Abstract: A drive method is disclosed. An embodiment includes an operation of at least one drive propeller of the drive system below a first predefinable propeller rotational speed according to a first operating state by operating at least one drive motor, connected to the at least one drive propeller, of the drive system via a first alternating voltage. The method further includes operation of the at least one drive propeller above the first predefinable propeller rotational speed according to a second operating state by operating the at least one drive motor via a second alternating voltage. In a transition from the first operating state into the second operating state or vice versa, the first internal combustion engine is operated at such a rotational speed that the at least one drive propeller is driven at the first propeller rotational speed, and the first alternating voltage is synchronized with the second alternating voltage.

Abstract: Engine synchronization apparatus and system for multi-engine vehicles such as boats and aircraft providing limited authority throttle cable trim effected by an apparatus interposed between the throttle plate and throttle cable of a slave engine and mounted in a floating configuration. An actuator is mounted to the apparatus to trim the distance between the throttle plate and throttle cable attachment thereby trimming the throttle cable. A system is provided in which a difference signal derived from master and slave engine tachometer signals is used to control the actuator and synchronize the engines within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a hydraulic actuator to which pressure oil discharged form the hydraulic pump is supplied, an operation lever configured to operate the hydraulic actuators, a detection means detecting operation amounts of operation lever means, an target flow rate calculation unit (50) calculating an target flow rate of the hydraulic pump based on the operation amount of the operation lever, a first target speed calculation unit (61) calculating a first target speed of the engine according to the target flow rate, a pump output limit value calculation unit (500) limiting the maximum target speed of the engine in an relief operation according to a load pressure of the hydraulic pump, a fourth engine target speed calculation unit (63).

Abstract: A propulsion chain (8) for a ship (6) including a main heat engine (18); at least one secondary electrical power house (26) powering a distribution panel (34); at least one transmission line (16) provided with an end propeller (14) and mechanically coupled to the main heat engine (18) to drive the latter; at least one rotating electrical machine (22) mechanically coupled to the transmission line (16) and powered from the distribution panel (34), a mechanical coupler (20) able to be freed from the main heat engine (18) and the rotating electrical machine (22) arranged on the transmission line (16), between the rotating electrical machine (22) and the main heat engine (18).

Abstract: This invention discloses systems, apparatuses and methods for drying or dehydrating high moisture content feedstock to dry or low moisture products. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets, flakes or other desired form for the final product. The systems, apparatuses and methods of this invention also provide for prevention of release of HAP, including VOC, emissions from manufacturing facilities in conjunction with or independent of the above treatment of high water content feedstock.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle having an air intake includes an engine and an electric machine. The engine includes a manifold configured to receive intake air entering through the vehicle air intake, and a throttle disposed between the air intake and the manifold. The powertrain also includes a compressor disposed between the air intake and the manifold, and operable to compress the intake air before it enters the engine. A pressure sensor disposed downstream of the compressor and upstream of the throttle provides air pressure signals to a control system that determines a driver demand and operates the electric machine to boost torque output of the powertrain when the driver demand requires operation of the compressor and the driver demand is not met by the engine. The torque boost of the electric machine is based at least in part on signals output from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Engine synchronization apparatus and system for multi-engine vehicles such as boats and aircraft providing limited authority throttle cable trim effected by an apparatus interposed between the throttle plate and throttle cable of a slave engine and mounted in a floating configuration. An actuator is mounted to the apparatus to trim the distance between the throttle plate and throttle cable attachment thereby trimming the throttle cable. A system is provided in which a difference signal derived from master and slave engine tachometer signals is used to control the actuator and synchronize the engines within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A propulsion apparatus for synchronizing the revolution speeds of a plurality of engines, each engine having a screw propeller shaft. A single regulator lever synchronously adjusts a revolution speed of the propeller shafts of the engines. When an output rpm of one of the engines has dropped, a control means lowers the revolution speed of the propeller shafts of the remaining engines to a revolution speed which is synchronized to the revolution speed of the propeller shaft of the engine whose rpm has dropped. Synchronization of revolution speeds of the remaining engines with the engine having reduced output rpm is terminated if the output rpm of that engine falls below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating the drive of a hybrid motor vehicle by an internal combustion engine torque and the torque of at least one electric motor which are superimposed in such a way than a common drive torque of the hybrid motor vehicle is produced. According to said invention, the torque of the internal combustion engine is influenced by the speed of rotation thereof or a signal derived therefrom and the torque of the electric motor is influenced by the speed of rotation or the signal derived therefrom.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device includes a NOx adsorber catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage, an EGR passage, a reducing agent adding device, a torque fluctuation reducing device, and a fuel injection device. The EGR passage draws a portion of exhaust gas from the exhaust passage downstream of the NOx adsorber catalyst and recirculates the exhaust gas into the intake passage. The reducing agent adding device adds a reducing agent to exhaust gas upstream of the NOx adsorber catalyst to reduce substances adsorbed by the NOx adsorber catalyst. When or after the reducing agent adding device adds the reducing agent, the torque fluctuation reducing device advances the timing of the fuel injection device or carries out a pilot injection to reduce a fluctuation in engine torque. The reducing agent adding device adds less reducing agent while the torque fluctuation reducing device is operating.

