Patents Examined by Ka Chun Leung
  • Patent number: 7503291
    Abstract: A reciprocating device which may be operated either as a compressor or an engine. Each cylinder has a reciprocating piston connected to a piston rod. Dual cylinder chambers are located in each cylinder on opposite sides of the piston. The pistons are connected to a scotch yoke which translates the reciprocating motion of the pistons to rotary motion at a shaft in the engine mode. In the compressor mode, the shaft is connected to a power source. The engine components such as the pistons, rods, bushings and cylinder lines may be high quality steel or a ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Kiss Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Gamble, Richard A. Bordonaro
  • Patent number: 7490584
    Abstract: A fuel enrichment cold start/run circuit and method pumps fuel from the fuel pump to an enrichment circuit inlet independently of a carburetor float bowl such that the enrichment circuit is supplied with fuel regardless of the orientation of the float bowl, including angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Brian R. White
  • Patent number: 7490585
    Abstract: In a compensating shaft for reciprocating piston engines with at least one compensating weight (22) connected torsionally elastically to the compensating shaft (21), effective noise reduction is achieved by using an elastic element, preferably one (25) made of plastic of elasticity which is graduated in the circumferential direction, the hard central part (26) having a connection (15) to the compensating shaft (11) which is firm in the circumferential direction, and the soft part (31) bearing against the compensating weight (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Magna Drivetrain AG & Co KG
    Inventor: Christian Friedrich
  • Patent number: 7484481
    Abstract: A main switch section is accommodated in a trigger. The trigger provided on the handle through a spring. The handle is formed with a recess to which one end of the spring is seated, so that the trigger is normally urged toward the lower side of the combustion-type nail driver. A switch accommodating portion is provided in the lower side of the canister housing. A push switch is stored in the switch accommodating portion. The push switch is a commodity type micro-switch covered with a switch protection member made from an elastic material such as a rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Fujisawa, Yoshitaka Akiba
  • Patent number: 7484480
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of connecting the input of a compressor of a vehicle air braking system with a gas output of a crankcase of a vehicle engine, directing into the input of the compressor a blend of from 0% crankcase gases and 100% ambient pressure air to 100% crankcase gases and 0% ambient pressure air. The blend of gases may be filtered upstream of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William P. Fornof, Paul G. Reisinger
  • Patent number: 7481186
    Abstract: A cooling water structure for an engine with improved external appearance and reduced cost. A first passage section of a cooling water passage discharges cooling water from a water pump to water jackets of front and rear cylinders. The first passage section is formed in a surface of a partition wall of a right case that is an inside wall surface of a crank case. The water pump is accommodated with the first passage section in a crank chamber of the crank case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7481188
    Abstract: A multiple watt-linkage force transfer mechanism is provided for an internal-combustion engine. The force transfer mechanism comprises two “bell cranks” that are used to drive a single crankshaft through a watt linkage mechanism. Each bell crank, in turn, is driven by two pistons through corresponding watt linkage mechanisms. The watt linkages connected to the pistons enable the connection ends of the pistons to travel along substantially straight paths, significantly reducing side loads against the piston walls. Also, all four pistons preferably drive a single connecting rod. This changes the role of the crankshaft—and the corresponding strength and rigidity requirements for the crankshaft—by reducing the necessary number of rod journals and main journals on the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Dennis Brickley
  • Patent number: 7478617
    Abstract: A power generator includes a supporting frame, a generator supported by the supporting frame, and an engine mechanism including an engine driving the generator and a recoil starter for starting the engine via starter cable. The power generator further includes a hand-free starter arrangement which includes a foot pedal movably supported by the supporting frame and a transmission unit coupling a pulling end of the starter cable with the foot pedal to transmit the downward stepping force of the foot pedal to a pulling force of the starter cable. A downward displacement of the foot pedal is corresponding to an operation length of the starter cable to start the engine such that when the foot pedal is depressed, the starter cable is pulled with the operation length to start the engine in a hand-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Inventor: Li Wang
  • Patent number: 7475656
    Abstract: An apparatus, including an internal combustion engine, produces hydrogen fuel from water to power the engine, comprises water supply means, fuel storage means, controlling means, a collector receiving combustion products output from engine's operation, a transformer utilizing thermo-impact of the combustion products and decomposing supplied water into hydrogen and oxygen, an ion divider electrically separating hydrogen and oxygen ions into gaseous hydrogen, further directed into the fuel storage means and controllably fed substantially into engine's cylinders, and gaseous oxygen. It also includes exhaust means outputting exhaust products from the collector into the atmosphere, on their way out heating water in the water supply means. The fuel storage means contain initial hydrogen or another predetermined fuel. Electrolyzer means are provided to supplement hydrogen and oxygen ions production. Recommended temperature and parts size ranges for six-and eight-cylinder engines are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Yuriy Yatsenko
  • Patent number: 7464682
    Abstract: A variable intake system includes an intake manifold having at least one runner, an opening/closing unit for adjusting a length of the runner, an actuator for activating the opening/closing unit, and a vacuum unit defining a vacuum chamber for driving the actuator. The vacuum unit is disposed inside the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae Sung Park
  • Patent number: 7464685
    Abstract: A Crankshaft bearing assembly for supporting a crankshaft for rotation about a crankshaft axis within an engine having an aluminum engine block, the crankshaft bearing assembly including at least one crankshaft bearing divided into a first half and a second half, the first half being integral with the engine block, and the second half being a bearing cap connectable to the engine block. The bearing cap is made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength higher than the tensile strength of the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Hochmayr, Karl Glinsner
  • Patent number: 7461637
