Patents Examined by Jacob Amick
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Patent number: 10060483Abstract: A load limiter for a controllable air inlet of a motor vehicle and which includes a drive-side driver coupled to an engine of the motor vehicle, an output-side driver configured to relay torque from the engine to closing elements of the controllable air inlet, the output-side drive having contours configured to engage corresponding contours of the drive-side driver, the drive-side driver and the output-side driver being configured for positive interlocking contact with each other and also for axial movement relative to one another in order to disengage the positive interlock; and a bias mechanism configured to pivot the output-side driver when in the disengaged state relative to the drive-side driver.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Decoma (Germany) GmbHInventor: Bernd Knauer
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Patent number: 10060333Abstract: Methods are provided for engine coolant system diagnostics. In one example, engine coolant system malfunction is indicated based on an engine coolant temperature inference model, whereas in another example engine coolant system malfunction is indicated based on a time-based monitor, where the inference model is enabled at ambient temperatures above a predetermined threshold, and where the time-based monitor is enabled at ambient temperatures below the predetermined threshold. In this way, accurate engine coolant system diagnosis may be accomplished under ambient temperature conditions wherein the engine coolant temperature inference model may be compromised.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sitaram Rejeti, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar, John Smiley, Joseph Lyle Thomas
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Patent number: 10060332Abstract: A thermostat is diagnosed as open failure when a specified time variation in radiator inflow water temperature from a temperature sensor mounted in a first flow path running through a radiator at a time of starting an electric water pump at a cold start of an engine is equal to or greater than a predetermined variation. In the case of open failure of the thermostat, starting the electric water pump causes cooling water from a cooling water flow path of the engine to be flowed to the first flow path, as well as to a second flow path. The radiator inflow water temperature detected by the temperature sensor mounted in the first flow path is raised by the cooling water from the cooling water flow path of the warmed engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
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Patent number: 10060345Abstract: A dual-crankshaft, opposed-piston, internal combustion engine includes one or more ported cylinders. Each cylinder has exhaust and intake ports, and the cylinders are juxtaposed and oriented with exhaust and intake ports mutually aligned. The crankshafts are rotatably mounted at respective exhaust and intake ends of the cylinders and are coupled by a multi-gear train. A pair of pistons is disposed for opposed sliding movement in the bore of each cylinder. All of the pistons controlling the exhaust ports are coupled by connecting rods to the crankshaft mounted near at the exhaust ends of the cylinders, and all of the pistons controlling the intake ports are coupled by connecting rods to the crankshaft mounted near at the intake ends of the cylinders. The crankshafts are connected by a timing belt operative to change the rotational timing between the crankshafts. The gear train support structure is stiffened to suppress gear train vibration.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2012Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.Inventors: Christina Exner, James U. Lemke
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Patent number: 10060362Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of a multi-fuel engine in a hybrid vehicle system. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch fuels or maintain a current fuel while using stored power assist. The selection may be based on the combination of fuel and stored power offset that provides the highest engine efficiency at the lowest fuel cost.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
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Patent number: 10054064Abstract: An actuator mounting structure of a variable compression ratio internal combustion engine includes: a variable compression ratio mechanism arranged to vary an engine compression ratio in accordance with a rotational position of a control shaft; an actuator arranged to drivingly rotate the control shaft, the actuator being fixed on an actuator mounting portion provided to a side wall of a main body of the engine by using a plurality of fixing bolts, and a rigidity improvement section arranged to improve a mounting rigidity of the actuator to the actuator mounting portion, and which is provided within an inter-bolt distance between two bolts of the plurality of the fixing bolts, which are located on the both sides in a direction of a crank shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiaki Tanaka, Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Yusuke Takagi, Katsutoshi Nakamura
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Patent number: 10054041Abstract: A connecting rod is described for an internal combustion engine comprising a shaft (1) and two connecting rod eyes (2, 3), of which the connecting rod eye (3) accommodating a piston pin has an eccentric (4) forming a pin bearing (5), and comprising a positioning drive (20), which is drivable via a hydraulic positioning cylinder (16), for a gear ring (8) of the eccentric (4). To provide advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the eccentric (4) be mounted so it is rotationally-adjustable between two stop-limited operating positions, which are offset by at least approximately 180° from one another, in which the axis (7) of the pin bearing (5) is located at least approximately in a shared axial plane (19) of the two connecting rod eyes (2, 3), and the positioning drive (20) comprise a gearwheel (9) meshing with the gear ring (8) of the eccentric (4).Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: IMT-C Innovative Motorfahrzeuge und Technologie—Cooperation GmbHInventor: Josef Ganglmayr
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Patent number: 10047669Abstract: An internal combustion engine provided with a cylinder block able to move relative to a crankcase is provided with a block movement mechanism arranged just at one side of the internal combustion engine, a pair of guide walls provided at the crankcase, a support member supporting a side surface of the cylinder block, and a pushing member pushing against a side surface of the cylinder block. Further, at the guide wall at the side of arrangement of the block movement mechanism, the support member is attached to the top side from the position of attachment of the other end part of the connecting member and the pushing member is attached to the bottom side from the position of attachment of the other end part of the connecting member, while at the guide wall at the opposite side from the side of arrangement of the block movement mechanism, the support member is attached to the bottom side (bottom side of cylinder block) a predetermined space from pushing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaki Watanabe
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Patent number: 10047696Abstract: A cover structure for an internal combustion engine includes: a plastic cover member attached to a body of the internal combustion engine so as to cover the power transmission and a metallic holding member configured to hold an oil seal pressurized to the outer circumference of the crank shaft. Also, the holding member is positionable by engaging with the body of the internal combustion engine with respect to an axial direction of the crank shaft and a planar direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The cover member and the holding member are fastened together by a fastening bolt while interposing a gasket positioned to surround the crank shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tatsuya Goto
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Patent number: 10047670Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one piston which performs stroke movements in a cylinder crankcase. Via two connecting rods, the piston interacts with two parallel crankshafts which rotate synchronously in opposite directions. The connecting rods have, on a side facing toward a piston crown of the piston, bearing eyelets which, via piston pins, are operatively connected to the first and second bearings provided at opposite first and second sides of the piston, which bearings and piston pins act as a device for compensating an asymmetry of the profile of the crankshafts. To optimize the internal combustion engine, the first and the second bearings have cylindrical bearing disks which, firstly, are rotatably mounted in piston bores and which, secondly, include disk bores for receiving first and second pin sections of the piston pins.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Neander Motors AGInventor: Claus Bruestle
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Patent number: 10047660Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine (1), comprising: at least one cylinder block (2), which is connected to at least one cylinder head (3); at least one first cooling jacket (4) in the cylinder block (2) and at least one second cooling jacket (5) in the cylinder head (3), wherein the first and the second cooling jackets (4, 5) are arranged in a coolant circuit and are connected to each other with regard to flow; and at least one control element arranged in the coolant circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: AVL List GmbHInventors: Heinz Petutschnig, Manfred Breitenberger, Robert Poeschl
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Patent number: 10047695Abstract: A crankcase assembly for an engine comprising: a crankcase comprising a crank sump; the crank sump comprising primary and secondary sump volumes; one or more crankcase oil catchers, the crankcase oil catchers comprising surfaces to catch dispersed oil in the crankcase and direct the oil away from a crankcase casing wall and towards the crank sump, wherein the crankcase oil catchers are provided above a crankshaft and below a piston of the engine; and one or more guides to collect oil and guide the oil to the primary sump volume. At least a portion of the guide is movable between a first configuration in which the guide collects the captured oil that would otherwise have.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Graham Pegg, Roland Paul Stark
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Patent number: 10047694Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine has a sliding shoe carried in a force accumulator. The sliding shoe has a channel to transfer cooling oil into a hollow space. The force accumulator is located is a channel formed by the piston, and the sliding shoe is guided partially inside the force accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: KS KOLBENSCHMIDT GMBHInventors: Matthias Laqua, Markus Pinz
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Patent number: 10041563Abstract: An offset in-line four cylinder engine has reduced vibration generated by a secondary inertia couple based on lateral pressures from pistons. A reference line passes through a shaft center of a crankshaft and is parallel or substantially parallel to cylinder axes of four cylinders as viewed in the axial direction of the crankshaft. As viewed in the axial direction of the crankshaft, the direction in which the reference line extends is referred to as first direction, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction is referred to as second direction. A distance between the shaft center of a first balancer shaft and the reference line as measured in the second direction is different from the distance between the shaft center of a second balancer shaft and the reference line as measured in the second direction, or a magnitude of a first unbalancing portion is different from a magnitude of the second unbalancing portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Taketoshi Sano
