WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140028420 | Moving Magnet Actuator with Counter-Cogging End-Ring and Asymmetrical Armature Stroke - A moving magnet actuator (MMA) includes a magnetically conductive end-ring that is spaced from a magnet pole piece. The end-ring is constructed and spaced to provide a desired counter or anti-cogging force when the MMA is in a powered state. The MMA is also constructed such that a central portion of its armature stroke is axially displaced from a radial centerline of the magnetically conductive conduit enclosing the MMA components. | 01-30-2014 |
20120319410 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE AND POWER GENERATION - A thermal energy storage system is proposed in which the latent heat of fusion of common salts is used to store energy within a selectable temperature range, extending both above and below the melting/freezing temperature zone of the salt mixture. The salt mixture occupies interstitial void spaces in a solid endostructure. The solid material remains in the solid state throughout the thermal cycling of the energy storage system, and preferably has properties of thermal conduction and specific heat that enhance the behavior of the salt mixture alone, while being chemically compatible with all materials in the storage system. The storage system is capable of accepting and delivering heat at high rates, thereby allowing power generation using a suitable energy transfer media to power a turbine of an electric generator or a process heat need to provide a relatively local, dispatchable, rechargeable thermal storage system, combined with a suitably sized generator. | 12-20-2012 |
20120156061 | Flow Sensing Dual Pump Switching System and Method - A flow sensing dual pump switching system and method are provided that control the supply of fuel from a dual pump fuel system to a fuel metering unit. The system senses bypass pressure from the fuel metering unit to control the differential pressurization of the second pump. As the bypass is reduced, the pressure of the second pump is increased so that it may be added to that of the first pump to supply the increased fuel consumption needs of an engine. As the fuel consumption needs decrease, the flow from the second pump added to the first pump is reduced and the differential pressure of the second pump is similarly reduced. If the bypass pressure remains high, the switching system disconnects the output of the second pump from that of the first in favor of bypassing the flow to its input to reduce its differential pressure and conserve energy. | 06-21-2012 |
20120096867 | Semi-Tubular Vane Air Swirler - A semi-tubular vane air swirler is provided. In one embodiment the air swirler is a deep drawn sheet metal component having a first and a second set of semi-tubular vanes formed therein. In one embodiment the semi-tubular air vanes include a first and a second portion formed by upsetting the sheet metal in opposing directions to create mirrored vane geometry, thereby doubling the open area of the vane. | 04-26-2012 |
20120045348 | Integral Plus Proportional Dual Pump Switching System - A dual-pump fluid distribution system that includes a first pump having an inlet and an outlet, and configured to supply a first flow of fluid, and a second pump having an inlet and an outlet, and configured to supply a second flow of fluid. In an embodiment, a bypass flow valve with a four-way hydraulic bridge is configured to initiate the switch between single-pump mode and dual-pump mode based on fluid flow demand. The bypass flow valve is configured such that the position of the bypass flow valve member relative to the four-way hydraulic bridge operates a pump selector valve. In an embodiment, the pump selector valve has a valve member, a biasing element, and a pressure switching port, and is configured such that the position of the valve member determines whether the second flow of fluid is combined with the first flow of fluid. | 02-23-2012 |
20110210745 | Self Power For Ignition Coil With Integrated Ion Sense Circuitry - A self power circuit for ion sense circuitry is provided. The self power circuit is configured to supply the voltages required to generate and measure an ion current flow in a combustion chamber of an engine. The power circuit stores power from the current flow in the ignition coil secondary circuit during at least a portion of a sparking period for use during the ion current measurement period between sparking events. Ion current generation voltage as well as positive and negative sensor circuit power supply voltages are generated in one embodiment. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210744 | Automatic Variable Gain Amplifier - An automatic variable gain amplifier is provided. The automatic variable gain amplifier automatically adjusts the amplification of a signal, and in one embodiment, an ion signal, based on the amplitude of the peaks of the signal. The automatic variable gain amplifier detects the peaks of the signal, compares them to a threshold value, and, based on this comparison, varies the amount by which the signal is amplified. The automatic variable gain amplifier produces a composite output waveform for an input waveform with an amplitude that may vary over a plurality of orders of magnitude. | 09-01-2011 |
