Patents Examined by Noah Kamen
  • Patent number: 8800502
    Abstract: A heat storage device of a vehicle may include an insulation container, a coolant passage connected to an engine, a heat exchanger having a fin formed on the coolant passage inside the insulation container, a phase change material charged in the insulation container to exchange heat with flowing coolant, a phase change material temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, and a control portion that circulates the coolant according to the driving condition of the engine and the coolant temperature such that the coolant exchanges heat with the phase change material. Accordingly, fuel for warming an engine or heating an interior room is reduced, a separate heating device or a warm up device such as a PTC heater can be replaced, quality of the exhaust gas is quickly improved, and there is a merit in overcoming environmental regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University Erica Campus
    Inventors: Yong Hyun Choi, Yong Chul Kim, June Kyu Park, Jungha Park, Man Hee Park, Ki-hyung Lee, Jung-wook Son
  • Patent number: 8800508
    Abstract: A loop scavenged two-stroke internal combustion engine which can effectively restrain blow-by of fresh gas with a relatively simple configuration is provided. A horizontal scavenging angle ?b in at least one spot of a scavenging passage 31L located at one side of the pair of or a plurality of pairs of left and right scavenging passages is made to differ from a horizontal scavenging angle ?a of a scavenging passage 31R located at the other side, and a main flow of a scavenging flow which is blown out from the scavenging passage 31L located at the one side and a main flow of a scavenging flow which is blown out from the scavenging passage 31R which is located at the other side intersect each other or collide with each other in plane view in a region displaced in a lateral direction from a center line C of an opening of an exhaust port 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Yamabiko Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Koga, Takuo Yoshizaki, Daisuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 8794193
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for cooling an internal combustion engine in which circulation of cooling water is halted until the cooling water reaches a predetermined temperature, wherein decline in the durability of a radiator, which is caused by thermal strain that occurs when circulation of the cooling water is restarted and the cooling water is introduced into the radiator, is suppressed. An internal combustion engine (10) comprises an electric pump (23), a water temperature sensor (92), a radiator (21), and a thermostat (22). The water temperature sensor (92) detects a cooling water temperature (THW). The radiator (21) is capable of circulating the cooling water between the radiator (21) and an engine cooling system (13). If the cooling water temperature (THW) is equal to or greater than a valve opening temperature (TZ), the thermostat (22) opens and the cooling water is introduced into the radiator (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukari Araki, Nobutaka Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8794207
    Abstract: A method for processing a cylinder block is disclosed, wherein a protrusion protruding toward a crankcase is provided at a crankcase-side edge of a cylinder bore and a sprayed coating is formed on an inner surface of the cylinder bore and an inner surface of the protrusion continuous with the inner surface of the cylinder bore. After forming the sprayed coating, at least part of the protrusion is removed together with the sprayed coating formed on the inner surface of the protrusion. Accordingly, even in the case of removing the edge portion of the cylinder bore on the crankcase side, a sufficient margin to be removed can be ensured while a reduction in size of the cylinder block is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Shiotani, Akira Shimizu, Hidenobu Matsuyama, Daisuke Terada, Yoshito Utsumi, Yoshitsugu Noshi, Hiroshi Hatta, Masami Tashiro, Shuji Adachi, Hiroaki Mochida
  • Patent number: 8794210
    Abstract: A system for lubricating an engine is disclosed. In one example, the system includes an oil purging passage in fluidic communication with an oil gallery within an engine block. The system may provide for reduced engine degradation related to debris that may be found in engine oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary David Liimatta, Paul Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 8794200
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a crankshaft having a first axis of rotation and a crankpin offset from the first axis of rotation. A second shaft is offset from the crankshaft and has a second axis of rotation. A piston is movable in a cylinder between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position to drive the crankshaft. A connecting rod extends from the piston. A four-jointed linkage assembly pivotably connects the connecting rod, crankshaft, and second shaft. A drive system operatively connects the crankshaft and the second shaft to drive the second shaft via the crankshaft. A phasing mechanism connects the drive system and the second shaft and is controllable to vary the rotational position of the second shaft relative to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lionel Jacques, Jeff Jocsak
