Patents Examined by Thomas N. Moulis
  • Patent number: 11073071
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system and a direct injector for directly injecting fuel into a cylinder are provided. In one example, a direct fuel injector includes a nozzle in fluidic communication with a fuel source, the nozzle includes at least one fuel flow path that divides into two exit flow paths within the nozzle defining a plurality of exit orifices stemming from a common inlet orifice thereby improving the atomization and mixing of the fuel as it enters the cylinder. A plurality of spaced-apart divided fuel flow paths may be positioned within the nozzle to further optimize mixing and reduce wall and piston wetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Basmaji, Sangjin Hong, Mark Meinhart, Jianwen Yi
  • Patent number: 11060470
    Abstract: An engine device is provided with a fuel vapor processor comprising a first supply pipe configured to supply a vaporized fuel gas including fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank, to a downstream side of the compressor in the intake pipe; a first valve provided in the first supply pipe; a second supply pipe configured to supply the vaporized fuel gas to an upstream side of the compressor in the intake pipe; a second valve provided in the second supply pipe; and a buffer portion provided on an intake pipe side of the second valve in the second supply pipe and configured to adsorb at least part of the fuel vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromichi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11053880
    Abstract: A storage device of a control system stores a trained neural network that is trained by using training data to which information as to whether there is an abnormality in an air flow meter is given as a true label. The trained neural network receives, as inputs, condition index values including the opening of a throttle valve and the engine speed, a load detected value calculated based on a detection signal of the air flow meter, a load estimated value estimated without using the detection signal of the air flow meter, and a change index value indicating the degree of change of the engine load. A CPU of the control system executes a diagnostic process to determine whether there is an abnormality in the air flow meter, using the neural network, which receives the condition index values, load detected value, load estimated value, and change index value as the inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 11053874
    Abstract: A work vehicle may include an internal combustion engine, aftertreatment system, and at least one controller. The controller is configured to use a temperature of the aftertreatment system to determine a hydrocarbon level of the aftertreatment system, and set an idle speed of the engine to high idle if the hydrocarbon level is above a hydrocarbon ceiling, to ultra-low idle if the hydrocarbon level is below a hydrocarbon floor, and to low idle if the hydrocarbon level is between the hydrocarbon floor and the hydrocarbon ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin J. Urbanek, Justin E. Fritz, Patrick Keller, Brent M. Hunold
  • Patent number: 11047317
    Abstract: A method is described for influencing the engine control of a single-track motor vehicle, in which the current driving situation is ascertained, a predefined driving situation is selected from a specified class of predefined driving situations as a function of the current driving situation, and the engine control is influenced as a function of the selected predefined driving situation in a manner that is independent of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Anja Wahl, Florian Mayer, Horst Jung, Markus Henzler, Matthias Klews, Uwe Wostradowski
  • Patent number: 11035331
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes tubular roller valve and a fuel injector assembly. The fuel injector assembly includes a fixed tubular outer insulator with holes and a fixed inner insulator with holes. A rotatable tubular valve is between the fixed outer insulator and the fixed inner insulator, the rotatable tubular valve having holes in a staggered configuration. A fuel injector is connected to each of the first fixed holes of the fixed tubular outer insulator. When the rotatable tubular valve rotates, fuel is given to only one of the fuel injectors at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Jonathan Tom Tavernier
  • Patent number: 11035301
    Abstract: A method for preventing an engine air flow calculation error applied to an engine system may classify an engine operation area of an engine into a sensor measurement deviation generation area, medium/high load areas, and a low load area by an ECU, and classify an air flow calculation applied to a cylinder charging amount of the engine as one of an air flow calculation control applying a compensation measurement air flow to the sensor measurement deviation generation area, an air flow calculation control applying a measurement pressure to the medium/high load areas, and an air flow calculation control applying a measurement air flow to the low load area, excluding influence of an HFM sensor error causing a change in a fresh air charge and inaccuracy of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) air flow modeling/active purge air flow modeling in the entire operation area of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Kyu Oh, Keum-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 11028807