20110197567 | Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration Control Using A Wide Band Oxygen Sensor - A regeneration control system for use with a diesel engine having a diesel particulate filter is provided. This regeneration control system utilizes a wide band oxygen sensor placed in the exhaust stream upstream of a regeneration device, as well as an engine speed sensor, to determine when to initiate the regeneration event, and for controlling the regeneration device to ensure proper regeneration of the diesel particulate filter. The after treatment controller utilizes the percent oxygen signal to calculate or otherwise determine the percentage load at which the diesel engine is operating. This information along with the engine speed information allows the after treatment controller to calculate or otherwise determine exhaust parameters necessary for proper control of the regeneration device. | 08-18-2011 |
20110162724 | Dual-Pump Supply System With Bypass-Controlled Flow Regulator - A dual-supply fluid distribution system includes a first pump having an inlet and an outlet. The first pump is configured to supply a first fluid flow. A second pump has an inlet and an outlet, and is configured to supply a second fluid flow. A check valve is coupled between the first and second pump outlets. The check valve is configured to combine the second fluid flow with the first fluid. A bypass valve is coupled to the outlet of the first pump. The bypass valve has an integral pilot valve and is configured to permit fluid flow from the pump outlets in excess of the fluid demand to recirculate back to the first and second pump inlets. The bypass valve and integral pilot valve are configured to cause the check valve to open when the flow of fluid through the bypass valve is below a threshold amount. | 07-07-2011 |
20110108639 | Variable-Area Fuel Injector With Improved Circumferential Spray Uniformity - A fuel injector having a body with a bore, which defines a fuel manifold. The injector also has a variable-area injector arrangement having a pintle with a conical head and a pintle spring connected to the body. The pintle spring urges a tip of the pintle to seal against an exit orifice of the body, such that application of pressurized fuel within the body causes the pintle to move. Above some threshold pressure, the pressurized fuel causes the conical head to move out of contact with the exit orifice of the body. This, in turn, provides a corresponding variable area for passage of the pressurized fuel through the exit orifice about the conical head of the pintle. The injector further includes a swirler configured to create a swirling action in the flow of pressurized fuel through the fuel manifold, wherein the manifold is upstream of the exit orifice. | 05-12-2011 |
20110107768 | Variable Performance Valve - A variable performance valve for use in a fuel nozzle is presented. The valve includes a spring, an inner spool having a port, an outer sleeve, and an orifice, which in a fuel nozzle application may be a calibration orifice. In a low flow condition, the inlet to downstream pressure is the spring force divided by the area on which the pressure acts. At low flow the orifice does not cause any appreciable pressure drop. As the flow increases, a pressure drop develops across the orifice. Since the pressure drop across the valve cannot be greater than the spring force divided by valve area, the valve is forced to open to compensate. As flow is increased, the valve will stroke completely open and the pressure drop at the port becomes negligible and the pressure drop across the orifice is nearly 100% of the pressure drop across the valve. | 05-12-2011 |
20110080174 | Self Charging Ion Sensing Coil - A self charging ion current sensing circuit is provided. The self charging ion current sensing circuit is coupled to spark generation circuitry, and utilizes the spark plug electrodes as the ion current sensing electrodes. The self charging is achieved by utilizing the spark current during an ignition event to charge an ion bias capacitor. After the ignition event, the charge voltage build up on the ion bias capacitor is used to provide an ion current across the spark plug gap. The ion current is passed through an offset stage that translates the ion current sense voltage to a voltage that can be buffered and amplified from a single power source available in automotive and vehicular applications. The output of the circuit provides tri-state information, including spark current, null current, and linear representation of ion sense current. | 04-07-2011 |
20110073071 | Internally Nested Variable-Area Fuel Nozzle - A nested fuel injector that includes an injector housing having a bore longitudinally therethrough, and a pintle assembled to the housing and positioned substantially within the bore. The pintle has a head located at an end of a cylindrical portion, wherein the head is seated in one end of the bore, and the seating of the head defines a variable-area exit orifice. A wave spring is assembled onto the pintle and configured to urge the pintle into the seating position. The bore is configured for the passage of a pressurized flow of fuel. The fuel pressure urges the pintle head away from the exit orifice to permit the pressurized fuel to flow from the bore out through the exit orifice. | 03-31-2011 |
20110065350 | Method for Forming an Electrode for a Spark Plug - A method of forming an electrode for a spark plug is provided. The method includes machining locating holes within a blank material, inserting a rod of a different material into the locating holes and brazing the rod to the blank. An electrode receiving aperture is machined into the blank. The step of machining the aperture exposes a surface of the rod to form a contact portion of the electrode. | 03-17-2011 |
20110062973 | Surface Gap Soot Sensor for Exhaust - A method and apparatus for sensing particulates within an exhaust flow are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize a soot sensor that includes opposed electrodes separated by an insulator. Preferably, a gap is formed between the electrodes and the insulator to prevent electrical current from flowing therebetween. The soot sensor, when positioned in an exhaust flow, will accumulate a layer of particulates on an outer surface thereof. As the layer of particulates increases the particulates will bridge the two electrodes permitting current flow. The sensor is configured with a proper geometry and potential difference between the electrodes to generate currents in the milli-amp range. Further, the sensor is configured to have a regenerative effect that causes the bridge to be broken when particles sees to impinge the soot sensor. | 03-17-2011 |
20110062850 | Pre-Chamber Spark Plug and Electrodes Therefor - An electrode for a spark plug includes a contact portion. In a particular embodiment, the electrode further includes an annular base and a support portion formed from a different material than the contact portion. The contact portion may be aligned axially with a central axis of the annular base. Further, the contact portion is configured to shield the annular base and the support portion from a second electrode inserted into the annular base. | 03-17-2011 |
20110041804 | Multiplexing Drive Circuit For An AC Ignition System - A multiplexing drive circuit for an AC ignition system having a common leg that includes two switches coupled in series, and one or more dedicated legs, wherein each leg includes two switches coupled in series. The multiplexing drive circuit also includes a transformer for each of the one or more dedicated legs, each transformer having a primary winding coupled between one of the one or more dedicated legs and the common leg, and wherein each transformer has a secondary winding coupled in parallel to a spark plug, and a pulse-width modulated (PWM) switch controller configured to operate the common leg and dedicated leg switches to control characteristics of the spark discharge for the spark plug. | 02-24-2011 |
20110038745 | Balanced Pressure, Variable Displacement, Dual Lobe, Single Ring, Vane Pump - A pump including a pressure plate having two inlets and outlets, wherein each inlet has an auxiliary intake port in fluid communication with the inlet, and each outlet has an auxiliary discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet, and a cam/rotor assembly attached to the pressure plate. The cam/rotor assembly includes a rotatable cam having an opening, a rotor within the cam opening, the rotor having multiple radial slots, and multiple vanes that move within the slots, wherein a pumping chamber is defined by a space between rotor and cam. Rotor rotation within the cam causes the vanes to extend and retract within the pumping chamber. The movement of the vanes discharges into the outlets and auxiliary discharge ports a fluid drawn into the pumping chamber via inlets and auxiliary intake ports. The auxiliary inlet and auxiliary discharge ports reduce pressure pulsations in a variable displacement dual-lobe vane pump. | 02-17-2011 |
20110000193 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER CONDITIONS BASED ON THERMAL RESPONSE THEREOF - Systems and methods to determine conditions of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) based on correlation between predicted and actual thermal data of the fluid exiting a DPF are provided. Soot loading, ash loading, and/or DPF damage may be detected, and DPF operational models may be calibrated in accordance with such systems and methods. Further, initiation of regeneration may also be effected in accordance with such systems and methods. | 01-06-2011 |
20100251814 | Flow Sensing Shutoff Valve - A flow sensing valve includes a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plurality of flow sensing ports. A valve member, located within the valve housing, is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The valve member allows fuel flow between the inlet port and outlet port in the open position, and blocks fuel flow between the inlet port and the outlet port in the closed position. A position sensor, operably coupled to the valve member, is configured to determine a valve position of the flow sensing valve. The valve position is indicative of a valve open port area. A metered flow rate of pressurized fuel through the flow sensing valve in a upstream manifold is proportional to the valve open port area because the flow sensing valve maintains a nearly constant differential pressure across the inlet and outlet ports. | 10-07-2010 |
20100247313 | Centrifugal Impeller With Controlled Force Balance - An impeller for a centrifugal pump that includes a disk-shaped shroud having a central axis, a front surface, a rear surface, and a circular perimeter, and a hub at the center of the shroud, the hub having an axial bore. The impeller further includes a first set of vanes on the front surface of the shroud, the first set of vanes extending radially inward from the perimeter towards the hub, a second set of vanes on the rear surface of the shroud, the second set of vanes extending radially inward from the perimeter towards the hub, a balancing area on the rear surface of the shroud, the balancing area extending radially outward from the hub, and a number of openings in the shroud, the number of openings configured to allow a fluid to pass from one side of the shroud to the other. | 09-30-2010 |
20100242449 | System and Method for Filtering Diesel Engine Exhaust Particulates - A diesel particulate filtering system that includes a filter configured to capture exhaust particulates from a diesel engine, a regeneration device configured to heat exhaust gases from the diesel engine prior to the exhaust gases reaching the filter, and a controller configured to control operation of the regeneration device, wherein the controller is further configured to turn the regeneration device on when a weighted average of a plurality of normalized parameter values exceeds a threshold value. | 09-30-2010 |
20100242431 | Variable Actuation Pressure System for Independent Pressure Control - A pump arrangement and method of regulating pressure of a pump arrangement are provided. The pump arrangement includes an actuation pump, a pressure regulating valve, and a control valve. The actuation pump has an actuation pump outlet providing an actuation pump discharge flow. The actuation pump discharge flow is piped to opposite sides of a regulator valve member that selectively adjusts an amount of fluid that is bled from the actuation pump outlet such that the actuation pump outlet pressure is used to regulate the actuation pump discharge pressure. The actuation pump discharge flow is separated into first and second portions to provide opposing forces on the regulator valve member. The control valve is operably interposed between the actuation pump outlet and the valve member to selectively adjusts the amount of biasing applied by the second portion of the actuation pump discharge flow on the regulator valve member. | 09-30-2010 |
20100185381 | Method and Apparatus for Controlling Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Start of Combustion in Reciprocating Compression Ignition Engines With An Ignition System With Ionization Measurement - An apparatus and method to detect combustion conditions using ion signals for use in a feedback control of a reciprocation engine is presented. The ion signals are used as a feedback signal to control EGR and diesel injection timing. The apparatus is an ignition system with a spark plug type of sensor. The ignition system is used to provide a cold start mechanism for diesel engines and start of combustion for spark ignition engines. The ignition is combined with ion sensing feedback that can control the engine. | 07-22-2010 |
20100170583 | Fluid Control Valve - A fluid control valve includes a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet. A metering plug is located within the valve housing, and is configured to move linearly within the valve housing along a valve axis between an open position to allow fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a closed position to block fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet. A reference plane is oriented perpendicular to the valve axis. The metering plug includes a nose portion having a sensing port in fluid communication with fluid flow at the outlet. The sensing port is oriented perpendicular to the valve axis and generally parallel to the reference plane. | 07-08-2010 |
20100096037 | Multi-Tubular Fluid Transfer Conduit - A fluid transfer system having improved stress accommodation properties and thermal insulation properties is provided. The fluid transfer system includes a fluid transfer conduit comprising a plurality of concentric tubes configured to divide and distribute an axial stress induced in the fluid transfer conduit to each of the tubes and a vacuum cavity between the fluid transfer conduit and a structural support of the fluid transfer system to insulate fluid from a surrounding environment. | 04-22-2010 |
20100089026 | Fuel Delivery and Control System Including a Variable Displacement Actuation Pump Supplementing a Fixed Displacement Main Pump - A fuel delivery and control system is provided including a dual pump fluid circuit configuration comprising a fixed positive displacement pump sized to supply the main engine burn flow ranging from above windmill through cruise and a variable displacement pump sized to supply fluid to engine actuators, valves and other hydraulically operated engine components with a pump flow sharing system interconnecting the two pumps. The combined flow from the two pumps is sufficient to meet the engine flow demand for windmill relight and maximum flow conditions. During cruise or normal operating conditions, the pumps operate in completely isolated flow circuits, minimizing recirculation and therefore heat input into the fuel supply system. | 04-15-2010 |
20100089025 | Fuel Delivery and Control System Including a Positive Displacement Actuation Pump With a Variable Pressure Regulator Supplementing a Fixed Displacement Main Fuel Pump - A fuel delivery and control system is provided including a dual pump fluid circuit configuration comprising a fixed positive displacement pump sized to supply the main engine burn flow ranging from above windmill through cruise, a positive displacement actuation pump including a variable pressure regulator, wherein the actuation pump is sized to supply fluid to engine actuators, valves and other hydraulically operated engine components and a pump flow sharing system interconnecting the two pumps. The combined flow from the two pumps is sufficient to meet the engine flow demand for windmill relight and maximum flow conditions. During cruise or normal operating conditions, the pumps operate in completely isolated flow circuits, minimizing recirculation and therefore heat input into the fuel supply system. | 04-15-2010 |
20100071667 | Active Thermal Protection For Fuel Injectors - A fuel injector and turbine engine incorporating the fuel injector are provided. The fuel injector includes an active cooling system that insulates fuel flowing through the fuel injector from heat energy within the turbine engine. The cooling system includes a cooling air passage that includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the interior of an engine case of the turbine engine. The inlet is at a higher air pressure location than the outlet such that air is siphoned through the cooling air passage. A portion of the cooling air passage includes a heat exchanger for extracting heat energy from the cooling air. The cooling air passes through the fuel injector after it has passed through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is positioned external to the engine case and in thermal communication with the ambient. | 03-25-2010 |
20100071666 | Thermal Protection For Fuel Injectors - A fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes an injector support and a heat shield coupled to the injector support. The heat shield only interacts with the injector support by way of contacts such as point contacts, line contacts or surface contacts. Further, the heat shield includes a body portion, a radially extending flared end portion and a radially directed shoulder interposed between the body portion and the flared end portion. The shoulder portion acts as a flexure point that flexes and absorbs thermal expansion of the heat shield. | 03-25-2010 |
20100052836 | Air Cooled Core Mounted Ignition System - An air cooled core mounted ignition system for gas turbine engine applications is provided. The ignition system includes an ignition exciter component directly mechanically and electrically connected to an igniter component. The housing member of the exciter component includes an air plenum configured to receive bleed air from the engine fan or compressor sections of the turbine engine, or other source. The bleed air provides a relatively low temperature air source for the purpose of cooling of the exciter. As such, the exciter component can be directly secured to the igniter, thereby eliminating the need for an ignition lead. | 03-04-2010 |
20100052318 | System and Method of Joining Fluid Transporting Tube and Header Using Internal Ferrule - A system and method for joining a tube to a header is provided. The system includes a header, tube and internal ferrule, wherein the ferrule is fixed inside the tube. This design reduces manufacturing cost and time, as well as reducing and more evenly distributing stress along the tube-header assembly. | 03-04-2010 |
20100051728 | Piloted Variable Area Fuel Injector - An improved fuel injection apparatus and method have a variable area injector arrangement in which a pintle defines a pilot orifice extending through a tip of the pintle for supplying a pilot flow of fuel through the fuel injector at low fuel pressures, and in particular when the pintle tip is sealed against a variable flow orifice of the variable area injector arrangement. | 03-04-2010 |
20100051726 | Multi Passage Fuel Manifold and Methods of Construction - Integrally formed, multi zone fuel manifolds for gas turbine engines and methods of construction are provided. The fuel manifold includes a plurality of annular channel members positioned adjacent each other, aligned and coupled together at the inner and outer peripheral sides thereof, with each pair of channel members defining a separate fluid conduit or passage within the manifold assembly. The fuel manifold can be constructed of any number of stacked and secured channel members to provide a compact multi zone fuel manifold having the desired number of fluid conduits or passages with a minimum number of sealed joints. | 03-04-2010 |
20100051724 | Dual Action Fuel Injection Nozzle - The disclosure provides a fuel injection nozzle. The fuel injection nozzle includes a nozzle body, with the nozzle body defining a central bore. A fuel atomizer is disposed in the central bore. The fuel atomizer defines a spill-return bore and a swirl chamber. The swirl chamber is in fluid communication with the central bore. The spill-return bore includes a return swirler approximate the swirl chamber. An air supply pump is coupled to the fuel atomizer and is in fluid communication with the spill-return bore. The air supply pump is configured to selectively inject air into the swirl chamber through the spill-return bore. | 03-04-2010 |
20100044472 | Fuel Injector Sans Support/Stem - A fuel nozzle is provided. The fuel nozzle includes a heat shield, a fuel tube and a plurality of support members. The support members are radially interposed between the heat shield and the fuel tube. The support members are preferably cylindrical tubes, thus creating voids or pockets between the heat shield and the fuel tube. The cylindrical tubes are connected to one another at a first end are free at an opposed end. As such, the tubes can move or slide relative to one another. Further, the tubes preferably only contact one another with at most line contacts. The fuel nozzle may also include a tip portion that includes a tip heat shield that extends radially outward from the primary heat shield. The tip heat shield defines a cavity that connects with the central cavity of the heat shield. The fuel tube extends through the tip heat shield. | 02-25-2010 |
20100037961 | Flow Compensated Proportional Bypass Valve Combined With a Control Valve - A common regulator valve is provided for a variable displacement pump fuel metering scheme in which the common regulator valve both controls working output to a pump actuator to control displacement of the variable displacement pump and also to control bypass of excess fuel flow. The regulator valve also includes a differential piston which generates a compensation force off of the bypass flow in order to compensate for changes in spring force and flow reaction force at different system pressures and operational states. As a result, errors in the metered fuel flow can be either eliminated or substantially reduced. | 02-18-2010 |
20100037867 | System for Metering a Fuel Supply - A system for metering fuel to an engine. The system includes a fuel metering valve having a throttled inlet and a throttled outlet. The system also provides regulation of redundant pump supplies of fuel to the engine. The throttling of the inlet to the fuel metering valve is provided by a valve that also functions to selectively couple a second fuel pump to the fuel metering valve. | 02-18-2010 |
20100000204 | Passive Secondary Air Delivery System for Two Bed Catalyst System - A passive secondary air delivery system for a two bed catalyst is provided. The system delivers passive secondary air to the second catalyst bed to facilitate oxidation of CO and remaining unburned HC. In a turbocharged engine, the secondary air may be provided from the compressor side of the turbocharger. Control of the amount of air bled from the turbocharger is provided by an orifice in the pipe connecting the turbocharger to the catalyst bed. No active controls are required. In non-turbocharged engines, passive secondary air may be provided by a venturi mixer ported to ambient positioned between the two catalyst beds. In either embodiment, no moving parts or active controls are required. | 01-07-2010 |
20090309475 | Pre-Chamber Spark Plug - A method and apparatus to maximize spark plug life in pre-chamber spark plugs operating with ultra-lean mixtures and/or elevated engine BMEP is presented. Electrode erosion is reduced by spreading discharge energy over a wider surface area, maintaining fuel concentration in the spark gap, controlling gas static pressure during discharge, and maintaining safe electrode temperature. Energy is spread via a swirling effect created by periphery holes in an end cap, resulting in a lower specific energy discharge at the electrodes. Divergently configured electrodes reduce the spark voltage at high operating pressures and the energy required for ignition. The flow field generated at the electrodes prevents electrical shorts due to water condensation and avoids misfire. The center electrode insulation provides an effective heat transfer path to prevent electrode overheating and pre-ignition. The volume behind the electrodes provides a volume for burnt products from previous combustion cycles and leads to more reliable ignition. | 12-17-2009 |
