Patents Examined by Raymond A. Neill
  • Patent number: 5195497
    Abstract: A fuel blending ratio detecting method is provided wherein a feedback compensation coefficient K.sub.FB is computed on the basis of an air/fuel ratio responsive output V.sub.o of an O.sub.2 sensor, and a current blending ratio compensation coefficient K.sub.B is multiplied by a peak mean value K.sub.PEAK of the current and preceding peak values of the computed feedback compensation coefficient K.sub.FB to compute the next blending ratio compensation coefficient K.sub.B. Thus, the quantity of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine can be always controlled accurately on the basis of the computed blending ratio compensation coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Takanao Yokoyama, Muneyoshi Nanba, Yoshihiko Kato, Kazumasa Iida, Katsuhiko Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 5184589
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the speed of a direct fuel injected, scavenged two stroke engine comprises engine speed sensing means for determining the speed of revolution of an engine and means for sensing the degree to which the throttle. A comparing device produces a signal corresponding to the difference between the engine speed sensed by the engine speed sensing means and a predetermined engine speed corresponding to the degree of throttle opening. An control device adjusts an engine running parameter based on this difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 5170766
    Abstract: A fuel and air assembly is provided for furnishing an air and fuel mixture under pressure to a cylinder of an ignition fired internal combustion engine which utilized a solenoid-actuated valve timed to admit the mixture to the cylinder. A standard fuel injector is interfaced with one end of a mixing insert which is connected at the other end to an air passage of a fuel rail. At one side of the insert is an outlet passage leading to the solenoid actuated valve which has an outlet end shaped to enhance fuel distribution and combustion. The mixing insert contains an air filter and passages to conduct air to the common passage for air and fuel. The insert is captured in the fuel rail between a locating shoulder and the fuel injector for proper positioning relative to the timed valve. An adapter cap on the solenoid assembly joins the insert to the valve controlled passage to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Orbital Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Albert L. Haas, Daniel E. Alsobrooks, Oswald Baasch, John Carrico, Sam R. Leighton, Chris N. Sayer
  • Patent number: 5168848
    Abstract: An engine brake arrangement for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with at least one throttle valve per cylinder which, during braking operation of the internal combustion engine, is opened at times to connect a cylinder space with an exhaust conduit. To permit simple control of the opening and closing periods of the throttle valves, the latter are actuated by a hydraulic fluid, which is pumped by a pump with a single pressure-increasing and pumping element, and is distributed in a distributor with rotating channels to the individual conduits leading to a particular throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Horst Bergmann, Emil Bauerle, Thomas Harr
  • Patent number: 5165378
    Abstract: An ignition timing control system for vehicle internal combustion engines, in which the basic ignition timing is determined for a detected engine speed and load and when knock occurs, the basic ignition timing is retarded by a unit amount. A counter is provided for determining the occurrence rate of knock, the value of which is incremented each time knock occurs and is decrement if no knock occurs within a predetermined number of firings. Based on the counter values, a period is determined. When knock occurs, the retard adjustment is started and is continued for the period even when knock has ceased in the course of retard adjustment. The predetermined number of firings for defining a wait period before the counter value is decremented is set to equal the number of cylinders of the engine concerned. Alternatively, the predetermined number of firings can be varied with the knock occurrence rate counter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukio Miyashita
  • Patent number: 5163407
    Abstract: A fuel blending ratio detecting method computes a control blending ratio on the basis of blending ratio information generated from a blending ratio sensor or air/fuel ratio information generated from an O.sub.2 sensor, and when the engine is stopped, the control blending ratio detected at that time is stored in a backup memory as a memory blending ratio. At the time of re-starting the engine, the memory blending ratio can be used as the control blending ratio B for a predetermined limited period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Takanoa Yokoyama, Muneyoshi Nanba, Yoshihiko Kato, Kazumasa Iida, Katsuhiko Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 5150686
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel control apparatus of an internal combustion engine is provided with a purge correction prohibition part. The apparatus includes a detection part for detecting operating conditions of the internal combustion engine and for supplying signals indicative of the operating conditions, a purge control valve for controlling a flow of fuel vapor to an intake passage of the engine, a calculation part for calculating a fuel injection amount in response to the signals, and a fuel injection control part for varying a feedback correction factor of an air-fuel ratio in response to the signals so as to maintain the air-fuel ratio at a stoichiometric value and for correcting the fuel injection amount on the basis of the feedback correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Okawa, Kazuhiko Norota
