Patents Examined by Tony M. Argenbright
  • Patent number: 7121247
    Abstract: A spherical rotary engine valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Jung W. Lee
  • Patent number: 7120387
    Abstract: A web-based mission certification quiz for educating various persons involved in a fundraising campaign is disclosed. A web-based method for educating solicitors, donors, participants and others involved in a fundraising campaign about the campaign's mission includes providing, on a website, information about the campaign's mission, taking, on the website, a mission certification quiz by answering one or more questions, wherein the questions are designed to test a participant's knowledge about the campaign's mission. The method further includes determining a final score based on the number of correct answers, and creating a mission certificate on the website based on the final score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Kintera, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry E. Gruber, Ephraim Feig, Julie Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7117826
    Abstract: The gas engine of the present invention has a pilot oil fuel valve, a pilot oil pump, and first and second pipes connected to a pilot oil main pipe, for each of a plurality of combustion chambers. An operating pilot oil tank and an ignition stimulant-added pilot oil tank are connected via a switching valve to a third pipe, connected to an end of the pilot oil main pipe. Before operating stops, the pilot oil is discharged by opening an exhaust valve, and thereafter, the switching valve is switched and pilot oil which the ignition stimulant has been added to is supplied into the pipe. Consequently, the pilot oil downstream from the main pipe is replaced with the pilot oil which the ignition stimulant has been added to. Therefore, at the time of the next activation, pilot oil which the ignition stimulant has been added to is sprayed from the fuel valve, and, as a result, misfire at the time of activation is reduced, and a highly reliable engine is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Niigata Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Goto, Yoshifumi Nishi
  • Patent number: 7117829
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the drive unit of a vehicle are described, which make it possible to suppress faults during controlling. On a first level, at least one first control variable is formed for controlling at least one actuator of the drive unit. On a second level, the correct formation of the at least one first control variable on the first level is verified using at least one selected variable. The at least one first control variable for controlling the at least one actuator is influenced by the second level if the at least one selected variable assumes a predefined value or lies within a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Haas
  • Patent number: 7114469
    Abstract: A cooling system for a marine engine divides a flow of cooling water into first and second streams downstream of a pump. The first stream flows through a first cooling system which is controlled by a pressure sensitive valve. The second stream flows through a second cooling system which is controlled by a temperature sensitive valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7114480
    Abstract: There is provided a V-type engine in which banks of an engine block are offset in the same direction as the rotational direction of a crankshaft so that the banks may be displaced toward an end of a vehicle body. On the offset side, engine accessory is mounted on a side of the engine block and below the banks. The width between the end of the engine accessory to which an impact is input first among component parts of the engine block and the end of the rear bank where the engine block moved due to the impact is abutted first on a vehicle body member is set to be shorter than in a conventional engine. Therefore, the crushable zone may be increased even in a limited engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Murata, Masayuki Kamo, Kunitoshi Kajiwara, Daisuke Kitada
  • Patent number: 7111592
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for facilitating the cooling of engine coolant flowing through a radiator operatively connected to the engine of an engine-driven, electrical generator set. The engine has a crankshaft rotatable about a first axis and a radiator having a first side directed towards the engine and a second side. The apparatus includes a fan positionable on the second side of the radiator that is rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to and vertically spaced from the first axis. The apparatus includes a thermally responsive clutch having a driven portion. The clutch is movable between a first disengaged position wherein the driven portion is isolated from the crankshaft and a second engaged position wherein the driven portion rotates in unison with the crankshaft in response to a predetermined temperature. A fan drive system interconnects the driven portion of the clutch and the fan for translating rotation of the driven portion to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Kern, Bret Baird, Allen D. Gillette, Michael J. Roll
  • Patent number: 7113862
    Abstract: State-of-the-art fuel injectors have an inherent time delay that is determined by an elapsed time from the time an electrical signal is received by the fuel injector from an ECU to the time that fuel is actually initially injected into the cylinder. That time is currently an average time and therefore the fuel injectors must be manufactured with very precise tolerances. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that allows the use of production fuel injectors that are more economical to manufacture by allowing wider tolerances. The invention includes determining the actual time delay for each fuel injector. The fuel injectors are supplied with a computer program and a data file containing the time delay determined especially for that particular fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Radue
  • Patent number: 7104224
    Abstract: A fuel system for improved fuel efficiency may include a fuel injector to transmit fuel in droplet form to a reaction region. A reaction rod may be positioned in the reaction region, where the reaction rod may have a convex end and a concave end. The fuel system may be used with engines such as gasoline engines, turbine engines, diesel engines, and steam engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: PlasmaDrive, Inc.
