Patents Examined by Sizo Vilakazi
  • Patent number: 9850842
    Abstract: A controller for a common-rail injection system includes a plurality of fuel injectors, a common fuel supply line for the fuel injectors, a high-pressure pump for supplying the common fuel supply line with fuel, and a pressure sensor for determining the pressure in the common fuel supply line. A determination unit evaluates data of the pressure sensor and, from the pressure drop caused by an injection in the common fuel supply line, determines the fuel quantity actually injected during this injection or a value derived therefrom. An adaption unit uses the results of the determination unit in order to adapt the actuation of the fuel injectors. The determination unit carries out at least one test injection, and the actually injected fuel quantity or a value derived therefrom is effected by way of the test injection or injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Konrad Christ, Francois Masson, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 9850824
    Abstract: A drive circuit (203) of an actuator (2) calculates an actual working angle from an actual operation quantity with reference to a reference table used to calculate a target operation quantity, and transmits the actual working angle and the actual operation quantity to a command unit (4). The command unit (4) determines whether or not the received values of the actual working angle and the operation quantity correspond to the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the reference table stored in the command unit (4), to detect a discrepancy between the operation modes of the actuator (2) and the command unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Habara, Toyokazu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9849889
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle having different operating modes, and for each such mode a different characteristic of output torque and accelerator pedal position. The rise of output torque in response to a propulsion request is more or less delayed according to the instant operating mode. The invention provides for blending of the response to a propulsion request so that the delay is progressively varied between a source and target operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Paul Darnell, Elliot Hemes, Mark Roberts
  • Patent number: 9850826
    Abstract: An asymmetry cylinder de-activation (CDA) engine provided with a first, a second, a third and a fourth cylinder of which CDA apparatuses are mounted thereto respectively may include a crankshaft connected with pistons of each cylinder through a first, a second, a third and a fourth cranking journal respectively, and a controller configured to control operations of the CDA apparatuses, in which phase differences between cranking journals according to firing order may include 90±10 degrees and 270±10 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: In Sang Ryu, Ingee Suh, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Kiyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9845772
    Abstract: A system and method for condensation management in a low-pressure loop EGR system are provided. The system includes an EGR condensation temperature module configured to determine an EGR condensation temperature of recirculated exhaust gas upstream of an EGR cooler and an EGR coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the EGR condensation temperature module. The EGR coolant temperature controller provides EGR coolant to the EGR cooler at or above the EGR condensation temperature. The system also includes a charge air condensation temperature module configured to determine a charge air condensation temperature of charge air upstream of a charge air cooler and a charge air coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the charge air condensation temperature module. The charge air coolant temperature controller provides charge air coolant to the charge air cooler at or above the charge air condensation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon A. LaPointe, Daniel J. Mohr, Edward J. Lyford-Pike, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 9845782
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine has the steps of: oscillating a crankshaft of the engine using the electrical actuator; then injecting fuel in a combustion chamber and igniting the fuel in this combustion chamber to cause the crankshaft to turn in a reverse direction; then injecting fuel in another combustion chamber and igniting the fuel in the other combustion chamber to cause the crankshaft to turn in a forward direction; and then injecting fuel in the other combustion chamber and igniting fuel in the other combustion chamber to cause the crankshaft to turn in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Michel Bernier
  • Patent number: 9845741
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device is mounted on an engine control device that calculates a target load factor by using a target torque, converts the target load factor to a target throttle opening, calculates a target ignition timing by using a target efficiency, and controls an engine based on the target throttle opening and the target ignition timing. In the abnormality detection device, a target efficiency for monitoring is calculated by using the target ignition timing, a target torque for monitoring is calculated by using the target efficiency for monitoring and the target load factor, a torque deviation between the target torque for monitoring and the target torque is calculated, and the presence or absence of an abnormality is detected by using the torque deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sugihira, Naoto Kato, Yoshitaka Ukawa
