Patents Examined by Keith Coleman
  • Patent number: 8069831
    Abstract: An accessory switch SWa and an ignition switch SWi are connected to a sub-relay RL1. A starter switch SWs is connected to a sub-relay RL2. The sub-relay RL2 is turned OFF when welding occurs in the starter switch SWs. When welding occurs in the accessory switch SWa, the starter switch SWs is turned OFF, or the starter switch SWs is not turned ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Manabu Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8065981
    Abstract: A stratified scavenging two-cycle engine that has a simpler structure than conventional stratified scavenging two-cycle engines and that has an excellent blow-by prevention effect etc. In an air intake stroke, lead air passes a lead-air port (12) etc. to flow into an inner space of a piston (6) during a period from the instant at which a lateral groove (21b) starts to superpose on the lead-air port (12) until the superposing between the lateral groove (21b) and the lead-air port (12) disappears after the piston (6) passes its top dead center. Further, in a scavenging stroke, lead air passes a scavenging path (17) etc. to flow into a cylinder (4) from a scavenging port (18) during a period from the instant at which a scavenging connection opening (20) and a scavenging inflow opening (19) start to superpose on each other until the superposing between the scavenging connection opening (20) and the scavenging inflow opening (19) disappears after the piston (6) passes its bottom dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nikko Tanaka Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 8061323
    Abstract: A flow guide element is provided for guiding a flow of a fluid medium which is particularly suitable for use in an intake tract of an internal combustion engine. The flow guide element includes a flow tube having an elbow for diverting the flow. In the region of the elbow there is situated, in this case, at least one flow baffle having at least one deflector. The deflector is penetrated by an opening, going right through the flow baffle, in at least one area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Konzelmann, Christoph Gmelin
  • Patent number: 8061329
    Abstract: An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, at least two distinct operating modes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8015955
    Abstract: A variable stroke characteristic engine is provided in which a piston (11) and a crankshaft (30) are linked to a control shaft (65) via a variable stroke link mechanism (LV), and the variable stroke link mechanism (LV) is operated by an actuator (AC) that drives the control shaft (65) to thus make the stroke travel of the piston (11) variable, wherein a housing (HU) of the hydraulic actuator (AC) for operating the variable stroke link mechanism (LV) is provided in a bearing member (54) of a lower block (41) supporting the crankshaft (30), and the housing (HU) is thus made small, thereby suppressing any increase in the dimensions of the engine. Furthermore, a hydraulic switching valve unit (92) for controlling operation of the hydraulic actuator (AC) is directly mounted on the housing (HU), thereby enhancing the responsiveness of the hydraulic actuator (AC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Maezuru, Shigekazu Tanaka, Taichi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8011332
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to control the closing timing of an intake valve are provided. The mechanical compression ratio is made to be the maximum mechanical compression ratio at low load operation regions excluding idling operation, while during idling operation, the mechanical compression ratio is made lower than the maximum mechanical compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisaku Sawada, Yukihiro Nakasaka, Daisuke Akihisa, Eiichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 7997240
    Abstract: An energy conversion and free hydrogen producing system including a electromagnetically energized reciprocating piston motor, a plurality of lead acid flow through batteries, each consisting of a plurality of individual flow through lead acid cells, and a hydrogen burning internal combustion engine. With concentrated sulfuric acid as the primary fluid, the electromagnetically energized reciprocation piston motor, and the hydrogen burning internal combustion engine provide a rotational torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Forman, Javier C. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7997059
    Abstract: A propulsion system for use in a liquid or gas fluid is provided including an axially-extending funnel-shaped conduit, a flow generator, a power source, and, optionally, an airfoil-shaped wing. The funnel-shaped conduit has outer walls forming an inner fluid passageway, an upper edge defining a fluid inlet, and a lower edge defining a fluid outlet. The optional airfoil-shaped wing is connected to and circumferentially surrounds the funnel-shaped conduit upper edge. The flow generator is rotatably mounted about the axis of the funnel-shaped conduit and is configured to force the fluid from the fluid inlet rearward through the fluid outlet. A forward force is produced by the combination of both thrust from the flow generator plus the lift force created as the flow generator draws the fluid across the annular airfoil-shaped wing and inwardly through the fluid inlet forcing the fluid rearward to exit out of the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Gaofei Yan, James Dees
  • Patent number: 7991536
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine equipped with a supercharger calculates a target intake mass airflow (mt?) in accordance with an accelerator pedal travel (?A), using a virtual internal combustion engine model having a virtual upstream intake air pressure (PA). The control system then calculates a target throttle opening (?) in accordance with a measured upstream intake pressure (PIN) so as to provide the target intake mass airflow (mt?), and controls a throttle valve based on the target throttle opening (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Eiraku
  • Patent number: 7984699
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine is divided into an inner circuit and an outer circuit, said inner circuit including a radiator, a cooling pump, a thermostat housing, an ejector pump, cooling channels arranged inside the engine and ducting connecting said components. The ejector pump is arranged to draw coolant from the outer system and deliver it to the inner system. The outer system includes an expansion tank, ducting interconnecting the expansion tank and the ejector pump and ducting interconnecting the inner circuit and the expansion tank. A one-way valve is placed in the ducting interconnecting the expansion tank and the inner circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Theorell
  • Patent number: 7984704
