Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080281949 | CLIENT LOCATION INFORMATION - Location information for a client is determined prior to establishing a communication tunnel over which the client accesses network based services. The location information is passed over the communication tunnel, and the network based services are provided based on the location information. | 11-13-2008 |
20110061741 | Compressor and/or Expander Device - Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel. | 03-17-2011 |
20110061836 | Compressor and/or Expander Device - Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel. | 03-17-2011 |
20110062166 | Compressor and/or Expander Device - Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel. | 03-17-2011 |
20110258996 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING EFFICIENCY OF A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED SYSTEM - Systems and methods for efficiently operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for efficiently operating a gas compression and expansion energy storage system are disclosed herein. Systems and methods are provided for controlling and operating the hydraulic actuators used within a hydraulically actuated device/system, such as, for example, a gas compression and/or expansion energy system, within a desired efficiency range of the hydraulic pump(s)/motor(s) used to supply or receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to or from the hydraulic actuators. In such a system, a variety of different operating regimes can be used depending on the desired output gas pressure and the desired stored pressure of the compressed gas. Hydraulic cylinders used to drive working pistons within the system can be selectively actuated to achieve varying force outputs to incrementally increase the gas pressure within the system for a given cycle. | 10-27-2011 |
20110258999 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR OPTIMIZING HEAT TRANSFER WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. For example, systems, methods and devices for optimizing the heat transfer within an air compression and expansion energy storage system are described herein. A compressor and/or expander device can include one or more of various embodiments of a heat transfer element that can be disposed within an interior of a cylinder or pressure vessel used in the compression and/or expansion of a gas, such as air. Such devices can include hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators to move a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) within the cylinder or pressure vessel. The heat transfer element can be used to remove heat energy generated during a compression and/or expansion process. | 10-27-2011 |
20120057998 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING EFFICIENCY OF A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED SYSTEM - Systems and methods for efficiently operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for efficiently operating a gas compression and expansion energy storage system are disclosed herein. Systems and methods are provided for controlling and operating the hydraulic actuators used within a hydraulically actuated device/system, such as, for example, a gas compression and/or expansion energy system, within a desired efficiency range of the hydraulic pump(s)/motor(s) used to supply or receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to or from the hydraulic actuators. In such a system, a variety of different operating regimes can be used depending on the desired output gas pressure and the desired stored pressure of the compressed gas. Hydraulic cylinders used to drive working pistons within the system can be selectively actuated to achieve varying force outputs to incrementally increase the gas pressure within the system for a given cycle. | 03-08-2012 |
20120073432 | COMPRESSOR AND/OR EXPANDER DEVICE WITH ROLLING PISTON SEAL - An apparatus can include a piston movably disposed within a pressure vessel and defines a first interior region and a second interior region. The piston has a first position in which the first interior contains a gas having a first pressure and has a volume greater than the second interior region, and a second position in which the second interior region contains a gas having a second pressure and has a volume greater than the first interior region. A seal member is attached to the piston and to the pressure vessel. The seal member has a first configuration in which at least a portion of the seal member is disposed at a first position when the piston is in its first position, and a second configuration in which the portion of the seal member is disposed at a second position when the piston is in its second position. | 03-29-2012 |
20120096845 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPRESSING AND/OR EXPANDING A GAS UTILIZING A BI-DIRECTIONAL PISTON AND HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing bi-directional piston movement within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include a first pneumatic cylinder, a second pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic controller. The first pneumatic cylinder has a first working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the first pneumatic cylinder and the hydraulic actuator is coupled to the first working piston. The second pneumatic cylinder has a second working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the second pneumatic cylinder. The hydraulic controller is fluidically coupleable to the hydraulic actuator and is operable in a compression mode. | 04-26-2012 |
20120102935 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HEAT REMOVAL WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE OR SYSTEM - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator that can be used to compress a gas within a pressure vessel. An actuator can be actuated to move a liquid into a pressure vessel such that the liquid compresses gas within the pressure vessel. In such a compressor/expander device or system, during the compression and/or expansion process, heat can be transferred to the liquid used to compress the air. The compressor/expander device or system can include a liquid purge system that can be used to remove at least a portion of the liquid to which the heat energy has been transferred such that the liquid can be cooled and then recycled within the system. | 05-03-2012 |
20120102954 | COMPRESSION/EXPANSION PROCESS THAT ALLOWS TEMPERATURE TO VARY INDEPENDENT OF PRESSURE - Systems and methods are described herein to operate an air compression and/or expansion system in its most efficient regime, at a desired efficiency, and/or achieve a desired pressure ratio independent of discharge temperature, with little to no impact on thermal efficiency. For example, systems and methods are provided for controlling and operating hydraulic pumps/motors used within a hydraulically actuated device/system, such as, for example, a gas compression and/or expansion energy system, in its most efficient regime, continuously, substantially continuously, intermittently, or varied throughout an operating cycle or stroke of the system to achieve any desired pressure and temperature profile. Such systems and methods can achieve any desired pressure ratio independent of input or discharge temperature, and can also achieve any desired discharge temperature independent of pressure ratio, without altering any of the structural components of the device or system. | 05-03-2012 |
20120174569 | COMPENSATED COMPRESSED GAS STORAGE SYSTEMS - Systems, devices and methods for the compression, expansion, and/or storage of a gas are described herein. An apparatus suitable for use in a compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system includes a pneumatic cylinder having a working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic actuator coupled to the working piston, and a hydraulic controller fluidically coupleable to the hydraulic actuator. The apparatus is fluidically coupleable to a compressed gas storage chamber which includes a first storage chamber fluidically coupleable to the pneumatic chamber, and a second storage chamber is fluidically coupleable to the first storage chamber. The first storage chamber is disposed at a first elevation and is configured to contain a liquid and a gas. The second storage chamber is disposed at a second elevation greater than the first elevation, and is configured to contain a volume of liquid. | 07-12-2012 |
20120222424 | COMPRESSOR AND/OR EXPANDER DEVICE - An apparatus can include a pressure vessel that defines an interior region that can contain a liquid and/or a gas. A piston is movably disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel. A divider is fixedly disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel and divides the interior region into a first interior region on a first side of the divider and a second interior region on a second, opposite side of the divider. The piston is movable between a first position in which fluid having a first pressure is disposed within the first interior region and the first interior region has a volume less than a volume of the second interior region, and a second position in which fluid having a second pressure is disposed within the second interior region and the second interior region has a volume less than a volume of the first interior region. | 09-06-2012 |
20130305704 | COMPRESSOR AND/OR EXPANDER DEVICE - Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel. | 11-21-2013 |
20140109566 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR OPTIMIZING HEAT TRANSFER WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. For example, systems, methods and devices for optimizing the heat transfer within an air compression and expansion energy storage system are described herein. A compressor and/or expander device can include one or more of various embodiments of a heat transfer element that can be disposed within an interior of a cylinder or pressure vessel used in the compression and/or expansion of a gas, such as air. Such devices can include hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators to move a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) within the cylinder or pressure vessel. The heat transfer element can be used to remove heat energy generated during a compression and/or expansion process. | 04-24-2014 |
20140190152 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPRESSING AND/OR EXPANDING A GAS UTILIZING A BI-DIRECTIONAL PISTON AND HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing bi-directional piston movement within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include a first pneumatic cylinder, a second pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic controller. The first pneumatic cylinder has a first working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the first pneumatic cylinder and the hydraulic actuator is coupled to the first working piston. The second pneumatic cylinder has a second working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the second pneumatic cylinder. The hydraulic controller is fluidically coupleable to the hydraulic actuator and is operable in a compression mode and an expansion mode. | 07-10-2014 |
20140238500 | COMPRESSOR AND/OR EXPANDER DEVICE WITH ROLLING PISTON SEAL - An apparatus can include a piston movably disposed within a pressure vessel and defines a first interior region and a second interior region. The piston has a first position in which the first interior contains a gas having a first pressure and has a volume greater than the second interior region, and a second position in which the second interior region contains a gas having a second pressure and has a volume greater than the first interior region. A seal member is attached to the piston and to the pressure vessel. The seal member has a first configuration in which at least a portion of the seal member is disposed at a first position when the piston is in its first position, and a second configuration in which the portion of the seal member is disposed at a second position when the piston is in its second position. | 08-28-2014 |
20140250880 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HEAT REMOVAL WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE OR SYSTEM - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator that can be used to compress a gas within a pressure vessel. An actuator can be actuated to move a liquid into a pressure vessel such that the liquid compresses gas within the pressure vessel. In such a compressor/expander device or system, during the compression and/or expansion process, heat can be transferred to the liquid used to compress the air. The compressor/expander device or system can include a liquid purge system that can be used to remove at least a portion of the liquid to which the heat energy has been transferred such that the liquid can be cooled and then recycled within the system. | 09-11-2014 |
20150089948 | COMPRESSOR AND/OR EXPANDER DEVICE - Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel. | 04-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110047971 | DOSING CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A dosing control system for a vehicle includes a pump control module and an enabling/disabling module. The pump control module controls a pump that provides dosing agent to a dosing agent injector located upstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst in an exhaust system. The enabling/disabling module disables the pump for a predetermined melting period after engine startup when the dosing agent is frozen and selectively activates the pump during the predetermined melting period to cool the dosing agent injector when a tip temperature of the dosing agent injector is greater than a predetermined temperature. | 03-03-2011 |
20120000187 | PARTICULATE FILTER REGENERATION INTERRUPTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A regeneration control system for a vehicle includes a regeneration control module and a regeneration interrupt module. The regeneration control module selectively provides fuel to an oxidation catalyst for a regeneration event of a particulate filter that occurs during a predetermined melting period for frozen dosing agent. The regeneration interrupt module selectively interrupts the regeneration event and disables the provision of fuel to the oxidation catalyst before the regeneration event is complete when a temperature of a dosing agent injector that is located between the oxidation catalyst and the particulate filter is greater than a predetermined temperature. | 01-05-2012 |
20120260625 | NITROGEN OXIDE SENSOR STUCK-IN-RANGE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL - A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system, an SCR device, upstream and downstream NOx sensors, and a controller. The controller is in electrical communication with the NOx sensors, and is configured for detecting a stuck-in-range fault condition of the downstream NOx sensor during a low exhaust flow condition. The controller detects the condition, receives the upstream and downstream NOx levels from the respective upstream and downstream NOx sensors, and compares these levels to a zero or near-zero threshold when the low exhaust flow condition is active. The controller is also configured for executing a first control action when the upstream NOx level is below the threshold and the downstream NOx level exceeds the threshold, and executing a second control action when neither of the levels exceeds the threshold. A method is also disclosed for diagnosing the stuck-in-range condition. | 10-18-2012 |
20130014575 | EXHAUST DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SCR NH3 DEPLETION CLEANSING MODE FOR INITIAL STEP IN THE DEF QUALITY SERVICE HEALING TEST - An exhaust diagnostic system comprises a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) component testing module, an exhaust stream temperature management module, and a test enabling module. The component testing module executes an SCR component efficiency test. The exhaust stream temperature management module adjusts a temperature of the SCR component to a predetermined temperature range. The test enabling module executes a process for depleting a reductant load and subsequently initiates an SCR component efficiency test while the temperature of the SCR catalyst is within the predetermined temperature range. | 01-17-2013 |
20130276428 | EXHAUST DIAGNOSTIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH NH3 DEPLETION CLEANSING - An exhaust diagnostic control system comprises a test enabling module, an exhaust gas temperature management module, and an exhaust diagnostic control system. The test enabling module is configured for executing a process for depleting a reductant load and subsequently establishing a known concentration of reductant on an after-treatment component following an occurrence of one or more trigger events. The exhaust gas temperature management module is configured for selectively adjusting a temperature of the after-treatment component to a predetermined temperature range using intrusive exhaust gas temperature management. The component management module is configured for executing a NOx reduction efficiency test following completion of the process for depleting a reductant load and subsequently establishing a known concentration of reductant on the after-treatment component. The NOx reduction efficiency test comprises determining a NOx reduction efficiency associated with the after-treatment component. | 10-24-2013 |
20130291517 | EXHAUST DIAGNOSTIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SELECTIVE DISABLEMENT OF NOX REDUCTION EFFICIENCY DIAGNOSTIC - An exhaust diagnostic control system comprises a test enabling module, an exhaust gas temperature management module in communication with the test enabling module, and a component management module configured for executing a test for determining a reduction efficiency associated with the after-treatment component. The test enabling module is configured for assessing a reliability of an estimated level of reductant load on an after-treatment component, and, based on the reliability, selectively facilitating disablement of a subsequent test for determining an efficiency of NOx reduction in the after-treatment component. The exhaust gas temperature management module is configured for selectively adjusting a temperature of the after-treatment component to a predetermined temperature range using intrusive exhaust gas temperature management. The test for determining reduction efficiency comprises determining a NOx reduction efficiency of the after-treatment component. | 11-07-2013 |
20130338900 | NOX SENSOR PLAUSIBILITY MONITOR - A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system, and a controller. The exhaust system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, and a rear nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor. The controller, which is in communication with the NOx sensor, includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory. A plurality of data maps and a plurality of binary maps are recorded in memory. Each data map is indexed by a different pair of exhaust system performance values. Each cell of each data map is populated by estimated downstream NOx levels. The binary maps are indexed by one of the pairs of exhaust system performance values. Each cell of each binary map is populated by a binary value, i.e., a 0 or 1. The controller uses the data maps and the binary maps to execute a control action with respect to the exhaust system, such as verifying plausibility of the rear NOx sensor. | 12-19-2013 |
20140144220 | DIAGNOSTIC OPERATION STRATEGY FOR DIESEL OXIDATION CATALYST AGING LEVEL DETERMINATION USING NOX SENSOR NO2 INTERFERENCE - A method of determining aging of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) in an engine exhaust system includes receiving a first sensor signal from a first nitrogen oxides (NOx) sensor positioned in exhaust flow upstream of the DOC. The first sensor signal is indicative of an amount of NOx in the exhaust flow upstream of the DOC. The method further includes receiving a second sensor signal from a second NOx sensor positioned in the exhaust flow downstream of the DOC. The second sensor signal is indicative of an amount of NOx downstream of the DOC. A difference between the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal is calculated by a controller. A DOC aging level based on a predetermined correlation between the difference and DOC aging can then be determined by the controller if at least one predetermined operating condition is satisfied. | 05-29-2014 |