Patents Examined by Thomas N. Moulis
  • Patent number: 7827962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a first high-pressure accumulator and having a second high-pressure accumulator. The fuel injection system also has a high-pressure pump, wherein the first and the second high-pressure accumulators have a number of ports for injector supply lines corresponding to the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. A damping volume for damping pressure pulsations between the high-pressure accumulators and the high-pressure pump is integrated into one of the high-pressure accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Weizenauer, Jochen Walther, Markus Degn, Gernot Payer, Sven Voelter
  • Patent number: 7827961
    Abstract: A pump is provided for pumping two or more different fluids. The pump comprises a body having a longitudinal bore and at least first and second inlets selectively communicating with and providing passage to the bore via non-return valves. A plunger is mounted for reciprocation within the bore and at least one piston is also mounted for reciprocation within the bore so as to permit at least one type of fluid to pass into the bore through one or both inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventor: Michael Peter Cooke
  • Patent number: 7823567
    Abstract: A combination dynamic balancer and fuel pump for an internal combustion engine includes a common housing having at least one balancer shaft and a fuel pump, with the fuel pump having the pumping element mounted directly within a working chamber formed within the housing for the balancer shaft and fuel pump. A pumping element may include a reciprocating or a rotary pumping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: Darrell Charles Drouillard
  • Patent number: 7826957
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for operating an engine in a vehicle in response to fuel having varying amounts of alcohol. One example method comprises delivering fuel to the engine, limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a maximum permitted engine speed, the maximum permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Phil Andrew Fabien
  • Patent number: 7823568
    Abstract: An evaporative emission control canister for an automotive vehicle includes a canister body and a bracket for attaching the body to a structural member of a vehicle. A number of fastener sets attach the bracket to the canister body, with each of the fastener sets including a closed-end hollow core boss having a generally cylindrical wall of uniform thickness and a number of buttresses applied to an outer surface of the generally cylindrical wall. The buttresses have the same uniform thickness as the generally cylindrical wall and are molded along with the cylindrical wall as one piece with an inner portion of the canister body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jhun Lin, Robert D. Boyer, William Keith McDonald, Calvin Young
  • Patent number: 7819106
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an engine, an irregular-region start detector detects that a predetermined-directed level change in an input signal is synchronized with a start of appearance of an irregular region thereof. An irregular-region end detector detects that a predetermined-directed level change in the input signal is synchronized with an end of the irregular region thereof. A fixing unit fixes a reference interval to a predetermined value when it is detected that the predetermined-directed level change in the input signal is synchronized with the start of appearance of the irregular region thereof. A resetting unit resets the reference interval from the predetermined-value to one of the measured intervals when it is detected that the predetermined-directed level change in the input signal is synchronized with the end of the irregular region thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhiko Kondo
  • Patent number: 7819107
    Abstract: A pumping element for pressurizing a fluid within a fluid pump includes a plunger reciprocally disposed within a bore defined in a barrel. The plunger and barrel at least partially define a pressurization chamber into which fluid is pressurized. A flow path is defined between the plunger and the bore, the flow path permitting fluid to pass from the pressurization chamber during pressurization of fluid disposed therein. A collection chamber is formed between the plunger and the bore, the collection chamber being disposed adjacent to the bore and being part of a cooling circuit for the pumping element. A plurality of weep openings is defined in the barrel and is fluidly connected to the collection chamber. A reduced diameter portion of the barrel forms an annular reservoir that receives fluid from the weep openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7819108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery unit for delivering fuel from a fuel reservoir (2) to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. Said delivery unit comprises a fuel pump which is arranged in a swirl pot (4), and a flange (3) which closes an opening (5) of the fuel reservoir, the swirl pot being connected to the flange via at least two supporting elements (6). The supporting elements consist of a fuel-resistant plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Froehlich, Günter Rauchhaus, Thomas Sippel
  • Patent number: 7814892
    Abstract: An electronically controlled electromechanical valve having at least three ports through which a fluid can flow and at least three different stable positions in which at least two ports are in fluid communication. The valve includes a stationary outer housing including at least three bores; a translating inner section that translates about an axis and includes adequate bores defining, with the bores of the housing, the at least three ports of the valve; and an electrical actuating system controlled by an electronic controller and configured to switch the valve from one position to another by translating the inner section along its axis. A fuel system vapor management unit includes such a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: David Hill
  • Patent number: 7810472
    Abstract: A fuel pressure sensor/sensor mount assembly for use in a fuel injection system equipped with fuel injectors which inject fuel, as supplied from an accumulator through fuel pipes, into a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle. The assembly includes a connector unit and fuel pressure sensors. The connector unit has formed therein a plurality of communication paths each of which is to establish a connection between one of the fuel injectors and the accumulator through one of the fuel pipes. The connector unit also has formed therein sensor mounts exposed to the communication paths. Each of the fuel pressure sensors is disposed in the sensor mount to measure the pressure of the fuel in the communication path. This structure permits steps of installing the fuel pressure sensors within the engine compartment to be decreased and ensures desired measurement accuracy of the fuel pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Tomoki Fujino
  • Patent number: 7813867
    Abstract: A control apparatus which can improve the accuracy of control of a controlled variable by a control input exhibiting a periodic fluctuating behavior. The control apparatus calculates an air-fuel ratio correction value DKCMD such that the output from an oxygen concentration sensor converges to a target output, and calculate a modulated value DKCMD_DSM by modulating DKCMD with an algorithm to which is applied a ? ? modulation algorithm. Further, the control apparatus calculates a reference air-fuel ratio KCMDBS according to an exhaust gas volume, calculates a model modification coefficient KTRQFF using a modification coefficient calculated such that DKCMD become equal to 0, calculates an adaptive reference air-fuel ratio KCMDADP by the equation of KCMDADP=KCMDBS×KTRQFF, and calculates a target air-fuel ratio KCMD by the equation of KCMD=KCMADP+DKCMD_DSM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Ikue Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 7810471
