Patents Examined by Lindsay Low
  • Patent number: 10047706
    Abstract: An intake tube has an inner and outer curved surface adjacent a turbocharger. A crankcase hose connects to the inner curved surface at a hose opening. Upstream ends of first and second struts straddle the hose opening and extend between and connect to the inner and outer curved walls. The struts have an oval-shaped cross section with a larger upstream end that forces air between the two struts and between each strut and the adjacent tube wall to create a low pressure at the hose opening to draw gases from the hose into the intake and turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: S&B Filters, Inc.
    Inventor: Pilun A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10047711
    Abstract: A fuel injection assembly for a combustion engine includes an injector body, an injector cupradially enclosing an axial end of the injector body, and a spring clip coupling the injector cup with the injector body. The spring clip includes a ground plate with a main extension plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injection assembly, a recess extending inwards from a lateral end of the ground plate to a bottom part having a circle-segment contour extending through an angle between 270° to 180°, and at least one spring element fixed to the ground plate. The spring element of the spring clip has a contact region with the injector cup, and the ground plate has a contact region with the injector body, whereby the spring element exerts a spring force on the injector cup. The ground plate of the spring clip extends into a cutout of the injector cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Daniel Marc
  • Patent number: 10041428
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating an engine exhaust pressure based on outputs from an exhaust oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include estimating an exhaust pressure of exhaust gas flowing through an engine exhaust passage based on a difference between a first output of an oxygen sensor disposed in the exhaust passage and a second output of the oxygen sensor and then adjusting engine operation based on the estimated exhaust pressure. As one example, both the first and second outputs may be taken while operating the sensor in a variable voltage mode, after increasing a reference voltage of the oxygen sensor from a lower, first voltage to a higher, second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Michael McQuillen
  • Patent number: 10036353
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus includes: a fresh air throttle portion that continues from a fresh air inlet portion and is configured to throttle the flow of fresh air; an inner side tube portion that continues from the fresh air throttle portion, has a tubular shape and has an opening end disposed on a side opposite to the fresh air throttle portion; an exhaust gas inlet portion configured to receive a flow of exhaust gas; a surrounding portion that continues from the exhaust gas inlet portion, surrounds the inner side tube portion, and defines a circumference direction flow path for the exhaust gas extending along an outer circumference surface of the inner side tube portion; and an outlet portion that continues from the surrounding portion, has a tubular shape, and defines a merging flow path configured to receive the flow of the fresh air flowing out from the opening end of the inner side tube portion and the flow of the exhaust gas flowing out from the circumference direction flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shintaro Shuto, Tatsuo Ishiguro, Hiromi Komatsu, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Takafumi Tanaka, Satoshi Yamada, Hiroyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 10036345
    Abstract: A combination of a cylinder 62 of an internal combustion engine and a piston ring 40 for sliding an inner periphery of the cylinder, wherein at least a sliding face of the cylinder is composed of an aluminum alloy including 8 mass % to 22 mass % of Si and at least one or more particles selected from the group consisting of Si, Al2O3 and SiO2 particles each having a diameter of 3 ?m or more, and at least an outer periphery of the piston ring is coated with a hard carbon coating 14 composed only of hydrogen and carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Riken
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Tsuji, Akio Shinohara, Masaki Moronuki
  • Patent number: 10036339
    Abstract: A method and a system for control of a torque Tqdemand requested from an engine in a vehicle, wherein the engine provides a dynamic torque Tqfw in response to the torque Tqdemand. Control of the requested torque Tqdemand is performed such that the control provides a desired value Tqfw_req for the dynamic torque and/or a desired derivative Tqfw_req for the dynamic torque. This is achieved by basing the control on at least one current value Tqfw_pres for the dynamic torque, on one or several of the desired value Tqfw_req and the desired derivative Tqfw_req for the dynamic torque, and on a total delay time tdelay-total elapsing from determination of at least one parameter value, to when a change of the dynamic torque Tqfw based on the determined at least one parameter value, has been effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Martin Evaldsson, Karl Redbrandt
  • Patent number: 10036362
