Combined Liquid And Gaseous Fuel Patents (Class 123/525)
  • Patent number: 11885284
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine comprising at least one central rail which is in fluid communication with at least one primary fuel tank, characterized in that at least one auxiliary fuel pressure accumulator is provided, the internal volume of which is in communication with the central rail via at least one control valve in order to temporarily provide a simultaneous fuel supply to the central rail from the auxiliary fuel pressure accumulator and the primary fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Bouzid Seba, Bakir Puran
  • Patent number: 11840974
    Abstract: The Method and Apparatus of Predicting MAF Sensor Information includes training multiple candidate Artificial Neural Network (ANN) architectures using training data, and then selecting an ANN architecture from the candidates using an automated ANN architecture selection algorithm and testing data. An intelligent engine intake MAF prediction or estimation system using the selected ANN architecture then provides an engine intake Mass Air Flow (MAF) output variable, which is used along with the output of a hot-wire type engine intake MAF sensor. The system is deployed into the engine controller. The training and testing sets of data include input variables from engine sensors and/or actuators that relate to engine intake MAF, and may be acquired by testing a target engine. Selecting the optimal ANN architecture may be based on Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) analysis using the automated ANN architecture algorithm and the training set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Askin Minaz, Ravi Rayala, Jungme Park, Rahul Rajampeta Rahul Rajampeta, Manoj Vemuri, Sriram Jayachandran Raguraman
  • Patent number: 11767815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector (1) for operating with combustible gas. The fuel injector has a plurality of combustible-gas nozzle valve elements (9), and the stroke of each of the combustible-gas nozzle valve elements can be controlled by means of a paired hydraulic piston control assembly (55) of the fuel injector, wherein each piston control assembly is formed by two control chambers (59, 61) and a piston section (63) on the combustible-gas nozzle valve element paired with the piston control assembly, said piston section separating the control chambers in such a way that their volumes can be varied, and the fuel injector is designed to control the stroke of the combustible-gas nozzle valve elements in tandem using a 3/2-way valve (67), by means of which the hydraulic pressure in one of the two control chambers of the piston control assemblies is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Ingmar Berger, Michael Nitsche, Heinrich Nowak, Steffen Siebert, Andre Kindsvater, Enrico Bärow
  • Patent number: 11761389
    Abstract: An apparatus of charging Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel of a bi-fuel vehicle includes: a gasoline mixing chamber mounted on an LPG bombe side, a gasoline fuel supply line connecting the gasoline mixing chamber with a fuel tank and allowing gasoline fuel to move to the gasoline mixing chamber as a first valve is open, an LPG fuel supply line connecting an LPG bombe with the gasoline mixing chamber and allowing LPG fuel to move to the gasoline mixing chamber as a second valve is open, and a control unit configured to open the first valve and control the LPG fuel to be recirculated to the LPG bombe together with the gasoline fuel by a pressure of the LPG fuel moving to the gasoline mixing chamber, as an internal pressure of the LPG bombe reaches a predetermined reference pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Chang Han Kim, Sung Hwan Ji, Seung Hoon Choi, Jun Sik Lim
  • Patent number: 11719196
    Abstract: A gas fuel vehicle includes gas fuel engine, a gas fuel supply circuit comprising at least one tank assembly, the tank assembly including a gas fuel tank and a tank valve, an electronic central unit configured to control operation of the gas fuel vehicle, The tank assembly is provided with specific identification data, and the electronic central unit is configured to process the identification data of the tank assembly and to enable an actuation of the tank valve between closed and open states only if the identification data are recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann Quibriac, Raphaël Ribero
  • Patent number: 11698035
    Abstract: A fugitive gas detection system is provided. The system includes a cloud service, a plurality of reach-based components, a plurality of wireless gas sensors. The reach-based components comprise backhauls and gateways. The wireless gas sensors are acted as nodes to acquire sensor data in a local mesh network and the nodes are connected to the cloud service through the reach-based components, one node can transmit the sensor data to other sensor nodes of the local mesh network. The system measures flammable gas levels with speed, economy and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Gas Activated Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Bryan, Jerry W. Noles
