Patents Examined by Stephen K. Cronin
  • Combustion engine and method for operating a combustion engine with discharge of condensation water from the induction tract
    Patent number: 9394839
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion engine comprising charging and charge air cooling, wherein in a critical operating state the charge air volume flow through a charge air cooler is adjusted and/or temporally changed by means of at least one charge air cooler valve in such a manner that condensation water present in the charge air cooler and/or in the subsequent induction tract is fed only in harmless quantities successively into the combustion chamber and is thus discharged. The invention further relates to a combustion engine that can be operated according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Pfab
  • Precision purge valve system with pressure assistance
    Patent number: 9388774
    Abstract: A pressure-assisted precision purge valve system is provided in an evaporative emission control system that provides flow of fuel vapor-air mixture from a fuel tank to an intake manifold. The pressure-assisted precision purge valve system comprises an absorbent canister through which the fuel vapor-air mixture flows, a purge valve configured to regulate flow of the fuel vapor-air mixture to the intake manifold and a fuel vapor pump configured to provide a forced flow to the purge valve dependent on a system differential pressure. The output of the purge valve can be connected to an upstream injection point and/or a downstream injection point of a forced induction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Discovery Technology International, Inc.
    Inventors: Valentin Zhelyaskov, Mark Oudshoorn, Serhiy Petrenko
  • System and method for optimizing availability of vehicle energy conserving modes
    Patent number: 9388750
    Abstract: Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Mark Douglas Malone, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, William Najib Mansur
  • Systems and methods for refueling canister system
    Patent number: 9388775
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for depressurizing a fuel tank prior to refueling. In one example, before refueling the fuel tank having a pressure above a first predetermined pressure, the pressure may be released through a first valve to the first predetermined pressure and the first valve may be closed. Further, a second valve may be opened to further reduce the pressure to a second predetermined pressure, and if flow through the second valve is less than desired, then the first valve may be opened until the second predetermined pressure is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Michael Paul Lindlbauer, Mark W. Peters
  • System and method for improving performance of combustion engines employing primary and secondary fuels
    Patent number: 9388749
    Abstract: An engine system and method for operating an internal combustion engine in dynamically varying conditions. An exemplary system comprises an internal combustion engine configured to receive both a primary fuel and a secondary fuel into one or more chambers in which a combustion process occurs, a fuel injection system, an air intake manifold and a fuel manifold; an electronic system which controls timing and metering of the primary fuel and/or the secondary fuel in the combustion process; and a plurality of sensors positioned to measure one or more variables associated with combustion of the primary fuel in the presence of the secondary fuel. The electronic system is configured to apply a control signal to adjust an engine setting to reduce NOx emissions based in part on the magnitude of the variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BMS_TEK, LLC
    Inventor: John Joseph MacDonald
  • Humidity sensor and engine system
    Patent number: 9389198
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine coupled capacitance-based humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined based on humidity readings while flowing gasses into an engine intake air downstream of the humidity sensor and upstream of a compressor change by less than a first threshold while pressure at the sensor changes greater then a second threshold. The variation in pressure can be changed by adjusting a throttle upstream and downstream of the compressor based on whether the humidity sensor is degraded or functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar
  • Restoring unit, particularly for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9388734
    Abstract: A restoring unit for an internal combustion engine may include a restoring console including a substantially cylindrical bearing dome. A first bearing unit may include a first receiving opening. The bearing dome may be rotatably inserted into the first receiving opening about an axis of the restoring console. A spring element may be arranged at least partially on an outer circumferential face of the bearing dome, and the restoring console may be preloaded via the spring element against the first bearing unit. The bearing dome may be detachably arranged in the first receiving opening via a clip connection. The clip connection may include a radial through-slot disposed on a first face side of the bearing dome facing the first receiving opening. The bearing dome may have a console bearing face mounting the restoring console within the first bearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhardt Mayer
  • Methods and systems for a gas constituent sensor
    Patent number: 9382880
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for an engine system with an exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example method, a correction for a gas constituent sensor is determined based on output from the gas constituent sensor and output from a pressure sensor over a range of boost pressure. The gas constituent sensor output is adjusted based on the correction, and an amount of exhaust gas recirculation is adjusted based on the adjusted gas constituent sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Jacobus Hendrik Visser, Timothy Joseph Clark, David James Scholl
  • Engine crankshaft torque sensor
    Patent number: 9382840
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an engine crankshaft is disclosed. The engine crankshaft comprises a rear bearing journal. The rear bearing journal has an output end. The rear bearing journal defines a substantially cylindrical cavity extending from the output end into the rear bearing journal. The engine crankshaft may further comprise at least one torque sensor operatively coupled to the rear bearing journal. The at least one torque sensor is configured to generate a torque signal corresponding to a torque exerted on the rear bearing journal. The torque exerted on the rear bearing journal is indicative of a torque output of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: R. Michael Sullivan, Roger W. Masson, Jason J. Haglund
  • Dual fuel injector and fuel system
    Patent number: 9376992
    Abstract: A dual fuel injector in a dual common rail fuel system includes an injector body defining a liquid fuel supply passage to a liquid fuel nozzle outlet, and a gaseous fuel supply passage to a gaseous fuel nozzle outlet. A liquid fuel needle check is movable within the injector body and has an opening hydraulic surface exposed to a fuel pressure of a liquid fuel common rail. A gaseous fuel needle check is positioned side by side with the liquid fuel needle check and has an opening hydraulic surface exposed to the fuel pressure of the liquid fuel common rail. Sensitivity to differences in gaseous fuel rail pressure and liquid fuel rail pressure is reduced by the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Andrew Brown, Dana R. Coldren
