Patents by Inventor Masahisa Yamakawa

Masahisa Yamakawa 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: 11835001
    Abstract: A control system for an engine including intake and exhaust valve phase variable devices and a control device is provided. At an engine temperature below a first determination temperature, the control is performed so that an exhaust valve close timing is at or retarded from the exhaust top dead center, an intake valve open timing is retarded from the exhaust valve close timing, and the fuel supply to the combustion chamber starts in an intake stroke on a retarding side of the exhaust valve close timing. At the engine temperature above the first determination temperature and below a second determination temperature, the control is performed so that a negative overlap with both the exhaust and intake valves closed during a period including the exhaust top dead center, or a positive overlap with both the exhaust and intake valves opened during a period including the exhaust top dead center, occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takeaki Kudo, Junki Hori, Masatoshi Seto, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20230383702
    Abstract: A control system for an engine including intake and exhaust valve phase variable devices and a control device is provided. At an engine temperature below a first determination temperature, the control is performed so that an exhaust valve close timing is at or retarded from the exhaust top dead center, an intake valve open timing is retarded from the exhaust valve close timing, and the fuel supply to the combustion chamber starts in an intake stroke on a retarding side of the exhaust valve close timing. At the engine temperature above the first determination temperature and below a second determination temperature, the control is performed so that a negative overlap with both the exhaust and intake valves closed during a period including the exhaust top dead center, or a positive overlap with both the exhaust and intake valves opened during a period including the exhaust top dead center, occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Takeaki Kudo, Junki Hori, Masatoshi Seto, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11591983
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, when a demanded engine load is a first load, a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel is a first G/F and mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation, when the demanded load is a second load (<the first load), the G/F is a second G/F (>the first G/F) and an injection center-of-gravity is at a timing such that the entire mixture gas combusts by CI combustion, and when the demanded load is between the first and second loads, the G/F is at a third G/F (between the first and second G/Fs) and the injection center-of-gravity is at a later timing such that at least part of the mixture gas combusts by the CI combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Patent number: 11542886
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates an intake-valve-closing temperature inside a cylinder. When an engine operates at a given speed and a demanded engine load is a first load or a second load (>the first load), the controller controls so that a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by compression ignition, and controls so that, at the first load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a first temperature, and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the first temperature, whereas at the second load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a second temperature (<the first temperature), and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Patent number: 11391235
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel, and controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, while a demanded engine load is a first load, at least part of a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a first G/F, and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the first G/F, whereas while the demanded load is a second load (>the first load), at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a second G/F (<the first G/F), and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the second G/F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220154664
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, when a demanded engine load is a first load, a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel is a first G/F and mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation, when the demanded load is a second load (<the first load), the G/F is a second G/F (>the first G/F) and an injection center-of-gravity is at a timing such that the entire mixture gas combusts by CI combustion, and when the demanded load is between the first and second loads, the G/F is at a third G/F (between the first and second G/Fs) and the injection center-of-gravity is at a later timing such that at least part of the mixture gas combusts by the CI combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220154663
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel, and controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, while a demanded engine load is a first load, at least part of a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a first G/F, and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the first G/F, whereas while the demanded load is a second load (>the first load), at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a second G/F (<the first G/F), and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the second G/F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220154666
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates an intake-valve-closing temperature inside a cylinder. When an engine operates at a given speed and a demanded engine load is a first load or a second load (>the first load), the controller controls so that a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by compression ignition, and controls so that, at the first load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a first temperature, and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the first temperature, whereas at the second load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a second temperature (<the first temperature), and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Patent number: 11092108
    Abstract: A control device for a compression self-ignition engine includes a fuel injection system and an injection controller. While the engine is operated by CI combustion under a given first condition, a first injection is carried out in which fuel is injected at a first timing in a compression stroke and at which the fuel goes toward a part radially outward of a cavity formed in a crown surface of a piston, and a second injection is suspended. While the engine is operated by the CI combustion under a second condition in which a temperature inside a combustion chamber at a close timing of an intake valve becomes lower than the first condition, at least the second injection is carried out in which the fuel is injected at a second timing later than the first timing in the compression stroke and at which the fuel goes toward the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Ito, Takashi Kaminaga, Kenji Uchida, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Youso, Masahisa Yamakawa, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Publication number: 20210172397
    Abstract: A control device for a compression self-ignition engine includes a fuel injection system and an injection controller. While the engine is operated by CI combustion under a given first condition, a first injection is carried out in which fuel is injected at a first timing in a compression stroke and at which the fuel goes toward a part radially outward of a cavity formed in a crown surface of a piston, and a second injection is suspended. While the engine is operated by the CI combustion under a second condition in which a temperature inside a combustion chamber at a close timing of an intake valve becomes lower than the first condition, at least the second injection is carried out in which the fuel is injected at a second timing later than the first timing in the compression stroke and at which the fuel goes toward the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Naoya Ito, Takashi Kaminaga, Kenji Uchida, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Youso, Masahisa Yamakawa, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Patent number: 11008969
    Abstract: A compression ignition gasoline engine includes a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel containing gasoline as a main component into a cylinder; an EGR device operative to perform high-temperature EGR of introducing burnt gas generated in the cylinder into the cylinder at a high temperature; an octane number determination unit for determining whether fuel injected from the fuel injection valve has a prescribed octane number; and a combustion control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve and the EGR device in such a way that HCCI combustion occurs within the cylinder. The combustion control unit controls the EGR device, in at least a partial load operating range in which HCCI combustion is performed, in such a way that the EGR rate increases, as compared with a case where fuel is determined to have a prescribed octane number, when fuel is determined not to have a prescribed octane number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Youso, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 10837380
    Abstract: A compression ignition gasoline engine includes a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel containing gasoline as a main component into a cylinder; an EGR device operative to perform high-temperature EGR of introducing burnt gas generated in the cylinder into the cylinder at a high temperature; and a combustion control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve and the EGR device in such a way that HCCI combustion in which fuel injected from the fuel injection valve self-ignites within the cylinder occurs. The combustion control unit controls the EGR device, in at least a partial load operating range in which HCCI combustion is performed, in such a way that the EGR rate increases, as compared with a low load condition, in a high load condition in which G/F being a ratio between a total amount of gas and a fuel amount within the cylinder decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Youso, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20190390627
    Abstract: A compression ignition gasoline engine includes a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel containing gasoline as a main component into a cylinder; an EGR device operative to perform high-temperature EGR of introducing burnt gas generated in the cylinder into the cylinder at a high temperature; an octane number determination unit for determining whether fuel injected from the fuel injection valve has a prescribed octane number; and a combustion control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve and the EGR device in such a way that HCCI combustion occurs within the cylinder. The combustion control unit controls the EGR device, in at least a partial load operating range in which HCCI combustion is performed, in such a way that the EGR rate increases, as compared with a case where fuel is determined to have a prescribed octane number, when fuel is determined not to have a prescribed octane number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Takashi Youso, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20190309696
    Abstract: A compression ignition gasoline engine includes a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel containing gasoline as a main component into a cylinder; an EGR device operative to perform high-temperature EGR of introducing burnt gas generated in the cylinder into the cylinder at a high temperature; and a combustion control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve and the EGR device in such a way that HCCI combustion in which fuel injected from the fuel injection valve self-ignites within the cylinder occurs. The combustion control unit controls the EGR device, in at least a partial load operating range in which HCCI combustion is performed, in such a way that the EGR rate increases, as compared with a low load condition, in a high load condition in which G/F being a ratio between a total amount of gas and a fuel amount within the cylinder decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Takashi Youso, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 10309294
