Patents Examined by Hai H. Huynh
  • Patent number: 11674465
    Abstract: A normal control unit performs a normal control to cause an injection apparatus to perform predetermined normal injection and subsequently cause an ignition plug to perform ignition. In a delay region in a combustion chamber, propagation of flame is retarded further than in another region when the normal control is performed. In a knock state, self-ignition occurs in the delay region when the normal control is performed. When the knock state is established, an adjustment control unit performs, to suppress the self-ignition, an adjustment control to perform main injection and subsequently perform sub-injection in a second half of a compression stroke to adjust a fuel distribution in the combustion chamber to facilitate propagation of flame to the delay region further than in the normal control and subsequently cause the ignition plug to perform the ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11674491
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing fault protection on direct current (DC) feeds to various engine or generator set components are provided. In some embodiments, generator set includes a ground fault device arranged between a DC power distribution circuit and a subsystem of the generator set. The ground fault device is configured to detect a fault condition based on a comparison of a first current in a first wire with a second current in a second wire between the DC power distribution circuit and the subsystem. In response to detecting the fault condition, the ground fault device is configured to disconnect the subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation Inc.
    Inventors: Lane Woodland, Randall J. Johnson, Sagar Sharma, Elias M. Ayana, Michael Fegley
  • Patent number: 11674487
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a needle valve including a spring-retaining section and a guide section that is adjacent to the spring-retaining section. The spring-retaining section includes an elongated portion and a flange that are together configured to support a spring assembly. The guide section includes a plurality of constricted portions alternatingly arranged with a plurality of expanded portions to define an undulating shape of the guide section. Each of the plurality of expanded portions includes a plurality of indentations to permit fuel to travel therealong to exit an outlet of the fuel injector. The guide section has a length that is substantially equal to a length of the spring-retaining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Andrew Brown, Adam L. Stecklein
  • Patent number: 11674493
    Abstract: To provide a controller and a control method for internal combustion engine which can suppress the increase in the calculation processing load for determining occurrence of the mechanical noise and occurrence of the knocking with good accuracy even when the mechanical noise occurs. When the maximum value of the strength of the component of the second frequency band in the comparison period exceeds the maximum value of the strength of the component of the first frequency band, a controller for internal combustion engine performs a second side stop determination processing that determine whether the knocking occurred, based on the strength of the component of the first frequency band, without using the strength of the component of the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Inoue, Yuhei Matsushima, Toshikatsu Saito
  • Patent number: 11674488
    Abstract: A fuel injector cup includes a body having a first opening configured to receive fuel into the body and a second opening configured to receive a fuel injector for dispensing fuel. The cup further includes a mounting flange coupled with the body and extending therefrom, the mounting flange configured to be connected to a support surface to secure the cup to the support surface. The cup also includes a locating member coupled with at least one of the body or the mounting flange, the anti-rotation member configured to engage the fuel injector when received in the body and to orient and prevent rotation of the fuel injector relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Emmanuel Alfonso Guzman Escalante, Josué Israel Chávez Mendoza, John Casari
  • Patent number: 11674433
    Abstract: A watercraft propulsion system includes a propulsion unit to be driven by an engine. The engine includes a cylinder block, an air intake channel, an exhaust channel, a supercharging device, and a fuel injector. The watercraft propulsion system includes the engine, the propulsion unit to be driven by the engine, a rotation speed sensor to detect a rotation speed of the engine, an air intake pressure sensor to detect an air intake pressure of the engine, and a controller. The controller is configured or programmed to compute a command fuel injection amount so that the engine performs a combustion operation at an air/fuel ratio in a lean-burn range (lean-combustion range) according to the rotation speed detected by the rotation speed sensor and the air intake pressure detected by the air intake pressure sensor, and to drive the fuel injector based on the computed command fuel injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11668271
    Abstract: Fuel injector systems, methods, and assemblies can comprise an injector pushrod; a hold down clamp having an opening that can slidably receive the injector pushrod; a helper spring that can surround a first portion of the injector pushrod; a spacer that can surround a second portion of the injector pushrod and that can be positioned between the hold down clamp and a first end of the helper spring; and a retention seat that can retain a second end of the helper spring opposite the first end of the helper spring and that can surround a third portion of the injector pushrod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Abram M. Ingold, Vasudev Koppram, Xuefeng Song
  • Patent number: 11668223
    Abstract: A reduction method for a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine for reducing the oxygen content in the catalytic converter, in particular after an overrun fuel cutoff mode of the internal combustion engine, the method including first injection of fuel into a first cylinder, the first injection taking place after an ignition point in time of a compression stroke of a first working cycle of the cylinder and including an introduction of the injected fuel from the cylinder into the catalytic converter during an exhaust stroke of the first cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc-Andre Golkowski, Stephan Schemann, Christian Arenz, Christopher Lueck
  • Patent number: 11661899
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) components including an EGR pressure sensor. In one example, a method for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a vehicle comprises diagnosing an excessive EGR flow rate via an MAP-MAF strategy, the MAP-MAF strategy including estimating an EGR flow rate based on a difference between an output of a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor of the vehicle and an output of a mass airflow (MAF) sensor of the vehicle; and in response to stable intrusive conditions being met, intrusively commanding an EGR valve of the EGR system to a closed position to confirm the diagnosed excessive EGR flow rate. If the excessive flow is detected after the EGR valve is commanded to the closed position, a diagnostic code may be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Doemer, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Adam Krach, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Bill Courtney
  • Patent number: 11661912
    Abstract: An engine operable in a premixed combustion system and a diffusion combustion system. The engine includes a main fuel injection valve, a pilot fuel injection valve, a liquid fuel tank, a main fuel supply path, a pilot fuel supply path, a pilot fuel filter, a pilot fuel high-pressure pump, a pilot fuel tank, and a pilot fuel supply pump. The pilot fuel tank stores pilot fuel sent from the pilot fuel high-pressure pump and not injected by the pilot fuel injection valve. This pilot fuel is sent to an automatic backwash filter and a pilot fuel filter while not passing through the liquid fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Nishimura, Koichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 11661868
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for diagnosing malfunctioning in a crankcase ventilation (CCV) system are provided. A controller includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to: receive a plurality of pressure values including (i) a first pressure value indicative of a pressure of fluid flowing from a crankcase to a breather assembly of a system, (ii) a second pressure value indicative of a pressure of fluid flowing through a first tube coupled to the breather assembly, and (iii) a third pressure value indicative of a pressure of fluid flowing through a second tube coupled to the breather assembly; determine a pair of pressure differences based on the first pressure value, the second pressure value, and the third pressure value; and detect a malfunctioning in the CCV system based on the pair of pressure differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Rohan Achyut Gumaste, Mark W. Pyclik
  • Patent number: 11655786
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve includes a coupling between an armature and the valve member that allows limited relative movement of the valve member and armature in both the opening and closing directions of the valve member. An injector body includes a non-magnetic section to focus magnetic flux and attractive force through the armature and pole. A modular power group reduces the cost of assembly and includes a plastic encapsulated coil that is protected from environmental moisture and corrosion. A valve seat incorporates a valve seal which improves fuel flow past the valve member when the fuel injection valve is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Stanadyne LLC
    Inventor: Michael Hornby
  • Patent number: 11655791
    Abstract: Provided is an internal combustion engine control device capable of reducing a control error of the ignition timing as compared with the conventional technique. The internal combustion engine control device of the present disclosure includes a neural network model that receives three or more variables including at least a rotation speed, a load, and another specific variable of an internal combustion engine as inputs and outputs a control amount of the internal combustion engine. The neural network model includes a first neural network model having a reference value of the specific variable as an input and a second neural network model having a current value of the specific variable as an input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11655755
    Abstract: An integrated biomass conversion system and a method of starting and shutting down the system are disclosed. The integrated biomass conversion system comprises a syngas generator, such as a gasifier, a cleanup engine and a syngas utilization system, which could be a power producing engine or a chemical reactor for chemical or fuel synthesis. The cleanup engine operates rich and at high temperatures so that the tars exhausted by the syngas generators are destroyed and not allowed to foul other components. An orderly sequence to start and shut down the integrated biomass conversion system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Emmanouil Kasseris, Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11649780
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. In one example, the method adjusts an estimate of an exhaust gas oxygen sensor delay time based on a fuel injection ramping time. The fuel injection ramping time compensates for fuel that is injected to the engine while the engine enters or exits a fuel cut-off mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bagnasco, Jose Francisco Martinez Leyva, Tyler DeWine
  • Patent number: 11649772
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for enhanced engine friction generation. The enhanced engine friction generation improves the effectiveness of vehicle braking in deceleration fuel cut-off driving conditions by using engine vacuum and backpressure to temporarily increase engine pumping losses, thereby increasing powertrain drag and increasing deceleration torque to the wheels. The engine vacuum and backpressure may be created by changing the duration of the intake and/or exhaust valves. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising adjusting an intake valve time duration or an exhaust valve time duration to increase engine friction to enhance mechanical friction on a drivetrain of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Zepeda, Dean Schlingmann
  • Patent number: 11643982
    Abstract: To control a hybrid dynamical system, a predictive feedback controller formulates a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem including nonlinear functions of continuous optimization variables representing the continuous elements of the operation of the hybrid dynamical system and/or one or multiple linear functions of integer optimization variables representing the discrete elements of the operation of the hybrid dynamical system. The MINLP problem is formulated into a separable format ensuring that the discrete elements of the operation are present only in the linear functions of the MINLP problem. The MINLP problem is solved over multiple iterations using a partial convexification of a portion of a space of the solution including a current solution guess. The partial convexification produces a convex approximation of the nonlinear functions of the MINLP without approximating the linear functions of the MINLP to produce a partially convexified MINLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Rien Quirynen, Stefano Di Cairano
  • Patent number: 11639683
    Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Morgan, James Eatwell, Andrew Atkins, Adam Gurr
  • Patent number: 11634884
    Abstract: Water Reservoirs and wetlands are a major source of methane emissions contributing to greenhouse gases. The annual flood seasons contribute to movement and accumulation of sediments behind irrigation and hydropower dams. These sediments accumulate year after year, lead to loss of water storage capacity and ability to produce hydro-electricity. The invention being proposed to dredge deep sediments from reservoirs operates on the principle of using gaseous fuel from an external pipeline or collected methane emissions as fuel for a submersible internal combustion slurry system. The invention combines the features of an internal combustion liquid piston engine with a slurry turbine driving a dredging cutter. Slurry entering into the system forms a column that is set in oscillation through the explosion of air and fuel and is then pumped to shore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Baha Elsayed Attia Abulnaga
  • Patent number: 11629671
    Abstract: An engine system includes a combustion chamber and an air supplier. The combustion chamber is formed in a cylinder. The air supplier is configured to supply air to a circumferential area of the combustion chamber. The circumferential area is near an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder. The air supplier is configured to supply air to the circumferential area before ignition to gather a rich air-fuel mixture that is present in the combustion chamber to a central area of the combustion chamber such that a stratified body consisting of a layer of the air-fuel mixture in the central area and a layer of the air in the circumferential area is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouhei Toma, Takeshi Tsuda, Ryo Adachi