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system comprises a fuel rail having an outlet, and a fuel injector cup associated with the fuel rail outlet. The fuel injector cup includes a cup portion and a ring portion. The cup portion comprises a body, and the body includes a base at a first end, an opening at a second end, and an inner cavity therein between the base and the opening. The cavity of the cup portion is configured to receive a fuel injector, and the first end of the cup portion is configured to be associated with the outlet of the fuel rail. The ring portion of the fuel injector cup is configured to be affixed to the cup portion, and the second end thereof, in particular. The ring portion is further configured to reinforce the second end of said cup portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Millennium Industries
    Inventor: Michael J. Zdroik
  • Patent number: 7810474
    Abstract: The fuel tank venting device is furnished with a full fuel control valve and a rollover valve that are installed on a fuel tank, and a fuel tank valve unit having a pressure valve that is situated between a canister and the two valves. The pressure valve is furnished with a casing that has a valve chamber, a valve body housed within the valve chamber, and a spring. The valve body has a disk-shaped valve part and a side wall that projects with tubular contours from the outside perimeter of the valve part, and has a cup shape defining a spring chamber that is bounded by the valve part and the side wall. The valve part is perforated by an orifice of smaller planar dimensions than the valve aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kito, Hiroshi Nishi, Shoji Horiba
  • Patent number: 7810475
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring reverse flow of fuel vapors and/or air through a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system, said fuel vapor recovery system coupled to an engine intake of a boosted internal combustion engine. One example method comprises, during boost, when the fuel vapor recovery system is commanded to be sealed from the intake, indicating degradation based on a pressure value in the fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark William Peters, Richard Shimon, Robert Roy Jentz, Scott Bohr, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7806106
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine includes a control module that includes a fuel rail pressure module and a comparison module. The fuel rail pressure module determines a first fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail after a first event and a second fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail after a second event. The first event includes N conditions, a first of the N conditions comprises deactivation of a fuel pump of the engine, and N is an integer. The second event includes M conditions, a first of the M conditions comprises activation of a fuel injector, and M is an integer. The comparison module adjusts a fuel injector constant of the fuel injector based on the first fuel rail pressure, the second fuel rail pressure, and an injector activation period corresponding to the second event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Patent number: 7802559
    Abstract: The hold-down device for a fuel injection device is distinguished by a particularly simple design that nonetheless permits a very effective holding down of a fuel injection valve. The fuel injection device includes at least one fuel injection valve, a receptacle bore for the fuel injection valve, and a connecting fitting of a fuel distributor line, the hold-down device being clamped between a shoulder of the fuel injection valve and an end surface of the connecting fitting. The hold-down device has a partially annular base element from which there extends, in a bent-away fashion, an axially flexible hold-down clip that has at least two webs, two oblique segments, and two support segments. The fuel injection valve is particularly suitable for use in fuel injection systems of mixture-compressing externally ignited internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fürst, Thilo Bolz
  • Patent number: 7802558
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising a common rail fuel reservoir having a primary rail axis and comprising a plurality of outlets at spaced locations along said rail axis and a plurality of fuel injectors arranged at spaced locations with respect to said rail axis. Each injector comprises an injector inlet, said plurality of fuel injectors defining first and second groups of injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventor: Devan Panchal
  • Patent number: 7789062
    Abstract: An injection nozzle for a compression ignition internal combustion engine, the injection nozzle comprising: a nozzle body provided with a bore, within which a unitary valve needle is movable along a primary valve needle axis, the valve needle being engageable with a valve seating defined by the bore to control fuel delivery through first and second outlets, and including a first valve region, a second valve region and a first seat region defined by a transition between the first and second valve regions that seats against the valve seating when the nozzle is in a non-injecting state, wherein the valve needle comprises a third valve region, a relieved region defined by a transition between said second and third valve regions, the relieved region defining a first exit volume between the valve needle and the bore adjacent to the first outlet when the valve needle is lifted from the valve seating into an injecting state, and a fourth valve region having at least a part in closer proximity to the bore than said re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventor: Michael Peter Cooke
  • Patent number: 7789068
    Abstract: A control method of a direct injection system of the common rail in an internal combustion engine; the control method contemplates the steps of: feeding the pressurized fuel to a common rail by means of a high-pressure pump presenting at least one pumping element mechanically operated by a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine; measuring the angular position of the drive shaft; measuring the fuel pressure in the common rail; analyzing the oscillations of the fuel pressure in the common rail; and determining the phase of the pumping element of the high-pressure pump with respect to the drive shaft according to the oscillations of the fuel pressure in the common rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Serra, Matteo De Cesare, Giovanni Prodi
  • Patent number: RE41823
    Abstract: A leak check system executes a leak check processing. In the leak check processing, the system closes a canister valve and a purge valve to close the fuel vapor purge system. Then, the system detects and monitors a pressure in the fuel vapor purge system. During the leak check processing, the system detects a rapid change of the pressure that is caused by a deformation of a wall of a fuel tank. The system cancels or suspends the processing to avoid erroneous detection of the leak. If the leak check is canceled, the system opens the canister valve to open the fuel vapor purge system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Miwa, Syujiro Morinaga, Yoshinori Maegawa, Keiji Wakahara