Patents Examined by Joseph Dallo
  • Patent number: 10047665
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting operation of an electric motor coupled to a compressor at high altitude engine operation. In one example, the method may include adjusting a ratio of electric compressor assist provided by an electric motor to an intake compressor relative to turbine assist provided via a wastegate during engine idling conditions as well as during transmission gearshifts. The method allows for engine idle speed and torque to be maintained at high altitudes while reducing sluggish boost behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arturo del Refugio Sanchez Perez, Daniel Andres Ramos Coria, Rodrigo Felix, Artemio Magaña
  • Patent number: 10047686
    Abstract: A system includes a residual per cylinder calculation module that calculates an amount of residual (i.e., trapped exhaust gas) within an engine cylinder. A temperature calculation module calculates a temperature within the engine cylinder based on the amount of residual. A first air per cylinder (APC) calculation module calculates total charge content within the engine cylinder based on the temperature and calculates a first amount of air trapped within the engine cylinder based on the total charge content and the amount of residual. A residual mass fraction (RMF) calculation module calculates an RMF of the exhaust gas based on the amount of trapped exhaust gas at EVC and the total charge content. A second APC calculation module determines a backflow of the charged content into the engine cylinder and calculates a second amount of air trapped within the engine cylinder based on the backflow and the first amount of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 10047712
    Abstract: A fluid injection assembly for a combustion engine may comprise a spring clip arranged between an injector body and an injector cup. The spring clip may include a ground plate and at least one spring element fixedly coupled with the ground plate. The spring element has a contact region with the injector cup and the ground plate has a contact region with the injector body, so that a spring force is exerted by the spring clip on the injector body. The injector body and the injector cup are coupled together by two holding elements, each of the holding elements extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and engaging behind a fixation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gisella Di Domizio, Daniel Marc, Giandomencio Serra
  • Patent number: 10041458
    Abstract: An injector clamp for clamping at least two injectors to an engine head includes a body having at least a first arm and a second arm. Each arm having a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface on opposing sides of the body. A distance between the first clamping surfaces of the first arm and the second arm is different from a distance between the second clamping surfaces of the first arm and the second arm. The body is configurable, for use, in one of: a first position in which the first clamping surfaces from each of the first and second arms can abut with an injector; and a second position in which the second clamping surfaces from each of the first and second arms can abut with an injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: James Kenneth Batchelor, Joe Daniel Bradley, Richard Kitchen, James Andrew Darley
  • Patent number: 10041394
    Abstract: An air/oil-cooled internal combustion engine capable of increasing accuracy in detection of the temperature of the air/oil-cooled internal combustion engine by a temperature sensor and carrying out the warm-up operation after the start-up of the air/oil-cooled internal combustion engine favorably. The air/oil-cooled internal combustion engine includes cooling fins that are provided on the circumferences of a cylinder block and a cylinder head; and a cooling passage that is provided in a combustion chamber upper wall covering a combustion chamber of the cylinder head and is used for cooling the combustion chamber upper wall with lubrication oil. The air/oil-cooled internal combustion engine has a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the air/oil-cooled internal combustion engine by detecting the temperature of oil. The temperature sensor faces a cooling oil outlet portion of the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Harada, Yuki Nagata, Teppei Hakamata
  • Patent number: 10041404
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a first set of cylinders includes: a first two-stroke compression cylinder housing a first compression piston connected to a first crank shaft; a first four-stroke combustion cylinder housing a first combustion piston connected to a second crank shaft, the first four-stroke combustion cylinder being configured to receive compressed gas from the first two-stroke compression cylinder; and a first two-stroke expansion cylinder housing a first expansion piston connected to the first crank shaft, the first two-stroke expansion cylinder being configured to receive exhaust gas from the first four-stroke combustion cylinder, wherein the first compression piston is positioned to reach a lower end position within the first compression cylinder and the first expansion piston is positioned to reach an upper end position within the first expansion cylinder when the first combustion piston reaches a lower end position within the first combustion cylinder; wherein the second crank sha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Arne Andersson, Bincheng Jiang, Staffan Lundgren, Staffan Johansson, Bengt Johansson
  • Patent number: 10036333
