Patents Examined by Anthony L. Bacon
  • Patent number: 10823131
    Abstract: Operating a dual fuel engine system includes igniting a main charge of gaseous fuel in response to combustion of an early pilot shot of liquid fuel and production of a spark. Operating the system also includes covarying a spark timing parameter and a pilot shot delivery parameter, and reducing an error in a phasing of combustion of another main charge based on the covarying of the spark timing parameter and the pilot shot delivery parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bobby John, Jonathan Anders
  • Patent number: 10815925
    Abstract: A vehicle includes two accelerator position sensors and an electronic control unit. The two accelerator position sensors are configured to detect accelerator operation amounts. The electronic control unit is configured to perform drive control based on the accelerator operation amounts from the two accelerator position sensors. The electronic control unit is configured to, when failure occurs in one accelerator position sensor out of the two accelerator position sensors, perform the drive control based on the accelerator operation amount from the other accelerator position sensor out of the two accelerator position sensors, the accelerator operation amount being restricted by an accelerator operation amount upper limit that has a tendency of becoming larger as the vehicle speed is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Uchida, Tadaaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10815907
    Abstract: A method for engine control under an entire driving range of a vehicle based on control timing prediction implemented in the vehicle is provided, which may reduce a start angle error calculated at a calculation time prior to an operation time when actual injection and ignition is performed by grasping a tooth period change tendency for a tooth period of a current time that injector/igniter drivers of an engine control unit read from an engine position management driver and calculating a start angle of fuel injection and ignition through prediction of the tooth period to match an actual operation time. In particular, since the prediction of the tooth period to match the actual operation time is based on a change tendency of the tooth period stored up to the current time, the injection and ignition time effectively reflects an engine operation situation in which an engine RPM is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chang-Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 10818107
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be configured for engine analysis and diagnostics. The system may include a computer including a hardware processor, memory and a user interface. The hardware processor may be in communication with the memory and user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: PREDICTIVE FLEET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James Mentele
  • Patent number: 10815938
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing leakage of a fuel vapor dual purge system is provided. The method includes determining whether an operation region of a vehicle is an operation region in which a turbocharger is operated and adjusting a flow amount of intake air flowing into the turbocharger according to an operation region in which the turbocharger is operated. A hydrocarbon collecting amount of a canister connecting fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank is calculated and a flow amount of the fuel vapor passing first and second purge lines is adjusted. A leak of the fuel vapor is diagnosed in the first purge line and the second purge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Choo Saeng Choi
  • Patent number: 10808643
    Abstract: A homogenous charge electromagnetic volumetric ignition (HCEMVI) internal combustion engine (ICE) and its ignition method are disclosed in the present invention. The HCEMVI ICE includes a control module of the engine, an electromagnetic wave source, an electromagnetic wave coupling module and the cylinders of the ICE. Its ignition method is stated as: the control module of the engine controls the electromagnetic wave generation and, when the piston of a cylinder containing an air-fuel mixture moves to the preset ignition advance angle, the electromagnetic wave source is commanded to generate an electromagnetic wave at a frequency in accordance with the resonant frequency of the cylinder head at the advance angle. The electromagnetic wave is transmitted into the cylinder by the coupling module to create a strong electric field through electromagnetic resonance in the cylinder head and initiate volumetric ignition and bulk combustion of the air-fuel mixture inside the cylinder of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: DONGGUAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SICHUAN DEHONG ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun Li, Wuqiao Luo, Mouju Zou
  • Patent number: 10801436
    Abstract: In a first region on a low load side of an operation region of a direct fuel injection engine, homogenous combustion is performed, while, in a second region of the operation region on a load side higher than the first region, stratified combustion is performed. In the stratified combustion, a fuel is dispersed in a cylinder by a first injection operation and a fuel is unevenly distributed in a vicinity of the ignition plug by a second injection operation. Shift control by the stratified combustion is executed at a time of shifting when an operation state of the engine has shifted from the first region to the second region, and in the shift control, a fuel in an amount larger than a target amount of the second injection operation in the second region is injected by the second injection operation and then, an injection amount of the second injection operation is decreased toward the target amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaharu Kassai, Takayoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 10801462
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating ethanol content in fuel, water content in fuel, and an age of the fuel in a vehicle engine. In one example, a method may include estimating fuel ethanol content, water content, or fuel age based on a resonant frequency (f) of pressure pulsations, a change in fuel rail pressure (?p), and a damping coefficient (?) of pressure pulsations in the fuel rail as estimated after a fuel injection or a pump stroke. One or more engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on the estimated fuel ethanol content, water content, and fuel age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Gopichandra Surnilla, Christopher Paul Glugla, Mark Meinhart, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Patent number: 10794345
    Abstract: A fuel distributor features a pressure accumulator 2 with a longitudinal hollow space 3 to receive pressurized fuel. The pressure accumulator 2 possesses at least one threaded socket 7 which connects with the longitudinal hollow space 3 and which features interior threading 8, and into which a threading cap 11 with exterior threading 13 is inserted. The threading socket 7 features a sealing surface 16, which ends up being pressed onto a sealing seat 18 set up inside the pressure accumulator 2. According to the invention, a leakage channel 27 is formed within the threading cap 11. The configuration of the fuel distributor according to the invention with the leakage channel 27 in the threading socket 7 allows leakage testing under high pressure to be carried out during a short cycle or detection times, and with a high degree of precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Joerg Horstmann, Markus Mehring
  • Patent number: 10787981
