Patents Examined by Noah Kamen
  • Patent number: 8640658
    Abstract: A thermal engine for an automotive vehicle, including at least one cylinder block including a first inner circuit for circulating a cooling liquid, of the type in which the first inner circuit includes an outer supply duct including an inlet opening into a reception chamber for a rotor of the engine water pump formed in the block. The chamber includes in its intermediate portion a supply opening having a level located above the level of the inlet opening of the inner supply duct of the first inner circuit. An additional degassing duct connects the upper portion of the reception chamber or water pump volute with an element of the engine cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: Frederic Benet
  • Patent number: 8640659
    Abstract: The invention relates to an engine (1) including: —a chamber (3) designed to accommodate a working fluid, —a first piston (4) defining the volume of said chamber (3), —a first passage (5) located in said first piston (4) to supply the chamber (3) with working fluid and/or to discharge from the chamber (3) the burned fluid resulting from the combustion of the working fluid, —a first valve (6) mounted on the first piston (4) to monitor the opening and closing of said first passage (5), —an output shaft (8) that engages with the first piston (4) to convert the motion of the first piston (4) into rotational motion of the output shaft (8), characterized in that the output shaft (8) and the first valve (6) engage to convert the motion of output shaft (8) into motion of the first valve (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Antar Daouk
  • Patent number: 8640668
    Abstract: An oil pump unit comprises a pump shaft and a pump housing which stores the pump shaft. A balancer unit comprises a pair of balancer shafts and a balancer housing which stores the balancer shafts. The pump housing and the balancer housing are coupled to each other at least in the vicinity of a periphery of the pump shaft, and at a coupling portion in the vicinity of the periphery of a power transmission shaft is formed a connection groove which connects the inside to the inside of the coupling portion. Accordingly, it can be retrained that the reliability of journal portions of the balancer shaft of the balancer unit and the like is deteriorated by dusts and the like contained in high-pressure oil from the oil pump unit in a balancer device of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiro Nishi, Hisayuki Yamane, Masanori Hashimoto, Sakumi Haseto, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8635977
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively storing gaseous reformate output by a fuel reformer for fueling an engine. Carbon monoxide produced by a fuel reformer may be continuously combusted in the engine and/or engine exhaust rather than being stored. In one example, reformate components produced by a fuel reformer, e.g., H2 and CH4, may be stored and buffered for use by an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Michael Kerns
  • Patent number: 8635984
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil module of a water-cooled internal combustion engine, comprising an oil filter, oil and water channels, a water pump and a thermostatic valve which opens various temperature-dependent water circuits. One water channel starts behind the thermostatic valve in the direction of flow and leads to the suction side of the water pump inside the oil module. The oil module has a housing to which at least one additional functional component is connected. The water channel extends along two sides of the housing which are oriented at an angle in relation to each other, both sides of said channel respectively opening on both sides on at least one sub-section of their length onto the surface of the housing and being closed, respectively by means of a cover to form a channel cross-section that is closed on all sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hengst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Ardes
  • Patent number: 8635982
    Abstract: A method for producing a piston for an internal combustion engine, composed of first and second piston components, has the following steps: (a) providing a blank of the first piston component composed of a tempered or precipitation-hardened steel, having at least one joining surface, (b) providing a blank of the second piston component composed of a tempered or precipitation-hardened steel, having at least one joining surface, (c) tempering or precipitation-hardening the blanks, (d) friction-welding the joining surfaces of the blanks to produce a piston blank, with the formation of at least one friction-welding seam and a heat influence zone in the region of the at least one friction-welding seam, (e) annealing or low-stress annealing of the piston blank, thereby obtaining the heat influence zone(s), (f) re-machining and/or finishing the piston blank to produce a piston. A piston so produced is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Scharp, Klaus Keller
  • Patent number: 8631772
