Patents Examined by Johnny H. Hoang
  • Patent number: 11719205
    Abstract: A dual fluid injection system which comprises a liquid fuel metering device, a fluid delivery device, and apparatus providing an interface therebetween. The interface conveys liquid fuel along a flow path from the metering device to a mixing zone for mixing with air from a pressurized supply to provide an air-fuel mixture for injection by the fluid delivery device into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The flow path may involve a directional change by way of a turn section. The flow path is sized such that liquid fuel is retained therein by virtue of capillary action, whereby a quantity of liquid fuel is retained after a delivery event such that the flow path remains substantially filled with liquid fuel in readiness for the next delivery event during operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Geoffrey Paul Cathcart, Stephen John Karay, David James Caley
  • Patent number: 11719154
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for engine startup. In one example, a method for an engine includes injecting a fuel mixture with a proportion of a first fuel to a second fuel to decrease carbon emissions, in response to detection of or request for the engine to start. The proportion of the first fuel to the second fuel in the injected fuel mixture is decreased in response to engine speed reaching an idling speed. The first fuel may be a non-hydrocarbon-based fuel and the second fuel may be a hydrocarbon-based fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Eric Dillen
  • Patent number: 11719171
    Abstract: An electronic control method for a throttle by an electronic control throttle device that controls the throttle while an electronic control unit generates a control signal based on an input data signal. The method may include calculating an engine rotation speed deviation from a difference between an engine rotation speed and an input engine rotation speed command, calculating an engine rotational acceleration based on the engine rotation speed, obtaining a proportional torque from a product of the engine rotation speed deviation and a predetermined coefficient, obtaining an integral torque by integrating a value obtained by subtracting a product of the engine rotational acceleration and the predetermined coefficient from the product of the engine rotation speed deviation and the predetermined coefficient, and generating a control signal for the throttle by using a sum of the proportional torque and the integral torque as a value of a torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Yuuki Sutoh, Ryuichi Oguro, Norichika Kojima
  • Patent number: 11719176
    Abstract: A method for switching between a degraded mode and a normal mode for determining the angular position of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The method includes the following steps, in a degraded mode: detecting the free space and the teeth of the toothed wheel of the crankshaft from the signal generated by the crankshaft sensor during the rotation of the crankshaft, determining the minimum rotation speed of each combustion top dead center of the crankshaft during a revolution of the crankshaft from the detected free space and the detected teeth, determining the angular positions of the crankshaft corresponding to the minimum determined rotation speeds, and switching to normal mode when, for each combustion top dead center, the difference between the determined angular position of the crankshaft and a reference angular position value is below a predetermined position threshold for at least one revolution of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Stéphane Eloy, Nora Gouzenes
  • Patent number: 11703418
    Abstract: To provide a controller for internal combustion engine which suppresses that estimation of the combustion state is performed based on the angle information on which the component due to the torsional vibration is superimposed, when the torsional vibration occurs in the crankshaft. A controller for internal combustion engine determines whether a torsional vibration occurs in a crankshaft based on an angle period; calculates a gas pressure torque in burning based on a crank angle acceleration which is calculated based on the angle period; estimates a combustion state of an internal combustion engine based on the gas pressure torque in burning; and stops estimation of the combustion state, when it is determined that the torsional vibration occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Takahashi, Yuhei Matsushima, Junichi Inoue, Toshikatsu Saito, Keiichi Arita, Kazuyo Kako
  • Patent number: 11703005
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has one or more combustion chambers defined by one of more cylinders, corresponding pistons, and a cylinder head. A crankshaft is operatively connected to the pistons and to an electric turning machine. To start the engine, the electric turning machine rotates the crankshaft in a first direction toward a reversal point corresponding to a local maximum drag torque of the internal combustion engine, this rotation being made without rotating the crankshaft beyond the reversal point. The electric turning machine then rotates the crankshaft in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a momentum impressed on the crankshaft by compression obtained when rotating in the first direction increasing a speed of the crankshaft in the second direction. Thereafter, fuel is injected in one of the combustion chambers in which the corresponding piston first reaches a top dead center position and the fuel is ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Lukas Killingseder, Martin Freudenthaler, Alexander Burgstaller, Philipp Hollinger
  • Patent number: 11703001
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reverse purging of a fuel vapor canister of an engine. In one example, a method may include heating a fuel vapor canister, sealing a fuel tank in order to generate a vacuum in the fuel tank, and in response to the pressure in the fuel tank reaching a target vacuum, initiating reverse purging of the fuel vapor canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11687688
    Abstract: A system and approach for catalyst model parameter identification with modeling accomplished by an identification procedure that may incorporate a catalyst parameter identification procedure which may include determination of parameters for a catalyst device, specification of values for parameters and component level identification. Component level identification may be of a thermal model, adsorption and desorption, and chemistry. There may then be system level identification to get a final estimate of catalyst parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.
    Inventors: Jaroslav Pekar, Gregory Stewart, Ondrej Santin, Daniel Pachner
  • Patent number: 11680514
    Abstract: This liquid injection nozzle atomizes and sprays liquid, while reducing loss of kinetic energy, thereby promoting mixing between the liquid and a gas and thus promoting the reaction between the liquid and the gas. In the liquid injection nozzle, a plurality of distal end tips each having an injection hole are provided on a distal end portion of a nozzle body. Each distal end tip has a conical swirling flow chamber. A communication thin hole is formed in the distal end portion. The communication thin hole extends from a hollow chamber to the conical swirling flow chamber of the distal end tip. When the valve needle is lifted, liquid flows through the communication thin hole into the swirling flow chamber in a tangential direction and generates a vortex flow, and the vortex flow is sprayed from the injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ACR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuoka, Hiroshi Noguchi, Keiji Kishishita
  • Patent number: 11674470
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of one or more fuel injectors includes a microcontroller, a pre-driver unit, and a power unit. The system is connectable to an electrically actuated fuel injector via at least two wires from the power unit, wherein the pre-driver unit is located between the microcontroller and the power stage, and wherein the microcontroller unit is adapted to send data to the pre-driver unit. The pre-driver unit is adapted to receive the data and control the power stage dependent on the data such that the power stage is adapted to output a corresponding signal along the wires to the fuel injector. The data includes both injector activation pulse data and other auxiliary data for the injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMATIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SA
    Inventors: Felix Mandoux, John Mark Dikeman
  • Patent number: 11668268
    Abstract: Magnetic latching valves for a vehicle engine have a housing having a first port and a second port in controlled fluid communication with one another. The housing encloses a linearly translatable armature seated within a solenoid and connected to a primary poppet valve. The armature is movable between an open position and a closed position, respectively, after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state thereafter. A permanent magnet is fixedly seated in a position to magnetically latch the armature in a fully open position. A spring is seated to bias the primary poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position. The spring has a spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure by opening the primary poppet valve a distance less than the fully open position when the spring force is exceeded, thereby also allowing flow in the primary flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Lucka, Matthew C. Gilmer, Donald P. Tinsley, III, David Snow
  • Patent number: 11668223
    Abstract: A reduction method for a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine for reducing the oxygen content in the catalytic converter, in particular after an overrun fuel cutoff mode of the internal combustion engine, the method including first injection of fuel into a first cylinder, the first injection taking place after an ignition point in time of a compression stroke of a first working cycle of the cylinder and including an introduction of the injected fuel from the cylinder into the catalytic converter during an exhaust stroke of the first cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc-Andre Golkowski, Stephan Schemann, Christian Arenz, Christopher Lueck
  • Patent number: 11655773
    Abstract: A control device and a control method for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a post-processing device are provided. The control device includes an electronic control unit executing a temperature raising process of raising the temperature of the post-processing device and a recovery-time process. The temperature raising process includes a stopping process and a rich process. In the stopping process, supply of fuel to several of cylinders is stopped. In the rich process, the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture for different ones of the cylinders other than the several cylinders is made lower than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. In the recovery-time process, the concentration of unburned fuel in exhaust gas discharged to the exhaust passage is made higher than an equivalent concentration, when the temperature raising process is stopped. The equivalent concentration is the concentration of unburned fuel being just enough to react with oxygen in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Takanobu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 11649752
