Patents Examined by Marguerite McMahon
  • Patent number: 9995214
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio device mounted to an engine, the engine rotating a crankshaft using a combustion force of a gas mixture and a piston, the variable compression ratio device changing a compression ratio of the mixture and including a connecting rod including a small end rotatably connected to the piston and a big end portion formed with a circular hole to be eccentrically rotatably connected to the crankshaft, a crank pin provided in the crankshaft, an eccentric cam provided to be concentrically rotatable in the hole of the big end portion and having a crank pin mounting hole eccentrically inserted with the crank pin to be rotatably connected, and a cam rotation unit provided inside the eccentric cam and rotating the eccentric cam in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in a hole of the big end portion by a selectively supplied hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Patent number: 9995192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crankcase ventilation device for a vehicle and, more specifically, to a crankcase ventilation device for a vehicle, which: prevents a back flow of blow-by gas to a new air inflow valve according to a rise in pressure and a rise in a flow rate inside a crankcase; prevents deterioration in the inside of an engine due to unburned fuel contained in the blow-by gas and minute particles of engine oil, generation of sludge, and an engine failure; and minimizes contamination of an intake system by providing a new air inflow control valve having a nozzle and a diaphragm, so as to block a back flow of the blow-by gas to a new air inflow hose due to an excessive rise in pressure inside the crankcase during a process for re-circulating and re-burning the blow-by gas discharged from the crankcase of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Hyuk Jin Kang
  • Patent number: 9988980
    Abstract: A converting mechanical system including a dual connecting rod having a top section adapted to be pivotally connected to a piston on a conventional internal combustion engine and a bottom section adapted to be connected to a crankshaft of a conventional internal combustion engine. A support surrounds each dual connecting rod and includes a retractable device. A decoupling device is adapted to be located on the crankshaft a conventional internal combustion engine. The dual connecting rod has a first working position and in which the dual connecting rod is rigid and connected to the crankshaft when the piston moves. In the second working position, the dual connecting rod disconnects the crankshaft from the piston by action of the decoupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventor: Luis Alberto Velazquez
  • Patent number: 9989023
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing airflow through a charge air cooler (CAC) in order to purge condensate from the CAC. In one example, a method includes increasing airflow through the CAC while maintaining torque by selectively deactivating one or more engine cylinders and increasing boost. The number of deactivated cylinders may be based on an amount of condensate within the CAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen George Russ, Philip Andrew Fabien, Michael P. Mandjack, Charles Allen Cockerill
  • Patent number: 9988964
    Abstract: An ebullient cooling device includes: an internal combustion engine cooled by boiling a coolant flowing through a coolant passage formed within the internal combustion engine; a gas-liquid separator that separates a coolant discharged from the internal combustion engine into a liquid-phase coolant and a gas-phase coolant; a condenser that is disposed on a downstream side of the expander, and cools the gas-phase coolant having passed through the expander so as to be changed into a liquid-phase coolant; a first passage that supplies the liquid-phase coolant from the condenser to the coolant passage formed within the internal combustion engine; a second passage that is branched from the first passage, and is connected to the gas-liquid separator; and a control valve that controls a supply state of a liquid-phase coolant supplied to the gas-liquid separator from the condenser through the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9982580
    Abstract: An oil drain plug and wireless oil level sensor assembly is provided including an oil drain plug having a shaft and a head, the shaft having external threads and an axial passage extending axially therein in communication with at least one radial passage extending through the shaft from the axial passage to an exterior of the shaft. An oil level sensor includes a housing having an annular mounting portion defining an aperture extending there through for receiving the shaft of the oil drain plug. A pressure transducer is in fluid communication with the aperture and connected to a circuit and a battery disposed within the housing that provide wireless signals representative of the oil level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David R. Staley, Roxann M. Bittner, Eric W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9982593