    Abstract: Power system optimization is disclosed. An example power system described herein may include an engine control module that receives measurements associated with sensors, identifies settings associated with control devices, determines that a first set of parameters associated with the one or more control devices is to be optimized according to a first optimization process, iteratively performs the first optimization process until the first set of parameters are optimized, determines that a second set of parameters associated with the one or more control devices are to be optimized according to a second optimization process, iteratively performs the second optimization process until the second set of parameters are optimized, and, after the second set of parameters are optimized according to the second optimization process, configures one of the control devices to operate using an optimized value for the control device determined using the second optimization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Charbonnel, Fang Guo, Anand Krishnamurthygopalan, Gavin Williams
  • Patent number: 10787984
    Abstract: Power system optimization calibration is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Charbonnel, Gavin Williams, Mark Scaife, Anand Krishnamurthygopalan
  • Patent number: 10781766
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an operating method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, wherein, upon a detection of a fault in the fuel injection system, and wherein a predefined pressure is overshot in a high-pressure region of the fuel injection system, an overrun mode of the internal combustion engine is deactivated, such that the internal combustion engine is operated exclusively in an injection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Seegmüller, Tobias Ritsch
  • Patent number: 10767574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-fuel engine comprising a primary fuel supply and at least a secondary fuel supply. The primary and at least secondary fuels are arranged to mix with each other and with air for combustion in one or more cylinders of the engine in use. One or more electronic control units (ECU) are provided to control one or more supply characteristics of the primary and/or at least secondary fuel(s) in use. The engine includes a mass air flow (MAF) sensing means. At least one of the ECUs is arranged to receive one or more signals from the MAF sensing means to control, at least partially, one or more supply characteristics of the primary fuel. In addition, the ECU and/or a further ECU is arranged to receive one or more signals from the MAF sensing means to control, at least partially, one or more supply characteristics of the at least secondary fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Finn Associates (Businesscare) Limited, Merlin Fuel Technology Limited
    Inventors: Paul Finn, Pam Wade, Peter Bower, Neil Curry
  • Patent number: 10760509
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel tank, an internal combustion engine, a generator, a recoil starter, a control unit, an injector, a fuel pump, an igniter, and a detection unit that detects the crank angle of the internal combustion engine. The control unit, in a starting period of the internal combustion engine, which is started using the recoil starter, supplies electric power to the igniter, the injector, and the fuel pump such that a power supply period of the igniter will not overlap a power supply period of the injector and the fuel pump, using the crank angle as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10760542
    Abstract: In response to a restarting request generated during a stopping period, in which fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop engine operation, either starter starting or combustion starting is selected. In the starter starting, the engine is restarted using a starter motor. In the combustion starting, the engine is restarted through fuel injection and ignition without using the starter motor. If the rotational resistance acting on the crankshaft is determined to be of such a magnitude that the combustion starting is impossible, the starter starting is carried out in response to the restarting request generated during the stopping period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10738751
    Abstract: A fluid control device for an internal combustion engine, includes: plural fluid control valves each including a chamber, a first port via which fluid is introduced to the chamber, a second port via which fluid is guided out from the chamber, and a solenoid valve part opening and closing the second port with respect to the chamber; one support member for supporting and fixing the fluid control valves to a vehicle; and a branched passage having plural inlet portions communicating with the second port of the fluid control valves and an outlet portion guiding out the fluid introduced from the inlet portions, the branched passage being formed integrally with an interior of the support member. Thus, due to the branched passage being formed from the support member itself without requiring a joint member having a special shape, it is possible to cut the number of components and save installation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Komatsu, Takayuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10738688
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards free-piston combustion engines. As described herein, a driver section may be provided in a free-piston combustion engine for storing energy during an expansion stroke. The driver section may be configured to store sufficient energy to perform the subsequent stroke. In some embodiments, the driver section may be configured to store sufficient energy so as to enable the engine to operate continuously across engine cycles without electrical energy input. A linear electromagnetic machine may be provided in a free-piston combustion engine for converting the kinetic energy of a piston assembly into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Mainspring Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Gadda, Matthew Roelle, Adam Simpson
  • Patent number: 10731572
    Abstract: The intake control apparatus (1) includes a body (4) which integrally includes intake pipes (2a) and (2b). The body (4) includes a linear bypass passage (10a), which passes through thereinside, one end of which opens upstream of a valve body (5) of the intake pipe (2a), and the other end of which opens downstream of the valve body (5) of the intake pipe (2b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Yamase, Daisuke Shiraida
  • Patent number: 10704479
    Abstract: An active fuel vapor purge system includes: a turbocharger having a turbine and a compressor; a canister collecting fuel vapor; a purge pump pumping the collected fuel vapor; a main purge line connecting the canister and the purge pump; a first purge line branched from the main purge line and joined to an intake manifold at downstream of the compressor; a second purge line branched from the main purge line and jointed to an intake line at upstream of the compressor; purge control solenoid valves respectively disposed in the first purge line and the second purge line; a hydrocarbon sensor measuring an amount of hydrocarbon; a pressure sensor measuring an upstream pressure and a downstream pressure of the purge pump; and a controller controlling operation of the purge pump based on the amount of hydrocarbon and pressures at a front end and at a rear end of the purge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young Kyu Oh, Jeong Ho Seo, Yong Seok Kim, Yeong Jin Nam, Taeho Ahn, Sung Wook Park
  • Patent number: 10690071
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a conduit, and a controller. The internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders. The conduit is configured to channel exhaust gas away from the cylinders and to a catalyst. The controller is programmed to, in response to starting the engine and a temperature of the catalyst being less than a threshold, operate a first of the plurality of cylinders alone followed by operating the first and a second of the plurality of cylinders alone to increase the temperature of the catalyst toward the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Szczepanski