Control Of Air/fuel Ratio Or Fuel Injection Patents (Class 701/103)
  • Patent number: 10287943
    Abstract: The present invention provides up-fit after treatment technology for bringing Heavy-Heavy Duty Diesel (HHDD) engine powered vehicles into compliance with the Title 13 CCR, Part 2025 mandate (meeting 2010 criteria emission standards). It also includes a Dual Fuel system, Exhaust Thermal Management System further reducing: NOx constituents, consumption of diesel fuel, particulate matter and CO2 emissions. The invention further comprises multiple sensors that provide data to electronic control module(s). The APGV6000 enables rapid after-treatment thermal activation, compares “real-time” sensor data with target data, and adjusts the after treatment system and/or dual fuel system and/or Exhaust Thermal Management system to produce exhaust emissions well below 2010 exhaust emission standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Clean Power Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mike Schiltz
  • Patent number: 10288031
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine includes a crank angle detector and an ECU. The ECU is configured to: (a) calculate a mass fraction burned; (b) acquire the crank angle, which is detected by the crank angle detector when the mass fraction burned reaches a predetermined mass fraction burned, as a specified crank angle; and (c) control at least one of an amount of fuel injected, an amount of intake air, or ignition energy on the basis of a first difference. The first difference is a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter. The first parameter is a crank angle period from an ignition time to the specified crank angle or a correlation value of the crank angle period. The second parameter is a target value of the crank angle period or a target value of the correlation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Urano, Masakatsu Nagai, Yoshihiro Sakayanagi
  • Patent number: 10273917
    Abstract: A fuel injection device for smooth discharge of a gas accumulated therein comprising a fuel pump, a solenoid valve for injecting pressurized fuel into the intake passage of an engine, a high-pressure fuel passage extending from the fuel pump to the solenoid valve and has a medially positioned constant-pressure chamber, and a fuel return passage connected to a fuel return pipe, with the fuel return passage extending from the constant-pressure chamber and having a medially positioned priming pump. The constant-pressure chamber is configured with the top wall in the upper space thereof disposed above the opening of the high-pressure fuel passage opposite the solenoid valve, the fuel return passage opens into the upper space at a position above the opening of the high-pressure fuel passage, and the gas accumulating in the constant-pressure chamber is discharged from the upper space toward the fuel tank via the fuel return passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ZAMA JAPAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takumi Nonaka, Hideki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10261481
    Abstract: This control device is configured to, based on a premise that an operating condition of a plant is a specific operating condition that is defined in advance, search for a virtual current value of a controlled variable for ensuring that a specific state quantity does not conflict with a constraint in the future using a prediction model, set the virtual current value which was found by the search to a target value of the controlled variable, and determine a manipulated variable of the plant so that an actual current value of the controlled variable approaches the target value. Due to this configuration, even if the operating condition of the plant suddenly changes to the specific operating condition, the controlled variable of the plant can be adjusted in advance so that the specific state quantity in the specific operating condition does not conflict with the constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Shimada, Hayato Nakada
  • Patent number: 10247122
    Abstract: An engine control system is structured for operating a turbocharged engine system and includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is structured to switch the engine system from operation in a parasitically loaded mode where fuel pressurized by a fuel pump is dumped to a low pressure space, to operation in a second mode, where an engine load increase is detected. Turbocharger lag in the engine system is limited during increasing the engine load by way of exhaust energy produced in response to the parasitic loading. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R Coldren, Ryan Thomas Sunley, Jianhua Zhang, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10233860
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine with a fuel tank and a low-pressure pump which pumps gasoline out of the fuel tank at a low-pressure to a high-pressure pump that pumps the gasoline at a high-pressure to injectors of the internal combustion engine. An electronic controller is provided for controlling and/or regulating the low-pressure pump, the high-pressure pump, and the injectors. After a start pulse for the internal combustion engine, the method: checks whether a formation of vapor bubbles in the gasoline is possible on the low-pressure side during a hot start. If not possible, then the normal low-pressure is set. If possible, then a low pressure which is high enough that the formation of vapor bubbles is not possible on the low-pressure side is set, and the normal low-pressure is set after a period of time. The problem of vapor bubble formation is prevented in an inexpensive or cost neutral manner via the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Detterbeck, Johannes Geiger, Thomas Scheuer, Tobias Holzinger, Jochen Merk
