Patents Examined by Grant Moubry
  • Patent number: 11807209
    Abstract: A control device is configured to set a target state of charge of a battery and control an internal combustion engine and rotating electrical machine and the charging and discharging of the battery to make the hybrid vehicle run so that the battery state of charge becomes the target state of charge. The control device is further configured to set the target state of charge based on a remaining distance or required time from a current position up to a restricted zone in which operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted and a grace period from a current time to a time at which the restriction of operation of the internal combustion engine in the restricted zone is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyazato, Daiki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11807212
    Abstract: An ENG-ECU performs a specific cylinder fuel cutoff process of stopping combustion of an air-fuel mixture in some cylinders out of a plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine and a transmission process of transmitting engine operation information on execution of the specific cylinder fuel cutoff process to an HV-ECU. The HV-ECU performs a torque compensation process of compensating for a decrease in engine torque due to execution of the specific cylinder fuel cutoff process using an output torque of a second MG based on the received engine operation information. The ENG-ECU performs a process of starting the specific cylinder fuel cutoff process in a combustion cycle when a waiting time which includes a time until the HV-ECU receives the engine operation information has elapsed after the transmission process has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Takanobu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 11808197
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle executes a base temperature calculation process that calculates a base temperature of a component of the internal combustion engine, a correction value calculation process that calculates a correction value, a vehicle line reflection process when the vehicle including the component of which temperature is estimated is a temperature-estimated vehicle that is in a line of vehicles in order to reflect, on the correction value, a tendency of the component to be less cooled when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a trailing vehicle than when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a leading vehicle, a rearmost reflection process when the temperature-estimated vehicle is in the line of vehicles in order to reflect, on the correction value, a tendency of the component to be more cooled when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a rearmost vehicle, and a component temperature estimation process that corrects the base temperature with the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuaki Nagoshi
  • Patent number: 11808237
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination of components suitable to break down liquid fuels into short chain molecules and gaseous states of matter by heating and pressurizing the combustible/flammable liquids to the point where they phase change into a supercritical fluid, then releasing some fluid as needed into a vapor accumulation tank that has a lower pressure. This subsequent drop in pressure phase changes the fluid from a supercritical state into a consistent and safe gaseous state. From there, the fuel can be delivered to the engine via direct injectors, gaseous fuel carburetors, or a regulating valve such as a needle valve. Because gaseous fuels readily homogenize with intake air and oxidizers, the present invention allows any engine to cleanly, reliably, and consistent use any fuel without adjustment. This allows any engine to run off any combustible liquid, in effect creating the ultimate multifuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Sky Moon Huddleston
  • Patent number: 11805825
    Abstract: A fan device that can be attached to a garment body includes a fan, a drive, an operation interface, and a controller. The drive rotates the fan. The operation interface is for a user to switch drive status of the drive. The controller switches the drive status of the drive based on operation on the operation interface by the user. The operation interface includes a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is for switching an air volume of the fan between air volumes of multiple modes. The second switch is for switching a mode to a first mode in which the air volume of the fan is a first air volume which is larger than air volumes that are switched by the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SFT LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ichigaya, Toru Ichigaya, Yohei Oki, Naoki Inoue, Naokatu Furuya, Yasuhiro Kawakubo, Hidehito Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11807217
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus including a travelling control unit configured to control an engine travelling and a non-engine travelling of a hybrid vehicle, and perform switching from the non-engine travelling to the engine travelling in a case where a depression amount of an accelerator of the hybrid vehicle exceeds a predetermined depression threshold while the hybrid vehicle travels based on the non-engine travelling, and a switching suppression unit configured to suppress the switching from the non-engine travelling to the engine travelling by the travelling control unit while the hybrid vehicle travels in a short time depression area where depression of the accelerator does not continue for a period equal to or longer than a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Saito, Takanori Nakashima, Tomohiro Shibata, Masashi Eto
  • Patent number: 11802521
    Abstract: A cylinder block includes a water jacket surrounding a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and a water jacket spacer disposed inside the water jacket. In the cylinder block, a direction toward a center of the cylinder in a radial direction of the cylinder is defined as an inner side. A direction away from the center in the radial direction of the cylinder is defined as an outer side. The water jacket spacer includes a spacer plate and a conversion portion protruding from the spacer plate in the radial direction. The conversion portion has an action surface on which a pressure of coolant flowing through the water jacket acts. The conversion portion converts a force applied to the action surface by the pressure of the coolant into a force pushing the spacer plate toward the inner side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuki Akimoto, Takashi Matsutani, Kou Shirakigawa
  • Patent number: 11795895
    Abstract: An air intake structure for introducing an intake air into an engine includes: a first air intake passage fluidly connected with an air outlet; a second air intake passage branched off from the first air intake passage and having a passage length greater than that of the first air intake passage; and an open-close valve provided in the first air intake passage. The second air intake passage has a portion thereof bent to allow the flow of intake air in one direction reverse to that of the air flowing a different portion thereof. The first air intake passage, the second air intake passage and the open-close valve are provided within an air cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Olivier Bompoil, Pierre Corno, Nobuyoshi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11795899
    Abstract: An embodiment system includes an ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil, a high voltage battery selectively electrically connected the primary coil, a low voltage battery selectively electrically connected to the primary coil, and an electric and electronic element provided between the high voltage battery, the low voltage battery, and the primary coil of the ignition coil to selectively supply electric power of the high voltage battery or the low voltage battery to the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Kiseon Sim, Soo Hyung Woo
  • Patent number: 11788480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining which of an intake valve and an exhaust valve is to be deactivated first when an engine is operated in a variable displacement mode. In one example, an exhaust valve of the cylinder is deactivated before an intake valve of the cylinder when the engine is operated in a static variable displacement operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Adam Krach
  • Patent number: 11788433
    Abstract: Lubrication systems of an aircraft engine and associated methods are provided. The lubrication system includes a chamber having a fluid inlet for receiving lubricating fluid into the chamber, and a fluid outlet for draining the lubricating fluid from the chamber. The fluid outlet is disposed on a wall defining part of the chamber. A rotor is disposed inside the chamber and interacts with the lubricating fluid inside the chamber. The rotor is rotatable in a rotation direction about a rotation axis. A perforated baffle is disposed in the chamber for interacting with the lubricating fluid inside the chamber. The perforated baffle includes a base attached to the wall of the chamber. The base of the perforated baffle is disposed at an angular position preceding the fluid outlet relative to the rotation direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kenneth Parkman, Daniel Alecu
  • Patent number: 11787684
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a cover forming an open channel that includes a curved grip portion and first and second sides extending from the curved grip portion. The channel is receivable onto a fuel pump handle of a fuel pump nozzle such that the curved grip portion fits closely over the fuel pump handle and the sides extend downwardly along opposing sides of the fuel pump handle. The apparatus further includes a trigger guard including a first end connected to the first side of the cover by a hinge and a second end that is selectively connectable to the second side of the cover. The trigger guard is rotatable about the hinge from an open position to a closed position in which the trigger guard extends under a fuel pump trigger of the fuel pump nozzle and the second end is connected to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventors: Joshua Truby, Lane H. Truby
  • Patent number: 11781501
    Abstract: To provide an engine head structure for “omission or shortening a fuel pipe that withstands a high pressure”, “simplification or omission of a support bracket for a fuel accumulator and/or a fuel injection device”, “reduction of the number of parts” by devising a fuel accumulator and a support structure therefor, and the like. An engine head structure has a support bracket for mounting a fuel accumulator including a joining portion with a fuel injection device on a cylinder head, is disposed on a side of the fuel injection device or between adjacent fuel injection devices. The support bracket includes a member having a mounting portion on which the fuel accumulator is placed and mounted, a mounting leg portion extending from the mounting portion and mounted on the cylinder head, and an aligning leg portion extending from the mounting portion for positioning the support bracket with respect to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Tamura, Kensuke Fujita, Hiroki Oso, Yasushi Kobayashi, Shingo Matsunobu, Mitsugu Okuda
  • Patent number: 11781510
    Abstract: An intake system of an engine is provided, which includes a first passage provided to an engine bay, for leading fresh air to the engine, a second passage branched from the first passage and extending toward a cabin, and an intake noise increasing device provided to the second passage. The intake noise increasing device has a cylindrical bellows part, a vibrating membrane formed integrally with the bellows part to close a first opening of the bellows part, and an outer circumferential case provided to cover an outer circumference of the bellows part and configured to allow the expansion and contraction of the bellows part therein. The second passage has a deriving passage section connected to a part of the outer circumferential case on a first opening side and extending toward the cabin. The deriving passage section is disposed to be lowered while separating from the intake noise increasing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Kodama, Kenji Sugasaki, Yuta Takamura
