Patents Examined by Stephen K. Cronin
  • Patent number: 10697336
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a dock for a replaceable fluid container for an engine, the fluid container having: a fluid reservoir; and at least one fluid port having a coupling adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine; the dock having: a fastening mechanism configured to cooperate with the container such that, as the container is inserted into the dock, the fastening mechanism acts first to seat the fluid container in the dock but in an undocked condition and then, as the container is inserted further into the dock, acts to bring the fluid container into an engaged condition in which the fluid container is docked with a docking interface of the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Castrol Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Dawson, Steven Paul Goodier, Gary Howard, Adrian Michael Woodward
  • Patent number: 10690176
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling a piston arranged within a cylinder of an engine. Oil received from a connecting rod bearing and crank journal interface may be continuously transferred via an internal conduit in a connecting rod coupled to the piston wherein the internal conduit is formed within a hollow flange of the connecting rod. The oil may then be sprayed in a continuous manner via an external nozzle to an underside of the piston, enabling continuous piston cooling as the piston travels from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center position (BDC) and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams
  • Patent number: 10677137
    Abstract: A motor engine having an oxygen sensor is provided, including: a cylinder head, including a main body and a protruding tube protruding outwardly from the main body, the main body including a first end portion, a second end, and a combustion chamber, the protruding tube having a protrusive receptacle protruding outwardly therefrom, the main body defining an axial direction; an exhaust passage, communicated with the combustion chamber and the protruding tube; an oxygen sensor, inserted into the protrusive receptacle, including a sensing portion which is inserted into the exhaust passage; wherein as viewed in a lateral direction of the cylinder head, two surfaces of the main body along the axial direction disposed on two opposite sides defines two boundary lines, the oxygen sensor and the main body are in an overlapping arrangement and does not protrude out of the two boundary lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTHERN TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Cho-Yu Lee, Shien-Yueh Chang
  • Patent number: 10677117
    Abstract: An oil supply device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable displacement pump (1) that varies a discharge pressure at which oil is discharged; an oil passage (2) through which the oil discharged from the pump (1) flows; an oil filter (3) and an oil cooler (4) each of which is arranged in the oil passage (2); a bypass passage (5) connected to the oil passage (2) and bypassing the oil cooler (4); and a bypass valve (6) that opens and closes the bypass passage (5) according to a pressure of the oil. The bypass valve (6) is operated to control the flow of the oil through the oil cooler 4 as the discharge pressure of the pump (1) is adjusted according to operating conditions of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Arata Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10677175
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a system comprising a dual-fuel engine structured to selectably combust a first fuel type and a second fuel type, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the dual-fuel engine. The electronic control system is structured to control a transition of the dual-fuel engine from a dual-fuel mode to a single-fuel mode. After initiating the transition from the dual-fuel mode to the single-fuel mode, the control system stops provision of the second fuel type, requires combustion using control parameters configured for the dual-fuel mode until a transition ventilation condition is satisfied, permits non-emergency commanded engine shutdown only if the transition ventilation condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, David Lambert
  • Patent number: 10677142
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger body arranged along an axis and having an external surface in contact with a surrounding first fluid. The body defines a first fluid passage centered on and extending along the axis. The body also defines a second fluid passage extending parallel with respect to the axis and spaced away from the axis by a second passage distance, and a third fluid passage extending parallel with respect to the axis and spaced away from the axis by a third passage distance. The first, second, and third passages are parallel to one another, while the third passage distance is greater than the second passage distance. Each of the first and third passages is configured to accept a flow of a second fluid and the second fluid passage is configured to hold a volume of air to thermally insulate the first passage from the third passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Kaczmar, Alan E. Bowler
  • Patent number: 10669922
