Natural gas engine
AssigneeSmith Power Products, Inc.
InventorsMicky Warren, Christopher Fleming, Michael Smith, John De La Hunt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system may include a natural gas engine; and a hydrodynamic device configured to convert mechanical energy of the natural gas engine into heat in a working fluid within the hydrodynamic device. The amount of fluid in the hydrodynamic device may be controlled by an electronically controllable valve, and the amount of fluid in the hydrodynamic device may control a resistive force of the hydrodynamic device. The system may also include a controller in communication with the natural gas engine and the hydrodynamic device, where the controller may be configured to automatically adjust the electronically controllable valve to maintain a working load on the natural gas engine at or above a threshold load.
Claims13
A system comprising:
- a natural gas engine;
- a hydrodynamic device configured to convert mechanical energy of the natural gas engine into heat in a working fluid within the hydrodynamic device, an amount of fluid in the hydrodynamic device controlled by an electronically controllable valve, the amount of fluid in the hydrodynamic device controlling a resistive force of the hydrodynamic device;
- a controller in communication with the natural gas engine and the hydrodynamic device, the controller configured to automatically adjust the electronically controllable valve to maintain a working load on the natural gas engine at or above a threshold load;
- and
- a transmission for changing between gears of the natural gas engine, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the electronically controllable valve to increase the working load on the natural gas engine when the transmission down-shifts the natural gas engine;
- and
- a second driveline located on a second side of the natural gas engine opposite from a first side of the natural gas engine, the first side associated with the hydrodynamic device, the transmission interfacing with the natural gas engine at the second side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.