|Número de publicación||US7392768 B2|
|Tipo de publicación||Concesión|
|Número de solicitud||US 11/414,148|
|Fecha de publicación||1 Jul 2008|
|Fecha de presentación||28 Abr 2006|
|Fecha de prioridad||29 Abr 2005|
|También publicado como||CA2606979A1, CA2607069A1, EP1888879A2, EP1896707A2, US7325517, US7328672, US7404381, US7650860, US7707975, US7753011, US7770546, US8100094, US20060260563, US20060260564, US20060260565, US20060260566, US20080087162, US20080087235, US20080087236, US20080087237, US20100206258, US20100282201, WO2006119036A2, WO2006119036A3, WO2006119094A2, WO2006119094A3|
|Número de publicación||11414148, 414148, US 7392768 B2, US 7392768B2, US-B2-7392768, US7392768 B2, US7392768B2|
|Inventores||Timber Dick, Corban I. Tillemann-Dick, Levi M. Tillemann-Dick, Tomicah S. Tillemann-Dick|
|Cesionario original||Tendix Development, Llc|
|Exportar cita||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Citas de patentes (107), Otras citas (7), Citada por (10), Clasificaciones (16), Eventos legales (6)|
|Enlaces externos: USPTO, Cesión de USPTO, Espacenet|
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/676,017, filed Apr. 29, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/719,631, filed Sep. 21, 2005. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/676,017 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/719,631 are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
The present application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/413,599, entitled “RADIAL IMPULSE ENGINE, PUMP, AND COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF OPERATION,” filed concurrently herewith; copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/413,606, entitled “RADIAL IMPULSE ENGINE, PUMP, AND COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF OPERATION,” filed concurrently herewith; and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/414,167, entitled “RADIAL IMPULSE ENGINE, PUMP, AND COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF OPERATION,” filed concurrently herewith. Each of the U.S. Patent Applications listed above is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The following disclosure relates generally to engines, pumps, and similar apparatuses and systems.
The efficiency of internal combustion engines is often expressed in terms of thermal efficiency, which is a measure of an engine's ability to convert fuel energy into mechanical power. Conventional internal combustion engines with reciprocating pistons typically have relatively low thermal efficiencies. Conventional automobile engines, for example, typically have thermal efficiencies of about 0.25, which means that about seventy-five percent of the fuel's energy is wasted during engine operation. Specifically, about forty percent of the fuel's energy flows out the exhaust pipe as lost heat, while another thirty-five percent is absorbed by the cooling system (i.e., coolant, oil, and surrounding air flow). As a result of these losses, only about twenty-five percent of the fuel's energy is converted into usable power for moving the car and operating secondary systems (e.g., charging systems, cooling systems, power-steering systems, etc.).
There are a number of reasons that conventional internal combustion engines are so inefficient. One reason is that the cylinder head and walls of the combustion chamber absorb heat energy from the ignited fuel but do no work. Another reason is that the ignited fuel charge is only partially expanded before being pumped out of the combustion chamber at a relatively high temperature and pressure during the exhaust stroke. An additional reason is that reciprocating piston engines produce very little torque through much of the piston stroke because of the geometric relationship between the reciprocating piston and the rotating crankshaft.
While some advancements have been made in the field of piston engine technology, it appears that the practical limits of piston engine efficiency have been reached. The average fuel economy of new cars, for example, has increased by only 2.3 miles-per-gallon (mpg) in the last 20 years or so. More specifically, the average fuel economy of new cars has increased from 26.6 mpg in 1982 to only 28.9 mpg in 2002.
Although a number of alternatives to the conventional internal combustion engine have been proposed, each offers only marginal improvements. Hybrid vehicles, for example (e.g., the Toyota Prius), and alternative fuel systems (e.g., propane, natural gas, and biofuels) still use conventional reciprocating piston engines with all of their attendant shortcomings. Electric cars, on the other hand, have limited range and are slow to recharge. Hydrogen fuel cells are another alternative, but implementation of this nascent technology is relatively expensive and requires a new fuel distribution infrastructure to replace the existing petroleum-based infrastructure. Accordingly, while each of these technologies may hold promise for the future, they appear to be years away from mass-market acceptance.
