Patents Examined by Andrew M. Dolinar
  • Patent number: 7036477
    Abstract: An engine control practices a method for engine control in a vehicle control system having an automated start and stop system that keeps a battery charged and an engine temperature in a preselected range, the run time for the engine being extended beyond a preset run time when said control senses that a time interval between start up and the last shut off is shorter than a preset start up time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Marleen Thompson, Thomas Diefenbaker, Richard Avery, Tomislav Golub
  • Patent number: 7036464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for lubricating at least two units of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, each unit comprising one or more assemblies, and to a corresponding vehicle. In order to be able to dispense with an oil change of the individual units, and at the same time ensure the necessary quality and quantity of lubricant, it is proposed according to the invention to conduct the lubricant in series through the at least two units in that fresh lubricant is fed to the first unit from a container, at least some of the used lubricant is removed from the oil trough of the individual units and is fed to the unit which is respectively arranged afterwards in the series, and the lubricant which is removed from the oil trough of the last unit is fed to the internal combustion engine for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fuchs Petrolub AG
    Inventors: Rolf Luther, Christian Seyfert
  • Patent number: 7036467
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion engine (10) with a variable compression ratio includes the following steps: determining a theoretical value for the compression ratio; adjusting the compression ratio to the theoretical value; and correcting the adjusted compression ratio as a function of signals of a sensor mechanism of the combustion engine (10). The step of correcting includes the step of determining an actual value of the compression ratio. In addition, a device for performing the method is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Kassner
  • Patent number: 7035730
    Abstract: A method of generating a metric data set for determining a performance of a catalytic converter includes sampling data from a post catalytic converter oxygen sensor to provide a raw data set and generating a revised data set based on the raw data set. Data within the revised data set is eliminated based on characteristics of data points of the revised data set and the revised data set is filtered to provide the metric data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent A. White, David N. Belton, Randy L. Dufresne
  • Patent number: 7032558
    Abstract: A drive pulley is formed in a cup-like shape one end side of which is integrally formed with a peripheral wall in a cylindrical shape, the peripheral wall in the cylindrical shape of the drive pulley is formed with openings to be engaged with a ratchet member at intervals of 90 degrees along a circumferential direction, an engaging face for engaging with the ratchet member is formed at a side edge of each for the openings directed in an engine starting direction, and a side edge opened substantially orthogonal to the engaging face or by an angle equal to or larger than 90 degrees is formed at a side edge of the opening on an opposed side opposed to the engaging face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Starting Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Nieda, Hideki Hashiba, Isao Tohyama
  • Patent number: 7032557
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an intake device (1), the intake pipes (5 to 8) for the intakes of cylinders of the internal combustion engine and actuators for adjusting the effective pipe lengths of the intake pipes (5 to 8) by closing or opening at least one opening of the intake pipes (5 to 8) up to a hollow body and at least one actuator for controlling the actuators. Within a first speed range whose upper limit is a first threshold value (N1), the actuators are moved into a closed position. For a speed (N), exceeding a first threshold value (N1) and being less than a second threshold value (N2), the actuators are moved into a leakage position. For a speed exceeding the second threshold value (N2), the actuators are moved into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Limbrunner, Frank Tettenborn, Berthold Wolfram
  • Patent number: 7031824
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a plurality of control-coupled charge-handling actuators for an internal combustion engine has a multivariable controller responsive to a plurality of engine parameter inputs and effective to provide a plurality of position control signals to the charge handling actuators. Coupling effects of the charge-handling actuator are effectively addressed by the present multivariable control leading to substantial improvements in engine emissions particularly during transient operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Anupam Gangopadhyay
  • Patent number: 7031827
    Abstract: A system and method is described for determining degradation of a diesel particulate filter in an engine exhaust system. The method uses information indicative of a regeneration rate, such as regeneration duration. From this, it is possible to determine when particulate filter operation has degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dominic Trudell, Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 7031826
    Abstract: A remote start control system for a vehicle including an engine, a transmission connected to the engine and a data communications bus carrying transmission position data related to a selected transmission position, may include a remote start transmitter, a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote start transmitter, and a vehicle remote start controller. The vehicle remote start controller may be connected to the data communications bus and to the receiver for starting the engine based upon the transmission position data carried by the data communications bus and signals from the remote start transmitter. Alternately, or additionally, the data communications bus may carry engine speed data, vehicle brake position data, or vehicle security data. Accordingly, the engine may be started responsive to the engine speed data, the vehicle brake position data, or the vehicle security data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 7028681
    Abstract: To improve productivity of a connection member between first and second carburetors, and to reduce maintenance work area for a main drive throttle valve lever, a driven throttle valve lever and a connection lever, a main drive throttle valve lever is arranged to protrude in one side of a first carburetor, a driven throttle valve lever is arranged to protrude in one side of a second carburetor, the main drive throttle valve lever and the driven throttle valve lever are connected in one side by a connection lever. A cup member provided with a bottom portion and a peripheral wall portion and formed in a cup shape is arranged fixedly in one side of the first and second carburetors, the first and second carburetors are connected by the cup member, an opening portion of the cup member is closed by a cover member, and the main drive throttle valve lever, the driven throttle valve lever and the connection lever are arranged so as to be received inside the cup member closed by the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suda, Makoto Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7028658
