Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140306576 | Surface Vibration Using Compliant Mechanical Amplifier - A displacement amplifier receives an actuation displacement signal from a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement signal is amplified by one or more stages of compliant elements, and a corresponding force is applied to a load. Wide frequency response is achieved in response to the resilience characteristics of the compliant elements that are formed from any of several materials, illustratively aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, composites, etc., and are produced by any of several manufacturing techniques, illustratively extrusion, die casting, forging, etc. The compliant elements can be configured as plural compliant mechanical displacement amplifier stages. In bilateral arrangements displacement signals from distal ends of the motive source are applied to symmetrical, or mirror image, arrangements of compliant elements. The motive source, which may be a piezoelectric actuator, delivers its displacement signal at one end thereof to one or more compliant elements. The other end of the piezoelectric actuator can be grounded. | 10-16-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100224024 | SURFACE VIBRATION USING COMPLIANT MECHANICAL AMPLIFIERS - A displacement amplifier receives an actuation displacement signal from a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement signal is amplified by one or more stages of compliant elements, and a corresponding force is applied to a load. Wide frequency response is achieved in response to the resilience characteristics of the compliant elements that are formed from any of several materials, illustratively aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, composites, etc., and are produced by any of several manufacturing techniques, illustratively extrusion, die casting, forging, etc. The compliant elements can be configured as plural compliant mechanical displacement amplifier stages. In bilateral arrangements displacement signals from distal ends of the motive source are applied to symmetrical, or mirror image, arrangements of compliant elements. The motive source, which may be a piezoelectric actuator, delivers its displacement signal at one end thereof to one or more compliant elements. The other end of the piezoelectric actuator can be grounded. | 09-09-2010 |
20110253957 | Compliant motion distribution system - A force distribution arrangement is configured as an array of compliant building blocks, each having a plurality of leg elements having respective leg thickness distribution and leg lengths. The plurality of leg elements are, in some embodiments, of uniform thickness and uniform leg length. The legs are joined to one another at corresponding compliant nodes, and are integrally formed. The array is constrained at a first end thereof, and optionally at a second end thereof. A membrane is arranged to overlie the array, and a control point is affixed to the array and optionally to the membrane that overlies the array. The membrane is formed of a compliant material or fabric. A further array is arranged in some applications at a predetermined orientation with respect to the first array. The arrays have respective actuation force response characteristics to achieve contour upon the application of actuation forces. | 10-20-2011 |
20130264427 | Compliant Structure Design for Varying Surface Contours - An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force. | 10-10-2013 |
20140289988 | Surface Wiper Arrangement - A wiper has a wiper arm having first and second ends. A leaf spring urges the wiper arm and a compliant force distribution arrangement toward the surface, and a mounting arrangement couples the first end of the wiper arm and the leaf spring element to a source of motion. The wiper arm has a first end coupling the first end of the wiper arm member to a source of motion, and a compliant force distributor is coupled to the second end, having plural resilient beam members integrally formed with each other and adapted to engage a wiper blade. A wiper mount has a mounting element having a mounting portion coupled to a source of motion and a drive portion for engaging the wiper arm. The leaf spring element also has a mounting portion coupled to the source of motion, and has a drive portion for engaging the wiper arm. | 10-02-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100224024 | SURFACE VIBRATION USING COMPLIANT MECHANICAL AMPLIFIERS - A displacement amplifier receives an actuation displacement signal from a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement signal is amplified by one or more stages of compliant elements, and a corresponding force is applied to a load. Wide frequency response is achieved in response to the resilience characteristics of the compliant elements that are formed from any of several materials, illustratively aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, composites, etc., and are produced by any of several manufacturing techniques, illustratively extrusion, die casting, forging, etc. The compliant elements can be configured as plural compliant mechanical displacement amplifier stages. In bilateral arrangements displacement signals from distal ends of the motive source are applied to symmetrical, or mirror image, arrangements of compliant elements. The motive source, which may be a piezoelectric actuator, delivers its displacement signal at one end thereof to one or more compliant elements. The other end of the piezoelectric actuator can be grounded. | 09-09-2010 |
20100259046 | ACTIVE CONTROL SURFACES FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES - A wind turbine has a longitudinal airfoil blade that exerts a torque on the generator in response to an impinging air current. A compliant airfoil edge arrangement is disposed along an edge of the airfoil blade for at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the airfoil blade. A morphing drive arrangement varies a configuration of the compliant airfoil edge arrangement and consequently the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil blade. A drive arrangement applies actuation forces to the upper and lower compliant surfaces via the upper and lower actuation elements. The compliant airfoil edge is arranged as a trailing edge of the airfoil blade. | 10-14-2010 |
