Patents Examined by Joshua Campbell
  • Patent number: 11702059
    Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods of online power management for hybrid powertrains. In some embodiments, the hybrid powertrain control system is configured to conduct a brake-thermal-efficiency (BTE) estimation procedure when the powertrain is in operation by operating the hybrid powertrain at a plurality of speeds for a plurality of designated power levels and select certain BTE operating conditions to update the power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Dheeraj B. Gosala, Carlos A. Lana
  • Patent number: 11692502
    Abstract: In an engine ignition method according to the present invention, an ignition coil and an exciter coil are provided in a magneto generator driven by an engine. After charging an ignition capacitor using an output voltage of the exciter coil, the ignition capacitor is discharged through a primary coil of the ignition coil at an ignition timing of the engine, whereby a high voltage induced in a secondary coil of the ignition coil is applied to an ignition plug and a first spark discharge is generated in the ignition plug, and a voltage induced in the secondary coil of the ignition coil accompanied with rotation of the magneto rotor is applied to the ignition plug in a state that insulation across discharge gaps of the ignition plug is broken down due to the first spark discharge, whereby a second spark discharge is produced in the ignition plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Takuma Ayuzawa, Masayuki Sugiyama, Naoya Takamura
  • Patent number: 11686577
    Abstract: An angled face cap probe includes a housing having a radially inner end and a radially outer end, defining a cavity, and configured to be located radially outward from an airfoil. The angled face cap probe further includes a sensor located in the cavity at the radially inner end of the housing, having a sensor body with a sensing face that is angled to match or substantially match an angle of a radially outward face the airfoil, and having a sensor flat that is elongated in a first direction. The angled face cap probe further includes an outer cap located in the cavity, coupled to the housing, and having an outer cap main body and cap legs that extend radially inward from the outer cap main body to interface with the sensor flat to resist rotation of the sensor relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eli C. Warren, Kevin A. Ford, Patrick M. Harrington
  • Patent number: 11674494
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Patent number: 11644003
    Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes a switching circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit monitors a voltage level inputted to a switching device which is installed in the switching circuit and connected to a primary winding of an ignition coil. The control circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit which outputs an energization inhibit signal to inhibit energization of the switching device when the monitored voltage level is higher than an overvoltage threshold level. When the monitored voltage level exceeds the overvoltage threshold level in an output duration in which the energization control signal is outputted, the overvoltage protection circuit stops output of the energization inhibit signal until the output duration expires. This enables the switching device to be protected from damage and an ignition operation to be executed at a correct timing to eliminate a risk of damage to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Irie
  • Patent number: 11644384
    Abstract: A method of determining a condition of a component (e.g., valves) of an engine having a manifold air pressure sensor during a cold test includes providing pressurized air to an intake of the engine. The method includes rotating a crankshaft of the engine. The method includes measuring pressures with the manifold air pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position. The method includes comparing the pressures with a predetermined baseline. The method includes indicating a condition of the component based on the comparison of the pressures with the baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David J. Chesney, Roderick Alexander Simpson
  • Patent number: 11635017
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has a pre-chamber which has a plurality of openings and which is fluidically connectable to the combustion chamber via the openings. Two spark gaps are arranged in the pre-chamber via which respective sparks can be formed. The spark gaps are arranged symmetrically distributed in the pre-chamber and a first of the spark gaps is arranged further outwards than the second spark gap along a direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the pre-chamber spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Bertsch
  • Patent number: 11614232
    Abstract: On an inner wall surface of a plug hole, an internal thread portion and a seat portion are formed. The seat portion has a tapered seat surface. A glow plug with a combustion pressure sensor includes a housing, a glow heater, a load transfer member, and a pressure detector. The housing has an external thread and a seat facing portion. The seat facing portion has a tapered contact surface in surface contact with the tapered seat surface. A recessed portion recessed to be in non-contact with the seat portion is formed annularly about a central axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoichi Takemoto, Nobuyuki Abe, Kenji Ito
  • Patent number: 11614027
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber assembly includes pre-chamber device body defining an annular plenum that is in fluid communication with the at least one bore that extends through the spark plug shell. The annular plenum is also in communication with at least one purging passage that extends from the annular plenum to an end surface of the pre-chamber device body. Residual exhaust gases in the annular volume of the spark plug are purged by fresh charge flow from the main combustion chamber as the piston approaches top dead center. The fresh charge flow that is provided to the annular plenum through the at least one purging passage and into the annular volume of the spark plug through the at least one bore through the spark plug shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Nicholas James Welch, David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, Xiao Qin, Andrew Guy Kitchen, Daniel J. O'Connor, Benjamín L. Olivas
  • Patent number: 11608806
    Abstract: A control system is intended for a vehicle having an automatic stop-restart function that automatically stops an engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and restarts the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during an automatic engine stop. The control system has an automatic stop restricting function that, when the host vehicle is located in a first predetermined area before a temporary stop sign, prohibits an automatic stop of the engine. When a preceding vehicle is located in the first predetermined area, the automatic stop restricting function is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Kuretake
  • Patent number: 11598305
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling an engine system includes starting the engine system, activating an engine idling reduction mode allowing automatic shutdown and automatic restarting of an engine, disallowing automatic shutdown of the engine within the engine idling reduction mode if a state of charge of a voltage source is below a charge limit for permitting automatic shutdown of the engine, and modifying the charge limit as a function of a number of starts of the engine. Other aspects include a method for disallowing automatic shutdown of an engine if a voltage source has not achieved a fully charged condition, a method of triggering an automatic restarting of an engine, if the engine is automatically shutdown, based on at least two separate indicators of engine temperature, and a method of disallowing automatic shutdown of an engine if ambient temperature is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Harmeyer, Michael E. Kenning, Navya X. Koka, Matthew E. Lueddecke, Jon B. Borgeson
