Patents Examined by Willis Wolfe, Jr.
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Patent number: 8156925Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system includes: a turbocharger (8) that includes a compressor (8a) and a turbine (8b); a throttle valve (7), provided in an intake passage (3) upstream of the compressor (8a); an EGR passage (11) through which a portion of exhaust gas from the exhaust passage (4) is recirculated to the intake passage (3) between the throttle valve (7) and the compressor (8a); and an EGR valve (13) that regulates a flow rate of exhaust flowing in the EGR passage (11). The exhaust gas recirculation system further includes valve control means that controls the opening degree of the throttle valve (7) and the opening degree of the EGR valve (13) so that the pressure in the intake passage (3) between the throttle valve (7) and the compressor (8a) is maintained at or above a predetermined pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masakazu Tabata
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Patent number: 8160801Abstract: A valve drive system comprises a power transmitting mechanism (13) that converts rotary motion of an electric motor (12) into opening and closing motion of an intake valve (3) provided in a cylinder (2) of an internal combustion engine (1) to transmit power from the electric motor (12) to the valve (3) via a cam (152); and a rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) that is provided in a motion transmission path that extends from the electric motor (12) to the cam (152) and restricts rotation of the cam (152) within a predetermined angular range that is set so that a piston (5) of the engine (1) and the intake valve (3) do not interfere with each other. The rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) comprises a flange (161) that rotates as a unit with a camshaft (151) and forms a slotted groove hole (161a) thereon; and a stopper pin (162) that is inserted into and retracted from the groove hole (161a).Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno, Akio Kidooka
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Patent number: 8155857Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes: providing a setpoint value of at least one combustion attribute on the basis of a setpoint value characteristics map; determining from a control variable characteristics map a value of a characteristics-map-based control variable for controlling the engine; ascertaining with the aid of a data-based model a value of a modified control variable for controlling the engine, the data-based model specifying a predicted combustion attribute as a function of a real value of the combustion attribute of the preceding combustion, and the value of the modified control variable for controlling the engine being ascertained from the predicted combustion attribute; and providing a real control variable set to a value that is a function of the value of the characteristics-map-based control variable and/or the value of the modified control variable.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Axel Loeffler, Holger Ulmer
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Patent number: 8151769Abstract: A method of manufacturing and assembling a carbon canister for a fuel vapor management system of a vehicle includes injection molding a housing partially defining a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a baffle. The housing includes a first wall defining an interface between the first and second chambers and a second wall with a portion of the second wall defining an interface between the second chamber and the baffle with apertures proximate a first side of the housing. The method may include injection molding first and second retention plates, filling first, second, and third chambers with carbon pellets, installing the first retention plate into the second side of the housing proximate the first and second chambers to enclose the carbon pellets, and installing the second retention plate into the second side proximate the third chamber to enclose the carbon pellets in the third chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jhun Lin, Mark Edward Hipp, Christopher Michael Kersman
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Patent number: 8155862Abstract: A system and method of controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. The method may include closing said intake valve at a timing in a first range, which is before a maximum charge closing timing with which an amount of air inducted into said cylinder from said air intake passage would be maximized at a given engine speed, during a cylinder cycle when a desired amount of air to be inducted into said cylinder is less than or equal to a predetermined air amount at the given engine speed. The method may further include closing said intake valve at a timing in a second range, which is after said maximum charge closing timing and separated from said first range during a cylinder cycle, when a desired amount of air to be inducted into said cylinder is greater than said predetermined air amount at the given engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Naohiro Yamaguchi, Masahisa Yamakawa, Takashi Youso, Kouji Shishime, Hiroaki Abe, Hiroki Morimoto, Naoya Matsuo, Naoya Watanabe
