Patents Examined by Hai H. Huynh
  • Patent number: 11506151
    Abstract: A dual purge ejector and a dual purge system using the same are provided. A first end of a main body is fully open and an ejecting end of a nozzle is located proximate to the opening hole. Therefore, even if the ejector is disconnected from an adapter, negative pressure is not formed in a main body, to prevent discharge of fuel evaporation gas into the atmosphere and a failure of the dual purge system may be reliably diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Kefico Corporation
    Inventors: Dong June Kim, Chan Karam Na
  • Patent number: 11499494
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing fuel leakage of a vehicle includes: measuring a pressure of a fuel tank by a pressure sensor in a closed state of a fuel system during starting-off of the vehicle; measuring an inner temperature of the fuel tank by a temperature sensor; and diagnosing, by a controller, whether or not leakage occurs by performing different leakage diagnoses depending on a pressure condition of the fuel tank. Thus, the controller performs a first leakage diagnosis when a pressure value of the fuel tank, measured in the measuring the pressure of the fuel tank, is within an atmospheric pressure level; performs a second leakage diagnosis when the pressure value is higher than a positive pressure; and performs a third leakage diagnosis when the pressure value is lower than a negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeong Seok Lee, Ju Tae Song, Dae Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 11492987
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine involving (1) cylinder trapping strategies where one of several pneumatic spring types are dynamically selected for cylinders based at least partially on a predicted number of upcoming skips for each of the cylinders respectively and/or (2) staggering various valvetrain dependent operational engine strategies as operating conditions permit as the internal combustion engine warms up following a cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shikui Kevin Chen, Louis J. Serrano, Vijay Srinivasan, Elliott A. Ortiz-Soto, Matthew A. Younkins
  • Patent number: 11486321
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to perform various operations. The operations include determining that the vehicle is in reverse and in response, deactivating a cylinder of an engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron William Beinborn, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 11480115
    Abstract: A method of operating a dual fuel engine includes conveying intake air, and a first fuel as a vapor and as a liquid, into a combustion cylinder in an engine, and directly injecting a second fuel into the combustion cylinder to form a first combustion charge of the first fuel as a vapor and as a liquid, the second fuel, and intake air. The second fuel is ignited to initiate combustion of the first combustion charge. Operating the dual fuel engine further includes varying at least one of, a vapor proportion of the first fuel or a total proportion of the first fuel, in a subsequent combustion charge to mitigate undesired combustion. The first fuel can include a liquid alcohol fuel. The second fuel can include a liquid compression-ignition fuel. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth I Svensson, Eric Lee Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11480121
    Abstract: To provide a controller and a control method for internal combustion engine which can reduce arithmetic load, while suppressing deterioration in the estimation accuracy of the parameter relevant to the combustion state, even if the error component of high frequency is included in the crank angle acceleration. A controller for internal combustion engine, by referring an unburning condition data, calculates a shaft torque in unburning in the vicinity of the top dead center in the burning condition; calculates an external load torque based on calculated shaft torque in unburning and the actual shaft torque in burning in the vicinity of the top dead center; calculates a shaft torque in unburning by referring the unburning condition data; calculates an increment of gas pressure torque by burning based on the shaft torque in unburning, the actual shaft torque in burning, and the external load torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhei Matsushima, Tatsuhiko Takahashi, Junichi Inoue, Toshikatsu Saito, Kazuhiro Tokuyama, Kazuyo Kako
  • Patent number: 11480125
    Abstract: A CPU performs a regeneration process for a GPF by stopping combustion control of cylinder #1 and causing an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture in the other cylinders to be richer. The CPU calculates a rotational fluctuation amount which is used to detect random misfires in which a misfire rate in a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined proportion by calculating a difference in time et3txdh in which a crank shaft rotates by 30°CA. At the time of performing the regeneration process, the CPU calculates the rotational fluctuation amount based on a value obtained by removing an influence of torsion of a damper from the time et3txdh. When the influence of torsion is removed, 0.5th-order rotation and harmonics thereof are selectively used using a filter process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11480122
