Patents Examined by Sizo Vilakazi
  • Patent number: 10107242
    Abstract: An actuating drive for an injection valve may comprise: a sleeve-shaped actuator housing; an actuator unit disposed in the housing; at least one actuator feed line; at least one connector contact; a housing unit; a cover; and a first sealing unit. The at least one actuator feed line may protrude from an end-side opening of the actuator housing. The at least one connector contact may be coupled electrically to the at least one actuator feed line and configured to be coupled electrically to a system-side connector. The housing unit may be arranged along a circumference of the actuator housing in an end-side shell surface section of the actuator housing and configured to fix the at least one connector contact in a predefined position. The cover may close a cavity defined by the housing unit and be coupled mechanically to the housing unit. The first sealing element may be arranged between the housing unit and the cover to prevent penetration of solid, liquid, or gaseous media into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Emanuel Sanftleben, Martin Simmet
  • Patent number: 10107715
    Abstract: An estimation apparatus, includes: a sensor, disposed in the proximity of a crank rotor, configured to output a signal in response to a positional variation of an outer periphery of the crank rotor, the crank rotor including a plurality of protruding teeth formed at given distances and a tooth-missing region on an outer periphery of the crank rotor and configured to rotate in an interlocking relationship with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; and a processor configured to calculate a crank angular velocity of the internal combustion engine at given time intervals from the signal output from the sensor and estimate a first crank angular velocity corresponding to the tooth-missing region from second crank angular velocities at two or more points corresponding to at least one of portions before and after the tooth-missing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Soneda, Masatoshi Ogawa, Takeo Kasajima
  • Patent number: 10100769
    Abstract: A method actuates a fuel injector having a coil drive with a solenoid and a magnet armature. The magnet armature can be moved along a longitudinal axis by a magnetic field generated by the solenoid. In the method, an amplification voltage is applied to the solenoid at a predefined point in time to move the magnet armature from a closed position into an open position. The amplification voltage is made available by a voltage-regulated direct voltage transformer from a supply voltage. The direct voltage transformer has a storage capacitor for supporting the voltage made available at the output of the direct voltage transformer. The storage capacitor is charged to a pilot control voltage by the amplification voltage before the given point in time, with the result that the voltage present at the solenoid is higher than the amplification voltage at the predefined point in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Maase, Volker Hertes
  • Patent number: 10100772
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device controls a spark-ignition engine of an intra-cylindrical direct fuel injection type. The engine includes a fuel injection valve configured to directly inject a fuel to an interior of a cylinder, and a spark plug configured to ignite, by a spark, an air-fuel mixture inside the cylinder. When the injected fuel collides with a portion in a predetermined low-temperature state, the fuel is injected while changing a fuel injection condition under predetermined operating conditions so as to restrain a fuel spray from keeping colliding with the same position continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kodama, Takao Inoue, Ryo Uchida
  • Patent number: 10100767
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine start roughness. In one example, a method for reducing engine start NVH includes operating the engine with a split fuel injection while advancing injection timing as engine coolant temperature increases. The method allows for a smoother engine start while also reducing false misfire incidences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingpo Liu, Aed M. Dudar, Marcus William Fried, Ron Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 10094320
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing fueling errors resulting from pressure pulsations in a port injection fuel rail. The pressure pulsations result from pressure pulsations generated in a high pressure fuel pump delivering fuel to both the port injection fuel rail and a direct injection fuel rail. A center of a port injection fuel pulse is repositioned on a nearest fuel rail pressure sampling point in the advanced direction to improve the accuracy of the delivered fuel pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Paul Hollar, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Patent number: 10094338
    Abstract: A combination structure of an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may include a housing open at both sides thereof, a plurality of headers inserted in both of the sides of the housing and having a circumference forming a layer with the housing, and a plurality of diffusers each including a coupling portion, which is inserted in the headers to form a layer with the housing and the headers, at a first side and having a hole for receiving and discharging exhaust gas at a second side, in which sides of the housing and the headers may be welded, and the housing, the circumference of the headers, and coupling portions of the diffusers may be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10082109
