Patents Examined by Kevin R Steckbauer
  • Patent number: 11136916
    Abstract: A piston engine is provided; the piston engine has a cylinder, a main piston and an auxiliary piston, a combustion chamber is formed between the main piston and the auxiliary piston within the cylinder, the auxiliary piston moves in different frequency along it centerline, a plateau is formed near TDC position of the combustion chamber volume V, there is a preferable PPP in each configuration of the piston, when the combustion peak pressure is at the position of preferable PPP position, the best torque is achieved. Different piston configurations, different ignition timings, dynamic energy recovery and storage are also provided in the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Lin Zhao, Defang Yuan
  • Patent number: 11131282
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump pressurizes and injects fuel. A cam rotates about a rotational axis of the cam. A housing includes a cam chamber that houses the cam and a sliding chamber communicated to the cam chamber. A roller rotates while being in contact with a surface of the cam. A shoe reciprocates in the sliding chamber by rotation of the cam and is in contact with and slides on a surface of the roller. A plunger reciprocates with the shoe. A cylinder houses the plunger and includes a pump chamber to pressurize and feed the fuel by reciprocation of the plunger. A deformed section is a groove or a protrusion which extends in a direction of a rotational axis of the cam, on a part of a surface of the cam, and has a shape different from a cam profile of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Tamai
  • Patent number: 11118549
    Abstract: A cover for a fuel tank includes a flange unit configured to close an opening of the fuel tank and a joint member connected to the flange unit. The joint member is movable in an upward/downward direction. The flange unit includes a side tubular portion extending in the upward/downward direction. The joint member includes a support column portion extending in the upward/downward direction. The support column portion is movably disposed in the side tubular portion so as to be movable in the upward/downward direction. The support column portion is connected to the side tubular portion by a snap-fit so as to be movable and suspendable in the upward/downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Ito, Koji Yoshida, Kensuke Niwa, Masashi Go, Takashi Kanie
  • Patent number: 11118528
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device for an engine is provided. A fuel injector with multiple nozzle holes forms a lean mixture gas inside a combustion chamber, a spark plug ignites to cause the mixture gas to start combustion accompanied by flame propagation, then combust by self-ignition. A first atomized fuel spray injected from a first nozzle hole and a second atomized fuel spray injected from a second nozzle hole separate from each other by a swirl flow, and a third atomized fuel spray injected from a third nozzle hole and a fourth atomized fuel spray from a fourth nozzle hole approach each other by the swirl flow so that a first area and a second area where mixture gas is richer are formed inside the combustion chamber. The fuel injector sequentially performs first, second, and third injections with an injection interval therebetween in an intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Ohura, Tomohiro Nishida, Michiharu Kawano, Yuya Honda, Tota Tanii
  • Patent number: 11118552
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for extending a duration of engine idle-stop while reducing a frequency of engine restart from idle-stop. In one example, in response to engine restart conditions where combustion torque is not necessary, an engine can be rotated electrically, without fuel delivery, via an electric motor. The unfueled engine spinning via the motor drives an FEAD which in turns drives an actuator coupled to the FEAD, such as an AC compressor or an automatic transmission oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11099102
    Abstract: A misfire detection device for an internal combustion engine is provided. A mapping takes time series data of instantaneous speed parameters as inputs. Each instantaneous speed parameter corresponds to one of a plurality of successive second intervals in a first interval. The instantaneous speed parameters correspond to the rotational speed of the crankshaft. The first interval is a rotational angular interval of the crankshaft in which compression top dead center occurs. The second interval is smaller than an interval between compression top dead center positions. The mapping outputs a probability that a misfire has occurred in at least one cylinder that reaches compression top dead center in the first interval. The mapping data defining the mapping has been learned by machine learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Satoshi Takamoto, Akihiro Katayama, Tatsunobu Murai
  • Patent number: 11098687
    Abstract: There is provided an engine starting device, including: a motor generator coupled to a crankshaft of an engine; and a starter including a pinion provided in a detachable manner from a ring gear provided on the crankshaft, and configured to mesh with the ring gear when the engine is started, wherein the engine is cranked through simultaneous cranking by both of the motor generator and the starter when a condition set in advance is satisfied, and wherein, in the simultaneous cranking, the starter starts rotating after the motor generator starts rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Kaneda, Naoki Imamura, Koichiro Kamei, Kazuhiro Odahara
  • Patent number: 11092047
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an oil supply unit with a collecting vessel for collecting oil. In one example, a method may include maintaining a pressure of the collecting vessel during an engine off, wherein maintaining the pressure may further include maintain a temperature of the oil in the collecting vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Schmitt, Hans Guenter Quix, David van Bebber
  • Patent number: 11085381
    Abstract: An integrated fuel filter device for a vehicle includes a fuel filter disposed at a fuel feed line between a bombe and an engine, a pump for delivering fuel inside the bombe to the engine via the fuel feed line, a first fuel filling line connected to an inlet of the fuel filter and configured to guide fuel refueled from an outside of the vehicle to the inlet of the fuel filter, a second fuel filling line connected between an outlet of the fuel filter and the bombe and configured to guide the fuel passing through the fuel filter to the bombe, and a variable shut-off valve for controlling a flow of the fuel delivered from the pump to the inlet of the fuel filter and a flow of the fuel delivered from the outlet of the fuel filter to the bombe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: June Young Park, Tae Yoon Lee, Seung Hoon Choi, Sung Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11078828
    Abstract: In a compression-ignition engine having a two-stage cavity, the distribution ratio between fuel for an upper cavity and fuel for a lower cavity is maintained even when the operational state of the engine changes. A piston of the compression-ignition engine includes a lower cavity, an upper cavity, and a lip portion between the lower cavity and the upper cavity. A controller causes a main injection and at least one pilot injection to be executed when the engine operates in a first state and a second state in which the load is higher than the load in the first state. The fuel spray is distributed to the lower cavity and the upper cavity. The controller causes a ratio of injection amount per pilot injection to the total injection amount to be higher when the engine operates in the second state than when the engine operates in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naotoshi Shirahashi, Yasunori Uesugi, Takeshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11053906
    Abstract: A battery pack for use in providing starting power for a starter motor of an internal combustion engine and to supply power to one or more auxiliary loads. The battery pack includes an outer housing that encloses a plurality of battery cells. A control unit is positioned within the outer housing and is connected to at least a starter switching element and an auxiliary switching element. The control unit controls the position of both the starter switching element and the auxiliary switching element to selectively connect the battery cells to the starter motor and the auxiliary loads. The battery pack further includes an ignition input terminal that is connected to the ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine such that the control unit can monitor the operational status of the internal combustion engine. The control unit can selectively ground the ignition coil of the ignition circuit to enable and/or terminate operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Koenen, Jason A. Hansen, Andrew Paskov
  • Patent number: 11047285
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an internal combustion engine controls a heat exchange cooling water flow rate which is a flow rate of cooling water supplied to an exhaust heat recovery cooler apparatus, to a larger flow rate when the control apparatus executes an EGR control, and the exhaust heat recovery cooler apparatus performs an exhaust heat recovery function, than when the control apparatus executes the EGR control, and the exhaust heat recovery cooler apparatus does not perform the exhaust heat recovery function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Takashi Hotta, Yuji Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11047328
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve drive device includes: a state detection unit configured to detect an on-state or an off-state of a first switch and a second switch forming a boosting circuit; a boosting control unit configured to control a boosting operation, by performing a synchronous rectification control on switching of the first switch and the second switch, depending on the state of the first switch or the second switch detected by the state detection unit; and a drive circuit configured to drive an electromagnetic valve by supplying a voltage boosted by the boosting operation to the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura
  • Patent number: 11047344
    Abstract: A leakage diagnosis supplement method for a failure of a vacuum pump using an active purge pump may include: determining whether or not the vacuum pump mounted on a vent line between a canister and an atmosphere fails; reverse-rotating the active purge pump mounted on a purge line connecting the canister and an intake pipe to each other; determining whether or not an absolute value of internal pressure in a fuel tank is less than a specific value; and checking a leakage in the fuel system including the canister and the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeong-Ki Huh