  • Patent number: 5134985
    Abstract: An insulated coil (20) of wire (23) of a prescribed length and number of turns is positioned to surround a linearly-extending portion of a metal or plastic fuel conduit (10) associated with an internal combustion engine or conduit transporting a burner gas to a stove burner or furnace. The coil core (22) may be electrically conductive wire which is surrounded by electrical insulation or liquid electrolyte (31) contained in plastic tubing (30) which tubing is coiled around the fuel conduit (10). The use of the device is shown to increase the miles per gallon of fuel performance of an auto and to improve combustion emissions. In gas burner applications, the number of days of use from a standard volume gas cylinder has been substantially increased when the device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: Velagapudi M. Rao
  • Patent number: 5133329
    Abstract: For a combustion-powered tool, an ignition system is powered by a battery and is arranged so that a sudden discharge of a capacitor, as charged via an oscillator, produces a spark at a spark gap of a spark plug, so that the oscillator is enabled if a trigger switch is closed while a head switch is closed, but not if the trigger switch is closed while the head switch is opened, and if a battery voltage, as monitored, is not less than a reference voltage, and so that a silicon-controlled rectifier, which is arranged to produce a sudden discharge of the capacitor, is switched to a conductive state if the capacitor voltage, as monitored, and is not less than a reference voltage. The head and trigger switches, which are photoelectric, are polled intermittently to determine whether they are closed. Predominantly, solid-state components are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Rodseth, Ernest J. Wendling
  • Patent number: 5121729
    Abstract: For suppression of knocking in an internal combustion engine, an engine vibration level is periodically generated at predetermined time intervals on the basis of an output signal of a knocking sensor which is installed for detecting the engine vibration, the engine vibration level thus generated being compared with a preset sensor failure level. When the vibration level remains lower than the preset sensor failure level successively throughout a period corresponding to a predetermined number of engine cycles, a knocking sensor failure indication signal is generated to thereby allow knocking control to be precautionarily performed for the safety of the engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuko Hashimoto, Wataru Fukui, Toshio Iwata
  • Patent number: 5113821
    Abstract: A speed governor for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine senses an engine operating condition indicating the vehicle speed. When the vehicle speed indicated by the operating condition exceeds a prescribed speed, the cylinders of the engine are temporarily prevented from firing for short periods until the vehicle speed falls below the prescribed speed. In one form of the invention, a first sensor that senses a first operating condition is used to determine the vehicle speed under normal operating conditions. When the first sensor becomes inappropriate or malfunctions, a second sensor that senses another operating condition is used to determine the vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Fukui, Toshio Iwata, Atsushi Ueda, Masami Matsumura, Mitsura Koiwa
  • Patent number: 5090380
    Abstract: An idling speed adjustment system for an engine, in which a pulse width for corrected fuel injection in the idling operation of the engine is set by adjusting idling adjustment means adapted to be adjusted from outside the system. Subsequently, a pulse width for fuel injection in the idling operation is determined in such a way that a pulse width for basic fuel injection which is set on the basis of a throttle opening degree and engine speed is corrected with several correction values which are set on the basis of detected engine state parameters, and the idling-operation corrected fuel injection pulse width which is set as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Suzuki, Fusao Tachibana, Mitsugi Chonan
  • Patent number: 5086745
    Abstract: A method of processing a signal of a thermal flow-rate sensor, provides a temperature monitor for monitoring a temperature at a representative point on a substrate support member; obtains the temperature at the representative point corresponding to the flow rate by use of the temperature monitor; and corrects an output of the sensor in accordance with a value corresponding to the temperature as well as a value corresponding to the temperature at the representative point when the flow rate is in a steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinobu Nishimura, Setsuhiro Shimomura, Nobutake Taniguchi, Kouji Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 5069178
