Patents Examined by Noah P. Kamen
  • Patent number: 7451736
    Abstract: An oil pan for attachment to the lower wall of the engine block housing of an internal combustion engine by bolts in such a way that lubricating oil is stored in the oil pan and transported from the oil pan to various parts of the engine to be lubricated by a suction line connected to an oil pump, in which excess oil flows back directly into the oil pan. The oil pan has a pan body (1) which is formed of a synthetic material and is closed along its upper portion by a connecting plate (2), also formed of a synthetic material, in which each of the two surfaces of the connecting plate is provided with a circumferential seal (8,9) that is cast onto the plate to ensure a tight seal between the pan body (1) and the engine block. The bottom portion of the connecting plate (2) extends as a tubular connecting piece (5), which is provided at its free end with a filter screen (6), and which forms a segment of the suction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Jerome Migaud, Gerald De Cara
  • Patent number: 7395798
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a lubricating oil pump configured to feed a lubricating oil to engine components, and an actuator drive oil pump that is provided separately from the lubricating oil pump and is configured to drive an actuator operating with an oil pressure. The actuator drive oil pump is configured to feed an oil with a discharge pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the lubricating oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7395796
    Abstract: A rotational balance adjustment structure for an engine includes; a damper pulley having an elastic member provided on the outer periphery of a hub and a damper mass provided on the outer periphery of the elastic member; and an engine assembly having an engine body and a plurality of parts mounted on the engine body, the plurality of parts including the damper pulley. The engine assembly is assembled by mounting a plurality of parts to the engine body, the plurality of parts including the damper pulley, and the rotational balance of the engine assembly is adjusted by attaching a balance piece to the damper mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michihiko Masuda
  • Patent number: 7395804
    Abstract: The lubrication structure of an engine is provided with a crankcase having a crank chamber that houses a crankshaft. A first oil reservoir is in communication with the crank chamber and is formed adjacent a bottom of the crank chamber. A second oil reservoir is in communication with the first oil reservoir and is formed adjacent the side of and on the bottom of the first oil reservoir. A reed valve extends diagonally from the bottom of the first oil reservoir toward the top of the second oil reservoir in an opening where the first oil reservoir and the second oil reservoir communicate with the crankcase. The reed valve includes a valve element that opens and closes according to the variation of pressure in the crank chamber. The valve element of the reed valve is arranged on the side of the second oil reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takemoto, Tomio Onozato
  • Patent number: 7392779
    Abstract: An engine equipped with an air-intake device for a personal watercraft, includes a cylinder head cover attached to an upper surface of a cylinder head, a plug cap with ignition coil configured to protrude upward from an upper surface of the cylinder head cover; and an air box for the air-intake device that is disposed above the cylinder head cover and is provided on a lower surface thereof with an air inlet that opens to be opposite to the upper surface of the cylinder head cover. The air box is disposed in such a manner that the lower surface of the air box is opposite to the upper surface of the cylinder head cover and a gap is formed between the lower surface of the air box and the upper surface of the cylinder head cover so as to form an air flow in the vicinity of the plug cap with ignition coil that is directed to the air inlet of the air box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Takahashi, Atsufumi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7387092
    Abstract: A combustion-type power tool includes a housing, a cylinder, a cylinder head, a combustion chamber frame, and a rotatable fan. The combustion chamber frame including a base section, a head section abuttable on the cylinder head to provide a combustion chamber when the combustion chamber frame is at a first position, and a connection portion for connecting the head section with the base section. The fan includes fan blades which define a widthwise center line and having widthwise edge portions which define a widthwise edge line at a side of the cylinder head. The widthwise center line is offset from the connection portion toward another end of the housing, and the widthwise edge line is offset from the connection portion toward the cylinder head when the combustion chamber frame is at a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomasa Nishikawa, Yoshitaka Akiba, Haruhisa Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 7387099