    Abstract: An internal combustion butterfly engine system includes a cylindrical housing; a first cylindrical snitch rotabably carried within the cylindrical housing and having a first tab and a second tab; a second cylindrical snitch rotabably carried within the cylindrical housing; a plurality of chambers; a plurality of spark plugs secured to the cylindrical housing and in gaseous communication with the plurality of chambers; a plurality of injectors secured to the cylindrical housing and in gaseous communication with the plurality of chambers; a bevel gear mechanism disposed within a center opening formed by the cylindrical housing, the first cylindrical snitch, and the second cylindrical snitch, the bevel gear mechanism is configured to cause the first cylindrical snitch to rotate in a direction opposite to a rotation of the second cylindrical snitch within the housing; and a ratchet and pawl mechanism disposed within the center opening and secured to the first cylindrical snitch and the second cylindrical snitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventor: Aman Srivastava
  • Patent number: 9982596
    Abstract: A multi-joint crank drive of an internal combustion engine includes at least one coupling member supported on a crankpin of a crankshaft for rotation about a coupling member rotation axis; and at least one articulated connecting rod supported on a crankpin of an eccentric shaft for rotation about an eccentric rotation axis, wherein the at least one coupling member is connected with a piston connecting rod of a piston of the internal combustion engine for pivoting about a piston connecting rod rotation axis, and with the at least one articulated connecting rod for pivoting about an articulated connecting rod rotation axis, and wherein a rotation axis of the eccentric shaft is situated above a plane which receives a rotation axis of the crankshaft and is perpendicular to at least one cylinder longitudinal center axis, and wherein, respectively in relation to a total travel of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Matthias Brendel, Markus Wild
  • Patent number: 9976457
    Abstract: A PCV valve that regulates the flow of gases to a turbocharger. A spring biased plunger member is used to restrict and meter the flow of gases through the PCV valve. The plunger member can include an axially extending through opening extending through the length of the plunger member to allow back flow of gases to be routed to the turbocharger. The through opening can be selectively opened and closed by a valve module contained in the plunger member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MINIATURE PRECISION COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: James J. Mosher, Jonathan Bunne, Oscar Davison
  • Patent number: 9976471
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for expediting warm up of an internal combustion engine cylinder block and engine oil utilizing an existing oil coolant circuit. A method for warming up an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder, a cylinder block which is formed by an upper crankcase half mounted to a lower crankcase half, said lower crankcase half containing an oil sump which is fed, via a supply line, by a coolant jacket, an inlet side of said coolant jacket supplied in turn with oil via the oil sump by an oil pump, the method comprising: releasing oil from the coolant jacket via gravity to reduce a cooling capacity of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Moritz Klaus Springer, Bernd Steiner, Thomas Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9976593
    Abstract: A connecting rod has a big end bearing eye for attachment to a crankshaft, a small end bearing eye for attachment to a piston of a cylinder, and an eccentric adjusting device for adjusting an effective connecting rod length. The eccentric adjusting device has eccentric rods (15, 16) with first ends that engage on an eccentric lever of the eccentric adjusting device and second ends that engage on pistons (20, 21) guided in hydraulic chambers of the connecting rod. The second ends of the eccentric rods (15, 16) are spherical heads that engage in a corresponding recess (40) in the respective piston (20, 21), and the respective piston (20, 21) further accommodates a retention element (41), one segment of which rests on the spherical-headed end of the respective eccentric rods (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Michael Paul, Willi Schultz
  • Patent number: 9970384
    Abstract: A piston and method of construction is provided. The piston includes a top part fixed to a bottom part. The top part has an uppermost surface with annular inner and outer upper joining surfaces depending therefrom. The bottom part has a pair of pin bosses with pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis; a pair of upwardly extending annular inner and outer lower joining surfaces and a combustion bowl wall. Inner and outer weld joints fix the inner and outer upper and lower joining surfaces to one another. An annular cooling gallery is formed laterally between the upper and lower joining surfaces. The inner weld joint joining the top part to the bottom part is located within the combustion bowl wall and configured to minimized the compression height of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventor: Florin Muscas
  • Patent number: 9964067
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head, a cylinder block serving as an upper crankcase half for holding a crankshaft in at least two crankshaft bearings, at least one further shaft mounted in at least two shaft bearings, an oil circuit with oil-conducting lines for supplying oil to at least two bearings, and an exhaust-gas recirculation arrangement. A heat conductor runs between at least one of the bearings and a thermally more highly loaded region of the internal combustion engine which, at least in the warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine, is at a higher temperature than the associated bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mehring, Stefan Quiring, Bernd Steiner, Hans Guenter Quix, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 9964068
    Abstract: An engine is provided with a block forming a cylinder, a head, and a gasket positioned between the block and the head. The gasket has first and second outer layers and a distance layer positioned therebetween. The first layer defines a first aperture and a bead surrounding the cylinder. The distance layer defines a second aperture concentrically arranged between the first aperture and the bead. The gasket has a stopper layer extending inwardly from the distance layer to a circular stopper element positioned adjacent to and aligned with the first aperture. A method of sealing an engine includes compressing a gasket between a block and a head to form a primary seal at a first interface and a secondary seal at a second interface between first and second outer layers and an intermediate layer, the first interface being positioned between the second interface and a bead surrounding a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Thomas Reinhart, Mark Brenkus
  • Patent number: 9957875
    Abstract: A target speed module determines a target speed of an engine coolant pump of the vehicle. A speed adjustment module determines a speed adjustment based on a position of a valve, wherein a backpressure of the engine coolant pump changes when the position of the valve changes. An adjusted target speed module determines an adjusted target speed for the engine coolant pump based on the target speed and the speed adjustment. A speed control module controls a speed of the engine coolant pump based on the adjusted target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9957947
    Abstract: A method for introducing microwave energy into a combustion chamber of a reciprocating internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder with a cylinder head in which the microwaves reach the combustion chamber through a microwave window, wherein the microwaves are run about a circumference of the combustion chamber and radially injected into the combustion chamber through at least a portion of a combustion chamber wall functioning as a microwave window. The method and the internal combustion engine facilitate a precise control of a beginning of a space ignition of a fuel air mix in the combustion chamber so that an optimum low emission combustion of a fuel is achieved with an efficiency that is higher compared to conventional reciprocating piston combustion engines. In general the invention provides safe ignition of lean fuel air mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MWI Micro Wave Ignition AG
    Inventors: Armin Gallatz, Volker Gallatz
  • Patent number: 9951715
    Abstract: A sub-assembly may include a piston and an injection nozzle for cooling oil for an internal combustion engine. The piston may have a piston skirt and a piston head, where the piston may have a piston crown with an underside, a circumferential ring part, and in the region of the ring part, a circumferential cooling channel with at least one feed opening for the cooling oil. The piston may also have a jet divider for the cooling oil on the underside of the piston crown adjacent to the at least one feed opening. The injection nozzle may be arranged below the jet divider and may be oriented toward the jet divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Scharp
  • Patent number: 9945320
    Abstract: A piston (10) for an internal combustion engine has discrete, cylindrical support surfaces (18, 24) for supporting a piston pin, wherein, between at least two support surfaces (18, 24), there is provided a recess (26) which has a radial depth of at least 10% of half of the distance between two opposite support surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Kay Frode, Marian Meinhard
  • Patent number: 9945317
    Abstract: When a main injection is performed, a first timing that is a time earlier than a second timing is selected as the valve opening starting timing, and a first period that is the period of time shorter than a second period is selected as the control period. Also, when a pilot injection is performed, the second timing that is the time later than the first timing is selected as the valve opening starting timing, and the second period that is the time longer than the first period is selected as the control period. Thus, in an injector with increased valve opening responsiveness, the valve opening behavior of a control valve of the injector in fuel injection with a minute injection quantity can be stabilized without replacing a control device, particularly an EDU with that of a large current specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoya Kanbara, Daiji Ueda
  • Patent number: 9945331
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning a water-cooled charge-air cooler. In one example, a method may include condensing water present in the supplied charge-air and exhaust gas which may exist in gaseous and droplet form, and purging the condensate along with the exhaust gas. A system for carrying out the above mentioned method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Winge Vigild, Wilbert Hemink, Daniel Roettger, Andreas Kuske