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Patent number: 8150597Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. One example method may include closing an intake valve later during a cylinder cycle than a timing with which an amount of air inducted into a cylinder from an air intake passage would be maximized, and earlier during the cylinder cycle as a desired amount of air to be inducted into the cylinder increases, while an engine is operating at a given engine speed. The method may further include closing the intake valve earlier during a cylinder cycle as the engine speed increases when the desired amount of air to be inducted into the cylinder is at a maximum.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Masahisa Yamakawa, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Hirokazu Matsuura, Takashi Youso, Kouji Shishime, Mikinori Ohashi
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Patent number: 8150599Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including detecting, when refueling with an alcohol fuel is performed, a refueling amount of the alcohol fuel based on a signal transmitted from a sender gauge, increasing DI ratio r that is a ratio between a fuel injection amount from an in-cylinder injector and a fuel injection amount from an intake passage injector, according to the refueling amount of the alcohol fuel, such that the ratio of the fuel injection amount from the in-cylinder injector is higher, and retarding the ignition timing according to the refueling amount of the alcohol fuel.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Taichi Nishimura
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Patent number: 8145404Abstract: A standard cam phasing OCV may be employed as a virtual check valve to choke the backflow of oil during negative cam torque conditions, including execution of a duty cycle command in an event-based manner. Normally, OCV duty cycle commands are made on a time basis, but for VCV the duty cycle output change must be synchronized with engine events. A method is disclosed for calculating and delivering the VCV duty cycle so that both time-based and event-based controls are maintained and work together. Phase alignment of response time of the OCV solenoid is based upon cam target wheel edges and is event-based. An initial phase rate vs. phase angle is monitored by the Engine Control Module (ECM). Adjustment of the phase angle is provided to achieve maximum cam position phase rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel G. Gauthier, Jeffrey M. Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 8141539Abstract: An ECU controls an adjusting mechanism adjusting an output of an engine, such as a throttle valve, a swirl control valve, an ignition plug, an intake valve, and an ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) changing the length of an intake manifold, in accordance with a ratio between a maximum value KL(MAX) of load factor and the load factor required of the engine by the driver and by the system mounted on the vehicle at current engine speed NE.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuyuki Kawai, Hideaki Kawai
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Patent number: 8145411Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a knock magnitude N by dividing an integrated value lpkknk obtained by integrating the magnitude of vibration in the knock detection gate by BGL; controlling ignition timing according to a result of comparison between knock magnitude N and a determination value VJ; stopping updating of a standard deviation ? when it is determined that determination value VJ to be compared with knock magnitude N is to be changed; updating a median value VM by increasing an update amount of median value VM; and updating BGL according to median value VM and standard deviation ?.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Watanabe, Hiroto Tanaka, Rihito Kaneko, Norihito Hanai, Kenji Senda, Satoshi Masuda
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Patent number: 8136508Abstract: A pump for a combustion engine is disclosed. The pump may have at least one pumping member movable through a plurality of displacement strokes during a single engine cycle. The pump may also have a controller in communication with the pumping member. The controller may be configured to selectively reduce an amount of fluid displaced during at least one, but less than all of the plurality of displacement strokes. The reduction may be initiated in response to a demand for the displaced fluid.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: David Norman Eddy
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Patent number: 8132553Abstract: A recoil starter system and method. The system may include a drive member, a pulley member, and a spring member. The drive member may include a first retainer, and the pulley member may include a second retainer, the retainers being engageable to connect the drive member and the pulley member and to inhibit relative axial movement between the pulley member and the drive member. The spring member may be configured to absorb and limit the variations in the pulling torque produced by the engine resulting in a smooth and constant pull force.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Techtronic Outdoor Products Technology LimitedInventor: Charles Arthur Eakins, Jr.
