Patents Assigned to WALBRO LLC
  • Patent number: 12228087
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electronic throttle body includes an engine speed setting device having a first terminal coupled to a source for a reference voltage, a second terminal coupled to a first end of a conductor and means for varying a level of resistance between the first and second terminals. The level of resistance is indicative of a desired engine speed. The second terminal outputs an analog engine speed signal indicative of the desired engine speed on the conductor. An electronic control module includes an engine speed signal processing circuit including a resistor coupled between a node located between the first and second ends of the conductor and one of a voltage supply and a voltage return. A controller coupled to the second end of the conductor is configured to generate a control signal for the electronic throttle body responsive to the engine speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Andreas D. Dixon, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 12123374
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 12078121
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of controlling fuel injection events, includes determining at least one engine operating condition, determining timing of a desired pressure in an engine intake chamber or at the outlet of a fuel injector, and initiating a fuel injection event as a function of the at least one engine operating condition and the desired pressure. The fuel injection event is initiated prior to the desired pressure occurring and wherein the fuel injection event occurs for a duration such that the fuel injection event terminates after the desired pressure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Abei, Tatsuya Chiba, Mark S. Swanson
  • Patent number: 12012920
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 12000352
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a main body having a throttle bore, a throttle valve, a housing and a circuit board including a throttle position sensor and a pressure sensor. The throttle valve is received at least partially within the valve bore, is rotatable between an idle position and a second position, and includes a magnet that is rotated when the throttle valve rotates. The housing is carried by the main body, and the circuit board is carried by the housing. A signal path is defined leading from the pressure sensor to a pressure source, the signal path includes a liquid collection area located below a gaseous area with respect to gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Tatsuya Chiba, Katsuaki Hamataka, Tomoya Kawada, Naoya Kumagai, Yuki Tanaka, Kazunori Tsubakino, Makoto Waku
  • Patent number: 11988184
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of controlling spark events in a combustion engine, includes determining change in voltage at an input of a sensor during an engine revolution, and providing at least two spark event signals to attempt to provide at least two spark events in the engine during the engine revolution. In at least some implementations, the engine revolution is within a first threshold number of engine revolutions from attempted starting of the engine. In at least some implementations, the first threshold may include the first and up to ten engine revolutions from attempted starting of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11927164
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11920544
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11905901
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a system for communicating threshold conditions for use of a powered device to a user, includes an engine, a controller coupled to the engine to control starting of the engine and a first indicator associated with a first threshold condition. The first indicator has a first state when the threshold condition is not satisfied and the first indicator has a second state when the threshold condition is satisfied, and the first indicator is coupled to the controller so that the controller is responsive to a change of the state of the first indicator, and wherein the controller is adapted to provide information for display that is indicative of the state of the first indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventor: Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11885430
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of assembling an electromechanical valve includes positioning the armature stop in a first position at a first distance from a valve seat, actuating the valve to move an armature away from the valve seat, providing a fluid flow to the valve, determining a fluid flow characteristic, and as a function of the fluid flow characteristic, moving the armature stop relative to the valve seat to a second position that is at a distance other than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, William E. Galka, David L. Speirs, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Ernesto O. Basanez
  • Patent number: 11885291
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes multiple throttle bores, an inlet chamber in which fuel is received, at least one fuel passage communicating the inlet chamber with the throttle bores, and a valve having an inlet in communication with the inlet chamber, an outlet and a valve head that is movable and allows flow from the inlet chamber through the outlet when the pressure in the inlet chamber is greater than a threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban
  • Patent number: 11802529
    Abstract: A throttle body has a throttle bore with an inlet, an outlet and an air passage. A throttle valve has a valve head received within the throttle bore. A fuel metering valve is mounted on the throttle body and has a valve element and a fuel outlet, the valve element is movable relative to a valve seat to control fuel flow through the fuel outlet. And the nozzle body is carried by the throttle body and has a fuel passage and a feed passage. The fuel passage is arranged to receive fuel that exits the fuel outlet, and is communicated with a fuel chamber through which fluid flows into the throttle bore. The feed passage is communicated with the air passage and with the fuel passage upstream of the fuel chamber. Air in the feed passage is mixed with fuel in the fuel passage upstream of the fuel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Kazuki Doi, Naoya Kumagai, Dairoku Suzuki, Jun Takano
  • Patent number: 11781493
    Abstract: A throttle body may have a main bore for supplying a fuel and air mixture to an engine. A throttle valve head may be received in the main bore and movable between idle and wide open positions to control fluid flow through the main bore. A main fuel outlet and a boost venturi may open to the main bore and a flow directing feature may alter the velocity and/or direction of fluid flow in the main bore relative to the fuel outlet or boost venturi. The flow directing feature may be carried by the body, the throttle valve head, or the boost venturi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11773803
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of controlling fuel injection events, includes determining at least one engine operating condition, determining timing of a desired pressure in an engine intake chamber or at the outlet of a fuel injector, and initiating a fuel injection event as a function of the at least one engine operating condition and the desired pressure. The fuel injection event is initiated prior to the desired pressure occurring and wherein the fuel injection event occurs for a duration such that the fuel injection event terminates after the desired pressure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Abei, Tatsuya Chiba, Mark S. Swanson
  • Patent number: 11761403
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a locking plate may be received between the cover plate and the adjustable valve and be movable to a first position permitting access to the adjustable valve and a second position inhibiting or preventing access to the adjustable valve. In some implementations, a latch assembly may releasably retain the locking plate in its second position. The latch assembly may include a finger carried by the locking plate and releasably engageable with a stop when the locking plate is in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Braun, Eric L. King
  • Patent number: 11655788
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11644002
    Abstract: An assembly for an engine includes a control module including a controller operable to control at least certain aspects of the operation of the engine, a display including an input connected to the controller, and a wireless receiver connected to the controller. The wireless receiver is arranged to receive a signal from a wireless device to cause the controller to send an engine start signal to cause starting of the engine and wherein the input when actuated causes the controller to send an engine start signal to cause starting of the engine. In at least some implementations, no keyed ignition switch is provided to start the engine and the engine is started only via the wireless device or the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: WALBRO LLC
    Inventors: Andreas D. Dixon, Justin T. Dolane, Sean M. Murphy, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, Elizabeth M. VanSipe
  • Patent number: 11578688
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a fuel metering valve, includes a bobbin defining a passage and having one or more voids in the surface of the bobbin that defines the passage, aa wire coil around the bobbin and an armature. The armature is received within the passage in the bobbin and movable relative to the bobbin from a first position to a second position when electricity is supplied to the wire coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Abei, Katsuaki Hamataka, Takashi Horikawa, Tomoya Kawada, Dairoku Suzuki, Jun Takano
  • Patent number: 11562855
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a lamination stack includes a plurality of plates coupled together, each plate including at least one leg that collectively define a leg of the stack, with the leg of the stack arranged so that a wire coil may be arranged on the leg of the stack, and wherein the leg of the stack includes a location feature arranged to facilitate location of the stack relative to an adjacent component. In at least some implementations, the location feature may be integrally formed with at least one of the plates, and may be defined by a projection extending from a free end of at least one leg of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy, Gerald J. LaMarr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11536235
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L. Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L. Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche