Patents Examined by James J Kim
  • Patent number: 11578678
    Abstract: A method for producing a cast aluminum component having at least one reinforcing element arranged therein includes producing a core by placing at least one reinforcing element in a first mold and at least partially overmolding the at least one reinforcing element with a foam material. In the alternative, or in addition to, a core is produced by surrounding an inner element composed of a foam material by at least one reinforcing element. The method includes placing the core in a second mold and pouring liquid aluminum into the second mold and overcasting the core such that the liquid aluminum at least partially surrounds the core and the foam material is at least partially removed during the overcasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Baranowski, Maik Broda, Pascal Rebmann, Markus Franzen
  • Patent number: 11572858
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body which accommodates a pole piece of a solenoid actuator. A top portion of the injector body includes a cylindrically formed generally open-ended recessed portion. The recessed portions accommodates a generally cylindrical pole piece, wherein the pole piece includes a bore located along a central axis to provide a fuel flow path. The top portion of the pole piece includes a cylindrically formed recess so as to form a sleeve or lip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SA
    Inventors: Arnaud Leblay, Cas Breedijk
  • Patent number: 11549704
    Abstract: A filter device for filtering particles from an air flow has an inlet channel through which the air to be cleaned flows, at least one filter element through which the air can flow and which is held replaceably in a flow channel, and an outlet channel through which the cleaned air flows. The filter device has an insertion chamber which can be closed by a door and from which a filter element can be fed to the flow channel, and an output chamber which can be closed by a closure element and into which a filter element can be fed from the flow channel. A cover is attachable to the filter element, which covers a filter cake on the filter element so that the unit of filter element and cover is removable from the output chamber together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Lufttechnik Gransee GmbH, Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Rainer Matho, Andreas Mueller, Stephan Rickerts, Ernst Claussen, Hauke Petersen, Frank Knoedler, Sonja Dittscher
  • Patent number: 11549469
    Abstract: A turbo-boost controlled intake system is disclosed that provides a driver of a vehicle with greater control over vehicle performance. The turbo-boost controlled intake system includes a control module that is coupled with an aircharger air intake. The control module instructs an electronic control unit of the vehicle to increase manifold pressure to a higher level before releasing the pressure through a waste gate so as to provide a greater power output of the engine. The turbo-boost controlled intake system further includes a wiring harness and a signal adjuster. The wiring harness couples the control module with a turbo inlet pressure sensor, a manifold absolute pressure sensor, and an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The signal adjuster includes a rheostat that enables manual adjustment of the power output of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Richard Fiello, Gilbert Heck, Steve Williams
  • Patent number: 11549550
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided, which includes an engine body provided with a cylinder and a piston reciprocatably accommodated in the cylinder, a crankshaft that converts reciprocating movement of the piston into rotational movement, and a bearing member pivotally supporting the crankshaft via lubricating oil. The crankshaft includes a crank journal pivotally supported by the bearing member, and a counterweight extending radially outward from an axial end part of the crank journal. The crank journal has a recess formed in a part thereof corresponding to the extended position of the counterweight, the recess being depressed radially inwardly. The recess is deeper at the axial end part of the crank journal than an axial center part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuma Miyauchi, Runa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11536219
    Abstract: A cylinder liner includes: a small diameter portion configured to form a cooling water passage between the small diameter portion and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder block; a large diameter portion disposed adjacent to the small diameter portion in the axial direction and formed to have a larger diameter than the small diameter portion; and at least one seal groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion in an annular shape along a circumferential direction. The large diameter portion includes a one-side wall portion formed between the cooling water passage and a cooling-water-passage-side seal groove which is a seal groove disposed closest to the cooling water passage in the axial direction, and an other-side wall portion disposed farther from the cooling water passage than the cooling-water-passage-side seal groove is in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Suzuki, Sota Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11530631
    Abstract: An engine oil state control device for controlling a fuel mixture ratio of a fuel mixed in an engine oil of an engine on which a predetermined combustion control is performed includes comprising a fuel mixture ratio acquisition part configured to acquire the fuel mixture ratio, and an oil temperature rise control part configured to perform an oil temperature rise control for increasing an evaporation rate of the fuel mixed in the engine oil if the fuel mixture ratio is equal to or greater than a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Takuya Kumagai, Tomohide Yamada, Kazuki Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 11530634
    Abstract: A coalescence separator for separating liquid droplets from a gas flow has a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A multi-layer structure of a plurality of individual layers of a coalescence filter medium is arranged between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the coalescence filter medium is provided with a glass fiber paper with glass fibers. The individual layers of the coalescence filter medium each have an individual layer thickness of more than 0.8 mm and maximally 5 mm, a grammage of greater than 80 g/m2 and less than 500 g/m2, and an air permeability of 350 l/m2s to 1,800 l/m2s. The multi-layer structure has between 2 and 80 of the individual layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Grein, Markus Zuerker
  • Patent number: 11519343
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a drive system for a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine being designed for operation using various types of fuel, has the following steps: querying operating parameters of fuel-relevant functions of the drive system by means of a central fuel coordination device of a central engine coordination device, determining possible types of fuel for operating the internal combustion engine, based on the queried operating parameters and predefined fuel release conditions, by means of the central fuel coordination device, selecting a type of fuel for operating the internal combustion engine, based on the determined possible types of fuel and at least one predefined selection criterion, by means of the central fuel coordination device, transmitting information identifying the selected type of fuel from the central fuel coordination device to a central engine control unit of the central engine coordination device, and operating the internal combustion engi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ulrich Schroeder, Daniel Leineweber, Christian Dierschke, Johannes Forst, Michael Tomforde
  • Patent number: 11512663
    Abstract: An engine is provided, which includes a combustion chamber defined by a piston crown surface, an inner wall surface of a cylinder, and a pentroof ceiling surface formed in a cylinder head, and an ignition part of a spark plug disposed at the ceiling surface to achieve flame propagation combustion inside the combustion chamber. A cavity recessed in a spherical cap shape is formed in a central area of the crown surface. An opening of an intake port is formed in the ceiling surface (intake side) and an opening of an exhaust port is formed in the ceiling surface (exhaust side). When seen in a cross-sectional view taken along a cylinder axis, the ignition part is located above the cavity to be offset toward the exhaust side with respect to a cylinder axial line whereas a cavity center point is located to be offset toward the intake side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Imamura, Masaki Fukuma, Naohiro Yamaguchi, Yoshitaka Wada, Takumi Uemura, Keisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11512780
    Abstract: A piston and cylinder assembly structured to reduce breakaway friction (stiction) upon movement of the piston within the cylinder. The assembly includes a cylinder housing, a piston having a piston crown with a top face and one or more peripheral grooves, and an O-ring positioned on the piston in each of the one or more peripheral grooves. The piston crown incorporates one or more passageways extending from a space above the piston to a location within the peripheral groove inside of (behind) the O-ring. An increase in a volume of fluid in the chamber above the piston directs fluid through the passageways into the peripheral groove, thereby pressing the O-ring against the cylinder wall. A double acting piston embodiment uses at least two O-rings positioned within at least two grooves, each with associated fluid flow passageways into the grooves behind the O-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Roger J. Gregoire
  • Patent number: 11506141
    Abstract: A piston assembly includes a piston head for reciprocating back and forth within a cylinder of an engine, an upper rod coupled to the piston head at one longitudinal end of the upper rod and fixed relative to the piston head, and a lower rod rotatably coupled to an opposite longitudinal end of the upper rod, the lower rod configured to pivot about the opposite longitudinal end of the upper rod. The lower rod is configured to couple to a crankshaft at a longitudinal end of the lower rod opposite the upper rod. Methods of forming a piston assembly and engines incorporating such piston assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Transcend Energy Group, LLC
    Inventor: Jon Woodward
  • Patent number: 11506119
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may include a first piston reciprocatingly disposed in a first cylinder, a combustion chamber fluidly coupled with the first cylinder, and an ignition source at least partially disposed within the combustion chamber. An intake valve may provide selective fluid communication between an intake system and the combustion chamber, and an exhaust valve may provide selective fluid communication between an exhaust system and the combustion chamber. A second piston may be reciprocatingly disposed within a second cylinder. A crankshaft may be coupled with the first piston and the second piston for rotational motion associated with reciprocating movement of the first piston and the second piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Impact Consulting and Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Gus Alexander, Richard J. Gilpatrick, Brian W. Hubbard, George Panagiotis Klonis, Michael Heggen Inouye, Daniel L. Riley
  • Patent number: 11493941
    Abstract: The invention concerns a thermostatic valve (1) comprising a closed hollow body (2), a first opening leading into the hollow body (2), referred to as the inlet opening (4), a second opening leading into the hollow body (2), referred to as the main outlet (5), a third opening, substantially perpendicular to the second opening, leading into the hollow body (2), referred to as the bypass outlet (7), and a seal (11) allowing the inlet opening (4) to be alternately separated from the main outlet (5) or the bypass outlet (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NOVARES FRANCE
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Quevallier
  • Patent number: 11473456
    Abstract: A cylinder head valve seat of an automobile vehicle includes a valve seat having a valve seat surface integrally joined to an engagement end. The engagement end includes multiple materials extending through a cross section of the engagement end. The multiple materials include: a first material having a first thermal conductivity; and a second material having a second thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the first material, wherein the first material transitions into the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qigui Wang, Devin R. Hess, Jeffrey Harris, Herbert W. Doty, Dale A. Gerard
  • Patent number: 11477910
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan including an impeller housing and an impeller. The impeller housing has an accommodation space, an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the accommodation space. The impeller is located in the accommodation space. The impeller includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and at least one heat conductive annular portion. The hub is rotatably disposed in the impeller housing. The plurality of blades are connected to an outer circumferential surface of the hub. The at least one heat conductive annular portion is connected to the plurality of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin-Hsin Hsien, Chih-Kai Yang
  • Patent number: 11472527
    Abstract: An oil sump housing for an outboard motor of a marine vessel is provided. The oil sump housing includes an upper mounting flange including multiple upper mounting holes, a lower mounting flange including multiple lower mounting holes, and an inner housing wall and an outer housing wall extending between the upper mounting flange and the lower mounting flange. The inner housing wall defines a transmission mounting cavity, and the inner housing wall and the outer housing wall define an oil containment cavity that at least partially surrounds the transmission mounting cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne M. Jaszewski, Darin C. Uppgard
  • Patent number: 11473460
    Abstract: A controller controls a motor-driven oil pump of a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine, a mechanical oil pump, a battery, a motor-driven oil pump driven by a driving voltage applied by the battery, and a hydraulic device. The controller includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry controls the driving voltage in a stop period during which the engine automatically stops and automatically restarts. The stop period includes a first period starting when the engine automatically stops and continuing until cranking starts and a second period starting when the cranking starts and continuing until the engine automatically restarts. The driving voltage in the first period is less than the driving voltage in the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Guodong Tan, Masahide Ichikawa, Tetsuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11473642
    Abstract: A vibration damper valve assembly may include a valve main body, first and second main stage flow paths, first and second disc valve packs, and first and second main stage bypass flow paths. The first disc valve pack may include a first outer disc valve pack, a first flow path bypass disc, a first loading element, and a first covering element, with the first loading element being arranged on one side of the first covering element such that a loading force is formed on the first covering element. The second disc valve pack may include a second outer disc valve pack, a second flow path bypass disc, a second loading element, and a second covering element, with the second loading element being arranged on one side of the second covering element such that a loading force is formed on the second covering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Dennis Volkhausen
  • Patent number: 11471937
    Abstract: The disclosure includes manufacturing a semimanufactured cylinder head (3) having a shielding curtain portion (16g) and spraying metal powder (P) onto an annular valve seat portion (16f) using a cold spray method to form a valve seat film (16b). The shielding curtain portion (16g) projects in an annular shape from an annular edge portion of an opening portion (16a) of an intake port (16) or an opening portion (17a) of an exhaust port (17) toward the center (C) of the port. The annular valve seat portion (16f) is located on an outer side of the port than the shielding curtain portion (16g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Oomori, Hirohisa Shibayama, Kenji Yageta