Patents Examined by Henry C. Yuen
  • Patent number: 7921842
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water-cooled barbecue system with a cooling fluid circulation system which avoids meat from sticking to a grill and from burning. The water-cooled barbecue system comprises: a body, the upper portion thereof being open to provide heat from the supplied fuel, a receiving space being defined by the body; a grill with a frame, the frame having a first communicating hole and a second communicating hole to introduce and/or discharge fluid, a fluid circulation tube communicating between the first communicating hole and the second communicating hole being provided inside of the frame; and a cooling device connected with the fluid circulation tube through the first communicating hole and the second communicating hole, and cooling fluid which circulates inside of the fluid circulation tube. The water-cooled barbecue system, which has the body at the upper portion thereof and the cooling device inside thereof, can further a housing, which can be moved and assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Wellbas Limited
    Inventor: Keun-jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7921661
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle is provided with a multi-port compressor or compressor stages connected in series, and multiple condensers. A single evaporator communicates with the plurality of condensers. At least one of the plurality of condensers receives fully compressed refrigerant while the other condensers receive refrigerant at intermediate pressure. A control can optionally direct refrigerant to the condensers to achieve desired system heat rejection characteristics and operating conditions. One or multiple reheat coils may be associated with the evaporator and are arranged either in series or in parallel to provide a desired dehumidification function and reheat stages. One or several of the intermediate pressure condensers may be utilized for the reheat function as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Patent number: 7273045
    Abstract: The present invention is a dual-stage fuel injection strategy for compression ignition engines in which 15-40% of the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber no later than about ?20 to ?30 CA ATDC and as early as IVC. The remaining fuel is then injected in one or more fuel pulses, none of which start before about ?20 to ?30 CA ATDC. The fuel injected early in the compression stroke forms a lean mixture that burns with low soot and low NOx emissions. The combustion of that fuel serves to increase in-cylinder temperature such that the ignition delay of subsequent fuel injection pulses is short. This mode is utilized when it is predicted that a NOx spike is imminent. Various other alternative methods for reducing NOx spikes are also disclosed such as specialized EGR systems that can provide EGR with low manifold vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, John H. Vanderslice
  • Patent number: 7182048
    Abstract: In a cooling system of an internal combustion engine, coolant flowing through a radiator and bypassing the radiator are mixed in a flow control valve controlled by ECU on the basis of signals provided by sensors such as a coolant temperature sensor, so that the coolant is circulated by an electric pump to control the coolant temperature for the internal combustion engine. A desired coolant temperature is changed according to the operating condition of the internal combustion engine, the traveling condition of a vehicle and the ambient condition. Thus, the temperature of the coolant flowing into the internal combustion engine is changed properly so that frictional resistance in the engine and exhaust gas may be reduced and the internal combustion engine may be kept at its most efficient temperature near a detonation limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumi Nakano
  • Patent number: 7146958
    Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency. Accordingly, a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature) TMKSTDLYT which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in the engine water temperature is set (step S10). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge)TMKSTDLYQ which changes in an increasing trend with an increase in the state of charge QBAT is set (step S12 and S14). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in vehicle speed VP is set (step S13 and S15). Then the greatest value of; the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature)TMKSTDLYT, the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge)TMKSTDLYQ, and the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV is set as a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting TMKSTDLY (step S16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Asakawa, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Patent number: 7140330
    Abstract: A coolant system includes a heat exchange circuit capable of being in a heat exchange relationship with a heat generating component, such as an engine, to remove thermal energy from the engine and transfer the thermal energy to a coolant, and an insulated tank in fluid communication with the heat exchange circuit. The system also includes a control and associated conduits and valves for passing coolant through the heat exchange circuit and the insulated tank so as to fill the tank with a first volume of coolant in a first operational state, for passing an additional amount of coolant from the heat exchange circuit into the insulated tank so as to fill the insulated tank with a second volume of coolant which is greater than the first volume of coolant in a second operational state, and for passing the additional amount of coolant from the insulated tank to the heat exchange circuit in a third operational state. A method of operating the coolant system to store thermal energy is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: C. James Rogers, Werner Zobel, Mark G. Voss