    Abstract: An intake manifold for an internal combustion engine including a manifold base portion and a manifold cover portion. The manifold cover portion and base portion are each formed from a thermoplastic composite material. The base portion includes several runners which may be coupled to respective intake ports of an internal combustion head. The manifold base portion and the manifold cover portion may be selected from a group of differing parts to provide a manifold having desired application or performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Diaphorm Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Vasilios Brachos, Vincent Borbone, Robert M. Miller
  • Patent number: 7383797
    Abstract: A Dual Piston Cycle Engine utilizes a unique dual piston apparatus that includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston therein; a second cylinder thermally isolated from the first cylinder and housing a second piston therein; an intake valve coupled to the first cylinder for allowing a fuel mixture to enter into the first cylinder; an exhaust valve coupled to the second cylinder for allowing an exhaust gas to exit the second cylinder; and an interstage valve that couples an internal chamber of the first cylinder to an internal chamber of the second cylinder and configured to minimize dead space between the first and second cylinders, wherein the first piston performs only intake and compression strokes and the second piston performs only combustion and exhaust strokes and the first and second cylinders are thermally isolated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Tour
  • Patent number: 7380532
    Abstract: Between the cylinder head and combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, an intermediate sealing ring. The sealing ring is in sliding contact at its top circular surface with a disc valve rotatively mounted in said cylinder head and at its outer periphery in fixed sealing contact with the inner surface of the engine cylinder of said engine combustion chamber. The purpose of the intermediate seal is to confine the working fluids, being acted upon by the reciprocating motion of the engine piston, across the stationary interface of the engine cylinder and rotative surface of the disc valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventors: Fotios Agapiades, Thomas Agapiades
  • Patent number: 7380533
    Abstract: An outboard motor S has an exhaust manifold passage 37 for carrying exhaust gas from combustion chambers 30. The exhaust manifold passage 37 is formed in a part of a cylinder head 22 in an exhaust-side part of an internal combustion engine E on the side of the cylinder head 22 with respect to a joint surface P of a cylinder block 20 joined to the cylinder head 22. An exhaust passage 38 is formed in the cylinder block 20 and connected to the exhaust gas outlet 37e of the exhaust manifold passage 37 in the joint surface P. An electrical equipment box 50 holding electrical equipment is placed in the exhaust-side part so as to overlap the exhaust passage 38 when viewed in vertical direction. An electrical equipment box 50 is disposed adjacent to the cylinder head 22 with respect to the direction parallel to the axes of cylinders 20a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Tsubouchi, Akifumi Fujima, Kei Inoue
  • Patent number: 7380527
    Abstract: The invention concerns an internal-combustion engine, the engine comprising a first combustion chamber, a first piston displaceably guided in the first combustion chamber, the first piston facing the first combustion chamber with a first piston surface in a first direction, a second combustion chamber, a second piston displaceably guided in the second combustion chamber, the second piston facing the second combustion chamber with a second piston surface in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposed to each other, the first piston and the second piston being coupled to each other so that they move simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventor: Heinz-Gustav A. Reisser
  • Patent number: 7377235
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine operable using hydrogen and/or for a fuel cell includes a hydrogen tank, which is provided for storing deep-cooled, liquid hydrogen, and a heat exchanger, which is provided for preheating the deep-cooled hydrogen. The heat exchanger is enclosed by a fluid-tight mantle. An intermediate space is provided between the heat exchanger and the mantle, which has a fluid flowing through it, which delivers heat to the heat exchanger and insulates the heat exchanger in relation to the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Juergen Turini, Johann Schnagl, Christopher von Kuensberg Sarre
  • Patent number: 7377252
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with an oil filter 10 through which lubricant oil having pulsating pressure passes. The oil filter 10 has an oil filter body 11 attached to a filter base 20, and a cover 30 formed integrally with the filter base 20 and circumferentially surrounding the oil filter body 11. The cover 30 is provided with a window part 36 through which a space 35 formed between the oil filter body 11 and the cover 30 opens outward. The cover 30 has a circumferentially endless annular end wall 33 provided between the window part 36 and an end wall 33a. The cover 30 has a reinforcing member 41 provided with an opening part 46 and attached to the outside surface of the cover 30 so that the opening part 46 coincides with the window part 36 of the cover 30. The oil filter 10 can be properly cooled and sounds radiated by the oil filter 10 and the cover 30 can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Tsuruta, Noriaki Kawai, Chihiro Nishikawa, Akihiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 7373915