    Abstract: A control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an estimated coolant flow module and at least one of a valve control module and a pump control module. The estimated coolant flow module estimates a rate of coolant flow through a cooling system for an engine based on a pressure of coolant in the cooling system and a speed of a coolant pump that circulates coolant through the cooling system. The valve control module controls the position of a coolant valve based on the estimated coolant flow rate. The pump control module controls the coolant pump speed based on the estimated coolant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Sergio Quelhas, Vijay A. Ramappan, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10669904
    Abstract: A lubricant additive dispensing system includes a cartridge defining an inner cavity to house at least one additive material section and a release opening in communication with a lubrication circulation system of a machine. The lubricant additive dispensing system also includes a spring element arranged to bias the at least one additive material section towards the release opening and a release lever arranged to selectively retain the at least one additive material sections within the cartridge. The lubricant additive dispensing system further includes an actuator coupled to the release lever wherein actuation of the release lever ejects a next one of the at least one additive material sections into the lubrication circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael B. Viola, Eric W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10655582
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine may include a plurality of fuel injection pumps, each fuel injection pump being configured to pressurize fuel and provide the pressurized fuel to an associated fuel injector. The fuel supply system may further include a low-pressure fuel supply line fluidly connected to the plurality of fuel injection pumps and configured to provide fuel from a fuel supply tank to the plurality of fuel injection pumps. The fuel supply system may still further include a low-pressure fuel return line fluidly connected to the plurality of fuel injection pumps and configured to return remaining fuel from the plurality of fuel injection pumps to the fuel supply tank. The fuel supply system may include a first fuel cut-off valve disposed in the low-pressure fuel supply line and configured to stop a flow of fuel from the fuel supply tank to the plurality of fuel injection pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ole Ohrt, Stefan Haas, Thorsten Tuexen, Sven Ernst
  • Patent number: 10634088
    Abstract: A coolant jacket is provided for a liquid-cooled cylinder head for an internal combustion engine having a crankcase. The cylinder head has a gas exchange intake side having two gas exchange intake valves and a gas exchange exhaust side having two gas exchange exhaust valves. A fuel injection valve is provided on the intake side and an ignition device is provided on the exhaust side between the gas exchange valves. The coolant jacket extends as a first partial coolant jacket on the exhaust side, coming from the crankcase, between the gas exchange exhaust valves and then radially outside around the ignition device and the fuel injection valve and further in the direction of the intake side and the crankcase. Optimal cooling of the ignition device and the fuel injection valve is achieved which enables high specific powers and pressures leading to fuel consumption and cost advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ruffing, Frank Ruetten, Ulrich Gutzer
  • Patent number: 10634087
    Abstract: An engine and a method of forming an engine are provided. The engine has a block that defines a cooling jacket extending continuously about an outer perimeter of first and second siamesed cylinders. The block defines a series of head bolt bores intersecting a deck face such that each cylinder is surrounded by four bores. The jacket has a first floor and a second floor. The second floor is offset above the first floor and extends along an intake side of the block between midpoints of the first and second cylinders, respectively. The second floor is configured to decouple a relationship between the cooling jacket and the series of bores for each cylinder and reduce fourth order bore distortion for each cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Yusuf Ali, Scott Allan Kerry, Christopher K. Palazzolo
  • Patent number: 10634071
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a power plant during use of a power take-off (PTO) device, wherein the responsiveness and stability of the controller are adjustable by an operator in the field. The use of setting maps allows fine tuning of controller responsiveness while also ensuring that expected performance would be achieved at any setting within the setting map. In some embodiments, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is used to control engine speed, and gains for the proportional, integral, and derivative terms are obtained from setting maps based on a responsiveness setting chosen by a vehicle operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Burton Edwin Waite, III, James David Castner, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Patent number: 10626783
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling charge air in a hybrid engine. In one example, a method may include cooling charge air by a combination of air-to-air and air-to-coolant heat transfer with assistance from a chiller arranged in the coolant circuit. The coolant circuit includes an insert coupled to a charge air cooler allowing heat exchange via conduction and convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergio Villalobos, Gerardo Ramirez Arvizu, Raymundo Garcia
  • Patent number: 10626793
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine or other internal pressure driven engine of the type capable of converting reciprocal linear powered motion into unidirectional rotary motion, the engine having at least one pair of first and second cylinders with each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons therein forming a pressure chamber therebetween. Outer ends of each piston carries a piston rod connected to a pivot arm of a respective one way clutch which causes the clutch to oscillate back and forth when the piston moves in and out due to pressure or combustion in the pressure chamber. Alternatively, the piston rods may be configured as gear racks in direct operative engagement with pinion gears of the one way clutches. The clutches are parallel and spaced apart from each other near each end of the cylinders. Each clutch carries a gear on one end which intermeshes with a gear rack assembly having gears and a gear rack which drives a crankshaft and auxiliary flywheel operatively connected to a starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Mijo Radocaj
  • Patent number: 10612453
    Abstract: A cooling circuit for controlling the temperature of at least two heat sources is provided that includes a heat exchanger for cooling a coolant, at least one thermostat, a first cooling branch, and a second cooling branch. The first heat source and the heat exchanger are arranged in the first cooling branch, and the second heat source is arranged in the second cooling branch. The thermostat has a mixing chamber through which the coolant can flow. The mixing chamber is fluidically connected to a coolant outlet of the heat exchanger and to a coolant outlet of the second heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Bruemmer
  • Patent number: 10605212
    Abstract: A multi-fuel rail apparatus for an internal combustion engine communicates fuel from 10 a first fuel source and a second fuel source to a plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector receives fuel from the multi-fuel rail apparatus through a branch connection for each fuel. The multi fuel rail apparatus has a first elongate member including a first longitudinal bore spaced apart from a second longitudinal bore and first and second fuel inlets for fluidly communicating first and second fuels into the first and 15 second longitudinal bores respectively. There is a branch connecting structure for each fuel injector along the first elongate member for fluidly connecting the first and second longitudinal bores with respective branch connections from respective fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: WESTPORT POWER INC., DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wickstone, Alain M. J. Touchette, Randall T. Mark, Kory L. Zeller, Jeremy Garnier, Mark Graham, Mehmet Dönmez, Cüneyt Altinol, Michael De Bruijn
  • Patent number: 10590841
    Abstract: A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a cylinder head and a crankshaft. First and second power pistons are moveable in first and second power cylinders and are connected to first and second crankpins of the crankshaft. An expander piston is moveable in an expander cylinder and is connected via a multi-link connecting rod assembly to a third crankpin of the crankshaft. A first balance shaft is arranged in a first longitudinal opening in the engine block, and a second balance shaft is arranged in a second longitudinal opening in the engine block. The first and second balance shafts have first and second counterweight portions, respectively, and the crankshaft has a third counterweight portion causing an imbalance in the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hung-Yih Isaac Du, Jun Zhou, Russell P. Durrett
  • Patent number: 10590815
    Abstract: The first opening part penetrates the first partition wall that separates the crank chamber and the oil sump chamber. The lubricating device of the engine includes an oil mist generation control part. The oil mist generation control part disperses gas injected from the crank chamber into the oil sump chamber through the first opening part when the crank chamber has a positive pressure or restricts the flow of oil with which the injected gas collides, thereby controlling an amount of oil mist generated in the oil sump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kutsuna, Hiroki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10578063
    Abstract: A valve element includes: a loosely insertable wall portion that is loosely inserted in an inside of a connecting portion on a downstream side of a valve seat; a fittable tubular portion that is fitted to the inside of the connecting portion on a downstream side of the loosely insertable wall portion; and a projecting annular portion-that projects from the fittable tubular portion toward a radially inner side of the fittable tubular portion. An outlet portion projects into the fittable tubular portion. A valve spring is located on a radially outer side of the outlet portion and on the radially inner side of the fittable tubular portion to urge the valve element toward the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, KYOSAN DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Fukuoka, Hideto Takahashi, Hiromi Sakai, Minoru Edura
  • Patent number: 10563611
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel delivery system for an engine is provided. The method includes sending a voltage above a threshold value to a lift pressure pump, determining a volumetric efficiency of the direct injection pump when the lower pressure fuel pump is above a threshold pressure, and controlling the lift pump based on the volumetric efficiency of the direct injection pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull