Patents Examined by Anthony L. Bacon
  • Patent number: 11542895
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining pressure changes across at least two fuel vapor storage canisters are described. The methods and systems may include determining the pressure changes via a sole pressure sensor. In one example, fuel vapor canister bypass passages are provided to determine pressure values at a plurality of positions within an evaporative emissions system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11541345
    Abstract: A canister that adsorbs and desorbs fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a housing and at least one expansion inhibitor. The housing is in a form of a cylinder configured to be filled with activated carbon. The housing includes a filled portion which is an area in the housing filled with the activated carbon; an unfilled portion which is an area in the housing not filled with the activated carbon; a boundary portion that defines a boundary between the filled portion and the unfilled portion; and a center portion which is situated at the axial center of the filled portion. The at least one expansion inhibitor inhibits an expansion of the boundary portion in an outward direction from being greater than an expansion of the center portion in the outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahito Hosoi
  • Patent number: 11512658
    Abstract: An engine device includes: an engine; and a control device that executes a return rich control that controls the engine so that an air-fuel ratio becomes rich over a predetermined period after the engine returns from the fuel cut. When the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control, the return rich control is executed for a period shorter than the predetermined period after the engine is restarted. Thus, when the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control and the engine is restarted thereafter, it is possible to suppress a total period of the return rich control from becoming long. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas and suppress deterioration of emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 11506169
    Abstract: An apparatus for igniting a combustible mixture. In one example, the apparatus can include a coaxial cavity resonator assembly in a combustion environment. The apparatus can also include an operational feedback system and a controller. The operational feedback system can measure at least one of a voltage value and a current value of the coaxial cavity resonator assembly in the combustion environment. The controller can be configured to determine a condition of the coaxial cavity resonator assembly and modulate operation of the coaxial cavity resonator assembly based at least in part on the determined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Andrew D. Lowery, Michael J. Spencer, James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 11506152
    Abstract: A carbon canister includes a main body with a chamber containing activated carbon, an end cover mounted to the main body, the end cover and the main body enclosing and forming a cavity, the end cover having a desorption port for connecting with and engine, a Venturi tube mounted in the cavity and including an inlet segment, and a throat and a back suction tube. An inner diameter of the throat is smaller than an inner diameter of the inlet segment. The inlet segment communicates with the activated carbon containing chamber, the throat communicates with the desorption port, the back suction tube connects to the throat, and the back suction tube extends to the bottom of the cavity. Thereby, a negative pressure is created, the fuel collected within the carbon canister is desorbed to the engine so that the fuel utilization is improved, and the exhaust emission is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Zonghai Gong, Yongsheng Li, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11491865
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and operating liquid container system for controlling the internal pressure of an operating liquid container of a motor vehicle, wherein the method includes determining an internal pressure of the operating liquid container by means of a pressure sensor arranged in an operating liquid container interior; comparing the determined internal pressure with a predetermined maximum internal pressure by means of an electronic control device; outputting an opening signal from the control device to a vent valve that is arranged in a vent line or between the operating liquid container interior and the vent line, wherein the vent line fluidically connects the operating liquid container interior to the atmosphere when the determined internal pressure is equal to the maximum internal pressure or above the maximum internal pressure; and transferring the vent valve into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Poul Hedevang
  • Patent number: 11480137
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing potential degradation of a fuel tank pressure sensor. In one example, a method may include, in response to an ambient pressure reading by the fuel tank pressure sensor during an evaporative emissions (EVAP) system diagnostic, applying vacuum to the EVAP system and indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor if the canister undergoes an endothermic reaction. If the fuel tank pressure sensor is determined to not be degraded, the method further includes distinguishing between the ambient pressure reading being caused by a leak in the EVAP system and a canister purge valve being stuck closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11480144
    Abstract: A fuel supply system includes an electronic control unit that outputs a target fuel pressure for controlling a low-pressure pump and an engine status, and a fuel pump controller (FPC) that generates a drive signal for driving the low-pressure pump based on the target fuel pressure. The FPC is configured to obtain an actual fuel pressure, to set a duty ratio and to perform a feedback control for the actual fuel pressure to follow the target fuel pressure, and to set a lower limit guard value based on the engine status. The lower limit guard setter sets a duty ratio of 0% as the lower limit guard value when the engine status indicates a stop of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Asai
  • Patent number: 11480140
    Abstract: A self-calibration method of determining remaining useful life of an internal combustion engine's air filter includes establishing a pressure drop versus mass airflow rate relationship for a clean air filter using pressure drop, mass airflow rate, and temperature data captured at low and elevated engine speeds. The method also includes establishing a maximum clean air filter pressure drop at a preset maximum airflow using the clean filter relationship. The method additionally includes establishing a pressure drop versus mass airflow rate relationship for an in-service air filter using pressure drop, mass airflow rate, and temperature data captured at low and elevated engine speeds. The method also includes determining a maximum in-service air filter pressure drop at the preset maximum airflow using the in-service filter relationship. The method further includes comparing the maximum clean and in-service air filter pressure drops to determine the remaining useful life of the in-service air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joseph K. Moore, Lei Li, Chong Keong Tang
  • Patent number: 11473536
