Patents Examined by Katrina B. Harris
-
Patent number: 6655342Abstract: A pre-lubrication system that lubricates a vehicle engine prior to starting the engine. The system operates manually or when an engine has low oil pressure resulting from operating the engine during slow moving traffic or during an oil pump failure. In its basic form, the system consists of a system starter that applies oil through a pre-lube oil pump, a check valve, a vehicle engine oil filter, a vehicle engine adapter connected to a vehicle engine/pan, and a vehicle battery that powers the system. The system can also include an electronic control unit and an AND gate that allows automatic operation of the system when an oil sensing switch senses a drop in oil pressure. Additionally, the system can be designed to include a battery trickle-charger, an engine warming subsystem and a battery warming subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Inventors: Antonius G. Wendels, John W. Frencher
-
Patent number: 6651615Abstract: A direct fuel injection-type spark-ignition internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine comprises a fuel injector for injecting fuel as a spray in nearly the shape of a fan having a relative small thickness, a spark plug and a cavity formed on the top surface of a piston. The cavity has a long and narrow groove-like shape. The spray is injected by the fuel injector such that the spray is almost parallel with the center axis of the piston, and impinges in the cavity. The spark plug is arranged in the upper portion of the cylinder to face the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisao Suzuki, Terutoshi Tomoda, Mutsumi Kanda, Toshimi Kashiwagura, Fumito Chiba, Sachio Mori, Satoshi Taniguchi
-
Patent number: 6647943Abstract: A valve stem seal component overcomes potential orientation misplacement, particularly in cases where no valve stem seal is to be used on an adjacent valve. The component includes an integral locator feature for assuring proper installation atop a valve guide of an internal combustion engine. A plurality of such seal components are employed per engine, each component designed for insertion over at least the intake valve guide of each cylinder. Each component includes a valve stem seal module adapted to be installed over the intake valve guide. A locator is attached to the module via a radial connection portion that extends between the module and locator. The radial connection portion includes an arcuate edge that fits in only one orientation against a curvilinear edge of a boss on the cylinder head. In one described embodiment, the locator is a circular ring adapted to be installed over an exhaust guide.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Dana CorporationInventors: Mark A. Leimer, Mark A. Stamback, Robert W. Lehmann
-
Patent number: 6647938Abstract: The invention relates to a device of the build-up of pressure in supply systems (6, 11, 20, and 23) to components (19, 36) on internal combustion engines (2). The invention includes directly couples lubricant systems and pressure-generating systems (3, 8), an electric fuel pump (34), as well as a control apparatus for determining lubricant pressures. A supply module (12, 34) is provided with an independent drive (16) and supplies lubricant in the lubricant oil circuit (24) or to selected lubricating position, or fuel into a fuel supply (36). The supply module (12, 34) can optionally include a pressure converter (30).Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Hermann Gaessler, Udo Diehl, Karsten Mischker, Rainer Walter, Bernd Rosenau, Juergen Schiemann, Christian Grosse, Georg Mallebrein, Volker Beuche, Stefan Reimer
-
Patent number: 6640770Abstract: A fuel evaporative emission control apparatus in a carburetor which prevents diurnal evaporation to the atmosphere of fuel from a remote fuel tank through a fuel bowl or fuel chamber of a float-type carburetor. One or more shut-off valves in the carburetor are yieldably biased to a shut-off position. Only upon engine operation or user intervention will the fuel shut-off valve move to an open or on position. In this way, reliance upon the engine user is not required to reduce evaporative emissions.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: John C. Woody
-
Patent number: 6640769Abstract: A lubrication structure of an engine arranged so as to reduce the size and weight of an engine. A lubrication structure that utilizes a lead valve and a strainer that are placed close together and divided by a partition, prevents air from being sucked into a strainer at the same time as reducing the amount of air in the engine oil. In this structure the oil is supplied to the oil pan from an oil exhaust port open to a small partition partitioned by a rib. The oil exhaust port communicates with an oil reservoir in a lower part of a crankcase via a lead valve. Oil sent from the oil exhaust port includes air. However, the air is separated by providing the rib. The oil in the oil pan is sucked through the strainer by the oil pump.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akifumi Nomura, Yasuo Shimura
-
