Patents Examined by Michael A Kessler
  • Patent number: 11274642
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for delivering fuel to at least one fuel injector. The assembly includes a main pipe defining a passageway through which fuel passes to the fuel injector. A fastener mount is forged with the main pipe such that the fastener mount is integral with the main pipe. The fastener mount defines a first aperture configured to receive a fastener for mounting the main pipe. A wire harness mount is forged with the main pipe such that the wire harness mount is integral with the main pipe. The wire harness mount defines a second aperture configured to cooperate with a coupling member of a wire harness. The fastener mount and the wire harness mount are on a common side of the main pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Garrett Stewart, Yuki Takeuchi, Steven Roseborsky
  • Patent number: 11274640
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid pipe arrangement (100), in particular for a charged air duct of an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing (10) having a longitudinal extension (L). The housing (10) includes a first fluid duct (20) having a first fluid inlet (22) and a first fluid outlet (24) for a first fluid and at least one second fluid duct (30) having a second fluid inlet (32) and a second fluid outlet (34) for a second fluid. Thermal insulation means (40) are provided between at least a portion (38) of the second fluid duct (30) and at least a portion (28) the first fluid duct (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventor: Gwenael Foulboeuf
  • Patent number: 11268481
    Abstract: Provided is an intake manifold structure for an internal combustion engine including an intake manifold defining a plurality of branch passages (13) communicating with corresponding intake ports (6) of the internal combustion engine (1) arranged in a cylinder row direction thereof, and provided with additional gas introduction ports (29) communicating with the respective branch passages, and an additional gas introduction passage forming member (16) attached to the intake manifold, and defining an additional gas inlet (35) and additional gas introduction passages (14) communicating the additional gas inlet with the corresponding additional gas introduction ports, wherein the additional gas introduction passage forming member extends across the branch passages, and is provided with a guide wall (33) for defining the additional gas introduction passages in cooperation with an outer surface of the intake manifold and an inner surface of the additional gas introduction passage forming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Itagaki
  • Patent number: 11255303
    Abstract: A high frequency attenuating device for an air flow induction system of a vehicle employing a thermoformed fibrous mat of any shape that fits robustly inside the duct. The dissipative nature of the fibrous mat helps in achieving broadband attenuation in the high frequency regime. The ability to manufacture the fibrous mat into any shape helps with restriction, targets different attenuation bands, and makes it more feasible to manufacture. Hybrid solutions are possible when combined with low frequency perforated silencers or high frequency QWT arrays injection molded onto them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Toledo Molding & Die, LLC
    Inventors: Charles David Satarino, Karthik Jayakumar, Erich James Vorenkamp, Neville Jimmy Bugli
  • Patent number: 11236705
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel mixer assembly for an engine includes a mixer housing forming gas delivery openings, and positioned to extend across a flow path formed by an intake conduit for the engine. A spool valve is within a central bore in the mixer housing and includes gas distribution openings selectively connectable to the gas delivery openings by moving the spool valve within the mixer housing using a piezoelectric actuator coupled with the spool valve by way of a pivot arm. Sealing lands of the spool valve are in an alternating arrangement with the gas distribution openings, such that at the closed position the sealing lands block the gas distribution openings from the gas delivery openings, and at the open position the respective openings are fluidly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Yu Zhang Chang
  • Patent number: 11215092
    Abstract: An engine valve includes a stem, a head comprising an outer lip surface, a seating surface extending from the outer lip surface toward the stem, and a combustion surface extending from the outer lip surface on the opposite side of the head as compared to the seating surface. The combustion surface includes a first convex arcuate surface spaced away from the outer lip surface, at least partially forming a raised ring, and a first concave arcuate surface spaced away from the outer lip surface, at least partially forming a dimple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Clark Krieger, Michael D. Roley, Kyle Michael Rader
  • Patent number: 11208976
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a minimum battery state of charge (SOC) threshold for automatic engine stopping is adjusted responsive to a temperature of a battery. An engine of the vehicle may be automatically started responsive to a battery SOC discharge amount that is greater than a threshold. The approach may allow a battery to discharge a greater number of times so that battery life may be extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hanyang Chen, Michael Irby
  • Patent number: 11204003
