Patents Examined by Carl S. Miller
  • Patent number: 6568370
    Abstract: A tubular fuel pressure damper for use in a fuel rail. The tubular fuel pressure damper includes a first and second end and an inner surface defining a cavity. The first and second ends of the fuel pressure damper are closed by crimping to form contact areas. The contact areas may be additionally sealed by welding, soldering or other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Treusch, Paul Joseph Hrivnak, Paul Joseph Vlahakis, Robert Eugene Wattleworth
  • Patent number: 6564782
    Abstract: A fuel evaporation control system is connected to an engine control system in which an air-fuel ratio in mixture gas supplied to an engine is controlled to an optimum level. Fuel evaporated from a fuel tank is absorbed by a canister, and the absorbed fuel is purged into the engine. Deterioration of the canister in its air-permeability is detected based on measured pressure in the fuel evaporation control system or calculated density in the purge gas, both the pressure and the density being measured or calculated under two different amounts of purge gas flow. Deterioration of the canister in its fuel-absorbing ability is also detected based on the purge gas density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujimoto, Keiji Wakahara
  • Patent number: 6564775
    Abstract: Injectors 105 (#1 to #3) are connected to a connector block body 130 and an external wiring connector 150 is formed on the connector block body 130. The external wiring connector 150 has external wiring independent connecting terminals 151 to 153 and an external wiring common connecting terminal 158. Wires are wound around wiring guides 158a, 161, 162, 165 to 170, 173, 174 and are hooked on wiring guides 163, 164, 171, 172, which wiring guides are provided in the connector block body 130. Wires 111 to 113 121 to 123 are installed without crossing each other between injector connecting terminals 101a, 102a, 103a, 101b, 102b, 103b of the injectors 105 and external wiring connecting terminals 151 to 153, 158.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Kikuta, Shoichi Hagiwara, Taro Hirabayashi, Yoshihiro Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6561168
    Abstract: A nozzle needle has a hollow tubular form having a closed base end. A heat transfer tube is press fitted into a first magnetic portion. The heat transfer tube surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle needle. A ceramic heater is formed as an integral cylindrical body by sintering a ceramic material together with a heat generating resistive element. A case covers the heater and protects the heater from externally applied water. An inner tube of the case is resiliently engaged with both the heater and the first magnetic portion. Heat of the heater is conducted to the nozzle needle through the inner tube, the first magnetic portion and the heat transfer tube to heat fuel inside the nozzle needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Hokao, Miyuki Tarusawa, Hideto Takeda, Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6561165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a common rail injector for injecting fuel in a common rail injection system of an internal combustion engine, in particular a large diesel engine, having an injector housing which communicates with a central high-pressure reservoir and in which a nozzle needle can move axially counter to the initial stress of a nozzle spring which is contained in a nozzle spring chamber, in order to adjust the injection onset and the injection quantity as a function of the position of a 3/2-way valve. In order to improve the damping behavior in a common rail injection system, an injector pressure reservoir is integrated into the injector housing and communicates with the central high-pressure reservoir independent of the position of the 3/2-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jaroslaw Hlousek
  • Patent number: 6557506
    Abstract: A valve assembly adapted for an internal combustion engine, including a valve housing having a pressure chamber. A piston seperates the pressure chamber into a first subchamber and a second subchamber. A first port is coupled the first subchamber and a second port is coupled to the second subchamber. A valve is coupled to the piston and moveable between an open position and a closed position. The valve is moved from the closed position to the open position by supplying a high pressure working fluid to the first port and coupling the second port to a drain. The valve is moved from the open position to the closed position by supplying the high pressure working fluid to the second port and coupling the first port to the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Oded E. Sturman
  • Patent number: 6553972
    Abstract: To provide a fuel pump control device allowing a fuel pump having a small capacity to feed a sufficient amount of fuel to an internal combustion engine. During running of a vehicle at a low speed (for example, less than 2,0 km/hr), pulsed drive voltages are intermittently supplied to a fuel pump in accordance with each opening/closing of a thyristor on the basis of ignition pulses of the engine. In this way, the fuel pump repeats discharge operation at a relatively long cycle in synchronization with the pulsed drive voltages. During running of the vehicle at a high speed, a drive voltage is continuously supplied (that is, a DC voltage is supplied) from a power supply line to the fuel pump, whereby the fuel pump repeats discharge operation at a cycle with a short self-excitation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Yamamoto, Ryota Umetani, Yoshihiko Tsuchiya, Kenichi Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 6553973
    Abstract: A fuel tank cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank having a fuel reservoir disposed therein and a fuel filter disposed within and attached directly to the cover to filter fuel from the fuel tank to an engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Francis Coha, Jill Marie Coha, Gregory Thomas Roth
  • Patent number: 6553969
    Abstract: An assembling device for assembling and disassembling of a fuel injector (3) in a mounting hole (3) of a cylinder head in an internal combustion engine has at least two contact surfaces engaging in the fuel injector. A hold-down surface is formed on each elastic contact element to transmit a hold-down force to the fuel injector and a locking recess in which a locking projection of the fuel injector engages to transmit a disassembling force to the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Hans, Christof Vogel
  • Patent number: 6553968
    Abstract: An injector for injecting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has a housing provided with a housing opening, a control valve body movable in the opening of the housing, a ring chamber which encloses the control valve body, an inlet connectable with a high pressure collecting chamber and opening into the ring chamber, a nozzle inlet arranged so that during the movement of the control valve body the nozzle inlet is connected with the inlet or separated from the latter, and 2/2-way control valves arranged inside the housing in series so that one of the 2/2-way control valves is force-equalized in an open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosh GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6553974