    Abstract: An ignition system and a method for controlling an ignition system for a spark-ignited internal combustion engine are described, having a primary voltage generator for generating an ignition spark and a boost converter for maintaining an ignition spark. The method includes sending a signal from an engine control unit to the ignition system, in order to determine a predetermined ignition timing for triggering an ignition spark, sending an additional signal from the engine control unit to the ignition system, in order to determine a predetermined additional ignition timing for triggering an additional ignition spark, and sending a control signal for influencing the operating mode of the boost converter from the engine control unit to the ignition system between the signal and the additional signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Tim Skowronek, Thomas Pawlak, Joerg Eichhorn, Wolfgang Sinz
  • Patent number: 10030780
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an air flow system, where the air flow system has a turbocharger unit and a venturi valve member for receiving a portion of the pressurized air from the turbocharger unit, and generating back pressure. The valve assembly includes a bypass switching valve and a bypass check valve. During a first mode of operation, the valve assembly is exposed to vacuum pressure, and the bypass check valve is exposed to the vacuum pressure such that the bypass check valve is placed in a closed position. During a second mode of operation the turbocharger unit is activated, pressurized air flows through the bypass switching valve, and places the bypass check valve in an open position, and the back pressure generated by the venturi valve member and the pressurized air from the turbocharger unit creates a pressure differential in the bypass check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Douglas Jefford, Benjamin Dominick Manton Williams, Adrian Ovidiu Crisan
  • Patent number: 10024358
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crank-drive with a crank-shaft, at least one connecting rod and at least one piston, in particular a crank-drive of an internal combustion engine, whereas the crank-shaft features at least one radial bearing (13) for supporting the crank-shaft in a crank-housing, at least one radial bearing for connecting the connecting rod to the crank-shaft, and the connection of the connecting rod to the piston features at least one radial bearing and whereas the bearings feature a bearing inner surface and/or a bearing outer surface. According to the invention in at least one of the bearing surfaces are arranged micro-ramp structures with an asymmetric form having a first concave section between the bearing surface and a bottom point of the micro-ramp structure and a second concave section between the bottom point and the bearing surface, whereas between the micro-ramp structures are arranged sections of the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP METALURGICA CAMPO LIMPO LTDA.
    Inventors: Bruno Barbosa de Oliveira Ferreira Salles, Ricardo Santoro Cardoso, Durval Duarte
  • Patent number: 10024269
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piston for an internal combustion engine, having shaft wall sections on the pressure and counter-pressure side, and connecting walls between the shaft wall sections. The connecting walls are arched on the counter-pressure side, and the connecting walls are largely straight on the pressure side, such that the counter-pressure side is more elastic that the pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Nodl
  • Patent number: 10024262
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control device includes an air-fuel ratio sensor configured such that an output current value thereof varies linearly in accordance with an oxygen concentration, and air-fuel ratio feedback control means capable of executing air-fuel ratio feedback control for feedback-controlling a fuel injection amount on the basis of a detection value from the air-fuel ratio sensor so that exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio control device further includes prohibiting means for prohibiting the feedback control when the air-fuel ratio reaches or exceeds a predetermined rich air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio control device permits the feedback control for a predetermined period after the air-fuel ratio reaches or exceeds the predetermined rich air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryousuke Sasaki, Tamikazu Kimura, Nobuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10024267
    Abstract: A combustion chamber structure for an internal combustion engine includes, in a piston top part, a concave portion formed eccentrically with respect to a cylinder center axis, and a tapered portion that connects an upper end face of the piston top part and a side face of the concave portion. The tapered portion is formed so that a tapered portion volume (volume of a space formed between the tapered portion and an upper wall surface of the combustion chamber) in a first portion of the piston top part is greater than a tapered portion volume in a second portion that is nearer than the first portion to an eccentric direction of the concave portion from the cylinder center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Nishida, Hiroshi Oyagi
  • Patent number: 10024243
    Abstract: An automatic transmission performs a shift-up operation when the accelerator pedal is released from a depression during a vehicle is running. An engine rotation speed immediately after the shift-up operation is predicted on the basis of the engine rotation speed and a gear ratio of the transmission after the shift-up operation. When a fuel recovery is predicted to be performed immediately after the shift-up operation, the fuel recovery is advanced such that it is performed in the inertial phase of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kawamoto, Masahiro Iriyama