Abstract: An engine speed detector detects an engine speed of an engine having a baseline torque versus engine speed curve. A torque sensor detects an engine torque of the engine. A data processor determines if the detected engine speed is within a first speed range and if the detected engine torque is within a first torque range. A motor controller activates an electric motor to rotate substantially synchronously with a corresponding engine speed associated with the detected engine torque in an electric propulsion mode in accordance with a supplemental torque versus engine speed curve if the detected engine speed is within the first speed range and if the detected engine torque is within the first torque range. The supplemental torque versus engine speed curve intercepts the baseline torque versus engine speed curve at a lower speed point and a higher speed point.

Abstract: An outboard motor engine speed control system includes two outboard motors, sensors which detect a travel speed of the boat and the engine speeds of the outboard motors, and a controller which controls the engine speeds of the outboard motors to be synchronized with a highest one of the detected engine speeds when the boat travel speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, while controlling the engine speeds of the outboard motors to be synchronized with a lowest one of the detected engine speeds when the boat travel speed is lower the predetermined value. The operations involved in engine speed control of the outboard motors mounted on the boat are thereby simplified and the feel of operation is enhanced.

Abstract: A first exhaust turbo rotary machine is able to assist turbo supercharging by operating as a motor on power generated in a second rotary machine connected to a power axis of an engine. Also, when exhaust energy is large, the first turbo rotary machine operates as a generator so as to make the second rotary machine connected to the engine motive power axis operate electrically, thereby making it possible to add exhaust energy to the engine motive power axis. Consequently, that which results is a compound engine dynamo-electric machine that improves total efficiency of the engine by adding exhaust energy, which is otherwise discarded, to the engine motive power axis. This arrangement increases engine torque in a speed region where exhaust pressure is low by utilizing part of the engine's motive power as a supercharging driving force.

Abstract: A self-contained, hydraulically operated clutch-type coupling, allowing a minimum of two vehicular type internal combustion engines to be mounted in tandem replacing the standard single block, multi cylinder engine. Flexibility is provided to the driver by a computerized control system to select operation of one or more engines to produce minimum to maximum horsepower at the flywheel, necessary to meet specific road and traffic conditions while maintaining a constant engine (RPM) speed. In one embodiment, a single engine is started to minimize undesirable emissions due to the combination of cold start conditions and wall quenching and fuel conservation purposes. Upon attaining engine operating temperature uniformity, the succeeding engine(s) can be started and operated to provide maximum available horsepower/torque to meet road load conditions.

Abstract: A synchrophaser for a multi-engine, propeller-driven aircraft including a filter that automatically compensates for misalignment of blade position sensor tabs through derivation and application of a correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient is calculated in a self-adjustment derivation, utilizing a dynamic tolerance band, providing increased accuracy in propeller speed determination. The correlation coefficient brings about an apparent uniform distribution of blade position sensors, as seen by the synchrophaser, thus eliminating a primary source of cyclic propeller speed disturbances. The correlative filer accomplishes its task without the phase shifting normally encountered in other digital filtering technique.

Abstract: An aircraft engine propeller synchrophasing system (4) has a gain stage (8) which varies the gain of the system (4) according to the magnitude of the difference between the preferred propeller relative phase and the measured propeller relative phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing improved phase error measurement as shown and described. The measured phase error (.phi..sub.E) is used as an input to a SYNCHROPHASER.RTM. control which provides for phase control of a slave propeller with respect to a master. The phase error (.phi..sub.E) is the sum of the sensed phase error and 360.degree. divided by N.sub.p times .phi..sub.count minus .phi..sub.ref. .phi..sub.count is a counted number of phase discontinuities which occur in .phi..sub.S, the sensed phase. The values of .phi..sub.count and .phi..sub.E, measured phase output, may be limited in number and magnitude.

Abstract: A speed synchronizer for master and slave engines is disclosed. The speed controller of the slave engine is adjustable by a manual actuator and also by a servo actuator. The servo actuator is responsive to a circuit which develops a correction signal corresponding to the difference between engine speed signals. A transfer mechanism selectively transmits movement of either the manual actuator or the servo actuator to the speed controller. The transfer mechanism comprises first and second levers rotationally mounted about a shaft and coupled together for concurrent movement by a spring. The first lever is connected with the manual actuator and the second lever is connected on one side of its rotation shaft to the servo actuator and on the other side of its rotation shaft to the speed controller.

Abstract: Propeller phase control apparatus for use on multi-engine aircraft having, for each engine, an electronic engine control (EEC) for providing an EEC command speed and phase (S/P) signal to control propeller phase and shaft speed, and a speed and phase control (SPC) for regulating the propeller's blade pitch angle to adjust the shaft speed thereof in dependence on the EEC command S/P signal value, includes: a SYNCHROPHASER Reference Unit (SRU) having a signal processor with signal memory, the memory including stored signals definitive of a speed and phase algorithm, the signal processor calculating a common SRU command S/P signal value for all SPCs in accordance with the algorithm and in dependence on the sensed values of selected flight data indicative of engine performance, and further includes an electronic switch for each SPC, for selecting either the SRU command S/P signal of the engine's EEC command S/P signal for presentation to the SPC.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for asymmetrically produced total engine thrust caused by an engine failure in a multiengine aircraft. The presence of asymmetric total thrust is detected by monitoring aircraft performance parameters, including engine manifold pressures, airspeed, roll angle and yaw. When an engine failure resulting in the production of asymmetric thrust is detected at air speeds below a minimum controllable air speed for the aircraft, and during large aircraft bank angles, the power output from an operating engine is reduced to regain and maintain controllable flight conditions. Limiting the adverse yaw produced by an engine failure by reducing power output from operative engines reduces the tendency of the aircraft to roll into the inoperative engine, hence the aircraft is halted.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus for synchronizing the speeds of two or more engines, each having its own throttle lever connected by an associated cable to a respective hand throttle lever. More particularly, the throttle lever of one of the engines is moved independently of its associated cable and its respective hand throttle lever to increase or decrease the speed of the engine until its speed matches the speed of the other engine or engines, whereby the speeds of the engines may be synchronized without moving their associated cables or their respective hand throttle levers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for synchronizing the speeds of two or more engines, each having its own throttle lever connected by an associated cable to a respective hand throttle lever. More particularly, the throttle lever of one of the engines is moved independently of its associated cable and its respective hand throttle lever to increase or decrease the speed of the engine until its speed matches the speed of the other engine or engines, whereby the speeds of the engines may be synchronized without moving their associated cables or their respective hand throttle levers.

