Patents Examined by Erick R. Solis
  • Patent number: 11732679
    Abstract: A failure diagnostic device is configured to determine saturated vapor pressures of a fuel within a fuel tank. In a fuel vapor processing apparatus, some or all of the passages and spaces into which the fuel vapor flows into the fuel vapor processing apparatus are closed to the atmosphere. In this condition, the failure diagnostic device determines a plurality of saturated vapor pressure characteristics over time. The failure diagnostic device is configured to diagnose whether or not a leakage or a blockage failure in the fuel vapor processing apparatus is present. The failure diagnostic device determines a Reid vapor pressure (RVP) based on each of the plurality of determined saturated fuel vapor pressure characteristic and diagnoses whether or not a failure is present in accordance with a change in these RVPs over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mariko Kawase, Yuya Tanida
  • Patent number: 11724686
    Abstract: A method of reducing cold start emissions in a series mode hybrid electric vehicle, including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust duct having a catalyst and a downstream oxygen sensor, an output of the combustion engine being connected to an electric generator with a power output of at least 10 kW that is connected to an electric motor which is coupled to a drive shaft of two or more wheels. The method includes detecting a cold start condition, injecting fuel into the engine such that combustion at a lambda value, ?, is achieved for which ?>1, running the engine at a speed of 1000 rpm or higher, determining if the efficiency of the catalyst reaches a first level, setting ? to about 1 after the predetermined efficiency level of the catalyst has been reached, and reducing the speed to working conditions when the catalyst efficiency reaches a second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Markus Ekström
  • Patent number: 11719180
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis apparatus performs a stop process for stopping the supply of fuel to at least one of a plurality of cylinders and supplying fuel to the other cylinders or cylinder. The abnormality diagnosis apparatus performs a catalyst abnormality diagnosis process for diagnosing that there is an abnormality in an exhaust gas control apparatus, based on the value of a first misfire counter indicating the number of times of detection of a misfire during the operation of an internal combustion engine by a prescribed amount. In the catalyst abnormality diagnosis process, the abnormality diagnosis apparatus diagnoses that there is an abnormality in the exhaust gas control apparatus with the value of the first misfire counter being smaller when the stop process is performed than when the stop process is not performed during the operation of the internal combustion engine by the prescribed amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Miyahara, Akihiro Katayama, Hirotaka Nakayama, Yuki Ikejiri, Takumi Anzawa
  • Patent number: 11708810
    Abstract: An engine head assembly includes a double-walled fuel connector assembly in an engine head and forming a high-pressure fuel supply passage and a low-pressure fuel return passage. The engine head assembly also includes a fuel injector. A high-pressure fuel inlet path extends between a fuel inlet and spray orifices through an injector body in the fuel injector. A low-pressure cooling fuel outlet path extends between an injection control valve seat in the fuel injector and a cooling fuel outlet in a nozzle case of the fuel injector. Expelled cooling fuel is passed through the low-pressure fuel return passage in the double-walled fuel connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Manjunath Bannur Nagaraja, Zhenyu Li, Benjamin R Tower, Aniket Suresh Dighe
  • Patent number: 11702046
    Abstract: A one-pedal control method and system for an autonomous vehicle, are capable of accelerating or decelerating a vehicle by use of a foldable brake pedal system when a foldable accelerator pedal system is broken down when a driver manually drives the vehicle or the mode is switched from an autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, and capable of implementing a fail-safe function by use of an integrated safety function of software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Sung Heo
  • Patent number: 11698040
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine including a cylinder, an intake valve and an exhaust valve, a cylinder injection valve, and a variable valve drive mechanism, and a control device that controls the cylinder injection valve and the variable valve drive mechanism. The control device includes a calculation unit that calculates a first crank angle section where a temperature of the cylinder is equal to or higher than a boiling point of the fuel in a compression stroke before completion of warming-up of the internal combustion engine and a second crank angle section where the temperature of the cylinder is equal to or higher than the boiling point of the fuel in the valve closed period, and an injection controller that executes fuel injection in the first and second crank angle sections by the cylinder injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuaki Arisawa
  • Patent number: 11698038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel supply pump of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a combustion engine system and a gearbox, the method comprising the steps of: determining one or more operational values of at least one operational parameter of the combustion engine system; determining a reduction of a fuel provision rate to the combustion engine system; determining whether a gear step change of the gearbox is at hand, on the basis of the determined one or more operational values of the at least one operational parameter; and in case a gear step change of the gearbox is at hand, controlling operation of the fuel supply pump so as to maintain fuel supply pump speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Adam Berg, Kim Kylström, Peter Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 11686282
    Abstract: It is disclosed an electronic device to control an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine, comprising a high-voltage switch, a driving unit, a bias circuit and an integrating circuit. The high-voltage switch is connected in series with a primary winding of a coil. The driving unit is configured to control the closing and opening of the high-voltage switch. The integrating circuit is interposed between the bias circuit and a reference voltage. The integrating circuit comprises an integrating capacitor. The integrating capacitor is configured, in the case wherein a pre-ignition of the comburent-combustible mixture in the combustion chamber during the phase of charging occurs, to pre-charge during the phase of charging energy in the primary winding and it is configured, in the case wherein the pre-ignition of the comburent-combustible mixture does not occur, to maintain the charge state substantially constant during the phase of charging energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ELDOR CORPORATION S.P.A.
    Inventors: Eugenio Carugati, Stefano Silva, Pasquale Forte
  • Patent number: 11686261
    Abstract: A process to adjust the ignition timing of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the process comprises determining a first quantity indicative of a pressure of the mixture for a cycle of the engine, determining a second quantity indicative of a speed of the engine, determining a third quantity indicative of a first temperature of a conditioning fluid, providing a heat exchange mathematical model for the combustion chamber, which maps the three quantities from the first to the third one onto a fourth quantity indicative of a second temperature of a wall portion around the combustion chamber, estimating the fourth quantity by means of the three determined quantities and by means of the mathematical model, and adjusting the ignition timing as a function of the fourth estimated quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FERRARI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Daire James Corrigan
  • Patent number: 11667187
    Abstract: This invention is a sensor probe, generally used in the oil fracking business, and includes structurally a pair of tube members, concentrically assembled, an inner housing tube, and an outer spout tube, affixed to a cap and adaptor, with the inner housing holding one or more sensors, to detect the level of fuel within the fuel tank of the fracking truck. The adaptor has a first aperture for attachment of the fuel line, for delivery of fuel in the space between the tube members, and the adaptor has a second aperture for connection of an electrical receptacle, for attachment with the electric lines leading from the various sensors, to the adaptor, for connection with a circuit line from a remote monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HUSKY CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Sever
  • Patent number: 11661902
    Abstract: Methods and systems for flex fuel engines that have both port fuel injection and direct injection. Operating an engine system includes determining a percent of ethanol in a fuel and determining whether the percent of ethanol is greater than a predetermined threshold. When the percent of ethanol is greater than the predetermined threshold, fuel is supplied only through the direct injection injectors. When the percent of ethanol is not greater than the predetermined threshold, fuel is supplied through a combination of the direct injection injectors and port fuel injection injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Gwidt, Jeffrey M Hutmacher
  • Patent number: 11660483
    Abstract: A controller for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, and a device for detecting a fire in a fluid conduit, the device having a fluid state sensor for detecting a state variable of a fluid that is conducted in the fluid conduit, are provided. The determination of a fire situation is performed in a manner dependent on a signal of the fluid state sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Alberer, Andreas Kerschbaummayr, Andreas Leyrer, Bernhard Ramsebner, Martin Ranzmaier, Dietmar Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11655774
    Abstract: An injector failure diagnostic device 1 diagnoses injector failures for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine 2 having injectors 21 to 24, each injector injects fuel to the corresponding cylinder. The injector failure diagnostic device 1 includes: an operating sound obtainment unit 12 configured to obtain current operating sound that is operating sound when all of the injectors operate, and obtain pseudo-failure operating sound sequentially for each of the injectors, the pseudo-failure sound being operating sound generated by stopping the fuel injection from one injector while maintaining the operation of the remaining injectors; and a faulty injector identification unit 13 configured to determine whether or not the pseudo-failure operating sound of each injector obtained by the operating sound obtainment unit 12 is similar to the current operating sound to identify a faulty injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tien Trien Le, Hisashi Yokoyama, Takahiro Sagara, Satoshi Inose
