Patents Examined by Katrina Harris
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Patent number: 7367291Abstract: In a railroad locomotive for operation in low ambient temperature conditions with the locomotive having an engine which includes a cooling system using a coolant liquid, a coolant liquid containment system is provided and includes a containment tank, an inlet port in fluid flow communication with an outlet from the engine cooling system and with the interior of the containment tank, an inlet valve for controlling the flow of coolant liquid through the inlet port, an outlet inlet port in fluid flow communication with the interior of the tank for discharge of the coolant liquid from the containment tank, an outlet valve for controlling the flow of coolant liquid from the containment tank, a sensor for monitoring a parameter indicative of the temperature of coolant liquid in the engine cooling system and generating a signal indicative of the temperature of the coolant liquid and a control device for receiving information indicative of the temperature of the coolant liquid and in communication with the inlet valvType: GrantFiled: July 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Gregory Alan Marsh, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
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Patent number: 7357111Abstract: A stroke characteristic variable engine comprising a primary link connected to a piston which is slidably fitted in a cylinder, a secondary link connecting the primary link with a crankshaft and a tertiary link connected to the primary link or the secondary link at one end and to an engine main body via a control shaft at the other end thereof. An oil level position of engine oil stored in an oil pan is set such that at least part of the control shaft is submerged in the engine oil, whereby since oil stored within the oil pan can be used as it is, the lubrication around the control shaft can be ensured in a simplified configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akinori Maezuru, Koichi Ikoma, Koichi Eto, Kenji Abe
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Patent number: 7318396Abstract: A cooling system for a marine engine incorporates first and second thermally responsive valves which are responsive to increases in temperature above first and second temperature thresholds, respectively. The two thermally responsive valves are configured in serial fluid communication with each other in a cooling system, with one thermally responsive valve being located upstream from the other.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: David J. Belter, William D. Lanyi, Richard A. Davis, Steve Wynveen, Christopher J. Taylor
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Patent number: 7318404Abstract: A piston engine has a crank assembly, a piston assembly, a crank case assembly and a cylinder head assembly. The crank assembly has a central axle, two counterweight blocks and a crank axle. The central axle has two connecting segments and two flanges. The flanges are respectively coaxial and eccentric mounted with the connecting segments and each flange has an eccentricity h relative to a corresponding connecting segment. Accordingly, the eccentricity h can make the crank case assembly and the cylinder head assembly vibrate. The vibration directions of the cylinder head assembly and the crank case assembly opposite to the vibration directions of the piston assembly and the crank assembly. Then, the shaking and the vibration of the piston engine can be effectively reducing.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Inventor: Hsin-Ping Chu
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Patent number: 7299783Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided with an air control system that draws air from the region under the cowl of the outboard motor and induces a flow of air out of the region. The air is caused to flow through a second opening formed in the cowl. As a result, air drawn into the cowl through a first opening can flow either into the engine through its throttle body mechanism or out of the space under the cowl, as induced by the operation of the fan.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Jeffrey J. Broman, Eric S. Mueller, Paul M. Radavich
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Patent number: 7290522Abstract: High compression ratio, homogeneous charge compression ignition engines. In one aspect the engine is dual mode utilizing spark ignition at high load levels including the addition of hydrogen or a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture. In another aspect, the engine operates on a high cetane fuel with the addition of hydrogen or a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture at low-to-mid-load levels.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2004Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Masschusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: John Heywood, Leslie Bromberg, Daniel Cohn
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Patent number: 7275511Abstract: An intake assembly is provided for a sequentially fired eight cylinder V-type internal combustion engine including a cylinder block having a first band of cylinders and a second bank of cylinders. The assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth intake plenums mounted with respect to the engine. The first bank of cylinders includes a first group of two cylinders that fire ninety crank angle degrees apart from each other and the second bank of cylinders includes a second group of two cylinders that fire ninety crank angle degrees apart from each other. The first and second intake plenums are operable to communicate intake air to a respective one cylinder of the first group of two cylinders. The third and fourth intake plenums are operable to communicate intake air to a respective one cylinder of the second group of two cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2006Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Christopher C Wright, Robert J. Moran, Iain J. Read
