Patents Examined by Noah P. Kamen
  • Engine block structure
    Patent number: 7204224
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase and an upper oil pan. The crankcase includes a plurality of main bearing caps extending between a pair of side walls, with openings in the main bearing caps and in the side walls. The upper oil pan is configured to sealingly engage the crankcase, and includes openings therethrough, which align with the openings in the main bearing caps and the side walls when the upper oil pan engages the crankcase. Fasteners structurally tie the upper oil pan to both the crankcase side walls and the main bearing caps. The engine may further include a lower oil pan defining a sump and attached to the upper oil pan. The upper oil pan preferably includes an oil filter manifold, an oil scraper, and a plurality of oil passages, while also providing a windage tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Hazelton, Franz Decarli, Scott M. Kociba, Christopher W. Zwolensky
  • Combustion engine of vertical shaft type
    Patent number: 7201132
    Abstract: To provide an internal combustion engine of a vertical shaft type, in which leakage of an oil from a crankcase and an oil pan is effectively prevented, which has high mounting rigidity relative to a working machine and, also, which is capable of being easily serviced, the combustion engine includes a vertically extending crankshaft (9) having a pair of upper and lower crank webs (14A and 14B), a crankcase (1) accommodating the crankshaft (9) and including an oil pan (2), and a crankcase cover (3) mounted on an upper surface (1a) of the crankcase (1) to cover the crankcase (1). The upper surface (1a) of the crankcase (1) is positioned above the upper crank web (14A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitomi Miyake, Takemi Inoue, Ichiro Uemura, Tetsuhiro Yamakawa
  • Crankcase cover plate
    Patent number: 7201131
    Abstract: In a cover plate for obturating a crankcase of an internal combustion engine at the bottom end thereof, which cover plate includes suction areas for collecting engine lubricant and on which a balancing shaft is rotatably supported and driven by the crankshaft of the engine via a gear structure, a first gear pump is arranged at one end of the balancing shaft for pumping lubricant from a collection area at the one end of the balancing shaft and a second gear pump is disposed at the opposite end of the balancing shaft for pumping lubricant from the other collection area at the other end of the balancing shaft, each pump having one of its gears mounted on the balancing shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Huster
  • Piston-cooling arrangement for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7201118
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having a piston-cooling arrangement (1) which has at least one spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) which is supplied with a coolant/lubricant via at least one supply passageway (3). The supply passageway (3) is arranged in a module (4) composed of a crankshaft-bearing structural element (6) and a crankshaft-bearing cap (7). The spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) is coupled to the crankshaft-bearing cap (7), a crankshaft-bearing shell (14) in the region of the supply passageway (3). Supply passageway (3) also connect to through-opening (16), so that coolant/lubricant can be directed via the supply passageway (3) to both the spray device (2, 27; 2, 39) and a crankshaft (17). The spray device (2) is designed as an oil-spray nozzle (27) or alternatively as a spray hole (39) integrated in the crankshaft-bearing cap (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Dietmar Laufenberg, Carsten Weber, Urban Morawitz
  • Vehicular power unit
    Patent number: 7201119
    Abstract: A vehicular power unit including a drive-side transmission sprocket wheel provided on an end of an output shaft that protrudes from one side of a crankcase, an endless transmission belt for transmitting power to a driving wheel wound the sprocket wheel. The endless transmission belt transmits power from the crankshaft to a transmission housed in the crankcase. A water pump is arranged on the same side of the crankcase in a position between the crankshaft and the output shaft. Further, the water pump is disposed inside the drive-side transmission sprocket wheel in a direction along the axis of an output shaft. This configuration enables the vehicular power unit to be formed in a compact size in a direction along an axis of a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tawarada, Eiko Shiozaki, Hiroyuki Kawakubo, Kazuyuki Nakai
  • Two-cycle engine
    Patent number: 7201120
    Abstract: A two-cycle engine having a piston reciprocalbly mounted in a cylinder in which a combustion chamber is formed. In prescribed positions of the piston, the combustion chamber communicates with a crankcase via at least one transfer channel. A portion of an intake channel for supplying fuel/air mixture and combustion air is formed in a carburetor, in which is pivotably mounted a butterfly valve for controlling the flow cross-section of the intake channel. A fuel opening opens into the intake channel portion, and downstream of the carburetor the intake channel is divided into a mixture channel and an air channel. A mechanism is disposed on the butterfly valve to increase the speed of flow in the carburetor in the vicinity of the fuel opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Geyer, Lukas Zürcher
  • Cylinder block for engine
    Patent number: 7198018
    Abstract: A cylinder block in an engine including: the cylinder block; a plurality of bearing caps for supporting a crankshaft mounted to the cylinder block; a number of cap bolts fixing the plural bearing caps to the cylinder block; a plurality of bearing cap beams, disposed one beneath each of the plural bearing caps, supporting the plural bearing caps; and a number of beam bolts fixing the plural bearing cap beams to a skirt portion of the cylinder block, wherein each of the plural bearing cap beams and the corresponding one of the plural bearing cap are fixed to the cylinder block by two or more of the cap bolts, and two or more of the cap bolts and two or more beam bolts associated with a same one of the plural bearing cap beams are disposed at close proximity sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunitoshi Kajiwara, Yoshifumi Yamashita, Tomoya Bokkai, Tetsuro Miyashita, Masayuki Kamo, Shinichi Murata
  • Sequential injection lubrication system for a spherical rotary valve internal combustion engine operating on natural gas or alternative fuels
    Patent number: 7198023
    Abstract: A sequential injection lubrication system for a spherical rotary valve internal combustion engine operating on natural gas or alternative fuels, the lubrication system having a plurality of injectors, one for each cylinder, the injectors and communication with a lubricant reservoir and with a control unit which sequentially opens and closes the injectors for the introduction of lubricant into the cylinder, the control unit in communication with a control panel allowing the selective setting of the duration of the pulse injection and the frequency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Gregory Coates
  • Engine cooling structure, and engine incorporating same
    Patent number: 7194985
    Abstract: An engine cooling structure for a water cooled engine includes water pump and a thermostat. The water pump pumps coolant to a water jacket of the engine. The water pump and thermostat are provided on a cover member installed on an outside of a crankcase of the engine, and a coolant passage, which communicates with the water jacket through the water pump from the thermostat, is integrally formed in the cover member, so as to obtain arrangement of the cooling structure that is efficient in terms of space. The engine cooling structure increases the degree of freedom of layout around a cylinder head by keeping the projection amount on a side of the cylinder head small, simplifies the piping construction, and reduces the number of assembly steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Karou Wachigai, Kenji Oki
  • Integral coolant reservoir and air cleaner for automotive vehicle
    Patent number: 7191739
    Abstract: In integral utility assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a coolant reservoir and an air cleaner. A mounting bracket for attaching the assembly to an engine compartment structure is co-molded with an air cleaner base and a lower portion of a coolant reservoir, so as to form an assembly having strength required for mounting with a single mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Peter Klop, Larry Dupuis
  • Laser welded intake manifold
    Patent number: 7191749
    Abstract: Laser welding of plastic involves a laser passing through laser translucent then laser absorbent material. A technical description as envisaged here is Laser Contour Welding. Universally, laser welding is done by Quasi simultaneous techniques and rarely by Contour techniques. Regular or symmetrical parts, under 5 inches are welded by Quasi simultaneous. Asymmetric and large parts are best welded by Contour Welding. Kinematics of robots permits a complex contour. Automotive plastic manifolds exceed 5 inches with asymmetry. The pairing of robot contour and laser welding facilitates a new Automotive manifold. It requires a new split line for laser access and manufacturing as described. Encompassing the above requirements and solutions can reduce the moldings for a V8 to 2 major operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventor: Paul Desmond Daly
  • Cover structure for engine
    Patent number: 7191753
    Abstract: The present invention provides an engine cover structure for an engine (1) whose cylinder head (7) is covered at three of front, rear, right and left sides thereof by a fuel tank (10), an air cleaner (20) and a muffler (9), respectively, comprising a cover (50) which covers the remaining one side and/or a top side of the cylinder head (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Sagara, Junichi Samo, Toshio Kamiyama, Shinji Nishimura
  • Diesel aircraft engine
    Patent number: 7191742
    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 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Schrick, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fuchs, Steven M. Weinzierl
  • Liquid piston internal combustion power system