  • Patent number: 11519554
    Abstract: Method for filling a storage vessel with liquefied gas by means of a tank of liquefied gas, the method comprising a step of transferring liquefied gas from the tank into the storage vessel by means of a pressure differential, wherein the storage vessel prior to the transfer step has an internal pressure higher than the internal pressure of the tank, the method comprising, prior to the transfer step, a step of placing the tank and the storage vessel in fluidic communication in order to ensure a drop in the pressure in the storage vessel to the benefit of the tank and a step of increasing the pressure in the tank using a pressurizing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Laurent Allidieres, Anh Thao Thieu, Thomas Fayer
  • Patent number: 11415084
    Abstract: A storage container includes an inner tank to store a cryogenic liquid gas and an extraction system to permit extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by a cryogenic liquid gas consumer. The extraction system includes an extraction line, a consumer line to facilitate extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by the cryogenic liquid gas consumer, a return line to facilitate return of the cryogenic liquid gas to the inner tank, a heat transmitter to heat the cryogenic liquid gas extracted from the inner tank and transfer the cryogenic liquid gas to a gaseous phase, and a compressor to compress the gaseous cryogenic liquid gas. A first flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is conducted to the cryogenic liquid gas consumer via the consumer line and a second flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is returned to the inner tank via the return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventor: Guido Bartlok
  • Patent number: 11391254
    Abstract: An engine operable in a premixed combustion system and a diffusion combustion system. The engine includes a main fuel injection valve, a pilot fuel injection valve, a liquid fuel tank, a main fuel supply path, a pilot fuel supply path, a pilot fuel filter, a pilot fuel high-pressure pump, a pilot fuel tank, and a pilot fuel supply pump. The pilot fuel tank stores pilot fuel sent from the pilot fuel high-pressure pump and not injected by the pilot fuel injection valve. This pilot fuel is sent to an automatic backwash filter and a pilot fuel filter while not passing through the liquid fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Inc., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Nishimura, Koichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 11318249
    Abstract: A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Larry Brian Gray, Richard J. Lanigan, John Matthew Kerwin, Stephen Lewis Fichera
  • Patent number: 11248541
    Abstract: An engine including a main fuel injection valve, a pilot fuel injection valve, a liquid fuel supply rail pipe, and a pilot fuel supply rail pipe. The main fuel injection valve supplies liquid fuel from the liquid fuel supply rail pipe to a combustion chamber during combustion in a diffusion combustion system. The pilot fuel injection valve supplies pilot fuel from the pilot fuel supply rail pipe to the combustion chamber in order to ignite gaseous fuel during combustion in a premixed combustion system. The liquid fuel supply rail pipe is disposed at one side of an imaginary vertical plane (P1) including an axis of a crank shaft. The pilot fuel supply rail pipe is disposed at the side of the imaginary vertical plane at which the liquid fuel supply rail pipe is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Nishimura, Koichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 11248747
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid delivery system includes a main tank system with a main tank adapted to contain a first supply of cryogenic liquid, and reserve tank system with reserve tank adapted to contain a second supply of cryogenic liquid. A pressure building circuit is adapted to delivery vapor to the head space of the main tank to build pressure in the main tank and a fuel delivery line supplies cryogenic fuel from either the main tank or the reserve tank to a use device. The reserve tank stores saturated cryogenic fuel that is delivered to the use device via the fuel delivery line while the cryogenic liquid in the main tank is being saturated. The fluid delivery system automatically switches to delivering cryogenic fuel from the main tank to the use device via the fuel delivery line upon saturation of the cryogenic liquid in the main tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Gustafson
  • Patent number: 11098816
