Patents Examined by Jacob Amick
  • Control device for engine cooling system
    Patent number: 10100709
    Abstract: A control device is applied to an engine cooling system having a flow volume adjustment valve and a heat recovery unit. The control device includes a first learning unit which actuates a valve body to move to a valve-opening side by a predetermined amount at a time while a channel in the flow volume adjustment valve to the heat recovery unit is closed and learns a valve-closing position according to a coolant liquid that flows a circulation path and a second learning unit which actuates, after the valve-closing position is learned by the first learning unit, the valve body to move to the valve-opening side by a predetermined amount at a time within a range of a learned value while the channel is closed and determines to maintain the learned value and ends learning of the valve-closing position when the coolant liquid is not flowing the circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakanishi
  • System and method for diagnosing a variable displacement engine
    Patent number: 10094304
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining operation of a cylinder deactivating/reactivating device are disclosed. In one example, a direction of engine rotation is selected to maximize air flow through the engine while the engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel. Operation of one or more cylinder valve deactivating mechanisms is assessed while the engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Temperature sensitive valve mechanism
    Patent number: 10094254
    Abstract: A pump housing has a main oil passage, a return oil passage provided substantially in parallel with the main oil passage, and a valve insertion hole extending across the main oil passage such that a closed fore end of the valve insertion hole reaches in the vicinity of the return oil passage. The valve insertion hole has a female screw formed at an open end thereof, and a through-hole is formed in the pump housing, having one end connected to the valve insertion hole at a portion adjacent to the closed fore end thereof and an opposite end opened to the outside of the pump housing. With the valve insertion hole thus provided, a temperature sensitive valve mechanism can be readily inserted in the valve insertion hole at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Miyajima, Kazuo Shoji, Yuya Kato
  • Variable compression ratio device
    Patent number: 10087829
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio device may include a piston pin having first and second plunger spaces, a plunger device including a first plunger that is disposed to reciprocate in the first plunger space, a second plunger and a connection pipe that connects between the first and second plungers, a first check valve disposed in a first check space to move oil from a pipe passage to the first check space in a first direction, a second check valve disposed in a second check space to move the oil from the pipe passage to a second check space in a second direction; and a return member elastically supporting the second plunger to one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Won Gyu Kim, Myungsik Choi, Gyu Han Hwang
  • Partial deactivation of an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10087859
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders configured in such a way that they form two groups, at least one cylinder of a first group being a cylinder which is operational in the event of a partial deactivation of the engine, and at least one cylinder of a second group being formed as a load-dependently switchable cylinder. An inlet-side throttle element is provided with at least one intake line of the switchable cylinder, by means of which the size of the flow cross section of the intake line can be varied, whereby the charge-air flow rate supplied to the deactivated cylinder in the event of a partial deactivation of the engine can be adjusted. Each outlet opening of a load-dependently switchable cylinder is equipped with a partially variable valve drive, with an outlet valve which opens or shuts off the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Werner Willems, Paul Nigel Turner, Juergen Karl Stief, Guohui Chen
  • Double-link piston crank mechanism for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10087833
    Abstract: A multi-link piston crank mechanism includes a crank pin bearing portion including a crank pin bearing central portion that is disposed at a center thereof in an axial direction of a crank shaft. The crank pin bearing central portion at a portion positioned on the first end side of the lower link is thicker in a radial direction of the crank pin than a portion positioned on the second end side of the lower link. The second control link end portion is thicker along a radial direction of the second through hole than the second upper link end portion along a radial direction of the first through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tanabe, Katsuya Moteki
  • Engine
    Patent number: 10087831
    Abstract: Provided is an engine that includes a first member, a second member, a first hydraulic pressure chamber formed between facing parts of the first and second members, and a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism. The hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism has a plunger pump having a pump cylinder and a plunger and configured to supply hydraulic oil in the pump cylinder to the first hydraulic pressure chamber by pushing the plunger into the pump cylinder. The plunger pump moves in a stroke direction along with a piston and a power transmission section, and the plunger is pushed into the pump cylinder by receiving a reaction force opposite to reciprocating forces of the piston and the power transmission section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Yoshiyuki Umemoto, Machiko Kobayashi
