Patents Examined by T. M. Argenbright
  • Patent number: 7520259
    Abstract: A power management system for a combustion engine is disclosed. The power management system has a fuel injector, a sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the fuel injector. The fuel injector is operable to inject multiple shots of fuel into the combustion engine during a single injection event. The sensor is configured to sense a speed of the combustion engine and generate a signal indicative of the sensed speed. The controller is configured to limit the number of shots per injection event in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Stephen R. Lewis, W. John Love, Timothy J. Matzke, Kevin L. Dea
  • Patent number: 7467616
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 has a cylinder head 11 slideably supporting one or more poppet valves 30. At least a portion of one of the poppet valves 30 in each combustion chamber of the engine 10 forms in combination with one or more secondary electrodes 35, 133, 233, 333, 433 a number of electrode pairs between each of which an electrical discharge is selectively caused to flow so as to initiate combustion in the respective combustion chamber. The electrode pairs may be formed at differing locations within each combustion chamber so as to improve combustion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Don Andreas Josephine Kees, Stephan Daren Carroll
  • Patent number: 7431005
    Abstract: Operation of a second or additional engine is initiated based on throttle position, vehicle speed and output level of the operating engine or engines. A second or additional engine is stopped based on throttle position and operation of the first engine when the second or additional engine has been idling for a predetermined period of time. Idling of an engine is started or stopped based on various conditions of the vehicle, such as battery voltage, ambient air temperature, brake cylinder pressure, operator input, battery charging current, and direction input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: National Railway Equipment Co.
    Inventors: William Charles Hawkins, Sean James McManus
  • Patent number: 7431013
    Abstract: An intake air control device is provided in which a valve shaft extends in the left and right direction of a vehicle body frame across an air intake path, and is rotatably supported by an air intake path forming body connected to an engine body, equalizing the distances from a center of the vehicle body frame in the left and right direction to both ends of the intake air control device when arranging the air intake path forming body at the center of the vehicle body frame in the left and right direction. An actuator, which applies a motive power to drive the valve shaft, is connected to one end of the valve shaft, and a throttle operating amount sensor for detecting the throttle operating amount by a vehicle operator is supported by the air intake path forming body and connected to the other end of the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Tomohiro Tsutsumi, Junya Sato, Takashi Udono, Takeru Abe
  • Patent number: 7428893
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided that includes a high pressure feed line, and a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to the high pressure feed line, each being operable to inject a fuel into the engine. The engine further includes an electronically controlled flow disabler disposed between the high pressure feed line and each one of the fuel injectors. Each of the flow disablers includes an actuator operable to move a valve member toward a closed position at which the flow disabler blocks a fuel flow to the respective fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, William J. Rodier, James D. Peltier, Udo Schlemmer-Kelling, Juergen Nagel
  • Patent number: 7421836
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder group engine system operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode a first and second cylinder group combust air and fuel, and where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder group combusts air and fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder group pumps air without injected fuel, the engine system comprising of a first linear exhaust gas sensor disposed in a first exhaust passage to measure air fuel exhausted from the first cylinder group; a first switching type exhaust gas sensor disposed in a second exhaust passage to measure air-fuel exhausted from the second cylinder group; a second linear exhaust gas sensor disposed downstream of a junction between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; and a controller configured to validate a reading of the first linear exhaust gas sensor during the first mode of engine operation based on a reading of the second linear exhaust gas sensor when a lean air-fuel ratio is co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Kerns, Suzanne Wait
  • Patent number: 7421982
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an internal combustion engine for making suction, compression, explosion, expansion and exhaust strokes in an operating chamber of variable volume defined between a housing and a piston. The internal combustion engine includes: an independent combustion chamber of fixed volume, formed in the housing and provided with a fuel supply device, for independently producing combustion therein; at least one communication passage for communicating the independent combustion chamber with the operating chamber of variable volume; and a control valve for allowing introduction of compressed air from the operating chamber into the independent combustion chamber and providing injection of combustion gas from the independent combustion chamber into the operating chamber at specified timing. The internal combustion engine is configured to independently produce main combustion without communication with the operating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventors: Ichiro Kamimura, Kazunari Kamimura, Masahiro Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7418957
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus and methodology relate to an exhaust gas sensor and sensor heater associated with an exhaust passage of a vehicle engine. The exhaust gas sensor is selectively heated to an applicable activation temperature by the heater so that the sensor may output a normal and accurate sensing signal. The heating must take place, however, without causing damage to the sensor such as that resulting from condensation that may occur within the exhaust passage as a result of engine operation and environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7415963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-injection internal combustion engine that is operated in a first operating range associated with the low part load, with largely homogeneous combustion of the mixture and subsequent injection. Said internal combustion engine is operated in a second operating range associated with the middle part load, with low-temperature combustion of the mixture. In this way, minimum nitrogen oxide and soot emissions and a high degree of efficiency can be achieved both in the lower part load region and up to the full load region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Helmut Eichlseder, Guenter Figer, Christian Fuchs, Michael Glensvig, Peter Herzog, Thomas Kammerdiener, Klemens Neunteufl, Gerhard Pirker, Theodor Sams, Michael Weissbaeck, Andreas Wimmer
  • Patent number: 7412820
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having a catalyst provided in an exhaust system of the engine for purifying exhaust gases and a first oxygen concentration sensor disposed upstream of the catalyst is disclosed. The air-fuel ratio control system controls an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine. A degree of response deterioration of the first oxygen concentration sensor is detected. A response delay of the first oxygen concentration sensor is compensated according to the detected degree of deterioration to calculate a compensated sensor output. The air-fuel ratio is controlled so that a detected air-fuel ratio calculated from the compensated sensor output coincides with a target air-fuel ratio. A frequency characteristic of the compensation is adjusted according to the detected degree of deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Iida, Hidetaka Maki, Yukio Suehiro