    Abstract: The main component of a valve body is a ternary fluororubber of a vinylidene fluoride/tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, the JIS K 6253 hardness of the valve body is 50-90, the tensile strength of the valve body is 10-35 MPa, and the elongation at break of the valve body is 100-500%. Relative to the inside diameter of a gas discharge channel provided to an inner-side area of the valve seat, the distance by which a movable core is moved by an electromagnetic coil is within a range of 0.1 times to 0.3 times, the diameter of the valve body is within a range of 1.5 times to 3.0 times, the thickness of the valve body is 0.3 times or greater, the protruding height of the valve seat is 0.3 times or greater, and the inside diameter of an annular gas accumulating space is 2.0 times to 5.0 times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Shinwa Controls Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ryoji Ichiyama, Hidemitsu Ooka, Hiroki Yajima
  • Patent number: 11092092
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of operating a compression ignition engine (10) fuelled with a combination of a hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen. The method comprises: during a cold start, fuelling the engine with the hydrocarbon fuel alone, or with the hydrocarbon fuel and a reduced proportion of hydrogen compared with warm miming conditions, and increasing the proportion of hydrogen used to fuel the engine as it warms up whilst running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ULEMCO LTD
    Inventors: Paul Turner, Trevor Jasper
  • Patent number: 10960832
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for assisting a driver to achieve optimized driving of a vehicle includes a controller and a display unit. The display unit is configured to display at least one visually highlighted range, if a driving style of the driver or an accelerator pedal angle is in an efficiency range suggested by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Lindhuber, Christian Popp, Christof Schulze
  • Patent number: 10711946
    Abstract: A combustible gas supply unit includes a high pressure gas facility for handling combustible gas which is compressed and a housing provided with a high pressure gas handling area containing the high pressure gas facility. The housing has a portion that is disposed in a side close to a boundary between premises of a hydrogen station and an outer region of the premises and constitutes the high pressure gas handling area, the portion being substantially composed of a partitioning wall member that resists an impact of an explosion of combustible gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fukuda, Kenji Nagura, Koichiro Hashimoto, Daisuke Wada, Takuya Washio
  • Patent number: 10697379
    Abstract: A multi-fuel engine includes an engine operable on a liquid fuel and first and second gaseous fuels. The multi-fuel engine also includes a liquid cutoff solenoid selectively operable between open and closed positions to allow and inhibit a flow of the liquid fuel to the engine and at least one gaseous cutoff valve selectively operable between open and closed positions to allow and inhibit a flow of the first and second gaseous fuels to the engine. A jet block couples the first gaseous fuel source and the second gaseous fuel source to a carburetor connected to an intake of the engine, with the jet block being located downstream from the at least one gaseous cutoff valve. The jet block includes a first gaseous fuel jet to meter the first gaseous fuel to the carburetor and a second gaseous fuel jet to meter the second gaseous fuel to the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Champion Power Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Kendall J. Collie, Mark J. Sarder, Aleko D. Sotiriades, James J. Dehn, Leigh Jenison
  • Patent number: 10690086
    Abstract: A pushrod valvetrain combustion system assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a two-valve pushrod assembly and a cylinder top that forms a portion of a cylinder head. The cylinder top has a single intake port, a single exhaust port, a spark plug bore, and a fuel injector bore. The pushrod assembly includes an intake valve positioned in the intake port and an exhaust valve positioned in the exhaust port. The intake port and exhaust port are positioned adjacent each other and are positioned along an axis that intersects a center point of each of the ports. The intersecting axis is rotated relative to a centerline of the crankshaft of the engine, providing space for the spark plug bore and fuel injector bore to both be located in the cylinder top on a same side of the intersecting axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Keating, Kenneth M. Eastman, Erwan R. Gautier
  • Patent number: 10598101
    Abstract: A fuel selector for use with a dual fuel generator includes a selector plate, a first fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a first fuel flow to an engine of the dual fuel generator, and a second fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a second fuel flow to the engine of the dual fuel generator. A selector switch coupled to the selector plate is linearly translatable from a first position to a second position, so as to enable positioning of only one of the first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly in the ON position at a given time, such that the first and second fuel valve assemblies cannot be in the ON position concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Champion Power Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Sarder, Leigh Jenison, Ian Schmit