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cylinder deactivation to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase exhaust temperature. In one example, a method may include operating a first set of cylinders in a first combustion cycle over modified eight strokes and a second set of cylinders in a second combustion cycle over modified four strokes. Each cylinder in the first set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via a variable displacement engine (VDE) mechanism while each cylinder in the second set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via an active decompression technology (ADT) mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Brian Martz, Christopher Cundy, Daniel William Kantrow, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Sathish Atluri, Clayton Mikush, Joshua Zachary Fried
  • Patent number: 11473551
    Abstract: This disclosure presents, in one or more embodiments, an ignition device for a gasoline compression ignition engine. The ignition device includes a shuttle plunger with a gas chamber. The gas chamber is delimited by at least one sidewall of the shuttle plunger and captures exhaust gases. The ignition device also includes an electromagnetic coil that actuates the shuttle plunger in a first direction, a main body with a cavity containing the shuttle plunger and the electromagnetic coil, and a center electrode, fixed to the shuttle plunger, that ignites a fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Nayan Engineer
  • Patent number: 11466633
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst via a catalyst heater are presented. In one example, the catalyst may be heated to provide a minimum amount of time for the catalyst to reach a threshold temperature. In another example, the catalyst heater may be heated to minimize an amount of power that is used to heat the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 11466634
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine that is included in a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the internal combustion engine is operated in a two stroke mode during cold starting to increase mass flow to an electrically heated catalyst so that engine emissions may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11466641
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling knocking for an engine of a vehicle having a plurality of different types of fuel injectors and a combustion chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes one or more sensors of the vehicle and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to measure an intensity of engine knocking for the engine. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate adjusting a fuel injection ratio of respective amounts of fuel provided by the plurality of different types of fuel injectors to the combustion chamber, based on the intensity of the engine knocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Gwidt, Vitor Lanznaster Penteado
  • Patent number: 11459973
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling operation of a fueling system including a fuel pump driven by an engine geartrain and a fuel accumulator supplied fuel by the fuel pump, comprising: determining whether an operating parameter of the engine is less than a threshold value; responding to the operating parameter being less than the threshold value by causing an inlet valve of the fuel pump to operate in a 100 percent fill mode, whereby a pumping chamber in the fuel pump is approximately fully filled for at least one pumping cycle; determining whether a fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator is greater than a desired value while the inlet valve is in the 100 percent fill mode; and responding to the fuel pressure being greater than the desired value by activating an outlet valve of the fuel accumulator to drain fuel in the fuel accumulator to a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Dhanesh M. Purekar
  • Patent number: 11459995
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for combustion engine mode optimization. The system includes a combustion engine, a fuel delivery system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the combustion engine and the fuel delivery system. The controller selects a low temperature combustion mode based on the combustion engine being warmer than a predetermined temperature and low load conditions on the combustion engine. The low temperature combustion mode includes instructions that reduces an intake valve opening duration and an exhaust valve opening duration. The controller reduces the intake valve opening duration and the exhaust valve opening duration to create a delay between an intake valve opening duration and an exhaust valve opening duration in response to selecting the low temperature combustion mode. The delay increases a residual gas temperature in the combustion chamber and induces auto-ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Antowan Zyada, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Shengrong Zhu, Philip Zoldak, Jeffrey Hollowell, Mark Shirley, Nicholas Fantin
  • Patent number: 11459990
    Abstract: An injector nozzle having a first part having a stem and a flange, the flange having a flange surface, a body including a wall defining a hole, an annular nozzle ring having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface and/or the flange surface include a plurality of grooves, the stem being received in the hole, the first part being secured to the body to secure the nozzle ring in place such that the first surface engages the flange surface, the second surface engages the body, and the plurality of grooves define a plurality of injector holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: RKLAB AG