Patent number: 6634323Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-type cooling unit for a vehicle equipped with an internal-combustion engine, the unit being connected via a main circulation loop formed by appropriate conduits, in particular to at least one radiator for cooling the water or the similar coolant and to the circuits for cooling the cylinder block and the cylinder heads. Unit, characterized in that it comprises a central module in the form of a body made of thermoplastic material in which there are, in particular, mounted or partially molded a water-circulating pump and a flow-regulating valve disposed in the circulating loop, preferably between the aforementioned cooling circuits and the radiator.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Mark IV Systemes Moteurs (Société Anonyme)Inventors: Jean-Paul Vaudry, Richard Komurian, Anthony Alves
-
Patent number: 6629514Abstract: A piston mechanism for gas driven engines, fluid motors, pumps and the like that has a piston in a chamber that is moveable in the chamber in a reciprocating action and a rotating shaft that is driven by or drives the piston, wherein a double eccentric drive mechanically connects the piston and the drive shaft and the double eccentric drive has a minor eccentric engaged by a minor internal gear that is fixed to the inside of the piston, which converts the piston reciprocating drive motion to an orbiting axle of the minor eccentric and a major eccentric that engages a major internal gear that is fixed to the outside of the chamber and carries the output drive shaft, and the eccentrics are connected at their orbiting axles so that the major eccentric converts the orbiting motion of the minor eccentric axle to a rotational motion of the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Inventor: Richard A. Gale
-
Patent number: 6626140Abstract: A four stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed having a power take off housing located at one end of the engine. A crankshaft is operatively connected to a drive shaft and the cam shaft within the power take off housing. Furthermore, the crankshaft is operatively coupled within the power take off housing to at least one of a generator, an engine starting mechanism, a balance shaft, and a supercharger.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Bombardier-Rotax GmbHInventors: Manfred Aichinger, Rudolf Tscherne, Alois Wolfsgruber, Michael Sonnleitner, Johann Holzleitner
-
Patent number: 6619244Abstract: This engine 1 relies on a flywheel having a flywheel axis and an undulating cam surface. A piston with a roller at its base is positioned in a cylinder such that the roller abuts the undulating cam surface at some radial distance from the flywheel axis. Thus, as the piston is pushed downward by an explosion in the cylinder, it pushes against the cam surface causing the flywheel to rotate. As the flywheel continues to rotate its undulating surface pushes the piston back into position for a repetition of the cycle. More complex embodiments include one in which undulating surfaces are located on opposite faces of the same flywheel with separate pistons interacting with each face and one in which undulating surfaces are located on the facing surfaces of two separate flywheels with pistons positioned between the flywheels. In the latter embodiment, pistons can share the same cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Inventor: Patrick C. Ho
-
Patent number: 6612270Abstract: An coolant pump for an internal-combustion engine including a housing, a cover sealingly coupled to the housing, an impeller assembly located between the housing and the cover, the impeller assembly defining a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and a flange positioned between the housing and the cover adjacent the impeller assembly such that the flange and the cover define a first cavity, the flange and the housing define a second cavity, and the flange includes an opening fluidly connecting the first and second cavities, the flange being contoured to at least partially surround the impeller assembly. Preferably, the pump also includes a nozzle contoured to direct a coolant from the first cavity toward the second cavity and onto the impeller assembly, and wherein the nozzle has an intake side communicating with the first cavity and a discharge side communicating with the second cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.Inventors: Stefan Fegg, Klaus Fuoss
-
Patent number: 6609489Abstract: A side-branch resonator which has a resonator chamber connected to an air intake pipe with two necks. The necks extend into the resonator chamber and provide a conduit for sound to travel to and from the air intake pipe. The presence of two necks increases the magnitude of attenuation at the resonant frequency and the bandwidth of attenuation of other lower frequency engine noises. The two necks also effectively attenuate higher frequencies by utilizing standing waves found within the resonator chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Thomas Alan Slopsema, Gary Lee Martinson
-