  • Patent number: 7137382
    Abstract: This feature of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus which uses an ionization signal to optimize the air to fuel ratio AFR of the combustion mixture when the engine is operated at wide open throttle (WOT). This feature of the present invention optimizes the air to fuel ratio AFR on-line using the relationship between an air to fuel ratio AFR index CAFR and the air to fuel ratio AFR. In a preferred embodiment, the real-time control strategy adjusts the engine air to fuel ratio AFR based upon an air to fuel ratio AFR gradient parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoming G. Zhu, Chao F. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7133761
    Abstract: A method for processing an accelerometer data set generated from an operating internal combustion engine is disclosed. The processed accelerometer data is cepstrally filtered and a heat release trace is pulled from the accelerometer data set. That heat release trace is then used to estimate combustion quality and combustion phasing within the engine and control future combustion events using this information. Misfire and knock sensing is also incorporated into the engine controls. The method provides controls for an engine to allow it to adjust combustion from cycle window to cycle window generally without the need for expensive and less durable direct pressure measurement devices as compared to accelerometers. The resulting fuel injection speed results in the fuel passing through shock waves within the combustion chamber, which, in turn, promotes combustion of the fuel by promoting mixing of the fuel and intake charge within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Ancimer
  • Patent number: 7131405
    Abstract: A rotating cylinder valve engine provides variable compression to the engine by axially moving the rotatable cylinder towards or away from the piston. The volumetric center of the combustion chamber is offset from the central axis of the piston. The engine cylinder is also ported to optimize performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: RCV Engines Limited
    Inventor: Keith Trevor Lawes
  • Patent number: 7128043
    Abstract: A method to control electromechanical valves in an internal combustion engine is presented. Electromechanical valves are controlled to improve the possibility starting an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John O. Michelini
  • Patent number: 7124728
    Abstract: A marine diesel engine system includes a diesel engine having a plurality of cylinders. The system also includes, proximate the engine, a primary engine lubricant and an additive selected from certain alkylamine-alkylphosphates, 500 TBN calcium sulfonate and mixtures thereof. A means for blending the lubricant and additives into a mixture for introduction into a cylinder is provided. Thus lubricant properties may be modified depending upon engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Vincent Mark Carey, Kevin John Kelly, Kevin Louis Crouthamel, Keith Preston Saddler
  • Patent number: 7121269
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an air-entrainment mechanism for carbureted engine. The mechanism includes a plunger valve controlled by a solenoid. The solenoid is powered by a battery with a switch electrically coupled thereto. The plunger valve is interconnected to the carburetor to allow additional air entrainment. The solenoid is coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve. The switch electrically couples the solenoid to the battery to activate the solenoid for movement of the valve. The switch disclosed herein includes a temperature sensor and an engine-running sensor. The switch is then closeable when the temperature sensor detects an engine temperature within a predetermined range as long as the engine is not already running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Michael North
  • Patent number: 7121232
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, Z-engine. The compression part and the working part are separated. New gas is transported to the upper side of the piston. Below there is a small chamber corner. When the piston comes nearer the upper hollow part, the combustion gases go out from the cylinder through exhaust-valves. After the changing of the gas, before filling the upper chamber, there is a secondary compression, the firing of the mix, or fire. In advance of the compression can be other than the volume of the working pistons together. The side effect of the piston can be taken away by means of a double cam mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Timo Tapani Janhunen
  • Patent number: 7111603
