Patents Examined by Johnny H. Hoang
  • State detection system for internal combustion engine, data analysis device, and vehicle
    Patent number: 11125178
    Abstract: A state detection system for an internal combustion engine includes: a memory configured to store mapping data, the mapping data being data that defines a detection mapping, the detection mapping being a mapping between an input and an output, the input being a rotation waveform variable and a drive system rotation speed variable and the output being a value of a combustion state variable, and the detection mapping including a joint operation of the rotation waveform variable and the drive system rotation speed variable based on a parameter learned by machine learning; and a processor configured to execute an acquisition process and a determination process, the acquisition process being configured to acquire a value of the drive system rotation speed variable, the determination process being configured to determine whether or not the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohsuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Pre-combustion chamber apparatus and method for pre-combustion
    Patent number: 11118498
    Abstract: The present invention uses an improved engineered metal seal with or without an internal energized spring that is disposed in a pre-combustion chamber apparatus assembly to improve sealing over the flat washer seals that are currently used. The seals of the present invention comprise at least three different geometrical configurations of seals that are manufactured from titanium, Inconel, and/or hastelloy. The design of the tip and body of the pre-combustion chamber provide for movement of the seal without leaking. The sealing is provided on the axial surfaces of the tip and the body instead of the face of the tip and body by a flat washer seal, as is currently done.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Tracy Northington
  • Evaporated fuel processing device and control device
    Patent number: 11118538
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device includes a canister to which evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank adheres; a purge passage passed through purge gas and connecting the canister and an intake pipe of an engine; a purge control valve provided on the purge passage and controlling a supply amount of the purge gas to the intake pipe by changing a duty cycle; a pump provided on the purge passage and feeding the purge gas from the canister to the intake pipe; and a controller control the duty cycle of the purge control valve. The controller detects a pressure difference between pressures at upstream and downstream ends of the purge passage while the purge gas is supplied, and corrects the duty cycle based on a supply amount of the purge gas with respect to the duty cycle with no influence of the pump, by using the detected pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Nakagawa
  • Method for controlling and/or regulating the operation of an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 11118516
    Abstract: A method for controlling and/or regulating the operation of an internal combustion engine, wherein the relevant specific relative locations of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft are defined and/or controlled with the aid of regulating control values of the engine control unit, in particular for controlling the intake valves between the control value 1 for late and the control value 0 for early, and wherein a specific regulating control value curve and/or specific regulating control values for controlling the relative position of the intake camshaft is or are stored, at least for a specific control period for implementing the load jump, namely at least between the time of the start of the target load jump to the time of the end of the actual load jump corresponding to the target load jump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Tim Thaler
  • Control device
    Patent number: 11118523
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel injection device and a control unit therefor which enable reliable ignition even in a case where fuel pressure is low immediately after starting an engine. In the control unit for controlling an injector injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, a plurality of injectors is provided in the internal combustion engine, a static flow rate of a first injector is configured to be smaller than a static flow rate of a second injector. In a case where a fuel pressure of fuel supplied by a pressurizing unit is lower than a set value set lower than a fuel pressure in warming up, an injection ratio of the first injector is controlled to increase according to a difference between a fuel pressure of fuel from the pressurizing unit and a fuel pressure in warming up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hosaka, Taisuke Sugii, Eiji Ishii, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Engine speed control system
    Patent number: 11111861
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include an engine including a fuel tank, a carburetor including a throttle valve movable between a first throttle position and a second throttle position, a governor system configured to move the throttle valve, and a speed control system including a control lever defining a first actuation distance, and a bellcrank movable between an idle position and a high speed position and coupled to the governor system. The bellcrank defining a second actuation distance that is different than the first actuation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Zach Dlugi, Aaron Halfmann, Kyle Clasen, David Roth