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of transmission fluid in a motor vehicle includes operating in an automatic transmission fluid cooling mode, a heater priority mode entered by disabling automatic transmission fluid heating, and an automatic transmission fluid heating mode which includes sending hot engine coolant to a heat exchanger for heating the automatic transmission fluid by transferring heat from the hot engine coolant to the automatic transmission fluid. The method switches to from a heater priority mode to a transmission heating mode base on a number of sensed conditions including sensed automatic fluid transmission temperature. The method also includes an automatic transmission fluid temperature regulating mode including measuring an automatic transmission fluid temperature and switching between the cooling mode and the heating mode based measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Thomas Gooden, Jianping Zhang, Steven Keith Plumb, David Spuller
  • Patent number: 8631770
    Abstract: A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventor: Theodore M. Besmann
  • Patent number: 8631780
    Abstract: A power cutter powered by a single cylinder internal combustion engine, the power cutter including: a tool unit having at least one tool, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation; a drive unit including an engine, the engine including an engine cylinder having a cylinder bore centerline, a piston, a crankshaft with a crankshaft axis of rotation and a flywheel, the crankshaft running in a counter clockwise direction as seen towards the flywheel; a cutter arm attached to the drive unit in its inner end and its outer end carrying the tool unit, a centerline of the cutter arm essentially follows a connection line between the axis of rotation of the tool and the axis of rotation of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Hans Petersson, Mattias Holmdahl, Anders Lundgren
  • Patent number: 8627789
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for a four stroke cylinder direct-injection internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a piston disposed within the cylinder. The control apparatus includes a variable compression ratio mechanism for variably controlling the engine compression ratio by changing the top dead center position of the piston and a fuel injection device for injecting fuel directly into the cylinder. When the actual compression ratio of the engine is higher than a target compression ratio, the variable compression ratio mechanism reduces the compression ratio, and in accordance with the reduction in the compression ratio, the fuel injecting device injects an intake fuel injection amount in the intake stroke and a compression fuel injection amount in the compression stroke, and the timing for starting the fuel injection in the compression stroke is retarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hiraya, Daisuke Tanaka, Shunsuke Shigemoto, Hirofumi Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 8622040
    Abstract: A transmission fluid heater for a motor vehicle includes a fluid pan mounted on the transmission for storing a supply of transmission fluid. The fluid pan has an inner chamber storing the transmission fluid, and an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber. An inlet to the outer chamber communicates with a source of engine exhaust gas and an outlet from the outer chamber exhausts the exhaust gas. An inlet valve opens and shuts the communication of engine exhaust gas to the inlet. A plurality of heat exchanger fins enhancing the transfer of heat from the engine exhaust gas within the outer chamber to the transmission fluid is stored within the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Farzad Samie, James L Lanzon, Andrew L. Bartos
  • Patent number: 8622042
    Abstract: A bearing connection having a connecting rod connected rigidly to a piston and a crankshaft driven by the connecting rod. The connecting rod is connected on the crankshaft side to a transverse bearing for a sliding block, the sliding block being mounted such that it can move to and fro in the transverse bearing and a rolling contact bearing being arranged in the sliding block in order to receive the crank pin of a crankshaft. At least one cavity is formed in the piston crown and, in the area thereof close to the piston longitudinal axis, is connected to an oil feed line running through the connecting rod and that the oil feed line in the connecting rod is led or extended to the end region thereof remote from the piston and, from there, is led onward into the interior of the transverse bearing via a transfer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Mahle Koenig Kommanditgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz J. Laimboeck
  • Patent number: 8622032
    Abstract: Improvements in a gas powered engine. Said improvements include use of a piston with a fixed piston arm that extends through a seal in the lower portion of the cylinder. The piston arm operates on an elliptical crank that drives the output shaft. Valves that move air and exhaust into and out of the pistons are lifted by a cam located on the crank. A unique oil injector passes oil to the piston and the cylinder wall. An energy recovery unit recovers energy from the cooling system and from the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Mustafa Rez
  • Patent number: 8622034