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a marine engine provides an additional fuel chamber, associated with a fuel vapor separator, that receives fuel vapor from a vent of the fuel vapor separator. In order to prevent the flow of liquid fuel into and out of the additional fuel chamber, a valve is provided which is able to block the vent of the additional chamber. In addition, a sensor is provided to provide a signal that represents a condition in which liquid fuel within the additional fuel chamber exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Wickman, David C. Entringer, Brian L. Merten, DuWayne C. Schelter, John M. Rath
  • Patent number: 6550453
    Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines an unobstructed biasing passage substantially fluidly isolated from a fuel pressurization chamber. A pumping element is positioned in the injector body and moveable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The pumping element has a biasing surface exposed to fluid pressure in the unobstructed biasing passage, and a fuel surface exposed to fuel pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber. A source of biasing fluid at a working pressure is fluidly connected to the unobstructed biasing passage. A source of fuel fluid at a supply pressure is fluidly connected to the fuel pressurization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Ye Tian
  • Patent number: 6550454
    Abstract: An injector for injection a fuel under high pressure into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the injector has an injector housing, a control chamber, a primary-side inlet to the control chamber, a control valve which controls the primary-side inlet to the control chamber, a pressure multiplier movable in the injector housing, the pressure multiplier being formed as a two-part piston arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6546917
    Abstract: A variable delivery fuel supply device capable of improving linearity of discharge characteristics with respect to a rotational angle of a cam and reducing abrasion of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Onishi, Kouichi Ojima
  • Patent number: 6546916
    Abstract: A mechanism for advancing and retarding the injection timing of a mechanically-actuated fuel injection pump. The mechanism includes a housing having a bore slidably receivable of an advance piston which cooperates with a lever of the fuel injector timing mechanism. A light load piston also in the bore cooperates with the advance piston to permit adjustment of timing under light load conditions. A rotatable cam mechanism cooperates with a flange on the light-load piston to set the axial rest position of the light-load piston and the advance piston, and hence the datum timing of the fuel injection pump. The cam may be easily set by external adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Jeremy Hopley
  • Patent number: 6546918
    Abstract: A variable delivery type fuel supply apparatus capable of suppressing variation of fuel pressure within a delivery pipe and hence variation of fuel quantity injected through fuel injection valves and simplifying a control method therefor. The apparatus includes an oil relief passage (6) provided between the suction port of a fuel pump (4) and a pressurizing chamber (4e) across a suction valve (4a) of the fuel pump (4), an electromagnetic valve (7) disposed in the oil relief passage (6) and opened for a predetermined time during a discharge stroke of the fuel pump (4) for thereby controlling a discharge quantity of the fuel pump (4), and a control unit (108) for controlling the timing at which the electromagnetic valve (7) is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Onishi, Kouichi Ojima, Hiromichi Tsugami, Shigeki Uno, Hiroaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6546913
    Abstract: A pressure regulator for use in regulating the outlet pressure of a pump for use in an engine comprises a piston member which is moveable with respect to an outlet opening under the influence of fluid pressure acting on the piston member to control the degree by which the outlet opening is obscured. The pressure regulator comprises a biasing arrangement for applying a biasing force to the piston member which opposes the pressure of fluid acting on the piston member. The biasing arrangement comprises a moveable abutment member which is cooperable with a stop member so as to vary the rate at which the displacement of the piston member varies with fluid pressure acting on the piston member. The stop member is pre-set in a fixed position relative to the regulator housing such that movement of the abutment member is terminated when the abutment member is urged into engagement with the stop member. The invention also relates to a transfer pump comprising a pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Jeremy Hopley
  • Patent number: 6546914
    Abstract: The nozzle body (5) of a fuel injection valve has a central bore (54) in which a nozzle needle (1) is guided. The tip (52) of the nozzle body (5) has a tapered valve seat (55) which forms together with the sealing edge (27) of the nozzle needle (1) a valve (27, 55) which controls the flow of fuel to the injection holes (9) in the nozzle tip (52). Underneath the sealing edge (27) a circumferential groove (33) is disposed in the truncatoconical needle tip (30, 35, 40, 45) at the level of which the injection holes (9) are disposed, so that when the valve (27, 55) opens the nozzle needle (1) is axially stabilized and the shaping of the injected jet is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Fath, Günter Lewentz, Wilhelm Frank, Eberhard Kull, Hakan Yalcin, Wendelin Klügl
  • Patent number: 6543420
    Abstract: In a common rail system comprised of a first accumulator storing high-pressure fuel and a second accumulator storing low-pressure fuel, additional fuel is injected when a fuel pressure in a fuel passage or in the second accumulator (low inlet pressure of an injector) is reduced to a low pressure approximate to the pressure of the low-pressure fuel stored in the second accumulator after a switching valve is operated for disconnection from the fuel passage (switching valve drive signal OFF) at a point in time when a main injection control device finishes the injection of fuel (injector drive signal OFF) or after the main injection control device finishes the injection of fuel. This keeps the fuel pressure as low as possible during post injection to prevent the fuel from adhering to the wall surfaces of cylinder liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Kohketsu, Keiki Tanabe, Shinji Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6539926
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system having a fuel reservoir connected to a suction side of a pump, a fuel delivery line connected to an output side of the pump, a number of fuel injectors connected to the delivery line, and a return line from the injectors to the suction side of the pump. The pump has a housing, a pumping chamber within the housing, a driver rotor and a driven rotor within the pumping chamber, and an input shaft t the housing. The input shaft is arranged such that rotation of the input shaft effects rotation of the driver rotor. The driver rotor is caused to rotate by the input shaft via a magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling is arranged to slip when a predetermined value of torque is applied across the coupling such that a maximum pressure value of about 12 bar is attained at the output side of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagner AB
    Inventors: Nils-Olof Hakansson, Jan Lindblom