Patents Represented by Attorney Jack D. Nimz
  • Patent number: 7681890
    Abstract: A gasket (201) includes one or more elastomeric sections (301, 305, 307) disposed on a metal substrate (303). An elastomeric ring (307) has an inner diameter (309) that is smaller than an outer diameter of a fastener (205). When the fastener (205) is inserted into the ring (307), the fastener (205) and gasket (201) are retained to each other. When a flange (101) for a device, such as an oil pick-up tube (100), is disposed between the fastener (205) and the gasket (201), the gasket (201) and fastener (205) are retained to the flange (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Griffin, Craig R. Knauf
  • Patent number: 7631489
    Abstract: In a conventional diesel combustion mode, one or more cylinders (12) of an engine (10) is or are fueled to cause conventional diesel combustion in each such cylinder. The resulting exhaust gas is treated by a diesel particulate filter (36) in an exhaust system (34) before exiting the exhaust system. In an alternative diesel combustion mode, such as HCCI, one or more cylinders of the engine are fueled to create in each such cylinder an in-cylinder fuel-air charge that ignites by auto-ignition as the charge is increasingly compressed. Also a bypass valve (38) is opened so that the resulting exhaust gas bypasses the DPF as the exhaust gas passes through the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Zhengbai Liu, Puning Wei
  • Patent number: 7597083
    Abstract: A clamp (26) has a main body (30) that is attached to an engine block (28). A right-angled flange (32) extends from the main body to enter a downwardly open concave interior of an outturned flange (18) of an oil pan rim (16) and provides underlying support for an insert (46) on which the outturned flange of the oil pan rim rests. Fretting of the rim is avoided because the presence of the insert avoids any substantial contact between the flange (32) and the rim (16) that could lead to fretting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventor: James B. Nachtman
  • Patent number: 7597029
    Abstract: A reinforcing plate (405) is utilized with a lightweight hub (101) in a vibration damper. Holes (105) formed in the hub (101) and the reinforcing plate (405) allow the vibration damper to be mounted to a shaft with a stronger joint than when the reinforcing plate (405) is not utilized, thereby preventing deformation of the hub (101). Optional reduction holes (111) formed in the hub (101) provide for additional weight reduction, vibration reduction, and/or noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Bernard, John L. Cagney, James A. Morley
  • Patent number: 7594398
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (100) includes a crankcase (128) having a plurality of cylinders (126). An exhaust system (130) is in fluid communication with the plurality of cylinders (126) and includes a turbine (104) in operable association with a compressor (106). An intake system (124) is in fluid communication with the plurality of cylinders (126) and the compressor (106). A first EGR cooler (136) is in fluid communication with the exhaust system (130) through an inlet passage (142) that is connected to the exhaust system (130) between the plurality of cylinders (126) and the turbine (104). A second EGR cooler (140) is in fluid communication with the intake system (124) through an outlet passage (148) that is connected between the plurality of cylinders (126) and the compressor (106). A transfer passage (144) is disposed between the first EGR cooler (136) and the second EGR cooler (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventor: Philip F. Gronberg
  • Patent number: 7575411
    Abstract: A compressor assembly (404) includes a compressor housing (412) having a main inlet bore (424) and a secondary inlet passage (422) that has an increasing flow cross-sectional area. The secondary inlet passage (422) is positioned in the compressor housing (412) and around the main inlet bore (424). A secondary inlet slot (426) and an outlet slot (420) fluidly connect the secondary inlet passage (422) with the main inlet bore (424). A compressor wheel (418) is in the compressor housing (412) and has a stepped portion (518) formed by at least one plurality of vanes (506). The stepped portion (518) is located adjacent to the outlet slot (420) of the housing (412).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventor: Terry G. Wood
  • Patent number: 7562528
    Abstract: A low-restriction turbine outlet device (200) includes a housing (202) having an internal volume (208). The internal volume (208) includes an inlet transition portion (230) and an outlet transition portion (232). An inlet port (204) that is formed in the housing (202) is in fluid communication with an outlet port (206) that is also formed in the housing (202). A mounting flange (216) is connected to the housing (202), a first set of stiffening ribs (218) and a second set of stiffening ribs (220) each connect the mounting flange (216) to the housing (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventor: Terry G. Wood
