Patents Examined by John D Bailey
  • Patent number: 11644029
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump includes: a tappet configured to reciprocate by rotation of a cam; a cylinder that supports the tappet to reciprocate; and a plunger configured to reciprocate with the tappet. The tappet includes: a tappet body supported by the cylinder to reciprocate; a pin supported on both sides in an axial direction of the pin by the tappet body; a roller rotatably fitted to an outer peripheral side of the pin; a washer disposed between at least one end surface of the roller in the axial direction and an inner peripheral surface of the tappet body. The washer has at least one protrusion to be in contact with a stopper of the tappet body in either of two rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Takamizawa, Tadaaki Makino
  • Patent number: 11639696
    Abstract: A method of determining the nature of a fault in the operation of a hydraulic fuel injector includes sending an actuation pulse to an actuator of the injector, the actuation pulse being above the minimum drive pulse of the injector. The method also includes analyzing a signal from an accelerometer of the injector to determine if there is a high frequency vibration component subsequent to the end of the activation pulse. The method also includes determining the functionality of a needle control valve of the injector dependent on the outcome of analyzing the signal from the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Nilsson, Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 11635034
    Abstract: A regulating method for a charged internal combustion engine, wherein an operating point of the compressor is adjusted in a compressor map by a compressor position regulator based on a throttle valve regulation deviation in that both a first manipulated variable for actuating the compressor bypass valve as well as a second manipulated variable for actuating the turbine bypass valve are calculated by the compressor position regulator. The operating point of the compressor is corrected by a correction regulator on the basis of an air mass regulation deviation in that both a first correction variable for correcting the first manipulated variable as well as a second correction variable for correcting the second manipulated variable are calculated by the correction regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Christof Kibele
  • Patent number: 11635082
    Abstract: A ceiling fan controller fixing structure includes an intermediate member located between a down rod and a motor. A top end of the intermediate member has a first connecting portion for connecting the down rod. A bottom end of the intermediate member has a second connecting portion for connecting the motor. The intermediate member further has a third connecting portion for connecting a controller module. The controller module has an integrated output cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Chao Chin Yao
  • Patent number: 11618557
    Abstract: An elastomeric bearing assembly has a centrifugal force bearing axially captured relative to a sliding interface. The sliding interface has one or more low friction regions and one or more high friction regions. One or more piezo actuators are configured to force one or more corresponding high friction regions against the centrifugal force bearing when actuated. The sliding interface may have a circular shape, wherein the one or more low friction regions and the one or more high friction regions are alternating concentric segments of the sliding interface. The one or more high friction regions are recessed on the sliding interface relative to the one or more low friction regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Kenneth Baskin
  • Patent number: 11619190
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method estimates engine torque as a function of engine temperature during cold engine starts so that if an estimate of engine torque is in error, the integrated starter/generator may still successfully start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Timothy Baxendale, Thomas Ciccone, Sassan Farahmand, Kelly Johnson
  • Patent number: 11615658
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel tank modeling systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes introducing known volumes of fuel into the fuel tank, determining correlations of fuel level percentage values relative to the known volumes of fuel placed into the fuel tank, offsetting the correlations to compensate for unusable fuel volume of the fuel tank, selecting a non-linear fuel tank model that fits the offset correlations, and applying the non-linear fuel tank model to a target vehicle having a fuel tank with a fuel tank part number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyongju Park, Ben Bulat, Richard Gordon, Arnold Babila
  • Patent number: 11598211
    Abstract: A cylinder for an internal combustion opposed-piston engine includes a bore, either as part of the cylinder directly or of a liner. The bore has a surface for guiding a pair of pistons disposed for opposing movement in the cylinder. The cylinder bore has three zones of surface finishes: an inner zone extending between and including exhaust and intake ports, where only piston compression rings travel on the bore surface; two instances of an outer zone where only piston oil control rings travel on the bore surface; and two instances of a port zone where both types of rings travel on overlapping paths in the same bore surface portion. Each zone may have a particular surface finish that is tailored to specific requirements including oil control, ring wear, and scuff resistance relevant to the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Fabien G. Redon
  • Patent number: 11591982
    Abstract: A first switch designates one of energization instruction signals to designate a valve closing detection cylinder. A valve closing detection unit monitors downstream voltages of the fuel injection valves to detect occurrence of an inflection point in change of the downstream voltages and detects valve closing. A second switch designates one of the downstream voltages and designates the valve closing detection cylinder. A stage number designation unit designates a valve closing detection stage number. A valve closing time measuring unit measures a valve closing time, which is from a switching timing at which the energization instruction signal is switched from ON to OFF to a valve closing detection timing of the valve closing, for injection of the valve closing detection stage number of the valve closing detection cylinder. A valve closing time learning unit learns the valve closing time measured by the valve closing time measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11591989
    Abstract: A carburetor drain apparatus includes a carburetor bowl, a fuel supply pipe, a fuel drain pipe, and a bail interface. The carburetor bowl is configured to store fuel and provide the fuel to an air passage. The fuel supply pipe is connected a fuel tank and the carburetor bowl. The fuel drain pipe is connected to the carburetor bowl. The bail interface is configured to operate in response to actuation of a bail to open the fuel drain pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Terrence Michael Rotter, Jarrod J. Jackett, Mark Jason Huibregtse, Michael James Dins, Jonathan Thomas Bykowski, Michael Jon Duwe, Brett Michael Wegner, Michael James Tursky, Adam John Reich
