Patents Examined by Cameron Setayesh
  • Patent number: 8209983
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and a mounting point associated with the cylinder block. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to an engine, as well as oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure. The utility pedestal's fastening system is configured so as to cover a minimum amount of space of the engine surface to which the pedestal is mounted, so as to reduce the footprint of the turbocharger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Patrick Sexton
  • Patent number: 8209980
    Abstract: One ends of an exhaust path communicate with a plurality of combustion chambers through exhaust ports, respectively, an assembling section is provided on the other ends of the exhaust path, and a turbo supercharger, an exhaust tube and an exhaust purification catalyst are connected to the assembling section, on the other hand, a bypass path communicating from the exhaust path to the exhaust tube and the exhaust purification catalyst by bypassing a turbo supercharger is provided and an exhaust control valve capable of opening and closing the bypass path is provided, and a bypass hole, which is a part of the bypass path, is provided in the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Takagawa, Naomi Tosa, Tetsuo Oshita
  • Patent number: 8205450
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbocharger is provided, wherein the turbocharger comprises a compressor for compressing inlet air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas turbine for driving said compressor. The turbocharger further comprises an electric motor for driving said compressor operable by an electric supply system including an alternator and an electric energy storage device. A connection between said alternator and said electric energy storage device is disconnectable by a switch. According to the present invention, the method comprises the following steps: detecting a transient condition, wherein said internal combustion engine is required to be accelerated; supplying electric energy to said electric motor only from said electric energy storage device at the beginning of said transient condition until a predetermined state is reached; supplying electric energy to said electric motor from the electric supply system after said predetermined state is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre Barthelet
  • Patent number: 8205449
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a turbocharger is provided. The engine includes a turbine of the turbocharger located in an exhaust system of the engine, an upstream side catalyst located upstream of the turbine, a catalyst bypass passage bypassing the upstream side catalyst, a catalyst bypass passage on/off valve for opening and closing the catalyst bypass passage, and a first exhaust gas recirculation passage for recirculating a part of exhaust gases from a portion between the upstream side catalyst and the turbine to an intake system of the engine. The engine, that further includes a second exhaust gas recirculation passage for recirculating a part of exhaust gases from an upstream side of the upstream side catalyst to the intake system, and a switching valve for switching between the first exhaust recirculation passage and the second exhaust recirculation passage, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Mondori, Naohiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8205447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating an internal combustion engine, with at least one supercharger, at least one intercooler connected downstream from the supercharger, at least one cooling circuit which is connected to the intercooler, and at least one pressure setting device which controls the supercharger. It is provided that differential pressure determination of the charging air is used for ascertaining the icing state of the intercooler. Furthermore the invention relates to an internal combustion engine for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Rainer Wolf
  • Patent number: 8201407
    Abstract: A drive unit and a method for the operation thereof. The drive unit has an internal combustion engine in operative connection with a driven shaft and a reciprocating piston expansion engine in an operative connection with a crankshaft. The driven shaft is mechanically connected to the crankshaft by a clutch in such a way that torque is transmitted from the crankshaft to the driveshaft. The reciprocating piston expansion engine has at least one cylinder, and a fluid is guided from a fluid supply into an interior of the at least one cylinder at least occasionally via an inlet valve and a bypass valve which is arranged in parallel with the inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventors: Gottfried Raab, Markus Raup, Josef Klammer
  • Patent number: 8191369
    Abstract: A method of turbo-charger surge detection may include the steps of measuring a rate of air flow through a turbo-charger compressor, measuring a temperature of the air flow, calculating a standard mass flow rate of the air flow at the rate and the temperature, measuring a pressure ratio across the turbo-charger compressor, calculating a surge mass flow rate at a surge line of the compressor at the pressure ratio, comparing the standard mass flow rate to the surge mass flow rate, and reducing an EGR flow or reducing the pressure ratio by opening a vane of the compressor if the standard mass flow rate is lower than the surge mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Geyer, Gregory J. Birky
  • Patent number: 8191371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drivetrain, in particular for motor vehicles, having an internal combustion engine, comprising an output shaft; having a turbocharger, comprising an exhaust gas turbine, which is situated in the exhaust gas stream of the internal combustion engine, and a compressor driven by the exhaust gas turbine, which is situated in an air channel leading to the internal combustion engine in order to compress air for the internal combustion engine; the exhaust gas turbine additionally having a drive connection to an auxiliary system or to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine or being switchable into such a connection, in order to transmit drive power alternately or simultaneously from the exhaust gas turbine to the compressor or the output shaft and the auxiliary system; and a hydrodynamic clutch being situated in the additionally provided drive connection, comprising a bladed primary wheel and a bladed secondary wheel, which implement a working chamber with one another, which i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kley, Steffen Kammerer
  • Patent number: 8191368
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel (5) supported in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis with an annular inlet passageway (9) defined between a radial face of a nozzle ring (11) and a facing wall of the housing (10). The nozzle ring is movable along the turbine axis to vary the width of the inlet passageway and has a circumferential array of vanes (20) that are received in corresponding slots (24) in the facing wall. A wastegate valve (15) is provided in a chamber behind the facing wall and gas bypasses the turbine through the chamber to the wastegate port (14) at high flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Garrett, John Parker
  • Patent number: 8181462