  • Patent number: 7546762
    Abstract: A sensor probe (116) includes a probe tip (205) having a probe centerline (207). A pressure tube (209) fluidly connects the probe tip (205) with a pressure sensor (115). A pipe (107) having a centerline (201) is connected to the sensor probe (116). The pipe centerline (201) and the probe centerline (207) form an acute angle such that the probe tip (205) points in a downstream direction of the pipe (107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Guoqing Zhang
  • Patent number: 7536992
    Abstract: A PI control strategy controls engine speed to an engine speed set-point. A proportional map (36) is populated with data values to be used in calculating the P component of the strategy. An integral map (38) is populated with data values to be used in calculating the I component. Each data value in the maps is correlated with a speed data value representing engine speed (N) and a speed error data value representing the difference between engine speed and engine speed set-point (N_DIF_MAX_LIM). Values for proportional and integral components are selected from the respective maps by processing current engine speed data and current engine speed error data. The strategy uses the values from the maps for controlling engine speed to the speed set-point. Data values from other maps (20 and 24; or 22 and 26) modify the selected values from the proportional and integral maps (36, 38) for transmission type, transmission gear, and engine temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Wieshuber, James T. Beaucaire, Michael A. Majewski
  • Patent number: 7533519
    Abstract: Testing of temperature sensors (28, 30, 32) in an emission control system, such as in an exhaust system (10) of a diesel engine, serves to condition further component and/or system testing by determining that sufficient sensor cooling has occurred and that no sensor is “stuck within range” using a strategy (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. McNulty, Christopher R. Ciesla, Christopher M. Kaas
  • Patent number: 7530220
    Abstract: A method for enabling initiation of regeneration of a NOx adsorber catalyst. While the engine is operating to propel the vehicle, data indicative of NOx adsorption efficiency of the NOx adsorber catalyst, data indicative of temperature of exhaust gas passing through the NOx adsorber catalyst, data indicative of speed of the motor vehicle, and data indicative of engine fueling are processed according to an algorithm (10) that will enable regeneration to be initiated upon concurrence of the data indicative of NOx adsorption efficiency indicating an efficiency less than a defined efficiency, of the data indicative of temperature of exhaust gas passing through the NOx adsorber catalyst indicating a temperature suitable for initiating regeneration, of the data indicative of speed of the motor vehicle indicating vehicle speed suitable for initiating regeneration, and of the data indicative of engine torque indicating engine torque suitable for initiating regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Miller, Guoqing Zhang
  • Patent number: 7509935
    Abstract: An engine cover (400), such as a valve cover (700) or an oil pan (400), includes a skeleton structure (402) that may have a plurality of ribs (406) and at least one opening. At least one panel (404) is configured to fit in the at least one opening, and is operably connected to the skeleton structure (402). A seal (424) is located between the at least one panel (404) and the skeleton structure (402). The plurality of ribs (406) defines a plurality of channels (802) located around the at least one or more openings. Each panel (404) is held to the skeleton structure (402) by the plurality of channels (802).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler R. Vincer, Abhilash R. Pamulaparthy
  • Patent number: 7509890
    Abstract: A crankshaft has a non-homogenous structure is unitarily formed in a powder metallurgy process with at least two different metallic constituents providing dissimilar characteristics at discrete locations of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: John L. Cagney, Donald R. Van Der Moere
  • Patent number: 7484503
    Abstract: A method for regenerating a diesel particulate filter (20) in the exhaust system (16) of an engine (12). When a request to regenerate the device is issued, a control system (14) operates the engine to begin conditioning exhaust. The conditioning process comprises a warming phase that occurs prior to initiation of regeneration and a heating phase during which regeneration can occur. During the process, data related to the warming phase and the heating phase is evaluated. The engine is operated to terminate the process prior to having reduced the amount of trapped particulate matter to a target amount when evaluation of the data discloses that the process should be terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Sean C. Wyatt, Paul L. Berke, Felicia V. Centeno
  • Patent number: 7475663