    Abstract: A crankcase and crankshaft combination wherein the crankshaft includes a first end having a cupped portion formed therein and the crankcase includes a housing section with an inner wall having an inwardly projecting cylindrical stub shaped and dimensioned for placement within the cupped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: David H. Tier
  • Patent number: 7971564
    Abstract: An intake passage (10) communicating with a combustion chamber (3) comprises a first branch intake passage (16) having an intake port (4) at one end thereof and also having an intake manifold including a surge tank (13), a second branch intake passage (17) having an intake port (14) at one end thereof and also having an intake manifold including a surge tank (23), and a common intake passage (19) communicating with the ends of the first branch intake passage (16) and the second branch intake passage (17). The common intake passage (19) is provided with a mixer (11) for producing a mixture. The intake passage (10) is provided with a switching valve (18) for bringing the common intake passage (19) into communication with at least one of the first branch intake passage (16) and the second branch intake passage (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuzuyama, Masahiro Machida
  • Patent number: 7963265
    Abstract: An air intake system for a two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engine that is tunable through the use of interchangeable velocity stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Moto Tassinari, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Tassinari, Steven M. Tassinari
  • Patent number: 7958855
    Abstract: A cooling fan assembly has an inner surface provided with a guide body for guiding a cooling air towards a first engine cylinder, positioned on a leading side with respect to the direction of rotation of the cooling fan assembly, and a second engine cylinder, positioned on a trailing side, after the cooling air has been separated. The guide body includes an upright wall protruding from the inner surface of the fan casing in an axial direction of the cooling fan assembly and extending radially outwardly and spirally from the inner surface of the fan casing as it progresses from the trailing side towards the leading side, and a ceiling wall connected with a projecting end of the upright wall and extending inside the spirality and operable to guide the cooling air inside the spirality of the upright wall towards the first engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichi Nakamizo
  • Patent number: 7958861
    Abstract: An oil pan for an internal combustion engine, in which an oil suction space is formed by the arrangement of a baffle wall provided with several through-openings and at least one flap, where at least one retaining device, on which the flap is supported and/or fastened, is provided on the baffle wall, wherein several fastening openings of different cross sections are provided in the flap to attach the flap to the retaining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Klumpp, Bernhard Fackler, Roland Hauf
  • Patent number: 7953543
    Abstract: By incorporating digital control systems for ignition of, and to some extent for fuel injection in, small internal combustion engines, opportunities have been created for the connection of external computers, in order thereby to be able to change the characteristics of the control system, as well as to be able to read operational data from the same. The operational data may be e.g. operating time and trip meter. The method according to the invention means that a combined communication port and stop entry is created, which will result in a cost-effective implementation of the communication interface when a stop entry with an associated transient protection already exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: SEM Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Johan Olsson
  • Patent number: 7950355
    Abstract: An air-cooled engine is provided, in which a cooling fan assembly for inducing a stream of cooling air and a screen member for covering an axial end face of the cooling fan on a suction side are drivingly mounted on a rotary drive shaft of the engine. A fan casing covering the cooling fan assembly and defining an air flow path for the flow of the stream of cooling air is formed with an air intake opening through which the cooling air is introduced towards the cooling fan assembly and the screen member. A cutter is formed in an outer peripheral portion of the screen member or its neighbor so as to protrude axially close to an inner surface of the fan casing at a position downstream of the cooling air from the air intake opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichi Nakamizo
  • Patent number: 7946267
    Abstract: An intake passage is formed by connecting an upper case 10 and a lower case 20 of an intake manifold. The lower case 10 has a recessed portion 50 on part of an inner surface 17a of a side wall 17. The recessed portion 50 has a deep surface 53 to which a negative pressure outlet port 42 opens, and an opening 51 opened upwards is provided in an upper portion of the recessed portion 50 in a position which opposes to the upper case 20 in a vertical direction A0. The upper case 20 has a projecting portion 60 which extends further downwards towards the negative pressure outlet port 42 than mating surfaces 10a, 20a and projects into the recessed portion 50 through an opening 52. The projecting portion 60 is positioned between the negative pressure outlet port 42 and the inner surface 17a in a horizontal direction A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Taira
  • Patent number: 7946274
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve comprising: a metallic cylindrical-shaped vessel provided at a tip end thereof with a fuel injection port, the other end thereof being closed by a stationary core provided centrally thereof with a through-hole; a movable member arranged between the stationary core and the fuel injection port and provided at a tip end thereof with a valve element, which opens and closes the fuel injection port, a maximum outside diameter of the movable member being smaller than a minimum inside diameter of the through-hole; and an electromagnetic drive mechanism that reciprocates the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayatani, Motoyuki Abe, Atsushi Sekine, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7942125
    Abstract: An exhaust system of the internal combustion engine is provided, which includes an exhaust manifold mounted in a multiple cylinder engine of the internal combustion engine and configured to expel air burned in the cylinder when an exhaust valve is opened, a plurality of exhaust pipes connected to the exhaust manifold and configured to dispense an exhaust gas to the outside, a muffler and a plurality of exhaust balancers configured to function as a condenser are selectively mounted in the exhaust system so as to fill a part of the exhaust gas inside and then re-exhaust the filled exhaust gas when the exhaust is completed. The exhaust system improves a power of the engine by lowering exhaust pressure generated from exhaust resistance than that of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Chan Hoi Hu