    Abstract: A starting device is provided for an internal combustion engine, in particular a pull-rope type starting device for a two-stroke or four-stroke motor. The starting device includes a pulley or rope drum which is rotatably held in a housing, and generates the drive torque for a motor shaft by means of a starter handle or pull handle. The starting device is rotatable by way of a load transfer means, in particular by way of a starter rope or pull-rope, and by way of an elastic coupling element, in particular by way of a spiral spring. A ratchet-type engaging element is provided, by means of which the drive torque can be transmitted to the motor shaft, such that not only is overloading of the elastic coupling element prevented in a safe and reliable manner, but also, even if the elastic coupling element should break, the starting still functions, and the internal combustion engine can still be started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: DOLMAR GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Kruse, Klemens Krahn
  • Patent number: 7028657
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a diesel compression engine and an electric machine operatively coupled thereto and effective to rotate the engine during engine cranking. Cold engine cranking is accomplished in a staged manner including a first stage wherein the engine is cranked to a first speed below the resonant speed of the coupled engine and electric machine combination for a first duration and thereafter cranked to a second speed above the resonant speed for a second duration. Transition out of cranking at the first and second speeds is accomplished when relative combustion stability is demonstrated. Cranking at the first or second speed is aborted when excessive crank times or if low battery voltages are observed. A third stage is included wherein the engine is cranked to a third speed below the engine idle speed. Transition out of cranking at the third speed is accomplished when relative combustion stability is demonstrated, whereafter normal engine control takes over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Gregory A. Hubbard, William R. Cawthorne, Xuefeng T. Tao, Todd M. Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 7028665
    Abstract: To inhibit vapor in a fuel flowing to a second fuel distribution path by shortening a fuel communicating pipe between first and second fuel distribution paths in respective sides of a throttle body, first and second throttle bodies (1, 3) are arranged in parallel, first and second throttle valves (8, 9) are attached to a single throttle valve shaft (5), a throttle drum (6) is attached to a left end (5c) of the throttle valve shaft (5), first and second fuel supply bodies (10, 11) including first and second fuel injection valves (J1, J2) are arranged respectively in one side (B) and the other side (A) of the throttle bodies, both the fuel supply bodies (10, 11) are connected by a fuel communicating path (16), and the fuel communicating path (16) is arranged inn a space among throttle valve shaft (5), upper ends (1x, 3x) of the throttle bodies, opposing side surfaces of both the throttle bodies (1, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Naohiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7025039
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Bidner, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeff Doering
  • Patent number: 7027905
    Abstract: A control system that determines a mass air flow through a throttle of an internal combustion engine (ICE) having an intake manifold includes a calculator that calculates an estimated mass air flow based on a throttle position and an adjustment module that determines an adjustment value. The adjustment value is based on the estimated mass air flow, an estimated manifold absolute pressure and a measured manifold absolute pressure. A multiplier multiplies the estimated mass air flow by the adjustment value to determine the mass air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ljubisa M. Mladenovic, Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas E. Trombley
  • Patent number: 7021282
    Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of an engine includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a device that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired manifold air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a device set-point based on a desired air per cylinder (APC) and an engine speed. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and generates a device control signal to control the device based on the device set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Scott J. Chynoweth, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi
  • Patent number: 7021249
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for hydrogen generation for enriching a hydrocarbon based fuel for an internal combustion engine with hydrogen extracted from a saltwater, electrolyte solution through electrolysis. A current is applied to a positively charged anode and a negatively charged cathode submerged in a saltwater solution to dissociate and separate diatomic molecules of hydrogen and oxygen therefrom. The harvested hydrogen is delivered to the carburetor of the engine through a mixing tube venturi and introduced to the hydrocarbon fuel being pumped thereto and the hydrogen and hydocarbon fuel are mixed and atomized prior to delivery to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: J. Devon Christison
  • Patent number: 7020554
    Abstract: A method of regulating or controlling a cyclically operating internal combustion engine using a computation model by which the cycle or portions of the cycle of the internal combustion engine is, or are, divided into individual parts and the operating condition within each cycle part is determined using measured values, stored and/or applied data in order to obtain actuating variables for operating the internal combustion engine. The time limits of the cycle parts are at least partially calculated as a function of at least one variable engine operating parameter. The operating status of an internal combustion engine can thus be determined readily and quickly while still with sufficient accuracy so as to obtain actuating variables suited for regulating or controlling the internal combustion engine using electronic control units available for series operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Roduner, Ingmar Schoegl
  • Patent number: 7017559
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel system for an internal combustion engine operated with fuel gas. The fuel system has at least one electrically actuated shutoff valve (4) and at least one electrically operated heating device (14, 16). The operating method includes: generating a signal to turn on the heating device (14, 16) when the internal combustion engine is turned on; determining a heating demand (?reference) of the fuel system when the heating device (14, 16) is turned on; and depending on the heating demand (?reference) of the fuel system, determining a delay time between the time the heating device (14, 16) is turned on and the time the shutoff valve (4) is opened. The heating demand (?reference) can be a function of a temperature (Tengine coolant) of the engine and/or a temperature (Thydraulic fluid) independent of the engine and/or the current (Iheating) flowing through the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignees: Linde AG, Still GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jörn Mey, Andreas Kistner, Andreas Firsching, Frank Wucherpfenning, Joachim Seydell
  • Patent number: 7010422
    Abstract: Limp home control methods are provided for situations of a disconnected battery power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yong-Jung Park