upstream and downstream radial centring connections; and a passage for discharging lubricant, which passage opens into the cavity for lubricating the splines and outside the arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Matthieu Bruno François Foglia, Serge René Morreale, Adrien Louis Simon
  • Patent number: 11970984
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a propulsor section including a propulsor, a compressor section including a first compressor and a second compressor, a geared architecture, a turbine section including a first turbine and a drive turbine, and a power density of greater than or equal to 4.75 and less than or equal to 5.5 lbf/in3, wherein the power density is a ratio of a thrust provided by the engine to a volume of the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 11970985
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan and a fan case assembly. The fan includes a fan rotor configured to rotate about an axis of the gas turbine engine and a plurality of fan blades coupled to the fan rotor for rotation therewith. The fan case assembly extends circumferentially around the plurality of fan blades radially outward of the plurality of the fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Jonathan M. Rivers, Michael S. Krautheim
  • Patent number: 11970987
    Abstract: A phasing system for varying a rotational relationship between a first rotary component and a second rotary component includes a gear hub and a cradle rotor. A spider rotor is arranged between the gear hub and the cradle rotor to selectively lock and unlock relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor. A torsion spring is coupled between the gear hub and the cradle rotor to apply a torque load between the gear hub and the cradle rotor. A planetary actuator is coupled to the gear hub and the spider rotor. The planetary actuator is operable between a steady-state mode, in which relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor is inhibited, and a phasing mode, in which the planetary actuator receives a rotary input at a predetermined magnitude to selectively provide a relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HUSCO Automotive Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Curtis L. Van Weelden, Dean Wardle, Bryce Johnson
  • Patent number: 11970988
    Abstract: Systems for efficiently starting an engine of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided. An example of a system comprises a first processor and a second processor. The second processor is configured to determine when to start an internal combustion engine, cause energy to be supplied from an energy storage device to a generator/motor to cause the generator/motor and crankshaft to rotate to at least a hold speed, transmit a first instruction to a first processor when determining that the internal combination engine should be started. The first processor does not supply fuel to at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine in response to the first instruction. The second processor is configured to transmit a second instruction to the first processor after a variable period of time has elapse after the generator/motor or crankshaft has reached at least the hold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Jones, Mark R. Stepper
  • Patent number: 11970989
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving operation of an evaporative emissions system. In one example, the methods and systems estimate a fuel vapor concentration based on output of a fuel tank level sensor and output of a fuel pressure sensor. A canister purge valve is adjusted to an initial position at a beginning of a fuel vapor purging cycle to reduce a fuel vapor purging time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed Dudar, Dennis Yang, Jonathan Bauer, Kenneth Pifher
  • Patent number: 11970990
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes a drive wheel, an engine and an automatic transmission configured to transmit power from the engine toward the drive wheel. When the automatic transmission is shifted, the control apparatus is configured to execute a shifting-time torque-down control by using an ignition retard method of retarding an ignition timing of the engine or a fuel cut method of restricting fuel supply to the engine. The control apparatus is configured to estimate a temperature of a predetermined portion of an exhaust pipe of the engine in a case in which the shifting-time torque-down control is executed by using the ignition retard method, and to execute the shifting-time torque-down control by using the fuel cut method when an estimated value of the temperature of the predetermined portion of the exhaust pipe is not lower than a predetermined upper-limit temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshio Inoue
  • Patent number: 11970991
    Abstract: A method includes: initiating a low engine-out NOx (LEON) mode by controlling a component of a vehicle having an aftertreatment system to decrease an instantaneous engine-out NOx (EONOx) amount; comparing a temperature of the aftertreatment system during the LEON mode to a warm-operation threshold temperature; responsive to determining that the temperature of the aftertreatment system exceeds the warm-operation threshold temperature, disengaging the LEON mode; responsive to determining that the temperature of the aftertreatment system is below the warm-up operation threshold temperature, comparing information indicative of an operating status of the vehicle to a LEON exit threshold; and disengaging the LEON mode responsive to determining that the information indicative of the operating status of the vehicle during the LEON mode exceeds the LEON exit threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Janardhan Kodavasal, Ved Merchant, Agneya Turlapati, Kristopher R. Bare