  • Patent number: 11578684
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuel factions delivered to different cylinders are provided. In one example, a controller is configured to, during a single engine cycle and responsive to a first condition, deliver a lower fraction of a first fuel into a donor cylinder in comparison to a fraction of the first fuel being injected into a non-donor cylinder and deliver a higher fraction of a second fuel into the donor cylinder in comparison to a fraction of the second fuel being injected into the non-donor cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Adam Edgar Klingbeil
  • Patent number: 11572813
    Abstract: An engine is disclosed having a water cooling system allowing efficient cooling of the exhaust valves to prevent temperature gradients from building in the engine. Water is therefore pumped through the engine though first and second water cooling cores which discharge through the head. A water manifold is positioned over the discharge opening and includes couplings for the radiator supply, radiator return, water pump supply, oil cooler supply and oil cooler return. The engine has separate chambers to isolate the pistons and cylinders, and reed valves cover the chambers and allow the blow-by gases and oil to enter the oil pan during the power stroke of the engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Bluhm, Daniel J. Nugteren, G. Jay McKoskey, Alexander W. Oppermann
  • Patent number: 11566637
    Abstract: A ceiling fan hanger assembly includes a mount plate with a pair of plate extensions and a downrod having a pair of spaced downrod extensions. A connector bracket pivotally couples to the plate extensions to define a first pivot axis and pivotally couples to the downrod extensions to define a second pivot axis different than the first pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Ryan Nicholas Ebersole, Phillip Santolucito, John Anthony Burns
  • Patent number: 11570929
    Abstract: A fan receiver assembly (1200) includes a fan receiver (101). The fan receiver includes a rear wall (128) and at least one sidewall (112). At least one deformable clasp (105) is coupled to, and translatable along, the sidewall. The deformable clasp includes at least one latching arm (142) that is pivotable between an axially displaced open position occurring when the latching arm extends beyond a terminal end sidewall and a parallel position occurring when the latching arm is situated between the terminal end and the rear wall. The sidewall defines a d-track (111) having a terminal end (125) and an outward notch (126). A follower situates within the d-track between the deformable clasp and the sidewall. A fan module (102) latches to the fan receiver assembly when the follower situates within the outward notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Gonzalez Inda, Julio Cesar Ayala Vera, Sergio Antonio Delon Canseco, Oswaldo Enrique Linares Rivas, Luis Lopez Moreno
  • Patent number: 11564093
    Abstract: A security strategy providing apparatus of a vehicle includes a communication circuit, a power controller, and at least one control circuit electrically connected to the communication circuit and the power controller. The at least one control circuit is configured to detect a connection of an external apparatus or an inflow of external data, and to block at least part of a function provided by the vehicle, at least part of power supplied by the power controller, or the at least part of the function and the at least part of the power, based on a detection result of the connection of the external apparatus or the inflow of the external data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soo Yun Kim, Jae Am Seo, Dong Youl Lee, Won Ho Shin, Hee Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 11542885
    Abstract: With a simple configuration, responsiveness between an electronic control unit and a load drive circuit is monitored without deteriorating characteristics of the load drive circuit. The load drive circuit according to the present invention diagnoses an abnormality in responsiveness of a switch element that drives a load based on a drive command of the switch element and a signal at an output terminal of the switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shima, Yoshihisa Fujii, Takeo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11519373
    Abstract: A method for producing an injector which is designed in particular to inject fuel into an induction pipe or directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing an injector base element, providing a rod that is insertible into a through hole of the injector base element, producing a negative matrix of a spray orifice element on an axial end of the rod, inserting the rod into the through hole of the injector base element, positioning the negative matrix situated on the rod relative to the injector base element, producing the spray orifice element having at least one spray orifice by applying a galvanization layer on a downstream end, in the injection direction, of the injector base element and on the negative matrix, and removing the rod and the negative matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Stach, James Doetsch, Jan Tremel, Markus Feigl, Peter Rueck, Roman Poltoratski, Timo Dehm
  • Patent number: 11512630
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an opposed piston engine is provided, comprising: determining a direction of rotation of the engine; comparing the determined direction of rotation to a correct direction of rotation of the engine; and responding to the determined direction of rotation being different from the correct direction of rotation by taking corrective action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Hoseinali Borhan, Dwight A. Doig, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, David E. Koeberlein
  • Patent number: 11508190
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a combustion engine is disclosed wherein a cable is coupled to an on-board diagnostic port on the vehicle, and a service hose with a misting nozzle adapter is coupled to a first port on a vehicle. A controller monitors data from the on-board diagnostic port on a vehicle, where the data preferably includes the engine rpm, the catalytic convertor temperature, the engine coolant temperature, the MAF, and the MAP. The controller monitors information from the cleaning apparatus, and the information is processed to adjust the dispensing of the cleaning solution. The adjustment of the cleaning solution can vary the rate, volume, pressure, pulse interval, flow pattern, and duration of the solution in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Camacho, Michael David Klugman, Daniela Vlahova, Vic Estrada, Dean Austin Puett, III
  • Patent number: 11498652
    Abstract: An unmanned vehicle capable of tunneling into soft materials, such as sand, comprises a hollow, bullet-shaped forward outer body with a first drive screw thread integrated into its exterior, a hollow cylindrical rear outer body with a second drive screw thread integrated into its exterior but threaded in the opposed direction of the first drive screw thread, and an inner body that is rotatably coupled to the inside of the forward and rear outer bodies via mechanical gears, and including directional control fins mounted on a housing at the rear end of the inner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Nghia X. Tran