Patent number: 6606971Abstract: A fuel injection system injects a rich mixture of fuel-and-air directly into a cylinder of a two cycle engine through an intake port for combustion. A charge forming device of the fuel injection system carries a primary air intake passage which flows air into the crankcase of the engine, and a rich fuel-and-air mixing passage which flows the majority of fuel into the cylinder, preferably via a tuned injector tube. To control air flow through the air intake passage and simultaneously control fuel flow into the fuel-and-air mixing passage, a rotary throttle valve rotateably and axially moveably traverses both passages. A mixture of fuel and oil is drawn into the air intake passage via a fuel bleed passage only during wide open throttle conditions for lubrication of moving parts and bearings contained within the crankcase.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Walbro Japan, Inc.Inventor: Takashi Abei
-
Patent number: 6604496Abstract: The invention relates to a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod (1), in which a piston part (2) and a shaft part (9) are telescopically inserted one inside the other. Piston part and shaft part can be locked together at certain lengths by pins (5a, 5a′, 5b, 5b′) supported in the piston part skirt (8), which engage in associated recesses (4a, 4a′, 4b, 4b′) on the shaft part skirt (3). Every two pins (5a, 5a′; 5b, 5b′) are pushed apart by springs (11a, 11b) situated between them. Through corresponding feed ducts (7a) a hydraulic medium can be purposely delivered to the recesses in the piston part skirt (3), in order to push pins situated therein back into the shaft part skirt (8).Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Guenter Bartsch, Jens Linsel
-
Patent number: 6604494Abstract: An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1999Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation of AmericaInventors: Mark J. Skrzypchak, Michael J. French, Gregry M. Remmers, Scott A. Koerner, Philip J. Bylsma, Mike A. Tanner, Dale A. Wiegele
-
Patent number: 6601561Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a diesel engine includes a combustion chamber being defined in a crown of a piston, the combustion chamber having a center portion, the center portion being defined at least in part by a portion of a convex sphere to define a post, the sphere having a radius and an origin, the origin of the radius lying on a combustion chamber central axis and the combustion chamber further having an outwardly radially disposed bottom margin, the bottom margin being defined in part by a portion of a sphere, the sphere being concave and having an origin and a radius. The combustion chamber has more than two spherical surfaces having smooth annular transitions between adjacent spherical surfaces, the spherical surfaces including the spherical center portion and the spherical bottom margin. A piston and a method of forming a combustion chamber are further included.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2002Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventors: Zhengbai Liu, Xinqun Gui
-
Patent number: 6602140Abstract: A dual mass flywheel between the output element of the engine and the power train of a motor vehicle is provided, which includes: a primary mass adapted to be attached to a crankshaft of an engine for rotation, the primary mass including two sheet metal components defining a damping chamber; a secondary mass supported for rotation relative to the primary mass and adapted to be coupled to a friction clutch; and a drive plate that is coupled to the secondary mass. A vibration damper is installed between the primary and secondary masses, the vibration damper including a plurality of ball members which move along the damping chamber by centrifugal force; a plurality of ball guide members; a plurality of resilient members; and a drive guide.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Tae-Han Jee
-
Patent number: 6601558Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for use in a flat head style internal combustion engine. A valve for use in the head has a cup portion above the face of the valve. The cup portion of the valve moves longitudinally in a sleeve or liner in the head of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Inventor: Michael L. Clements
-
Patent number: 6601556Abstract: A noise insulation structure of a synthetic resin made conduit includes a synthetic resin made chamber and a rubber made noise insulation member. Since the chamber is closely covered around with the noise insulation member through projections and grooves formed on the contact surface of the chamber with the noise insulation member. Further, cylindrical blind-end bores are provided on the inner surface of the noise insulation member so as to form air columns when the noise insulation member is installed on the chamber. The air columns serve as resonators to muffle noise.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisako Nakano, Tatsuo Iino, Mamoru Fukushima
-
Patent number: 6601551Abstract: A mechanical transmission device for an engine with variable volume displacement comprising a piston (2) interlocked in its lower part with a control rack (3), co-operating with a ball-bearing guiding device (4) and with a gear assembly (5) integral with a connecting rod (6) for transmitting movement between the piston and the connecting rod.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Inventor: Vianney Rabhi