  • Patent number: 11591981
    Abstract: According to the invention, a diagnostic system is provided for diagnosing a misfire condition is provided of individual engine cylinders in a turbocharged diesel engine having at least a first and a second cylinder associated with a common exhaust path. The system comprises a pressure sensor in an exhaust path, for measuring a pressure value; a crankshaft position sensor, for detecting a rotational crankshaft position; and a processor unit for reading the pressure sensor and the crankshaft position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DAF Trucks N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Gillot, John De Graaf
  • Patent number: 11549429
    Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas (e.g., air) from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also includes one or more upper channels and one or more lower channels that are configured to provide a substantially similar amount of flow relative to each other to the interior volume The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Sreenivasa Rao Gubba, Bhaskar Tamma, Victor Manuel Salazar, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Roy James Primus, John Dowell, Kevin Bailey, Kevin McElhaney
  • Patent number: 11530665
    Abstract: A deterioration determination apparatus is usable with an ammonia sensor that includes an ammonia element portion that includes, a solid electrolyte, an ammonia electrode, and a reference electrode. The deterioration determining apparatus compares a first evaluation value and a second evaluation value, and determines whether deterioration has occurred in the ammonia element portion of the ammonia sensor at an evaluation time or subsequent to the evaluation time. The first evaluation value is based on a first sensor current obtained when a DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode of the ammonia element portion at an initial time that is during an initial use period of the ammonia sensor. The second evaluation value is based on a second sensor current obtained when the DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode subsequent to the initial period of use of the ammonia sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Toshihiko Harada, Kensuke Takizawa, Eriko Maeda, Hiroaki Yoto
  • Patent number: 11499496
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine in response to an increase in a load on the engine is disclosed. The engine includes a cylinder with a piston slidably disposed therein between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. The cylinder and the piston define a combustion chamber. The method includes initiating a first injection event and a second injection event. The first injection event includes introducing a first predetermined quantity of fuel into the combustion chamber at least 5 degrees before the piston reaches the top dead center position. The second injection event includes introducing a second predetermined quantity of fuel into the combustion chamber not earlier than 30 degrees after the piston moves away from the top dead center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Sunley, David A. Pierpont, Jason J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 11493009
    Abstract: An injection hole body has injection holes to inject fuel. A valve body forms a fuel passage with an inner surface of the injection hole body to communicate with inflow ports of the injection holes. The valve body opens and closes the fuel passage by being seated on and unseated from a seating surface of the injection hole body. An inflow port gap distance is a gap between the valve body and the inflow ports along a center axis of the valve body. An inter-injection hole distance is a distance between inflow ports, which are adjacent to each other, among the inflow ports placed around the center axis. The inter-injection hole distance is smaller than the inflow port gap distance in a state where the valve body is unseated from the seating surface and is at a farthest position in its movable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Imai
  • Patent number: 11486344
    Abstract: An engine glow plug disconnection detection method may include: increasing, by a controller, temperature of a plurality of glow plugs by performing a rapid temperature increase mode when an engine start signal of a vehicle is recognized by the controller; determining whether the glow plugs are disconnected and the number of disconnections using an engine start early-stage voltage of the vehicle and a voltage of the vehicle when the rapid temperature increase mode is performed, by the controller; recognizing, by the controller, cylinders of an engine with at least a disconnected glow plug upon determining that one or more glow plugs are disconnected: and storing, by the controller, a number of disconnected glow plugs and information related to corresponding cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Sang Oh, Jin Ho Kim, Jang Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11486337
    Abstract: An integrated exhaust system apparatus to be mounted on an engine is provided. The apparatus includes an apparatus housing; an engine interface; an exhaust system interface with a first exhaust apparatus outlet configured to direct a first portion of exhaust through the housing wall; an EGR interface with a second exhaust apparatus outlet configured to direct a second portion of exhaust through the apparatus housing wall; and an exhaust manifold arranged within the apparatus interior. The exhaust manifold includes a first manifold outlet configured to direct the first portion of exhaust out of the manifold interior and a second manifold outlet configured to direct the second portion of exhaust out of the manifold interior. An EGR cooler is arranged within the apparatus interior with passages fluidly coupled such that the second portion of exhaust is directed out of the apparatus housing via the second exhaust apparatus outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric J. Haaland, Veeresh Nagathan
  • Patent number: 11466649
    Abstract: A pumping unit for feeding fuel, preferably diesel fuel, to an internal combustion engine has a pre-feed pump (3), which feeds the fuel to a high-pressure pump (2), is connected to a fuel storage chamber by means of an intake duct (49) and is provided with two gearings (40, 42) engaging with each other and made to rotate by an electric motor (37), a stator (38) of which is housed inside a containing chamber (48) formed in a pump body (32) of the pre-feed pump (3) and hydraulically connected to the intake duct (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Antonio Scamarcio, Pietro De Carlo
  • Patent number: 11454189
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing hot fuel vapor formation in a port injection fuel rail. In one example, a method may include operating a dual fuel injection system with at least a calibrated minimum amount of port fuel injection over a wide range of engine operating conditions, even as conditions change. A direct fuel injection amount is adjusted in accordance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen George Russ, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Scott Allan Lehto, Christopher Arnold Woodring, Jeanne Wei, David Shelley