    Abstract: A filter assembly comprises a housing defining an internal volume. A housing second end of the housing defines at least one female thread. A bowl is positioned at the housing second end The bowl comprises at least one bowl male thread structured to engage the at least one female thread of the housing so as to be coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventor: Gérard Malgorn
  • Patent number: 11015493
    Abstract: An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine mode and an engine braking mode includes: a rocker shaft that defines a pressurized oil supply conduit; a rocker arm that receives the rocker shaft and rotates around the rocker shaft, the rocker arm including a rocker arm oil supply passage defined in the rocker arm; a valve bridge for engaging a first exhaust valve and a second exhaust valve; a hydraulic lash adjuster assembly, disposed on the rocker arm, including a first plunger body movable between a first position and a second position; and a check valve, disposed on the rocker arm, including an actuator for selectively releasing pressure in the hydraulic lash adjuster assembly. In the engine braking mode, by rotation of the rocker arm the pressurized oil supply conduit is brought into fluid communication with the rocker arm oil supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Majo Cecur
  • Patent number: 11008969
    Abstract: A compression ignition gasoline engine includes a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel containing gasoline as a main component into a cylinder; an EGR device operative to perform high-temperature EGR of introducing burnt gas generated in the cylinder into the cylinder at a high temperature; an octane number determination unit for determining whether fuel injected from the fuel injection valve has a prescribed octane number; and a combustion control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve and the EGR device in such a way that HCCI combustion occurs within the cylinder. The combustion control unit controls the EGR device, in at least a partial load operating range in which HCCI combustion is performed, in such a way that the EGR rate increases, as compared with a case where fuel is determined to have a prescribed octane number, when fuel is determined not to have a prescribed octane number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Youso, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11002234
    Abstract: A fuel delivery injector includes a housing, an inlet port fluidly coupled to a cavity to direct fuel vapor and liquid fuel into the cavity, and an outlet port fluidly coupled to the cavity to direct fuel vapor and liquid fuel out of the cavity. A magnetic assembly is fixedly positioned within the cavity, and a pumping assembly includes a bobbin and a piston. A return spring is coupled to the pumping assembly to bias the pumping assembly to a home position. A valve is positioned within the piston and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The liquid fuel entering the housing through the inlet port flows from the inlet port to the cavity and fuel vapor entering the housing through the inlet port is directed through a conduit to the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Pitcel, David W. Procknow, Jacob Zuehl, David A. Kratz
  • Patent number: 10995704
    Abstract: A fuel distributor, for example that is usable as a fuel rail for mixture-compressing spark-ignition internal combustion engines, includes a main body, on which a plurality of high-pressure outlets are provided. The main body includes at least one dividing wall that at least largely separates an inflow region from a damping region within the main body. The main body is made up of at least two profiles that are joined to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Weber
  • Patent number: 10975798
    Abstract: An enhanced piston for improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber and a lower cylinder portion. A cylinder head is disposed on the cylinder. An enhanced piston is moveably disposed within the cylinder and is connected to a piston rod. The enhanced piston has a piston cavity. There is an upper piston valve connected to an upper piston valve rod. The upper piston valve is disposed within the piston cavity wherein the upper piston valve selectively seals said piston cavity from the combustion chamber. A piston cavity port is disposed on a bottom portion of the piston cavity and is selectively opened and closed with a lower piston valve. The lower piston valve seals the piston cavity port from the lower cylinder portion. This way the gases are selectively sealed in the piston cavity under pressure until released in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Engelmann
  • Patent number: 10968857
    Abstract: A method and system is provided of controlling a pump having a pumping element configured to provide pressurized fuel to a common rail accumulator coupled to a plurality of fuel injectors configured to inject fuel into a corresponding plurality of cylinders of an engine, comprising: receiving rail pressure values indicating a current fuel pressure in the accumulator; and responding to the received at least one rail pressure value by controlling operation of the pumping element during each potential pumping event of the pumping element to generate actual pumping events during at least some of the potential pumping events to cause the rail pressure values to remain within a desired range and to at least one of increase an overall efficiency of the pump, decrease audible noise generated by the pump, increase reliability of the pump and reduce injection pressure variations at the plurality of fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Benson, Paul Peavler
  • Patent number: 10968841