  • Patent number: 10215108
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders comprises a variable compression ratio mechanism A able to change a mechanical compression ratio. The control device comprises a compression ratio detector for detecting a mechanical compression ratio based on a value of the relative position parameter representing a relative positional relationship between the cylinder block 2 and a piston 4, and a compression ratio controller for feedback controlling the mechanical compression ratio so that the mechanical compression ratio becomes a target mechanical compression ratio. In feedback controlling the variable compression ratio mechanism, the compression ratio controller does not use the mechanical compression ratio detected by the compression ratio detector when a crank angle is in a predetermined crank angle range including a time period where the cylinder pressure is equal to or greater than a preset predetermined pressure at least at one cylinder among the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nakasaka
  • Patent number: 10208644
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an exhaust oxygen sensor coupled to an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in response to detecting water at the sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating water at an exhaust oxygen sensor positioned in an engine exhaust passage based on a sensor parameter of the exhaust oxygen sensor while operating the exhaust oxygen sensor in a variable voltage (VVs) mode where a reference voltage is adjusted from a lower, first voltage to a higher, second voltage; and adjusting one or more of sensor operation and engine operation based on the indicating water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 10189466
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an in-range error of a pressure sensor arranged downstream of a lift pump in a fuel system of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include performing feedback control of the lift pump based on output of the pressure sensor, monitoring the pressure sensor output for flattening during the application of the voltage pulses, and adjusting operation of the fuel system depending on whether the pressure sensor output flattens for at least a threshold duration, which is indicative of an in-range error. The method may further include dynamically learning a setpoint pressure of a pressure relief valve of the fuel system and a fuel vapor pressure within the fuel system by monitoring pressure sensor output while adjusting the duty cycle of voltage pulses applied to the lift pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Christopher Arnold Woodring
  • Patent number: 10190524
    Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine has a crankcase, a cylinder block defining at least one cylinder, a cylinder, a crankshaft, at least one piston, at least one scavenge port, at least one throttle body for supplying air to an interior of the crankcase, at least one direct fuel injector fluidly communicating with at least one combustion chamber for injecting fuel directly in the at least one combustion chamber; and at least one port fuel injector fluidly communicating with the interior of the crankcase for injecting fuel upstream of the at least one combustion chamber. Methods for controlling an engine having at least one direct fuel injector and at least one port fuel injector are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Bruno Schuehmacher, Luc Champigny
  • Patent number: 10190491
    Abstract: When a stopper portion is brought into abutment against body high-compression-ratio side stopper portion, when viewed in the control shaft axial direction, it is configured that the distance between body high-compression-ratio side stopper surface and control-shaft high-compression-ratio side stopper surface becomes relatively longer as being closer to the control shaft rotation center. Similarly, when a stopper portion is brought into abutment against body low-compression-ratio side stopper portion, when viewed in the control shaft axial direction, the distance between body low-compression-ratio side stopper surface and control-shaft, low-compression-ratio side stopper surface becomes relatively longer as being closer to the control shaft rotation center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Nakamura, Masayoshi Tsubokawa
  • Patent number: 10167809
    Abstract: Disclosed are multi-pulse fuel injection systems, control logic for operating such systems, and direct-injection engines having multi-pulse fuel delivery capabilities. A method is disclosed for operating the fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly. The method includes a vehicle controller transmitting command signals to the fuel injectors to inject a first pilot quantity of fuel (QP1) and, subsequently, inject a second pilot quantity of fuel (QP2), distinct from QP1, after a first dwell time between QP1 and QP2 during a single combustion cycle of the ICE assembly. The vehicle controller also transmits command signals to the fuel injectors to inject a third pilot quantity of fuel (QP3), greater than QP1 and QP2, after a second dwell time between QP2 and QP3, and then inject a fourth pilot quantity of fuel (QP4), less than QP3, after a third dwell time between QP3 and QP4 during the combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vicente Domenech-Llopis, Richard C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10138831
