Patents Examined by Hyder Ali
  • Fluid valve
    Patent number: 7343882
    Abstract: A fluid valve for use in proportioning/mixing fluid between at least one input and at least one output. The fluid valve including a rotary actuated diverter for controlling fluid flow between the inlet(s) and outlet(s). The fluid valve may be configured to support proportioning any number of fluids, including liquids and gases, for any number of applications, including automotive and industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: EMP Advanced Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Pipkorn, David J. Allen, Mark S. Bader, Stephen J. Shiverski
  • Supercharged two-cycle engines employing novel single element reciprocating shuttle inlet valve mechanisms and with a variable compression ratio
    Patent number: 7341040
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel reciprocating shuttle inlet valves, effective with every type of two-cycle engine, from small high-speed single cylinder model engines, to large low-speed multiple cylinder engines, employing spark or compression ignition. Also permitting the elimination of out-of-phase piston arrangements to control scavenging and supercharging of opposed-piston engines. The reciprocating shuttle inlet valve (32) and its operating mechanism (34) is constructed as a single and simple uncomplicated member, in combination with the lost-motion abutments, (46) and (48), formed in a piston skirt, obviating the need for any complex mechanisms or auxiliary drives, unaffected by heat, friction, wear or inertial forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Bernard Wiesen
  • Intake device and mounting structure of valve unit
    Patent number: 7341036
    Abstract: An intake device has an intake manifold, valve units each having a valve housing and a valve member, a shaft and deformed members. The intake manifold defines passages through which a fluid flows. Each of the valve units is disposed in a corresponding one of the passages of the intake manifold such that a passage of the valve unit is in communication with the passage of the intake manifold. The shaft passes through the intake manifold and the valve units, and rotatably supports the valve members. Further, each of the deformed members is disposed between the valve housing and the intake manifold and deformed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masamichi Akagawa
  • Cylinder head cooling structure for an internal combustion engine, including an oil temperature sensor and an oil temperature control system
    Patent number: 7337755
    Abstract: A cylinder head cooling structure and an oil temperature control system are provided for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, each having a plurality of intake ports and a plurality of exhaust ports. The engine includes cooling oil jackets surrounding the spark plugs in the cylinder head, a thermostat attached to the front surface of the crankcase independently of an oil filter, and an oil temperature sensor disposed on a rear face of the cylinder block above the crankcase in an oil supply path formed on the cylinder rear face for supplying oil to the oil jackets. Oil passages conducting oil into the oil jacket are provided between two separate parts of a bifucated intake port and between two separate parts of a bifurcated exhaust port, and only cooling system oil reaching high temperatures is allowed to flow through the thermostat, thereby improving temperature control response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Katsuji Yamamoto
  • Engine
    Patent number: 7337759
    Abstract: The invention involves an engine that the cylinder block contains a coupled piston formed by a main piston, an external piston. The external piston is sleeved outside of the main piston and uses the rods on the two sides to connect to the heart-shape groove on the two sides of the crankshaft inside the crankcase at the bottom of the cylinder block. It moves with the main piston in an upward stroke and in a downward stroke. It forms a direct fuel injection device in the cylinder without carburetor. It does not need to add lubricants in the fuels. Besides, the engine has increased compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Yung-ching Chen, Chih-chieh Chen
  • Cylinder liner for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7337756
    Abstract: A coolant groove-type internal combustion engine has a cylinder block that includes a frame having at least one longitudinal surface and a lateral member transverse to the longitudinal surface, the lateral member defining a coolant passage therethrough, wherein the lateral member also defines at least one cylinder opening and a groove coolant port extending from the coolant passage to the cylinder opening. A cylinder liner includes a cylindrical member, defining an elongated cylinder bore. The cylinder member has an outer surface that has a diameter that allows the cylindrical member to be fitted into the cylinder opening so as to form a coolant jacket between the outer surface of the cylindrical member and the longitudinal surface. The outer surface of the cylindrical member includes an upper portion that plugs the groove coolant port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: PAI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan A. Ruble, Navid Yavari
  • Charge motion control valve actuator
    Patent number: 7337758