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Patent number: 7277791Abstract: A diesel engine (100) has a control system (102) that processes certain data to develop data values for one or more temperature-dependent variables, such as injection control pressure (ICP), that affect engine starting and ensuing warm-up. The control system also processes data for detecting a temperature differential in the engine indicative of a block heater (126) having been used to heat the engine prior to cranking. Upon detection of such temperature differential, the control system selects a temperature data source from multiple available temperature data sources, namely engine coolant temperature ECT, engine oil temperature EOT, and charge air temperature AIT, and processes temperature data from the selected source with additional data to develop data values for one or more of the temperature-dependent variables.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventors: Rimas L. Petrosius, James T. Beaucaire, Douglas W. Villacreses, Michael A. Majewski
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Patent number: 7267086Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a temperature control fluid for controlling the temperature of at least a portion of a vehicle system. A pump is configured to pump the temperature control fluid through a heat exchanger to facilitate the transfer of heat between the temperature control fluid and ambient air. A fan is operable to move the ambient air across the heat exchanger to facilitate increased heat transfer. A control system is used to control operation of the pump and the fan. The control system is provided with operation data that includes optimized operating speeds for the pump and the fan to minimize power consumption, while maximizing heat transfer.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: EMP Advanced Development, LLCInventors: David J. Allen, Mark S. Bader, Michael W. Martin, Robert D. Chalgren, Michael P. Lasecki, Thomas J. Hollis
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Patent number: 7258087Abstract: A two stroke engine of a particular configuration can have its power output increased by running bigger pistons and using ports in the piston skirt through which to conduct compressed air within the skirt through short passages in the cylinder housing that conduct the air from within the skirt to above the piston. As a result a larger piston can be used for the same spacing and opening size in the block to save the need to redesign the block and the crankshaft. A position adjuster for the piston moves it axially without rotation of the piston ports out of alignment with inlet ports in the housing. The piston rod is held in the crosshead using a flat to prevent rotation while an adjuster nut that is turned creates axial movement in the piston rod with a lock nut securing the final piston position.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Bruce M. Chrisman, Randy Coleman
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Patent number: 7225766Abstract: A coolant jacket for an engine cylinder bank having longitudinally aligned cylinders includes upper, lower and side walls defining two inlet flow galleries extending along the intake and exhaust sides of the cylinder bank and communicating with the upper ends of the cylinders. Two outlet flow galleries extend along the intake and exhaust sides of the cylinders and communicate with the lower ends of the cylinders and pairs of side flow slots extend between the upper and lower galleries and around the intake and exhaust sides of each of the cylinders. The side flow slots are separated along longitudinal edges from the slots of adjacent cylinders. Preferably, cooling fins extend into the flow galleries, forming pockets at the ends of the flow slots, the fins being impacted by coolant flow directed into the pockets to improve cooling of siamesed portions of the cylinders. Additional features are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Akram R. Zahdeh
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Patent number: 7225764Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. By taking into account a setpoint temperature Tsetpoint of the internal combustion engine which depends on external and internal boundary conditions when controlling and/or regulating temperature-dependent functions of the internal combustion engine, fuel consumption and emission characteristics of the internal combustion engine are improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jim Odeskog, Holger Huelser, Frank Bickendorf, Thorsten Juenemann, Isabelle Gentil-Kreienkamp
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Patent number: 7225767Abstract: In some aspects of the invention the invention will relate to conversion of an existing VW air cooled engine to liquid cooling, and in still further aspects it will relate to the design of a water jacket to maximize heat rejection of a combustion chamber and piston through perimeter cooling.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Inventor: John Curtis Hickey