    Abstract: To provide a controller and a control method for an internal combustion engine capable of learning the individual difference and the aging change of the flow characteristic of the EGR valve, by a method which is hardly influenced by the individual difference and the aging change of the internal combustion engine body, and improving the estimation accuracy of the flow rate of recirculation exhaust gas. The controller for an internal combustion engine calculates an oxygen concentration detecting EGR rate Regr based on the inner-manifold oxygen concentration; calculates an oxygen concentration detecting recirculation flow rate based on the oxygen concentration detecting EGR rate and the intake air flow rate, and calculates a learning value of the opening area of EGR valve; and calculates a flow rate of recirculation exhaust gas for control based on the learned opening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Michihisa Yokono, Hideki Hagari
  • Patent number: 10132254
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines and the teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for controlling an internal combustion engine. The method may include: measuring the actual camshaft position using a camshaft sensor, measuring the actual rail pressure using a rail pressure sensor, calculating, for each of the plurality of cylinders, a phase correction value depending at least in part on the measured actual rail pressure and a mass of fuel to be injected, calculating, for each cylinder, a corrected actual camshaft position based at least in part on the measured actual camshaft position and the respective phase correction value, and adjusting the camshaft position using a camshaft adjuster based on one or more of the corrected actual camshaft positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10119483
    Abstract: An agricultural work machine, such as a harvester, is disclosed. The agricultural work machine includes an internal combustion engine, at least one working assembly, and a regulating device. The internal combustion engine provides power to the working assembly, with the internal combustion engine being operated in different power settings, with a different performance characteristic in each of the different power settings. The regulating device causes automatic shifting of the internal combustion engine from one power setting to another in response to determining that the power requirements assigned to the working assembly change. The power settings may be assigned to different, pre-selectable power setting ranges, which may differ in terms of the highest respective power setting assigned thereto. Further, the regulating device may only cause shifting of the internal combustion engine between power settings in the respective pre-selected power setting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Claudius Altmann, Robert Hohm, Ludger Hugenroth
  • Patent number: 10087859
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders configured in such a way that they form two groups, at least one cylinder of a first group being a cylinder which is operational in the event of a partial deactivation of the engine, and at least one cylinder of a second group being formed as a load-dependently switchable cylinder. An inlet-side throttle element is provided with at least one intake line of the switchable cylinder, by means of which the size of the flow cross section of the intake line can be varied, whereby the charge-air flow rate supplied to the deactivated cylinder in the event of a partial deactivation of the engine can be adjusted. Each outlet opening of a load-dependently switchable cylinder is equipped with a partially variable valve drive, with an outlet valve which opens or shuts off the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Werner Willems, Paul Nigel Turner, Juergen Karl Stief, Guohui Chen
  • Patent number: 10087876
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device is adapted for a fuel injection system including an injector and a high-pressure pump that raises pressure of fuel and supplies the fuel to the injector. The fuel injection control device includes a selecting unit for selecting by which one of full lift injection and partial injection to inject fuel, and a pump control unit for controlling operation of the high-pressure pump such that a pressure of fuel supplied to the injector coincides with a target pressure. The selecting unit selects the partial injection when a required injection quantity of fuel is equal to or smaller than a partial maximum injection quantity. A fuel injection system includes the fuel injection control device, the injector, and the high-pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Hiroaki Nagatomo, Eiji Itoh
  • Patent number: 10060362
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of a multi-fuel engine in a hybrid vehicle system. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch fuels or maintain a current fuel while using stored power assist. The selection may be based on the combination of fuel and stored power offset that provides the highest engine efficiency at the lowest fuel cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 10060373