This summary is provided for the benefit of the reader only, and does not limit the invention as set forth by the claims.
The present invention is directed generally toward engines, pumps, and similar energy conversion devices that convert thermal energy into mechanical energy or, alternatively, convert mechanical energy into fluid energy. An internal combustion engine configured in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a first end wall portion spaced apart from a second end wall portion to at least partially define a combustion chamber therebetween. The engine further includes first and second movable wall portions disposed between the first and second end wall portions. The first movable wall portion includes a first distal edge portion spaced apart from a first pivot axis. The second movable wall portion includes a second distal edge portion spaced apart from a second pivot axis. The second movable wall portion further includes a cylindrical surface extending at least partially between the second distal edge portion and the second pivot axis. Upon ignition in the combustion chamber, the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion slides across the cylindrical surface of the second movable wall portion as the first and second movable wall portions pivot outwardly in unison about their respective pivot axes. In one embodiment of the invention, each of the movable wall portions can additionally include an aperture configured to admit at least one of air and an air/fuel mixture into the combustion chamber during engine operation.
In another aspect of the invention, the engine further includes a third movable wall portion disposed between the first and second end wall portions adjacent to the second movable wall portion. Like the first and second movable wall portions, the third movable wall portion has a third distal edge portion spaced apart from a third pivot axis. In this aspect of the invention, the cylindrical surface of the first movable wall portion has a first radius of curvature, and the first, second, and third pivot axes define a circle having a second radius of curvature that is at least approximately equivalent to the first radius of curvature.
In a further aspect of the invention, the first movable wall portion is fixedly attached to a first wrist shaft, and the second movable wall portion is fixedly attached to a second wrist shaft. In this aspect of the invention, the first wrist shaft is operably coupled to the second wrist shaft to ensure that the movable wall portions move in unison during engine operation. In one embodiment of the invention, a synchronizing ring gear operably couples the first wrist shaft to the second wrist shaft for this purpose. In this embodiment, the synchronizing ring gear is also coupled to a crankshaft for power transmission and energy storage.
The following disclosure provides a detailed description of a number of different engine, pump, and compressor systems, as well as a number of different methods for operating such systems. Certain details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Other details describing well-known structures and systems often associated with internal combustion engines, steam engines, pumps, and similar devices are not set forth below, however, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the invention.
Many of the details, dimensions, angles, and other features shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, angles, and/or features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Furthermore, additional embodiments of the invention can be practiced without several of the details described below.
In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical or at least generally similar elements. To facilitate the discussion of any particular element, the most significant digit or digits of any reference number refer to the Figure in which that element is first introduced. For example, element 110 is first introduced and discussed with reference to
I. Radial Impulse Internal Combustion Engines
In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine 100 further includes a first exhaust manifold 110 a attached to the first end plate 104 a and a second exhaust manifold 110 b attached to the second end plate 104 b. The first exhaust manifold 110 a is configured to direct exhaust gases away from the scavenging barrel 102 through a first exhaust outlet 112 a and a second exhaust outlet 112 b. The second exhaust manifold 110 b is similarly configured to direct exhaust gases away from the scavenging barrel 102 through a third exhaust outlet 112 c and a fourth exhaust outlet 112 d. Although not shown in
As described in detail below, fuel can be provided to the engine 100 in a number of different ways. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, fuel is provided to a first fuel injector (not shown in
Once fuel has been injected into the engine 100, it can be ignited in a number of different ways as well. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, a first spark plug (not shown in
In another aspect of this embodiment, each wrist shaft 220 carries a first timing gear 222 (identified individually as first timing gears 222 a-f) on one end and a second timing gear 223 (identified individually as second timing gears 223 a-f) on the other end. Each of the first timing gears 222 is operably engaged with a first ring gear 228 a, and each of the second timing gears 223 is similarly engaged with a second ring gear 228 b. The ring gears 228 synchronize motion of the chordons 240 during operation of the engine 100.