  • Piston
    Patent number: 10087881
    Abstract: A ferrous piston for gasoline powered engines having dimensions which achieve reduced mass and improved performance is provided. The piston crown has a thickness of less than 4 mm and includes valve pockets with an axial clearance between the valve pockets and an uppermost ring groove of less than 1.5 mm. The pin bosses have an axial thickness of less than 3.7% of a bore diameter, which is the largest outer diameter of the piston, measured between a pin bore and the crown at 1 mm from an inner face forming the pin bore. Each pin boss has a radial thickness of less than 3% of the bore diameter measured between the pin bore and a lower end of the pin boss. An undercrown surface presents a projected area of less than 45% of a total piston bore area, wherein the total piston bore area is ?BD2/4, BD being the bore diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Miller, Bruce Inwood, Marc Brandt
  • Rapid warm-up schemes of engine and engine coolant for higher fuel efficiency
    Patent number: 10082047
    Abstract: A system for rapidly heating a vehicle engine when the engine is below a pre-determined temperature allows for improved fuel efficiency after a vehicle cold-start. The system includes an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) loop having a two-phase ORC fluid traveling circuitously through a conduit. The ORC fluid is vaporized by a power electronics cooling device and by an evaporator in thermal communication with exhaust waste heat. The vaporized ORC fluid is passed through an expander to generate electrical power. When the vehicle engine is below the pre-determined temperature, heat from the vaporized ORC fluid is transferred directly or indirectly to the engine. When the vehicle engine is at or above the pre-determined temperature, heat from the vaporized ORC fluid is instead transferred to an alternate heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailesh N. Joshi, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Engine automatic stop and start device, and engine automatic stop and start control method
    Patent number: 10082120
    Abstract: Provided is a device for automatically stopping an engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied and restarting the engine thereafter when a restart condition is satisfied, the device including: a ring gear (12) to be coupled to a crankshaft of the engine; a starter motor (14) for starting the engine; a pinion gear (16) for transmitting rotation of the starter motor to the ring gear; pinion-gear moving means (17) for moving the pinion gear by energization to bring the pinion gear into meshing engagement with the ring gear; and starter control means (11) for controlling a voltage to be applied to the pinion-gear moving means so as to fall within a predetermined range when the pinion gear and the ring gear are brought into meshing engagement by moving the pinion gear by the pinion-gear moving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kitano, Daisuke Mizuno, Koichiro Kamei, Kazuhiro Odahara
  • Ignition plug and internal-combustion engine
    Patent number: 10077754
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition plug (15) that has an antenna (54) for emitting high-frequency EM waves to combustion chamber (20) of an internal combustion engine (10), wherein the propagation velocity of the flame is augmented using the high-frequency EM waves emitted from the antenna (54). The ignition plug (15) has an ignition plug body (30) and an antenna (54). The antenna (54) is located on the front-tip side surface of the cylindrical second conductive member (33) within the ignition plug body (30), which accommodates a rod-shaped first conductive member (31) and cylindrical insulation (32) surrounding the first conductive member (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikeda
  • Captured engine cylinder sleeve and coating
    Patent number: 10077735
    Abstract: A cylinder sleeve having an appendage that projects downwardly into the engine block coaxial with the sleeve face, but positioned distal from the sleeve face, such that a finger of engine material exists between the sleeve appendage and the sleeve perimeter, and an extreme wear coating formable on the sleeve face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventor: Frank J. Ardezzone
  • Vehicle control apparatus, and method of controlling same
    Patent number: 10071740
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a first target driving force calculation unit that calculates a first target driving force based on an accelerator pedal opening; a target speed ratio calculation unit that calculates a target speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission based on the first target driving force; a target torque calculation unit that calculates a target torque of a driving source based on the first target driving force; an air density detection unit that detects air density; and a first correction unit that corrects only the target torque, out of the target speed ratio and the target torque, in accordance with the air density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Ono, Takahiro Yoshino, Yuuzou Kageyama
  • Internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10072605