    Abstract: An LPV/MPC engine control system is disclosed that includes an engine control unit connected to multiple sensors. The engine control unit receives, from the sensors, signals indicative of desired engine torque and engine torque output, and determines, from these signals, optimal engine control commands using a piecewise LPV/MPC routine. This routine includes: determining a nonlinear and a linear system model for the engine assembly, minimizing a control cost function in a receding horizon for the linear system model, determining system responses for the nonlinear and linear system models, determining if a norm of an error function between the system responses is smaller than a calibrated threshold, and if the norm is smaller than the predetermined threshold, applying the linearized system model in a next sampling time for a next receding horizon to determine the optimal control command. Once determined, the optimal control command is output to the engine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ruixing Long, Julian R. Verdejo, Jyh-shin Chen
  • Patent number: 10055908
    Abstract: A method and system for improved driver reward display functionality. A driver reward is calculated based on inputs, such as freight fuel, fuel economy, and % idle. The driver reward system configures and displays a primary driver reward image for various menu selections. The primary driver reward image is configured to indicate whether the driver reward is at full penalty, partial penalty, neutral, partial bonus, or full bonus. The image is displayed in one color if above an expected value and another color if below the expected level. Images that indicate to the operator of the vehicle the impact of each input on the overall driver reward or whether each input is improving or worsening may be displayed. A secondary driver reward image may also be displayed to indicate a specific bonus or penalty in miles per hour and speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Zachary Slaton, Steven Karl Jahns, Josef Lotz, Jennifer Kim, Jason Morrow, John William Arthur Doll
  • Patent number: 10054016
    Abstract: In a flexible-fuel engine capable of using fuel containing alcohol as fuel to be combusted in a cylinder, the geometric compression ratio is set to 12 or more, the engine is started by using fuel containing alcohol, an intake valve closing timing at an engine start time is set to an advance angle side than a first reference timing being a timing corresponding to a most retarded angle position out of intake valve closing timings capable of starting the engine in combusting fuel of alcohol 100% in the cylinder at a first intake temperature, and is set to a timing on a retarded angle side than a second reference timing being a timing corresponding to a most advanced angle position out of intake valve closing timings capable of avoiding pre-ignition in combusting fuel of gasoline 100% at an engine start time at a second intake temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomomi Watanabe, Nobuyuki Furuichi, Sho Shimamoto, Mikinori Ohashi, Shigeyuki Hirashita
  • Patent number: 10047687
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an in-cylinder pressure sensor, a crank angle sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to calculate a correlation index value showing a degree of a correlation between a actually measured data of a combustion mass ratio and reference data of the combustion mass ratio based on an operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The electronic control unit is configured to, in a case where the correlation index value is lower than a determination value, prohibit the actually measured value of the specific ratio combustion point pertaining to a combustion cycle in which the correlation index value is calculated from being reflected in the engine control or reduce a degree of the reflection in the engine control compared to a case where the correlation index value is equal to or higher than the determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10024250
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an engine in which fuel is injected into a cylinder a plurality of times to cause a plurality of combustions is provided, which includes a controller for controlling a time interval of performing the plurality of fuel injections so that a waveform indicating a frequency characteristic of a combustion pressure wave that is produced by each of the plurality of combustions has valley points at frequencies within a plurality of resonant frequency bands of a structural system of the engine, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naotoshi Shirahashi, Tsunehiro Mori, Takahiro Yamamoto, Takeshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10024431
    Abstract: This control device for a vehicle switches a shift range of an automatic transmission through the use of an actuator, wherein the control device for a vehicle is characterized in being provided with a shift selection unit for receiving a shift position selection from a driver and a control unit for switching the shift range to a parking range through the use of an actuator when a vehicle power source turns off or when a drive power source stops, the control unit maintaining a neutral range, when the vehicle power source turns off or when the drive power source stops, until the elapse of a first prescribed time after the shift selection unit receives a neutral position selection while the vehicle power source is on or while the drive power source is driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dennis Parker, Jr., Hiroyuki Kuki, Taichi Kitamura, Takeru Tajima, Yoshiyuki Kokubo, Shunpei Hino, Hiroki Kimura, Shinichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10024266