  • Patent number: 11970992
    Abstract: An acoustic core may include an array of resonant cells configured as a plurality of resonant cell groups. The resonant cell groups may include a plurality of resonant cells configured as a partitioned resonant cell that include a converging resonant cell and a diverging resonant cell. The converging resonant cell and the diverging resonant cell may be defined by a plurality of cell walls integrally formed with one another and a partition integrally formed with the plurality of cell walls. The partition may at least partially delimit the converging resonant cell from the diverging resonant cell. The converging resonant cell may define an upper resonant space delimited by the partition and a top face of the array of resonant cells. The diverging resonant cell may define a lower resonant space delimited by the partition and a bottom face of the array of resonant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wendy Wenling Lin, David Herman, Trevor Howard Wood, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Timothy Richard DePuy, Robert William Davidoff
  • Patent number: 11970993
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle engine and method for operation. The engine includes an inner wall assembly and an upstream wall assembly each extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath between the inner wall assembly and the upstream wall assembly. The engine flows an oxidizer through the gas flowpath and the inner wall captures a portion of the oxidizer. The engine further adjusts the captured flow of oxidizer via the upstream wall and flows a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer to produce rotating detonation gases. The engine flows the detonation gases downstream and to mix with the flow of oxidizer, and flows and burns a second flow of fuel to the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture to produce thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 11970994
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 11970995
    Abstract: A rocket engine system having a heating system configured to heat an oxidizer; a combustion section having a flow path from an upstream inlet section through a restricted throat section to a downstream outlet section, the combustion section configured to accelerate the heated oxidizer as an oxidizer stream within the flow path in response to flow dynamics to supersonic speed; and a fuel system configured to introduce a fuel into the flow path to mix supersonically with the heated oxidizer to define a combined fuel and oxidizer stream at a first supersonic speed. The combined fuel and oxidizer stream undergoes a deflagration to denotation transition in the combustion section defined by an oblique shock wave and a normal shock wave that interact to achieve a standing detonation wave generally at an upstream portion of the restricted throat section configured such that combustion exits the downstream outlet section to provide thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Venus Aerospace Corp.
    Inventor: Andrew Thomas Duggleby
  • Patent number: 11970996
    Abstract: Devices and methods of rocket propulsion are disclosed. In one aspect, a staged combustion liquid rocket engine with preburner and turbopump unit (TPU) integrated into the structure of the combustion chamber is described. An initial propellant mixture is combusted in a preburner combustion chamber formed as an annulus around a main combustion chamber, the combustion products from the preburner driving the turbine of the TPU and subsequently injected into the main combustion chamber for secondary combustion along with additional propellants, generating thrust through a supersonic nozzle. The preburner inner cylindrical wall is shared with the outer cylindrical wall of the engine's main combustion chamber and the turbine is axially aligned with the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Special Aerospace Services, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Bulk, Christopher Hayes
  • Patent number: 11970997
    Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Frank Charles Zegler
  • Patent number: 11970998
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a heating element coupled to a canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method (or system) may include evacuating the canister at different temperature conditions, and diagnosing the heating element based on the different times taken to evacuate the canister at the different temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11970999
    Abstract: The invention relates to an engine air filter unit for a vehicle (1) that is designed to supply filtered air to an internal combustion engine of the vehicle (1). The engine air filter unit (10) comprises a main filter (14), a mounting base (15) to secure the engine air filter unit (10) on at least one body panel (7, 71, 72) of the vehicle, a pre-separator fluidically connected to the main filter. The main filter (14) is arranged on a side of the mounting base (15) and the pre-separator (18) is arranged on the opposite side of the mounting base (15). The pre-separator housing is at least partly formed by the mounting base (15) and an air duct (19) extends through the mounting base (15) to fluidically connect the pre-separator to the filtration chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventor: Alexandre Gateau
  • Patent number: 11971000
    Abstract: An electric starter system (100) for a motorcycle with a mechanical kick-start device (200) and a transmission main shaft (340) which rotates in a starting and drive rotational direction (x) and the kick-start device (200) has a kick-start pinion configured for axial coupling to a kick-start clutch part (240) which is connected to the transmission main shaft (340) in a torque-transmitting manner. The electric starter system (100) comprises an electric starter motor (110) with a starter shaft pinion (112) that can be driven thereby, which makes it possible to carry out the installation or retrofitting thereof with fewer modifications of the original components, less expenditure of time, and/or easier, and/or faster. This is achieved because a torque of the electric starter motor (110) can be transmitted from the starter shaft pinion (112), preferably at the end face, to the kick-start clutch part (240), in particular via interposed starter gearing (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: W & W Cycles AG
    Inventors: Josef Rajek, Peter Unterberger
  • Patent number: 11971001
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery pack; a battery pack seat for mounting the battery pack, the battery pack seat having a base for creating an electrical connection with the battery pack; and a sealing member arranged between the battery pack and the base. The base has a first terminal, and the battery pack has a second terminal matched with the first terminal. One of the first terminal and the second terminal penetrates the sealing member for creating the electrical connection via the other one of the first terminal and the second terminal. A related electrically started gasoline engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Suzhou Cleva Precision Machinery and Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhao Kong, Ning Guo, Xiaoping Cai, Guangyue Zhu
  • Patent number: 11971002
    Abstract: A vehicular apparatus receiving power from a battery mounted on a vehicle includes a main controller unit, a defect detection unit, and an operation controller unit. The operation controller unit is configured to turn off an operation of a target device among a plurality of devices controlled by the main controller unit in response to an occurrence of a voltage drop in which the voltage from the battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value. In response to turning off the operation of the target device due to the voltage drop, the operation controller unit is configured to transmit a notification indicating turning off of the operation of the target device to the defect detection unit. Upon receiving the notification, the defect detection unit is configured to cancel a determination of a defect relative to the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryouta Asai
  • Patent number: 11971003
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable standby starting device for a vehicle. The portable standby starting device includes a battery circuit, a load access detecting circuit, and a vehicle starting circuit, wherein the battery circuit is coupled to the load access detecting circuit and the vehicle starting circuit, and is configured to supply power to the load access detecting circuit and the vehicle starting circuit; the load access detecting circuit is coupled to the vehicle starting circuit, and is configured to detect whether the vehicle starting circuit is connected to a vehicle load; the vehicle starting circuit is configured to, when the load access detecting circuit detects the connection of the vehicle load, output a vehicle starting current for controlling an ignition operation performed for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Guangdong Boltpower Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ziyuan Liu, Yuefei Liao
  • Patent number: 11971004
    Abstract: A downhole turbine includes a plurality of fins. The plurality of fins have an exit angle that exerts a tangential force on the fin, which imparts a torque on a hub. The fins have an adjustable exit angle that changes in response to changes in the properties of a drilling fluid. The changing exit angle changes the tangential force, which changes the torque on the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Annabel Felton, Ian Sheppard, Edward Richards, Paul Linford, Alexander Hickson
  • Patent number: 11971005
    Abstract: In a hydrokinetic turbine-generator system having more than one turbine-generators aligned into a water stream for conversion of hydrokinetic energy to electrical energy, the improvement wherein the more than one turbine-generators are direct-drive electrical generators configured to control generator current such that residual torque on the system is balanced using electronic torque control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: AmJet Turbine Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Paul W. Roos
  • Patent number: 11971006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a kinetic pumping system that transforms the kinetic energy contained in fluid waves to generate a positive reciprocating displacement flow with control modulation with controlled flow modulation. This system is one more alternative in the green technologies market that contributes to solving the problem of climate change and provides an alternative to eliminate the carbon footprint by replacing traditional fluid pumping systems. Its objective is to provide a pumping system with a positive reciprocating kinetic displacement, capable of generating flow and pressure that can be used or the desalination of seawater and for the generation of electrical energy and that, due to its configuration, overcomes the limitations of conventional systems, including those categorized as land, as well as maritime or coastal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Gerardo Montalvo Corral