    Abstract: The two-stroke engine has a plurality of intake passages extending from the external air inlet port through the crankcase, separating the intake air charge from the air and oil vapor within the crankcase. The piston has one or more corresponding inlet tubes depending therefrom that telescope within the crankcase intake passages as the piston reciprocates. All intake air travels through these passages and is separated from the remainder of the crankcase volume. The incoming air charge passes through a concentric poppet valve in the piston crown to enter the combustion chamber. Fuel is provided by conventional direct or port injection and ignition is provided by one or more conventional spark plugs. Diesel operation is achievable when the engine is configured appropriately. Exhaust exits the combustion chamber through a poppet valve in the cylinder head, the poppet valve being actuated by a rocker arm and pushrod from a crankshaft driven cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: T. Matthew Riley
  • Patent number: 8622033
    Abstract: A device is provided for a piece of equipment with an internal combustion engine having a crank case and a combustion space, wherein an air cooling stream is present for cooling the internal combustion engine. The device, on the one hand, is effective for cleaning of the intake air, and on the other hand, a thermal separation between tank and crank case is achieved in a simple manner. The device includes at least one recess, which is constructed open or closed, and is arranged in the crank case, and is separated from an interior of the crank case and forms air cushions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: DOLMAR GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Ziegs
  • Patent number: 8616174
    Abstract: A motorcycle engine case comprises crankshaft support portions that are configured and adapted to support a crankshaft in a manner such that the crankshaft is rotatable about a crankshaft axis relative to the engine case. The engine case also comprises an internal cavity that is configured and adapted to house at least one flywheel in a manner such that the flywheel is rotatable about the crankshaft axis with the crankshaft relative to the engine case. The engine case further comprises an adjustable oil scraper that is movable toward and away from the crankshaft axis and that can be locked in position relative to the crankshaft axis. The oil scraper is adapted and configured to remove oil clinging to the flywheel as the flywheel rotates about the crankshaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Midwest Motorcycle Supply Distributors Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Garrison, Brian D. Brace
  • Patent number: 8616172
    Abstract: The present application relates to a drive and balance mass. In one example, an engine includes, a camshaft, a balance shaft disposed within an interior of the camshaft, and a first gear, intermediate the balance shaft and the camshaft and driving the balance shaft to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite of the crankshaft. In another example, a balance mass and drive for an engine includes, a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of pinions mounted on a carrier, an input coupled to an input gear of the planetary gear set, a balance mass coupled to an output gear of the planetary gear set, the output gear configured to drive the balance mass to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft in a direction opposite of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Morgan, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 8616163
    Abstract: A lean combustion method is provided for a four-stroke reciprocating internal combustion engine having a cylinder, in which a combustion chamber is delimited by a cylinder head and a piston is movable in a reciprocating manner, the piston being able to vary the volume of the combustion chamber. A fuel can be introduced directly into the combustion chamber, and at least one gas exchange inlet valve and one gas exchange outlet valve are provided for a gas exchange. An intermediate compression can be set in the combustion chamber at a gas exchange top dead center and a main compression can be set at an ignition top dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Huebner, Udo Gerke, Ulrich Spicher, Amin Velji, Michael Hoenl, Konstantinos Boulouchos, Norbert Peters, Olaf Roehl, Christof Schulz, Dennis Bensing, Christian Laemmle
  • Patent number: 8616171
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention provide a rotary valve system for piston engines. The valve system for piston engines comprises an intake rotary valve, an exhaust rotary valve arranged in conjunction with the intake rotary valve, a crankshaft gear and a plurality of spindle gears. The plurality of spindle gears are connected to at least one of the intake rotary valve and the exhaust rotary valve to transfer a rotary force from the crankshaft gear to at-least one of the intake rotary valves and exhaust rotary valves such that intake rotary valve and the exhaust rotary valve are set in motion. The valve system provides for changing the volume and timing for entering the fuel and the air into the engine and exiting smoke from the engine. The rotary valve system decreases shake of the engine and performs the required performance of the engine within specified range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Afshin Kiani
  • Patent number: 8616175
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and a method for maximizing fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block assembly having an electromagnet coupled thereto and an engine component movable relative to the engine block assembly. The engine component includes a permanent magnet coupled thereto. A control system is provided to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas A. Pelmear