  • Patent number: 11035335
    Abstract: A device that includes a window, a catalyzed layer, and a laser source is disclosed. The window may include a first surface and a second surface. The catalyzed layer may be disposed on the first surface of the window. The catalyzed layer may include a compound having a threshold transmittance, and be configured to cause a reaction with soot in one or more of a combustion chamber or a pre-combustion chamber of a combustion engine at an activation temperature to reduce accumulation of soot on the window. The laser source may be disposed relative to the second surface of the window, and configured to emit a laser beam through the window and the catalyzed layer. The laser beam may be configured to cause ignition of an intake charge of one or more of the combustion chamber or the pre-combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth I. Svensson, Ronald G Silver, Paul S K Wang
  • Patent number: 11028772
    Abstract: A method for estimating damage of a component of an internal combustion engine includes receiving a fuel rate signal indicative of a fuel rate of the internal combustion engine and estimating a temperature value of the component of the internal combustion engine based on at least the received fuel rate signal. The method also includes estimating an incremental amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine based on the estimated temperature value of the component of the internal combustion engine, updating a cumulative amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine based on the estimated incremental amount of damage, and outputting a notification based on at least the cumulative amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lin, Ashwin A. Hattiangadi, David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11022079
    Abstract: An engine gas valve with a valve housing manifold with at least one flow passage and an annular clutch body arranged within the valve housing manifold. A drive shaft is arranged such that at least a portion of the drive shaft is positioned concentrically within the clutch body. A first valve element is supported on the drive shaft to rotate with the drive shaft within the at least one flow passage and a second valve element supported on the clutch body within the at least one flow passage. An actuator is coupled to the drive shaft to pivot the drive shaft between a first state in which the first and second valve elements are closed, a second state in which the first valve element is open and the second valve element is closed, and a third state in which the first and second valve elements are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Randy R. Scarf
  • Patent number: 11015546
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve drive device includes: a state detection unit configured to detect an on-state or an off-state of a first switch and a second switch forming a boosting circuit; a boosting control unit configured to control a boosting operation, by performing a synchronous rectification control on switching of the first switch and the second switch, depending on the state of the first switch or the second switch detected by the state detection unit; and a drive circuit configured to drive an electromagnetic valve by supplying a voltage boosted by the boosting operation to the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura
  • Patent number: 11008984
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (100) on which a vehicle engine (1) is mounted is described, the vehicle engine (1) including: an exhaust purification system (70) housing a GPF device (73) for purifying exhaust gas; and an EGR passage (52) connected to a portion of the exhaust purification system located downstream of the GPF device, and the engine is mounted in an engine compartment (R) defined in a front portion of a vehicle body. The exhaust purification system is located forward of a dash panel (103) constituting the engine compartment, and is positioned to extend toward a tunnel portion (T) of the dash panel. An upstream end portion (52c) of the EGR passage is connected to a lower portion of the exhaust purification system in a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishi Kitabatake, Taku Kuramashi, Tamotsu Takamure
  • Patent number: 11011891
    Abstract: A spark plug has a housing of a cylindrical shape, an insulator of a cylindrical shape fitted into the inside of the housing, a center electrode and a ground electrode. No male screw part is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the housing. A housing support surface is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the housing. An outer peripheral surface of the insulator has an insulator support surface which is supported by the housing support surface in an axial direction of the spark plug. The housing has a pressure fitting part to be presses to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. A part of the pressure fitting part and a part of at least one of the housing support surface and the insulator support surface are arranged to be overlapped with each other in a radial direction of the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Hayashi