In a further aspect of this embodiment, a crank-arm 229 extends outwardly from the first ring gear 228 a and is pivotally coupled to a connecting rod 262. The connecting rod 262 is in turn pivotally coupled to a crankshaft 270. The crankshaft 270 can include one or more flywheels 272 of sufficient mass to drive the chordons 240 through the compression (inward) portion of their cyclic motion. Although only one crankshaft assembly is illustrated in
In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine 100 further includes a plurality of exhaust valves 330 (identified individually as exhaust valves 330 a-l). The exhaust valves 330 a-f extend through the first end plate 104 a, and the exhaust valves 330 g-l extend through the second end plate 104 b. Each of the exhaust valves 330 seats in a corresponding exhaust port 337, and is held closed by a corresponding coil spring 335. An actuator plate 336 presses against the coil springs 335 to move the exhaust valves 330 away from the respective end plate 104 and open the exhaust ports 337. Opening the exhaust ports 337 in this manner allows exhaust gases to flow out of the combustion chamber 203 through the adjacent exhaust manifold 110.
In a further aspect of this embodiment, the engine 100 also includes first and second fuel injectors 334 a and 334 b, and first and second igniters 332 a and 332 b (e.g., spark plugs). The first and second fuel injectors 334 a and 334 b are carried by the first and second end plates 104 a and 104 b, respectively, and are configured to receive fuel from the first and second fuel lines 116 a and 116 b of
Referring next to
Although the embodiment of the invention described above uses fuel injection, in other embodiments the engine 100 can use other forms of fuel delivery. Such forms can include, for example, carburetors or fuel-injected throttle bodies providing an air/fuel mixture to the combustion chamber 203 through the inlets 108 (
The engine 500 can operate in both two-stroke and four-stroke modes. In two-stroke mode, the igniter 532 ignites a compressed intake charge when the chordons 540 are at or near the top dead center position illustrated in
When the chordons 540 reach the position illustrated in
When the chordons 540 reach the bottom dead center position shown in
Although the embodiment of the engine 500 described above utilizes fuel injection, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that the engine 500 or variations thereof can be readily adapted to operate with a carburetor or similar device that introduces an air/fuel mixture into the combustion chamber 503 via the intake valve 531. Furthermore, although the engine 500 only includes a single intake valve and a single exhaust valve, in other embodiments, engines at least generally similar in structure and function to the engine 500 can include a plurality of intake valves in the first end plate 504 a and a plurality of exhaust valves in the second end plate 504 b. In still further embodiments, engines at least generally similar in structure and function to the engine 500 can include both intake and exhaust valves on each of the end plates 504. In such embodiments, however, the corresponding intake/exhaust manifolds may be somewhat complicated.
Unlike the chordons 240 of the engine 100, the chordons 640 of the engine 600 reciprocate through an arc of about 180 degrees during normal operation. To accommodate this motion, the engine 600 further includes a scavenging barrel 602 with a plurality of individual chordon chambers 605 a-f. In the illustrated embodiment, each chordon chamber 605 receives air from an associated one-way valve 626 (identified individually as one-way valves 626 a-f). The one-way valves 626 flow air into the chordon chambers 605 via a back wall 601. A transfer port 650 extends from an inlet 651 on each back wall 601 to an outlet 653 on an adjacent front wall 607.
In operation, the fuel injectors 634 spray fuel into the combustion chamber 603 when the chordons 640 are at or near a first position P1 (i.e., a top dead center position). The fuel mixes with compressed air in the combustion chamber 603 and is ignited by the igniters 632. The resulting combustion drives the chordons 640 outwardly from the first position P1 to a second position P2. As the chordons 640 approach the second position P2, they allow the exhaust gases to begin flowing out of the combustion chamber 603 through the exposed exhaust ports 630. As the chordons 640 continue moving outwardly from the second position P2 toward a third position P3, they compress the air trapped in their respective chordon chambers 605. As the chordons 640 continue moving toward a fourth position P4, however, they drive the compressed air back into the chordon chambers 605 through the transfer ports 650. This incoming charge helps to push the exhaust gases out of the combustion chamber 603 through the exhaust ports 630.
As the chordons 640 reverse direction and begin moving inwardly from the fourth position P4 (i.e., the bottom dead center position), they compress the intake charge which further helps to drive the exhaust gases out of the combustion chamber 603. In addition, this motion also draws new air into the chordon chambers 605 through the one-way valves 626. Further inward motion of the chordons 640 continues to compress the intake charge and push the exhaust gases out of the combustion chamber 603 through the exhaust ports 630. When the chordons 640 arrive at position P1, the fuel injectors 634 again inject fuel into the combustion chamber 603 for ignition by the igniters 632, causing the cycle described above to repeat.
Various aspects of the engine 600 can be different from those described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, in another embodiment, the transfer ports 650 can be positioned in one or both of the end plates (not shown). In a further embodiment, the exhaust ports 630 can be movable relative to their respective end plates to vary the exhaust timing and change engine performance characteristics accordingly. One way to vary the exhaust timing is to utilize controllable shutter valves or similar devices to vary the port positions and/or size. In yet other embodiments, sleeve valves or similar devices can be used to actively change the relative positions of the one-way valves 626 and/or the transfer port outlets 653 to alter intake timing as desired.
Referring next to
The engine 900 further includes a first ignition wire 916 a and a second ignition wire 916 b. Each of the ignition wires 916 is operably connected to a corresponding igniter or spark plug (not shown in
Unlike the engine 100, however, the engine 900 lacks a scavenging barrel and the associated one-way valves. Instead, the engine 900 utilizes a plurality of intake valves 1031 a-f that are carried by the first end plate 904 a (
The engine 900 further includes a plurality of exhaust valves 1030 g-l that are carried by the second end plate 904 b (
As the chordons 1040 move inwardly toward the position shown in
As the chordons 1040 move inwardly toward the position shown in
Although the engine 900 utilizes multiple intake and exhaust valves, in other embodiments, other engines at least generally similar in structure and function to the engine 900 can utilize a single intake valve on one end plate and a single exhaust valve on the opposing end plate. In further embodiments, other similar engines can utilize commingled exhaust and intake valves on one or both end plates. In yet other embodiments, a four-stroke engine similar to the engine 900 described above can operate with unidirectional rotation of the chordons 1040 about their respective wrist shafts 1020. In such embodiments, chordon motion can be at least generally similar to the chordon motion described above with reference to
One feature of the radial impulse engines described above with reference to
Another feature of the radial impulse engines described above is that outward chordon motion “hyper-expands” the exhaust gases during the power stroke. This hyper-expansion has the advantage of significantly reducing exhaust gas temperatures. As a result, the engine runs significantly cooler, leading to less wear and tear on the internal engine parts over time. In addition, the lower operating temperatures allow the use of a smaller capacity cooling system than conventional internal combustion engines. One advantage of the smaller cooling system is that it draws less power from the engine during operation than a comparable cooling system for a conventional engine.
Yet another feature of the radial impulse engines described above is that they have fewer parts than conventional internal combustion engines of comparable capacity and output. As a result, the radial impulse engines of the present invention can be made smaller and lighter and generally more compact than conventional engines. This feature enables cars and other vehicles that use the engines of the present invention to be made smaller and lighter than their conventional counterparts and to have correspondingly better fuel efficiency. The reduction in moving parts also results in a reduction in overall operating friction, which again leads to increased fuel efficiency.
II. Chordon Features
For radial impulse engines having six chordons, making the radius of curvature of the chordon face 244 at least approximately equivalent to the radius of curvature of the circle passing through the wrist shaft pivot axes Pa-Pf has been shown to facilitate continuous chordon-to-chordon sliding contact during chordon reciprocation without detrimental binding. As described in greater detail below, however, in other embodiments radial impulse engines configured in accordance with various aspects of the invention can include more or fewer chordons having other configurations.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the chordon 240 can further include a first pressure control seal 1356 a extending along a first end edge portion 1351 a, a second pressure control seal 1356 b extending along a second end edge portion 1351 b, and a third pressure control seal 1356 c extending along the distal edge portion 242. The pressure control seals 1356 reduce pressure leaks between the chordon 240 and adjacent surfaces during operation of the engine 100. For example, the first pressure control seal 1356 a seals the gap between the chordon 240 and the first end plate 104 a (not shown), and the second pressure control seal 1356 b seals the gap between the chordon 240 and the second end plate 104 b (also not shown). The third pressure control seal 1356 c seals the gap between the chordon 240 and the adjacent chordon face during engine operation.
In addition to the pressure control seals 1356, the chordon 240 can also include a first oil control seal 1354 a extending along a first end surface 1353 a, and a second oil control seal 1354 b extending across a second end surface 1353 b. Both of the oil control seals 1354, as well as the third pressure control seal 1356 c, can be configured to receive lubrication from an oil galley 1350 passing through the chordon 240. In the illustrated embodiment, the oil galley 1350 receives oil from an inlet 1352 a positioned toward one end of the wrist shaft 220, and discharges the oil through an outlet 1352 b positioned toward the opposite end of the wrist shaft 220. During engine operation, the oil control seals 1354 and the third pressure control seal 1356 c can provide lubrication between the chordon 240 and the adjacent surfaces to reduce friction and minimize engine wear.
In another aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of springs 1362 a-c (e.g., metallic springs) can be disposed in the grooves 1358 a-c, respectively, to press the corresponding seals 1354/1356 outwardly against adjacent surfaces and maintain an adequate seal during engine operation. Alternatively, in another embodiment, each of the seals 1354/1356 can be pressurized by combustion chamber gases flowing through back-ports (not shown) in the chordon 240.
The various chordon features described above represent only a few of the different approaches that can be used to solve the inherent internal combustion engine problems of cooling, lubrication, and combustion-chamber sealing. Accordingly, in other embodiments, other approaches can be used to solve these problems. In one such embodiment, for example, the lubricating medium can provide chordon cooling, thereby dispensing with the need for a separate cooling system. In another embodiment, nonmetallic O-ring type seals, such as Teflon® seals, can be used for chordon sealing.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the chordons 1640 can also include “sub-axial” transfer ports 1624 a-b that extend through the chordon 1640 outboard of the pivot axis 1621 of the corresponding wrist shaft 1620. As illustrated in
Although the embodiments of the invention described above utilize “one-piece” chordons, in other embodiments (such as the embodiments described below), other radial impulse engines configured in accordance with the present invention can utilize multi-piece hinged and/or telescoping chordons.
In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine 1800 includes eight chordons 1840, and each of the body portions 1841 has a length L that is at least approximately equivalent to a chord distance D between adjacent wrist shaft pivot axes. In other embodiments, however, other radial impulse engines can have more or fewer hinged chordons, and each of the chordons can have corresponding body portions with lengths that are greater or less than the chord length between adjacent wrist shaft pivot axes. In such embodiments, however, it may be necessary to utilize multiple hinged chordon sections to facilitate serpentine-like coiling of the chordons during their stroke to maintain adequate sealing without detrimental binding.
Telescoping chordons configured in accordance with other embodiments of the invention can include other means for controlling chordon length during engine operation. Such means can include, for example, hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems that function in a manner that is at least generally similar to the coil spring 2143 described above. Telescoping chordons such as those described above with reference to
III. Valve Actuation
If symmetrical valve opening/closing profiles are desired, then the cam lobes 2366 should have correspondingly symmetrical shapes. In such embodiments, the ring cam 2364 can rotate unidirectionally or reciprocate back and forth. Alternatively, if an asymmetrical valve opening/closing profile is desired, then the cam lobes 2366 should have a correspondingly asymmetrical shape, and the ring cam 2364 should be configured to rotate unidirectionally about the center axis 2301.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine 2400 further includes a cylindrical sleeve valve 2462 and a series of shutter valves 2466 a-f. The sleeve valve 2462 is concentrically disposed around the exterior of the scavenging barrel 2402, and includes a plurality of apertures 2464 a-f. In operation, the sleeve valve 2462 rotates about an engine center axis 2401 to vary the position of the apertures 2464 relative to the intake ports 2426 and control the flow of the air/fuel mixture into the scavenging barrel 2402. In one embodiment, movement of the sleeve valve 2462 can be controlled through gear engagement with one or more of a plurality of wrist shafts 2420 a-f. In other embodiments, movement of the sleeve valve 2462 can be controlled by other means. In the illustrated embodiment, the shutter valves 2466 are operably coupled to the wrist shafts 2420. In operation, the shutter valves 2466 rotate back and forth with the wrist shafts 2420 to open and close the exhaust ports 2432 at the appropriate times during chordon stroke.