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Patent number: 7216611Abstract: A cooling structure of a cylinder block includes a water jacket portion which is provided so as to surround an entire outer periphery of the bore wall; a water jacket spacer which is inserted in the water jacket portion; and a gasket which is provided in an upper portion of the cylinder block, and which includes a hole leading to the water jacket portion. The water jacket portion is supplied with coolant. A distance between a center of the hole and an outer periphery of the cylinder block is shorter than a distance between a center of the water jacket spacer in a thickness direction and the outer periphery of the cylinder block. In the cooling structure, the cylinder block can be uniformly cooled.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Matsutani, Takanori Nakada, Yoshikazu Shinpo, Makoto Hatano, Takashi Kubota
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Patent number: 7213543Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having a compression ratio varying mechanism, in response to detection of the occurrence of any failure or trouble in the compression ratio varying mechanism, the control technique of the invention restricts execution of a specific control, which has adverse effects on stable combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The specific control having adverse effects on the stable combustion of the air-fuel mixture includes warm-up ignition delay control, lean burn control, and EGR control. This arrangement ensures table combustion of the air-fuel mixture, even when the compression ratio varying mechanism is locked in at a low compression ratio. The technique of the invention thus enables the internal combustion engine to be driven stably, even in the case of the occurrence of any failure or trouble in the compression ratio varying mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigeki Miyashita
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Patent number: 7213542Abstract: To decrease adhesion of dirt to a radiator, miniaturize the radiator in front of an engine and improve engine cooling performance by efficiently applying cooling air to the engine. An oil cooler includes a first oil cooler and a second oil cooler. The first oil cooler is disposed in front of an engine. The second oil cooler is disposed in a front cover at a position higher than an upper edge of a front wheel. The first oil cooler is disposed immediately in front of a cooling fan. The first oil cooler is disposed so as to close an air intake guide of the cooling fan less than 50%. The first oil cooler and the second oil cooler are serially connected along an oil line. A heat radiation area of the second oil cooler is larger than that of the first oil cooler.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Oshima, Katsumi Kanai, Takahiro Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 7207307Abstract: An intermediate resin molded body is put between two outer resin molded bodies, and a molten resin is injected substantially simultaneously into a first interface between one outer resin molded body of the two outer resin molded bodies and the intermediate resin molded body and a second interface between the other outer resin molded body and the intermediate resin body, so that the two outer resin molded bodies and the intermediate resin molded body are welded together.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Masao Ino, Masakazu Ozawa, Toshiaki Nakayama, Toshio Hayashi
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Patent number: 7198020Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine a lubricant source, a first lubricant passage that conducts lubricant from the lubricant source to a portion of the engine beneath the piston, and a second lubricant passage that conducts lubricant a space above the piston. The first lubricant passage may include a spray nozzle that sprays lubricant onto a crankshaft bearing and/or onto a wall of the cylinder. The second lubricant passage may conduct airborne lubricant from a crankcase of the engine to the space above the piston.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Inventor: Steven G Beddick
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Patent number: 7198017Abstract: An intake manifold 10 in the air intake tract of an internal combustion engine which has a main flow cross section 14 between an oncoming flow side 12 and an outgoing flow side 13. At least one resonator chamber 23 is arranged on the circumference of the main flow cross section 14 in communication with the main flow cross section 14. The resonator chamber 23 is surrounded by side walls 30 and closed by a cover 28, with the side walls 30 of the resonator chamber 23 and the wall 15 forming the main flow cross section 14 being manufactured together in one piece. A parting plane 31 situated between the cover 28 and the side walls 30 of the resonator chamber 23 is arranged outside of the wall 15 forming the main flow cross section 14.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbHInventors: Sabine Vogt, Juergen Werner
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Patent number: 7194994Abstract: A system and method for mounting engine driven accessories to the front of a small block Ford motor includes a bracket which bolts to the front of the cylinder block. Included within the bracket are mountings for a power steering pump, a compressor for an air conditioning system, a water pump, an alternator, and a belt tensioner. Part of the bracket acts as part of the housing for the water pump. Another part of the housing acts as a cover for the timing chain.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Inventors: Jack L. Chisenhall, Ryan D. Zwicker