  • State detection system for internal combustion engine, data analysis device, and hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 11111869
    Abstract: A state detection system for an internal combustion engine includes: a memory configured to store mapping data, the mapping data being data that defines a detection mapping, the detection mapping being a mapping between an input and an output, the input being a first waveform variable and a second waveform variable and the output being a value of a combustion state variable, and the detection mapping including a joint operation of the first waveform variable and the second waveform variable based on a parameter learned by machine learning; and a processor configured to execute an acquisition process and a determination process. The acquisition process acquires a value of the first waveform variable. The determination process determines whether or not the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohsuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Control device
    Patent number: 11105310
    Abstract: A control device includes an engine starting unit that starts an engine on a condition that a first voltage is supplied, an engine control unit that controls an operation of the engine starting unit, and a transmission control unit that drives a transmission on a condition that a second voltage, which is higher than the first voltage, is supplied. The transmission control unit sends an engine start permission signal to the engine control unit in a case where a voltage of power supplied from a battery is the second voltage or higher, and the engine control unit permits the engine starting unit to start the engine on a condition that the engine control unit receives the engine start permission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Tomoko Ohta
  • Diffuser-deswirler for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11098601
    Abstract: A diffuser-deswirler for a gas turbine engine is provided. The diffuser-deswirler includes an inner shell and an outer shell spaced apart and configured for receiving a flow of compressed air from a compressor of a gas turbine engine. A plurality of vanes extend between the inner shell and the outer shell to define a plurality of fluid passageways and a splitter extends along the circumferential direction between adjacent vanes to split the flow of compressed air passing through the each fluid passageway. All of these components are manufactured as a single monolithic piece and are configured for diffusing and deswirling compressor air before passing it to a combustor for an improved combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher David King, David Vickery Parker, John Alan Manteiga, Matthew Brian Surprenant, Megan Lynn Williams, Awot Michael Berhe, Jesse Jacob Ollove
  • Combustion control device
    Patent number: 11098671
    Abstract: A timing computation unit determines whether to execute compression latter-half injection to inject fuel in a latter half of a compression stroke of an internal combustion engine based on an operation state of the engine and computes an injection timing and an ignition timing of fuel. A timing correction unit corrects the computed injection timing to an advance side and corrects the computed ignition timing to a retard side, in a case where a detected fuel pressure is lower than a target fuel pressure. The timing correction unit corrects the computed injection timing to the retard side and corrects the computed ignition timing to the advance side, in a case where the detected fuel pressure is higher than the target fuel pressure. A combustion control unit controls a fuel injection device and an ignition device based on the injection timing and the ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Aoyagi
  • Fuel system for internal combustion engine and marine outboard engine
    Patent number: 11092116
    Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is provided. A fuel injector of the engine has an injector inlet and an injector outlet. The fuel system includes a fuel vapor separator, a fuel supply conduit, an injector conduit, a fuel return conduit, and a vapor return conduit. A first end of each of the fuel supply, injector and vapor return conduits is fluidly connected to the fuel vapor separator. A first end of the fuel return conduit is fluidly connectable to a fuel tank. A second end of the fuel supply conduit is fluidly connectable to the fuel tank. A second end of the injector conduit is fluidly connectable to the injector inlet. A second end of the fuel return conduit is fluidly connectable to the injector outlet. A second end of the vapor return conduit is fluidly connectable to the fuel tank. A marine outboard engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: George Broughton, Mark C. Noble, Richard McChesney, Jeffrey Wasil
  • Engine system
    Patent number: 11092095
    Abstract: An engine system includes an intake pipe, an exhaust pipe, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) pipe, an injection amount deriver, and a fuel injector. The intake pipe is configured to direct intake air into a combustion chamber of an engine. The exhaust pipe is configured to receive exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber. The EGR pipe is coupled to the exhaust pipe and the intake pipe and configured to recirculate the exhaust gas into the intake pipe as EGR gas. The injection amount deriver is configured to derive a target injection amount of fuel using a mass of air contained in the EGR gas or a mass of fuel contained in the EGR gas and using a preset target air excess coefficient. The fuel injector is configured to inject an amount of fuel corresponding to the target injection amount derived by the injection amount deriver into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gaku Ito