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pressure stabilizer, a gas engine system and a gas pressure control method. The pressure stabilizer includes: a housing, which comprises a gas intake chamber and a piston chamber, wherein a spacer is provided between the gas intake chamber and the piston chamber, and the spacer is provided with a spacer through hole; a piston, which is slidably disposed in the piston chamber and which is provided therein with a piston through hole passing through the piston; a spring disposed in the piston chamber, wherein the spring is disposed between the piston and the spacer; a gas outlet end cap, which is disposed at an open end of the piston chamber and which is provided with a gas outlet; and an electromagnetic coil, which is disposed at an end of the gas outlet end cap that is close to the piston, wherein the electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic field force for attracting the piston in an energized state, so as to attract the piston to approach the gas outlet end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Weichai Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xuguang Tan, Wang Li
  • Patent number: 11199124
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a pump, a radiator, a flow rate adjustment valve, a bypass passage, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a valve member biasing component that biases the valve member in a valve-closing direction in which the open degree decreases. The valve member rotates in a valve-opening direction in which the open degree increases when a pressure difference increases between positions upstream and downstream of the valve member in a flow direction of coolant in the circulation circuit and rotate in the valve-closing direction when the pressure difference decreases. The controller increases the pump discharge amount as a target radiator flow rate that is a target of an amount of coolant passing through the radiator increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Takagi, Hirokazu Kato, Rihito Kaneko, Naoto Hisaminato, Hirokazu Ando, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Masahiro Yoshida, Koji Nunami, Naoto Yumisashi, Masafumi Yoshida, Takahiko Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11193453
    Abstract: A regasification apparatus includes a closed loop heat transfer fluid circulation assembly, for the storage of the cold energy extracted from fuel during its regasification, and provides: a first tank, for containing at ambient temperature the heat transfer fluid, and an insulated second tank where the latter is kept cold; a fluid/fluid heat exchanger, defining the heating means, in which the fluid, coming out of the first tank, is placed in heat transfer with the cold branch of the pipe and therefore cooled, then stored in the second tank. From the latter departs at least one insulated branch, to supply with cold fluid at least one utility present in the aforementioned vehicle, for example an air/fluid heat exchanger located downstream an intercooler of the engine. By means of a pipe, the heat transfer fluid, heated back to ambient temperature, returns to the first tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Universita' Degli Studi di Firenze
    Inventors: Giampaolo Manfrida, Daniele Fiaschi
  • Patent number: 11192210
    Abstract: A retaining ring configured for in-field repair of a fuel injector sleeve upper seal leak, comprising: a circular side wall comprising a barrel-shaped outer surface and a substantially cylindrical inner surface; wherein the outer surface comprises a lower curved portion and a central portion having a curvature that is less pronounced than the lower curved portion; and wherein the lower curved portion is configured to guide the retaining ring into the fuel injector sleeve and the circular side wall has an outer diameter at the central portion that is larger than an inner diameter of the fuel injector sleeve at a location of the upper seal leak such that the retaining ring forces the fuel injector sleeve outwardly at the location of the upper seal leak as the retaining ring is moved into an installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Lukasik, Kenneth G. Mark, Kent H. Clark
  • Patent number: 11187120
    Abstract: [Summary] Oil pan (10) for containing engine oil is configured so as to be divided into metallic upper oil pan (13) and synthetic resin lower oil pan (14). Upper oil pan (13) and lower oil pan (14) are respectively provided with beam (25) and rib (24), which extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Beam (25) and rib (24) are caused to face each other with gap (26) provided therebetween. When external force which can deform lower oil pan (14) in the front-rear direction of the vehicle acts on lower oil pan (14) due to the interference thereof with curbstones or the like, beam (25) and rib (24) come into contact with each other and prevent lower oil pan (14) from deforming in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Arata Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11181082
    Abstract: A ventilation duct includes an intake port through which fluid is sucked in a different direction from an up-down direction; a discharge port that is located above the intake port; a connecting portion that connects the intake port and the discharge port, and a duct inner surface that is an inner surface of the connecting portion, the duct inner surface being provided such that a fluid channel is provided inside the duct inner surface. A wall portion is provided to linearly extend upward from a lower surface of the duct inner surface and to extend in a right-left direction when seen from an upstream side in a flow direction of the fluid flowing through the fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Makihara, Ryo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11181052
