Patents Represented by Attorney Alleman Hall McCoy Russell & Tuttle
  • Patent number: 8347862
    Abstract: A method for controlling injection timing for a gaseous fuel injector is described. In one example, the fuel injector is opened with a saturating fuel injector at a predetermined crankshaft angular position. In one embodiment, the predetermined crankshaft angular position corresponds to at least one crankshaft angular position where battery voltage increases during engine cranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8348806
    Abstract: A construction machine comprises an electric motor/generator coupled to an electricity accumulator, an engine, a transmission coupled to drive wheels, an epicyclic gearing for coupling an output shaft of the electric motor/generator, an output shaft of the engine, and an input shaft of the transmission, the engine torque and/or the generator torque being transmitted to drive wheels, a clutch for directly coupling two among the output shaft of the electric motor/generator, the output shaft of the engine, and the input shaft of the transmission, and a controller configured to, under a condition in which the clutch is in an off-state, control engine speed based on the degree to which the accelerator is open and on the amount of electricity in the electricity accumulator, to control shifting of the transmission gear position based on the accelerator opening degree, operational state of the generator, and the electricity amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Baino, Masaaki Higashi, Kenji Yoshimura, Makoto Azuma, Koji Nishiumi, Susumu Harada, Yunosuke Kobayashi, Nobuo Hamada, Hidekazu Matsuba
  • Patent number: 8352160
    Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8347856
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having one or more deactivatable cylinders, the method including controlling the stability of a vehicle in response to vehicle acceleration, and reactivating or deactivating combustion in at least a cylinder in response to vehicle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Husein Sukaria, Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 8348870
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus capable of performing rubbing-massage properly with respect to a body part of a user having various shapes is provided. A massaging apparatus of the present invention includes a first massaging unit including a pair of massaging plates which are disposed at both sides of a body part of a user so as to sandwich the body part, a driving force transmission unit configured to cause the massaging plates to reciprocate in a direction along a side surface of the body part, and air bags which are disposed outside the massaging plates and are expanded and contracted by air supply and exhaust, to change a distance between the pair of massaging plates, wherein the massaging plates are reciprocatable along the side surface of the body part in a state where the air bags are expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Family Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Nagamitsu, Nobuhisa Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8347611
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an emission control system, the emission control system comprising a catalyst downstream of a turbine of a boosting device and a reductant injector upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises injecting reductant into exhaust upstream of the turbine, mixing the injected reductant with exhaust gas via the turbine, and delivering the mixed reductant to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8350651
    Abstract: An oil immersed solenoid capable of easily and quickly removing air and air bubbles in oil in a space accommodating a movable core and preventing the air and the like from accumulating in the space. In an oil immersed solenoid in which a movable core is accommodated in a space of a tubular second guide so as to be movable in an axial direction of the second guide and the movable core is pulled by a fixed magnetic pole portion provided to be spaced apart from a tip end portion of the second guide, an air accumulation preventing portion is provided between the tip end portion of the second guide and a convex portion of a rear end portion of the fixed magnetic pole portion, and the second guide is made of a magnetic material and the air accumulation preventing portion is made of a non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8347609
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an SCR catalyst downstream of an exhaust turbine and a particulate filter upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises, adjusting a turbine wastegate to adjust a catalyst temperature to a desired catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8348807
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for heating transmission fluid in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine and a transmission, the engine including a heat exchanger. One example method comprises, during a first engine running condition, operating an auxiliary transmission fluid pump to generate pressure in the transmission fluid and pump transmission fluid to the heat exchanger, and during a second condition where the engine is not running, operating the auxiliary transmission fluid pump to generate pressure in the transmission fluid and pump transmission fluid to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8352162
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 8347613
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling operation of exhaust of an engine including a particulate filter are described. One example method includes generating compressed air during engine operation, and storing the compressed air. The method further includes, during or after engine shutdown, pushing the compressed air through the particulate filter using a pressure of the compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 8347865
    Abstract: A system for processing PCV gases is disclosed. In one example, the system includes an oil passage solely linking an oil separator to an engine crankcase. The system can provide an oil column that provides for continuous oil return from the oil separator to the engine crankcase even during conditions of higher levels of engine vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Christopher K. Palazzolo, Paul T. Reinhart, Timothy Gerald Taylor
  • Patent number: 8352167
    Abstract: A method for reducing a temperature of an engine component is disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio provided to an engine is adjusted to reduce a temperature of an engine component. The approach may be useful for controlling temperature and emissions from a turbocharged engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen George Russ
  • Patent number: 8352153
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions and selectively reactivated during engine restart conditions. One example method comprises, during an engine restart from an idle stop, performing a first combustion event in a cylinder with a piston at an engine crankshaft position that is after a crankshaft position at which said cylinder's exhaust valve opens, and before a crankshaft position at which the cylinder's intake valve closes, during a cycle of said cylinder. In this way, inaccuracies in cylinder aircharge estimation may be reduced, thereby also reducing air-fuel ratio errors and improving the quality and repeatability of engine restarts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8351744
    Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
  • Patent number: 8347624
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine with a turbocharger in a vehicle. One example method comprises, under selected operating conditions, generating an oxidant rich component from engine intake air, storing the oxidant rich component of the intake air, and, under subsequent cold start conditions, injecting an amount of the stored oxidant rich component to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8347852
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling an engine in response to a pre-ignition event. A pre-ignition threshold and a pre-ignition mitigating action are adjusted based on a rate of change of cylinder aircharge. As a result, pre-ignition events occurring during transient engine operating conditions are detected and addressed different from pre-ignition events occurring during steady-state engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Mancini
  • Patent number: 8352158
    Abstract: A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dave G. Hagner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Marcus William Fried
  • Patent number: 8347836
    Abstract: A method to start an internal combustion engine having a variable event valvetrain is provided. The method includes increasing the speed of said internal combustion engine during a start from a stopped position after a request to start said internal combustion engine. The method may further include increasing an intake valve lift amount, of at least a cylinder during said start while said internal combustion engine speed is increasing. The method may further include only enabling fuel flow to said cylinder when said intake valve lift amount reaches a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Leone, Robert Stein
  • Patent number: 8352163
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine is disclosed. In one example, the method adjusts a torque limit of the engine in response to an amount of EGR in an engine cylinder. The approach may reduce the possibility of pre-ignition for boosted engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen George Russ, Phil Andrew Fabien