Patents Examined by Kevin A Lathers
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Patent number: 12158116Abstract: Operating an engine includes injecting one or more early pilot shots of a liquid fuel containing methanol (MeOH) into a cylinder in an engine, and moving a piston in the cylinder from a bottom-dead center position toward a top-dead center position. Operating an engine further includes forming hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the cylinder from the MeOH of the early pilot shots, injecting a main shot of a liquid fuel into the cylinder, and hastening combustion of the liquid fuel of the main shot in the cylinder via hydroxyl (OH) radicals formed from dissociation of the H2O2. Injection of the one or more early pilot shots at appropriate crank angle timing(s) associated with suitable temperature ranges may promote desired reaction pathways according to a medium temperature combustion regime.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2023Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Charlie Chang-Won Kim
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Patent number: 12160086Abstract: A spark plug includes a metallic shell member having a tubular portion extending along an axial line of the metallic shell, a center electrode disposed inside the tubular portion and extending along the axial line, and a ground electrode which is inserted into an opening 5 provided in the tubular portion and forms a gap between the center electrode and a forward end portion of the round electrode in a direction in which the round electrode extends. A screw thread is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion. The opening has a sloping portion which tapers from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion toward an inner circumferential surface side. An angle formed between the 10 sloping portion of the opening and a tangent line to the outer circumferential surface is 90 degrees or greater.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: NITERRA CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Mishima, Tomohiro Iwatsuka
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Patent number: 12152550Abstract: An engine controller, an engine control method, and a storage medium are provided. An intake valve closes after a compression stroke starts. One of a predetermined period before the compression stroke starts and a predetermined period after the intake valve closes is a first injection period and the other one is a second injection period. A pre-ignition prevention injection process controls an injector such that fuel corresponding to a requested injection amount is injected by dividing an injection period into the first injection period and the second injection period when a period required for fuel injection corresponding to the requested injection amount is longer than the first injection period.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2023Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Suzuki, Tomihisa Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 12152557Abstract: In some embodiments, a fuel rail for a two-stroke internal combustion engine includes a fuel rail body, a fuel inlet component integrated within the fuel rail body as a one-piece component and in fluidic contact with a fuel line, one or more fuel exit ports in fluidic contact with a cylinder of a combustion engine, and one or more fasteners adapted to secure the fuel rail body to a cylinder wall of the cylinder of the combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.Inventor: Ken Ray Fredrickson
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Patent number: 12140093Abstract: An electronic control device for mixed hydrogen combustion includes a combustion timing detection unit that detects the combustion timing of an engine; and an abnormal state detection unit that detects an abnormal state, in which a type of abnormality occurring in the engine has been determined, on the basis of the combustion timing and a second fuel supply ratio calculated from the supply amount of hydrocarbon fuel supplied by a first fuel supply device and the supply amount of a second fuel supplied by a second fuel supply device. A control mode determination unit determines a control mode corresponding to the abnormal state, controls the supply amount of hydrogen to be supplied by the second fuel supply device on the basis of the control mode, and outputs the control mode to an engine controller for controlling the engine.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Shimada, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Kengo Kumano
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Patent number: 12140074Abstract: An internal combustion engine, including a pair of opposed pistons, a pair of opposed cylinders, and an output shaft, wherein each of the pistons is arranged for reciprocating motion within a respective one of the cylinders, driven by combustion, and the pistons are coupled to the output shaft by a coupling such that said reciprocating motion of the pistons drives rotation of the output shaft, wherein the coupling includes a unitary connecting rod coupled to the opposed pistons, the connecting rod having side guides for guiding a slider bearing located for reciprocating movement relative to the connecting rod, and the coupling further includes a crankshaft rotatably mounted within the slider bearing, the crankshaft having at least one guide shoulder for supporting axial location relative to the slider bearing.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: ASF Technologies (Australia) Pty LtdInventors: Graham Harry Fountain, Emmanuel Kavarnos, Dimitrios Psonis, Richard Terrence Tamba
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Patent number: 12134391Abstract: A tire longitudinal stiffness estimation system includes an electronic communication system disposed on a vehicle. A sensor is disposed on the vehicle in communication with the electronic communication system, and a processor is accessible through the electronic communication system. The sensor measures parameters associated with the vehicle and communicates data for the parameters to the processor. A mu slip curve generator receives the parameters to generate a mu slip curve in real time from the data. An extraction module extracts raw data from a linear portion of the mu slip curve. A denoising module de-noises the raw data from the mu slip curve by determining a vector for the raw data, an orientation of the vector, and a heading of the vector. The denoising module generates de-noised data, and a stiffness calculator receives the de-noised data and generates a longitudinal stiffness estimate for the tire.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Arash Nouri, Kanwar Bharat Singh
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Patent number: 12129818Abstract: An exhaust system with a semi-closed cycle includes a main flow path and having an inlet node, an outlet node, and a recirculation node between the inlet and outlet nodes; an exhaust gas recirculation flow path configured to divert a recirculated exhaust gas from the main flow path, at the recirculation node, and recirculate the recirculated exhaust gas to the inlet node; an engine configured to produce an exhaust gas based on a gas mixture including ambient air and the recirculated exhaust gas; a draft fan configured to control a gas flowrate through the main flow path; a stack flow path coupled to the main flow path; and a pressure control system configured to regulate a fan speed of the draft fan based on a pressure in the stack flow path in order to maintain the pressure in the stack flow path at a target gauge pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2023Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Dunn, Michael W. Rhoades
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Patent number: 12123365Abstract: A method of controlling water injection in an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle in case of freezing cold weather. The method includes: controlling the quality of the water, having a first sub-step of disapproving the quality of the water if the electrical conductivity ? of the water is not zero nor close to zero when the temperature T of the water is 0° C. or less and a second sub-step of approving the quality of the water if the electrical conductivity ? of the water is zero or close to zero when the temperature T of the water is higher than ?4° C., preferably higher than ?2° C. The method further includes a second sub-step of preventing water injection if the quality of the water is disapproved and a third step of allowing water injection if the quality of the water is approved.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: PLASTIC OMNIUM ADVANCED INNOVATION AND RESEARCHInventors: Laurent Duez, Stéphane Leonard
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Patent number: 12123331Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a particulate filter (3) taking the ash loading into consideration, to an arrangement in this respect, to a control unit in this respect, and to a vehicle in this respect, wherein, during the operation of the internal combustion engine (1), fuel and/or lubricants are at least partially converted into ash by the internal combustion engine (1), wherein a first ash value is calculated on the basis of the fuel consumption and/or the lubricant consumption of the internal combustion engine (1), wherein, after regeneration of the particulate filter, the differential pressure across the particulate filter (3) is determined, wherein a second ash value is calculated on the basis of the determined differential pressure, wherein the ash quantity in the particulate filter (3) is determined from the first and the second ash value, and wherein, if the determined ash quantity exceeds a predefined value, a status device is activated.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: AVL List GmbHInventors: Mario De Monte, Klaus Hadl
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Patent number: 12123342Abstract: A method for a combustion engine has a working cycle of three revolutions of the crankshaft. The method includes: feeding a fuel mixture into a combustion chamber of a cylinder while moving a piston from a second top dead-center to a first bottom dead-center; compressing an air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber while moving the piston from the first bottom dead-center to a first top dead-center; burning the air-fuel mixture while moving the piston from the first top dead-center to a second bottom dead-center; compressing a gas mixture in the combustion chamber while moving the piston from the second bottom dead-center to the first top dead-center; burning the gas mixture while moving the piston from the first top dead-center to the first bottom dead-center; and expelling the gas mixture from the combustion chamber while moving the piston from the first bottom dead-center to the second top dead-center.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2024Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignees: Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, Technical University of Cluj-NapocaInventors: Andre Kopp, Ovidiu Barac-Zbircea, Nicolae Vlad Burnete
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Patent number: 12122448Abstract: A drive system for a zero turning radius (ZTR) vehicle includes a steering control and a sensor configured to receive a position of the steering control. A damper is coupled to the steering control and is configured to apply a selectable amount of resistive force to the steering control. A controller is in communication with the sensor and is configured to operate a motor of the ZTR vehicle responsive to the position of the steering control, and to operate the damper to apply a resistive force to the steering control responsive to actuation of the steering control.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Parker-Hannifin CorporationInventors: Jason Richardson, Randall Thompson, Roger Gray, Ryan Press, Steven Huard
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Patent number: 12116961Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. In one example, a method includes determining a present EGR valve offset and an historical EGR valve offset and comparing the present EGR valve offset and the historical EGR valve offset to determine a presence of an EGR leak.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2023Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric Luehrsen, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Edward Doemer, Gladys Galicia, Adam Krach