  • Patent number: 10590866
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a high pressure gas injection internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder, the method including supplying a first gaseous fuel from a first gas injection system and injecting the first gaseous fuel in at least one of the at least one cylinder. The method includes converting waste gas from the first gas injection system to a second fuel, and injecting the second fuel obtained by the conversion into at least one of said at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ingemar Magnusson, Lennart Andersson
  • Patent number: 10487780
    Abstract: A system for increasing the efficiency of heating cryogenic fluid flowing in a downstream direction through a fluid conduit includes a heating mechanism, an upstream valve, a downstream valve, and a controller. The heating mechanism heats the cryogenic fluid, resulting in conversion of a portion of the cryogenic fluid into a buoyant flow moving in an upstream direction. The upstream valve is located upstream of the heating mechanism and controls an upstream-valve mass flow rate of the cryogenic fluid. The downstream valve is located downstream of the heating mechanism and controls a downstream-valve mass flow rate of the cryogenic fluid. The controller adjusts the upstream valve to a choked position at which: an upstream-valve non-buoyant mass flow rate substantially matches the downstream-valve mass flow rate, and the upstream valve at least partially blocks the buoyant flow from flowing in the upstream direction past the upstream valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Swenson, Brian Vaniman
  • Patent number: 10480715
    Abstract: A gas supply device for supplying a hydrogen gas to a dispenser of a hydrogen station includes: a refrigerant flow path through which a refrigerant for cooling the gas before being discharged from the dispenser flows; a refrigerator that can cool the refrigerant; a cooling device that can cool the refrigerant by latent heat when liquid hydrogen changes to the hydrogen gas; and a control unit that performs control to activate the refrigerator while stopping the cooling device when a condition set in advance is satisfied after performing control to activate the cooling device in activation of the hydrogen station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitoshi Fujisawa, Kenji Nagura
  • Patent number: 10458367
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treating device includes a fuel tank, a canister containing a fuel adsorbent, a vent pipe, a purge pipe, a purge valve, and a reforming catalyst. The fuel adsorbent captures evaporated fuel that is generated in the fuel tank. The evaporated fuel flows into the canister through the vent pipe. The fuel captured in the canister flows into an intake passage of an engine through the purge pipe. The purge valve is interposed in the purge pipe and opens when the captured fuel is introduced into the intake passage. The reforming catalyst is disposed in a space where the reforming catalyst comes into contact with the evaporated fuel that has not reached the canister. The reforming catalyst is configured to promote a chemical change from unsaturated hydrocarbon to alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuki Kikuchi, Hiroshi Otsuki
  • Patent number: 10451274
    Abstract: Methods and systems of burning a multi-phase hydrocarbon fluid include determining a water content of the multi-phase hydrocarbon fluid, communicating the multiphase hydrocarbon fluid to a fuel port of a burner in a primary fuel flow, initiating a flame at the burner to combust the multi-phase hydrocarbon fluid, communicating an auxiliary fuel source to the burner fuel port in an auxiliary fuel flow, and controlling the primary and auxiliary fuel flows based on the water content of the multi-phase hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vladimir Nikolaevich Ulyanov, Roman Vladimirovich Korkin, Alexander Nikolaevich Cheremisin, Vladimir Konstantinovich Khan
  • Patent number: 10428767
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly is adapted to inject a compressed fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The compressed fuel is stored in a fuel storage tank at a fuel storage pressure and delivered to the fuel injector assembly through a fuel supply line at a fuel supply pressure. The fuel supply pressure is lower than the fuel storage pressure. The fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and an adapter valve. The fuel injector injects the compressed gas fuel. The adapter valve is positioned between the fuel injector and the combustion chamber. The adapter valve allows the compressed gas fuel injected by the fuel injector to be discharged from an outlet of the adapter valve into the combustion chamber in an injection direction while preventing blowback gas entering the outlet from passing through the adapter valve in an ingress direction opposite the injection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: CRAZY DIAMOND PERFORMANCE INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Fern