  • Patent number: 7412966
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder located in the engine; a first injector for injecting a first fuel into said cylinder; a second injector for injecting a second fuel into said cylinder; and a controller configured to vary an amount of said first and second fuel injection during engine operation based on operating conditions, where amounts of variation of said first and second fuels are set to maintain desired engine output and provide a substantially stoichiometric mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Allan J. Lippa, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7412965
    Abstract: An exhaust control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of actuators wherein each actuator controls a predetermined engine parameter. A plurality of sensors are also associated with the engine and each sensor provides an output representative of an engine operating condition. The control system includes a PID controller associated with each actuator and in which each PID controller has an input, an output and a feedback between the input and the output. A distribution function circuit is operatively connected in series with the inputs of the PID controller. The distribution function circuit receives an error signal representative of the difference between a target value and an actual value of one or more engine operating conditions, previously determined control factor values and the feedback from each PID controller as input signals. The distribution function circuit varies the input to each PID controller as a function of the distribution function input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: AM General LLC
    Inventors: Martin Laermann, Dean Tomazic, Marek Tatur, Taylor W. Holland, Jeffrey T. Dowell
  • Patent number: 7409949
    Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine including a molded ignition housing connected to the crankcase of the engine which protects the electric generator of two-stroke internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Günther Zauner, Ernst Mayringer, Johann Wickenhauser, Mario Schreiber, Thomas Weinzierl, Wolfgang Schrenk
  • Patent number: 7409944
    Abstract: An intake structure for internal combustion engine includes an intake passage which is communicated with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and through which air to be supplied to the combustion chamber flows; and a valve which is provided in the intake passage and which controls the airflow in the intake passage. The intake passage has a recess which is formed in the inner wall face of the intake passage and in which the valve is arranged; and a groove that is connected to the recess, at a substantially center position of the recess in a width direction of the recess, and that extends from the recess toward the downstream side of the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomihisa Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7409926
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least a combustion chamber having a piston disposed therein, the method comprising during a first number of cycles after start-up of the engine, supplying at least a first fuel to the combustion chamber, and combusting said first fuel and during a second number of cycles after said first number of cycles, supplying said first fuel and a second fuel to the combustion chamber to form a substantially homogeneous mixture, and compressing said mixture with said piston to cause auto-ignition of said mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Sun, Zafar Shaikh
  • Patent number: 7406943
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor configured to be coupled to a throttle interface. The sensor is configured to output a sensor signal associated with a condition of the throttle interface. A first brake element has a first friction surface and a second brake element has a second friction surface. The second brake element is configured to be coupled to the throttle interface. The friction surface associated with the first brake element is positioned opposite the friction surface associated with the second brake element. The first brake element is configured to move relative to the second brake element. An actuator is coupled to the first brake element and is configured to output haptic feedback to the throttle interface via the first brake element based on the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Pedro Gregorio
  • Patent number: 7406942
    Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine includes a variable-exhaust-valve control device for controlling value timing of a variable exhaust valve through which the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder communicates with an exhaust path. The variable-exhaust-value control device retards the opening timing of the variable exhaust value to a retard side when the fuel is injected during a compression stroke or an expansion stroke while the direct-injection internal combustion engine is operating in a cold-start state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashizawa, Hiroshi Nomura, Osamu Tomino
  • Patent number: 7404396
    Abstract: In a multiple discharge ignition control apparatus, a battery, an energy storage coil and a first IGBT are connected in series. Further, the energy storage coil, a diode, a primary coil and a second IGBT are connected in series. The energy storage coil is connected with a capacitor through the diode, and a secondary coil is connected with a spark plug and a resistor for current detection. An ignition control circuit switches the IGBTs between ON and OFF each time the secondary current detected by the resistor reaches a positive or negative discharge holding current in multiple discharge operation. A booster circuit is provided in addition to the energy storage coil and its output is feedback-controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Toriyama, Yuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7404397
    Abstract: A fuel injector control modification module is configured to modify primary fuel injector control signals provided by an engine control unit of an internal combustion engine. The module is particularly adapted to modifying fuel injector control signals based upon detected variations in fuel provided to the engine. Information indicative of fuel type is obtained by the module from an onboard diagnostic port associated with the engine control unit. The information may comprise fuel trim information which is generated, at least in part, from exhaust gas oxygen content information provided to the engine control unit. The module may modify or completely replace the primary fuel injector control signals at one or more times with secondary signal, such as to accommodate changes in fuel type. The module is particularly suited to addition to an existing engine to adapt the engine to run upon alternative fuels not contemplated by the original engine manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Total Fuel Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Michael V. Dobeck
  • Patent number: 7404391
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine calculates the generated internal torque for each cylinder on the basis of the signal generated by an angle of rotation sensor for detecting the angle of rotation of the crankshaft, so that a rapid and precise regulation of the torque supplied by the internal combustion engine may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Schueler, Mohamed Youssef, Vincent Dautel