  • Patent number: 11655790
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ignition drive module with stable performance and reliable function, which comprises a module signal input end, a voltage input end, a module signal output end, a comparator connected to the module signal input end a maximum dwell timer module connected to the comparator, a logical judgment module connected to the comparator, and an insulated gate bipolar transistor connected to the logical judgment module. The logical judgment module receives signals from the maximum dwell timer module and the comparator to determine whether to activate the insulated gate bipolar transistor. The output end of the insulated gate bipolar transistor is connected to the module signal output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Kunshan Cadic Auto Electric Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Shen Shiye
  • Patent number: 11649794
    Abstract: A method and a system provide direct injection of an improver enriched fuel into an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The method comprises providing a fuel with a fuel pump under a first pressure at a fuel inlet of an injector nozzle and providing a fuel improver with an improver pump under a second pressure at an inlet bore of the injector nozzle arranged downstream of the fuel inlet with respect to a nozzle outlet of the injector nozzle. The second pressure is higher than the first pressure at least for a limited time interval prior to injection to enrich the fuel with the fuel improver within the injector nozzle. The method also comprises injecting the improver enriched fuel into the internal combustion engine at the nozzle outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephan Revidat
  • Patent number: 11649796
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ignition drive module with stable performance and reliable function, which comprises a module signal input end, a voltage input end, a module signal output end, a comparator. One end of the comparator is connected to the module signal input end, and the other end is connected to a comparison resistance R that is grounded. The ignition drive module further comprises a maximum dwell timer module connected to the comparator, a logical judgment module connected to the comparator, and an IGBT module connected to the logical judgment module which receives the signals from the maximum dwell timer module and the comparator to determine whether to activate the IGBT module. The output end of the IGBT module is connected to the module signal output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Kunshan Cadic Auto Electric Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Shen Shiye
  • 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: 11639698
    Abstract: A dual fuel system includes a liquid pilot fuel supply, a liquid main fuel supply, and a fuel injection apparatus. The dual fuel system further includes a fueling control unit coupled with a cylinder pressure sensor and a NOx sensor, and structured to vary, via outputting a fueling control command to a main fuel injection control valve, fuel delivery parameters each on the basis of at least one of a cylinder pressure parameter or a NOx parameter. The fueling control unit compensates via the varying fuel delivery parameters for a change to a liquid main fuel composition such as a change from a first alcohol fuel or blend to a second alcohol fuel or blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Schroeder, Kenth I Svensson, Richard C Kulaga
  • Patent number: 11635039
    Abstract: A power system for a work vehicle includes an alcohol tank configured to store alcohol; a catalytic converter fluidly coupled to receive alcohol from the alcohol tank and configured to convert the alcohol into ether; and an engine including one or more piston-cylinder sets configured to selectively receive the alcohol stored in the alcohol tank and the ether converted by the catalytic converter and to combust the alcohol and the ether with air to produce mechanical power and exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Danan Dou, Craig W. Lohmann
  • Patent number: 11635046
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for controlling emissions and a likelihood of engine knock during combustion in a multi-fuel engine. A method for an engine includes mixing an amount of a first fuel and an amount of a second fuel to combust a fuel mixture having a fuel ratio of the first fuel relative to the second fuel, the first fuel having a faster combustion flame speed relative to the second fuel, the fuel mixture having an air-to-fuel ratio with an amount of air delivered to the engine. The method further includes controlling either or both of a speed of combustion and a stability of combustion of the fuel mixture with the amount of air delivered to the engine by changing at least one of the fuel ratio, the air-to-fuel ratio, or both of the fuel ratio and the air-to-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Eric Dillen