    Abstract: An engine (10) is a cylinder injection engine, and includes an injector (21) that directly injects a fuel into a combustion chamber (23), and an ignition plug (34) that generates an ignition spark in the combustion chamber (23). An ECU (40) performs multiple first injections to each produce an air-fuel mixture of a lean air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber (23) before an ignition in one combustion cycle of the engine, and performs a second injection to produce an air-fuel mixture of a rich air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber (23) before the ignition and after the first injection. In particular, the ECU implements the multiple first injections in such a manner that the first injection implemented early among the multiple first injections produces an air-fuel mixture leaner than that of the first injection implemented subsequently. The ECU implements the second injection only once immediately before an ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Yokoi, Hiroaki Fujii, Yusaku Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10026241
    Abstract: An engine airflow management system includes an inlet portion to receive ambient air and a mass airflow (MAF) sensor to sense mass flow rate of air passed through the inlet portion. The airflow management system includes a throttle body to selectively restrict airflow and a throttle position sensor (TPS) to sense an opening value of the throttle body. The airflow management system includes an intake manifold in fluid connection with the throttle body configured to direct airflow to a number of combustion cylinders. A manifold air pressure (MAP) sensor detects air pressure at the intake manifold. A controller is programmed to monitor signals from each of the MAF sensor, TPS, and the MAP sensor and generate a residual error value based on a difference between a model-based value and a corresponding monitored signal. A response action is based on a trend of at least two residual error values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chaitanya Sankavaram, Shiming Duan, Layne Wiggins
  • Patent number: 10018044
    Abstract: A power integrated system includes a gas storage unit, a gas driven generator, a power bus, a drilling rig, oil/gas production equipment, and a gas reformer. The gas storage unit is used for storing natural gas. The gas driven generator is used for generating electric power based on the stored natural gas. The power bus is used for receiving the electric power generated by the gas driven generator. The drilling rig is used for being driven by the electric power from the power bus. The oil/gas production equipment is used for being driven by the electric power from the power bus and for generating associated gas. The gas reformer is used for reforming the associated gas and supplying the reformed gas to the gas storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lishun Hu, Junli Xue, Ming Su, Fengcheng Sun, Jie Zhang, Zhiguo Ren
  • Patent number: 10017142
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: an audio system, local sensors including a crash sensor, a fuel pump, and processor(s) configured to: (a) select filter(s) based on a determined audio system state; (b) decontaminate present crash sensor data via the filter(s); (c) determine whether to deactivate the fuel pump based on the decontaminated data. The processor(s) are configured to map prior crash sensor data to prior determined audio system states and select the filter(s) by selecting some of the mapped prior crash sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Jensen, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Howard Churchwell, John Vincent Fazio, Lirjon Llusho
  • Patent number: 9995241
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injectors included in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The fuel injection system includes a fuel rail. The methods and systems measure data for the fuel injector relating fuel injection flow rate and fuel injector energization time at a first rail pressure. The methods and systems transform the measured data using a correlation function t to correlated data relating fuel injection flow rate and injector energization time at a second rail pressure different from the first rail pressure. The methods and systems control the fuel injector using the correlated data relating fuel injection flow rate and injector energization time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Angelo Cancellieri
  • Patent number: 9970373
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine of a marine propulsion device includes receiving a knock sensor signal over an analysis period in a combustion cycle of an internal combustion engine, and subdividing the analysis period into at least a first knock window and a second knock window. The method further includes determining that the knock sensor signal exceeds a threshold in each of the first knock window and the second knock window, and that the knock sensor signal intensity is greater in the first knock window than in the second knock window. At least one combustion parameter is then adjusted for the internal combustion engine to eliminate knocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder, Thomas S. Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 9969381
