Patents Examined by Ka Chun Leung
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Patent number: 7387101Abstract: An oil level sensor for detecting an oil level is arranged in an engine oil pan. The oil level sensor includes a mounting section and a sensing section. An air hole is formed at an upper end of a cover member of the sensing section. The air hole is surrounded by a tubular portion of a shield member attached to a baffle plate of the oil pan. Therefore, any splashed engine oil in the oil pan is restricted from entering the cover member of the sensing section through the air hole. Also, a clearance (?) for venting air is formed between the tubular portion and the baffle plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Fujiki, Osamu Murakami, Masayuki Ueno, Masaki Kanehiro, Seiji Kosaka
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Patent number: 7383795Abstract: A surge tank comprises a liquid inlet portion designed to dissipate the energy of coolant flowing into the surge tank. Desirably, fluid is delivered into a pool of liquid in an initial chamber rather than into an air gap above a pool of liquid such that the pool of liquid assists in dissipating energy of the entering coolant. Coolant from the last of a series of initial chambers desirably exits in a manner that reduces the distance air bubbles must rise to separate from the coolant. Also, when coolant flows from one initial chamber to at least one other initial chamber, desirably the direction of flow of at least a major volume of the coolant is changed, such as by locating an outlet passage from one chamber at a lower portion thereof and the passage from a subsequent chamber at an upper portion thereof. Passageways between the various chambers may be of a progressively increasing total cross-sectional area to assist in reducing the velocity of fluid flow from one chamber to the next.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Daimler Trucks North America LLCInventors: Patrick N. Lawrence, Frederick W. Menche, Antonio Edgar
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Patent number: 7383831Abstract: A structure of a chamber in a combustion engine includes a ring-groove portion formed on the piston, a squish-area making portion formed on a top surface of the piston for a squish-area, an outer edge portion formed around the top surface excepting the squish-area making portion, and a land portion formed around a side surface between the ring-groove portion and the top surface. The land portion includes, a squish-land portion formed between the ring-groove portion and the squish-area making portion, an outer-edge-land portion formed between the ring-groove portion and said outer edge portion, the outer-land portion being smaller than the squish-land portion in height.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeki Nabetani, Tomoharu Sakai, Yoshihiko Tanimura, Hiroshi Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 7373932Abstract: A heating apparatus for a liquefied gas fuel supply system includes a heating unit, a detecting unit and a setting unit. The liquefied gas fuel supply system vaporizes liquefied gas fuel to supply the vaporized gas fuel to an internal-combustion engine. The heating unit heats the liquefied gas fuel before the liquefied gas fuel is vaporized. The detecting unit detects vapor pressure characteristic of the liquefied gas fuel. The setting unit sets an amount of heat to be applied to the liquefied gas fuel on a basis of a detection result by the detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Fujitsu Ten LImitedInventors: Kenji Hayashi, Takao Komoda, Masanori Torii, Toshinari Saiki, Masayuki Kosaka, Toshimitsu Taguchi
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Patent number: 7370612Abstract: A check valve having a thermostat function is provided between an engine and a thermal storage tank that stores a portion of the coolant circulating in the engine. The check valve restricts the flow of the coolant from the engine to the thermal storage tank, and loosens the restriction when the temperature of the coolant increases. Through such operation of the check valve, the warm coolant is collected in the thermal storage tank and engine preheating may be performed before engine start. Thus, by providing between the engine and the thermal storage tank the check valve that operates in response to the temperature of the coolant, engine preheating can be accomplished with a simple structure and at a low cost, without using a three-way valve and performing an electrical valve switching control.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuichi Hanai
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Patent number: 7370623Abstract: A tool with an engine, a shaft, and a recoil starter pulley coupled to the shaft for rotation about an axis. A starter pull rope for winding and unwinding around the recoil starter pulley. An air chamber shroud extending about at least a portion of the pulley, the rope extending from the pulley through the shroud. A tube enclosing a portion of the rope and extending from a location adjacent to and aligned with the pulley to a location at an exterior of the shroud that is axially offset from the pulley. The tube may have flared ends to reduce gradual wear of the rope. The tube alters a trajectory of the pull rope to be substantially offset from the plane of the starter pulley so as to avoid interfering with neighboring structures inside the tool.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc.Inventors: Andrew L. Solinski, Thomas G. Glore, Justin K. Murnan, Wayne M. Vanlandingham, Robert L. Bilimek, Jr.
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Patent number: 7370666Abstract: The present invention is a fuel-control system for a turbine which includes a programmable logic controller. The controller manages utility and stored natural gas sources using a surge tank and pressure-control valve arrangement and is backed up by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.Inventors: Julie Willets, Jason Brinkley, Jerry Meyers, Larry Johnson
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Fuel cooler with lamellar inner structures for connecting to an air-conditioning system of a vehicle
Patent number: 7367292Abstract: A fuel cooler with lamellar inner structures for connecting to an air-conditioning system of a vehicle includes an outer housing having outer connections connected to an outer supply pipe and an outer discharge pipe for a first fluid with the outer connections being integrated into walls of the outer housing in a diagonally mismatched arrangement. An inner conduit cell, surrounded by the outer housing, has an inner supply pipe and an inner discharge pipe for a second fluid passing through the inner conduit cell, which includes lamellas oriented parallel to a direction of flow of the second fluid, with the first fluid coming into contact with an outer contact surface of the inner conduit cell prior to exiting the outer housing for creating a heat exchange between, and without a mixing of, the two fluids, which are fuel and a coolant.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Inventor: Wolfgang Vath -
Patent number: 7367352Abstract: The valve device consists, according to the invention, of (at least) two part valves which are symmetrical in circuit terms with respect to the existing connections and which are designed, in particular, as four-way, two position valves of any desired type of construction, but preferably are provided as slide valves. There is preferably a double slide valve with two cooperating slide valves. The valve device features internal seals and sealing surfaces which minimize wear and damage to the seals as they move across flow ports. The valve device is particularly adapted for use as a fuel control valve for an internal combustion powered motor vehicle having two separate fuel tanks. The valve device permits control over which tank supplies fuel to the engine, and allows controlled mixing of the fuels from each tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Voss Automotive GmbHInventors: Harald Hagen, Markus Hasberg, Andreas Suhr
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Patent number: 7363904Abstract: An engine lubrication system in which a transmission 13 having a main shaft 14 and a drive shaft 15 each having a plurality of change-speed gears mounted thereon is arranged within a separate-type crankcase which is separated into left and right case portions, characterized in that a connecting bolt 60 for connecting the left and right case portions 2a, 2b together is inserted to be disposed in the vicinity of the main shaft 14 or the drive shaft 15 and in parallel with the shafts, in that left and right boss portions 60c having bolt bores 60a into which the connecting bolt 60 for connecting the left and right case portions 2a, 2b together is inserted are extended in a tubular fashion so as to abut with each other face-to-face, in that a space between an inner circumferential surface of the bolt bore 60a in the left and right boss portions 60c and an outer circumferential surface of the connecting bolt 60 is made to constitute a lubricating oil passageway 15a, in that an end of the lubricating oil passagewayType: GrantFiled: February 14, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoji Utsumi, Masahiro Ito
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Patent number: 7363883Abstract: A gas engine electric power generating system in which an electric power generating apparatus including an electric power generator connected with a gas engine of a pilot fuel oil ignition type is installed near a coal mine. Recovered methane gas and ventilated methane gas from the mine are introduced into a cylinder of the gas engine while being adjusted to be introduced as a lean methane/air mixture to operate the engine to produce electric power. A carbon dioxide emission credit reflecting the difference in greenhouse effect index between releasing coal mine methane gas to the atmosphere and releasing the methane gas to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, is registered on an emission credit market. Also included are the affiliated systems of mutual patronage relation constituted by one or a plurality of the systems and nearby power generating system or systems using coal bed methane or pre-mining gas as fuel.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kuninori Ito, Michio Abe
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Patent number: 7363888Abstract: A two-stroke engine has a cylinder and a piston reciprocating in the cylinder and delimiting a combustion chamber. The piston has at least one piston recess. A crankshaft is rotatably arranged in a crankcase connected to the cylinder. A connecting rod connects piston and crankshaft. Transfer channels connect the crankcase to the combustion chamber in pre-defined piston positions. The transfer channels each have a transfer port opening into the combustion chamber. A device for supplying fuel and an air channel supplying combustion air are provided. In predetermined piston positions, the air channel is connected by the piston recess to the transfer ports. The air channel opens into the cylinder bore opposite the exhaust for the exhaust gases. The air channel, the piston recess, and the transfer channels define an air passage that provides approximately uniform distribution of air from the air channel into the transfer channels.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KGInventors: Axel Klimmek, Silke Kaminski, Werner Geyer, Roland Schmidt, Tommy Roitsch, Ralf Blechsmidt, Andreas Bähner, Olaf Schmidt
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Patent number: 7363903Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crankcase having at least two crankcase portions, a plurality of main journal fastener bolts by which the two crankcase portions are coupled to each other such that a crankshaft is rotatably mounted between the two crankcase portions, an oil pump disposed below the plurality of main journal fastener bolts and a vicinity of the main journal fastener bolts, and a water pump disposed laterally of the oil pump in such a manner that a rotational shaft of the water pump is coaxial with a rotational shaft of the oil pump.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
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Patent number: 7357110Abstract: A raised portion is formed at a predetermined location on an inside surface of a wall portion of an intake manifold. A gas introduction hole for introducing gas containing water vapor is formed in another predetermined location, other than in the raised portion, in the inside surface of the wall portion. An intake air negative pressure outlet hole for releasing intake air negative pressure within the surge tank to the outside is formed in the raised portion. A guide groove which catches moisture that trickles down the inside surface of the wall portion above the raised portion and guides it to a location away from the intake air negative pressure outlet hole, is formed in a region above the intake air negative pressure outlet hole in a rising surface of the raised portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuki Hashimoto, Fumihiro Shinkai
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Patent number: 7357019Abstract: A diagnostic system that detects a faulty lifter oil manifold assembly solenoid includes a current measurement module, a time delay module, a voltage measurement module, and a diagnostic module. The current measurement module measures current flowing through the solenoid when a trigger signal is enabled. The time delay module determines a time delay based on the measured current. The voltage measurement module measures a supply voltage that powers the solenoid. The diagnostic module determines whether the solenoid is faulty based on the time delay and supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Mike M. Mc Donald, William C. Albertson, Cheryl A. Williams
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Patent number: 7353792Abstract: An engine for a motorcycle includes an engine case split in an upper case section and a lower case section. A mating surface between the upper case section and the lower case section extends linearly and inclines forward downward in a side view of the motorcycle. A crankshaft, a transmission input shaft, and a balancer shaft extending in the width direction of the motorcycle are rotatably supported at the mating surface, and a transmission output shaft rotated by the transmission input shaft is supported in the lower case section. The balancer shaft, the crankshaft, and the transmission input shaft are arranged in that order from the front side in the running direction of the motorcycle. The transmission output shaft is disposed below the transmission input shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoyuki Oda, Hidetoshi Arakawa
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Patent number: 7343891Abstract: A starting device for a model engine includes an electric-operation unit and a rope-operation unit. The electric-operation unit consists of an engage wheel having engage teeth elastically engaged thereon, and a starting shaft slidably fitted at the outer side of the engage wheel. The starting shaft has its inner side bored with a fitting slot having its circumference eccentrically cut with plural arc-shaped grooves matching with the engage teeth of the engage wheel. The arc-shaped grooves of the starting shaft can eccentrically actuate the engage teeth to move back and forth axially on the engage wheel. The rope wheel of the rope-operation unit is fitted on the starting shaft, having its inner side equidistantly and annularly bored with plural tooth grooves elastically engaged by the engage teeth. By changing the positions of the engage teeth, the starting device can be started in two different modes.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Golden Lion Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventor: Lien Sheng Chang
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Patent number: 7341046Abstract: A fuel delivery assembly including a fuel pump module having a mounting flange and a reservoir housing carried by the mounting flange, and an emissions canister pivotally mounted to the reservoir housing of the fuel pump module, wherein the emissions canister is pivoted relative to the reservoir housing when the assembly is inserted through an access opening of a fuel tank and assembled thereto. Preferably, the assembly is positioned within the fuel tank so that respective bearing surfaces of the fuel pump module and emissions canister are in substantially the same plane against the bottom of the fuel tank, and a longitudinal axis of the emissions canister is approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel pump module.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: TI Automotive Fuel Systems SASInventors: Pascal Leymarie, Robert Renaud
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Patent number: 7341053Abstract: A squish surface having the shape of a plane surface orthogonal to the axis of a piston is formed on the intake side of the piston top surface. A squish area is formed between the squish surface and a plane surface-shaped squish surface on the cylinder head side, and at the same time, a squish guide surface is formed in the piston top surface so as to be continuously ridged from the squish surface toward the vicinity of a spark plug.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Kitada, Toshinobu Natori, Kunio Hatada, Haruaki Yoneda, Kenzo Kubo
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Patent number: 7334551Abstract: A pull-cord start system has a recoil pulley coupled to a crankshaft of a combustion engine and a pull-cord wound about the recoil pulley which is pulled by an end user to rotate the recoil pulley and thereby start the engine. A throttle override device of the pull-cord start system has a shuttle coupled to the pull-cord for movement from a biased rest position to an active position when the pull-cord is being pulled by an end user. A linkage of the throttle override device which is preferably a Bowden cable extends between a throttle control and a throttle valve of a carburetor and is associated with the shuttle so that actuation of the throttle control when the shuttle is in the active position will not open the throttle valve which preferably is biased to an idle position because movement of the shuttle to the active position produces slack in the linkage.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventor: George M. Pattullo