    Abstract: A charge motion control valve actuator method and apparatus that utilizes a motor, output shaft, control circuit, and sensor to provide closed loop control of the position of the output shaft via the motor. The control circuit has an input for receiving actuator commands and has an output connected to the motor to control operation of the motor. The sensor is connected to the control circuit and provides the control circuit with data indicative of the position of the output shaft. The output shaft is connected to the motor via a gear set and coil spring. Feedback from the sensor enables the control circuit to control the position of the output shaft, and the control circuit can also output data relating to the position of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sturdy Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Sturdy, Ronald L. Marsh, James D. Gallaher, Paul F. Olhoeft
  • Engine room in a sealable container
    Patent number: 7337760
    Abstract: A sealable engine containment assembly provides a waterproof environment for an internal combustion engine and ancillary equipment, thus performing a “engine room” in a sealable container. The container includes an air inlet port for passage of air from the container exterior, and an exit port for passage of engine exhaust to the container's exterior. Both the inlet and exhaust ports have valves to isolate the port from the container exterior when the engine is not operating. A waterproof coupling for transmission of engine drive shaft output may be provided, along with waterproof couplings for electrical, hydraulic and fuel lines. The engine assembly is of utility in open-hull submersible vessels as well as for use in other environments where potential water ingress could prove deleterious to conventional internal engine assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Stidd Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Digregorio
  • Stamped crankshaft seal retainer plate and molded encoder sensor support feature
    Patent number: 7334555
    Abstract: A stamped crankshaft seal retainer plate is provided, including a molded encoder sensor support feature for mounting an encoder sensor of an engine speed sensing system. The use of a stamped crankshaft seal retainer plate reduces the cost of the retainer plate as well as the overall weight of the vehicle while precisely locating the encoder sensor for position and required air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Chad David Bauer
  • Balancer driven gear of engine
    Patent number: 7334553
    Abstract: A balancer driven gear of an engine, for the transfer of rotation of the crankshaft to a balancer shaft, is made up of a gear member, a bush member and elastic members and interposed therebetween. The bush member has a boss portion fixed to the balancer shaft, and a plurality of outward dowels projecting radially outward from the outer periphery of the boss portion. The gear member is disposed coaxially with the bush member. The gear member has an annular portion with gear teeth on the outer periphery thereof and a plurality of inward dowels projecting radially inward from the inner periphery of the annular portion. Elastic members are disposed between the outward dowels on the bush member 20 and the inward dowels on the gear member. The shapes and/or dimensions of the dowels positioned on opposite sides with respect to the axis of the balancer driven gear are made asymmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Satoh, Akira Takahashi, Teruo Kihara
  • Internal viscous damper monitoring system and method
    Patent number: 7334552
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a vehicle traveling on the road, the method comprising of damping engine vibration with a damper coupled to the engine, and when said damping is reduced, preventing engine speed from falling below a threshold value, at least under selected operating conditions, to reduce degradation of the engine that would otherwise occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Möller, Erik Svenske
  • Handheld electric starter for engines and method of use
    Patent number: 7331321
    Abstract: An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine having a manual recoil starter and starter rope comprises a casing that houses a motor, a source of power, a gear reducer assembly and a spool assembly. The spool assembly includes a spool that adapted to receive the handgrip of the starter rope and allow the starter rope to be wound around the spool during the starting operation. The motor via the gear reducer rotates the spool once the handgrip and cord are properly positioned and the motor is activated to pull the starter rope and start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventor: Gene Thompson
  • Slip joint exhaust manifolds
    Patent number: 7328685
    Abstract: A multi-piece exhaust manifold includes a ring seal between separate portions. The separate portions have generally cylindrical sealing surfaces formed thereon to mate with the ring seal. The ring seal may include a metal sheath filled with graphite or other sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Mockenhaupt, Lance Heiser, Joseph Ulrich
  • Four-stroke engine system
    Patent number: 7325526
    Abstract: A four-stroke engine employs engine vibration for lubricating engine components. The engine vibration induces a ripple in a surface portion of the oil in an oil reservoir, which is located within a crankcase of the engine. The oil ripple causes misting of the oil, which lubricates exposed engine components. Providing a crankcase wall thickness of about 1.5 mm or less can increase the engine vibration. Alternatively, a clearance area located within the crankcase can be decreased to facilitate contact of the oil surface ripple with a counterweight, thereby splashing the oil onto exposed engine components. Vibration of the engine can be further increased by coupling a vibration plate or spring to a portion of the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc.