    Abstract: A low-temperature cooling water channel formed in the internal combustion engine includes a water jacket that covers at least one portion of a wall surface of an intake port. The intake port has a cooled wall surface that is covered by the water jacket, and a non-cooled wall surface that is not covered by the water jacket. An airflow control valve is provided on an intake-air upstream side of the cooled wall surface. The airflow control valve is configured to be capable of changing a ratio between a flow rate of intake air that flows along the side of the cooled wall surface and a flow rate of intake air that flows along the side of the non-cooled wall surface. The airflow control valve is preferably configured as a tumble control valve (TCV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Kodama, Shintaro Utsumi
  • Kit for the realization of a dual LPG/petrol fuel system for outboard engines for motorboats
    Patent number: 10066554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit for an LPG fuel for petrol run engines and in particular, a kit of electronic and hydraulic components for the realization of a dual fuelling LPG/petrol system (100) particularly suitable for outboard engines of boats navigating in waters with high salt content. Said kit includes a tube-bundle heat exchanger (10) and a pressure regulator (20) separated one from the other and made of antioxidant materials and devices. The heat exchanger (10) is provided at its end with two respective sacrificial anodes (12b, 11b) for the protection from corrosive galvanic currents and with one temperature sensor (11c) placed at one of said ends. The kit also includes a plurality of electrohydraulic LPG injectors (I) and an electronic control unit (CE) set to manage and adjust the operation of such injectors (I), of the pressure regulator (20) and of a plurality of other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MARCO CASAMASSIMA
    Inventor: Marco Casamassima
  • Cooling apparatus for vehicle
    Patent number: 10065494
    Abstract: The interior of the first reservoir is open to the atmospheric air. A first liquid retaining portion and a first air retaining portion are provided in the first reservoir. The interior of the second reservoir is sealed. A second liquid retaining portion and a second air retaining portion are provided in the second reservoir. A communicating portion allows communication between the second air retaining portion and the first liquid retaining portion. The opening of the communicating portion in the first liquid retaining portion is located lower than a minimum water level of the first liquid retaining portion. The opening of the communicating portion in the second air retaining portion is located higher than a maximum water level of the first liquid retaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Seike
  • Extruded cylinder liner
    Patent number: 10066577
    Abstract: Extruded cylinder liners and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The extruded engine cylinder liner may include a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and defining an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of spaced apart features may protrude from the outer surface and may extend in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis. The method may include extruding a metal material through a die to form a cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of spaced apart features protruding from the outer surface. The die may be rotated about a longitudinal axis during at least a portion of the extruding step such that the features extend in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis. The oblique features may allow parent casting material to enter channels therebetween and prevent the liner from moving in the vertical and horizontal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Antony George Schepak, Mathew Leonard Hintzen, James Maurice Boileau, Mark W. Thibault
  • Internal combustion engine and cover member attachment structure for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10060530
    Abstract: This internal combustion engine includes an oil seal attached to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine main body, and a cover member including an oil seal securing portion for securing the oil seal attached to the crankshaft, the cover member including a first main body attachment portion which is arranged in a vicinity of the oil seal securing portion and which is for attaching the cover member to the internal combustion engine main body by a first fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawai, Yoshiharu Takeda, Hirotaka Kurita
  • Cooling apparatus for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10060326
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an engine includes an oil warmer, an engine internal passage, a warmer passage, a water pump, and a thermostat. The warmer passage connects an outlet of the internal passage to an inlet of the internal passage. The thermostat regulates an amount of coolant that flows into the oil warmer. The thermostat includes a valve member, a body, and a plurality of types of wax. The thermostat determines a degree of opening of the valve member in accordance with amounts of expansion of the respective types of wax caused by melting of the respective types of wax. The types of wax include a first wax, which melts at a first temperature, and a second wax, which melts at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuji Kanzaka, Yoshikazu Shinpo, Kenji Isaka
  • Engine system and method
    Patent number: 10060374
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for controlling and shaping the current waveform for a solenoid in a fuel injector that has variable impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ning Shen, Matthew K. Ferguson, Dominick Travaglini