    Abstract: Methods for controlling an air-to-fuel (AFR) ratio in the metering of fuel to an operating internal combustion engine (ICE) are provided using software-implemented logic controls to enable the determination of one or more of a maximum-power AFR fiducial and a maximum-efficiency AFR fiducial. Control of the fuel delivered to achieve any desired AFT using the fiducial values and/or a known or derived power-AFR curve for the ICE, and pressures of 5 psi or less, without chemical or temperature sensing of the exhaust gas of the ICE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SETAYSHA TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: John Craig Colborn
  • Patent number: 11181032
    Abstract: A cylinder head for use with an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head including a body having a fire deck and defining a water jacket in fluid communication with a cooling system, a first runner defined by the body and open to the fire deck to at least partially form a first valve seat, a second runner defined by the body and open to the fire deck to at least partially form a second valve seat, and a channel defined by the in fluid communication with the water jacket and positioned between the first runner and the second runner. The channel, in turn, includes a first inlet through which a first flow enters the channel, a second inlet through which a second flow enters the channel, and where the first inlet and the second inlet are oriented such that the first flow and the second flow interact with one another to create a turbulent region within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Kessens, Douglas S. Brocco, Kaleb Zimmerman, Gerald W. Green
  • Patent number: 11181083
    Abstract: A snorkel installation kit includes a fender pipe and a snorkel. The fender pipe has an air intake. The snorkel has a protrusion defining an outlet that is received by the air intake of the fender pipe. The fender pipe and the snorkel are separated by a space when installed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Manuel Alejandro Vite Cadena
  • Patent number: 11181081
    Abstract: An intake tower for a work vehicle has a grille with a front face and a duct defining an internal volume and an air intake. The air intake has a periphery at which the grille is mounted and first and second ends. The first end of the air intake is closer to a region of relative low pressure within the internal volume of the duct than the second end. A partition extending between the first and second ends of the air intake is recessed from the front face of the grille. The partition defines one or more intake openings leading to the internal volume of the duct. The opening(s) or portion thereof define a first flow area at the first end of the air intake and a second flow area at the second end of the air intake. The first flow area is lesser than the second flow area, and the opening(s) or portion thereof defining the first flow area is located nearer the front face of the grille than the opening(s) or portion thereof defining the second flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy L. Ketterhagen, Benjamin J. Schlesser, Noah F. Homan, Paul Thomas Bruss
  • Patent number: 11179659
    Abstract: An oil filter with replaceable filter core is disclosed and includes a detachable seal cap, so that a user could open the seal cap and individually replace a broken filter core in the oil filter without discarding other parts remain intact, so as to avoid unnecessary waste and further contribute to environmental protection and resources conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Ren-Jie Lin
  • Patent number: 11181071
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder bank comprising multiple cylinders, each cylinder comprises a rocker arm box for accommodating rocker arms of a valve train, and each cylinder comprises a rocker arm cover pivotable relative to the rocker arm box. The rocker arm cover carries an ignition coil contactable with a spark plug via an extension extending through a protective tube between the cylinder head and the rocker arm box or the rocker arm cover. The rocker arm cover comprises a first portion with a first introduction aid, into which the protective tube is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover and a second portion with a second introduction aid, into which the spark plug extension is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover to automatically and self-centringly form an electrical contact between the spark plug extension and the ignition coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAN Energy Solutions SE
    Inventors: Björn Dirumdam, Johannes Ruschkowski
  • Patent number: 11181020
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may be used to compress natural gas for vehicle fuel. The engine may contain a plurality of gas compression cylinders, at least one standard combustion cylinder to drive the compression cylinders, and a common crankshaft in a crankcase coupling the compression cylinders and the at least one standard combustion cylinder. Some combustible gas being compressed may leak past the piston rings of the compression cylinders into the engine crankcase posing a safety concern. This invention eliminates this concern by actively flushing the crankcase at a higher rate than normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ONBOARD DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Guy Robert Babbitt, Daniel Scott Pedersen