Patents Examined by Jacob Amick
  • Patent number: 10221819
    Abstract: A variable air intake apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes an valve configured to open a through hole formed at a duct body when an engine is driven at a high output to change a path of air introduced into the engine depending on an engine RPM, in which a magnet is mounted on any one of the valve and the duct body and a steel member is mounted on the other one thereof to maintain a state in which the valve closes the through hole, and a buffering member is mounted on any one of the valve and the duct body to prevent generation of hitting sound that is generated when the valve hits the duct body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Doo-Seok Jung, Min-Chan Kwak
  • Patent number: 10221758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power unit, in particular for a hybrid vehicle, having a two-cylinder reciprocating piston engine which comprises two pistons guided in two cylinders in a tandem arrangement and two counter-rotating crankshafts connected to the pistons by connecting rods, and having an alternator that can rotate in the opposite direction to the first crankshaft and in the same direction as the second crankshaft. The invention is characterized in that the alternator is in driving engagement with at least the first crankshaft via a traction mechanism and comprises a counterbalance, wherein the first crankshaft is connected via a timing chain or a timing belt to a balancing shaft which carries a further balancing mass. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a hybrid vehicle, having such a power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: OBRIST TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Laimboeck, Frank Obrist
  • Patent number: 10221750
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cross fan engine room blower for a vehicle, the cross fan engine room blower including: a plurality of cross fans that are horizontally arranged in an air flow space, that have an impeller-shaped rotating blade formed along a full length of the cross fans, and that rotate to draw outside air into the engine room. Such a cross fan engine room blower may maximize an air flow rate in the engine room and reduce the possibility of foreign materials being introduced between the cross fans and a fan shroud, thereby reducing the possibility of a motor stalling or otherwise performing undesirably. Such a cross fan engine room blower may also improve an air flow quality by minimizing a dead zone of the air flow space to thereby reduce power consumption of a motor, thereby improving fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Tae-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 10215103
    Abstract: A throttle valve assembly is disclosed having a throttle valve mounted within a throttle body to vary the flow of air therethrough. The throttle valve comprises of first and second throttle plates that interact with one another so as to be configurable in a V-shape thereby forming a converging/diverging flow path through part of the throttle body in which the flow of air through the throttle body is restricted and in flat aligned configuration which is minimally intrusive so as to produce substantially no restriction to flow through the throttle body is produced by the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William Gerald Barr
  • Patent number: 10208647
    Abstract: There is provided a saddle-ridden type vehicle. A cooling water flow control unit includes a first passage, a second passage, a bypass passage communicating the first and second passages and a thermostat. An engine outlet piping connects a water jacket and the first passage. A radiator inlet piping connects the first passage and a radiator. A radiator outlet piping connects the radiator and the second passage. A water pump inlet piping connects the second passage and a water pump. The water pump is disposed at a side part of a crank case and in front of a crankshaft. The cooling water flow control unit is disposed above a cylinder head cover. The radiator inlet piping, the radiator outlet piping and the water pump inlet piping are disposed between the engine and the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Okita, Takaya Suzuki, Shintaro Yagi
  • Patent number: 10208663
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder head cover for a motor vehicle, said cylinder head cover being made of plastic material and being provided with an integrated camshaft timing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Polytec Plastics Germany GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helen Esders, Hans Janssen
  • Patent number: 10208710
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicle with LPG may include an auxiliary chamber disposed in an LPG bombe of the LPG vehicle, an auxiliary injection line branched from a fuelling line extending to the LPG bombe from a fuel inlet port for connection to the auxiliary chamber, a solenoid valve mounted in the auxiliary injection line to selectively allow or block a flow of LPG to the auxiliary chamber, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature in the bombe, and a controller to control the solenoid valve to be opened when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chang Han Kim, Jae Hwa Park, Jong Ki Kim, Jae Min Lee, Keun Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10202900
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an adjustable variable compression ratio, a crankshaft having a crankshaft center line and at least one counterweight, which has an extent with a maximum distance from the crankshaft center line, at least one connecting rod, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the adjustable variable compression ratio, a switchover element for switching the adjusting mechanism, wherein the switchover element is arranged on the connecting rod, and an actuating element for switching over the switchover element from a first position, which corresponds to a first compression ratio, into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: FEB GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schaffrath, Christoph Muller, Paul Grzeschik
  • Patent number: 10202899
    Abstract: A device for compensating for the operating clearances of an engine comprising a transmission device likely to move transversely in an engine block) during an engine cycle includes a pressing device exerting a holding force on the transmission device. The holding force is adjusted to the instantaneous speed of transverse movement of the transmission device in the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MCE-5 Development S.A.