    Inventor: Shiro Kawamoto
  • Oil pump arrangement for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7325527
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a power unit case having a crankcase, a first housing flange and a second housing flange. The crankshaft axis and the output shaft axis define a reference plane. An oil pump has an oil pump shaft, having an oil pump shaft axis, disposed at least partially in an oil pump chamber. A normal projection of the oil pump shaft axis onto the reference plane is located between the crankshaft axis and the output shaft axis. A first housing cover is mounted to the first housing flange on a first side of the power unit case. A separate oil pump cover is mounted to the second housing flange on the first side of the power unit case to close the oil pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Hochmayr, Herbert Poelz
  • Vehicle parallel cooling system
    Patent number: 7325518
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for a vehicle having an engine. The cooling system includes a pair of heat exchangers, such as an oil cooler and a charge air cooler, laterally spaced apart from each other and located in front of a front end of the engine. A pair of blower units are in front of the coolers and blow cooling air rearwardly therethrough. A pair of duct units are located above the engine and to the rear of the coolers. Each duct unit includes a forward opening inlet receiving warmed air from the corresponding cooler, an upwardly opening outlet and a hollow housing extending from the inlet to the outlet. The outlets are spaced laterally apart from each other. A radiator is positioned above the duct unit housings and forward of the outlets. A set of radiator fans blow air upwardly through the radiator and are positioned between the radiator and the duct housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Christopher Adam Bering
  • Intake system of multi-cylinder engine
    Patent number: 7322332
    Abstract: An intake system of a V-engine provided with a surge tank arranged at a position higher than a cylinder head and divided in internal space into a top part and a bottom part. The surge tank has a plurality of intake tubes communicating the surge tank and intake ports, wherein intake tubes communicated with one cylinder bank of the V-engine are connected to the top part of the surge tank and intake tubes communicated with the other cylinder bank are connected to the bottom part of the surge tank. The surge tank is formed so that a front end of the top part is positioned further toward a rear side of the vehicle compared with the front end of the bottom part when the intake system is mounted to a V-engine mounted in the vehicle, whereby the height of the engine hood can be effectively lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Abe
  • Charged water fumigation for combustion systems
    Patent number: 7320298
    Abstract: Internal combustion engines generally suffer from inadequate time to completely combust all the fuel in a given cycle. Therefore, any method for increasing the rate and completion of combustion is welcomed. A large excess of electrons are admitted to the combustion zone attached to a fine water droplet spray. The charged spray enters through the air intake valves at the beginning of the intake stroke. The charged spray becomes well mixed with the charge of air prior to fuel injection and the well mixed electrons provide for catalytic action. Electron catalyzed combustion reactions occur faster and at lower temperatures. The lower temperature reduces NOx and the faster burning increases efficiency and reduces soot formation. The catalytic benefits of charged water fumigation is only observed once the electron concentration exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Brian Steven Ahern
  • Generator cooling system of engine
    Patent number: 7316208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a generator cooling system of an engine which can supply sufficient cooling oil to a generator even during low speed operation, without complicating an oil passage formed within a wall of a crankcase. In the generator cooling system of the engine having a generator accommodated in a generator room which is formed at an end portion of the crankcase in a longitudinal direction of a crankshaft of the engine, the generator cooling system is provided with an oil passage formed to the crankcase in a position lower than an axis of the crankshaft, and an oil nozzle provided in the oil passage for injecting oil of the oil passage toward a lower portion within the generator room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Tanaka, Yoshiharu Matsuda, Yuji Hida
  • Fuel management system for variable ethanol octane enhancement of gasoline engines
    Patent number: 7314033
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood