Patents Examined by Sizo B Vilakazi
  • Patent number: 11897311
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a controller configured to execute: receiving a remote signal containing a target temperature in a cabin and an expected traveling start time of a vehicle; performing preheating of the cabin in a second air-conditioning mode in which the preheating is performed by using an electric heat pump when a temperature in the cabin is predicted to be increasable to the target temperature in the second air-conditioning mode before the expected traveling start time, the preheating being based on a remote operation; and performing the preheating of the cabin in a first air-conditioning mode in which the preheating is performed by using exhaust heat generated when an internal combustion engine operates when the temperature in the cabin is predicted not to be increasable to the target temperature in the second air-conditioning mode before the expected traveling start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Hadano, Takaaki Inokuchi, Tatsunori Katoh, Asuka Marumo
  • Patent number: 11873769
    Abstract: An engine-equipped vehicle capable of preventing gear noise and gear wear when the engine is started is provided. A multicylinder engine, a gear transmission that shifts power from the multicylinder engine by a shift operation, a centrifugal clutch arranged in a power transmission path from the multicylinder engine to the gear transmission, and an electronic control device that controls an operation of the multicylinder engine are included and the engine is configured to be started with a partial cylinder operation start where under control of the electronic control device, only some cylinders are operated and an operation of other cylinders is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michisuke Iga, Masaharu Ono
  • Patent number: 11873786
    Abstract: An axisymmetric injector hold-down load ring includes an annular body and an odd numbered plurality of resilient arms integrally extending from the annular body. Each resilient arm has a curvature concentric with the annular body and extends in a first circumferential direction along an outer periphery of the annular body an equal circumferential distance from a connection with the annular body to a free end. The free end of each resilient arm includes a contact surface facing axially opposite a first surface of the annular body, the contact surface of each resilient arm is axially offset from the first surface of the annular body an equal axial distance. This configuration positions the connections and contact surfaces in radial alignment so that force is transmitted along the resilient arms between the circumferentially spaced connections and contact surfaces when the load ring is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Stanadyne Operating Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hornby, James Bennardi
  • Patent number: 11873774
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for maintaining efficiency of a catalyst that is positioned in an exhaust system downstream of an internal combustion engine. In one example, the catalyst may be heated via supplying fuel to a cylinder that does not combust the fuel. The fuel may be oxidized at the catalyst via excess oxygen in the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Glugla
  • Patent number: 11867132
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes: a fuel injection valve injecting fuel; an intake timing varying mechanism controlling the opening/closing of an intake valve provided at an intake port; and an exhaust timing varying mechanism controlling the opening/closing of an exhaust valve provided at an exhaust port. When a request has been made to reduce a fuel wet amount, which is a quantity of fuel adhering to a wall surface of the internal combustion engine facing to an injection field where fuel is injected, in the startup of the internal combustion engine, the control device executes wet reduction control. In the wet reduction control, at least one of the intake timing varying mechanism or the exhaust timing varying mechanism is controlled so as to reduce the fuel wet amount by a counterflow blowing back toward the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Ayukawa, Shinichi Hiraoka, Daigo Itou
  • Patent number: 11869286
    Abstract: A system for determining a condition of an asset such as a vehicle or a machine tool includes a diagnostic tool. The diagnostic tool for determining a condition of a vehicle includes an inspection unit having a scanner, a camera, a laser pointer, and a thermometer, a communication unit having a transceiver, a wireless and a Bluetooth, and a user interface unit having a microphone, LED lights and a speaker. The diagnostic tool acquires a vehicle identification number (VIN), transmits the VIN information, and receives basic information including an inspection procedure provided from a manufacturer of the vehicle and history information of the vehicle associated with the acquired VIN for providing a new health condition of the vehicle under inspection. A method for determining a condition of an asset is also performed by the system including the diagnostic tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: INSPECTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Gaetan Woitrin, Jonathan Marlow
  • Patent number: 11867133
    Abstract: A HST system for use in traveling of a vehicle includes a controller that controls a pump regulator that changes a displacement of a pump and a motor regulator that changes a displacement of a motor. The controller determines whether or not a particular downhill travel condition is satisfied based on a result of detection by a vehicle speed detector that detects a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a result of detection by a rotation number detector that detects a number of rotations of an engine per unit time. In a case where a depression amount of an accelerator pedal, which is detected by a depression amount detector, is zero and the particular downhill travel condition is satisfied, the controller controls the motor regulator to increase the displacement of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Kondo, Ryosuke Kusumoto, Yuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11859569
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating exhaust gas emissions via cylinder deactivation are provided. A system includes a controller coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric motive device. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to: receive a power request less than a current power output from the internal combustion engine; command the electric motive device to provide a supplemental power output based on the received power request; command the internal combustion engine to operate in a cylinder deactivation mode whereby at least one cylinder of a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine is deactivated; responsive to determining that a power output of the internal combustion engine is substantially equivalent to the power request after commanding the internal combustion engine to operate in the cylinder deactivation mode, deactivate the electric motive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Avra Brahma
  • Patent number: 11859568
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic calibration of large industrial engines in applications where the quality of the fuel supply is unknown and/or variable over time, particularly engines that drive compressors on a natural gas well site. A combination of throttles and an oxygen sensor including a mass-flow-air throttle and a mass-flow-gas throttle to determine the mass flow of air and mass flow of gas. As a response to exhaust gas oxygen level readings, the mass flow measurements are used to determine real time air-fuel ratios. An algorithm uses the air-fuel ratios as input data, wherein a microcontroller adjusts the throttles to meet engine performance demands. Additionally, using the air-fuel ratio data and suggested engine OEM calibration specifications as block multiplier inputs, particular fuel properties, such as British Thermal Unit (BTU) content, can be accurately interpolated, thereby enabling automatic calibration of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: EControls, LLC
    Inventors: Kennon Guglielmo, Justin H. Sanders, Michael T. Hambidge, Timothy J. Westerdale, James Cole, Chad Stovell
  • Patent number: 11850971
    Abstract: A motor generator control system includes: a motor generator; a drive current control unit configured to perform feedback control so that a driving force at a time of power running or the driving force at a time of regeneration of the motor generator is a target driving force; a current coordinate control unit configured to output a d-axis current value and a q-axis current value to the drive current control unit; and a strong field control unit configured to perform strong field control of setting a field to be stronger than a field strength at which a maximum efficiency is obtained. When the strong field control is performed during the regeneration, the motor generator control system executes current consumption control of performing the feedback control by changing the d-axis current value and the q-axis current value so that the driving force is smaller than the target driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 11846259
    Abstract: Provided is a pressure regulator and a fuel pump module having the same, which may be easily assembled by including fewer components, the pressure regulator including: a first housing including a guide part positioned therein and guiding movement of a valve, and an outlet part communicating with an inner space thereof and discharging a fluid; a second housing coupled to the first housing, having a valve accommodating space, including a valve seating part, and including an inlet part introducing a fluid; a valve positioned in the valve accommodating space, and moved to thus open and close a fluid flow; and an elastic member interposed between the valve and the first housing to bring the valve into close contact with the valve seating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: COAVIS
    Inventors: Chanheum Yoon, Kusung Kwon, Changmo Kang
  • Patent number: 11845417
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a first motor (traveling motor) for traveling, a battery (high-voltage battery), a second motor (generator motor) for electricity generation, an engine (rotary engine), a first controller (engine ECU), a second controller (motor ECU), and a sensor (voltage-current sensor). The second controller is configured to start the engine by causing the second motor to perform power running, cause the second motor to perform electricity generation driving such that the battery is charged, and adjust a stop position of the engine by causing the second motor to perform power running subsequently to a stop of the engine by the first controller in a case where a state of charge of the battery becomes high and the second motor finishes the electricity generation driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 11847872
    Abstract: A system and a method for diagnosing a problem with a motor vehicle using sound. Ambient noise information for the motor vehicle is determined. Current sound information is received, and whether there is a variation in sound between the current sound information and the ambient noise information is determined. The ambient noise information is subtracted from the current sound information if the variation has been identified, to identify a sound anomaly. A sound anomaly signal is extracted and compared with predetermined anomaly signal information stored in a database. The predetermined anomaly signal information is associated with diagnostic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Nathan Lee Post, Carlos J P Chavez, Deborah Janette Schulz, Ashley Raine Philbrick, Eric David Schroeder, Gabriel Carlos Fernandez, Snehal Desai, Rachel Elizabeth Csabi, Ruthie D. Lyle, Courtney St. Martin
  • Patent number: 11846246
