Patents Examined by Kevin R Steckbauer
  • Patent number: 11359593
    Abstract: A hybrid drive device includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and an impulse start module which comprises two clutches and a flywheel mass. A method for operating the hybrid device includes opening the first clutch of the impulse-start module and establishing a start-up requirement for the internal-combustion engine. The method also includes closing the first clutch with the second clutch in an open or closed position for a start of the internal-combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Hoess, Thomas Jung, Sebastian Kobler
  • Patent number: 11359537
    Abstract: A spark ignition engine includes: a pre-chamber (PC); a main chamber (MC); and a cylinder head coupled with a water jacket. The PC includes: a spark plug; and a PC body. The spark plug is surrounded by a jacket with thermal-conductive substance. The thermal-conductive substance is solid at room temperature and liquid at working temperature of the PC. At working temperature of the PC, the liquid thermal-conductive substance conducts heat from the spark plug to the water jacket. The PC body is coated with a layer of non-thermal-conductive substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Patrick Gastaldi
  • Patent number: 11352051
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein the steering system has at least one steering lever and at least one electric motor for shifting the steering lever so as to cause a steering movement in the presence of a steering input, and wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a current source via cabling. In doing so, it is provided that the electric motor is actuated and an electric current flowing between the current source and the electric motor is measured in order to check an electrical connection between the current source and the electric motor under the condition that there is no steering input present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: André Wesenberg
  • Patent number: 11346276
    Abstract: A combustion chamber structure for an internal combustion engine includes a recessed portion formed in a pent roof of a cylinder head on an upstream side of a tumble flow with respect to a spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Suzuki, Taisuke Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11346309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine system (2), wherein the internal combustion engine system (2) is provided with an air intake duct (3), an exhaust gas duct (4) and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system (5), wherein the EGR system (5) comprises an EGR conduit (6) that fluidly connects the exhaust duct (4) and the intake duct (3), and wherein a gas feeding device (7) configured to feed exhaust gas from the exhaust duct (4) to the intake duct (3) is arranged in the EGR conduit (6). The method is characterized in that it comprises the step of: detecting an indication of accumulated deposits of soot, hydrocarbons or other contaminants in the gas feeding device (7) by determining whether a rotational friction of a rotary member (71, 72) of the gas feeding device (7) exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fredrik Rahm, Johan Carlén Andersson
  • Patent number: 11346318
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for multiplexing ignition signals in an engine system based on engine operating conditions, each cylinder of the engine system including a main chamber spark plug and a pre-chamber system. In one example, a method may include multiplexing spark signals to a first spark plug and a second spark plug, the first spark plug coupled to a pre-chamber of a first cylinder and the second spark plug coupled to a main chamber of a second cylinder. In this way, one ignition coil may be used to actuate two different spark plugs coupled to separate cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Patent number: 11346313
    Abstract: A fuel flow limiter assembly includes a limiter body forming a central bore, and including a shutoff piston within the central bore having a closing hydraulic surface exposed to a fluid pressure of the fuel inlet, and being movable from an open position, to a closed position based on a fuel pressure drop from a fuel inlet to a fuel outlet in the limiter assembly. A fuel filter is resident in the limiter assembly and supported in a connector coupled to the limiter body. The fuel filter is elongate and projects from the connector into a fuel flow path from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Carlson, Stephen Robert Lewis, Kenneth Carroll Adams, Daniel Richard Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 11339731
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine system (2), wherein the internal combustion engine system (2) is provided with an air intake duct (3), an exhaust gas duct (4) and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system (5), wherein the EGR system (5) comprises an EGR conduit (6) that fluidly connects the exhaust duct (4) and the intake duct (3), and wherein a gas feeding device (7) configured to feed exhaust gas from the exhaust duct (4) to the intake duct (3) is arranged in the EGR conduit (6). The method is characterized in that it comprises the step of: providing a flushing liquid in the EGR conduit (6) upstream of the EGR gas feeding device (7) so as to flush and clean the EGR gas feeding device (7). The invention also relates to an internal combustion engine system (2) configured for being operated by such a method and to a vehicle (1) provided with such an engine system (2). The invention further relates to means for controlling the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fredrik Rahm, Johan Carlén Andersson