  • Evaporated fuel treatment apparatus
    Patent number: 9376990
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus includes a passage circulating fluid being formed therein, a tank port and a purge port being formed at one end side of the passage, and an atmosphere port being formed at another end side of the passage. At least four adsorbent layers in which adsorbent adsorbing fuel components is filled are provided in the passage. The evaporated fuel treatment apparatus has a main adsorbent layer and a region provided on an atmosphere port side of the main adsorbent layer. At least three adsorbent layers that are different from the main adsorbent layer, and separating portions that separate the adsorbent layers which are adjacent to each other are provided in the region. The volume of at least one separating portion in the region is made larger than a total of the volumes of adsorbent layers that sandwich the separating portion therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Takeshita, Norihisa Yamamoto
  • Air intake system hydrocarbon trap purging
    Patent number: 9376969
    Abstract: Methods and systems for passively purging a hydrocarbon trap in an engine intake in a vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises, in response to an ambient temperature decrease during an engine off condition while a fuel tank is sealed from atmosphere, delivering fuel stored in a hydrocarbon trap in an intake of the engine to a fuel vapor canister coupled to the fuel tank in an emission control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Aed M. Dudar, Mark W. Peters, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Operations support systems and methods with acoustics evaluation and control
    Patent number: 9376983
    Abstract: An operations support system is provided for an engine. The system includes a diagnostics module configured to receive engine data from the engine and to generate diagnostics data based on the engine data using a thermodynamic model, the thermodynamic model being based on component maps associated with the engine; an acoustics module coupled to the diagnostics module and comprising an acoustics calculation unit, the acoustics calculation unit configured to receive the diagnostics data and to determine an acoustics level for the engine based on the diagnostics data; and a graphical user interface coupled to the acoustics module and configured to display the acoustics level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Moeckly, Richard Ling, Chuck Royalty
  • Fuel governor for controlled autoignition engines
    Patent number: 9376979
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling combustion performance of an engine are provided. A desired fuel quantity for a first combustion cycle is determined. One or more engine actuator settings are identified that would be required during a subsequent combustion cycle to cause the engine to approach a target combustion phasing. If the identified actuator settings are within a defined acceptable operating range, the desired fuel quantity is injected during the first combustion cycle. If not, an attenuated fuel quantity is determined and the attenuated fuel quantity is injected during the first combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Shyam Jade, Erik Hellstrom, Anna Stefanopoulou, Li Jiang
  • Methods and systems for controlling fuel injection
    Patent number: 9371790
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for controlling fuel injection to an engine. In one example, fuel injection timing of a cylinder of the engine is adjusted during a hot engine restart such that a fuel injector is open only when the cylinder pressure is greater than a threshold cylinder pressure. The threshold cylinder pressure may be adjusted responsive to a fuel rail pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Charles Ruona, Fred Howard Trinker
  • NOX adjustment control with internal and external exhaust gas recirculation
    Patent number: 9371781
    Abstract: A method for reducing a nitrogen oxide emission in a diesel engine. The method can include taking at least one exhaust gas of an in engine combustion in a combustion chamber and: segmenting a first portion of exhaust gas enters as an internal exhaust gas recirculation from the combustion chamber of the diesel engine via an outlet valve associated with the combustion chamber, and is recirculated, via the outlet valve, from the subsequent exhaust gas tract, into the combustion chamber of the diesel engine; segmenting a second portion of exhaust gas remains in the combustion chamber and is not expelled; and segmenting a third portion of exhaust gas is recirculated as external exhaust gas recirculation via an exhaust gas recirculation valve into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FEV GMBH
    Inventor: Thorsten Schnorbus
  • Vehicle control apparatus for controlling the drive force of the vehicle
    Patent number: 9365110
    Abstract: While a vehicle speed is between a first certain vehicle speed and a second certain vehicle speed lower than the first certain vehicle speed, it is determined whether to perform vehicle control in accordance with conditions excluding a condition based on the estimated road surface slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Shouta Hamane, Motoyuki Hattori, Kouichi Mori
  • User interface for automatic start-stop system and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 9366216
    Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik
  • Spark-ignition internal combustion engine having wall portion separating at least the two cylinders
    Patent number: 9359935
    Abstract: The application relates to spark initiation under varied aircharge density and composition. An engine is disclosed comprising at least two cylinders with spark plugs therein; an integrated exhaust manifold, the integrated exhaust manifold having a wall portion and an adjustable shutoff element within the wall portion wherein the wall portion divides exhaust pipes of the at least two cylinders and the adjustable shutoff element allows exhaust gas from a first cylinder into an exhaust pipe of an adjacent cylinder. Hot exhaust gas may be taken into an adjacent cylinder serving as ignition gas and allowing the engine of the present disclosure to undergo spark ignition at low loads, or autoignition at high loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Albert Breuer, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Oil pump control systems and methods for noise minimization
    Patent number: 9353655
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a cylinder control module and a pump control module. The cylinder control module selectively deactivates cylinders of an engine. In response to a determination that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated, the pump control module: selectively increases a target displacement for an oil pump that is driven by a balance shaft of the engine; and selectively adjusts displacement of the oil pump based on the target displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy T. Demarest, Ronald J. Pierik, Eric D. Staley