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission; a torque converter coupled to the transmission; a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission; and sensors configured to detect user occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one or both of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Chris James Hocking
  • Patent number: 10030614
    Abstract: An assembled support for supporting an adsorbent according to an embodiment of the present invention may include two or more core members configured to be coupled in the longitudinal direction and configured to include: a cylindrical body configured to have a plurality of first partitions formed therein to enable ventilation; at least one pair of first coupling protrusions configured to be provided on the rim of one end of the body to face each other; and at least one pair of first coupling protrusion receiving portions configured to be provided on the rim of the other end of the body to face each other, wherein the first coupling protrusions of one core member are received in the first coupling protrusion receiving portions of another core member in order to thereby couple the core members to each other, and wherein the surfaces of the core members are coated with hydrocarbon adsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: LEEHAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Young Park, Cheong Yong Cho
  • Patent number: 10030616
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an EGR cooler for a vehicle. The EGR cooler includes: a gas passage having a predetermined length, the gas passage including a linear part forming a linear section and extension parts extending from opposite ends of the linear part after being bent; a heat radiation fin having a shape formed by being folded several times, the heat radiation fin being placed in the linear section of the gas passage; and a base provided with an inlet hole at a first end and an outlet hole at a second end. In particular, the inlet hole and the outlet hole each has a shape corresponding to a cross-section of the gas passage, and the extension parts are inserted into the inlet hole and the outlet hole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Han Sang Kim, Byung Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10030626
    Abstract: A stop-start vehicle and a method of controlling a stop-start vehicle include a controller configured to, in response to a power-reset event, inhibit an engine auto-stop function. The controller is additionally configured to, in response to a successful key start event subsequent the power-reset event, cease the inhibiting of the engine auto-stop function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Hanyang B. Chen, David W. Linden, Michael J. Irby, Karen Price
  • Patent number: 10024263
    Abstract: A device for measuring temperature of a turbine wheel in a turbocharger includes: a guide that passes infrared ray generated from the turbine wheel and includes a coolant path; a protection unit that protects an optical head which senses the infrared ray; and a signal processing unit that measures a temperature of the turbine wheel by processing a signal corresponding to the sensed infrared ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Han Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 10024246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an engine braking device for a combustion engine in motor vehicles, in particular in commercial vehicles, which has an intake system, an exhaust system, gas exchange valves associated with the combustion engine, a fuel injection device, which injects fuel into at least one combustion chamber, an exhaust turbocharger integrated into the exhaust system and the intake system, and an engine braking unit, wherein the engine braking unit has a decompression brake, which influences at least one outlet valve of the gas exchange valves, and a brake flap, which is arranged in the exhaust system and causes the exhaust gas to build up. According to the invention, as engine braking starts or during engine braking, fuel is injected into at least one combustion chamber of the combustion engine for a predefined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS OESTERREICH AG
    Inventors: Franz Rammer, André Kreuzriegler
  • Patent number: 10018105
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an engine structure for a vehicle. The engine structure includes: an intake port, a port plate provided in the single flow path of the intake port, and an injector. The port plate is longitudinally parallel to the flow path of the intake port so as to divide the flow path of the intake port into upper and lower flow paths, and the port plate includes an extension portion formed on part of a downstream end of the port plate such that the extension portion of the downstream end of the port plate extends longer than other portion of the downstream end of the port plate. In particular, the injector is provided in the intake port, and sprays fuel beyond the extension portion so as to inhibit the fuel from adhering to the port plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Ho Chu, Nahm Roh Joo, Yang Geol Lee, Jong Il Park, Yong Hoon Kim, Myung Gu Ha, Dong Hee Han
  • Patent number: 10018130
    Abstract: Fuel injector wear compensation methodologies for use with internal combustion engines that alter the injection schedule over the life of the fuel injector(s) by using methods that conduct a primary injection of fuel in the engine (primary fuel event), per an injection schedule within an engine cycle; compare a measured engine parameter(s) to a reference value(s); and then alter the injection schedule applied to the engine, based on the comparing. Another method comprises: during injection events, inject a first fuel in a combustion chamber of the engine; measure an engine parameter(s) of the engine during operation; compare the engine parameter(s) to a reference value(s); add a post injection event of a second fuel during the injection events, based on the comparison. The methods can be applied with single or dual fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Lavertu, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Roy James Primus
  • Patent number: 10018173
    Abstract: An ignition system and a method for suppressing an ignition spark discharge at a spark gap at an unsuitable time are provided. The method includes a recognition of a spark breakaway and/or a failed ignition and, in response thereto, by producing a conductive path via an ignition spark at the spark gap at a suitable time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Tim Skowronek, Thomas Pawlak, Wolfgang Sinz
  • Patent number: 10018139
    Abstract: A fuel injection device is used in an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber partitioned by a cylinder head, a cylinder, and a piston crown surface so that at least one of the amount of NOx, Pmax, and a thermal efficiency ? is maintained at a predetermined value. The fuel injection device includes a fuel injection change unit. The fuel injection change unit virtually divides the combustion chamber into N number of combustion zones where N is a natural number of 2 or more, and can change a fuel injection method according to the respective combustion zones. The fuel injection change unit divides the combustion chamber into the N number of combustion zones, thereby being capable of eliminating a difference of heat in the respective combustion zones, and precisely controlling an in-cylinder pressure P in the combustion chamber. As a result, the amount of NOx and the thermal efficiency can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamasa Itou, Wakichi Kondoh, Shinichiro Kawakita
  • Patent number: 10018097
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for exhaust flow in an engine system including a split-exhaust manifold for expediting exhaust catalyst light-off and engine warm-up while reducing condensation in the engine system. In one example, a method may include, before exhaust catalyst light-off, flowing all or more exhaust gases, via a first exhaust valve and a first exhaust manifold, to an exhaust catalyst by passing a heat exchanger. Further, after light-off but before engine coolant warms up to a threshold temperature, all or more exhaust may be delivered to the heat exchanger, via a second exhaust valve and a second different manifold, prior to flowing to the exhaust catalyst; and exhaust gas recirculation may not be provided until the coolant reaches the threshold temperature to reduce condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Gregory Patrick McConville, Karen Evelyn Bevan
  • Patent number: 10018220
    Abstract: An engine has a connecting rod with a big end dimensioned such that a lower face height is a function of an upper face height, a face-to-face width, and a strap height and width. First and second bearing shells are received by the big end under a specified clamp load to form a convex axial profile in response to the big end dimensions, and a crankshaft crank pin interfaces with the convex axial profile. A method of assembling a connecting rod includes inserting upper and lower bearing shells into a big end having a lower face height as a function of an upper face height, a face-to-face width, and a strap height and width, where each shell has a free state with a straight axial profile and uniform cross-section, and fastening a cap at a specified load to form a convex axial profile of the upper and lower bearing shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mikhail Ejakov
  • Patent number: 10018531
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine, the control apparatus includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to: calculate a normalized intake pressure; calculate a pumping loss torque based on the normalized intake pressure; calculate a first value or a value of a linear function as the normalized intake pressure, the first value is obtained by dividing the intake pressure by the atmospheric pressure; calculate the output value based on the normalized intake pressure and a relational data that associate a normalized output value with the normalized intake pressure; the output value is one of a second value obtained by dividing the pumping loss torque by the atmospheric pressure, a normalized pumping loss torque, a third value obtained by dividing an exhaust pressure by the atmospheric pressure, and a normalized exhaust pressure; and calculate one of the pumping loss torque and the exhaust pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Machiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10018131
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus includes an adsorbent canister, a vapor path connecting the adsorbent canister to a fuel tank, and a flow control valve disposed in the vapor path. The flow control valve is kept closed while a movement distance of a valve body from a predetermined initial position toward a valve opening direction is less than a predetermined distance. A control unit comprising part of the apparatus is configured to set a valve opening speed of the flow control valve to a first speed under a condition where the movement distance of the valve body is less than the predetermined distance, and to set the valve opening speed of the flow control valve to a second speed lower than the first speed under a condition where the movement distance of the valve body is greater than the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki Tagawa, Minoru Akita, Yoshikazu Miyabe, Tatsuhiko Akita, Yuusaku Nishimura, Keita Fukui