Patents Examined by Thomas N. Moulis
  • Fuel supply system for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7458362
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system, a fuel pump supplies fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel supply piping and to a back pressure introducing passage. A pressure regulator has a fuel pressure regulating chamber communicated to the fuel supply piping, and a back pressure chamber communicated to the back pressure introducing passage. When a fuel pressure in the fuel pressure regulating chamber is larger than a relief pressure that bulges the diaphragm toward the back pressure chamber, a relief valve opens a relief port to return the fuel from the fuel pressure regulating chamber to the fuel tank. The relief pressure is adjusted by controlling a fuel pressure in the back pressure chamber of the pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Hazama, Toshihiko Muramatsu
  • Canister
    Patent number: 7458367
    Abstract: A canister is taught that includes a container 10 containing granular adsorbent materials 30 that can adsorb fuel vapor generated from a fuel tank, and a plate-shaped dividing member 40, 45, 48, 65 and 72 that is disposed in the container 10 in order to carry the adsorbent materials 30. The dividing member 40, 45, 48, 65 and 72 is formed with a large number of elongated ventilating holes 60 and 68 for flowing the fuel vapor. Each of the ventilating holes 60 and 68 has an opening length 60L larger than a length 30L of the adsorbent materials 30 and an opening width 60w that can restrict passage of the adsorbent materials 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazusato Kasuya
  • Fuel supply apparatus for motor cycle
    Patent number: 7455053
    Abstract: To provide a fuel supply apparatus which is preferably applied to a motorcycle having a flat-shaped fuel tank with a shallow fuel tank, a lower opening portion (Tb) open at a bottom portion (Ta) of a fuel tank (T) is closed by a lid member (1), a fuel pump (P) is attached to a stay (2) provided in a rising manner on the lid member (1), a longitudinal axis (X-X) of the fuel pump (P) is arranged approximately in parallel to the lid member (1), a pump discharge path (Pb) of the fuel pump (P) is arranged close to a discharge pipe (3) provided in a rising manner on the lid member (1) and is connected by a fuel discharge piping (5), and a filter (4) connected to a pump intake path (Pa) is arranged between the fuel pump (P) and the lid member (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Nakagawa
  • O-ring retainer for a fuel injector in a fuel rail socket
    Patent number: 7455050
    Abstract: An improved O-ring retainer arrangement for retaining an O-ring on a fuel tube of a fuel injector. An overmolded hard plastic ring is disposed on the cylindrical outer surface of the fuel tube. The end of the fuel tube is radially flared to retain the ring on the tube, the radial extent of the flare being less than or equal to the radial thickness of the ring such that the flare cannot come into contact with the bore of a fuel rail socket. The ring is formed such that axial compressive forces exerted on the ring are outside the fuel tube body and preferably are directly opposed, thus exerting no toroidal torque on the ring. The ring is free to move axially on the fuel tube surface. In one aspect of the invention, the ring can move freely along only a limited region on the fuel tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wenbin Xu
  • Fuel tank for motorcycle
    Patent number: 7451745
    Abstract: A fuel tank is provided for a motorcycle having a main body part and a downward swelling part that is opened upward and attached to a bottom part of the fuel tank. The inside of the downward swelling part is connected to the inside of the main body part, thereabove. A fuel pump is provided having a suction part disposed in the downward swelling element and a portion above the suction part installed in the main body part of the fuel tank. A fuel retaining member is also provided in the downward swelling part, whereby fuel retained by the fuel retaining member is sucked by the suction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Okazaki, Toshiaki Takamura
  • High-pressure pump
    Patent number: 7451741
    Abstract: The pump described herein provides a potentially lower cost alternative to conventional high-pressure pumps by providing a head, a plunger, and a control valve assembly. The head defines a valve bore having a first diameter, a plunger bore having a second diameter, and an intermediate chamber having a third diameter. The plunger is configured to reciprocate within the plunger bore. The plunger, the plunger bore, and the intermediate chamber at least partially define a pumping chamber. The control valve assembly is coupled to the head and includes an actuator moveable in response to an input signal and a valve element coupled to the actuator. The valve element is received within the valve bore and moveable between an open and a closed position. The valve element includes a body having a fourth diameter and a valve head having a fifth diameter. The first diameter is no larger than the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Bartley, Scott F. Shafer, Steven Y. Tian, Timur T. Trubnikov, Christopher R. Jones, Haithem Algousi
  • Fuel delivery system and method of operation
    Patent number: 7448363
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an engine. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tank, at least one fuel injector, a fuel pump, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and an engine control module. The fuel pump is configured to draw fuel from the fuel tank and provide the fuel to the at least one fuel injector. The pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure of the fuel being provided to the at least one fuel injector. The temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature of the engine. And the engine control module is configured to control the fuel pump based on the sensed pressure and the sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Buell Motorcycle Company
    Inventors: Matt Rasmussen, Daniel Hurda
  • Heater for a canister
    Patent number: 7448366
    Abstract: Heater for a fluid intended to pass through a canister for a fuel tank, comprising a casing fitted with two end pieces, a hollow body situated inside the casing and at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Société Anonyme)
    Inventors: Vincent Potier, Philippe Georis
  • Opposed pumping load high pressure common rail fuel pump
    Patent number: 7444989
    Abstract: A high volume high pressure common rail pump for a fuel system includes pairs of pump head assemblies in phase with each other but oriented in opposition to one another about a rotating cam shaft. Pump pistons in the pump head assemblies simultaneously undergo pumping strokes via a shared two lobe cam of the rotating cam shaft. The pump may include two pairs of pump head assemblies, and each head assembly may include two pump pistons. The cam shaft includes two cams sufficiently out of phase with one another that the cam shaft always has a positive torque even when the cam lobes are symmetrical. In addition, because the pumping is done simultaneously on opposite sides of the cam shaft, the forces on the cam shaft are balanced and its support bearings experience less wear and tear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Timur Trubnikov, William John Love V, Heather Rebholz, Jianhua Zhang
  • Electronically controlled electromechanical valve
    Patent number: 7444997
    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 2 ports are in fluid communication. The valve includes a stationary outer housing including at least three bores, a rotating inner section that rotates about an axis and includes 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 rotating the inner section about its axis. A fuel system vapor management unit can include such a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: David Hill
  • Parallelogram actuated liquid level sensor
    Patent number: 7444865
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor for insertion into a tank for measuring the liquid level in the tank comprises an elongate tubular frame and a float movable inside the frame to seek the liquid level. A float lock guide formed as an elongate member is mounted lengthwise inside the frame. A float lock formed as an elongate member is located inside the frame parallel to the float lock guide. A plurality of linkages is pivotally connected between the float lock guide and the float lock such that lengthwise movement of the float relative to the float lock guide causes corresponding lateral movement of the float in the frame between an unlocked position where the float is free to move lengthwise in the frame to seek the liquid level and a locked position where frictional forces retain the float between the float lock and an inner wall portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventors: John J. Fling, William F. Fling
  • Fuel supply apparatus for and pressure control method of internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7441549
    Abstract: A leak diagnosing technology in which a diagnostic space capable of being closed is defined which includes therein a fuel tank and a canister, the closed diagnostic space being pressurized by an air pump to diagnose of presence or absence of a leak in the diagnostic space based on whether or not a pressure in the diagnostic space indicates a predetermined pressure change. When the diagnosis is completed, the air pump is reversely rotated to cause a reduction in the pressure in the diagnostic space to thereby quickly return the pressure to a target pressure in a steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Takayanagi
  • Method and device for activating a valve of a fuel vapor retention system
    Patent number: 7441550
    Abstract: For the purposes of a determination of a fuel vapor loading level of a fuel vapor retention system of a combustion engine, an opening level of a valve of the fuel vapor retention system is increased in steps or continuously during a determination phase. Furthermore, the valve is activated at most a predefined first period prior to a start of the determination phase by a conditioning pulse at least whenever the valve was closed previously for a second period that is longer than a predefined threshold value. The conditioning pulse is generated in such a way that the valve definitely opens at most for a predefined opening period and then closes again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ludwig, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Four-stroke internal combustion engine having reduced noise emissions