  • Patent number: 10415509
    Abstract: A method for precooling fuel delivery components of a machine having an engine fueled by a cryogenically-stored fuel is described. The fuel delivery components may be configured to operate at an operating temperature at or below a boiling point of the cryogenically-stored fuel. The method may comprise, in a vapor precooling mode, cooling the fuel delivery components to a temperature approaching the operating temperature with a vapor of the fuel taken from a reservoir cryogenically storing the fuel. The method may further comprise, in a liquid precooling mode, further cooling the fuel delivery components to the operating temperature with a liquid of the fuel taken from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kathryn C. Svoboda
  • Patent number: 10399493
    Abstract: A system and method configured to monitor use conditions of a vehicle and provide feedback to a user of the vehicle to maintain use within certain parameters is described. The description includes a plurality of sensors located proximate to the vehicle, each sensor configured to monitor at least one vehicle parameter, the plurality of sensors selected from an accelerometer, speed, temperature, mileage, oil level, oil pressure, run-time and location sensors, each sensor generating a signal encapsulating the monitored vehicle parameter and transmitting the generated signal to a control unit. The description includes a control unit that receives the generated signal from each of a plurality of sensors, the control unit including a memory that stores the received signal and selectively combines the received signal with other signals received from others of the plurality of sensors. The description includes a first transmitter coupled to the control unit capable of transmitting the combined signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Isaac D. Adams, Steven J. Fernandes, Marc J. Natrillo, Paul Brendan Olson, Pankaj Prakash
  • Patent number: 10393034
    Abstract: A multi-fuel engine includes an engine operable on a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel. The multi-fuel engine also includes a liquid cutoff solenoid coupled to open and close a liquid fuel path to the engine, and a gaseous cutoff solenoid coupled to open and close a gaseous fuel source to the engine. A switch couples a power source to the liquid cutoff solenoid and the gaseous cutoff solenoid to switch between fuel sources on-the-fly during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Champion Power Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Kendall J. Collie, Mark J. Sarder, Aleko D. Sotiriades, James J. Dehn, Leigh Jenison
  • Patent number: 10378448
    Abstract: A water supplying step of supplying water to a liquid-fuel channel of a nozzle is executed during a liquid fuel supply state in which only liquid fuel is supplied to the nozzle; a post-switch water purging step of supplying water to the liquid-fuel channel of the nozzle is executed during a gas fuel supply state in which only gas fuel is supplied to the nozzle; and a mid-switch water purging step of supplying water to the liquid-fuel channel of the nozzle is executed during a fuel switching state which is a state of transition from the liquid fuel supply state to the liquid fuel supply state. A second flow rate of water supplied in the mid-switch water purging step is lower than a first flow rate of water supplied in the water supplying step. In the post-switch water purging step, water is temporarily supplied at a third flow rate which is higher than the second flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10317011
    Abstract: [Object] To enable a gas supply system to be easily transported and to increase a degree of freedom when the gas supply system is installed. [Solution] A hydrogen station includes: a filling facility for filling a tank-mounted device with a gas; and a gas supply system for supplying the gas to the filling facility. The gas supply system includes: a compressor for compressing the gas; a compressor accommodating body for accommodating the compressor; a refrigerator for cooling the gas flowed into the filling facility or the gas just before being flowed into the filling facility, the refrigerator including an evaporation part, an expansion part, and a compression part; and a cooler accommodating body for accommodating the evaporation part, the expansion part, and the compression part. The compressor accommodating body and the cooler accommodating body are detachable from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Okuno, Hitoshi Takagi, Kenji Nagura, Daisuke Wada, Takuro Uba, Akitoshi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 10294875