    Abstract: A single-shaft exhaust gas-driven turbocharger includes two parallel-flow first-stage centrifugal compressors in series with a single second-stage centrifugal compressor, and a one-stage turbine arranged to drive both the first- and second-stage centrifugal compressors via a single shaft on which the compressors and turbine are fixedly mounted. The compressor housing defines from one to a plurality of circumferentially spaced inlet ducts for the second wheel of the first stage, and from one to a plurality of circumferentially spaced interstage ducts leading from a vaneless diffuser of the first stage into the inlet of the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Arnold, Will J. Smith, Mike Guidry, Jeff Letterman, James Reyenga, Vai-Man Lei, Asit Singhal, Kelvin Buneirisert
  • Patent number: 8161743
    Abstract: An intake air flow rate detection device for an internal combustion engine (100), including a sensor (61, 63) that detects an operating condition of the internal combustion engine (100), an air flow meter (21) that disposed in the intake passage (20) upstream of the supercharging device (41), and a programmable controller (60) programmed to calculate a measured intake air flow rate from a detection value of the air flow meter (21), calculate a calculated intake air flow rate from the operating condition of the internal combustion engine (100), and employ either the measured intake air flow rate or the calculated intake air flow rate as an intake air flow rate of the intake passage (20) on the basis of an air flow rate of air that is circulated to the intake passage (20) between the air flow meter (21) and the supercharging device (41) through the bypass passage (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Okamura
  • Patent number: 8151567
    Abstract: A method of operation for an engine system having a variable geometry turbocharger with a vane is disclosed. In one example, an EGR valve is closed while vane position is adjusted. The method can reduce vane positioning errors during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, David Bell, Michael John Cullen, Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • Patent number: 8122717
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compressor-cooler module, having a housing, a compressor contained in the housing, and an air cooler disposed within the housing and positioned in the flow path of the compressor. The present invention also includes an intake in fluid communication with the housing, a cooler bypass valve operably associated with the air cooler and the compressor, and a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation passage operably associated with the cooler bypass valve, and the cooler bypass valve selectively directs exhaust gas to bypass the air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Volker Joergl, Olaf Weber, Wolfgang Wenzel
  • Patent number: 8117841
    Abstract: A self-regulating wastegate valve actuator for dynamically regulating a wastegate valve in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The wastegate valve actuator regulates and maintains a desired pressure differential across a throttle valve with minimal controlling elements by controlling a wastegate valve in response to the pressure differential generated across the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eckart Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron Eckart
  • Patent number: 8113182
    Abstract: Integrated supercharger module having a low-pressure charging device (2) having a low-pressure compressor housing (4), a high-pressure charging device (3) having a high-pressure compressor housing (5), a turbine (9) and a cooler arrangement, wherein the low-pressure charging device (2), the high-pressure charging device (3), the turbine (9) and the cooler arrangement form a structural unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Wegner, Joachim Huster, Georg Ruetz
  • Patent number: 8104281
    Abstract: A valve in an engine exhaust system is disclosed. The valve can improve engine operation and reduce engine component degradation during cold engine starting. The valve may also be configured to provide different levels of restriction to exhaust gases flowing to a turbocharger turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, Fadi Maroun Naddaf
  • Patent number: 8091358
    Abstract: A control method for an internal combustion engine supercharged by means of a turbocharger provided with a turbine and with a compressor; the control method contemplates the steps of: establishing at least one operating limit curve on a Reduced Mass Flow Rate/Compression Ratio map; establishing at least one intervention curve of a wastegate valve which adjusts a bypass pipe of the turbine on a Reduced Mass Flow Rate/Compression Ratio map; establishing at least one intervention curve of a Poff valve which adjusts a bypass pipe of the compressor on a Reduced Mass Flow Rate/Compression Ratio map; using the operating limit curve to limit the pressure target downstream of the compressor used by the engine control; controlling the opening of the wastegate valve if the intervention curve of the wastegate valve is exceeded; and controlling the opening of the Poff valve if the intervention curve of the Poff valve is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Panciroli
  • Patent number: 8056542
    Abstract: An intake system is provided for a barrel internal combustion engine. The intake system includes a main air inlet, an intake plenum for a plurality of combustion cylinders, a first throttle, a second throttle and a control unit. The first throttle is operative to control a flow of air from the main air inlet, through a charging unit, and to the intake plenum. The second throttle is operative to control a flow of air from the air inlet to the intake plenum. The control unit controls the operation of the first and second throttles in supercharged or normally aspirated modes, where the first throttle operates as a main throttle and the second throttle is closed in the supercharged mode, and where the first throttle is closed and the second throttle operates as the main throttle in the naturally aspirated mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
    Inventor: Randall R. Gaiser
  • Patent number: 8056336
    Abstract: A variable nozzle for a turbocharger includes a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted on a nozzle ring and disposed in a nozzle flow path defined between the nozzle ring and an opposite nozzle wall. Either or both of the faces of the nozzle ring and nozzle wall include(s) at least one step that defines sealing surfaces positioned to be substantially abutted by airfoil surfaces of the vanes in the closed position of the vanes and to be spaced from the airfoil surfaces in positions other than the closed position. This substantial abutment between the airfoil surfaces and the sealing surfaces serves to substantially prevent exhaust gas from leaking past the ends of the airfoil portions. At the same time, clearances between the nozzle ring face and the end faces of the airfoil portions can be sufficiently large to prevent binding of the vanes under all operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Arnold, Dominique Petitjean, Anthony Ruquart, Guillaume Dupont, Denis Jeckel
  • Patent number: 8033272
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an engine system having an internal combustion engine, a supercharger arranged in an intake air passage of said internal combustion engine and a motor capable of driving the supercharger. The method comprises, driving the motor to operate the supercharger to boost airflow inducted into the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is in operation. The method further comprises driving the motor to determine a state of the supercharger when the internal combustion engine is stopped and indicating the determined state of the supercharger. According to the method, by driving the motor of the supercharger to detect a state of the supercharger when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the state of the supercharger can be more accurately detected because the condition is most stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Morizane, Hideya Horii