And Pump Or Control Means Patents (Class 123/206)
  • Patent number: 11028768
    Abstract: A rotary engine having an outer body having an internal cavity with a peripheral wall having an insert opening defined therethrough in communication with the internal cavity, and a plurality of coolant passages defined through the peripheral wall in proximity of the insert opening, a rotor body rotatable within the internal cavity, and an insert removably received in the insert opening of the peripheral wall, the insert having a subchamber defined therein communicating with the internal cavity, with a minimum width of the insert opening being at least 0.75 inches. An outer body for a rotary engine and a method of inspecting in an internal cavity in an outer body of a rotary engine are also discussed; also, a rotary engine including a fuel injector having a tip received in the injector hole of the peripheral wall without protruding in the insert opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Bruno Villeneuve, Edwin Schulz
  • Patent number: 10316743
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising at least one first and second piston, hub and side-disk assembly set each of the piston, hub and side-disk assembly sets having first and second pistons that are fixed on a side disk diametrically opposite each other, the hubs cooperating with each other so that the first and second pistons, hub and side disk of the first piston, hub and side-disk assembly can also rotate relative to the first and second pistons, hub and side disk of the second piston, hub and side-disc assembly, such that in operation one of said pistons will be a leading piston and one a trailing piston said disks being connected to the periphery of a set of two one way clutches or ratchets placed back-to-back, one being adapted to connect and disconnect with the shaft and therefore provide for fast moving/direct torque and the other being adapted to connect/disconnect with a planetary gear train's planets carrier and therefore provide a multiplied torque-to-force advancement of the trailing p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Alberto Fausto Blanco Palacios, Jose Fernando Blanco Palacios
  • Patent number: 10267239
    Abstract: It is an object to suppress turbo lag, while suppressing a decrease in torque in an acceleration-transient state to a supercharged state, occurring owing to a rise in required load. In a prescribed steady state, an engine compression ratio ?m and ignition timing Tm are set so as to achieve a maximum thermal efficiency. In contrast, in a transient state from a non-supercharged state to a supercharged state, occurring owing to a rise in required load, the engine compression ratio is corrected to a higher compression ratio ?h and concurrently the ignition timing is corrected to a retarded timing value Th, in comparison with the engine compression ratio ?m and the ignition timing Tm during steady-state operation for the same load, thereby increasing exhaust energy due to a reduction in cooling loss and consequently suppressing a delay of response to a rise in supercharging pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Takahashi, Shinobu Kamada
  • Patent number: 10267217
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes first and second common rails each having a metering or pressure regulating valve, with the valves settable at different pressure values from one another. Rotors are each sealingly and rotationally received within a respective cavity to define at least one combustion chamber of variable volume. The engine includes first and second fuel injectors for each of the rotors. Each first fuel injector is in fluid communication with the first common rail and each second fuel injector is in fluid communication with the second common rail. A method of feeding fuel in an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Edwin Schulz
  • Patent number: 10145291
    Abstract: A method of combusting fuel, e.g. heavy fuel, in a rotary engine, including injecting a main quantity of fuel directly into a combustion chamber to form a first fuel-air mixture having a first air-fuel equivalence ratio ? higher than 1, injecting a pilot quantity of fuel into a pilot subchamber to form a second fuel-air mixture having a second air-fuel equivalence ratio ? smaller than the first air-fuel equivalence ratio, igniting the second fuel-air mixture within the pilot subchamber, using the ignited second fuel-air mixture from the pilot subchamber to ignite the first fuel-air mixture, and injecting a supplemental quantity of fuel directly into the combustion chamber after igniting the first fuel-air mixture, upstream of an exhaust port of the rotary engine with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotor. A rotary engine with interburner fuel injector is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Andre Julien, Serge Dussault
  • Patent number: 10087757
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intake device including: an annular flow path which is formed in a circular housing; an inlet part which is installed at one side of the housing and guides an inflow of a fluid into the flow path; a outlet part which is installed at the other side of the housing and guides a discharge of the fluid which flows into the inlet part and passes through the flow path; a piston which is disposed in the flow path, and rotates along the flow path so as to compress the fluid introduced through the inlet part; and an opening and closing unit which is installed in the flow path between the inlet part and the outlet part, includes a plurality of opening and closing members, and elastic members which are installed between the plurality of opening and closing members and the flow path so as to support the plurality of opening and closing members, respectively, and opens and closes the flow path by pressing the piston, in which when the pressing of the piston is r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventor: Jung Sik Cheon
  • Patent number: 9957885
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes first and second common rails each having a metering or pressure regulating valve, with the valves settable at different pressure values from one another. Rotors are each sealingly and rotationally received within a respective cavity to define at least one combustion chamber of variable volume. The engine includes for each of the rotors a pilot subchamber in communication with the respective cavity, a pilot fuel injector in communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element positioned to ignite fuel within the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector in communication with the respective cavity at a location spaced apart from the pilot subchamber. Each main fuel injector is in fluid communication with the first common rail and each pilot fuel injector is in fluid communication with the second common rail. A method of combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Edwin Schulz
  • Patent number: 9771860
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a pilot subchamber, a pilot fuel injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element positioned to ignite fuel within the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector spaced apart from the pilot fuel injector. The engine includes a common rail in fluid communication with the main fuel injector and with the pilot fuel injector. The internal combustion engine may be a reciprocating engine. A method of combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 9523310
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a housing with a recess, and a piston rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the housing and the piston form, over the course of shaft rotation, initial, second and third volumes in differing amounts for the phases of compression, combustion and expansion, in a manner that is smooth and continuous, which method includes (a) compressing air into a chamber formed by the recess and the piston, (b) introducing fuel into the chamber of compressed air, and (c) igniting the mixture of compressed air and fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: LiquidPiston, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Shkolnik, Nikolay Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 9347370
    Abstract: A rotatory internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a power module, wherein all moving parts of the engine are positioned within the power module, a housing including an intake and an exhaust, wherein the housing is configured to retain the power module, and a sleeve configured to couple in the housing, the sleeve including a sleeve intake and a sleeve exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GoTek Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Lee Herbruck, Bradley Scott Farrenkopf
  • Patent number: 9200563
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a pilot subchamber, a pilot fuel injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element positioned to ignite fuel within the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector spaced apart from the pilot fuel injector. The engine includes a common rail in fluid communication with the main fuel injector and with the pilot fuel injector and a pressure regulating mechanism in fluid communication with the common rail for regulating a fuel pressure therein. A method of combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 8794211
    Abstract: An improved internal combustion engine of the four-stroke variable volume type operates by refraining from introducing substantial fuel into the working medium during the compression stroke until substantially maximum pressure of the working medium has been reached and utilizing at least one of the following processes: (a) causing combustion of fuel under substantially constant volume conditions; and (b) causing the power stroke to provide a larger volume to combustion products than the compression stroke provides to the working medium. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: LiquidPiston, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Shkolnik, Nikolay Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 8613269
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The engine comprises at least one combustion chamber. The engine is suitable for various types of fuel. The engine, depending on fuel type, may have at least one spark plug. The engine uses an external source of compressed oxidant, such as air, which is delivered from a compressor and/or pressurized storage tank. Compressed oxidant, such as air, is delivered directly into the combustion chamber. Fuel is delivered directly into the combustion chamber. Oxidant and fuel mixture is ignited either by means of a spark plug, laser ignition, or by other means, or ignites spontaneously, depending on fuel type and pressure in the combustion chamber. The engine may comprise at least one cylinder, or may be of rotary or other type. A hybrid vehicle based on such an engine is provided. An automatic parking system for such a vehicle is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventors: Pavel Shehter, Seva Brodsky
  • Patent number: 8483884
    Abstract: A method and system is described for controlling an electrically driven fuel pump used in the filling of a hobbyist model craft's fuel tank, (airplane, car, boat etc). The system includes a microcontroller to control the direction and run time of a brushed electric motor-driven fuel pump. A calibration feature allows operating parameters for different sized pumps and tanks to be measured and recorded in memory, then later recalled and used in the filling of pre-selected models' tank to a predetermined level simply by pressing a button to initiate the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Junior Lloyd Williams
  • Patent number: 8425200
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique using current sensing to control the pressure at constant level without the direct sensing of the pressure. This technique will help to reduce dependency solely on switch or sensor and their non linearity and other associated problems such as the non-repetitive behavior, being affected by EMI etc. The technique includes using a pump controller featuring one or more modules configured to respond to one or more input signals containing information about current provided from a pump; and configured to provide one or more output signals containing information to control the pump to operate at a substantially constant pressure without the direct sensing of pump pressure. The one or more modules control the operation of the pump based at least partly on a table of characteristics related to voltage and current that is calibrated for each pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC.