  • Patent number: 10024266
    Abstract: An engine (10) is a cylinder injection engine, and includes an injector (21) that directly injects a fuel into a combustion chamber (23), and an ignition plug (34) that generates an ignition spark in the combustion chamber (23). An ECU (40) performs multiple first injections to each produce an air-fuel mixture of a lean air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber (23) before an ignition in one combustion cycle of the engine, and performs a second injection to produce an air-fuel mixture of a rich air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber (23) before the ignition and after the first injection. In particular, the ECU implements the multiple first injections in such a manner that the first injection implemented early among the multiple first injections produces an air-fuel mixture leaner than that of the first injection implemented subsequently. The ECU implements the second injection only once immediately before an ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Yokoi, Hiroaki Fujii, Yusaku Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10024275
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for condensate management in an EGR cooler of an engine system. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with an EGR cooler is coupled to an exhaust system and to an intake system of an engine. The EGR cooler includes an inlet coupled to the exhaust system, a first outlet coupled to the exhaust system, and a second outlet coupled to the intake system, the second outlet positioned vertically higher than the first outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Eric David Bramson, Steven Michael Cyr
  • Patent number: 10019854
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting exhaust gas oxygen sensor degradation due to sealant off-gassing. In one example, a method may include indicating exhaust gas oxygen sensor degradation due to sealant off-gassing responsive to a change in fueling demand without a change in driver-demanded torque after a threshold exhaust temperature has been reached. In response to the indication, a measurement correction may be learned and applied to measurements of the exhaust gas oxygen sensor in order to accurately determine an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10012224
    Abstract: A crank circular slider mechanism includes a crankshaft having at least one crank pin; at least one circular slider with an eccentric hole which fits over the crank pin; at least one reciprocating element with a circular slider-receiving hole, which receives the circular slider in a rotatable manner; and at least one dynamic balance rotary block with an eccentric hole that fits over the crank pin. The dynamic balance rotary block and the adjacent circular slider are fixed together. By means of proper selection of a mounting place and a mass of the dynamic balance rotary block, the mechanism can convert reciprocating inertia of the reciprocating element into rotation inertia so as to obtain a balancing effect. An internal combustion engine and a compressor may be equipped with the crank circular slider mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Beijing Sinocep Engine Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Li, Zhengzhong Li
  • Patent number: 10012181
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus may include a canister and a purge device. The purge device may desorb fuel vapor from the canister and purge the desorbed fuel vapor to an engine. The fuel vapor processing apparatus may further include a purge control device. The purge control device may obtain a target purge quantity to be desorbed from the canister at a point of time during an operation of the engine. In addition, the purge control device may control a purge quantity during the operation of the engine such that the purge quantity reaches the target purge quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Patent number: 10012164
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an engine including intake and exhaust valves and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings is provided. The apparatus includes a processor configured to execute an increasing amount controlling module for performing a fuel amount increase control in which a fuel injection amount is increased to decrease an exhaust gas temperature, and a valve controlling module for controlling, via the variable valve timing mechanism, an overlapping period in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke. When the increasing amount controlling module performs the increase control, based on an increase of a temperature of the exhaust gas in the increase control, the valve controlling module determines whether a protection for an exhaust system component is required, and if the protection is determined to be required, the valve controlling module shortens the overlapping period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Nishio, Shin Miura, Kazuhiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10012201
    Abstract: A method for allowing or prohibiting automatic engine stopping and starting is presented. In one example, an engine cranking time is predicted and compared to a threshold value to determine whether or not automatic engine stopping and starting is to be allowed or prohibited. The predicted engine cranking time is a metric for judging whether or not vehicle occupants might find a possible subsequent vehicle operation delay objectionable due to an engine starting event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hanyang B. Chen