    Inventors: Riccardo Meldolesi, Ron Kuckler, Daniel Eastwood, Mike Cranfield, Mark Clements, Anthony Perkins
  • Patent number: 11459968
    Abstract: An engine misfire detection device is mounted on a hybrid electric vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and a generator. The internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders and a crankshaft and is dedicated to power generation. The generator is connected to the crankshaft via a torsional damper. The engine misfire detection device includes a generator rotation angle sensor and a processor. The generator rotation angle sensor detects the rotation angle of the generator rotating shaft. The processor is configured to execute a misfire detection process. The misfire detection process includes a first misfire detection process of determining that the internal combustion engine has misfired when an amplitude correlation value that correlates with the magnitude of amplitude of rotation speed of the generator rotating shaft and is detected by the generator rotation angle sensor is greater than a determination threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Hotta, Yuya Takahashi, Hiroki Iguma, Hideto Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11454203
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for testing spray and combustion performance of an internal-combustion engine based on a rapid compression-expansion machine, which belongs to the testing field of internal-combustion engines. It includes a driving mechanism, a transmission mechanism, an engine cylinder, an air intake system and an exhaust system. The engine cylinder includes a piston, a cylinder block, a dual-fuel cylinder head and a multi-injector assembly. The piston is disposed in the cylinder block. The driving mechanism is connected with the piston through the transmission mechanism and drives the piston to linearly move back and forth along a vertical direction of the cylinder block. The dual-fuel cylinder head is connected to an upper part of the cylinder block. The multi-fuel injection assembly includes a plurality of injectors. The plurality of injectors are of the same type and are all disposed on the dual-fuel cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HARBIN ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Long Liu, Shihai Liu, Dai Liu, Jian Zhang, Yue Wu, Chen An, Qihao Mei, Wang Yang
  • Patent number: 11448152
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an air filter status includes receiving, by a controller, sensor data indicative of a mass air flow rate, an air temperature and an air pressure of an air cleaner assembly including an air filter, determining an air filter life remaining from the sensor data, and receiving data indicative of a vehicle condition. The method also includes determining when a first condition is satisfied and when true, triggering an air filter leakage alert. When the first condition is not satisfied, the controller determines when a second condition is satisfied. When the second condition is satisfied, the controller determines when a third condition is satisfied, and when the third condition is satisfied, triggers an air filter snow intrusion alert. When the second condition is satisfied and the third condition is not satisfied the controller triggers an air filter blockage alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Li, Terry W. Ostan, Joseph K. Moore, Chong Keong Tang, Gregory A. Piper
  • Patent number: 11448153
    Abstract: A misfire detection device and a misfire detection method for an internal combustion engine, and a memory medium are provided. Cylinders adjacent to the deactivated cylinder include a determined cylinder subject to a determination of whether a misfire has occurred and a cylinder different from the determined cylinder. It is determined that a misfire has occurred in the determined cylinder on condition that a divergence degree between a value of a combustion variable of the cylinder different from the determined cylinder and adjacent to the deactivated cylinder and a value of a combustion variable of the determined cylinder is greater than or equal to a specific amount. Combustion control has been executed in the cylinders adjacent to the deactivated cylinder and the cylinder different from the determined cylinder and adjacent to the deactivated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Katayama, Takumi Anzawa, Yuki Ikejiri
  • Patent number: 11441521
    Abstract: A valve for m exhaust gas recirculation Mae in an engine includes a first barrel connectable to a first group of cylinders, a second barrel connectable to a second group of cylinders, and a center barrel between the first and second barrels and connectable to an intake of the engine, A poppet valve with two valve heads mounted on a valve stem is provided to open and close openings between the first and second barrels, with one of the valve beads of the poppet valve opening into the center barrel Vanes are provided in the center barrel to direct flow from the opening by the valve bead that opens into the center barrel toward the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Li, John Lowe