Patents Examined by Carl Staubach
  • Patent number: 9175661
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced to reduce tailpipe emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, David A. May
  • Patent number: 9169819
    Abstract: A method is described for engaging a starting pinion of a starting device with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine, the starting pinion having a peripheral speed and the ring gear having a peripheral speed, the starting pinion being pushed forward axially along its axis of rotation, the starting pinion making contact with the ring gear at a peripheral speed which is lower than the peripheral speed of the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Hartmann, Juergen Gross
  • Patent number: 9163599
    Abstract: A starting device for at least one combustion engine, in particular cable pull starting device for at least one two-stroke or four-stroke engine, with at least one cable sheave or cable drum rotatably mounted in a housing, which for generating a driving fork for a crankshaft can be put into rotary motion by means of at least one starter handle or pulling handle via at least one force transmission means, in particular via a starter cable or pulling cable and is connected to at least one driving member, in particular to at least one pawl driver via at least one elastic coupling element, by means of which the driving torque can be transmitted to the crankshaft, the coupling link having two ends, wherein an end is in engagement with the driving member and another end with the cable sheave or the cable drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mathias Wenckel, Carsten Ziegs
  • Patent number: 9157390
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first exhaust gas flow rate (EGF) estimation module, a second EGF estimation module, and an EGF fault detection module. The first EGF estimation module estimates a first flow rate of exhaust re-circulated back to an intake manifold based on a concentration of oxygen in the intake manifold. The second EGF estimation module estimates a second flow rate of exhaust re-circulated back to the intake manifold based on an engine speed and an engine load. The EGF fault detection module selectively indicates a fault is present in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system based on the first flow rate and the second flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: B. Jerry Song, Vijay Ramappan, Darrell W. Burleigh
  • Patent number: 9157389
    Abstract: An apparatus extracts a main waveform component and a branch waveform component from a pressure waveform detected by a fuel pressure sensor. The main waveform component is caused by pressure change traveling in a main passage. The branch waveform component is caused by pressure change traveling in a branch passage. The apparatus calculates traveling speeds based on the components. Then, the apparatus estimates a main passage temperature based on a detected value of the fuel temperature sensor, the traveling speeds, the fuel pressure waveform and an average pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Nonoyama, Naoyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9127614
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of directly and properly calculating the most fuel-efficient torque according to operating conditions of the engine without setting or learning in advance operating lines indicative of the most fuel-efficient torques, thereby making it possible to reduce costs and enhance fuel economy. In the control system, when the engine is operated at a predetermined reference rotational speed, a plurality of fuel consumption ratio parameters associated with a plurality of estimated torques are calculated based on a provisional intake air amount-estimated torque relationship which is the relationship between provisional intake air amounts and estimated torques to be obtained when the provisional intake air amounts of intake air are supplied. Further, an estimated torque associated with a minimum value of the fuel consumption ratio parameters is calculated as the most fuel-efficient torque at the reference rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Ueno, Masaya Agata
  • Patent number: 9109568
    Abstract: A crank trigger distributor assembly and method for sealing the crankcase from leaking vacuum through the distributor installation hole. A crank trigger distributor assembly and method for minimizing and/or preventing crankcase leakage, while being adjustable and adaptable to engine blocks or intake manifolds of various manufacturers. A crank trigger having a distributor stem, a collar located on the distributor stem, and at least one sealing element, the at least one sealing element incorporated within the collar. A crank trigger distributor assembly and method for adjusting rotor tip phasing without touching the distributor hold-down, as the cap itself can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Moroso Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent P. Scalia
  • Patent number: 9091239
    Abstract: An engine includes: a piston; a carburetor having a diaphragm fuel pump, the diaphragm fuel pump including a pump chamber configured to suck and discharge fuel and a diaphragm chamber to which a pressure to drive the pump chamber is applied; and a communicating passage configured to connect between the diaphragm chamber and a negative pressure part in which a negative pressure is created due to movement of the piston. A flowback prevention part is formed in the communicating passage to allow fluid to move only in on direction from the diaphragm chamber to the negative pressure part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Sumi, Ryosuke Ito
  • Patent number: 9091236
    Abstract: There is provided an engine device structured such that it can improve a workability for processing a common rail system, or attaching and detaching it, in spite that it is possible to reduce a damage of a common rail due to a collision. In the engine device structured such that the common rail is provided in one side of an engine block, and the common rail is arranged so as to come close to an air intake manifold, the common rail is provided in parallel obliquely below the air intake manifold, and the common rail is tilted in such an attitude that a fuel injection pipe connector arranged in an upper surface side of the common rail is directed outward and obliquely upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kajita
  • Patent number: 9068533
    Abstract: A work apparatus has an engine with a carburetor. An actuating element is connected to the choke shaft of the choke element of the carburetor. An operating mode selector has operating, warm start and cold start positions and is connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjusting element. The actuating element is pivoted through a pivot angle (?1) from the operating position into the warm start position and through a pivot angle (?2) from the warm start position into the cold start position. The selector is pivoted through a pivot angle (?1) from the operating position into the warm start position and through a pivot angle (?2) from the warm start position into the cold start position. The ratio of the pivot angle (?2) to the pivot angle (?1) is at least approximately 1.5 times the ratio of the pivot angle (?2) to the pivot angle (?1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Evelyn Kullik, Philipp Neumann
  • Patent number: 9057348