    Inventors: Benoit Schwenck, Sylvain Bigot, Francois Besson
  • Patent number: 10202935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-piece, in particular at least two-piece, piston (1) for an internal combustion engine having a longitudinal axis (L), comprising a piston outer part (10) having a closed piston head (11), which in the fitted state defines a combustion chamber, and a piston body (13) extending axially away from the piston head (11), and a piston inner part (20), which in the fitted state is connected to a connecting rod. An outer surface (2) radially defining the piston (1) is formed exclusively by at least one portion of the piston body (13) of the piston outer part (10). The piston inner part (20), viewed in an axial direction, is arranged radially entirely inside the piston body (13) or its circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Ihle, Thomas BrĂ¼cher
  • Patent number: 10196962
    Abstract: An expansion tank for a coolant circuit of a motor vehicle includes a housing with an upper part with an upper joint and a lower part with a lower joint. An inlet is arranged on the upper part. An outlet is arranged on the lower part. The upper part is connectable by the upper joint to the lower joint of the lower part in at least two different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard Kerkewitz, Klaus Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10196991
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an engine having a cylinder head which is divided into multiple sections which each delimit a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine and which each comprise inlet and outlet ducts, inlet and outlet valves, and a spark device which is fastened in a through hole of the cylinder head section, for at least one cylinder head section a throttle flap being provided for completely closing the corresponding inlet duct in the event of a deactivation of the associated cylinder. In the at least one cylinder head section, a first gas flow duct is formed between the through hole and the outlet duct, and the spark device is in the form of a rotary slide valve with integrated spark electrodes and is configured to selectively either keep the first gas flow duct closed or connect said first gas flow duct to the associated combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, Maziar Khosravi
  • Patent number: 10190455
    Abstract: A device for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect, systems utilizing the device, and methods of making the device are disclosed. The device has a housing defining a Venturi gap, a motive passageway converging toward the Venturi gap and in fluid communication therewith, a discharge passageway diverging away from the Venturi gap and in fluid communication therewith, and a suction passageway in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The suction passageway has an interior surface with a surface topography that renders the interior surface hydrophobic and has an oleophobic coating applied to the interior surface while maintaining the surface topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Hampton, David E. Fletcher, Brian M. Graichen, James H. Miller, Andrew D. Niedert
  • Patent number: 10189350
    Abstract: A fuel drip retention system includes a computer programmed to actuate one of a pump or a starter motor to generate a vacuum in an evaporation line between a fuel nozzle receiving port and a vapor canister. The vacuum is generated upon determining that fuel has stopped flowing into a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10190528
    Abstract: Technology is provided for a cylinder with a carbon scraper for use in an opposed piston engine. The cylinder includes a cylinder body having first and second piston bores extending along a central axis for reciprocation of corresponding first and second pistons therein. A chamber bore is located between the first and second piston bores and first and second annular grooves are located on opposite ends of the chamber bore. The chamber bore extends between and is inclusive of a top-dead-center position of a top land of each of the first and second pistons. The first and second piston bores have a piston diameter and the chamber bore has a chamber diameter smaller than the piston diameter. For example, the chamber diameter can be between about 0.004 and about 0.020 inches smaller than the piston diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Fairbanks Morse LLC
    Inventor: Justin Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10190489
    Abstract: In a turbine housing of a twin entry type turbocharger, a first scroll chamber communicating with a first exhaust manifold, and a second scroll chamber communicating with a second exhaust manifold are provided. A surface area of the first exhaust manifold is configured to be larger than a surface area of the second exhaust manifold, and these exhaust manifolds are cooled by a cooling mechanism. In the turbine housing, a first and second cooling water passages are respectively provided to cover the first and second scroll chambers. An internal combustion engine includes a cooling device that causes cooling water to flow into the first and second cooling water passages, and the cooling device is configured so that a temperature of the cooling water that is introduced into the second cooling water passage becomes lower than a temperature of cooling water that is introduced into the first cooling water passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumio Takamiya
  • Patent number: 10190492
    Abstract: The timing or phasing of port openings and closings during operation of an opposed-piston engine is varied in response to changing engine speeds and loads by changing crankshaft phasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, Fabien G. Redon
  • Patent number: 10190452
    Abstract: An engine lubrication structure supplies oil from an oil pump to individual components of an engine in which a balancer shaft is disposed parallel with a crank shaft in a crank case, the engine includes a turbocharger which compresses intake air using exhaust gas of the engine; a main gallery which supplies oil to a bearing of the crank shaft and a bearing of the balancer shaft and a sub-gallery which supplies, to individual components of the engine, oil that has been supplied to the bearing of the balancer shaft are provided in the crank case; and an oil passage which supplies oil to the turbocharger is connected to the sub-gallery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Tsukamoto, Shintaro Yagi
  • Patent number: 10190552
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising: a plurality of cylinders; at least one intake manifold, which receives fresh air from the outside; a plurality of intake channels, each connecting a cylinder to the intake manifold; and an intake sound amplification device, which is provided with an amplification pipe, an insulating element sealing the amplification pipe in a tight manner, a plurality of amplification channels, each originating from a corresponding intake channel, and an amplification manifold, which, on one side, is connected to all amplification channels and, on the other side, is connected to the amplification pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Tarabra, Francesco Naclerio
  • Patent number: 10184423
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine is provided that has a cylinder, in which a combustion chamber is formed, and a piston, which delimits the combustion chamber and which drives a crankshaft rotatably mounted in a crankcase. The piston controls an inlet window for fuel/air mixture into the crankcase interior. A flow guide element is arranged in the crankcase interior which extends adjacent to the inlet window. The flow guide element has at least one first inflow surface by which at least a first partial quantity of the fuel/air mixture flowing in through the inlet window is diverted in the direction of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Richter, Gordon Groskopf