Patents Examined by Michael A Kessler
  • Patent number: 11181070
    Abstract: A cylinder block of an engine is provided. The cylinder block includes a cast body defining one or more cylindrical bores. The cylinder block also includes a crankshaft bearing wall formed within the cast body. The crankshaft bearing wall is configured to be removably coupled with a bearing cap to define an opening for rotatably supporting a crankshaft of the engine. The cylinder block further includes a chamfered shoulder portion casted on the crankshaft bearing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Grebien, Volker Abraham, Frank Witt, Marco Petersen, Paul Mlynarczyk
  • Patent number: 11180234
    Abstract: An engine includes a crankshaft. A driveshaft is connected to the crankshaft, and extends in an up-and-down direction of an outboard motor. A propeller shaft is connected to the driveshaft, and extends in a back-and-forth direction of the outboard motor. An intake pipe is connected to the engine. The intake pipe includes a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion that are provided separately from each other. A seal member is disposed between the first and second pipe portions, and couples the first and second pipe portions therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11181054
    Abstract: An intake-air temperature controlling device for an engine is provided, which includes an engine body, an intake passage, an air intake part, an intake air temperature adjuster configured to adjust air temperature taken in through the air intake part to the passage, and a controller. An operating range in which the CI combustion is performed has a lean operating range in which A/F of mixture gas formed inside the cylinder, or G/F that is a relationship between the total weight G of gas inside the cylinder and a weight F of fuel fed to the cylinder is relatively low, and a rich operating range in which the A/F or G/F is relatively high. When the engine is in the lean operating range, the controller outputs a control signal to the intake air temperature adjuster so that the air temperature is increased, as compared in the rich operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Hikitani, Hajime Umehara, Naoki Nagano, Kenji Sugasaki, Shin Kodama, Hiromasa Nakagawa, Tomokuni Kusunoki, Taiga Kamiji, Masanobu Koutoku, Toshinori Ueno, Katsuya Murakami
  • Patent number: 11181040
    Abstract: A control device for a VCR connecting rod which can be operated by way of an actuation circuit is provided. Such a VCR connecting rod is to enable safe operation. For this purpose, a detection device is provided for determining a defect of the actuation circuit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a respectively associated method for operating an actuation circuit of a VCR connecting rod of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG, AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventor: Kai Arens
  • Patent number: 11181053
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle (such as a remotely operable unmanned aerial vehicle) to perform or implement a control strategy for controlling operation of the engine. The method and system comprises providing first and second modes optionally available for operating the engine, and changing operation of the engine from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation following a determination that a characteristic of the operation of the engine (such as engine speed) has been requested to be modified to beyond a predetermined threshold or level. The method and system further comprises reverting control of operation of the engine from the second mode to the first mode once the requested characteristic is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold or level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ORBITAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Richard Albert George Woolford, John Howard Tubb, Callan Murray Bleechmore
  • Patent number: 11181014
    Abstract: Provided is cladding alloy powder that can keep enough corrosion resistance of the cladding portion on the engine valve and can suppress adherence of the cladding portion to the valve seat. Cladding alloy powder is to form a cladding portion at an engine valve that comes in contact with a valve seat of an engine. The cladding alloy powder includes 22 to 27 mass % of Cr; 10 to 30 mass % of Mo; 2.0 to 6.0 mass % of W; 0.40 to 1.30 mass % of C; 3.0 mass % or less of Si; 15.0 mass % or less of Ni; 30.0 mass % or less of Fe; and 0.4 mass % or less of S as well as Co and unavoidable impurity as a remainder, and satisfies Cr(?0.53C+1.2)+Mo(?1.2C+2.8)?24 and 23W+2.7Mo?73.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kamo, Kimihiko Ando
  • Patent number: 11181048
    Abstract: A throttle device, comprising: a throttle valve (13) disposed in a plurality of intake passages (12) of a throttle body (11); a throttle shaft (14) supporting the throttle valve (13); a motor (15) for driving the throttle valve (13) to open and close through the throttle shaft (14); a rotation transmission mechanism (20) interposed between the motor (15) and the throttle shaft (14); and a position sensor to detect a displacement in the rotation transmission mechanism (20). The rotation transmission mechanism (20) includes a pinion (21) driven by the motor (15) and a control gear (23) interlocked with the pinion (21) and integrally connected to the throttle shaft (14). The position sensor (30) to detect an angular displacement of the control gear (23) and the rotation transmission mechanism (20) are disposed between the plurality of intake passages 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 11181090
    Abstract: In an ignition apparatus, an ignition plug is provided. In the ignition plug, a tubular outer conductor surrounds an inner conductor, and a dielectric member is disposed in the tubular outer conductor to define a plasma formation region between the inner conductor and the dielectric member. The plasma formation region has opposing first and second ends in the axial direction of the tubular outer conductor, and the first end of the plasma formation region communicates with the combustion chamber. A power source is connected between the inner and tubular outer conductors. A controller causes a power source to apply electromagnetic power pulses with intervals therebetween across the inner and tubular outer conductors during an ignition cycle of an engine. Each of the electromagnetic power pulses forms at least a corresponding plasma in the plasma formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, PLASMA APPLICATIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Kinoshita, Fumiaki Aoki, Daisuke Tanaka, Akimitsu Sugiura, Jan Husarik, Masashi Kando
  • Patent number: 11181166
    Abstract: A crank cap assembly including a single crank cap rotatably supporting a crankshaft includes: a fastening member fastened to the crank cap, a mass member; and an elastic rubber member elastically attaching the mass member to the crank cap. The elastic rubber member includes a first rubber part arranged between the fastening member and the mass member and a second rubber part arranged between the crank cap and the mass member. The first rubber part and the second rubber part are arranged to be aligned in the mounting direction when attaching the crank cap to an engine body, and the elastic rubber member is formed so that a length in the mounting direction is longer than a maximum length in a cross-section of the elastic rubber member perpendicular to the mounting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 11149625
    Abstract: A thermostat misdiagnosis prevention method applied to an engine system of the present disclosure applies high speed/high load and low speed/low load, which are divided by a vehicle speed and an engine output detected from the engine system at an engine warm-up temperature of engine coolant, as monitoring conditions of a thermostat, and determines thermostat fail by primarily determining the thermostat fail with the engine coolant temperature of the engine coolant temperature and the outside air temperature detected from the engine system, then confirming a delay time with respect to the outside air temperature, and secondarily determining the thermostat fail with the engine coolant temperature in a monitoring ECU, thereby corresponding to the enhanced OBD together with preventing the misdiagnosis of the thermostat by the fail-safe according to the primary and secondary determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bon-Chang Koo
  • Patent number: 11035288
    Abstract: A prechamber device for a combustion engine, the prechamber device extending from a first axial end to a second axial end along an axial direction, is provided. The prechamber device includes a prechamber body circumferentially enclosing a prechamber volume, a nozzle body extending from the prechamber body and disposed at a first axial end of the prechamber device, an interior of the nozzle body in fluid communication with and providing an appendix of the prechamber volume, and nozzle openings provided through the nozzle body from the interior to the exterior of the nozzle body. The prechamber device also includes one or more cooling channels, extending inside in the prechamber body and apart from the nozzle body from a first coolant inlet/outlet to a second coolant inlet/outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventor: Peter Johann Holzhammer
  • Patent number: 11035326
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal management of a direct injection propane fuel system are disclosed that include control a temperature of the fuel tank at or below a desired operating temperature to avoid venting of fuel to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Samuel C. Geckler
  • Patent number: 11035286
    Abstract: A coolant reservoir tank includes a first compartment that is configured to receive and retain a first portion of a liquid coolant. The first compartment is configured to be in fluid communication with a first liquid cooling circuit. A second compartment is configured to receive and retain a second portion of the liquid coolant. The second compartment is configured to be in fluid communication with a second liquid cooling circuit. A dividing wall separates the first compartment from the second compartment. The coolant reservoir tank further includes a fill port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Matthew Mark, Joseph Kuhn, Louis Sigioltzakis, Serge Iafrate
  • Patent number: 11028787
    Abstract: The center injection engine is an engine equipped with the direct injector and an ignition apparatus at center of a ceiling part of the combustion chamber. The positive tumble flow flows from the intake port side to the exhaust port side on the ceiling part side of the combustion chamber, and also flows from the exhaust port side to the intake port side on the piston top part side. The ECU calculates the injection timing of the direct injector based on the engine load. In the first injection control, the higher the engine load becomes, the more the end crank angle is retarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taketo Nagasaki, Daijiro Tanaka, Kouji Takasu
  • Patent number: 11028785
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which a fuel reforming operation in a fuel reformation cylinder is not executed when a gas temperature of a fuel reformation chamber at a time point when a piston in the fuel reformation cylinder reaches a compression top dead point is estimated to fall short of a reforming operation allowable lower limit gas temperature set based on a lower limit value of a reforming reaction enabling temperature. For example, fuel is supplied from an injector so that an equivalence ratio in the fuel reformation chamber is less than 1. Alternatively, the fuel supply from an injector is stopped. This way, a supply of non-reformed fuel from the fuel reformation cylinder to an output cylinder can be avoided, and knocking in the output cylinder can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Go Asai
  • Patent number: 11022020
    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. The cylinder head also includes 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 body, where the cooling channel is in fluid communication with the water jacket and positioned between the first runner and the second runner, and where the cooling channel includes a flow diverter configured to produce a turbulent region proximate the fire deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Kessens, Douglas S. Brocco, Kaleb Zimmerman, Gerald W. Green
  • Patent number: 11022075
    Abstract: An enhanced fuel delivery system having a fuel storage container for storing a quantity of liquid fuel and a vaporization vessel with an enclosed inner cavity having a central core structure with one or more openings and an inner core passage connected to a fuel line of a reciprocating engine, wherein liquid fuel is directed from the fuel storage container to the vaporization vessel and is drawn through the wicking material and converted into a vapor state where the fuel vapor is directed through the one or more openings to the inner core passage and out through the fuel line to be introduced into the combustion chamber of the reciprocating engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Darrell Scoggins
  • Patent number: 10947934
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which a fuel reforming operation in a fuel reformation cylinder is not executed and a warming operation for raising the temperature of the fuel reformation cylinder is executed, when a gas temperature of a fuel reformation chamber at a time point when a piston in the fuel reformation cylinder reaches a compression top dead point is estimated to fall short of a reforming operation allowable lower limit gas temperature. For example, EGR gas is introduced to the fuel reformation chamber without cooling the EGR gas. Further, during a predetermined period from the expansion stroke to an exhaust stroke of an output cylinder, exhaust gas warming fuel is supplied to a combustion chamber. Further, the fuel is combusted in the fuel reformation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Go Asai
  • Patent number: 10914211
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) includes an internal combustion engine main body (20), a head cover (11, 15) attached to an upper end part of the internal combustion engine main body, and an exhaust system (34) connected to the internal combustion engine main body, and a gas-liquid separator (45, 60) for blowby gas provided in the head cover. A part of the exhaust system is positioned adjacent to the internal combustion engine main body in a first direction (X) along a cylinder row, and the gas-liquid separator is positioned in the head cover so as to be offset in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazushi Tada
  • Patent number: 10907588
    Abstract: An engine intake duct includes an upstream side linear portion, a bend portion, a downstream side linear portion, and a fin that rises from an inner surface of the bend portion on an inner side in a bend direction. A fin tip portion is located in the bend portion, and a fin rear end portion is located in the bend portion or the downstream side linear portion, and the fin includes a tip side inclined surface, a rear end side inclined surface, and a rear end surface that is a steep wall extending from a rear end of the rear end side inclined surface to the fin rear end portion. At least a part of a top of the tip side inclined surface of the fin is formed along an extension line of an inner surface of the upstream side linear portion toward the bend portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kotaro Haratake