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle controls a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including: a power source including an internal combustion engine and an electric; a recirculating device configured to recirculate an exhaust gas from an exhaust side to an intake side of the internal combustion engine; and a recirculation amount adjusting device configured to adjust an amount of the recirculation by the recirculating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Ryuji Ibaraki, Yuji Yasuda, Yoshihito Kanno
  • Patent number: 9964054
    Abstract: An alternative fueling system configured to consume alternative fuels by renewable identification number (RIN) assignment to enforce neat consumption; or moreover and more specifically, to utilize that RIN assignment whenever neat consumption is possible, thereby lessening usage constraints upon the remaining stock(s) of renewable fuel as an example, and/or to provide purging of the alternative fuel from the engine on shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Immixt, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Payne, Rodger Karl Williams
  • Patent number: 9944276
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of a variable compression ratio engine in a hybrid vehicle system. A vehicle controller may hold the engine in a lower compression ratio during engine pull-ups and pull-downs, in particular when passing through a low speed region where compression bobbles can occur. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch the compression ratio or maintain a current compression ratio while smoothing a torque deficit using motor torque, the selection based on fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 9938923
    Abstract: A control system of an internal combustion engine includes a port injection valve and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) obtain one of a start crank angle and an end crank angle, (ii) calculate the other of the start crank angle and the end crank angle, based on an equation for calculating a provisional injection amount of the case where the port injection valve provisionally injects the fuel with the one of the start crank angle and the end crank angle and a given crank angle range; (iii) convert a crank angle range from the start crank angle to the end crank angle, into a target energization period; and (iv) perform fuel injection by energizing the port injection valve for the target energization period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rintarou Tachibana, Tooru Suda, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 9938949
    Abstract: A low pressure fuel pump control system of a GDI engine may include a low pressure fuel pump primarily pressurizing fuel supplied from a fuel tank, a high pressure fuel pump secondarily pressurizing fuel from the low pressure fuel pump, a low pressure fuel pump pressure sensor and a high pressure fuel pump pressure sensor detecting fuel pressure of the low pressure fuel pump and the high pressure fuel pump, and a fuel supply pressure controller setting a final target pressure of the low pressure fuel pump by correcting a reference pressure, wherein the reference pressure is corrected by a low pressure correcting pressure according to temperature of the low pressure fuel pump and a correction pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Heesup Kim, Jeong Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9926864
    Abstract: In a control system for an internal combustion engine that can use a plurality of kinds of fuel including compressed natural gas, the invention prohibits a changeover from CNG to another fuel from being made in a period from a time when CNG is used for the first time after the start of the internal combustion engine to a time when it is determined that properties of CNG do not need to be learned, or a period from the time when CNG is used for the first time after the start of the internal combustion engine to a time when a processing of learning the properties of CNG ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Suzuki, Satoshi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9903293
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes an in-cylinder pressure sensor and an ECU. The ECU is configured to: (a) determine whether each cylinder of the evaluation target cylinder group is a lean cylinder; (b) estimate a degree of leanness of the air-fuel ratio of the present lean cylinders when the lean cylinders are present in the evaluation target cylinder group; (c) calculate a polytropic index in an expansion stroke for each cylinder; (d) correlate relationship information for defining a relationship between the polytropic index in the expansion stroke and an air-fuel ratio index value with the polytropic index in the expansion stroke of a reference lean cylinder; and (e) calculate the difference in air-fuel ratio between cylinders on the basis of the polytropic index of the reference lean cylinder, the relationship information correlated with the polytropic index of the reference lean cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nakasaka
  • Patent number: 9903307