    Abstract: A control device includes first and second level ratio calculators and an adjuster. The first level ratio calculator calculates a first level ratio of an amount of a first fuel stored in a first tank to a full tank capacity of the first tank. The second level ratio calculator calculates a second level ratio of an amount of a second fuel stored in a second tank to a full tank capacity of the second tank. An octane number of the second fuel is higher than an octane number of the first fuel. The adjuster adjusts a first fuel ratio of the first fuel in a supplied fuel which is supplied to an internal combustion engine and a second fuel ratio of the second fuel in the supplied fuel such that a deviation ratio of the first level ratio and the second level ratio is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Kuzuoka, Tadashi Kurotani, Kenji Shigetoyo
  • Patent number: 10272195
    Abstract: A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Larry Brian Gray, Richard J. Lanigan, John Matthew Kerwin, Stephen Lewis Fichera
  • Patent number: 10227934
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling operation of dual fuel engines are disclosed. One embodiment is a method for controlling operation of a dual fuel engine based upon a combustion index value. The combustion index may be empirically determined to provide desired engine operation at a plurality of ratios of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The desired engine operation may include a number of criteria including, for examiner an engine knock criterion and/or an exhaust emissions criterion. The combustion index value may be determined during operation of the engine based upon measured, estimated or predicted engine operating parameters. The combustion index value may be utilized to interpolate between a first engine operating map for a first ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel and a second engine operating map for a second ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Axel Otto Zur Loye, Timothy P. Lutz, Christopher Pollitt, Phanindra V. Garimella
  • Patent number: 10221780
    Abstract: A mechanical fuel lockout switch for a dual fuel engine includes a mechanical fuel valve actuateable between a first position and a second position to selectively control fuel flow to the dual fuel engine from a first fuel source through a first fuel line and a second fuel source through a second fuel line. The mechanical fuel lockout switch also includes a fuel lockout apparatus coupled to the mechanical fuel valve. The mechanical fuel lockout switch communicates the first fuel source to the dual fuel engine and prevents communication between the second fuel source and the dual fuel engine when the mechanical fuel valve is in the first position, and communicates the second fuel source to the dual fuel engine and interrupts the first fuel source communication with the dual fuel engine when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Champion Power Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Sarder, Aleko D. Sotiriades, James J. Dehn, Leigh Jenison
  • Patent number: 10209158
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting leakage in a hydrogen tank of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle are provided. Particularly, leakage is detected due to failure of an airtight seal of a solenoid valve in a hydrogen tank based on a change of the sensing value of a high pressure sensor which represents a hydrogen tank pressure during a process of performing a wakeup operation at the time of key-off of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Mun Cho, Kang Sik Jeon, Sae Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10113493
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for controlling a gas substitution characteristic in a dual fuel engine are provided. The gas substitution characteristic can be controlled based on measured characteristics directly or indirectly associated with operation of the dual fuel engine, including intake manifold air pressure (IMAP), load of the dual fuel engine, ambient air temperature, exhaust temperature, fan speed, and/or pressure of natural gas supplied to the dual fuel engine. Further, the gas substitution characteristic can be controlled by controlling intake manifold air temperature (IMAT) based on control of a cooling capacity of a cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. Atterberry, Matthew J. Engfehr
  • Patent number: 9988990
    Abstract: A movable electrical generation system includes a generator operable to produce a supply of electrical energy, a prime mover operable to drive the generator, and a first fuel supply selectively deliverable to the movable electrical generation system in a first pressure range. A second fuel, different from the first fuel is selectively deliverable to the prime mover in a second pressure range. A controller is operable to automatically deliver the second fuel to the prime mover in response to the first fuel having a pressure outside of the first pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Chinmay Bhatt, Nicholas Harknett, Dale Herbstritt
  • Patent number: 9970363