  • Patent number: 8794199
    Abstract: A spark ignition-type internal combustion engine of the present invention is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio, a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve, and an EGR mechanism feeding part of the exhaust gas through the EGR passage as EGR gas into a combustion chamber. In the spark ignition type internal combustion engine, at the time of engine low load operation, compared with at the time of engine high load operation, the mechanical compression ratio is made higher. The higher the EGR rate, the higher the actual compression ratio is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8789508
    Abstract: In order to provide a small air-intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can satisfactorily control an air flow and can reduce energy loss in a rotary valve, the air-intake apparatus includes a surge tank; a first air-intake passage communicating with the surge tank; a second air-intake passage communicating with the surge tank; a casing including a first port connected to the first air-intake passage, a second port connected to the second air-intake passage, and an outlet port connected to an air-intake portion of the internal combustion engine; a rotary valve including a rotor housed in a valve casing portion of the casing to be rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotary valve being configured to control air intake directed to the air-intake portion by rotation of the rotor; and a first seal for sealing between the rotor and a surface of the valve casing portion facing the rotor with at least either one of the first port, second port and outlet port being closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Sakagami
  • Patent number: 8783232
    Abstract: Various embodiments include two-stroke stratified engines and dual passage carburetors for use with gaseous fuel, such as hydrogen, methane, liquid petroleum gas, pure propane, and butane. A stratified air-head engine and low pressure fuel injected engines with fuel only tube is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventors: Jay S. Veerathappa, Nagesh S. Mavinahally
  • Patent number: 8783233
    Abstract: An engine cooling system comprises a charge air cooler having an inlet, a plurality of heat exchange passages fluidically coupled to the inlet, and an outlet fluidically coupled to the heat exchange passages, and a conduit coupled to the outlet and an intake manifold of an engine, the conduit divided to include a first and second flow path to the intake manifold with a valve positioned at an inlet of the first flow path. In this way, accumulated condensate in the charge air cooler may be moved to the engine during low intake velocity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Cockerill, Shuya Shark Yamada
  • Patent number: 8783217
    Abstract: A cooling system for a marine engine is provided with various cooling channels and passages which allow the rates of flow of its internal streams of water to be preselected so that heat can be advantageously removed at varying rates for different portions of the engine. In addition, the direction of flow of cooling water through the various passages assists in the removal of heat from different portions of the engine at different rates so that overheating can be avoided in certain areas, such as the exhaust manifold and cylinder head, while overcooling is avoided in other areas, such as the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Taylor, David J. Belter
  • Patent number: 8783215
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating electrical energy from combustion of biomass is provided. The present invention provides both liquid-phase and gas-phase fuel to an internal combustion engine that is designed to run on both types of fuel. Scrubbing syngas generated in an updraft gasifier with a first petrochemical-based liquid fuel reduces the concentration of tars in the syngas stream and also enables absorption of tars from the syngas into the first liquid fuel. After absorption, the tars form a second liquid fuel that is suitable for direct use in the internal combustion engine. As a result, the syngas provided to the engine is substantially free of tars and the volume of liquid fuel available to the engine is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. Scott, Benjamin P. Tongue
  • Patent number: 8783222
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including: an even number of inline cylinders, each accommodating a piston; a crankshaft rotatably mounted about an axis; first and second balance shafts rotatably mounted about balancing axes parallel to and separate from the engine axis; and first and second mechanisms for rotating the first and second balance shafts at rotating speeds that are dependent on a rotating speed of the crankshaft. The balancing axes of the first and second balance shafts coincide, and the second rotating mechanism adjusts a phase difference between angular positions of the first and second balance shafts around the balancing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Renault s.a.s.
    Inventors: Alexandre Anton, Jean-Yves Der-Matheossian
  • Patent number: 8783223
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a configuration which makes it possible to inhibit contact between an oil (L) and a gas in an oil pan (10a) properly. The oil pan (10a) according to the present invention contains a film (S1) which covers an oil surface (F) of the oil (L) to separate the stored oil (L) and the gas above the oil (L). The film (S1) can float by receiving buoyancy in the oil (L). The film (S1) may be formed of a liquid. The film also may be configured by a film member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Koseki, Motoichi Murakami, Norio Inami, Ryuji Koike
  • Patent number: 8776735
    Abstract: An intake-side space around intake ports and an exhaust-side lower space around exhaust ports are provided in a main cooling jacket portion. These spaces are connected to each other. In a sub cooling jacket portion, an exhaust-side upper space is provided at a level above the exhaust-side lower space. The main cooling jacket portion and the sub cooling jacket portion are connected to each other via a cylindrical-hole connecting passage extending vertically and separate from each other vertically via a wall portion in another area than the connecting passage. Accordingly, a cooling device of an engine which can restrain the exhaust gas from being cooled too much improperly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kosugi, Yasushi Nakahara, Daijirou Ishimoto, Minori Fujino, Kazuhiro Okino
  • Patent number: 8776757
    Abstract: A transmission or engine pan is provided for holding the lubricating fluid. A plug is removably installed in a drain hole in the bottom of the pan to allow the fluid to be drained. The floor of the pan slopes to the drain hole. The bottom wall of the pan may have a tapered thickness from the side walls to the drain hole, or may have a constant thickness. The bottom exterior of the pan is flat, or alternatively may include ribs which define a horizontal surface for receiving a jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: David J. Goerend
  • Patent number: 8776734
    Abstract: A remedial pollution control system for treating volatile organic compounds that may include a vapor concentrator connected to a line that is laden with volatile organic compounds, the concentrator has an organic condensate output line and a vapor output line; a mixing chamber adapted to receive air provided from an air supply line, combustible fuel from an alternate fuel supply line, and a vapor stream from the vapor output line to produce a mixed fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine, a control mixing system with a controller for producing a proper air to fuel ratio in the mixed fuel supply, and power generated to operate other devices used to more efficiently abate volatile organic compounds and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Innovative Environmental Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Roy, Lawrence Neill
  • Patent number: 8776756
    Abstract: Multi-section sleeve valves for internal combustion engines for improved aspiration. An open connecting rod section is separated from an internal, tubular passageway by a closed wall. A port section proximate the wall defines valve ports. A power stroke midsection borders the port section. An oiling section borders the midsection, and an open section adjacent the oiling section is in fluid flow communication with the tubular passageway. The lower-diameter midsection forms a relief annulus between the valve and the tunnel or sleeve in which the valve is disposed. Fluid flow occurs through the valve interior and through ports dynamically positioned above the compression cylinder, proximate aligned sleeve and head ports. Sleeve ports are separated by bridges that maintain valve rings in compression during reciprocation to prevent damage. High pressure gas is confined between axially spaced apart, stepped sealing rings that prevent gases from flowing axially about the valve exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Grace Capital Partners, LLC
    Inventor: Gary W Cotton
  • Patent number: 8770157
    Abstract: A cylinder cooling apparatus for an air-cooled engine is equipped with a cooling fan provided on one end section of a crankshaft; a pair of pushrod insertion holes for air intake and exhaust valves formed in a cylinder outer circumferential wall section; a fan shroud for covering the cooling fan and for covering the cylinder outer circumferential wall section in which the pushrod insertion holes are formed; a cutout ventilating section formed in the cylinder outer circumferential wall section between the pair of pushrod insertion holes; and tunnel-shaped ventilating holes formed in the cylinder outer circumferential wall section between the pushrod insertion hole disposed on the side of the cooling fan and a cylinder bore and extending from the cylinder outer circumferential wall section on the side of the cooling fan to the cutout ventilating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Yano, Michio Hirano
  • Patent number: 8770166
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for an air inlet duct of an internal combustion engine. The air inlet duct includes a tubular housing. An inner wall has a plurality of perforations. The inner wall is disposed within the tubular housing such that the tubular housing includes at least two flow passages. A valve set is associated with a first flow passage of the at least two flow passages. The valve set selectively controls airflow through the first flow passage such that the first flow passage functions in a least one of a pass-through mode and a tuning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Tucker