Condition Responsive Patents (Class 123/179.14)
  • Patent number: 10393053
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve, a heater, and a controller. The fuel injection valve is configured to supply fuel to the internal combustion engine. The heater is configured to heat the fuel in the fuel injection valve. The controller is configured to: control the fuel injection valve to stop supplying the fuel to the internal combustion engine, control the heater to execute or stop heating the fuel in the fuel injection valve, and control the fuel injection valve to prohibit the stop of supplying the fuel during execution of the heating by the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Uchiyama, Hiromitsu Seo, Tomohiko Satomi, Takuya Takei, Masaya Murata
  • Patent number: 9897104
    Abstract: A compressor that includes a frame, a rotor assembly, and a heat sink assembly. The rotor assembly includes a shaft to which an impeller, a bearing assembly and a rotor core are secured. The heat sink assembly is then secured to the bearing assembly and to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Gary King, Paul Adrian Graham Jacob
  • Patent number: 9821418
    Abstract: Adsorption heat exchanger devices (11, 25) are provided for use in solid sorption refrigeration systems (1) together with methods for making such devices and adsorbent structures therefor. The methods include applying a curable binder, in solution in a solvent, to granular adsorbent material, and then evaporating the solvent and curing the binder. The curable binder solution is sufficiently dilute that, during evaporation of the solvent, the binder becomes concentrated around contact points between granules (18) of the adsorbent material whereby localized bonds (19) are formed around the contact points on curing of the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Javier V. Goicochea, Bruno Michel, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 9759223
    Abstract: A turbocharger bearing system comprising a shaft (211) including at least one shoulder (A2) with a rotor (212) disposed on the shaft (211). First and second bearing sleeves (254) are disposed on the shaft (211) at opposite ends of the rotor (212). Each bearing sleeve (254) includes a collar (213) and a journal portion (225). A journal bearing (249) is disposed on each journal portion (225) and the journal portion (225) of the first bearing sleeve (254) abuts the shoulder (A2) of the shaft (211). In certain aspects of the technology described herein, the bearing sleeves (254) may be oriented in opposite directions. The shaft (211) is the same diameter where the bearing sleeves (254) are positioned. Accordingly, the bearing sleeves (254) may be interchangeable, as well as the journal bearings (249).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Ward
  • Patent number: 9551733
    Abstract: A method of detecting an electric current through a main bearing of a rotating system comprising: a hub; a plurality of blades connected to the hub; at least one electrical motor arranged at the hub; a main shaft attached to the hub and enclosing cabling for providing electrical power to the at least one electrical motor; a bearing housing attached to a metallic structure acting as electrical earth; and a main bearing having an inner ring attached to the main shaft and an outer ring attached to the bearing housing, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first measurement device for determining a measure indicative of an electric current in the main shaft at a first location on a side of the main bearing facing the hub; providing a second measurement device for determining a measure indicative of an electric current in the main shaft at a second location on a side of the main bearing facing away from the hub; determining a measure indicative of a difference between a first current flowing through the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Olle Bankeström
  • Patent number: 8833347
    Abstract: This invention relates to an automatically regulated gaseous mixer for small universal gas engine comprising a mixer body, a choker, an air inlet port, a main gas passage, a main metering jet, a mixture outlet port, a throttle valve, a gas connecting passage and an auxiliary gas passage, which is characterized in that an auxiliary gas passage is set parallel to the main gas passage and connected through a vertical gas passage. Its top end is linked to the main gas passage and the lower end is connected with the auxiliary gas passage, one end of the auxiliary passage is connected with the mixture outlet port. The shaft of throttle valve is in line with auxiliary gas passage and is extended into the auxiliary gas passage to form an automatically regulated valve. The advantages of this invention are simple and compact; practical and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Huachang Yang, Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 8739751
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises operating at least one turbocharger, operating a start/stop automatic system which automatically switches off the internal combustion engine when a stop condition is met, and automatically starts the internal combustion engine when a starting condition is met, and when the stop condition is met, delaying the automatic switching off of the internal combustion engine by a predefinable delay time (?t). In one example, automatic shut off of the engine may be delayed in order ensure adequate cooling of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harald Stoffels, Ludwig Stump
  • Patent number: 8534082
    Abstract: An engine starter system that predicts when starter failure is imminent. The engine starter system monitors engine starter crank speed, battery voltage and ambient air temperature. The crank speed, battery voltage and ambient air temperature are communicated to a controller which compares the crank speed for the measured battery voltage and air temperature to a predicted crank speed for the measured battery voltage and air temperature. If the crank speed is lower than the predicted crank speed, a signal is sent to an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Price, Greg R. Truckenbrod, Ross T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8112185