    Abstract: An engine with a variable combustion chamber has a a first combustion chamber defined in a piston slidably disposed in a cylinder, a second combustion chamber defined in a cylinder head and communicating with the cylinder through a communication port, and a valve for opening and closing the communication port. When the engine is under low load, the valve is closed and fuel is injected into the first combustion chamber, so that the engine operates as a direct-injection-type engine. When the engine is under high load, the valve is opened and fuel is injected into the second combustion chamber, so that the engine operates as a prechamber-type engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5048495
    Abstract: An electronic control system for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of first sensors for measuring a drive action taken in accordance with a driver's intent, a plurality of second sensors for measuring operating conditions of an engine, a plurality of actuators for controlling the engine, a unit for setting a target reference by selecting one among a plurality of target references for engine control, and a unit for manipulating the actuators responsive to the established target reference to control the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikihiko Onari, Motohisa Funabashi, Teruji Sekozawa, Takeshi Atago, Makoto Shioya
  • Patent number: 5033432
    Abstract: An improved idle speed control apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of effectively preventing instantaneous fluctuations in the number of revolutions per minute of the engine when the engine load is instantaneously changed during engine idling, thereby improving the driver's driving sensation. A bypass passage is connected with an intake manifold of the engine for supplying intake air to the engine while bypassing a throttle valve in the intake manifold. A bypass air controller is disposed on the bypass passage for controlling the amount of bypass air flowing therethrough. In one embodiment, the bypass air controller operates such that when the engine load is altered instantaneously during the engine idling, the amount of intake air is gradually changed from a first level suited to a first operating condition of the engine load to a second level suited to a second opeating condition of the engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ohuchi, Tadahiro Azuma
  • Patent number: 5020489
    Abstract: A diesel engine preheating apparatus connects a plurality of glow plugs arranged in corresponding cylinder chambers of a multicylinder diesel engine in series or parallel with or in series and parallel with a power source. The glow plugs are selected from body-grounded type unipolar and bipolar glow plugs. The bipolar glow plug selected from the diesel engine glow plugs includes first and second external connecting terminals which are respectively connected to thin-walled portions of first and second terminal connecting plates located on substantially the same plane. The thin-walled portions interpose an insulating member therebetween, are located at opposite surface sides, and are provided with portions which do not overlap each other when viewed from an upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hatanaka Koji, Aota Takashi
  • Patent number: 4993384
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal position signal is transmitted by wire to the electronic control unit which operates a unipolar stepper motor to position the throttle in correspondence with the position of the accelerator pedal. A circuit of the electronic control unit monitors the response of the throttle to the release of the accelerator pedal and to the operation of the brake pedal in such a manner that unless the throttle is at, or at least within a predetermining distance of, its idle position within a certain limited time after the commencement of concurrence of accelerator pedal release and brake pedal application, the engine is shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive L.P.
    Inventors: Kregg S. Wiggins, Danny O. Wright
  • Patent number: 4977874
    Abstract: A combustion chamber formed in the crown of a piston for an indirect injection diessel engine is described the combustion chamber having an elongate entry channel adjacent the gas efflux of a precombustion chamber, the channel leading into four branches which generate vortices in the burning charge and which vortices are coherent and mutually self-reinforcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Borgo-Nova SpA
    Inventor: Renato Ongetta
  • Patent number: 4977881
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air-fuel ratio control system for an automotive engine having a fuel injection system including injectors, an intake air quantity measuring system including an intake air quantity sensor, and a canister purge control system corresponding to a necessity. The air-fuel ratio control system comprises a learning designation circuit for selecting a learning region for the measuring system or the injection system, a measuring system learning circuit for learning a correction amount of the measuring system responsive to the selection of the designation circuit, an injection system learning circuit for learning a correction amount of the injection system responsive to the selection, and a fuel quantity setting circuit for setting the quantity in dependency on an engine speed and an intake air quantity and for setting an actual fuel injection quantity by correcting the basic fuel injection quantity with the both correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Abe, Masanori Sakamoto