Abstract: The invention is practiced by providing a plurality of turbine-driven systems each producing an output proportional to a respective control signal, means for generating a respective first output signal for each of the turbine-driven systems proportional to a respective first system-output indicating parameter, means for generating a respective error signal for each of the turbine-driven systems proportional to any deviation of a respective second system-output indicating parameter from a respective complementary portion of the combined second system-output parameters of the systems, and means for generating the respective control signal of each of said turbine-driven systems and proportional to any deviations of respective ones of the first output signal and the error signal from a respective predetermined reference value of said first parameter, whereby a predetermined relationship of the individual outputs of the turbine-driven systems is maintained.

Abstract: A phase and speed control system for synchronizing the speed and controlling the phase relationship between a pair of aircraft engines, each engine having associated therewith a centrifugal governor, includes a phase comparator circuit which provides a pulse width modulated signal only to the governor coil of the engine having the slower initial rotational velocity. A variable delay on one input of the phase comparator may be adjusted to determine the relative rotational phase relationship between the engines.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for controlling parameters of fluid-driven systems. A control unit of the invention compares an input control signal to a tachometer signal from a fluid-driven turbine to produce a flow signal for controlling the turbine speed. The speeds of turbines in series are linked by the tachometer signal of the first turbine acting as the control signal for the following turbines. A critical speed interval is identified in relation to a range of values of the control signal. As the speed of a turbine is increased or decreased, its control unit holds the turbine speed at the limit of the critical speed interval, then rapidly accelerates the turbine through the interval to avoid prolonged operation at the turbine's critical speed. The individual critical speeds of separate turbines in series may be accommodated by critical speed intervals defined in separate control units for each of the turbines.

Abstract: An electronic control module comprising an operational amplifier used as a comparator senses the difference between the throttle settings of a master and slave engine as detected by a potentiometer associated with each engine's throttle control apparatus in order to accordingly adjust the control signal of a fluid pressure actuator of the slave engine, which actuator in turn adjusts the slave engine throttle setting until it corresponds to that of the master engine, at which point the slave engine throttle actuator control signal is maintained constant by reason of the operational amplifier sensing such correspondence.

Abstract: A control system for providing precise speed control for a rotary air modulator, and particularly for providing synchronized speed control as between two or more rotary air modulators. A common reference frequency is used for controlling rotational speed of one or more rotary air modulators wherein each modulator deploys an individual feedback system responsive to the reference frequency input to provide precise rotational speed and angular position coordination and, therefore, synchronism of frequency and phase output as between two or more individual modulators. The individual feedback systems include feedback and summation circuitry which derives angular velocity correction, angular position correction and hydraulic pressure drive variation for thereafter correcting and maintaining precise speed control of the rotary drive system.

Abstract: An engine synchronizer for synchronizing the speed of a slave engine with the speed of a master engine is disclosed. The disclosed synchronizer includes a comparison and control circuit deriving input signals from the distributors of two engines, e.g., the two engines of a power boat, one engine being arbitrarily designated the master engine and the other being arbitrarily designated the slave engine. The throttle of each engine is coupled to its associated hand throttle lever by means of a Bowden cable. One end of the sheath of the slave engine throttle control cable is attached to a slidable bracket. The slidable bracket is positioned within its limits of sliding movement by a positioning motor operating through a rack and pinion. Power to energize the positioning motor is supplied by the comparison and control circuit.

Abstract: A control system for insuring synchronized operation of engines, such as those in a propeller driven aircraft, wherein a master engine dictates the speed and phase condition of a slave engine. The system features a timing generator in connection with the master engine and a speed detector in connection with the slave engine which are interrelated to produce a direct and accurate signal of an overspeed or underspeed, out of phase, condition of the slave engine, when such occurs. This signal is directed through an amplifier computer portion of the control system which embodies a unique dual servo arrangement for selectively routing the signal through different output channels. Low level outputs are modulated for a "soft" correcting influence. In any case, the output of the computer amplifier portion of the control system is directed to provide a representative current value in the windings of an electromagnet embodies in an improved governor operatively related to the slave engine.