Patents by Inventor Kimihiro Nonaka

Kimihiro Nonaka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6491033
    Abstract: An outboard motor engine includes a feedback control system for controlling the air/fuel ratio of the air/fuel mixture combusted within the engine. The control system can be configured to vary the target output value of a combustion condition sensor in accordance with at least one engine operation characteristic, for example, but without limitation, engine speed or throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Motose, Kyoji Hakamata, Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 6364726
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes the direct fuel injection system. The outboard motor also includes an ECU that monitors various engine operating conditions and controls various engine operating parameters that are at least partially dependent on the positioning of the transmission. In instances in which the transmission is positioned in a neutral location, the load is decreased and therefore the ECU outputs one set of parameters. In similar low-speed operations, when the transmission is placed in a drive arrangement, the ECU outputs a second set of parameters due to the increased load. Several control routines are disclosed which facilitate low-speed operation, over-rev limiting, and engine warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Motose, Kazumasa Tanimoto, Kimihiro Nonaka, Takehisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5983878
    Abstract: The present invention is an engine control for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber and an air/fuel charging system for delivering an air and fuel charge to the combustion chamber for combustion therein. The control includes an oxygen sensor associated with the combustion chamber, the sensor providing feedback data based upon the air/fuel ratio of the charge supplied to the combustion chamber. The control also includes at least one sensor for sensing a condition other than the air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber which affects the output of the oxygen sensor. The control adjusts the air/fuel ratio of the charge delivered to the combustion chamber towards a target value based upon the output of the oxygen sensor, the control arranged to adjust the target value based upon the output of the at least one sensor sensing an operating condition other than the air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nonaka, Toshiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 5797371
    Abstract: A cylinder-disabling control system for a multi-cylinder engine provided with an exhaust manifold to which each exhaust port is connected, which control system comprises an engine performance sensor, an operation mode selector for selecting the cylinder-disabling mode or the all-cylinders-engaged mode, depending on the engine performance, and a resuming controller for resuming the disabled cylinders one at a time when switching from the cylinder-disabling mode to the all-cylinders-engaged mode, thereby allowing for continuous and smooth switching between the cylinder-disabling mode and the all-cylinders-engaged mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5775311
    Abstract: An engine feedback control system that includes an arrangement for setting lower tolerance limits on the rich and lean side in response to certain engine running characteristics so as to avoid unstable running as might occur under abnormal conditions when wider limits are set as with prior art type constructions. In addition, the increasing limit of fuel supply is set different from the decreasing limits so as to maintain the engine operation within the stable running area regardless of whether the conditions are normal or abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Kato, Hitoshi Motose, Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5769053
    Abstract: A feedback control system for an internal combustion engine and in the illustrated embodiment an outboard motor. In order to maintain the desired air-fuel ratio, a air-fuel ratio sensor is employed and changes the air-fuel ratio to maintain the desired air-fuel ratio through a feedback control system. In order to minimize fluctuations in engine speed during changes in air-fuel ratio, the timing of the firing of the spark plugs of the engine is varied. The amount of adjustment in spark timing depends on one or more of a variety of parameters, such as engine speed, engine intake air flow, and exhaust system back pressure. In addition, at least one cylinder may be adjusted differently from the other cylinders to compensate for the different conditions existent in the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5697353
    Abstract: Feedback control systems for engines employing combustion condition sensors. The feedback control is varied in response to various other parameters such as back pressure, engine speed, engine temperature, engine load and initial start-up operation so as to provide more accurate control under varying and transient conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5682867
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of feedback control systems for maintaining the desired air fuel ratio in a marine propulsion engine that has an exhaust system for exhausting the exhaust gases to the atmosphere through an underwater exhaust gas discharge and wherein the discharge is adjustable relative to the associated watercraft. Conditions which will change the back pressure in the exhaust system are measured and the amount of fuel air ratio supplied to the engine by a feedback control system is varied, depending upon the sensed airflow and the sensed condition of the exhaust outlet that may affect back pressure and, accordingly, the ideal air fuel ratio. Spark ignition timing is also changed and the air fuel ratio may be corrected depending upon exhaust back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5655508
    Abstract: A cylinder-disabling control system for a multi-cylinder engine provided with an exhaust manifold to which each exhaust port is connected, which control system comprises: an engine performance sensor; an operation mode selector for selecting the cylinder-disabling mode or the all-cylinders-engaged mode; and a disabled-cylinder designator for designating as disabled at least one of the most upstream cylinder and the exhaust pulse-affected downstream cylinder, when the cylinder-disabling mode is selected, thereby improving driving stability at low rpm's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5630395
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of feedback control systems for maintaining the desired air fuel ratio in a marine propulsion engine that has an exhaust system for exhausting the exhaust gases to the atmosphere through an underwater exhaust gas discharge and wherein the discharge is adjustable relative to the associated watercraft. Hull conditions which will change the engine performance are measured and the amount of fuel air ratio supplied to the engine by a feedback control system is varied, depending upon the sensed airflow and the sensed condition that may affect engine performance and, accordingly, the ideal air fuel ratio. Spark ignition timing is also changed and the air fuel ratio may be corrected depending upon exhaust back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5622158