    Abstract: A pulsation damper mounted in a fuel chamber (23) of a high-pressure fuel pump (20) is provided with a diaphragm (11) having a flat section (11a) displaced when fuel pressure is applied thereto, a pump cover (10) for supporting the diaphragm (11), and a gas chamber (12) formed by the diaphragm (11) and the pump cover (10). Pressure pulsation occurring in the fuel chamber (23) is suppressed by displacement of the flat section (11a). The diaphragm (11) is formed in a closed-bottomed tubular shape with the flat section (11a) located at the bottom and has a projection (11b) provided to the periphery of the flat section (11a) and projecting to the side opposite to the pump cover (10). A tubular peripheral section extending from the outer periphery of the projection (11b) so as to be vertical to the flat section (11a) is fitted over the pump cover (10). The externally fitting portion of the tubular peripheral section is a joint section (11c) joined to the pump cover (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Yoshinori Takeuchi, Takeyuki Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 9046031
    Abstract: A mask portion is provided at a partial area of an intake port at a side opposite to an exhaust port. The mask portion prevents a part of the intake port from being opened when the intake valve is in a low lift state. A top surface of a piston includes a smooth surface. An ECU sets the maximum lift of the intake valve for a variable valve mechanism to an intermediate lift and sets a fuel injection timing for an injector to a compression stroke when an operating range of the engine is a fast idle range. The intermediate lift is an amount of lift at which the intake valve is moved beyond the mask portion and a flow rate of intake air in the partial area is limited relative to a flow rate of the intake air in other areas owing to the mask portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9043119
    Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device capable of relieving reaction force (kickback) of a handle occurring at idle stop controlled by the control of the idle stop control device. Specifically, an EPSECU (20) detects the rotational speed of an electric motor by detecting the rotational angle (?m) of the electric motor using a resolver (22), and at the same time, detects the steering torque using a torque sensor (23). Subsequently, the EPSECU determines whether or not the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are inside an idle stop transition area (P) by referring to a table (28) stored in a memory (27) in advance. When either or both of the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are outside the idle stop transition area (P), a signal requesting the prohibition of idle stop transition is output to an idle stop control device (10) via a cable (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Shinji Hironaka, Yoshitake Sakai, Yuki Shiga, Kyoji Hamamoto, Fumihiro Morishita, Hiroki Sagami, Takuji Wada
  • Patent number: 9020737
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection portion that carries out fuel injection for the internal combustion engine, a recirculation portion that recirculates to an intake system evaporative gas of injected fuel that has been mixed with lubricating oil for the internal combustion engine, a parameter acquisition portion that acquires a fuel mixture parameter corresponding to an amount of fuel that has been mixed with the lubricating oil, an engine stop portion that performs engine stop control to temporarily stop the internal combustion engine when a predetermined stop condition is fulfilled, and a stop condition correction portion that corrects a stop condition of the engine stop control on the basis of at least the fuel mixture parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Murase
  • Patent number: 8997716
    Abstract: A nozzle injection apparatus for use in internal combustion engines includes a fuel pump for intermittently pressurizing fuel, an injection conduit in fluid communication with the fuel pump, the injection conduit permitting the pressurized fuel to be communicated to a fuel injection nozzle a control valve in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the control valve dynamically and selectively controls a pressure of said pressurized fuel within the injection conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Governors America Corp.
    Inventors: William Ferry, Martin G. Riccitelli, Richard Vanderpoel
  • Patent number: 8991361
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2) that is supplied with fuel from a fuel tank (7), and having a regeneratable filter device (6) for taking up fuel vapors from the fuel tank (7). To improve properties of fuel vapor retaining systems during operation of motor vehicles, the method includes carrying out a forced start of the internal combustion engine (2) promptly after a refueling process in order to regenerate the filter device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Menke
  • Patent number: 8972152
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the automatic shutdown of an idling vehicle engine. When the vehicle is parked in an enclosed space, the idling engine may be automatically shutdown, while when the vehicle is parked in an open space, the automatic shutdown may be delayed based on an ambient temperature. In this way, the vehicle cabin may be maintained at a temperature that provides enhanced driver comfort while allowing wasteful engine idling to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew Alan Boesch
  • Patent number: 8965666
    Abstract: A knock control device is provided in which erroneous knock detection can be reduced by suppressing sudden knock signal changes due to noise, without causing any increase in the number of matching steps, deterioration in the S/N in knock detection and decrease in detection performing frequency. In the knock control device, an open gain is applied to the detected signal only during a knock detection window set in advance by a knock window setting means. The window corresponds to a period in which vibration due to knock arises. During other periods, either a closed gain or an interpolated gain value is applied to the detected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhei Matsushima, Keitaro Ezumi, Tomokuni Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 8950372
    Abstract: A starter motor for engine has a flywheel fixed to a shaft of the engine. A support is fixed relative to the engine. A space is formed between the flywheel and the support and a driving device is installed in the space. The driving device includes a stator fixed to the support and a rotor fixed to the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Guo Ji Zhang, Jin Yun Gan, Li Sheng Liu, Yue Li
  • Patent number: 8944034
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses and systems to manage exhaust gas expelled from cylinders of an internal combustion engine. An exemplary system may comprise at least one cylinder of the engine configured to operate as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, and wherein substantially all exhaust gas expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder is recirculated to an intake system of the engine. In one embodiment, the system may include a flow restrictor configured and arranged to restrict a flow of the recirculated exhaust gas to the dedicated EGR cylinder without restricting a flow of the recirculated exhaust gas to the remaining cylinders of the engine. In another embodiment, exhaust gas may be expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder in pulsations, and the intake system may be configured to reduce an amplitude of the pulsations of the exhaust gas expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Jess W. Gingrich, Barrett W. Mangold, Steven H. Almaraz