  • Patent number: 11781597
    Abstract: A housing element for applications in the manufacturing industry having a casing and a cover both made of metallic material, wherein the casing is provided with a groove and a flat mounting surface and the cover is provided with an end portion having a frustoconical side wall, an oblique annular bottom wall, and a securing system consisting in inserting the end portion of the cover inside the groove of the casing, wherein an interference (i) between a radially outer end of the end portion of the cover and a radially inner end of the flat mounting surface of the casing assumes values of between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm and an angle (?) defined between the frustoconical side wall of the end portion of the cover and the flat mounting surface of the casing assumes values of between 45° and 80°. The interference and the angle facilitate the insertion of the end portion of the cover inside the groove of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Fausto Baracca, Andrea A. Bertolini, Fabio Falaschi, Pasquale Frezza, Alessio Nebbia Colomba
  • Patent number: 11773767
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine includes a cylinder having a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is delimited by a piston guided in a reciprocating manner in the cylinder and drives a crankshaft. A first intake channel opens into the crankcase interior. A transfer channel opens into the crankcase interior via a transfer window on a cylinder bore of the cylinder and via a passage opening. A second intake channel is provided for supplying scavenging air to the transfer channel. The first intake channel and the second intake channel are configured for supplying air. An injection valve configured for injecting the entire quantity of fuel to be supplied to the engine directly into the crankcase interior is disposed on the crankcase. A method for operating a two-stroke engine provides that the entire quantity of fuel to be supplied to the engine via a metering installation is supplied directly to the crankcase interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Koehli, Tilman Seidel, Jan Pawlowski, Tobias Deigendesch
  • Patent number: 11773844
    Abstract: A crosshead assembly for a reciprocating pump. The crosshead assembly has a crosshead and a connecting rod configured to connect with a crankshaft of the reciprocating pump. Trunnions detachably connect with the connecting rod and facilitate pivotable connection of the connecting rod and the crosshead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hau Nguyen-Phuc Pham, Rod Shampine
  • Patent number: 11773813
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an air intake assembly comprising an airbox defining a plenum for enclosing an air filter, an intake tube attached to the air filter at a first end of the intake tube, the intake tube having a shoulder, and a multi-lipped gasket for detachably connecting the intake tube to the airbox, the multi-lipped gasket comprising a body portion defining a bore for sealingly engaging the intake tube, a lip adjacent the bore for engaging the shoulder of the intake tube, and a pair of distal lips for sealingly engaging the airbox, wherein the airbox, the air filter, and the intake tube are adapted so that air flows into the airbox, through the air filter, through the intake tube, and into a combustion engine (optionally reaching the combustion engine by first passing through a turbocharger and intercooler) of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Resource Intl Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Liu, Kevin McCardle
  • Patent number: 11773991
    Abstract: A fuel demand valve that opens with minimal engine suction pressure. The fuel demand valve has an inlet housing and an outlet housing with a valve door in the outlet housing that moves to allow flow through the valve when exposed to a pressure difference sufficient to overcome a spring internal to the outlet housing. The inlet housing includes a shelf, and two gaskets, one large and one small, are disposed between the shelf and the valve door such that they define different surface areas on the valve door. The different surface areas define the amount of force required to be exerted on the valve door for fuel to flow when exposed to fuel supply and engine suction pressures. The different surface areas provide a mechanical advantage whereby lower suction pressure from the engine exerts the same force as a higher fuel supply pressure on the valve door enabling lower fuel pressure operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BIG DOG MARINE LLC
    Inventor: Sean Whelan
  • Patent number: 11766944
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for multi-fuel, range extending power generation applied to propulsion in a vehicle. One or more fluid fuels including diesel and natural gas and/or their renewable counterparts of Biodiesel or Renewable Natural Gas are stored on board a vehicle and selectively supplied to an onboard electrical generator according to sensor measurements analyzed by a processor directing power generation and transmission to motor controllers and motors providing vehicle propulsion. The combined natural gas-electric and diesel-electric transmissions control system power generation driving electric motors rather than a diesel engine mechanical connection to axles and wheels. This integrated system provides improved extended range to diesel hauling applications with improved emissions while maintaining torque, and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: American Power Group Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Van Steenwyk, Kenneth Losch, Chuck Coppa, Lyle Jensen, Mike Schiltz, Don Wilkins