  • Patent number: 9835389
    Abstract: A plurality of upper fins and a plurality of lower fins are each provided in an EGR passage so as to be adjacent to each other across a predetermined space in a direction perpendicular to an exhaust-gas flow direction. The upper fins and the lower fins are gradually narrowed in width toward their respective projection directions, so that both sides thereof in their width direction have inclined surfaces. A tilt angle of the inclined surfaces of the lower fins is made larger than a tilt angle of the inclined surfaces of the upper fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9835103
    Abstract: An engine system and method for improving engine starting are disclosed. In one example, engine port throttles are adjusted differently during automatic and operator initiated engine starts. The system and method may improve engine torque control during an engine start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9835095
    Abstract: An electronic switching module for connecting first and second throttle assemblies to an electronic control module of a vehicle that controls an engine of the vehicle includes first throttle assembly ports adapted to receive first throttle primary sensor position data and first throttle secondary sensor position data and second throttle assembly ports adapted to receive second throttle primary sensor position data and second throttle secondary sensor position data. A controller is connected to the first and second throttle assembly ports and an electronic control module port and is adapted to receive and compare the first throttle primary sensor position data and the first throttle secondary sensor position data and send an engine idle signal to the electronic control module via the electronic control module port when the comparison does not show a first predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Fontaine Modification Company
    Inventors: Brandon Hall, Howard Moore
  • Patent number: 9828905
    Abstract: An engine includes a main combustion chamber; an intake duct configured to provide a lean fuel-oxidizer mixture to the main combustion chamber; a pre-chamber in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber, the pre-chamber including an ignition energy source operatively coupled to the pre-chamber, and a heating element in thermal communication with the pre-chamber; and a controller operatively coupled to the ignition energy source and the heating element. The controller is configured to initiate combustion of the lean fuel-oxidizer mixture in the main combustion chamber by activating the ignition energy source, and heat fuel and oxidizer in the pre-chamber via the heating element to a temperature sufficient to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the pre-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Charlie Kim
  • Patent number: 9828894
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exhaust manifold that comprises an exhaust gas passage, an EGR passage, and a coolant passage. The exhaust gas passage extends fluidly between an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet positioned downstream thereof. The EGR passage extends fluidly between an EGR inlet and an EGR outlet positioned downstream thereof. The EGR inlet is defined by the exhaust gas passage. A coolant passage extends fluidly between a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet positioned downstream thereof. The coolant passage overlaps the exhaust gas passage and the EGR passage. The exhaust gas passage is configured to cool the exhaust gas, and EGR passage is configured to cool the recirculated portion of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Adam J Paull
  • Patent number: 9828927
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel treating device having a canister that is configured to adsorb vaporized fuel in a fuel tank and to feed the adsorbed vaporized fuel to an engine may include a pressure sensor that is configured to periodically detect an inner pressure of the fuel tank, and a pressure sensor failure determination device that is configured to determine that the pressure sensor has failed when a change of the inner pressure detected by the pressure sensor in a unit of time is not less than a predetermined pressure value that is greater than a maximum value of possible pressure changes within the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Akita, Yoshikazu Miyabe, Naoyuki Tagawa
  • Patent number: 9828963
    Abstract: A method for fault-tolerant coasting control of a powertrain system having an engine and a first energy storage system (ESS) includes receiving a real impedance value of the first ESS from a frequency analyzer device at a calibrated frequency while the engine is running, and comparing the real impedance value to a calibrated impedance. A coasting maneuver is enabled allowing the engine to turn off above a threshold speed when the real impedance value is less than the calibrated impedance. The method may include starting the engine using a second ESS in parallel with the first ESS to exit the coasting maneuver when the real impedance value exceeds the calibrated impedance. Subsequent execution of the coasting maneuver may be prevented as long as the real impedance value exceeds the calibrated impedance. A powertrain system includes the engine, starter motor, rechargeable ESS, frequency analyzer, and controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Conell, Bob R. Powell, Jr., Mark W. Verbrugge, Scott W. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 9828947
    Abstract: In a gas engine provided with a gas supply pipe (35) branching into a supercharger-side gas supply pipe (33) and a cylinder-side gas supply pipe (37), a supercharger-side gas adjusting valve (43) and a cylinder-side gas adjusting valve (45) for controlling flow rates of passages, when the gas concentration of the fuel gas changes, the cylinder-side gas adjusting valve is controlled first to keep the output of the gas engine constant and then the supercharger-side gas adjusting valve is controlled to achieve the fuel gas flow rate Q1 based on the constant flow ratio by means of a gas supply controller (63), while maintaining the flow rate ratio Q1/Q2 at a constant value where Q1 is a fuel gas flow rate in the supercharger-side gas supply pipe and Q2 is a fuel gas flow rate in the cylinder-side gas supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Nishio, Hajime Suzuki, Yuuichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9822718
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling canister purge flow in a boosted engine. An example method for the boosted engine comprises, during boosted conditions, flowing stored fuel vapors from a canister into an ejector coupled in a compressor bypass passage, the flowing bypassing a canister purge valve. The method further comprises, responsive to a canister load higher than a threshold load, closing a canister vent valve coupled to the canister, and discontinuing flowing stored fuel vapors from the canister into the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 9810171
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining an offset of a manifold pressure sensor. In one example, an engine method may include indicating degradation of the manifold pressure sensor based on a sensor offset, the sensor offset based on a manifold pressure measured at a first throttle angle, a barometric pressure at a second throttle angle, a reference manifold pressure at the first throttle angle and reference barometric pressure, and the reference barometric pressure. Further, the method may include adjusting an output of the manifold pressure sensor by the determined sensor offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rommel Racelis, John Eric Rollinger, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 9810139
    Abstract: A method for operating a compression ignition engine includes forming a combustible mixture by mixing generally homogeneously a first fuel and air and introducing this mixture into the at least one cylinder, compressing the combustible mixture with the piston in a compression stroke, injecting a second fuel to the combustible mixture at an injection-time of the second fuel during the compression stroke but before start of combustion, and continuing the compression stroke until combustion starts at those locations in the at least one cylinder where concentration of the second fuel is highest and/or the temperature of the mixture is the highest. Emission of the cylinder and/or mechanical stress of the cylinder caused by the combustion are monitored, and if emissions and/or mechanical stress are above respective predetermined thresholds, individually for the cylinder, the amount and/or the timing of the second fuel injected, and/or temperature of the cylinder charge is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GE Jenbacher GMBH & CO OG
    Inventors: Friedrich Gruber, Nikolaus Spyra, Christian Trapp, Georg Tinschmann, Ettore Musu, Peter Christiner
  • Patent number: 9803563
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a material fuel tank, a separator, a condenser, a first fuel tank, and a first storage device. The material fuel tank is to store a material fuel. The separator is to separate the material fuel supplied from the material fuel tank into a first fuel and a second fuel. The condenser is to condense the first fuel supplied from the separator through a primary-order recovery passage. The first fuel tank is to store the first fuel supplied from the condenser through a secondary-order recovery passage. The first storage device is provided in the secondary-order recovery passage to temporarily store the first fuel supplied from the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Kudo, Masayoshi Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Chishima, Kenji Shigetoyo
  • Patent number: 9803539
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine includes a cylinder, a piston, a spark plug, and a fuel injection valve. The piston includes a top surface and a cavity provided in the top surface. The cavity includes a bottom surface, a vertical wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The fuel injection valve includes a plurality of injection ports from which a plurality of fuel mists are to be obliquely injected toward the top surface of the piston in respectively different directions at a predetermined crank angle in a compression stroke. The cavity extends from a position close to a center of the piston toward the fuel injection valve when viewed from above the top surface of the piston. The first and second sidewalls extend toward the fuel injection valve when viewed from above the top surface of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sato, Yasuhiro Motohashi, Haruya Kitano, Masayoshi Takahashi, Hiromitsu Hirano, Shun Tanaka