    Abstract: An improved piston engine includes a rocker arm and a connecting link between the piston rod and the crankshaft to allow its motion to be altered from that of the classic piston engine in order to overcome inherent limitations of the latter and realize greater efficiency. By inserting these two components between the end of a rigidly attached piston rod and a conventional crankshaft, the motion of the piston with respect to the crankshaft can be altered in important ways. For example, the dwell at top dead center can be increased relative to dwell at bottom dead center to the point where they are equal or in fact where dwell at top dead center is greater. Furthermore, because the piston rod is not directly connected to the crankshaft, ignition of the fuel can be timed to occur before top dead center so that pressure is maximized at top dead center in order to improve efficiency. Furthermore, the piston stroke can be shortened and slowed by the geometry of the rocker arm, thus increasing engine life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: Alexander F. Joniec
  • Patent number: 7373911
    Abstract: An engine oil return device for an engine having a cylinder head and a cylinder block is disclosed. The oil return device comprises an oil pan and an oil return path. The oil return path includes at least one oil return main path and at least one oil return extension path. The oil return main path is disposed at a first side surface of the cylinder block. The oil return extension path includes an upstream end and a downstream end. The upstream end is connected to the oil return main path. The downstream end is positioned at a distance from the first side surface such that the oil return extension path extends in a direction of the second side surface of the cylinder block. At least a portion of the oil return extension path is defined by a portion of the oil pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Arata Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7373905
    Abstract: The present invention is an engine, including two banks of cylinders in a flat, opposed cylinder arrangement and a crankshaft having a plurality of paired throws, the two throws of each respective pair of throws being disposed adjacent to each other and coplanar with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Schrick, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fuchs, Steven M. Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 7370620
    Abstract: An air intake manifold assembly for use with an internal combustion engine includes a plenum portion and a runner assembly mounted to the plenum portion. The runner assembly has a flange disposed between an air intake portion and an air outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Carlos Nino, Robert Prisk, Marcello Tedesco, John S. Frait
  • Patent number: 7370625
    Abstract: An engine accessory layout structure for a vehicle by which engine accessories are laid out near the engine without trouble. The structure includes a throttle valve disposed in the periphery of an engine, and an engine accessory laid out at an upper portion of an engine and a lower portion of a seat. A heat guard is provided which is disposed on the upper side of the engine so as to separate the engine and a fuel piping from each other. The engine accessory is mounted onto an upper portion of the heat guard. The heat guard also protects the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 7370622
    Abstract: An induction system is designed for an engine that includes a manifold having a plenum in fluid communication with primary runners. A plenum valve is arranged between first and second chambers of the plenum that are respectively in fluid communication with first and second sets of the primary runners. The plenum valve is configured to move between open and closed positions to regulate flow between the first and second chambers. A secondary runner is arranged upstream from and in fluid communication with the plenum. The secondary runner includes first and second runner portions with the second runner portion being shorter than the first runner portion. A runner valve is arranged in the secondary runner between the first and second runner portions and is configured to selectively direct flow through the first and second runner portions to the plenum to obtain a desired effective tuning length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Nahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen Francis Bloomer, John Francis Marentette, Richard Donald McWilliam, Yuhua Zhu
  • Patent number: RE40548
    Abstract: An engine oil heater suited to use with an engine having an oil fill port in fluid communication with an oil reservoir that is adapted to contain a quantity of oil. The engine heater generally includes a coupling member operable to engage the oil fill port and a heater element interconnected with the coupling member and having a sufficient length such that the heater element is adapted to be at least partially immersed in oil. A temperature sensor is positioned to measure a temperature and a first electrical connector is configured to engage a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is electrically connectable to the heater element to provide a flow of current and a control circuit is operable to vary the flow of current to the heater element in response to the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Ryczek, James D. Makiya, William M. Kindness, Kyle Clasen