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Patent number: 10041395Abstract: A structure of a combustion chamber is provided. The structure includes a cavity formed in a central part of a crown surface of a piston and a wall surface constituting the cavity. The wall surface has a central ridge portion bulging farther toward a bottom surface of a cylinder head toward a center of the cavity, a periphery concave portion formed radially outward of the central ridge portion to concave radially outward, and a lip portion formed between the periphery concave portion and an opening edge of the cavity to convex radially inward. An outer circumferential part of the crown surface has a first portion and a second portion located radially outward of the first portion. A stepped portion is formed between the first and second portions. A stepped portion volume ratio of a stepped portion volume to a top dead center volume is set to 0.1 or smaller.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Daisuke Shimo, Sangkyu Kim, Makoto Namba, Masahiro Miyazaki, Yudai Kato, Shuji Takuma, Tadashi Tadokoro
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Patent number: 10036305Abstract: A method of cooling a compressor, providing compressed working fluid, in a natural gas based combustion engine is provided. The method includes diverting at least a portion of natural gas from a fuel tank of the combustion engine. The method further includes routing the portion of natural gas towards the compressor. The method also includes providing one or more nozzles disposed at one or more strategic locations of the compressor. The method further includes injecting the portion of natural gas, via the one or more nozzles, inside the compressor. The method also includes allowing the portion of natural gas to diffuse with the compressed working fluid inside the compressor in an endothermic expansion process, to convectively cool the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nan Yang, Robert C. Griffith, Arnold M. Kim
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Patent number: 10036300Abstract: A water jacket for a cylinder block may include a first main body formed inside the cylinder block at a first side thereof, and a second main body formed at a second side thereof, and in which coolant flows, a first sub-body formed at an upper portion of the first main body, and a second sub-body formed at an upper portion of the second main body, each of the first and second sub-bodies being connected to an inside of a cylinder head to flow a coolant into an upper portion of the cylinder block and the cylinder head, a first insert member disposed between the first main body and the first sub-body to partition the first main body and the first sub-body, and a second insert member disposed between the second main body and the second sub-body to partition the second main body and the second sub-body.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Cheol Soo Park, Bonghoon Han, Kwang Min Kim, Dong Suk Chae
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Patent number: 10030571Abstract: An engine having a water jacket may include a cylinder block in which cylinder liners forming a combustion chamber may be disposed from a first end to a second end of the cylinder block, and a block water jacket may be formed around the cylinder liners, a cylinder head having a head water jacket coupled to a top of the cylinder block, receiving cooling water from an exhaust side of the block water jacket and discharging cooling water to an intake side of the block water jacket, and inserts that may be inserted into the block water jacket and that may have horizontal dividing blades dividing the block water jacket into upper and lower parts, legs extending downward from the horizontal dividing blades, and flow preventing protrusions protruding upward from the horizontal dividing blades to divide the upper part of the block water jacket.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventor: Jeawoong Yi
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Patent number: 10024277Abstract: A work machine with an internal combustion engine is provided with an air inlet for receiving combustion air, wherein an air pre-cleaner is mounted in the inlet, a radiator, a cooling air fan and a debris removal means, configured to remove debris from a flow of air produced by the cooling air fan through the radiator, the removal means comprising a screen for collecting the debris, and an aspirator for aspirating the debris away from the screen, and a venturi element mounted downstream of the aspirator, and having an inlet portion, a throat portion and an outlet portion, wherein a duct is mounted between the engine air pre-cleaner and the throat portion, so that particles removed by the pre-cleaner flow towards the throat portion, and out through the outlet portion of the venturi element, together with the aspirated debris.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Lode A. Demonie, Jolan Heyns
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Patent number: 10018221Abstract: A fracture-separated engine component and a method for manufacturing same is described. The engine component includes first and second parts each having a fracture surface extending along a fracture plane. Prior to fracture separation, the engine component is case-hardened by nitriding and has a nitriding hardness depth of 0.4 to 0.7 mm. After the nitriding, the engine component is cooled such that each one of the subsequent fracture surfaces reaches a temperature below ?100° C. The fracture separation is then performed. After, the engine component has two fracture surfaces along a fracture plane, the fracture surfaces having hardened peripheral areas and unhardened core sections. No point of the unhardened core sections located in the fracture plane is located at a distance greater than 1.1 mm from a nearest hardened peripheral area. Each one of the fracture surfaces includes elongated partial fracture surfaces with a width of less than 3.2 mm.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Thomas Fuchs, Uwe Wieser-Christian, Juergen Nemesch