Patents Examined by Susan E Scharpf
  • Patent number: 11668256
    Abstract: A mass-flow throttle for highly accurate control of gaseous supplies of fuel and/or air to the combustion chambers for a large engine in response to instantaneous demand signals from the engine's engine control module (ECM), especially for large spark-ignited internal combustion engines. With a unitary block assembly and a throttle blade driven by a non-articulated rotary actuator shaft, in combination with control circuitry including multiple pressure sensors as well as sensors for temperature and throttle position, the same basic throttle concepts are suited to be used for both mass-flow gas (MFG) and mass-flow air (MFA) throttles in industrial applications, to achieve highly accurate mass-flow control despite pressure fluctuations while operating in non-choked flow. The throttle, in combination with the sensors and ECM, enable detection of backfire events, with the throttle system further being enabled to take operative measures to prevent damage to the throttle components resulting from a backfire event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: EControls, LLC
    Inventors: Kennon Guglielmo, Justin H. Sanders, Michael T. Hambidge, Timothy J. Westerdale, James Cole
  • Patent number: 11668267
    Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing operational status of a carbon filled canister heater are described. The methods and systems may include activating an evaporative emissions system heater, a pump, and a canister purge valve to determine if long chain hydrocarbons are released from a carbon filled canister. Release of long chain hydrocarbons from the carbon filled canister may be indicative of desired operation of a carbon filled canister heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11658506
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided and includes an input that receives user selection for terrain mode and a HSG connected to the engine to operate as a start motor to turn on the engine. The HSG operates as a generator that performs idle charging when the engine is turned on. A battery is electrically connected to the HSG. A controller configured perform idle charging when SOC of the battery is less than or equal to a first SOC through the HSG by turning on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Hyuk Lee, Seong Ik Park, Gwangil Du, Hoon Han, Kwonchae Chung, Jae Young Choi, Hyukjin Lee
  • Patent number: 11649787
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a heating element coupled to a canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method (or system) may include evacuating the canister at different temperature conditions, and diagnosing the heating element based on the different times taken to evacuate the canister at the different temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11649788
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis method and a failure diagnosis system of a dual purge system may determine whether a closed stuck failure or an opened stuck failure occurs in a line forming a dual purge system by measuring a pressure in a negative pressure formation device and comparing the corresponding pressure with a predetermined reference value when a purge valve of the dual purge system is in an opened or closed state, and may determine whether the failure occurs in components related to a secondary purge line in the dual purge system in which it is difficult to determine whether the failure occurs in a conventional failure diagnosis method of a single purge system in a simple method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Sun Nam, Hee-Nam Woo
  • Patent number: 11649778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising: determining a first set point value of a volume of air to be taken into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine within one working cycle thereof by retrieving the first set point value from a first characteristic map stored in a memory device of an electronic computing device as a function of a current engine speed of the internal combustion engine and as a function of a torque to be provided by the internal combustion engine; and determining a second set point value by retrieving the second set point value from a second characteristic map stored in the memory device of the electronic computing device as a function of a current engine speed of the internal combustion engine and as a function of a current volume of air supplied to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KEYOU GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Werner Prümm, Daniel Thomas Koch
  • Patent number: 11619195
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for evaporating vapors of a fuel stored in a motor vehicle tank. The evaporation device includes a bypass circuit and a bypass valve configured to move between a so-called “absorption” position, in which the bypass valve allows the gases to flow between the tank and an absorbent filter and a so-called “leak detection” position, in which the bypass valve allows the gases to flow between a purge circuit and the tank via the bypass circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Thierry Collet
  • Patent number: 11619186
    Abstract: A system and method of managing an on-demand electrolytic reactor for supplying hydrogen and oxygen gas to an internal combustion engine. The system minimizes reactor's power consumption and parasitic energy loss generally associated with perpetual reactors. The system comprises a plurality of sensors coupled to the reactor measuring a plurality of reactor parameters, an electronic control unit coupled to the plurality of sensors and the engine, and a reactor control board coupled to the reactor and the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit: monitors the plurality of reactor parameters and the plurality of engine parameters; determines a reactor performance level; determines an engine performance level; determines a change in the engine performance level to forecast a future engine demand level; and determines an ideal reactor performance level corresponding to the engine performance level or the future engine demand level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: dynaCERT Inc.