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gas engine heat pump including: an engine which burns a mixed air of air and fuel; a first charger which compresses the mixed air and supplies to the engine; a first exhaust flow path which is connected to the engine, and through which exhaust gas discharged from the engine flows; and a second charger which is driven by the exhaust gas branched from the first exhaust flow path to a second exhaust flow path, and compresses the exhaust gas discharged from the engine and supplies the compressed exhaust gas to the engine, thereby reducing the emission of nitrogen oxide by recirculating the exhaust gas without additional power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Heejoong Jang, Hojong Jeong
  • Patent number: 11649795
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to inhibit automatic engine stopping so that a lifespan of an engine starting device may be extended. In one example, the inhibiting is based on a ratio of an actual total number of engine starts generated via the engine starting device to an actual total distance traveled by the vehicle since the engine starting device was installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11643961
    Abstract: A process for detecting reductant deposits includes accessing data indicative of signal output from a radiofrequency sensor positioned proximate a decomposition reactor tube; comparing the data indicative of signal output from the radiofrequency sensor to a deposit formation threshold; and activating a deposit mitigation process responsive to the data indicative of signal output from the radiofrequency sensor exceeding the deposit formation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Sriram Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11635032
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for governing the speed of a propeller on a propeller-based engine in an aircraft. The method comprises obtaining a synthesized or estimated blade angle for the propeller of the engine, determining one or more gain for a controller of the propeller based on the synthesized or estimated blade angle and one or more engine or aircraft parameter, determining a difference between a reference propeller speed and an actual propeller speed, applying the one or more gain to the difference via the controller in order to generate a command signal for controlling the propeller, and governing the propeller of the engine using the command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Gabriel Meunier
  • Patent number: 11624303
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide deceleration fuel cutoff regeneration of a gas particulate filter. A powertrain system includes an exhaust system containing the gas particulate filter, which is configured to collect particulate matter from an exhaust gas stream of the powertrain system. A temperature sensor is configured to monitor a temperature of the gas particulate filter. A loading monitor, such as a sensor and/or a model, is configured to provide a loading input of particulate loading of the gas particulate filter. At least one controller is configured to: determine, by comparing the loading input to stored values, whether the gas particulate filter requires the regeneration; effect a warmup of the gas particulate filter when the determination shows the gas particulate filter requires the regeneration; and initiate the regeneration when a value received from the temperature sensor meets a minimum threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Wendling, Shubham Gupta
  • Patent number: 11624332
    Abstract: New and/or alternative approaches to engine performance control that can account for the need to robustly monitor performance and/or operation of the physical plant and actuators thereof, while avoiding or limiting performance degradation. Model predictive control (MPC) or other control configuration such as proportional-integral-derivative control may be used to control the system by identifying a performance optimized control solution. In some examples, a modification to the performance optimized solution analysis is made to weight control solutions in favor of robust monitoring conditions. In other examples, the performance optimized solution is post-processed and modified to favor robust monitoring conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.
    Inventors: Matej P{hacek over (c)}olka, David Hriadel, Martin Procházka
  • Patent number: 11622504
    Abstract: An agricultural production machine, such as a combine, forage harvester or tractor, is disclosed. The agricultural production machine includes a drive assembly with an internal combustion engine, an electric energy supplying system having an electric auxiliary machine, and a driver assistance system with a control system that is configured to control the internal combustion engine, the electric auxiliary machine, and at least one power consumer that can be driven by the drive assembly. The internal combustion engine operates at the lowest possible rotational speed, with the electric energy supplying system configured to support the internal combustion engine by connecting the electric auxiliary machine at this lowest possible rotational speed when connecting a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Sprigade, Fabian Wohlfahrt, Markus Koch, Philipp Heymann