    Abstract: A diesel engine (1) includes a fuel supply passage (4) via which fuel is supplied from a fuel tank (2) to an oil pan (3) through a supply pump (6), a lubrication-system fuel supply passage (8) via which fuel is supplied from the oil pan (3) to engine parts (7) to be lubricated through a lubricating oil pump (10), and an injection-system fuel supply passage (13) via which fuel is supplied from the oil pan (3) to an injection system (12) through an injection pump (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamashita, Motoichi Murakami, Tomoyuki Ono, Hiroshi Moritani, Toshihide Ohmori
  • Patent number: 7461621
    Abstract: There is provided a method of starting a spark ignition engine having multiple cylinders. The method comprises supplying air and fuel for restart into a first cylinder before the engine completely stops, and igniting the mixture of the air and the fuel in the first cylinder in response to an engine start request. In accordance with the method, by supplying air and fuel into the first cylinder before the engine completely stops, the mixture of air and fuel in the first cylinder may be homogeneous at the time of the engine start request. Also, there may be less mixture turbulence and combustion may propagate better within the cylinder. These conditions may reduce the rate of combustion in the first cylinder after a start request is initiated. The slower combustion rate may decrease temperature of the combusted gas while the cylinder wall temperature is relatively low because the engine has stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ota, Masahiko Fujimoto, Yasushi Murakami, Keiji Araki, Kazuya Yokota
  • Patent number: 7461622
    Abstract: A controller for a direct-injection internal combustion engine in which fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber via a fuel injection valve, and a mixture formed thereby is burned by igniting the mixture via an ignition plug, which the controller, when the internal combustion engine is started under very low temperature conditions, controls an ignition cut operation that inhibits ignition and performs fuel injection only, the controller including an engine-start control unit that, when the internal combustion engine is started under very low temperature conditions after the ignition cut operation was performed, determines whether there is fuel that can contribute to combustion in a cylinder and if there is, inhibits the ignition cut operation, or limits a number of times of the cutting off of ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Maemura, Seiji Hirowatari, Masahiko Teraoka, Takeyasu Muraishi
  • Patent number: 7458344
    Abstract: An assembly modification of an existing two-stroke single cylinder 43 CC to 52 CC combustion engine. The assembly substantially increases the horsepower of the stock two-stroke engines. The modifications include using a reed valve kit which is modified to connect to the threaded carburetor connection bolt holes on the outside of the engine casing at the intake port. A drilled excavation in the interior face of the engine cylinder to provide for an additional transfer port at the location of the fuel/air intake port is also provided. The additional transfer port has a roof with varying angles of inflection depending on the performance characteristics desired during operation of the combustion engine. The reed valve kit also provides additional configurations for larger or smaller carburetors located at the intake port of the reed valve block. The piston skirt is modified for an additional opening at the intake port for providing fuel air mixture into the crank case for additional volume intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Brad Holtorf
  • Patent number: 7458343
    Abstract: To allow pollutants contained in atmospheric air to be treated effectively at all times during operation of a vehicle. A catalyst layer for treating atmospheric pollutants is formed on at least a surface of cooling fins provided on a cylinder portion of an engine mounted on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Tanabe, Takashi Tsutsumizaki, Masaharu Nakamori
  • Patent number: 7458586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a housing sealing cover (1, 10, 15, 18) for detachable liquid-tight fixing to an internal combustion engine, comprising an add-on piece (24) which is firmly connected to the housing, extending through the cover when in a mounted position. Said cover consists of a metallic or polymer support element (2) made of a single layer and is provided with an opening (25) for the add-on piece (24), wherein a seal (23) is arranged in said opening. Said seal comprises a sealing lip(3, 11) extending axially on the edge (26) of the opening (25) and a sealing lip (5, 12, 16, 19) extending radially in relation to the seal of the add-on piece (24). The radially extending sealing lip (5, 12, 16, 19) is retained in the opening (25) in an angularly and radially displaceable manner with respect to the support element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Sealing Systems Bretten GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Salameh
  • Patent number: 7458368
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for increasing the fuel efficiency of a vehicle of the type having an internal combustion engine, a battery, a vacuum line, and a fuel line that feeds fuel to the engine. The system comprises a hydrogen gas generator and a vacuum regulator. A vacuum regulator is in fluid communication with the vacuum line of the vehicle and an output line of the gas generator. The vacuum regulator includes a vacuum pressure adjustment means for controlling the amount of hydrogen gas that is introduced into the vacuum line of the vehicle. In use, hydrogen gas is introduced into the vehicle vacuum line and then into the engine where it is mixed with the fuel from the fuel line and ambient air. The hydrogen gas increases the atomization of the fuel for more efficient burning thereof in the engine. A fuel additive including an acetone-based compound, a xylene-based compound, and an upper cylinder lubricant may be mixed with the hydrogen gas to further atomize the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel Huffman
  • Patent number: 7458249
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine which allow monitoring of errors during combustion without using a pressure sensor are provided. The internal combustion engine includes a final controlling element in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine and a signal production unit for producing a signal as a function of a setting of the final controlling element. The signal is analyzed for a characteristic property of the signal. A value for the characteristic property of the signal is compared to a predefined value. An error is recognized as a function of a deviation of the value for the characteristic property of the signal from the predefined value during a fired operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Kassner
  • Patent number: 7451744
    Abstract: A vehicle is capable of preventing the temperature of the fuel injector from becoming high due to engine heat and also facilitating installation and maintenance of the fuel injector. The vehicle includes a head pipe, a body frame coupled with the head pipe and extending downward to the rear, an engine arranged below the body frame, a cylinder axis of the engine being oriented substantially horizontal, an intake passage for supplying air to the engine, and a fuel injector mounted on a midsection of the intake passage for supplying fuel to the engine. At least a portion of the fuel injector is arranged forward relative to a centerline of the intake passage when viewed from the side of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Imamura