20110132322 | Multi-Function Throttle Valve - An engine system comprises an air cleaner, a combustion chamber coupled to an intake port, and an intake manifold. The intake manifold is configured to receive air from the air cleaner, and, under some conditions to receive exhaust from the combustion chamber. The engine system further comprises a multifunction, barrel-type throttle valve coupled to the intake port via an outlet, the throttle valve having a first inlet coupled to the intake manifold and a second inlet coupled to the air cleaner. | 06-09-2011 |
20110253957 | Compliant motion distribution system - A force distribution arrangement is configured as an array of compliant building blocks, each having a plurality of leg elements having respective leg thickness distribution and leg lengths. The plurality of leg elements are, in some embodiments, of uniform thickness and uniform leg length. The legs are joined to one another at corresponding compliant nodes, and are integrally formed. The array is constrained at a first end thereof, and optionally at a second end thereof. A membrane is arranged to overlie the array, and a control point is affixed to the array and optionally to the membrane that overlies the array. The membrane is formed of a compliant material or fabric. A further array is arranged in some applications at a predetermined orientation with respect to the first array. The arrays have respective actuation force response characteristics to achieve contour upon the application of actuation forces. | 10-20-2011 |
20140306576 | Surface Vibration Using Compliant Mechanical Amplifier - A displacement amplifier receives an actuation displacement signal from a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement signal is amplified by one or more stages of compliant elements, and a corresponding force is applied to a load. Wide frequency response is achieved in response to the resilience characteristics of the compliant elements that are formed from any of several materials, illustratively aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, composites, etc., and are produced by any of several manufacturing techniques, illustratively extrusion, die casting, forging, etc. The compliant elements can be configured as plural compliant mechanical displacement amplifier stages. In bilateral arrangements displacement signals from distal ends of the motive source are applied to symmetrical, or mirror image, arrangements of compliant elements. The motive source, which may be a piezoelectric actuator, delivers its displacement signal at one end thereof to one or more compliant elements. The other end of the piezoelectric actuator can be grounded. | 10-16-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090266319 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING HYDRAULIC VALVE LASH COMPENSATION FOR ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE POPPET VALVES - A system and method for assembling an electrical valve actuator to a cylinder head is described. The system and method provide for lower assembly cost, improved concentricity between valve actuator armatures and valve stems, as well enabling lower inertia valve actuators. | 10-29-2009 |
20120031357 | Feed Forward Control for Electric Variable Valve Operation - Periodic torque disturbances that affect cylinder valve operation are anticipated, and an appropriate reaction torque is provided by an electric motor to counteract the periodic torque disturbances to position a cylinder valve at a desired position. | 02-09-2012 |
20130164114 | ADJUSTABLE CORE TURBOCHARGER - A turbocharger is provided herein. The turbocharger includes a housing and an adjustable core at least partially circumferentially surrounded by the housing, the adjustable core having a turbine rotor coupled to a compressor rotor via a shaft. The turbocharger further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the adjustable core configured to adjust an axial position of the housing relative to the adjustable core in response to adjustment commands. | 06-27-2013 |
20130268179 | VARIABLE CAM TIMING CONTROL DURING ENGINE SHUT-DOWN AND START-UP - A method for controlling an electric variable cam timing (VCT) actuator is disclosed. The method includes during engine shutdown, adjusting camshaft position with an electric VCT actuator to a target starting location, applying a first current to the electric VCT actuator to maintain the target starting location, and during engine startup before camshaft position feedback becomes available, applying a second current to the electric VCT actuator to maintain the target starting location. | 10-10-2013 |
20130269315 | VARIABLE VALVETRAIN TURBOCHARGED ENGINE - Embodiments for routing exhaust in an engine are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises, during a first condition, firing a subset of cylinders and routing all exhaust from the subset of cylinders through a first exhaust manifold coupled directly to a catalyst and not a turbocharger, and during a second condition, firing all cylinders, routing a first portion of exhaust through a second exhaust manifold coupled to the turbocharger, and routing a second portion of exhaust through the first exhaust manifold. In this way, exhaust can be directly routed to a catalyst under some conditions. | 10-17-2013 |
20140048023 | FEED FORWARD CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC VARIABLE VALVE OPERATION - Periodic torque disturbances that affect cylinder valve operation are anticipated, and an appropriate reaction torque is provided by an electric motor to counteract the periodic torque disturbances to position a cylinder valve at a desired position. | 02-20-2014 |
20140196703 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION OPERATION OF AN ENGINE - An engine is provided that includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) conduit in fluidic communication with a first exhaust valve in a cylinder and an intake system, an exhaust conduit in fluidic communication with a second exhaust valve in the cylinder and an emission control device. During operation with the first valve active and the second valve deactivated, a fixed EGR level can be provided. However, during operation with the first valve deactivated and the second valve active, increased engine output can be achieved with reduced EGR without requiring additional exhaust throttling or switching valves. | 07-17-2014 |
20140360461 | DEDICATED EGR CYLINDER POST COMBUSTION INJECTION - Systems and methods for increasing an amount of fuel injected into a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder in an engine are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises, prior to combustion, injecting a first amount of fuel to a dedicated EGR cylinder, and after combustion and during an expansion and/or exhaust stroke, directly injecting a second amount of fuel to the dedicated EGR cylinder. | 12-11-2014 |