    Abstract: Skip fire engine control using a first order sigma delta based firing controller is described. An engine controller determines a skip fire firing fraction and (as appropriate) associated engine settings that are suitable for delivering a requested output. The operational firing fraction is selected from a set of available firing fractions. The engine controller uses a first order sigma delta based converter to direct working cycle firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected firing fraction. The converter includes or functions substantially equivalent to a first order sigma delta converter and may be implemented any of: algorithmically using a processor; using digital, analog or hybrid components; using a lookup table; or using other appropriate techniques. In some embodiments firing decisions are made on a working cycle by working cycle basis. The described approach may be used in gasoline engines, diesel engines, turbocharged or supercharged engines, or others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TULA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Adya S. Tripathi, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 10961960
    Abstract: The present invention aims for obtaining a fuel rail for gasoline direct injection which can be used for the direct injection at a high fuel pressure of 50 MPa or more by increasing the thickness at the portion near the branch hole and using the material having high thickness for the metal seal portion while keeping the weight light and keeping the cost low. A fuel rail for gasoline direct injection made of steel and used at a fuel pressure of 50 MPa or more, the fuel rail having: a plurality of block members 2; and a pipe member 1 which connects an interval between the block members, wherein the block members 2 have: a branch hole 3 which communicates with the pipe member 1; and a metal seal portion 6 to which an injector is connected, and the hardness of the block members 2 is higher than the hardness of the pipe member 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: USUI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10954879
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for adapting a control signal of a control circuit for at least one injector of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the control signal being a voltage-pulse signal of variable frequency varying between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency and which is characterized over a given period by its duty cycle. For a given period of the control signal, the method includes determining the start time of the given period and of detecting the first pulse in the given period from the start time and, when the duration of the detected first pulse is included in a minimum time interval beginning at the start of the given period and the duration of which is dependent on the maximum frequency, modifying the duration of the detected first pulse so that the duration becomes equal to the duration of the minimum time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Baptiste Rol, Cédric Benaben
  • Patent number: 10947937
    Abstract: A functional component for influencing a tank ventilation of a fuel tank, functionally connected to an internal combustion engine, having a main body, wherein at least one flow channel for guiding fluid from an inlet side to an outlet side is formed in the main body, wherein at least one component for creating a clip connection of the functional component to an intake pipe is formed on the main body. The invention also relates to an arrangement of a functional component for influencing a tank ventilation of a fuel tank, functionally connected to an internal combustion engine, on an intake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, BOGE Elastmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Koch, Alfons Laumann, Sebastian Pytel
  • Patent number: 10941718
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing apparatus preventing evaporated fuel from being discharged out of a canister when residual purge gas is made to return to the canister and processed is provided. In the apparatus, an ECU performs residual purge gas processing operation of returning the residual purge gas into the canister and processing during halt of purge control. This operation includes a residual purge gas pressure-feeding process of pressure-feeding the residual purge gas with the air into the canister by the purge pump in a state in which the atmospheric passage is shut off and the purge passage and the second bypass passages are opened and an air discharge process of discharging the air in the canister outside via the atmospheric passage by opening the atmospheric passage while the purge passage and the second bypass passage are shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanobu Shinagawa, Yoshihiko Honda, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10920737
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for an aircraft can include a crankshaft configured to drive a propeller; a camshaft coupled to the crankshaft; and an ignition controller coupled to the camshaft and including a visual indicator, the visual indicator configured to produce a visual signal at a predetermined angular position of the engine. An ignition controller for an internal combustion engine can include a housing and a P-lead connection extending from the housing, the ignition controller configured to selectively supply or cut main electrical power from the engine via the P-lead connection, the ignition controller also configured to selectively supply its own power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey K. Hunt