    Abstract: A remote engine start confirmation and vehicle monitoring and control system includes a transmitter and a controller capable of receiving and processing transmitter signals, the controller comprising a monitoring circuit for detecting a first pulsed voltage pattern and a second pulsed voltage pattern across the battery during an engine start procedure, a signaling circuit for signaling the disengagement of the starter from the engine after a detection of the termination of the first pulsed voltage pattern and the start of the second pulsed voltage pattern, and an initiation circuit for initiating the monitoring of a vehicle condition, such as overheating or low fuel, after the detection. A method for controlling the vehicle operation includes detecting an occurrence of a vehicle condition and performing an operation based on the detection, such as terminating ignition voltage or fuel supply or notifying the operator of the vehicle condition via the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: DEI Headquarters, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Wu
  • Patent number: 7891330
    Abstract: An engine starting method for starting an engine by causing first fuel injection when a crankshaft is reversely rotated by a predetermined angle at the start, and then rotating the crankshaft forward to perform first ignition, the method comprising the steps of immediately stopping driving of a starter motor when a starter switch is turned off before the first fuel injection at the start; and continuously driving the starter motor forward until a cylinder into which an air/fuel mixture is supplied by the first fuel injection performs at least one exhaust stroke and then stopping the driving of the starter motor when the starter switch is turned off after the first fuel injection at the start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Tomohiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7698053
    Abstract: An economy running system having: a function of stopping an internal combustion engine of a vehicle when the vehicle stops and all of stop conditions are satisfied; and a function of restarting the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The economy running system includes: a control unit that judges whether the vehicle stops or not, and judges whether each of the stop conditions is satisfied or not; and a notification unit. When the control unit judges that the vehicle stops and that at least one of the stop conditions is not satisfied, the control unit causes the notification unit to notify to a user first notification information concerned with the at least one of the stop conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Naoto Mori
  • Publication number: 20090013951
    Abstract: A method and system that control delivery of start-up fuel to an engine, in one form includes clocking a first predetermined period of time. The method includes allowing start-up fuel to be supplied to the engine during at least some of the first predetermined period of time. The method also includes clocking a second predetermined period of time that comes after the first predetermined period of time. And the method includes not allowing start-up fuel to be supplied to the engine when the second predetermined period of time is clocking. In another form, the system includes a carburetor and a control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Walbro Engine Management L.L.C.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakata, Tsuyoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20070175429
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine start controller in a vehicle that includes: a power source; an internal combustion engine that is started by using electric power supplied from the power source; a first motor; and a first electric power converter that is constructed so as to be able to perform electric power conversion between the power source and the first motor through switching control of power semiconductor elements is provided. The start controller includes: a start detecting device for detecting whether the engine is in a starting operation; and a first frequency setting device that, when the engine is in a starting operation, sets a switching frequency of the first electric power converter to a frequency lower than that used when the engine is not in a starting operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Yanagida, Eiji Sato, Ryoji Oki, Hidenori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7185623
    Abstract: A carburetor start pump circuit, for starting an engine has an auxiliary fuel pump mounted on a relatively standard carburetor body, a start pulse passage extending through the carburetor body to the auxiliary fuel pump, and a fuel circuit having an intake side which extends from a metering chamber of the carburetor body to the auxiliary fuel pump and a discharge side which is interconnected to the intake side and extends from the auxiliary fuel pump to a throttle bore in the air intake of the carburetor body. To prevent the engine from stalling, a restriction jet is placed within the start pulse passage to prevent the auxiliary fuel pump from discharging fuel into the throttling bore when the engine transmits pulses at high frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Zama Japan
    Inventor: Scott R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 7107955
    Abstract: An auxiliary fuel injection unit includes two surge tanks partitioned by a wall surface, a butterfly valve for switching between connection and disconnection of two surge tanks, and one auxiliary fuel injection valve for injecting an auxiliary fuel in a direction opposing a direction of flow of intake air within the surge tank. The butterfly valve has a valve plate surface closing an opening provided in the surge tank wall surface and a rotation shaft for turning the plate surface. The auxiliary fuel injection valve has two injection holes connecting with each other, for injecting the auxiliary fuel toward the valve plate surface of the butterfly valve and toward the surge tank wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Mori, Tatsushi Nakashima, Motoki Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7028655
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine includes a reformer for reforming a fuel air mixture of a predetermined fuel and air to produce a reformed fuel, a bypass pipe for supplying air to the reformer, an on-off valve provided in the bypass pipe, and an ECU. The ECU makes the on-off valve open to start a fuel reforming operation in the reformer when a pressure at a position downstream of the on-off valve is lower than a pressure at a position upstream of the on-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Wakao, Kazuhiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6799558
