Patents Examined by Thomas N. Moulis
  • Patent number: 11280276
    Abstract: Engine controllers and methods are described that facilitate skip fire control of an internal combustion engine. An engine controller determines a skip fire firing fraction and (as appropriate) associated engine settings that are suitable for delivering a requested output. The engine controller selects an operational firing fraction from a set of available firing fractions. A firing controller then directs cylinder firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. The firing controller includes an accumulator that helps smooth transitions between different firing fractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Adya S. Tripathi, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 11261834
    Abstract: An anti-reflection device for preventing the reflection of pressure waves inside a fuel injection valve. The anti-reflection device includes an essentially cylindrical base body with a first base side, a second base side, and an outer surface. The anti-reflection device also includes a longitudinal axis orientated parallel to a propagation direction of a pressure wave. The longitudinal axis penetrating the first base side and the second base side. The anti-reflection device also includes a flow path for fuel formed between the first base side and the second base side. The flow path forming a curve around the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Willibald Schürz, Stefano Filippi, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 11255290
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine management system includes: a plurality of internal combustion engine units of which each includes an internal combustion engine, a first communicator configured to communicate with a server device, and a communication controller configured to transmit at least estimation information out of the estimation information which is used to estimate an environment in which the internal combustion engine is placed and information of a control map which is used to control the internal combustion engine to the server device using the first communicator; and the server device that includes a second communicator configured to communicate with the first communicator, and a processor configured to extract a second internal combustion engine unit having transmitted estimation information which is similar to the estimation information received from a first internal combustion engine unit out of the plurality of internal combustion engine units from the plurality of internal combustion engine uni
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Hashimoto, Manabu Dobashi, Yusuke Ninomiya, Hiroki Muta, Hibiki Koga
  • Patent number: 11225922
    Abstract: A two-stroke combustion engine comprising a user-operated throttle control, an adjustable valve arranged to control one or more air intakes of the combustion engine, and a control unit arranged to control a state of the adjustable valve, wherein the combustion engine is arranged to operate in a first idle mode at an idle engine speed below a clutch engagement engine speed when the user-operated throttle control is not engaged, wherein the combustion engine is arranged to operate in a second idle mode at a target engine speed above the clutch engagement engine speed when the user-operated throttle control is engaged and when the engine is not subject to an external load, the control unit being arranged to control the state of the adjustable valve to maintain engine speed at the target engine speed when the engine operates in the second idle mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Mats Lawenius, Bo Carlsson
  • Patent number: 11193452
    Abstract: A carburetor drain valve, comprises a valve body and a valve center screw. The valve body further comprises a threaded inner portion and a plurality of carburetor screw threads. The valve center screw further comprises a threaded outer portion to couple to the valve body at the threaded inner portion. A valve screw handle is disposed at a lower portion of the valve center screw, and a plug portion is disposed at an upper portion of the valve center screw. An opening is disposed along the length of the valve center screw, and a cross-drilled hole is disposed within the plug portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher M Graves
  • Patent number: 11162442
    Abstract: A device for discharging fuel vapor from a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine has a container which is situated in the fuel supply system and contains liquid fuel under an upwardly limited pressure. A discharge line, which leads to a tank venting system, leads out of the container. The device also has a detector for detecting vaporous fuel in the container and a blocking device which is coupled to the detector and with which the discharge line can be opened or blocked depending on the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Detterbeck, Tobias Holzinger, Matthias Mersch, Thomas Scheuer
  • Patent number: 11162450
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of controlling operation of a fuel injector in response to measuring a quantity of fuel injected by the fuel injector from a fuel accumulator to an engine cylinder during operation of a fuel pump that delivers fuel to the accumulator, comprising: determining an average pressure of the fuel accumulator during a first time period before a fuel injection event; predicting a mass of fuel delivered to the fuel accumulator during a pumping event (Qpump); determining an average pressure of the fuel accumulator during a second time period after the fuel injection event; estimating a leakage of fuel; computing the injected fuel quantity by adding the average pressure during the first time period to Qpump, and subtracting the average pressure during the second time period and the leakage; and using the computed injected fuel quantity to control operation of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Tommy J. Albing, David Michael Carey
  • Patent number: 11156194
    Abstract: To obtain a gasoline direct injection rail in which a large load is unlikely to be concentrated on a boundary part between a rail body and an end cap, and damage to the boundary part can be prevented, even when high pressure is applied to the inside of the rail body. The gasoline direct injection rail comprises an end cap 4 composed of a top plate 5 and a circumferential wall 6, and a rail body 1 having an end part 2 in which the circumferential wall 6 of the end cap 4 is inserted and placed, wherein an inner circumference of the end part 2 of the rail body 1 has a depression 3, the circumferential wall 6 is placed in the depression 3, and there is no level difference at a boundary part 12 between an inner circumferential surface 11 of the circumferential wall 6 and an inner circumferential surface 10 of the rail body 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: USUI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Hayashi, Shuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11149673
    Abstract: An ECU includes a cooling water temperature sensor, an intake air temperature sensor, a storage unit, a determination unit, and a calibration unit. In an after-run control performed after the internal combustion engine stops, the determination unit compares a cooling water temperature Tw detected by the cooling water temperature sensor with a first threshold value T1 and determines that the environment is not the cold environment in which an EGR differential pressure sensor is likely to be frozen, if the cooling water temperature Tw is equal to or higher than the first threshold value T1, or if the cooling water temperature Tw is less than the first threshold value T1 but is equal to or higher than a second threshold value T2 which is lower than the first threshold value T1 and an intake air temperature Ta from the intake air temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a third threshold value T3, and determines that the environment is the cold environment otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Yamane, Katsunari Jonouchi
  • Patent number: 11143092
    Abstract: A precombustion chamber gas engine includes a main-chamber forming portion forming a main combustion chamber, a precombustion-chamber forming portion forming a precombustion chamber communicating with the main combustion chamber via a plurality of nozzle holes, and an ignition device disposed in the precombustion chamber and having an ignition portion spaced from a main chamber central axis of the main combustion chamber at a predetermined distance. In a plan view, the precombustion chamber has a near-ignition region including the ignition portion and a far-ignition region opposite to the near-ignition region separated by a borderline passing through a precombustion chamber central axis of the precombustion chamber and perpendicular to a straight line passing through the precombustion chamber central axis and the ignition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nomura, Daisuke Takemoto, Satoshi Yamada, Akihiro Yuuki, Shunya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11143155
    Abstract: An automobile power system in a vehicle may include an intake pipe supplying external air to an engine supplying power to driving wheels, a canister connected with a fuel tank to absorb evaporation gas produced in the fuel tank, an active purging system compressing and supplying the evaporation gas absorbed in the canister to the intake pipe, a diverging line extending from the active purging system to the engine, a diverging valve mounted on the diverging line, and a starting motor rotating a crankshaft when the engine is started. In addition, the evaporation gas absorbed in the canister is supplied to the engine through the diverging line before the engine is restarted, and then the starting motor is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun-Ho Kwon
  • Patent number: 11140473
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus are disclosed for affecting working fluid flow in a system that delivers material between two locations by carrying the material in the working fluid. For example, embodiments of the disclosed apparatus may be used in an internal combustion engines to carry fuel droplets to a combustion area using air as the working fluid. The apparatus may include a passage including a funnel portion and tumble area that direct working fluid into a stratified stream. The stratified stream may include an outer boundary flow having a toroidal and/or helical flow characteristic and an inner flow carrying injected material that is bound by the outer flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Elario D. Dalmas, II, Brett J. Leathers
  • Patent number: 11131263
    Abstract: In an intake air flow rate calculation process, a pulsation correction coefficient calculation process is executed to calculate a pulsation correction coefficient, which is used to compensate for an output error of the air flow meter resulting from an intake air pulsation, based on an engine rotation speed, a throttle opening degree, and an atmospheric pressure, and the intake air flow rate is calculated by correcting the intake air flow rate with the pulsation correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11118542
    Abstract: This engine system is provided with a throttle device, an EGR valve, and an ECU. The ECU diagnoses an abnormality of the EGR valve on the basis of an operating state during an engine deceleration, and diagnoses combustion deterioration of an engine on the basis of a crank angle speed change during the engine deceleration (not during a fuel cut-off). The ECU executes an engine stall avoidance control with the throttle device when it is determined there is an abnormality in the EGR valve, makes a final determination that the EGR valve has an abnormality and continues the engine stall avoidance control when it is determined thereafter that there is combustion deterioration, and makes a final determination that the EGR valve is normal and cancels the engine stall avoidance control when it is determined that there is no combustion deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanao Kurita, Masateru Nagao
  • Patent number: 11111892
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sensing the state of an injector, comprising an injector for injecting fuel into an engine combustion chamber, a switch, which is designed to change the switching state thereof in accordance with the state of the injector, and an evaluating unit for sensing the switching state of the switch, wherein a first switch contact of the switch is connected to an electrical input line of the injector, a second switch contact of the switch is connected to ground, and the evaluating unit is designed to carry out a first current measurement for a current flowing into the injector and into the switch and a second current measurement for the current flowing into the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-COMPONENTS DEGGENDORF GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Schoefbaenker, Richard Pirkl, Lorand D'Ouvenou
  • Patent number: 11105286
    Abstract: In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sensors mounted on a vehicle can allow opportunities for coasting to be predicted based on environmental conditions, route planning information, and/or vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure signaling. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, these sensors can also predict a need for power and/or an end of a coast opportunity. These predictions can allow the vehicle to automatically enter a coasting state, and can predictively re-engage the engine and/or powertrain in order to make power available with no delay when desired by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Uday Vadlamani, Carl Anders Hergart, Michael D. Gerty
  • Patent number: 11105291
    Abstract: Systems and methods for unsticking intake and exhaust valves of an engine are described. In one example, valves that may be adjustably timed relative to an engine crankshaft position may be adjusted to unstick intake and/or exhaust valve that are stuck open or closed. In addition, fuel injection timing and spark timing may be adjusted in an effort to unstick intake and/or exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 11098686
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection valve that can be used in a gasoline engine and can take fuel into an injection hole with a small pressure loss near a seat portion on which a valve is seated. Thus, the present invention provides a fuel injection valve for a gasoline engine which includes: a plurality of injection holes; and a seat portion that opens and closes a fuel passage to the plurality of injection holes in cooperation with a valve. At least one fuel injection hole among the plurality of injection holes is configured in a shape such that an injection hole inlet has a long axis and a short axis, and the long axis is directed in a direction in which an extension line intersects with the seat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaki Itaya, Tomoyuki Hosaka, Noriyuki Maekawa, Takao Miyake
  • Patent number: 11092114
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control device configured to suppress power to be consumed by an arithmetic device while the vehicle operation is stopped, and to diagnose the operation frequency of the timer for abnormality. The vehicle control device of the present invention allows the bandpass filter to convert the operation frequency of the timer into the voltage value. The holding circuit holds the value corresponding to the converted voltage value. The arithmetic device diagnoses whether or not the timer has been normally operated using the voltage value held in the holding circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Ishii
  • Patent number: 11078864
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel injection amount of an internal combustion engine includes a target injection amount calculation step, a component-by-component wear amount estimation step at which a component-by-component wear amount of an injector component is estimated, the injector component being a plurality of members or a part of the member constituting the injector and selected in advance as the injector component affects an accuracy of the fuel injection amount, a component-by-component correction amount calculation step, a total correction amount calculation step, and a total correction amount reflection step at which the injector injects a corrected target injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Atsushi Tanaka