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling intake manifold air temperature (IMAT) of a dual fuel engine are provided. A determination regarding whether IMAT is to be modified is performed, followed by modifying the IMAT by changing flow of coolant in a cooling circuit in fluid communication with a separate circuit aftercooler (SCAC) of a SCAC circuit from a first flow path to a second flow path when it is determined that the IMAT is to be modified. A portion of the first flow path overlaps a portion of the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry, David F. Schaller
  • Patent number: 10081349
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to controlling engine operating points and power for full throttle command in an off-highway vehicle, such as a diesel electric haul truck, to increase fuel efficiency. In one example, a system includes an engine and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a target engine horsepower and associated target engine speed, command the engine to operate at a first engine speed above the target engine speed, adjust a load placed on the engine to reach the target engine speed, and command the engine to operate at a second engine speed to reach the target engine horsepower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry Todd Young, Jason Daniel Kuttenkuler, Jeffrey John Wolff, Aaron Craig Mellinger
  • Patent number: 10072622
    Abstract: When a state where a lowered amount of a detection value of high-pressure side fuel pressure with respect to target fuel pressure is at least equal to a specified lowering determination value at least continues for a specified lowering determination time, a pump high-temperature determination is set “ON”. In the case where the pump high-temperature determination is set “ON”, boost control for increasing pressure of fuel that is supplied from a feed pump to a high-pressure pump (a set value of feed pressure) from a low-pressure set value to a high-pressure set value is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 10066521
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an intake channel which opens via a first valve into a crankcase of the engine. The first valve opens at a first frequency (f1). The engine has a second valve, which controls the quantity of fuel supplied into the intake channel. The quantity of fuel is controlled by controlling the time interval during which the second valve is open during each engine cycle (x). A control device is provided to control the quantity of fuel supplied. In a first operating state, the second valve is opened at a second frequency (f2, f3, f4) which is coordinated with the first frequency (f1). In a second operating state, the second valve is opened independently of the first frequency (f1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Eberle, Markus Weinig, Claus Naegele, Mark Reichler
  • Patent number: 10060382
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting spark and/or fuel injection to a cylinder based on late combustion, partial burn, or misfire in a neighboring cylinder. A pressure sensor coupled to a cylinder exhaust port is used to sample exhaust pressure pulsations over a cylinder exhaust valve event, and accurately estimate an amount of residuals generated in and released from the cylinder as well as residuals received from the neighboring cylinder. Mitigating actions are performed in the cylinder in accordance before the occurrence of a pre-ignition event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10060377
    Abstract: A method for determining an imbalance of at least one cylinder in an arrangement of at least two cylinders in a system is provided, which includes an internal combustion engine, the imbalance of the at least one cylinder being present in relation to at least one property of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and the determination of the imbalance of the at least one cylinder occurring with a sensor device for detecting at least one property of the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. A diagnostic threshold is ascertained through a dynamic characterization of the system with the sensor device, the dynamic characterization taking place after an excitation of the system. The diagnostic threshold makes it possible to delimit a range of potential erroneous detections which are caused due to a dispersion of an evaluating signal resulting from the imbalance of the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Winkler, Henrico Runge, Benjamin Sillmann, Hartwig Lehle, Eduard Weiss
  • Patent number: 10060399
    Abstract: An electromagnetically-activated actuator includes an electrical coil, an armature moveable between rest and actuated positions, and a bi-directional driver. A method for controlling an actuator event includes applying a supply voltage at a first polarity across the coil for a first duration to drive a forward current through the coil effective to move the armature away from the rest position. The forward current has a forward current peak at the end of the first duration. After the first duration, the supply voltage is applied at a second polarity across the coil for a second duration to drive a reverse current through the coil. The second duration terminates when the reverse current attains a predetermined reverse current peak, wherein the predetermined reverse current peak is coincident with the armature returning to the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Avoki M. Omekanda, Thomas W. Nehl