IV. Power Take Out
A portion of the discussion above directed to
In operation, the synchronization gear 2728 rotates in one direction (e.g., a clockwise direction) about an engine center axis 2701. When the chordons 2740 begin moving outwardly from the top dead center position on the power stroke, the first timing gears 2721 engage the inner teeth groups 2732 of the synchronization gear 2728, thereby driving the synchronization gear 2728 in the clockwise direction. When the chordons 2740 reach the bottom dead center position, the first timing gears 2721 disengage from the inner teeth groups 2732 and the second timing gears 2722 simultaneously engage the outer teeth groups 2733. The momentum of the rotating synchronization gear 2728 then drives the chordons 2740 back inwardly toward the top dead center position. Thus, as the synchronization gear 2728 rotates about the center axis 2701, it alternates between receiving power pulses from the chordons 2740 via the first timing gears 2721 and driving the chordons 2740 back toward the top dead center position via the second timing gears 2722. Accordingly, the wrist shafts 2720 oscillate back and forth while the synchronization gear rotates unidirectionally to maintain flywheel effect.
In this particular embodiment, the first chordons 2840 a operate counter-cyclically with respect to the second chordons 2840 b. That is, the first chordons 2840 a are at a bottom dead center position when the second chordons 2840 b are at a top dead center position. One advantage of this embodiment is that counter-cyclic operation can enable the power unit 2805 to provide constant, or near-constant, torque output.
V. Power Unit Configurations
In this particular embodiment, however, the power unit 2905 further includes a plurality of extended wrist shafts 2920 (identified individually as wrist shafts 2920 a-f) extending through a mid-plate 2904. The wrist shafts 2920 carry the first chordons 2940 a of the first engine 2900 a as well as the second chordons 2940 b of the second engine 2900 b. The second chordons 2940 b, however, are inverted relative to the first chordons 2940 a so that the second engine 2900 b operates counter-cyclically relative to the first engine 2900 a. Specifically, as the wrist shafts 2920 rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the first chordons 2940 a pivot from a top dead center position toward a bottom dead center position while the second chordons 2940 b pivot inwardly from a bottom dead center position toward a top dead center position. As mentioned above with reference to
Operation of the power unit 3005 can begin by ignition of an intake charge in the engine 3000 when the engine chordons 3140 are in a top dead center position as illustrated in
Referring next to
Although various aspects of the invention described above are directed to internal combustion engines, in other embodiments, other aspects of the invention can be directed to other types of power units, including, for example, steam engines, diesel engines, hybrid engines, etc. Furthermore, in yet other embodiments, other aspects of the invention can be directed to other types of useful machines, including pumps (e.g., air pumps, water pumps, etc.), compressors, etc.
VI. Radial Impulse Steam Engines
In operation, the intake valve 3231 opens and admits steam into an expansion chamber 3203 when the chordons 3240 are in the top dead center position of
As the chordons 3240 begin to move inwardly from the bottom dead center position, the exhaust valve 3130 starts to close. When the chordons 3240 reach the top dead center position of
In operation, the first intake valve 3331 opens and admits steam into an expansion chamber 3303 when the chordons 3340 are in the top dead center position shown in
When the chordons 3340 reach the bottom dead center position shown in
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.
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|Clasificación de EE.UU.||123/18.00R, 123/232|
|Clasificación cooperativa||F01B19/02, F01C1/40, F01B29/10, F01B19/00, F02B75/36, F01C9/002, Y02T10/17|
|Clasificación europea||F01B19/02, F02B75/36, F01C1/40, F01B19/00, F01B29/10, F01C9/00B|
|28 Dic 2007||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: TENDIX DEVELOPMENT, LLC, COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DICK, TIMBER;TILLEMANN-DICK, CORBAN I.;TILLEMANN-DICK, LEVI M.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020297/0693
Effective date: 20071022
|25 Nov 2008||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: PERKINS COIE LLP, WASHINGTON
Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:TENDIX DEVELOPMENT, LLC;REEL/FRAME:021890/0340
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|11 Dic 2009||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: IRIS ENGINES, INC., DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:TENDIX DEVELOPMENT, LLC;REEL/FRAME:023639/0348
Effective date: 20090720
Owner name: IRIS ENGINES, INC.,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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Effective date: 20090720
|3 May 2011||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: THE ABELL FOUNDATION, INC., MARYLAND
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Effective date: 20110421
|30 Nov 2011||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|12 Feb 2016||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|