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Patent number: 12116941Abstract: Operating a fuel system for an engine includes moving a plunger during a pumping cycle between an advanced position and a retracted position, and pulsing a solenoid actuator in an electrical circuit during at least one off cycle of the plunger where the plunger is neither advancing nor retracting with a plurality of current pulses of varied duration. An electrical property such as a freewheeling response in the electrical circuit induced by moving a valve in response to each respective current pulse is monitored, and a valve timing of the valve determined based on the monitored electrical property. The fuel system including a fuel injector may be electronically trimmed based on the determined valve timing. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2023Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mitchell B. Juchems, Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack, Kaushik Krishnamurthy
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Patent number: 12104525Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes: a cylinder; a one-side piston disposed inside the cylinder on one side in an axial direction; and an other-side piston disposed inside the cylinder on another side in the axial direction. Atop surface of the one-side piston has a one-side cavity recessed in a central portion. A top surface of the other-side piston has an other-side cavity recessed in a central portion. An outer peripheral edge of the one-side cavity is at least 0.1D1 away from an outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the one-side piston over the entire circumference, where D1 is a diameter of the top surface of the one-side piston. An outer peripheral edge of the other-side cavity is at least 0.1D2 away from an outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the other-side piston over the entire circumference, where D2 is a diameter of the top surface of the other-side piston.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2022Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Keita Suzuki, Yuki Koshiba, Kengo Tanaka, Shintaro Shuto, Masafumi Mori, Shigetoshi Sugata, Takashi Ueda
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Patent number: 12092213Abstract: Power systems having reduced operating noise and associated methods are disclosed. An example power system includes an engine, a generator, a driveshaft, and a pulley system. The driveshaft may include at least one coupler configured to dampen vibration transferred by the driveshaft. The pulley system may include a first pulley and a second pulley that are drivingly coupled to one another via one or more belts. The generator may be configured to generate electric power using a rotational force received form the engine via the driveshaft and pulley system.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Nathan Joe Jochman
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Patent number: 12092012Abstract: A portable efficient heater management system includes an external heat source, a circulation pump that provides the circulation of the water taken from the external heat source, a heat sensor measuring the temperature of the water coming from the heat source, water transfer pipes, a two-section heat exchanger in which the waters in them do not mix with each other, but heat transfer can be made, a pressure gauge, a processor, a heat sensor placed on a generator, a generator circulation pump, a three-way valve. It also provides the engine blocks of diesel-powered generators to be heated with the heat obtained from an external heat source, as long as the heat in the external source is sufficient.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: PANOTEKNIK JENERATOR ELEKTRIK SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETIInventor: Ismail Taskiran
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Patent number: 12084996Abstract: An oil filter arrangement for filtering oil of a vehicle can comprise: at least one filter unit for filtering the oil, and at least one connection unit comprising at least one inlet tube configured to be connected with an outlet tube of a separate oil pump, wherein the oil filter arrangement is configured to be housed in an oil filter arrangement housing of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2023Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventor: Peter Petrov
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Patent number: 12085038Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes: a cylinder including a thrust region and an anti-thrust region; and a plurality of concave portions formed in a belt-like central region including a central portion in the axial direction of the cylinder and extending along the circumferential direction on an inner wall surface. In the central region, the number of concave portions formed in a first partial region having a first predetermined width along the circumferential direction of the thrust region and the number of concave portions formed in a second partial region having a second predetermined width that is smaller than the first predetermined width along the circumferential direction of the anti-thrust region is smaller than the number of concave portions formed in other regions of the central region.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2023Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITEDInventors: Takuro Mita, Yorimasa Tsubota, Masanori Nakamura, Takafumi Kishigami
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Patent number: 12078128Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fuel supply system for ships and a fuel supply method using the same. The fuel supply method includes: 1) supplying an excess amount of liquefied gas as fuel to an incompressible fluid-fueled engine (E); 2) cooling unconsumed fuel discharged from the engine (E) through heat exchange with liquefied gas discharged from a storage tank (T); 3) returning the unconsumed fuel discharged from the engine (E) and having been cooled through heat exchange in step 2) to the storage tank (T); and 4) supplying the liquefied gas discharged from the storage tank (T) and having been used as refrigerant for heat exchange in step 2) to the engine (E). The fuel supply method can prevent cavitation in the engine (E) by supplying the excess amount of liquefied gas sufficient to accommodate variation in load of the engine (E) as fuel to the engine (E).Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seon Jin Kim, Seung Chul Lee, Hye Min Jung, Jin Ho Choi