  • Patent number: 10054088
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a fuel pump, a filter case that houses a fuel filter, and a port member joined to the filter case, a fuel pumped by the fuel pump from inside a fuel tank is filtered by the fuel filter and supplied from inside the filter case toward an internal combustion engine, and the port member integrally includes a plurality of fuel ports that communicate from inside of the filter case to outside of the filter case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, KYOSAN DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Niwa, Hideto Takahashi, Tetsuro Okazono, Hironobu Oki, Akihiro Ishitoya, Akinari Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10041403
    Abstract: A generator assembly suitable for being carried on the back of a human comprising an internal combustion engine an alternator and a shaft driven by said engine and driving said alternator wherein when said generator assembly is being carried on the back of human said shaft is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said human. This enhances the maneuverability of the assembly. Preferably the assembly comprises a generator module having an engine and an alternator coupled directly by a common shaft, the generator being attached to a frame of the assembly at only two longitudinally spaced-apart positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Amir Golad
  • Patent number: 10036335
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine. A condition of the engine may be diagnosed based on information provided by signals from a generator operationally connected to the engine and/or other signals associated with the engine. Different types of degradation may be distinguished based on discerning characteristics within the information. Thus, a degraded engine component may be identified in a manner that reduces service induced delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arijit Banerjee, Ajith Kuttainnair Kumar, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Rupam Mukherjee, Somakumar Ramachandrapanicker, Paul Lloyd Flynn, Boyanapally Srilatha
  • Patent number: 10036360
    Abstract: An electrical system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with start/stop capability includes a primary battery connectible to an engine starter motor; a secondary battery, an alternator, and an electrical load in parallel with one another and selectively connectible in parallel with the primary battery by a charge switch; in parallel with the secondary battery, a DC/DC converter in series with a third electrical energy source; and a bypass switch operable to selectively bypass the DC/DC converter. The bypass switch allows for selective bypassing the DC/DC converter and charging/discharging of the third electrical energy source during start/stop operation, to ensure a sufficient voltage level over the additional vehicle electrical loads when the internal combustion engine and consequently the alternator are not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Oerjan Spjuth, Torbjoern Larsson, Daniel Midholm, Fredrik Ulmhage
  • Patent number: 10030602
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine on a cycle-by-cycle basis. The method includes: maintaining training data used to identify a mapping function for the engine; populating a buffer with adaptive data for a given cylinder, where the adaptive data are measures of the inputs and the output of the mapping function that were captured during a number of recent operating cycles of the given cylinder; combining training data for the mapping function with the adaptive data; identifying the mapping function from the combined data set using a weighted least squares method; predicting a combustion feature of the given cylinder in the next cycle using the mapping function and measures of the inputs during the present cycle; and controlling the engine based in part on the predicted combustion feature of the given cylinder in the next cycle using one or more actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventor: Adam Vaughan
  • Patent number: 10024257
    Abstract: A PCM comprises a basic target torque-deciding part for deciding a basic target torque, based on a driving state of a vehicle including an accelerator pedal operation state, a torque reduction amount-deciding part for deciding a torque reduction amount, based on a driving state of the vehicle other than the accelerator pedal operation state, a final target torque-deciding part for deciding a final target torque, based on the decided basic target torque and the decided torque reduction amount, and an engine output control part for controlling an engine to cause the engine to output the decided final target torque, wherein the engine output control part is operable to prohibit switching of an operation mode of the engine from being performed simultaneously with control of the engine according to a change in the final target torque corresponding to a change in the torque reduction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikako Ohisa, Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu, Takuo Hirano, Kunihiro Shishima, Takahiro Kawamura, Yasunori Takahara, Daisaku Ogawa, Takeatsu Ito