    Patent number: 7191738
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for power generation through liquid piston internal combustion engine. The liquid piston internal combustion engine of the invention utilizes a novel, synergetic combination of internal combustion and steam piston engines within the framework of one and the same system. The engine may comprise a plurality of cylinders, each having a liquid piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: LiquidPiston, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikolay Shkolnik
  • Gas fuel feed device
    Patent number: 7191768
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a gas fuel supply system in which a controllable range in the fuel injection quantity control by an injector is enlarged. According to one preferable aspect of this invention, the gas fuel supply system comprises an injector provided in an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine, a fuel supply passage for supplying the gas fuel to the injector, and means for controlling pressure of the gas fuel supplied to the injector through the fuel supply passage by using negative pressure in the intake pipe such that the pressure of the gas fuel increases if the negative pressure in the intake pipe decreases, and the pressure of the gas fuel decreases if the negative pressure in the intake pipe increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Isuza Motors Limited
    Inventor: Motohisa Tokunaga
  • Method for starting an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7191747
    Abstract: The description relates to a method for starting a direct-injection internal combustion engine equipped with an engine management system and having n cylinders, in which n pistons oscillate between a top dead center (TDC) and a bottom dead center (BDC), and a crankshaft. It is proposed to set forth a method of the aforesaid type which overcomes the known disadvantages inherent in the state of the art known, the particular intention being to achieve a shortening of the starting times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Kramer
  • Cooling system and coolant reservoir for a cooling system
    Patent number: 7188588
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine includes a radiator and a reservoir. The reservoir includes upper and lower chambers and a conduit providing fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers. The upper chamber is usually in fluid communication with the radiator and the lower chamber has an opening that can open to the atmosphere, wherein the lower chamber is positioned below the upper chamber. The conduit having first and second openings, wherein the first and second openings are positioned respectively in the upper and lower chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: David Hewkin
  • Sump for cooling package air intake housing of an agricultural machine
    Patent number: 7188599
    Abstract: An apparatus is configured for supplying air to a cooling package for an internal combustion engine that powers an agricultural machine. The apparatus includes an air intake housing defining an air intake opening and a sump. The sump has a wall and a port. A gating device is positioned in communication with the port. The gating device has a first position wherein the port of the sump is closed and a second position wherein the port of the sump is not closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark Michael Chaney, Gary Stone Keys, II
  • Methods for operating a compression ignition engine
    Patent number: 7188587
    Abstract: A method of operating a compression ignition engine is disclosed. The method comprises, introducing an enriching component into a combustion chamber during an intake stroke, igniting the enriching component during the compression stroke, introducing a main injection of fuel to the combustion chamber after the ignition of the enriching component, igniting the main injection of fuel, and introducing a supplemental gas to the combustion chamber after igniting the main injection of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ather A. Quader, John E. Kirwan, Philip J. Dingle, Malcolm James Grieve
  • Internal combustion engine capable of selectively resting certain cylinders during low-load operation, and method of using same
    Patent number: 7188600
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine incorporating rest cylinders is provided which does not need a high response performance when operating a throttle valve and which can eliminate engine output variations as the number of operable cylinders changes. In the internal combustion engine, some of a plurality of cylinders is configured to rest during normal operation of the engine. The cylinders are divided into a plurality of cylinder groups, and each of the cylinders is provided with an independent throttle valve. An ECU for increasing the number of operative cylinder groups according to at least the throttle handgrip opening is provided. Also provided are motors for bringing the throttle valves in the cylinder in the rest state into a fully closed state on the basis of each cylinder group, a throttle valve position sensor, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Shinji Saito, Takaaki Tsukui