    Inventors: David Bridge, Ruston Jeroen Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11598228
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly selectively opening first and second engine valves. The assembly includes a rocker arm and a valve bridge operably associated with the rocker arm and including a main body and a lever rotatably coupled to the main body. The main body is configured to engage the first engine valve, and the lever is configured to engage the second engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Douglas J. Nielsen, Mark VanWingerden
  • Patent number: 11591975
    Abstract: A throttle valve includes a housing, an electric motor and an insert. The electric motor is accommodated in the housing and drives opening and closing of an air flow passage of the throttle valve. The insert is partially enclosed in the housing and includes an electrically conductive insert body at least partially accessibly exposed from the housing, and an electrically conductive electric motor connector. One end of the motor connector is electrically connected to the insert body, and the other end thereof is electrically connected to the electrically conductive housing of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Jin Wu, Zhengmao Wei
  • Patent number: 11578625
    Abstract: A combined exhaust and engine brake rocker arm assembly configured to selectively open first and second exhaust valves, includes a rocker arm body, an exhaust rocker arm assembly formed in the rocker arm body, and an engine brake rocker arm assembly formed in the rocker arm body and configured to operate in a collapse mode and a rigid mode. The exhaust rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively engage a valve bridge to open the first and second exhaust valves, and the engine brake rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively engage the valve bridge to open only the first exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Douglas J. Nielsen, Kshamta Bishnoi
  • Patent number: 11549467
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an abnormality in at least one of a first check valve, a second check valve, a second purge passage, a charging passage, and an ejector based on pressure detected by a pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 11542899
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions (EVAP) system for an engine of a vehicle includes an ion sensing system configured to measure a fuel/air ratio (FAR) within cylinders of the engine and a controller configured to, during an engine cold start period, perform open-loop lambda control of the engine including obtaining, from the ion sensing system, the measured FAR within the cylinders of the engine, comparing the measured FAR within the cylinders of the engine to a target FAR within cylinders of the engine, and based on the comparing, adjusting operation of at least one of the EVAP system and fuel injectors of the engine to maintain a stoichiometric operation of the engine, wherein the use of the ion sensing system for open-loop lambda control of the engine eliminates the need for a hydrocarbon (HC) sensor in the EVAP system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew M Delleree, James J Daley, Roger C Sager, Joseph M Dekar
  • Patent number: 11530660
    Abstract: A phase diagnosis method and apparatus. When it is verified that the location of an engine is valid, an oil injector performs spraying at a top center compression position; if no acceleration is detected after spraying, it indicates that a fault occurs; in order to detect whether it is a fault of phase deviation of the camshaft by 180 degrees, the oil sprayer performs spraying at the top center exhaust position and detects whether there is an acceleration; if an acceleration is detected, it indicates that the situation of the phase deviation of the camshaft by 180 degrees exists. In this way, the problem in the prior art of being unable to detect phase deviation when the phase of a camshaft is deviated by 180 degrees is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: WEICHAI POWER CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Dawei Song, Xuebin Wang, Peng Huang
  • Patent number: 11530756
    Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a motor and a plate, wherein the motor has an electric contact in electrical contact with the plate. An intermediate shaft is in contact with the plate. A controller is fixed to an upper part of the actuator. The controller has an electrical output electrically communicating with the electric contact of the motor through the intermediate shaft and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Raphael De Matos, Julien Cambillard, François Lacouture, Alen Halepovic
  • Patent number: 11525422
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank, a canister, a first valve, a second valve, a heater, and a controller. The fuel tank is configured to store fuel. The canister is in fluid communication with the fuel tank and is configured to receive and store evaporated fuel from the fuel tank. The first valve is disposed between the fuel tank and the canister. The second valve is disposed between the canister and ambient surroundings. The heater is disposed within the canister. The controller is programmed to, periodically initiate diagnostic tests that are configured to determine if the heater is operating properly, if the heater is unable to turn off, or if the heater is unable to turn on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M Dudar
  • Patent number: 11492994
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting injection timing of closely spaced multiple injections via a same injector. In one example, during an inter-injection spacing between a first injection and a second injection in a set of multiple injections being lower than a threshold period, an opening time of the second injection in the set of multiple injections may be adjusted based on another opening time of another second injection in a previous set of multiple injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Ethan Sanborn, Joseph Thomas
  • Patent number: 11480128
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine system includes controlling a fuel injector to perform a zero-fueling injector operation during operation of the engine, the zero-fueling injector operation including a non-zero injector on-time resulting in zero fueling by the injector, determining an injection system pressure change associated with the zero-fueling injector operation, modifying at least one fuel injection control parameter in response to the injection system pressure change, and using the modified fuel injection control parameter to control injection of fuel by the fuel injector during operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Benson
  • Patent number: 11473520
    Abstract: A control system for an aero compression combustion drive assembly, the aero compression combustion drive assembly having an engine member, a transmission member and a propeller member, the control system including a sensor for sensing a pressure parameter in each of a plurality of compression chambers of the engine member, the sensor for providing the sensed pressure parameter to a control system device, the control system device having a plurality of control programs for effecting selected engine control and the control system device acting on the sensed pressure parameter to effect a control strategy in the engine member A control method is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs, Alexander Seybold-Epting
  • Patent number: 11459967
    Abstract: A combustion mode module is configured to switch operation of a low-temperature combustion (LTC) engine between a spark ignition (SI) mode, a positive valve overlap (PVO) mode, and a negative valve overlap (NVO) mode. A spark control module is configured to control a spark plug to generate a spark in a cylinder of the LTC engine when the LTC engine is operating in the SI mode. A valve control module is configured to control intake and exhaust valves of the cylinder to yield a PVO and a NVO when the LTC engine is operating in the PVO mode and the NVO mode, respectively. An air/fuel (A/F) control module is configured to adjust a desired A/F ratio of the LTC engine to a rich A/F ratio when operation of the LTC engine is switched to the PVO mode from either one of the SI mode and the NVO mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Hanho Yun, Jun-mo Kang