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Patent number: 8127743Abstract: A work implement in the nature of a drive for a tool includes a starting and/or switching-off braking device for the tool. A brake button is provided which can be externally actuated by a user, with which a starting and/or switching-off brake can be released. A device is also provided which can change the rotational speed of the drive, the device having a throttle button capable of being actuated by the user from outside. The brake button and the throttle button are arranged on a handle so that they can be contacted simultaneously by the hand of a user, where the throttle button can be actuated when the starting and/or switching-off brake is applied.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: DOLMAR GmbHInventors: Christian Vick, Mark Jesse
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Patent number: 8131449Abstract: A fuel injection valve coupled to a common rail is provided. When fuel injection is carried out, the fuel pressure in the fuel injection valve pulsates. An interval between a pilot injection and a main injection is set so that the main injection is carried out at a zero gradient timing as a timing when the gradient of the fuel pressure in the fuel injection valve after the pilot injection is approximately equal to zero. Owing to a fuel injection control apparatus and a fuel injection control method for an internal combustion engine that perform the above-mentioned control, the fuel injection amount for the subsequent fuel injection following the preceding fuel injection can be reliably held equal to a normal amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Koyama, Hisashi Ohki, Kiyoshi Fujiwara, Tomohiro Kaneko, Takahumi Yamada
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Patent number: 8121775Abstract: A misfire detecting device is provided for a water jet propulsion watercraft in which a propulsion unit operates through an operation of an engine to propel the water jet propulsion watercraft. The misfire detecting device includes injectors arranged to inject fuel into the engine under a fuel injection amount adjusting control implemented by an electric control device, ignition plugs arranged to ignite the fuel injected into the engine from the injectors to operate the engine, an oxygen sensor arranged to detect that a misfire occurs in the engine, a warning lamp and buzzer arranged to inform that the misfire occurs, etc. The misfire detecting device prevents the warning lamp and the buzzer from informing the warning if the misfire is caused through the control by the electric control device.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichi Fujino, Shigeyuki Ozawa
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Patent number: 8121774Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an engine and a method of operating that system is disclosed. The system has a conduit arrangement for conducting exhaust gas from an exhaust side of the engine to an intake side of the engine, a valve arrangement configured for controlling the amount of exhaust gas to be recirculated and a conduit arrangement for providing intake air to the intake side of the engine. A sensor arrangement is provided and is configured to sense at least one parameter indicative of the humidity of the recirculated exhaust gas and the intake air at the intake side of the engine. A control arrangement is configured to receive a signal from the first sensor arrangement and further is configured to control the valve arrangement in response to a determination by the control arrangement that the first parameter is outside a desired range for low-NOx emission during a subsequent combustion period.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mary Lou Kesse, Cory A. Brown, Adwait V. Joshi
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Patent number: 8118006Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling fuel injection of a dual fuel engine which includes first and second fuel rails and first and second fuel pumps. In one example, while pumping is suspended in the second fuel rail, the first fuel is injected to all but one cylinder of the engine and the second fuel is injected to the one cylinder in a predetermined sequence. As such, the fuel injector injecting to the one cylinder is isolated and its performance may be assessed without significantly affecting engine performance.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
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Patent number: 8113165Abstract: An internal combustion engine, and integrated electrical generator, both enclosed in a single housing. The engine has at least one cylinder and piston which extends radially from an axis of rotation about which a combination cam plate and generator armature assembly rotates to produce electrical energy as it passes a stationary electrical coil secured within the housing. The engine block, including at least one cylinder, remains stationary.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Russell Energy CorporationInventor: Robert L. Russell
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Patent number: 8116963Abstract: According to various embodiments of the invention, a map of injection pin profiles is experimentally determined at various locations spanning an engine operating plane. Injector pin profiles at points within the continuum spanned by the experimentally determined profiles are determined by interpolating between surrounding experimentally determined injector pin profiles. Various methods are used to adjust the interpolation procedure in cases where one injector pin profile has more or fewer points than the other injector pin profile.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Transonic Combustion, Inc.Inventor: Eric D. Plambeck
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Patent number: 8113186Abstract: A multifuel internal combustion engine in which single low boiling point component fuel and at least one kind of fuel having properties different from those of the single low boiling point component fuel are introduced into a combustion chamber CC separately or together thereby operating the multifuel internal combustion engine, includes lubricant-oil temperature detecting unit means (temperature sensor 91) that detects a temperature of lubricant oil, or lubricant-oil temperature estimating unit means that estimates the temperature, and purge control unit means (electronic control unit 1) that prohibits purge control by an evaporation gas purge apparatus (evaporation gas passage 42, check valve 43, canister 44, on-off valve 45) or reduces a purge flow rate of evaporation gas in the purge control, when the detected or estimated temperature of the lubricant oil is near a boiling point temperature of the single low boiling point component fuel at which it is necessary to reduce a fuel injection amount from a fueType: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Tsunooka, Takashi Watanabe, Yohei Hosokawa