  • Patent number: 11971007
    Abstract: A power converter having a boosting mechanism with a multi-shaft vertically stepped turbine includes: a shaft sleeve, a water inlet end base, an outer sleeve, a plurality of first stepped turbine units, a plurality of first shaft rods, a plurality of second stepped turbine units, a plurality of second shaft rods and a third shaft rod. The first stepped turbine unit is located above the second stepped turbine unit. The second stepped turbine units and the first stepped turbine units rotate in opposite directions. During a drainage process, water flows move in opposite directions and collide with each other to increase a water pressure. Due to the increase in the water pressure, rotational speeds of the first stepped turbine units and the second stepped turbine units increase, and rotational speeds of the first shaft rods and the second shaft rods correspondingly increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: MARINE DYNAMIC (HAINAN FREE TRADE ZONE) NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaoming Tian, Biao Yang
  • Patent number: 11971008
    Abstract: The wind wall is a solid structure composed of modular wind cells; the joint between two adjoining wind cells, seen from a cross-section that passes parallel through the axes of axial symmetry of both wind cells, include a shape of a complete airfoil, and both wind cells are arranged sharing a same chord; where this chord is contained by the adjacent outer section of both wind cells. It is an aerodynamic structure specially designed to increase the wind speed within a critical space and, therefore, increase the wind power available to be used by the rotor of a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Alfredo Raul Calle Madrid
  • Patent number: 11971009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part made of a fibre-reinforced composite structure, including steps of mounting a plurality of fastening devices on a mounting plate to form a root end assembly, the mounting plate comprising one or more first openings for evacuating air; arranging the root end assembly over a mould surface of a mould; arranging an air-tight cover member so as to form a mould cavity; evacuating air from the mould cavity via at least the one or more first openings of the mounting plate; and supplying a polymer into the mould cavity and allowing the polymer to cure so as to form the composite structure. A root end assembly for use in the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER A/S
    Inventors: Artur Ferfecki, Lars Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11971010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine blade (10) comprising an aerodynamic shell (83) having an outer surface (84) forming at least part of an exterior surface of the wind turbine blade and an inner surface (85). An access window (80) extends through the shell (83). A panel (87) is arranged within a recessed portion (86) at the inner surface of the shell adjacent to the access window (80) for closing the access window (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Blade Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Jelmer Cnossen, Paul Damian Michael Todd
  • Patent number: 11971011
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes printing, via an additive printing device, the tower structure of the wind turbine of a cementitious material. The method also includes printing, via the additive printing device, one or more additional airflow modifying features on an outer surface the tower structure of the wind turbine so as to reduce and/or prevent vortex shedding, excitation, and/or drag of the tower structure. Further, the method includes curing the cementitious material so as to form the tower structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Edward Cooper
  • Patent number: 11971012
    Abstract: Provided is a tower section arrangement for a guyed tower of a wind turbine, the tower section arrangement including: a tower section including a wall having an outer surface with a circumference, at least two brackets attached to the outer surface of the wall at different locations on its circumference, and at least two stay cables, wherein each stay cable is connected at its first end to one of the brackets and is configured for connection at its second end to a cable foundation, and wherein an angle (?) between each stay cable and a tangent to the outer circumference at the respective bracket has, in a top view of the erected wind turbine, a value of 90° when the respective stay cable is guyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY S.L.
    Inventor: Aitor Saez Anthonisen
  • Patent number: 11971013
    Abstract: Provided is a tool arrangement for unloading a tower or a tower segment from a transportation vehicle and/or for storing the tower or the tower segment, including a bottom tool device with an attachment to removably attach the bottom tool device to a bottom mounting section of the tower or the tower segment, wherein the tool arrangement further includes a top tool device with an attachment to removably attach the top tool device to a top mounting section of the tower or the tower segment, wherein the bottom tool device and the top tool device each include a lift to lift the tower or the tower segment, when the tower or the tower segment is in a non-erected position and attached to the respective tool device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Christopher Weiss