    Abstract: The HELI-SHAFT intake exhaust manifold system is comprised of a shaft with two helical and parallel runners cutout around its length. Surrounding the shaft is a sleeve of the same length to enclose and separate the two runners. The intake runner has an opening at the front end of the shaft to provide an inlet for the air/fuel mixture to enter from the intake plenum. Exhaust gases exit the rear of the shaft through the exhaust opening; thus allowing the air/fuel mixture and exhaust gases to travel through the sleeved shaft following the runners in a parallel path. The shaft also provides locations for spark plugs to be inserted. The sleeve contains port openings located over each intake and exhaust runner positioned to provide alignment during rotation with individual combustion chambers aligned in a row matching both the firing order and cycle timing of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Kenneth Michael Davis
  • Patent number: 7104238
    Abstract: An intake valve for a combustion engine having an intake port is disclosed. The intake includes a valve guide having an end proximate the intake port, a valve shield extending from the end of the valve guide and into the intake port, and a valve stem arranged proximate the valve guide and valve shield. The valve guide and valve stem define a first clearance dimension therebetween, and the valve shield and value stem define a second clearance dimension therebetween, wherein the second clearance dimension is equal to or greater than the first clearance dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Shi-Wai S. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7107142
    Abstract: Parameters for control of engine operation are operated for each operating state for establishment of compliance, whereby the output values are made compliance targets. This compliance operation is performed by first determining the adjustment sequences and adjustment directions for a plurality of parameters for reducing the output values exceeding the compliance targets and then sequentially operating these parameters in accordance with the determined adjustment sequence and in the determined adjustment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Harada, Takao Fukuma, Teruhiko Miyake, Yusuke Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7100563
    Abstract: Oil jets are mounted in upper two cylinders in a cylinder block of a 4-cylinder vertical engine to inject an oil to rear faces of pistons received in the two cylinders. Thus, although lower pistons are cooled more effectively by the oil dropped by gravitation through oil return bores provided in journal support walls, the upper pistons are forcibly cooled by the oil injected from the oil jets, so that the four pistons can be cooled equally to prevent insufficient cooling and excessive cooling, while minimizing the required amount of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Tawa, Yoshihiko Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7100562
    Abstract: A V-type, multicylinder internal combustion engine with multiple isolated crank chambers formed by partitioning a space inside of a crankcase with multiple support walls for supporting a crankshaft, and multiple oil outlet holes, respectively communicating with the isolated crank chambers to separately discharge oil from the multiple isolated crank chambers, uses a single scavenging pump to discharge the oil from the isolated crank chambers rather than connecting multiple scavenging pumps, respectively, to the oil outlet holes. The engine includes an oil collecting pan mounted on a bottom wall of a crank chamber covering the multiple oil outlet holes respectively communicating with the multiple isolated crank chambers for collecting the oil passed through the oil outlet holes. The oil collecting pan has an oil reservoir with an oil outlet opening, and a single scavenging pump for drawing the oil stored in the oil collecting pan through the oil outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Terada, Osamu Emizu, Ryushi Tsubota, Noboru Yamashita, Yoshiyuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 7100551
    Abstract: A two-cycle engine 1 is provided and has a cylinder in which is formed a combustion chamber that is delimited by a piston which, via a connecting rod, drives a crankshaft rotatably mounted in a crankcase. The engine has an air duct that communicates with a transfer channel, and a mixture channel via which fuel/air mixture is drawn into the crankcase. At least a portion of the length of the mixture channel is separated from the air duct by a dividing wall that extends in a direction of flow of the air. The dividing wall separates the channels from one another in such a way that the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the mixture channel to the cross-sectional area of the air duct is approximately in the range of 0.5 to 1.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heiko Rosskamp
  • Patent number: 7096847
    Abstract: An oil separator for an internal combustion engine includes a basket that houses a filter media for separating air from oil particles. A portion of the basket is disposed within a valve cover. A breather lid is fitted over the basket for sealing the filter media housed within the basket. Air is drawn through the breather lid and the filter media to separate the air from the oil particles contained in the filter media. The design may also include a baffle for preventing the oil from saturating the filter media. The integration of the filter media with sealing eliminates parts and maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of separating the oil particles from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Harrell Nation, Michael Puckett