    Abstract: The invented system adds some petrol fuel to the vehicle engine which runs with natural gas (CNG or LPG). It causes a simultaneous combustion of petrol and natural gas (CNG or LPG). This action decreases depreciation of engine, increases power of the engine and reduces fuel consumption in natural gas vehicles. The above-mentioned system consists of an innovative petrol holder storage, an electronically circuit, a relay, a lever micro switch and a petrol fuel injector. Whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed more than a certain amount, the system will be activated and command to inject petrol collected in the storage into the air manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Jahangir Ahmadi Ardebili poor
  • Patent number: 9970367
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an ultrasonic wave generator within a vehicle emissions control system. In one example, a frequency of ultrasonic waves may be applied to a fuel vapor canister, the frequency adjusted in response to an estimate of hydrocarbon distribution within a vapor canister received from temperature and hydrocarbon sensor outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 9933114
    Abstract: According to the described embodiments, an intelligent compressed natural gas distributing system is inserted into an existing compressed natural gas fueling station. A means to distribute compress natural gas associated with designated primary dispenser as determined by fueling situations. The system maintains a high differential of pressure during fueling as to decrease time of fueling by means of control valves on the dispenser lines. Within the system, at least one of the dispenser line is determined to be the primary active dispenser and is fueled directly from a compressor when pressure is detected under optimal threshold. The subordinate lines are subject to a bypass in which fueling is directly sourced from a high-pressure storage and receiving excess gas from the primary active dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: Independence Fuel Systems L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bradley H. Thiessen
  • Patent number: 9850873
    Abstract: An engine pre-heating system includes a housing that houses a climate control heating element and a controller configured in the housing. The controller generates an energizing signal for controlling an amount of electrical power provided to multiple engine heating elements that are thermally coupled to the engines of multiple vehicles. The controller also generates a climate control signal for controlling the climate controlled heating element to maintain the controller inside the housing within a specified temperature range. The energizing signal provided to the engine heating elements is inversely proportional to an ambient temperature proximate the engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Allied Green Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse H. Henley
  • Patent number: 9816455
    Abstract: An engine is equipped with a first injection valve that injects fuel into an intake passage, and a second injection valve that injects fuel into a cylinder. The engine is provided with a fuel supply system having a first supply path for the first injection valve and a second supply path for the second injection valve. Moreover, an electronic control unit of the engine executes a unilateral injection process for causing fuel to be injected from one of the first injection valve and the second injection valve and prohibiting fuel injection from the other injection valve, when it is determined that there is a deviation between a property of fuel in the first supply path and a property of fuel in the second supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishimatsu, Hirofumi Osada
  • Patent number: 9752728
    Abstract: A cryogenic tank assembly includes a cryogenic tank having an internal volume that is configured to contain liquefied natural gas (LNG). The cryogenic tank includes an inlet and an outlet that are each fluidly connected to the internal volume. The assembly includes a recirculation conduit coupled in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The recirculation conduit extends along a path between the inlet and outlet external to the internal volume of the cryogenic tank such that the path is configured to be exposed to an ambient environment of the cryogenic tank. The recirculation conduit is configured to: receive a flow of LNG from the internal volume through the outlet; transfer heat from the ambient environment to the LNG flow to change the LNG flow to a flow of natural gas; and inject the natural gas flow into the internal volume of the cryogenic tank through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang, Laura Michele Hudy
  • Patent number: 9738368
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is arrangement of a fuel gas tank in a fuel gas supply system that supplies liquefied natural gas to an engine. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a fuel gas supply system of a ship includes an engine generating driving force using fuel gas; and a fuel gas tank storing the fuel gas to be supplied to the engine, wherein the engine is disposed in an engine room placed at the stern of the ship and the fuel gas tank is disposed above the engine room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon Chae Lee, Dong Eok Kang, Cheong Gi Park