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of feedback control systems for maintaining the desired air fuel ratio in a marine propulsion engine that has an exhaust system for exhausting the exhaust gases to the atmosphere through an underwater exhaust gas discharge and wherein the discharge is adjustable relative to the associated watercraft. Conditions which will change the back pressure in the exhaust system are measured and the amount of fuel air ratio supplied to the engine by a feedback control system is varied, depending upon the sensed airflow and the sensed condition of the exhaust outlet that may affect back pressure and, accordingly, the ideal air fuel ratio. Spark ignition timing is also changed and the air fuel ratio may be corrected depending upon exhaust back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5613480
    Abstract: A feedback control system for a multi-cylinder engine using a combustion condition sensor that senses the condition in only one cylinder. The total air flow to the engine is measured and the amount of fuel supplied to other than the sensed cylinders is varied in response to known variations in air flow for a given engine running conditions. The sense cylinder has direct feedback control with no correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5586524
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system accurately determines the amount of fuel to be injected by compensating the measured crankcase pressure in view of various conditions including intake air condition, effects of exhaust gas pressure by other cylinder and others, with use of one pressure sensor. The fuel injection control system includes a pressure sensor installed in a cylinder of the engine for detecting crankcase pressure, a fuel injector for injecting fuel to the engine on the basis of the crankcase pressure detected by the pressure sensor, and a device for compensating the amount of fuel injected from the fuel injector depending on the condition of intake air in the crankcase. Another aspect of the system additionally includes controlling timing for detecting the crankcase pressure by the pressure sensor depending on the rotation rate of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nonaka, Hiroaki Ohtani
  • Patent number: 5579736
    Abstract: In engine idle, a throttle valve is set to an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position, which provides a substantial opening for air flow. When an accelerator is initiated, the sufficient air flow amount and speed are already attained in the engine, the engine rotation quickly increases in response to the accelerator movement. During the period before the accelerator arrives at a pick-up position, an electric control unit controls ignition timing in response to the accelerator movement. The amount of fuel injected to the engine is also controlled depending on the accelerator movement. Also during this period, one or more cylinders are set to be inactive by not supplying the fuel thereto. Thus, the engine rotation speed is controlled to be low at idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5579745
    Abstract: A feedback control system for maintaining the air/fuel ratio in a two-cycle internal combustion engine employing an oxygen sensor that senses the combustion products in a combustion chamber at the end of the combustion cycle. The feedback control system is discontinued when a misfire condition exists and the fuel amount supplied is decreased until the misfired condition subsides and then feedback control is returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5522370
    Abstract: A feedback control system for a multi-cylinder two-cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engine. The feedback control system includes a combustion condition sensor that senses the combustion conditions in only one cylinder. Upon starting, the supply of lubricant and fuel to this one cylinder are discontinued to avoid contamination of the combustion condition sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Katoh, Kimihiro Nonaka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5476071
    Abstract: In a pressurized fluidized bed boiler, furnace means is divided into at least two separate furnaces: a furnace with an evaporator and a superheater disposed therethrough, and a furnace with the superheater and a reheater disposed therethrough. The furnaces are accommodated in separate pressure vessels, respectively. Air is supplied into the pressure vessels through air pipes connected to the pressure vessels, where it is used for pressurizing the pressure vessels, and then supplied into the furnaces through their lower portions, where it is used as a combustion air. An oxygen concentration meter is mounted in an exhaust gas pipe in an outlet of the furnace, and an air flow rate adjusting valve 3 is mounted outside each of the pressure vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Nishiyama, Masataka Ogasawara, Kenji Higashikawa, Kimihiro Nonaka, Taro Sakata
  • Patent number: 5408872
    Abstract: A two cycle, crankcase compression having fuel injection controlled in response to sensed intake air flow. The intake air flow is measured by measuring the crankcase pressure at crank angles corresponding to scavenge port opening and scavenge port closing of the engine. However, the actual angle at which the pressure is measured is adjusted to compensate for delay in the sensor reading and variations in the electric power supplied to the sensor. In addition, an arrangement is shown for protecting the sensor from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5353759
    Abstract: A crankcase compression, two cycle, internal combustion engine including an arrangement for facilitating starting by reducing the viscosity of lubricant which may remain on the cylinder bore after engine shut down. This viscosity decrease is accomplished by adding a low viscosity fluid through the cylinder bore during starting if the temperature of the engine is below a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Kimihiro Nonaka, Osamu Nagabora
  • Patent number: 5329907
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a multiple cylinder engine having plural cylinders communicating with the same exhaust pipe so that exhaust pulses from one cylinder will be reflected back to the exhaust ports of other cylinders of the same bank. In accordance with the invention, the timing and duration of fuel injection to the cylinders is varied so as to compensate for the effects of the reflected exhaust gas pulses so as to provide substantially equal emission control and power from all cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nonaka