20090309053 | Fluid Admission System for Providing a Pressure-Balanced Valve - A valve assembly includes a valve housing located between a fluid inlet region maintained at a first pressure and a fluid outlet region maintained at a second pressure. A movable metering plate is located within valve housing. A fixed metering plate interacts with the movable metering plate to meter fluid flow through the valve housing. An armature is coupled to the movable metering plate and is configured to move the movable metering plate from a closed position toward an open position. The fluid admission system further includes a balancing region to balance pressure related forces acting on the movable portions of the valve, including the metering plate. A balance passageway is in communication with the balancing region and the fluid outlet region to maintain the balancing region at the second pressure of the fluid outlet region when the movable metering plate is in the closed position. | 12-17-2009 |
20090293654 | Tortionally Stiff, Thermally Isolating Shaft Coupling with Multiple Degrees of Freedom to Accommodate Misalignment - A coupling arrangement coupling and thermally isolating a continuously variable electrical actuator rotationally coupled to and from a butterfly valve is provided. The valve may be used to modulate high temperature exhaust gas flow through an engine turbocharger. The actuator provides a continuously variable control of the valve. The coupling arrangement provides a thermal block to reduce heat transfer and vibration insulation between the actuator and the valve. The coupling arrangement generally includes a coupling shaft rotationally coupled at opposite ends to the input and output shafts by torsion spring mechanisms. The torsion spring mechanisms include yokes rotationally locking the coupling shaft to the input and output shafts. The torsion spring mechanisms allow a limited range of axial and pivotal translation between the coupling shaft and the input and output shafts and are preloaded to prevent rotational hysteresis in the valve. | 12-03-2009 |
20090287391 | Engine Fuel Control System - A fuel control system is provided. The fuel control system includes an electronic control system coupled to a pair of control valves for blending pipeline fuel with waste fuel at a blend ratio for controlling fuel flow to an internal combustion engine. The fuel control system can estimate energy content of the fuel mixture to compensate the blend ratio. The fuel control system can use engine operational parameters to compensate the blend ratio. Typically, the system will use the operational parameter of output power or exhaust emissions to compensate the blend ratio. Further, the fuel control system can prioritize variation from the blend ratio or variation from a desired power output when the blend ratio cannot generate the desired power output. The fuel control system can also be equipped with engine speed/load controls, misfire, ignition timing and knock detection capabilities. | 11-19-2009 |
20090255242 | Low Pressure Drop Mixer for Radial Mixing of Internal Combustion Engine Exhaust Flows, Combustor Incorporating Same, and Methods of Mixing - An exhaust aftertreatment system is provided. The exhaust aftertreatment system includes a mixing arrangement for mixing flows of exhaust along a flow path. The mixing arrangement radially and angularly rearranges segments of two different portions of flow to mix the different portions of flow. The mixing arrangement initially converts a generally radially stratified temperature profile into an angularly stratified temperature profile to increase surface area between cool segments of exhaust gas and hot segments of exhaust gas. The aftertreatment system may also include a combustion chamber, a combustor housing and a combustor liner. The mixing arrangement is downstream from the combustion chamber to direct radially outward hot gas passing through the combustor liner and to direct radially outer cool gas passing between the liner and the combustor housing radially inward in an interleaving fashion. | 10-15-2009 |
20090241520 | Diesel Exhaust Soot Sensor System and Method - Systems and methods to determine when regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) are presented. Such determination is made by indirectly determining soot accumulation in the DPF by monitoring soot accumulation on a regeneration burner spark plug based on the correlation between spark plug fouling and DPF soot loading. An ion current sensing circuit is used during periods of no flame to determine soot loading on the spark plug. When soot loading on the spark plug approaches an amount that could cause fouling of the spark plug, the ignition controller initiates a hot spark to burn the soot off the spark plug. The number of such cleaning events is tracked and used to determine when the DPF soot loading is at a level that regeneration should be initiated. Temperature rise across the DPF is monitored and used to adjust the number spark plug cleaning events needed before initiating regeneration. | 10-01-2009 |