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) comprising a housing (2) having at least one opening (4) into its inside, which is preferably the engine-oil feed inlet, and with a camshaft (5), mounted inside the housing for rotation about its geometric shaft. The camshaft (5) and the housing (2) have means cooperating with each other and with a device for locking a turnable shaft (6) with respect to the housing, insertable through this opening. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the device consists of a rod (6), the cooperating means in the housing consist in a bore (7) for receiving an end of the rod (6), and the cooperating means on the cam shaft consist of a notch (9) made in the surface of the shaft, which cooperates with the rod. In this way, when there is a need to adjust, repair and/or replace engine (1) components, the rod (6) is inserted through the opening (4) and locked in this bore (7) of the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Caetano M. A. Calviti, Fausto Luiz C. S. Neves, Joaquim Rodrigues Neto
  • Patent number: 7476090
    Abstract: A turbocharger (300) for an internal combustion engine (500) includes a center housing (304) connected to a turbine housing (302) and a compressor housing (306). A shaft (318) is in a bore (314) of the center housing (304). An oil supply passage (328) is in fluid communication with the bore (314). An oil drain passage (310) is in fluid communication with a oil cavity (334) and the bore (314). A vent passage (330) is in fluid communication with the oil cavity (334) and an internal volume (520) of the internal combustion engine (500). Oil flow passes through the first passage (328) and the drain passage (310) during operation of the internal combustion engine (500). A first pressure of air (P1) in the oil cavity (334) is about equal to a second pressure of air (P2) in the internal volume (520) of the internal combustion engine (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Terry G. Wood
  • Patent number: 7415960
    Abstract: A fluid passage intersection (314) within a component (100) includes a supply passage (118) formed in the component (100), a cavity (316) in fluid communication with the supply passage (118), and at least one outlet passage (326) formed in the component (100) that is in fluid communication with the cavity (316).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: W. Bryan Snyder, Robert Z. Olszewski, Martin R. Zielke
  • Patent number: 5823337
    Abstract: A carrying case is provided comprising an outer shell of rigid material enclosing an interior storage compartment. The outer shell has a base section and a lid, the base section having a bottom wall with front, rear and spaced apart end walls upstanding therefrom. The lid has a top wall, with front, rear, and spaced apart end walls depending therefrom. A pair of pivot mounts are associated with the end walls of the base section to which the end walls of the lid are pivotally attached. The pivot mounts, rear wall of the lid, and rear wall of the base section cooperate to limit rotation of the lid to approximately 90 degrees from the closed position to the stable, fully open position. The rear wall of the lid is further inwardly contoured to provide a comfortable fit between the case and the body of a wearer when the wearer carries the case using a provided shoulder strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Plano Molding Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Yunger, James Schumaker
  • Patent number: 5784968
    Abstract: A locomotive engine top deck cover support apparatus for supporting the top deck cover of a locomotive engine in a selective position, has a ratchet member with a plurality of radially disposed ratchet teeth and a support arm pivotal between a fully raised and fully lowered position. The support arm supports a reciprocal pawl which is biased into engagement with the ratchet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: R. W. Mac Company
    Inventor: John Kenneth MacDonnell
  • Patent number: 5678686
    Abstract: A gun case is provided having rigid walls for vertically storing and transporting a gun having a one or two piece wooden or plastic stock including rear stock and fore stock portions. The gun case includes an upper case portion matable with a lower case portion. First and second resilient cradles having, respectively, first and second U-shaped, angled channels are disposed within the lower case portion. The first U-shaped channel is adapted to support the gun in spaced relation from the walls of the case whereby the first resilient cradle will only engage the rear stock portion. Similarly, the second U-shaped channel is adapted to support the gun in spaced relation from the walls of the case whereby the second resilient cradle will only engage the fore stock portion. At least one lockable strap is preferably provided and is secured to the lower case portion for use in urging the gun into supportive engagement with the first and second cradles when the gun is disposed within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Plano Molding Company
    Inventors: John J. Hagemann, James Schumaker