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine performance at high load conditions with reduced combustion phasing while maintaining in-cylinder peak pressures within limits. Following a pilot fuel injection, a main fuel injection is split into multiple smaller injections, the smaller injections spread around a timing of the main fuel injection so that peak cylinder pressures for each injection are within cylinder pressure limits. In this way, more enthalpy is created for expediting warming of exhaust catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Polonowski, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Andrew Lauri, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Paul Joseph Tennison, Jonathan Finchum
  • Patent number: 9863356
    Abstract: A first computer-implemented diagnostic method can run in response to an imminent deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. A second computer-implemented diagnostic method can run on engine shutdown. Both diagnostic methods involve controlling fuel injectors and a fuel pump to make the fuel rail pressure change from a desired minimum to a desired maximum. Measurements from the fuel rail pressure sensor at these endpoints can then be used to detect a fault of the fuel rail pressure sensor. One or both diagnostic methods can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Robert Stack, Jonathan D Stoffer
  • Patent number: 9845744
    Abstract: A system and attendant structural assembly operative to establish a coordinated mixture of gaseous and distillate fuels for an engine including an electronic control unit (ECU) operative to monitor predetermined engine data determinative of engine fuel requirements and structured to regulate ratios of the gaseous and distillate fuel of an operative fuel mixture for the engine. The system and assembly includes at least one mixing assembly comprising an integrated throttle body and air gas mixer directly connected to one another, wherein the throttle body is disposed in fluid communication with a pressurized gaseous fuel supply and the air gas mixer is disposed in fluid communication with a flow of intake air to a combustion section of the engine. In use, the throttle body is structured to direct a variable gaseous fuel flow directly to the air gas mixer for dispensing into the intake air flow to the combustion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp.
    Inventor: Jason Green
  • Patent number: 9809235
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automatic train operation system in railway vehicles, the system including: a speed profile generation unit configured to generate speed profile information based on limited speed profile inputted from outside; a track database stored with track gradient information and track curvature information for each track segment; a train speed controller configured to control a speed of the train using a current position, a current speed and the speed profile information of the train inputted from outside; and a propulsion system fault diagnosis unit configured to diagnose a fault status of the propulsion system based on the current speed of the train, the track gradient information, the track curvature information and propulsion notch information inputted from the train speed controller, and to calculate a performance depreciation ratio when the propulsion system is faulted and to provide the performance depreciation ratio to the train speed controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongchul Jung, Yong Gee Cho
  • Patent number: 9810185
    Abstract: An improved vehicle fuel system enables mixing of natural gas and a liquid fuel upstream of a combustion cylinder. According to some embodiments the system includes: a gas pressure vessel and associated gas pressurization system to deliver natural gas at a desired pressure; a liquid fuel storage vessel and associated reservoir pump to deliver liquid fuel at a desired pressure; a mixing system configured to receive and mix the liquid fuel from the liquid fuel storage vessel and natural gas from the gas pressure vessel to produce a homogeneous fluid fuel mixture; and a common rail system connecting the mixing system to an engine that consumes the homogeneous fluid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: MOSAIC TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PTY LTD
    Inventors: Derek Shane Fekete, Paul Anthony Whiteman
  • Patent number: 9778142
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting fuel discharge from a lubricant in a housing of an internal combustion engine. A first lambda deviation is measured by a lambda sensor for a first mass air flow supplied in an intake tract of the engine. A second lambda deviation is measured by the lambda sensor for a second mass air flow that differs from the first mass air flow, and is supplied in an intake tract of the engine. An actual comparative value is calculated from the measured first and second lambda deviations. A desired comparative value indicative of the fuel discharge is calculated from a first desired lambda deviation for the first mass air flow, and a second desired lambda deviation is calculated for the second mass air flow. The fuel discharge is detected based on a comparison of the actual comparative value and the desired comparative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Gerhard Haft
  • Patent number: 9726105