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having one injection valve (3) per cylinder and at least one additional port injector (5) for injecting fuel into combustion air which is fed to the cylinders (2) in the intake tract (4). The port injector (5) havs two supply inlets (10, 11) which can be closed off. A control unit (8) determines the quantity of fuel which is to be delivered as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine (1). Separately provided starting fuel is delivered by the port injector (5) during the warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Henry Gmelin, Eberhard Holder, Roland Kemmler, Martin Matt, Ralf Woerner, Wolf Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6799545
    Abstract: A carburetor start pump circuit, for starting an engine has an auxiliary fuel pump mounted on a relatively standard carburetor body, a start pulse passage extending through the carburetor body to the auxiliary fuel pump, and a fuel circuit having an intake side which extends from a metering chamber of the carburetor body to the auxiliary fuel pump and a discharge side which is interconnected to the intake side and extends from the auxiliary fuel pump to a throttle bore in the air intake of the carburetor body. To prevent the engine from stalling, a restriction jet is placed within the start pulse passage to prevent the auxiliary fuel pump from discharging fuel into the throttling bore when the engine transmits pulses at high frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Zama Japan
    Inventor: Scott R Shaw
  • Patent number: 6769418
    Abstract: An engine fuel system includes liquid fuel delivery for normal engine operation and fuel vapor generation for use in cold starting on fuel vapor alone. A fuel vapor generator, preferably in a vehicle fuel tank, includes a fuel vapor collector connected in a return line between a pressure regulator and an in-tank fuel pump. A charging portion includes a pump for conducting fuel vapor from the collector to the cold start canister and a return line to provide circulation of the vapor into the canister. A vapor delivery portion includes a delivery line between the cold start canister and an air inlet of an associated engine. An air inlet line delivers air to the canister during cold starting. A subsystem is formed by the fuel vapor generator connected in a circuit with the in-tank fuel pump and the pressure regulator return fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sam Raghuma Reddy
  • Publication number: 20040112342
    Abstract: the present invention is to provide a fuel supply apparatus in which the controllability of the air flow-rate is simplified and can promote the reduction of harmful substances discharged from the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: HITACHI LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6679211
    Abstract: A manually guided implement having an internal combustion engine, especially one embodied as a two-stroke engine, is provided, and also includes a crankcase and a carburetor. The implement has a fuel-conveying system for supplying fuel to the carburetor. Downstream of the carburetor, via a power line and a metering device disposed in the primer line, the fuel-conveying system is connected to an area that in the intake phase communicates with the crankcase. The metering device is controlled by the pressure in the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Nickel
  • Publication number: 20030221650
    Abstract: A carburetor start pump circuit, for starting an engine has an auxiliary fuel pump mounted on a relatively standard carburetor body, a start pulse passage extending through the carburetor body to the auxiliary fuel pump, and a fuel circuit having an intake side which extends from a metering chamber of the carburetor body to the auxiliary fuel pump and a discharge side which is interconnected to the intake side and extends from the auxiliary fuel pump to a throttle bore in the air intake of the carburetor body. To prevent the engine from stalling, a restriction jet is placed within the start pulse passage to prevent the auxiliary fuel pump from discharging fuel into the throttling bore when the engine transmits pulses at high frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: U.S.A. ZAMA, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20030127072
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having one injection valve (3) per cylinder and at least one additional port injector (5) for injecting fuel into combustion air which is fed to the cylinders (2) in the intake tract (4). The port injector (5) havs two supply inlets (10, 11) which can be closed off. A control unit (8) determines the quantity of fuel which is to be delivered as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine (1). Separately provided starting fuel is delivered by the port injector (5) during the warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Henry Gmelin, Eberhard Holder, Roland Kemmler, Martin Matt, Ralf Woerner, Wolf Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6467470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel system as well as a method for controlling the same. More specifically, it relates to a fuel system of motor vehicles adapted to be powered by alcohol-containing fuels, and specifically by alcohol-containing fuels and by petrol, so-called Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV). These vehicles can be powered by fuels with varying alcohol content, and also by pure petrol. The fuel system according to the invention comprises a main tank (1) for fuel, a cold-start tank (2) with fuel which is sufficiently inflammable to be used in connection with cold starts, as well as fuel line system connecting these tanks to each other and to injection means of the engine of the vehicle, where at least one pump (8, 13) is adapted to transfer fuel through the fuel line system. Specifically, the invention relates to a system which is controlled so that fuel is transferred from the main tank (1) to the cold-start tank (2) when the alcohol content of the fuel is below a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Jan Olof Carlsson, Lars Greger, Klas Bertil Jansson
  • Publication number: 20020134339
    Abstract: A manually guided implement having an internal combustion engine, especially one embodied as a two-stroke engine, is provided, and also includes a crankcase and a carburetor. The implement has a fuel-conveying system for supplying fuel to the carburetor. Downstream of the carburetor, via a power line and a metering device disposed in the primer line, the fuel-conveying system is connected to an area that in the intake phase communicates with the crankcase. The metering device is controlled by the pressure in the crankcase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Hans Nickel to Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Nickel