  • Patent number: 9675522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary die device for producing soft capsules, comprising a capsule forming unit for forming a soft-capsule shell and a novel dosing unit for feeding a filling material into the capsule forming unit, characterized in that the dosing unit comprises a dispensing system that includes (a) a container defining a reservoir for storing therapeutic or non-therapeutic compositions; (b) a low pressure pump; (c) a high pressure peristaltic pump; (d) a supply line for the therapeutic or non-therapeutic compositions; and (d) one or more electromagnetically activated nozzles/injectors to fill the softgel capsules with the therapeutic or non-therapeutic compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: PROCAPS SA
    Inventors: Carlos Salazar Altamar, Leopoldo Pardo, Ivan Romero, Gustavo Anaya
  • Patent number: 9624851
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain includes determining a selected powertrain operational mode. A demand fraction is determined. An internal combustion engine (ICE) is to output a maximum power when a gaseous fuel is conveyed to an injector of the ICE at a source pressure greater than a cutoff pressure. The source pressure in a container in fluid connection with the injector is determined. The gaseous fuel is received at the source pressure by the injector to inject the gaseous fuel into the ICE for combustion in response to the source pressure, demand fraction, or selected powertrain operation mode meeting a first set of criteria. The injector is prevented from injecting the gaseous fuel into the ICE and the powertrain is driven from an alternative power source in response to the source pressure, demand fraction, or selected powertrain operation mode meeting a second set of criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anne M. Dailly, Jose Franca, Mei Cai, Arianna T. Morales, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Robert Lee Girdwood
  • Patent number: 9599045
    Abstract: A method for controlling fuel pressure in an internal combustion engine consuming a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel comprises steps of determining a gaseous fuel pressure target value as a function of an engine operating condition, pressurizing the liquid fuel to a liquid fuel pressure based on the gaseous fuel pressure target value, and regulating gaseous fuel pressure from the liquid fuel pressure. The gaseous fuel pressure equals the gaseous fuel pressure target value to within a predetermined range of tolerance. A corresponding apparatus controls fuel pressure in a gaseous fuelled internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Alain M. J. Touchette, Jamie Y. Wardlaw
  • Patent number: 9546604
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and computer-readable media for the detection of valve faults based on transient air pressure measurements. For example, a method for fault detection may comprise actuating a shut off valve to an open position, determining a first air pressure of air in an enclosed space at a first time, determining a second air pressure of the air in the enclosed space at a second time and in response to actuation of the shut off valve to an open position, subtracting the first air pressure and the second air pressure to obtain an actual pressure difference, comparing the actual pressure difference to a predetermined pressure difference, and determining, based on the transient comparison, whether at least one of the shut off valve and a check valve is in a failed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jesse W. Clauson, Eric E. Legg
  • Patent number: 9482388
    Abstract: A skid-mounted compressed gas dispensing station comprises a skid-mounted assembly, with the skid adapted to be mounted to the ground; wherein the skid-mounted assembly comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a dryer assembly, one or more compressors, a compressed gas storage tank, one or more dispenser assemblies, and an electrical control system, either integral to or pre-mounted on the skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Clean Energy
    Inventors: Colm Murphy, Brad Miller
  • Patent number: 9457789
    Abstract: A fuel control module, based on an engine torque request, fuels N cylinders of an engine using a first fuel system. N is an integer greater than zero. A throttle control module, based on the engine torque request and the fueling of the N cylinders using the first fuel system, opens a throttle valve to a predetermined wide open throttle (WOT) position. A cost module, when the engine torque request is greater than a predetermined torque: determines a first cost value for fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using a second fuel system; and determines a second cost value for adjusting at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine. An adjustment module, based on, the first and second cost values, one of: initiates the fueling of the at least one of the N cylinders using the second fuel system; and adjusts of the at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tameem K. Assaf, Louis A. Avallone