    Inventor: Clarence Hugh Jonson
  • Patent number: 7104241
    Abstract: An engine fastening structure in which a cylinder body and a cylinder head are stacked on and fastened to a crankcase, characterized in that a case side flange portion 3b formed at a crankcase side end portion of the cylinder body 3 is fastened to the crankcase 2 with case bolts 30a, and at least part of head bolts 30c for fastening the cylinder head 4 and the cylinder body 3 together are screwed into the case side flange portion 3b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Utsumi, Masahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 7104227
    Abstract: A two stroke cycle internal combustion engine machine that does not require lubricating oil to be mixed with its fuel, producing greater efficiency, higher power to weight ratio, cooler operating temperatures, a wider speed range, greater simplicity, and lower toxic emissions, many of the improvements also transferable to four stroke engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Freddie Ray Roberts
  • Patent number: 7104239
    Abstract: To miniaturize an engine, to concentrate heavy masses and to reduce friction loss of a balancer. An engine crankcase structure in which a crankcase is vertically partitioned into an upper case and a lower case, each journal supporter is formed in the upper case and in the lower case so that the rotational axis of a crankshaft is located on a partition face of the crankcase in parallel with a direction of the width of the body. The crankshaft is supported so that the crankshaft can be rotated. An oil filter is directly attached to the lower case. An oil cooler and a secondary balancer are arranged in the front of the lower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawakubo, Toru Gunji
  • Patent number: 7104226
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cooling structure for cooling a cylinder liner by circulating coolant in a water jacket formed along an outer periphery of the cylinder liner. This cooling structure includes an annular first water reservoir for temporarily storing coolant. This first water reservoir allows the coolant to uniformly flow circumferentially of the cylinder liner. The cooling structure also includes a plurality of coolant passages provided radially for connecting the first water reservoir to the water jacket. The coolant is caused to strike a part of a wall defining the water jacket substantially vertically from the radial coolant passages, thereby to generate turbulent flow in the coolant to efficiently cool the cylinder liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneo Endoh, Kengo Ishimitsu
  • Patent number: 7100544
    Abstract: An on/off clutch assembly is disclosed having a simplified method for attaching the drive shaft to the hub portion of the drive pulley. The rotating shaft is formed with an integral external threaded portion that is designed to mate with a corresponding internal threaded portion of the hub. The external threaded portion, in conjunction with the internal threaded portion, replace the holes and corresponding cap screws that are used to attach the drive shaft to the hub in current designs. The new design limits the complexity of design and manufacture of the fan drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Eric Wayman
  • Patent number: 7100559
    Abstract: An engine air intake manifold has two main body sections that are divided along an airflow direction and mated tightly against each other at oppositely facing mating parts so as to form an air intake passage therein. A gas passage is formed along the mating parts. The gas passage opens into a downstream portion of the air intake passage and supplies a secondary additive gas thereto. Preferably, the engine air intake manifold has air intake branch pipes with valve mounting blocks for mounting air intake control valves to a downstream portion of the air intake branch pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7096832
    Abstract: The invention describes a combustion—operated working tool, in particular a setting tool for fastening elements, having a guide cylinder (5) axially displaceable relative to the device housing (1); a piston (9) displaceably mounted in the guide cylinder (6); a housing—integral stop (8), which projects into the guide cylinder (5) to delimit an engagement part of the piston (9) in the direction of advance of the piston (6), when the guide cylinder (5) is shifted in the direction of advance of the piston (6); and an elastic adjusting element (21–23), which is tensioned upon moving the guide cylinder (5) into the device housing (1) and by virtue of which an engagement part (28, 31) can be driven for carrying the piston (9) opposite to the direction of advance of the piston (6), after extension of the guide cylinder (5) out of the device housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mario Grazioli, Gebhard Gantner, Norbert Pfister
  • Patent number: 7096843
    Abstract: There is provided a multicylinder four-cycle combustion engine, in which a communication hole is formed, to allow gases to flow smoothly form one cylinder to another so that the pumping loss occurring within the cylinders can be reduced. The combustion engine (E) includes an engine casing (EC) having defined therein a plurality of cylinders (2A to 2D), each having a cylinder bore (20A to 20D), and a crank chamber (30A to 30D) below the respective cylinder bore. A partition wall (21) separating the neighbor cylinder bores (20A, 20B; 20C, 20D) of the cylinders (2A to 2D) and the crank chambers (30A to 30D) from each other is formed with a communication hole (4). An open edge portion (4aa) of the uppermost edge (4a) thereof, which opens into the cylinder bore (20A to 20D) has a circumferentially intermediate major portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cylinder longitudinal axis (CH).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawamoto, Tomoyuki Terao, Matsuhiro Asano, Yoshiharu Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7096850
    Abstract: To provide a four-cycle combustion engine wherein the air-fuel mixture can be smoothly passed at all times by the utilization of the reciprocating motion of the piston to effectively lubricate the valve operating mechanism and the cranking mechanism and also to allow the air-fuel mixture to be supplied into the combustion chamber with a high suction efficiency. By utilization of the reciprocating motion of the piston (9), a portion of the air-fuel mixture (M) fed from the intake passage (33) is circulated through a circulating passage made up of the valve chamber (18), the first passage (24), the crankcase chamber (7) and the second passage (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushika Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Yashirodai, Kazuhiko Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7096845
    Abstract: A bracket and nut assembly including a bracket having a first end and second end. The first end includes a first substantially planar portion spaced apart from and positioned substantially parallel to a second substantially planar portion. A third portion interconnects the first and second portions. A first aperture extends through the first portion and a second aperture extends through the second portion. The first and second apertures are axially aligned with one another. A nut includes a substantially cylindrical hollow body having flats, a first end and a second end. A flange radially extends from the first end. The flange is captured between the first portion and the second portion of the bracket such that the nut is operable to translate and rotate relative to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary J. Vaandrager, Richard K. Marsh, Robert J. Krokosky, James B. Korsedal, Mohammed M. Abuelroos
  • Patent number: 7096830
    Abstract: A water pump assembly for controlling the flow of temperature control fluid in an internal combustion engine. The water pump assembly includes a housing with an inlet, an outlet and an electric motor assembly for causing fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. A housing includes a mounting flange for mounting the water pump to an engine. The mounting of the water pump permitting direct flow into or out of the engine from the water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Engineered Machined Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hollis, David Allen, Mark Bader