Boston-power, Inc.

Philip Morris USA Inc.

Novatio Engineering, Inc.

Mimmo Elia

Jan-Roger Linna

Phillip E Partin

Per Onnerud

Richard V Chamberlain, Ii

John Paul Mello

Raymond G Kairawicz

Francis M Sprinkel

Niranjan Maharajh

David Keeler

John Waldron

Jason Targoff

Michael Peterson

Josh Breinlinger

An automated system for managing temperature and reducing crankcase oil dilution in an internal combustion engine. The system includes a rotatable shutter plate having an open portion, a closed portion and a peripheral rim, the peripheral rim having a frictional surface thereon; a motor having a rotatable shaft having a pinion affixed at one end thereof for engagement with the frictional surface of the peripheral rim of the rotatable shutter plate; and a temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature indicative of engine warm-up and sending a signal to a controller; wherein the rotatable shutter plate is structured and arranged to at least partially occlude an air inlet to or outlet from the internal combustion engine when rotated in response to a signal received from the controller. A method of reducing crankcase oil dilution and managing temperature in a spark-ignited engine operating on middle-distillate fuel and a portable engine or engine-generator combination having multi-fuel capability are also provided.

System and method for managing temperature in air-cooled engines

A modular current interrupt device includes an electrically-conductive rupture disc, an electrically-conductive pressure disc attached to the rupture disc to form an electrical pathway. An electrically-insulating ring partitions a perimeter of the rupture disc from a perimeter of the pressure disc, and a seating element secures the electrically-insulated ring to the pressure disc. At least one of the rupture disc and electrically-insulating ring defines a conduit, whereby exposure of one side of the pressure disc to sufficient force through the conduit causes the pressure disc to separate from the rupture disc to thereby sever the electrical pathway. A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cmand about 9 kg/cm. Preferably, the CID includes a pressure disc that includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end, with a cross-section of at least one of the first and second end being non-circular.

Modular CID assembly for a lithium ion battery

A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. Preferably, the CID includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate, the electrical communication between the first and the second conductive plates being interrupted at the minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. The first conductive plate can include a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end, and the second conductive plate is in electrical contact with the essentially planar cap through a weld.

CID retention device for Li-ion cell

A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cmand about 9 kg/cm. Preferably, the CID includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate, the electrical communication between the first and the second conductive plates being interrupted at the minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. More preferably, the first conductive plate includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end. More preferably, the second conductive plate is in electrical contact with the essentially planar cap through a weld. A battery, preferably a lithium-ion battery, comprises a CID as described above. A method of manufacturing such a CID comprises forming first and second conductive plates as described above, and welding the second conductive plate onto the first conductive plate while a temperature of the first conductive plate is controlled so as not to exceed the melting point of a surface of the first conductive plate opposite the weld.

There is provided a fuel injector system for vaporizing liquid fuel and metering the vapor to an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The system has at least one fuel injector with at least one capillary flow passage with a heat source arranged along the flow passage capable of heating liquid fuel in the flow passage to a level sufficient to vaporize it, a solenoid operated metering valve located at the capillary outlet for metering vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, and a system for operating the metering valve while delivering the vaporized fuel at an opening and closing frequency of at least 15 Hz or more preferably at least 60 Hz independent of engine rpm. The system is expected to be useful for starting a cold engine with reduced emissions.

High frequency vaporized fuel injector

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a plurality of capillary flow passages, each of the plurality of capillary flow passages having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along each of the plurality of capillary flow passages, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in each of the plurality of capillary flow passages to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages; and a valve for metering substantially vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the valve located proximate to each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Multiple capillary fuel injector for an internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a fuel injector housing, a system for metering vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the fuel injector housing, and a system for delivering an atomized stream of liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the fuel injector housing, wherein the fuel injector is operable to transition from metering vaporized fuel to delivering an atomized stream of liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine. The system for metering vaporized fuel includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage. The system for metering vaporized fuel further includes a valve for metering vaporized fuel located downstream to the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Growing community of inventors

Belmont, MA, United States of America

Mimmo Elia