20090126687 | Split-Flow Pre-Filming Fuel Nozzle - Presented is a pre-filming fuel nozzle that is readily manufacturable and consists of a fuel injector, a nozzle insert that fits over the fuel injector outlet, and a housing that generally encloses the fuel injector and nozzle insert. The housing has an atomizing lip, a fuel inlet passage, and an air passage. The nozzle insert has openings near the fuel injector that allows air to flow into the insert. During operation, the fuel injector impinges fuel on an inner surface of the insert and is pulled towards the atomizing lip from air flow through the insert. The air flow through the insert and air flow through the housing join at the atomizing lip, resulting in air flows shearing fuel droplets off of the atomizing lip. The nozzle may have swirler means such as a swirler fin and/or swirler passages on the insert to aid in swirling the air flow. | 05-21-2009 |
20090045365 | Fail Safe Mechanism For Valve Using A Cock And Lock Return Spring - A fail safe mechanism having a return member, valve stem extension, energy storage member, and locking assembly. The valve stem extension is driven by an electrical actuator and configured to drive the return member in a first direction and to be driven by the return member in a second direction. The energy storage member is configured to store energy when the electrical actuator causes the valve stem extension to drive the return member in the first direction and to release the energy stored therein when a disruption of power causes the return member to drive the valve stem extension in the second direction. The locking assembly is configured to hold the return member in a cocked position such that the valve stem extension rotates with the valve independently of the return member and free of influence from the energy storage member while the power is applied to the electrical actuator. | 02-19-2009 |
20080312025 | Stepper Motor Driven Proportional Actuator - A stepper motor driven actuator that eliminates the need for a position sensor is provided. The stepper motor rotates a cam in a control piston valve. In a single nozzle embodiment, pressure balance is maintained by a spring preload on one end of the piston in one embodiment, and by hydraulic pressure acting on a double diameter end portion of the piston in another embodiment. As the cam is rotated, the change in the gap between the nozzle and the cam changes the pressures on the control piston ends, which forces the piston in the direction that will re-equalize the pressure based on the cam-nozzle gap. As a result, the head or rod of the actuator piston receives high pressure flow, thereby moving the actuator. Movement of the actuator rod provides mechanical feedback to the cam, causing the cam to move back to its mechanical null position. | 12-18-2008 |
20080202590 | High Efficiency Valve Geometry For Pressure Regulator - A pressure regulator that has a geometry that reduces regulator droop is provided that reduces or eliminates the need for a larger package size for a given set of flow requirements. The regulator comprises a housing having a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port; at least one regulation stage having an input in fluidic communication with the fuel inlet port; a final regulation stage comprising an inlet in fluidic communication with an output of the at least one regulation stage, a mating valve seat in fluidic communication with the inlet, and a valve seat in movable contact with the mating valve seat, the valve seat having a bottom having an edge, the edge having means for reducing regulator droop; and means for moving the valve seat from a closed position to an open position in response to a pressure change. The means for reducing regulator droop comprises a reverse lip or an approximately square edge. | 08-28-2008 |
20080197312 | Tube-End Butterfly Metering And Shutoff Valve - A butterfly valve comprising a valve body having a passage, a valve shaft assembly, a plate, and a tube is provided. The valve shaft assembly comprises first and second shaft portions in opposing spaced relation, an intermediate portion therebetween, and a support plate secured to the valve shaft assembly. The first and second shaft portions rotatably couple the valve shaft assembly to the valve body. The intermediate member forms a chamber in fluidic communication with the passage. The support plate is disposed within the chamber at a closed valve position approximately perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow through the passage. The plate is secured to the support plate and has an inner portion and a flange radially outward of the inner portion. The flange is directed away from the support plate. The tube is disposed within the passage and friction or clearance fit over a portion of the flange. | 08-21-2008 |