  • Patent number: 11339693
    Abstract: A computer implemented method system and apparatus for determining remaining life of engine oil in an engine includes generating reference engine profile data by determining reference engine parameters of a reference engine; determining reference engine oil lubrication data based on mechanical testing of an oil sample from the reference engine; generating a reference model by associating the reference engine profile data with the reference engine oil lubrication data; receiving the reference model at an engine apparatus; measuring engine parameters relating to operation conditions of an engine of the engine apparatus; and determining remaining life of engine oil in the engine of the engine apparatus using the reference model and the engine parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Sven Söchting, Ilona Söchting
  • Patent number: 11333120
    Abstract: An electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to an internal combustion engine (ICE) is operated as a motor with a first control strategy and as a generator with a second control strategy. In the first control strategy, electric power is delivered from a power source to the ETM selectively through at least one transistor of an electrical converter. After switching from the first control strategy to the second control strategy, the ETM delivers electric power to an accessory selectively through the at least one transistor of the electrical converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Normand Lebreux, Michel Bernier, Jasmin Rouleau, David Monfette
  • Patent number: 11319914
    Abstract: A method for remotely starting a manual transmission vehicle is provided. The method includes determining whether remote start of the manual transmission vehicle is possible based on a remote start command signal of a remote start input device, an inclination angle signal value of the manual transmission vehicle, a notch signal value generated when a parking brake of the manual transmission vehicle is operated by moving a lever of the parking brake, and a gear shift stage signal of a manual transmission of the manual transmission vehicle. An engine of the manual transmission is started when the notch signal value according to the inclination angle signal value is greater than or equal to a minimum value of notch signal values capable of remotely starting the manual transmission vehicle and the gear shift stage signal is a neutral stage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Asjad Ahmed Shaik, Sung Kwan Choo, Yong Suk Park, Sitarama Murthy Manuru
  • Patent number: 11313311
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device for an engine is provided. A swirl generator generates a swirl flow inside a combustion chamber. A fuel injector with multiple nozzle holes injects fuel into the combustion chamber, and forms a lean mixture gas inside the combustion chamber. An spark plug ignites the lean mixture gas to cause the mixture gas to start combustion accompanied by flame propagation, and then combust by self-ignition. A first atomized fuel spray injected from a first nozzle hole and a second atomized fuel spray injected from a second nozzle hole separate from each other by the swirl flow. The fuel injector sequentially performs first and second injections in an intake stroke. A ratio of an injection amount of the second injection to the entire amount of fuel required per cycle is increased as an engine load increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Ohura, Tomohiro Nishida, Michiharu Kawano, Yuya Honda, Tota Tanii
  • Patent number: 11312409
    Abstract: A steering control device includes an electronic control unit configured to calculate a d-axis current command value and a q-axis current command value for a motor having three phases configured to generate drive power applied to a shaft interlocked with turning wheels, to convert detected current values in the phases of the motor to a d-axis current value and a q-axis current value, and to perform feedback control. The electronic control unit is configured to perform field weakening control for setting the d-axis current command value to a negative value based on a rotation speed of the motor, to determine whether the motor is in a regenerative state, and to calculate the d-axis current command value according to the regenerative state of the motor when the electronic control unit determines that the motor is in the regenerative state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisataka Kato
  • Patent number: 11312411
    Abstract: A method for testing at least one vehicle component of a vehicle includes placing a steering system of the vehicle in at least one test operating state, the steering system including a control unit which is at least one of electrically and electronically connected to a steering input unit to provide a steering torque in a normal operating state. The method further includes actuating an actuator of the steering system in the at least one operating state to carry out at least one driving maneuver to test the at least one vehicle component without an active steering demand on a manual steering control of the steering input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Florian Mueller
  • Patent number: 11313338