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing fuel vapor pressure are provided. In one example, a method for a vehicle comprises: during an engine start after the engine has been off for at least a minimum duration, actively controlling fuel pressure in the fuel system to a vapor-liquid volume ratio greater than zero and then recording sensed fuel pressure and temperature in the fuel system. In this way, the vapor pressure of a fuel at a given temperature may be accurately measured during isothermal conditions, thereby improving an estimation of fuel volatility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Patent number: 9726103
    Abstract: A fuel injection amount control apparatus comprises an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed between an exhaust gas merging portion and an upstream catalyst. The control apparatus performs a feedback correction on an amount of fuel to be injected by the fuel injection valve so that an air-fuel ratio represented by the output value of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor becomes equal to a target air-fuel ratio set at stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The control apparatus obtains an air-fuel ratio imbalance indicating value, which becomes larger as a difference in air-fuel ratio of each of the mixtures supplied to each of the combustion chambers among the cylinders becomes larger, and performs an increasing correction to the instructed fuel injection amount in such a manner that an air-fuel ratio determined by the instructed fuel injection amount becomes richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio as the obtained air-fuel ratio imbalance indicating value increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Tatsuro Shimada, Isao Nakajima, Yoshihisa Oda, Takuya Matsumoto, Masashi Hakariya
  • Patent number: 9677250
    Abstract: A work vehicle is provided with an engine, a variable displacement hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, a traveling apparatus, an exhaust treatment device, a reductant supply route, a controller, and an operation member. The variable displacement hydraulic pump is configured to discharge hydraulic oil when driven by the engine. The exhaust treatment device is configured to treat the exhaust from the engine. The reductant supply route supplies a reductant to the exhaust treatment device. The controller is configured to set an engine speed to a low idle when the reductant supply route gets into an abnormal state. The operation member is configured to indicate a change of a discharge capacity of the variable displacement hydraulic pump so that the travel speed of the traveling apparatus becomes a predetermined speed or greater when the reductant supply route gets into an abnormal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio Takami
  • Patent number: 9664128
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock tolerance, in particular when rapidly ramping in LP-EGR from low levels of EGR. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection to compensate for the transport delay in EGR filling the intake system. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Chris Paul Glugla, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Patent number: 9664134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting an injection behavior of injectors in an internal combustion engine, including the following steps: switching off an injector; detecting a crank angle signal of the internal combustion engine; transforming the crank angle signal into the frequency range by way of a discrete Fourier transformation; detecting and storing a quantity of the harmonic of the 0.5th order of the Fourier transform of the crank angle signal, and assigning the quantity to the switched-off injector; switching on the switched-off injector; performing the previous steps sequentially for all injectors of the internal combustion engine; forming an average value of the stored quantities with respect to all injectors, and correcting the control of the injectors using a deviation from the average value of a quantity associated with an injector that is to be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Remele, Aron Toth
  • Patent number: 9656660
    Abstract: A drive system includes a drive belt, an engine, a motor, and a supercharger for delivering compressed air to an intake of the engine, and a controller for setting the operational mode of the drive system. The engine and motor are selectively engageable with the drive belt, and the supercharger is selectively engageable with the motor. A method of controlling an operational mode of such a drive system includes detecting a throttle position. Thereafter, the method includes selectively engaging the engine with the drive belt or the drive belt with the motor or the motor with the supercharger, based at least in part on the throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark R. Baliff
  • Patent number: 9638120
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an intake gas compressor, a cooling water circuit, an intercooler and an EGR device. An ECU is configured to: (a) control the temperature, of the cooling water of the intercooler to a target temperature in a specified external air state in which an external air temperature and an external air humidity are a specified temperature and a specified humidity, the target temperature being the temperature of the cooling water of the intercooler required for ensuring a specified performance in the specified external air state; and (b) control the EGR device based on an EGR rate mapping of the EGR rate. The EGR rate mapping being set so that a dew point of gas flowing into the intercooler does not exceed the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Okada, Shu Kobayashi