  • Method of estimating oxygen storage capacity of catalyst
    Patent number: 11092096
    Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas outlet, an exhaust system having a three-way catalyst and a switch-type post oxygen sensor, and an engine control module that controls the engine system. The engine control module includes a first control logic for estimating a three-way catalyst oxygen storage capacity based on a plurality of measured inputs, a second control logic for estimating aging effects of the switch-type post oxygen sensor, and a third control logic that calculates a filtered estimated three-way catalyst oxygen storage capacity for the three-way catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Min Sun, Jonathan M. Davis, Andrew M. Fedewa, Scott H. Wittkopp, Brandon Bishop
  • Predictive correction in internal combustion engines
    Patent number: 11078860
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing cycle to cycle variation of an engine is provided. The system may determine fuel injection characteristics and predict a gas burning rate or flame speed based on the fuel injection characteristics. The system may adjust an ignition timing in response to the predicted gas burning rate within the same engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fadi Adly Anis Estefanous, Shenouda Mekhael, Naeim A. Henein
  • Liquid and gaseous multi-fuel compression ignition engines
    Patent number: 11073070
    Abstract: Methods of operation of liquid and gaseous multi-fuel compression ignition engines that may be operated on a gaseous fuel or a liquid fuel, or a combination of both a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel at the same time and in some embodiments, in the same combustion event. Various embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sturman Digital Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Low pressure fuel and air charge forming device for a combustion engine
    Patent number: 11073122
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber in which a supply of fuel is received and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received, a throttle valve carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore to control fluid flow through the throttle bore, and a metering valve carried by the throttle body. The metering valve may have a valve element that is movable between an open position wherein fuel may flow from the pressure chamber into the throttle bore and a closed position where fuel is prevented or substantially prevented from flowing into the throttle bore through the metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L. Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L. Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Intake duct structure of motorcycle
    Patent number: 11073115
    Abstract: An intake duct structure of a motorcycle includes front forks disposed on both of right and left sides of a head pipe of a body frame and a main frame extending obliquely backward and downward from the head pipe, wherein the intake duct structure extends from a front end of the motorcycle toward the head pipe and is formed in such a manner that an interfered area where a rotational orbit of the front forks at a time of steering overlaps the intake duct structure is elastically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Koichiro Kawata
  • External starter motor
    Patent number: 11067047
    Abstract: An external starter motor for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a power supply; an electric motor for producing torque; a dog rotatable by the electric motor and adapted to be axially movable into and out of engagement with a starting mechanism to turn over the internal combustion engine; and a circuit for detecting the presence of an output signal from the internal combustion engine and energising the external starter motor by the power supply when detecting the presence of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Pierre Deguara
  • Method and system for controlling engine fueling
    Patent number: 11067016
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tracking a fuel puddle mass in the intake port of a deactivated engine cylinder. The difference in fuel evaporation rate in the deactivated cylinder intake is accounted for by applying distinct time constant and gain values to a transient fuel compensation model. A fuel vapor content is clipped once the intake vapor pressure in the intake port of the deactivated cylinder reaches a saturation pressure limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Amey Karnik, Pravin Sashidharan, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, Eric Storhok
  • Method for requirement-based servicing of an injector
    Patent number: 11067024
    Abstract: A method for requirement-based servicing of an injector in a common-rail system in which, during ongoing operation of the engine, a current operating point is stored as a function of the rail pressure and of the fuel injection mass, and the current operating point is multiplied by a damage factor and is stored as a reference injection cycle as a function of the rail pressure as well as of the fuel injection mass. A total reference injection cycle is calculated by forming sums over the reference injection cycles, and a load factor is calculated as a function of the total reference injection cycle and the permissible injection cycles, and the load factor is set as decisive for the servicing recommendation of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Ion Madan, Michael Mohr, Rolf Pfeifer, Patrick Stöckle