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel injector includes applying a spill valve current, applying a control valve current, the control and spill valves including components in electrical communication with each other, and detecting a timing at which the spill valve returns to an open position based on induced spill valve current. The method includes detecting a timing at which the control valve returns to a resting position based on induced control valve current, the induced spill valve current and the induced control valve current being included in respective freewheeling currents that at least partially overlap each other, adjusting a spill valve current that is applied during an injection, based on the detected spill valve return timing, and adjusting a control valve current that is applied during the injection, based on the detected control valve return timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Daniel R. Puckett, Kranti K. Nellutla, Dustin K. Fee
  • Patent number: 11300066
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (ICE) includes a crankshaft, a cylinder head defining in part a variable combustion chamber of the ICE, a direct fuel injector mounted on the cylinder head, a power source, an electric turning machine (ETM) rotating the crankshaft, an absolute position sensor providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM, and an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the absolute position sensor. The ECU controls a delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM based on the angular position of the rotor of the ETM and causes the direct fuel injector to inject fuel directly in the combustion chamber at a time selected based on the angular position reached by the rotor of the ETM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Normand Lebreux, Michel Bernier, David Monfette, Bruno Schuehmacher
  • Patent number: 11293459
    Abstract: A fan device including high voltage power source, conductive blade, first electrode and a resistance device is provided. Connecting side of the conductive blade is connected to first electric contact of the high voltage power source, and the conductive blade further includes a vibration side, wherein the conductive blade is extended from the connecting side to the vibration side along a first direction. The first electrode electrically connected to the second electric contact of the high voltage power source. The first electrode is disposed on a side of the vibration side of the conductive blade, and located in the vibrating range of the vibration side. The resistance device is connected between the conductive blade and the second electric contact in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yeng-Yung Tsui, Chi-Chuan Wang, Ting-Kai Wei, Hsueh-Han Chin
  • Patent number: 11293384
    Abstract: This engine includes an EGR device. The engine is provided with: an EGR gas temperature sensor; an EGR valve; an EGR control unit; an EGR valve position detection unit; a diagnosis unit; a first timer; a second timer; and a diagnosis control unit. The diagnosis unit diagnoses whether the EGR gas temperature sensor has failed, on the basis of a detected value from the EGR gas temperature sensor. The first timer, when the EGR valve is open, performs counting in accordance with the passage of time. The second timer, if a count value of the first timer is greater than or equal to a first threshold value set in advance, and if a predetermined condition is satisfied, performs counting in accordance with the passage of time. The diagnosis control unit prohibits diagnosis by the diagnosis unit if a count value of the second timer is less than a second threshold value set in advance, and permits the diagnosis if the count value is greater than or equal to the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Kakichi, Shohei Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11293397
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data from a sensor to a receiver by means of an analog interface, whereby, during a first period of time, the sensor transmits identifier data for identifying the type of the sensor and/or for identifying the type of a component associated with the sensor, and measurement signals of the sensor are only transmitted after the first period of time. In this context, it is also provided that the transmission of the identifier data serves to identify a specific sensor from a group of multiple sensors and/or a specific component that is associated with the sensor from a group of multiple components, whereby the multiple sensors of the appertaining group and/or the multiple components of the appertaining group have mechanically identical interfaces and consequently can fundamentally be employed alternatingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Per Ulrich, Marijo Topcic
  • Patent number: 11293363
    Abstract: A method for controlling delivery of electric power between a power source and an electric turning machine (ETM) comprises applying a start signal to a start-up power electronic switch to cause turning on of the start-up power electronic switch and to allow delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM via the start-up power electronic switch. A recharge signal is applied to a run-time power electronic switch to cause turning on of the run-time power electronic switch for delivery of electric power from the ETM to the power source via the run-time power electronic switch. A circuit comprises a discharging circuit including the start-up power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the start-up power electronic switch is turned on. A charging circuit includes the run-time power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the run-time power electronic switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Normand Lebreux, Michel Bernier, David Monfette, Bruno Schuehmacher