    Inventors: Derrick Thanh Tran, Thang Quoc Dang, Rufino Naval, Jr., David L. Phillips, Jignesh N. Pandya, Ujjaval D. Joshi
  • Publication number: 20130092121
    Abstract: A combustible fluid-operated orbital engine having sets of cooperating cylinder and piston members with respective parallel axes of rotation. Respective cylinder and piston carrier wheels with respective axes of rotation parallel to the piston/cylinder axes of rotation carrying the pistons/cylinders circularly and orbitally and at all times in opposed relation on a common longitudinal axis along intersecting counter paths. Respective gearing structures or belts/sprockets supported by the cylinder and piston carrier wheels rotate the pistons/cylinders counter to their circular motion direction to maintain their opposed relation for their periodic interfittment when their respective paths intersect. A combustible fluid supply is provided to the cylinder member for combustion coincident with the periodic interfittment in engine operating relation. The pistons/cylinders may include ceramic material. The compression sealing system is located in the entry of each cylinder rather than being connected to the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: James Lockshaw, Joseph Gerondale
  • Patent number: 8365698
    Abstract: An improved internal combustion engine of the four-stroke variable volume type operates by refraining from introducing substantial fuel into the working medium during the compression stroke until substantially maximum pressure of the working medium has been reached and utilizing at least one of the following processes: (a) causing combustion of fuel under substantially constant volume conditions; and (b) causing the power stroke to provide a larger volume to combustion products than the compression stroke provides to the working medium. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: LiquidPiston, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Cerge Shkolnik, Nikolay Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 8151759
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an engine having a torodial piston chamber, at least one piston positioned in the torodial piston chamber, and at least one engine valve positioned to interact with the torodial piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wright Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Wright
  • Patent number: 7793516
    Abstract: The problems of prior compressor structures relying upon conventional check valves are obviated by using, instead, flow control passages which operate to control flow while avoiding mechanical moving elements which may become problematical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy Samuel Farrow, Albert Vincent Makley
  • Patent number: 7621254
    Abstract: The instant invention provides a torodial internal combustion engine with lengthened pistons that move through three perpendicularly intersecting torodial cylinders. The engine includes one central power ring and a pair of charge rings which intersect opposite quadrants of the power ring at right angles to supply a fuel/air mixture to the power ring for combustion. The charge rotors are connected to the power rotor, through a gear-train, so that all of the rotors rotate at the same rate. The fuel/air mixture is combusted within a combustion chamber formed entirely within the power ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: John R. Rahon
  • Patent number: 7341041
    Abstract: A novel rotary engine of the kind having a toroidal cylinder and a set of pistons on a rotating circular piston assembly provides instantaneous adjustment of the displacement volume of the engine by varying the intake and expansion stroke length on the circular path of the pistons through the opening and closing of valves into the engine cylinder under the control of an engine management system responsive to the speed/load conditions of the engine and the throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: VGT Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf R. Pekau
  • Patent number: 7059294
    Abstract: An engine is disclosed including at least one piston which is positioned within a toroidal piston chamber. A method of operating an engine is disclosed wherein a piston is advanced in a toroidal piston chamber past a first valve and the first valve is closed to form a first ignition chamber area located within the piston chamber between the first valve and the rear side of the piston. A second valve is closed ahead of the piston to form a first exhaust removal chamber area located within the piston chamber between the second valve and the front side of the piston, the exhaust removal chamber including exhaust gases from a preceding ignition which occurred in the first ignition chamber area. A fuel mixture is introduced into the first ignition chamber area and ignited thereby advancing the piston further along the toroidal piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Wright Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Wright
  • Patent number: 6564172
    Abstract: A method for determining the ideal fuel usage value of a locomotive or other off-highway vehicle is disclosed. The time spent in each of a plurality of operating modes is determined and applied to an algorithm for calculating the ideal fuel usage associated with that operating mode. The individual values calculated for each operating mode are summed in accord with the operating modes experienced during a given train run. The sum value represents the ideal fuel usage quantity for the train run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Herman Till
  • Patent number: 6546908
    Abstract: A novel rotary engine has a single toroidal cylinder and a set of pistons on a rotating circular piston assembly. A rotating disk valve perpendicular to the toroid has a cutout position which periodically traverses the chamber to allow passage of a piston therethrough. The geometry of the pistons and the valve are arranged to minimize the residual volume, by altering the geometry of the chamber section formed between valve and piston and/or providing pistons which are mechanically extendible and retractable in synchronization with the opening and closing of the disk valve, to optimize engine efficiency and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: VGT Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf R. Pekau
  • Patent number: 5568796
    Abstract: A rotary device employs an outer housing having an interior surface with a central axis associated therewith, an outer hub assembly, disposed inside said outer housing, having a central axis associated therewith located at a distance from the central axis of the outer housing, an inner hub, disposed inside the outer hub assembly, having a central axis associated therewith and being substantially coaxial with the outer housing, and a plurality of blades, hingedly connected at one end to the inner hub and radiating through the outer hub assembly to contact the interior surface of the outer housing at the other end of the blades, whereby a plurality of relatively airtight compartments are formed between the interior surface of the outer housing, the outer hub assembly, and pairs of blades, with the volume of said compartments varying as a function of the rotative position of the inner hub and outer hub assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Spread Spectrum
    Inventor: William R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4681073
    Abstract: A stratified charge rotary combustion includes separate pilot and main fuel injector nozzles, a fuel tank and an engine driven injector pump. A fuel supply valve includes a shuttle member which moves in response to pressure from the pump to transfer a pilot quantity of fuel to the pilot nozzle and then to communicate fuel from the pump to the main nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Bernard B. Poore
  • Patent number: 4572122
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine in which the pressure in a cylinder or working chamber of the engine is detected by reading the output signal which is delivered from a pressure sensor when a predetermined time has elapsed from a point of time when the pressure should be detected. Based on this pressure detection, the fuel supply amount or ignition spark timing is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kamai, Norio Omori, Masumi Kinugawa, Mitsunori Takao
  • Patent number: 4389173
    Abstract: A rotary engine is provided utilizing a non-cylindrical casing which defines lobes on opposite sides which define crescent-shaped intake and combustion chambers, respectively, these chambers being connected by a narrow corridor on both sides of a central rotor which rotates on an axis coaxial with that of the casing. The rotor includes arcuate blades which move in and out of the rotor wall to wipe the non-cylindrical casing wall, these blades or pistons being urged outwardly by a special spring loaded cam follower which follows a dual cam which is non-rotational relative to the engine casing. In the preferred mode of operation, one of the crescent-shaped chambers acts as the intake and compression chamber, with the second chamber acting as the combustion and exhaust chamber by virtue of the positioning of intake and exhaust ports and a specialized automatically operated pressure driven fuel injector which is used when the engine is operated as a diesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Earl J. Lee
    Inventor: William C. Kite
  • Patent number: 4169452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection rotary piston internal combustion engine of the trochoidal type with a housing made up of a peripheral portion and two side walls and with a first injection nozzle in the peripheral portion and a second injection nozzle in the inlet port, which are connected to a fuel metering device and of which the delivery quantities are adjustable. A fuel delivery device continuously injects a quantity of fuel proportional to the air intake and is in permanent communication with the first nozzle. Control means connect the second nozzle to the fuel delivery device only from a predetermined part-load up to full load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Assignee: Audi Nsu Auto Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Steinwart, Peter Will
  • Patent number: 4137891
    Abstract: A rotary shaft carries a generally cylindrical composite rotor consisting of an inner cylindrical hub surrounded by a resilient undulatory spring sleeve which in turn is surrounded by a resilient cylindrical spring sleeve. Between the rotor and the internally cylindrical housing is an annular working chamber subdivided into compression and combustion chambers within which multiple cylindrical pistons of slightly greater diameter than the radial distance between the housing and rotor are snugly but orbitally rollable. Tangentially slidable in wedge-shaped recesses in the opposite end walls are upper piston-retarding wedges which are pushed backward into temporary braking engagement with the opposite ends of a leading piston immediately forward thereof in response to the pressure of the exploding gases in the combustion chamber which also propel forward to exhaust ports a piston ahead of the leading piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1979
    Inventor: William P. Dalrymple