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing evaporative emissions from a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle may include a system for capturing emissions including a plurality of vacuum ports coupled to a vacuum source. The plurality of vacuum ports may be disposed in vehicle components prone to emitting hydrocarbon vapors and activation of the vacuum source draws the vapors from the vehicle components to a fuel canister where the evaporative emissions are stored until the fuel canister is purged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Jim Stevens, David Guglielmo, Kenneth Middleton
  • Patent number: 11473533
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing a possibility of hydrocarbon (HC) breakthrough during a diagnostic routine of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method may include, during the diagnostic routine, switching a direction of air-flow through a fuel vapor canister via adjustments to a three-way valve in response to a higher than threshold a change in temperature within the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11466632
    Abstract: The aim of the present invention is a method for synchronizing an engine comprising at least one movable piston of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, said method comprising a first step (e1) involving initializing a second memory space, a second step (e2) involving waiting for an edge on a fourth signal (CAM_TOT), a fourth step (e4) involving testing the value of a counter (CPT), an eighth step (e8) involving selecting the theoretical angular positions of the slots of the second signal (CAM_IN) relative to the edges of a first signal (CRK) and of the slots of a third signal (CAM_EX) relative to the edges of the first signal (CRK).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Jacques Rocher, Yannick Leroy, Benjamin Marconato
  • Patent number: 11459992
    Abstract: A delay circuit for providing natural gas to an engine and systems, components, and methods thereof can comprise a first valve to selectively pass the natural gas from a starter motor configured to start the engine; a delay volume to receive the natural gas from the first valve; and a second valve to selectively pass the natural gas from the delay volume to an inlet of the engine. The natural gas is provided to the inlet of the engine via the delay system according to a predetermined delay by controlling the first valve and the second valve to selectively pass the natural gas to the inlet of the engine according to the predetermined delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11441525
    Abstract: A port injection engine, in which injected fuel readily vaporizes inside suction ports, includes: a suction port; a suction valve; and a port injector that injects fuel to an inner peripheral surface of the suction port. When the fuel is burned in a predetermined combustion cycle, an injection start of a fuel injection period is set within an end part of a valve opening period before the suction valve is fully closed, during a combustion cycle previous to the predetermined combustion cycle. The end part of the valve opening period is preferably set from 50° to 20° before the suction valve is fully closed at a crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Aoki, Michisuke Iga
  • Patent number: 11434837
    Abstract: During execution of a purge, a purge concentration-related value is learned based on an air-fuel ratio deviation that is a deviation of an air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor from a required air-fuel ratio. In this case, the purge concentration-related value is updated using an update amount with a smaller absolute value when the purge is a second purge of supplying evaporated fuel gas to an intake pipe through a second purge passage than when the purge is a first purge of supplying the evaporated fuel gas to the intake pipe through a first purge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanao Idogawa, Takahiro Uchida, Masahiro Kachi, Reiko Goh, Hirokatsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11434835
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes: a driving-side rotation member rotatable around a rotation axis and rotating in synchronization with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven-side rotation member rotatable around the rotation axis and rotating integrally with a camshaft of the engine; a phase regulating mechanism setting a relative rotation phase of the driving-side and driven-side rotation members by an electric motor; a detection unit detecting the relative rotation phase; a stop control portion displacing the relative rotation phase by controlling the electric motor to stop the engine after the relative rotation phase reaches a stop phase; and a correction control portion displacing the relative rotation phase in a direction closer to the stop phase by controlling the electric motor, when the relative rotation phase is displaced beyond a set amount from the stop phase, in a state where the engine is stopped by the stop control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ibuki Matsuki, Atsushi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11428198
    Abstract: A rope reel includes first circumferential wall portion that is erectly provided so as to surround outer circumference of recoil spring. A starter case includes second circumferential wall portion that is erectly provided so as to adjoin inner circumferential face or outer circumferential face of first circumferential wall portion. The first circumferential wall portion and the second circumferential wall portion are disposed so that end edges of the first circumferential wall portion and the second circumferential wall portion overlap each other when viewed in radial direction. A plate is disposed between starter case and recoil spring inside first circumferential wall portion. Thus, it is possible to provide structure which is realized in space-saving manner to make foreign substances difficult to intrude into starting device in order to prevent deformation or damage of recoil spring, and from which the foreign substances are easily discharged even if foreign substances have intruded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: STARTING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Horikoshi, Tomoyasu Mizuno, Akihito Kasai, Hiroaki Hasebe
  • Patent number: 11421623
    Abstract: An ECU causes an injector to implement multiple split injections during a combustion cycle and to implement a final split injection among the split injections in the latter half of the compression stroke. The ECU further sets a time interval between the injection timing for the final split injection and the ignition timing of an ignition plug at a constant time in a region in which the fuel pressure is the same. Then, the ECU sets a crank angle position based on the time interval and a rotational speed of an output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatake Wada
  • Patent number: 11421610
    Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial intelligence apparatus for controlling an auto stop function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jonghoon Chae
  • Patent number: 11421639
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing expansion combustion in an engine of a start-stop vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving an auto-start request to restart an engine from an auto-stop, determining a fuel mass to inject into a cylinder for an expansion combustion event based on a duration of the auto-stop, and actuating a spark plug of the cylinder after injecting the determined fuel mass to perform the expansion combustion event. In this way, an air-fuel ratio of the expansion combustion event may be more accurately controlled, resulting in more robust expansion combustion engine restarts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Imtiaz Ali, David Andrew Ord