    Abstract: An engine includes: a piston including a cavity; a cylinder head configured so as to form a combustion chamber having a pent roof shape; a fuel injection valve configured to inject fuel from a second half of a compression stroke until a first half of an expansion stroke; and a spark plug arranged at a position corresponding to an upper side of the cavity. Injection openings which are arranged in a circumferential direction surrounding a longitudinal axis of the valve and through each of which the fuel is injected in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis by a predetermined angle is formed such that when a height of a ceiling of the combustion chamber at a position corresponding to an edge end portion of the cavity in an injection direction of the injection opening is large, the injection angle of the injection opening is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Hikita, Masahisa Yamakawa, Tomonori Urushihara, Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Youso, Takaaki Nagano, Yuuki Kawai, Toshifumi Hayami
  • Patent number: 10280831
    Abstract: An engine includes: a piston including a cavity; a cylinder head configured to form a combustion chamber having a pent roof shape; a fuel injection valve configured to inject fuel from a second half of a compression stroke until a first half of an expansion stroke; and a spark plug arranged at a position corresponding to an upper side of the cavity. Injection openings are arranged in a circumferential direction surrounding a longitudinal axis of the valve. The combustion chamber at a compression top dead center is divided into a plurality of fuel injection regions, located in respective injection directions of the injection openings, by vertical surfaces extending radially from the longitudinal axis through a middle between adjacent injection openings. When a volume of the fuel injection region located in the injection direction of the injection opening is large, an opening area of the injection opening is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Hikita, Masahisa Yamakawa, Tomonori Urushihara, Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Youso, Takaaki Nagano, Yuuki Kawai, Toshifumi Hayami
  • Publication number: 20180258884
    Abstract: An engine includes: a piston including a cavity; a cylinder head configured so as to form a combustion chamber having a pent roof shape; a fuel injection valve configured to inject fuel in a period from a second half of a compression stroke until a first half of an expansion stroke; and a spark plug arranged at a position corresponding to an upper side of the cavity. Injection openings which are arranged in a circumferential direction surrounding a longitudinal axis of the valve and through each of which the fuel is injected in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis by a predetermined angle is formed such that when a height of a ceiling of the combustion chamber at a position corresponding to an edge end portion of the cavity in an injection direction of the injection opening is large, the injection angle of the injection opening is large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Takayuki Hikita, Masahisa Yamakawa, Tomonori Urushihara, Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Youso, Takaaki Nagano, Yuuki Kawai, Toshifumi Hayami
  • Publication number: 20180252151
    Abstract: An engine includes: a piston including a cavity; a cylinder head configured to form a combustion chamber having a pent roof shape; a fuel injection valve configured to inject fuel from a second half of a compression stroke until a first half of an expansion stroke; and a spark plug arranged at a position corresponding to an upper side of the cavity. Injection openings are arranged in a circumferential direction surrounding a longitudinal axis of the valve. The combustion chamber at a compression top dead center is divided into a plurality of fuel injection regions, located in respective injection directions of the injection openings, by vertical surfaces extending radially from the longitudinal axis through a middle between adjacent injection openings. When a volume of the fuel injection region located in the injection direction of the injection opening is large, an opening area of the injection opening is large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Takayuki Hikita, Masahisa Yamakawa, Tomonori Urushihara, Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Youso, Takaaki Nagano, Yuuki Kawai, Toshifumi Hayami
  • Patent number: 10041464
    Abstract: A controller of a laser ignition engine configured to perform ignition by using a laser ignition device configured to emit a laser beam condensed by a lens includes: a combustion state related value acquiring portion configured to acquire a combustion state related value related to a combustion state of the engine; and a contamination determining portion configured to compare the combustion state related value acquired by the combustion state related value acquiring portion with a combustion state determining value to determine whether or not the laser ignition device is contaminated, the combustion state determining value being defined based on the combustion state of the engine when the laser ignition device is not contaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Youso, Masahisa Yamakawa, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9932883
    Abstract: A controller injects fuel into a cylinder at a high fuel pressure of 30 MPa or higher, at least in a period between a terminal stage of a compression stroke and an initial stage of an expansion stroke when an operating mode of an engine body is at least in a first specified sub-range of a low load range, and at least in a second specified sub-range of a high load range. The controller sets an EGR ratio in the first specified sub-range to be higher than an EGR ratio in the second specified sub-range, and advances start of fuel injection in the first specified sub-range to start of fuel injection in the second specified sub-range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouhei Iwai, Masahisa Yamakawa, Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Takashi Youso, Keiji Araki