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for controlling an inlet pressure of a prime mover in a transport climate control system is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tank, a pressure regulator, a pump disposed downstream of the fuel tank, a first filter disposed downstream of the pump, and the prime mover disposed downstream of the first filter. The prime mover is located above the fuel tank in a vertical direction. The pump is configured to provide a first fuel flow through the first filter. The prime mover is configured to accept a first portion of the first fuel flow and is configured to provide a return fuel flow. The pressure regulator is disposed downstream of the first filter. The pressure regulator is configured to accept a second portion of the first fuel flow, and to accept a pressure of the return fuel flow as a reference pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventor: Joseph R. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11840977
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection subsequent to engine start, comprises: a) at, or after synchronization, in respect of a potential upcoming firing or injection event for a particular cylinder, determining or selecting a first injection profile; b) determining if there is sufficient time for the first injection profile to be implemented; and c) if so, implementing the said first injection profile with respect to said event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER LUXEMBOURG OPERATIONS SARL
    Inventors: Stephane Randazzo, Marc Passemard, Oguz Iscimen
  • Patent number: 11840972
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of calibrating a desirable engine speed for power take-off (PTO) operation. In particular, the present invention discloses having an instrument cluster unit (ICU) (102) that allows an operator to select a fourth desirable speed value for PTO operation, and a signal actuating module (SAM) (104) that may be configured to receive the value from the ICU (102) and store the value in its memory. Further, the present invention describes having a common power-train control unit (CPC) connected to the SAM (104) and configured to receive the desirable speed value from the SAM (104), and in response, modify one or more engine parameters to attain the desirable speed value for operating an engine PTO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler Truck AG
    Inventors: Robert Vit, Andreas Lang, Joshua Crawford, Kathryn Paul, Edward Pack, Gregory Hoiland
  • Patent number: 11834032
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including processor being configured to, when driving sections are present inside a restricted region, extract as a restricted driving section from among driving sections present inside the restricted region a driving section through which it is projected the vehicle will be driven in a restricted time period in which operation of internal combustion engines is restricted, and prepare a driving plan able to drive through the restricted driving section in the EV mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Yokoyama, Hiroya Chiba, Yoshiyuki Kageura, Masanori Shimada, Yoshihiro Sakayanagi, Sui Kurihashi, Hiroki Morita, Makoto Ogiso
  • Patent number: 11835014
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine cylinder head has a water jacket, a plurality of female threaded portions for attaching an exhaust component, and a plurality of bulging portions protruding into the water jacket. The water jacket has inlet portions for receiving cooling water and outlet portions for discharging the cooling water. The inlet portions are disposed in a central position of the water jacket in a cylinder row direction. The outlet portions are disposed on a lateral side of the cylinder head to which the exhaust component is attached. A spacing between the outlet portions is wider than a spacing between the inlet portions. The female threaded portions protrude into the water jacket so that the cooling water crosses an area around the female threaded portions in the cylinder row direction. The bulging portions extend from ends of the female threaded portions towards where the inlet portions are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ota, Hironao Netsu
  • Patent number: 11828258
    Abstract: An injector apparatus (310) for injecting fluid under pressure into an associated chamber (332) is provided. The injector apparatus (310) includes a first piston (314) defining a first working area facing an associated chamber (332), a high pressure piston (318) defining a high pressure working area facing a high pressure chamber (319), and a control piston (317) defining a control piston working area facing a control chamber (315). The first piston (314) is moveable with a body of the injector apparatus (310) to compress fluid in the high pressure chamber (319) using the high pressure piston (318), while movement of the first piston (314) is selectively controllable by controlling the fluid in the control chamber (315). The first working area is larger than the control piston working area and the control piston (317) working area is larger than the high pressure working area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: RKLAB AG
    Inventors: Daniel Eastwood, Riccardo Meldolesi, Martin Selway, John Lutwyche
  • Patent number: 11821176
    Abstract: A mobile machine includes a propulsion subsystem that propels the mobile machine across an operational environment. The mobile machine also includes machine monitoring logic that receives a sensor signal indicative of a value of a sensed machine variable and operator monitoring logic that receives an operator sensor signal indicative of a value of a sensed operator variable. The mobile machine also includes performance index generator logic that receives the sensed machine variable and the sensed operator value and generates a performance index based on the sensed machine variable and the sensed operator value. The mobile machine also includes optimization system that accesses historic circumstantial data and receives the performance index and generates an optimization signal based on the performance index, and the historic circumstantial data and control signal generator logic that generates a control signal based on the optimization signal to perform a machine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Bradley Lan, Wentao Yu, Bhanu Kiran Reddy Palla, Volker Fuchs