    Patent number: 7441532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a four-stroke internal combustion engine having reduced noise emissions. The engine includes a filter element having substantially flat inlet and outlet sides, a first housing portion, and a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion. The first and second housing portions define an air chamber in which the filter element is supported. The second housing portion includes an interior surface, at least one protrusion to space the inlet side of the filter element from the interior surface, and an air passageway. The outlet of the air passageway is positioned adjacent the interior surface to deliver air to the air chamber between the interior surface and the inlet side of the filter element. A ratio of the volume of the air chamber to the length of the air passageway is between about 5 in2 and about 20 in2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Disch, Jeffrey P. Feist, Kayne Kowis, Elliot Matel, Robert J. Rose, Marvin Vissers, Jeffrey H. Whitmore, Geoffrey P. Zabrowski
  • System for detecting purge valve malfunction
    Patent number: 7438060
    Abstract: A diagnostic control system for a purge valve that regulates fuel vapor flow from a fuel system into an intake manifold for an engine includes a calculation module and a malfunction module. The calculation module estimates a plurality of areas based on a plurality of pressure signals and calculates an average rate of increase of vacuum pressure in the fuel system during operation of the purge valve. The malfunction module determines whether the average rate of increase of vacuum pressure is within a predetermined range generating a purge valve functioning signal, and generates a purge valve malfunction signal when the average rate of increase of vacuum pressure is not within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kurt D. Mc Lain
  • Drain pipe in canister system
    Patent number: 7438058
    Abstract: In order to discharge air cleaned free from evaporated fuel vapor in a canister installed under the front seat floor, have none of the air coming inside a passenger room and inhibit water, dirt and dust from being absorbed in a drain pipe in a canister, the following drain pipe in a canister is invented. The drain pipe in canister is connected with a canister body installed under a front seat floor of a vehicle. The drain pipe in the canister comprises a first part extending from the canister body up to an upper portion of an engine room disposed on a front side of a passenger room, and a second part extending from the first part to a portion under a floor of the passenger room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ito, Naritoshi Muramatsu, Takenobu Haga, Hiroaki Mihara, Yasuhiro Hasegawa
  • Fuel injection system monitoring abnormal pressure in inlet of fuel pump
    Patent number: 7431018
    Abstract: A fuel injection system is equipped with a high-pressure supply pump driven by an output of an internal combustion engine to supply fuel to an accumulator, a low-pressure supply pump driven by a power source other than the engine to suck the fuel from a fuel tank and supply the sucked fuel to the high-pressure supply pump, and a pressure regulator working to regulate the pressure of the fuel supplied from the low-pressure supply pump to the high-pressure supply pump. The system also includes an abnormal pressure detector working to monitor a preselected parameter that bears a correlation to the energy held by the fuel at an inlet of the high-pressure supply pump to detect whether a pressure of the fuel at the inlet of the high-pressure supply pump is in an abnormal level or not without monitoring it directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Tsujimoto
  • Adaptive fuel delivery module in a mechanical returnless fuel system
    Patent number: 7431020
    Abstract: A returnless fuel system has a fuel pump whose speed is varied by varying the voltage across the fuel pump. Controlling the fuel pump speed entails sensing the back pressure with a pressure sensor that may lie between the jet pump supply orifice and the pressure regulator in the pressure regulator case. A trigger circuit determines the absolute value of the difference between the sensed back pressure and an average, or predetermined target, pressure and compares it to a predetermined pressure value. If the absolute value is greater than the predetermined value, then a control circuit is invoked that compares the sensed pressure to a high threshold pressure and a low threshold pressure, and based upon such comparisons, the speed of the fuel pump is varied or maintained such that the mean pressure of the fuel system is targeted under all engine consumption conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dhyana Ramamurthy
  • Engine exhaust gas purifier
    Patent number: 7426922
    Abstract: An engine exhaust gas purifier includes: an injection controller allowing a fuel injection valve to inject fuel near the top dead center on each compression stroke; an EGR amount controller for controlling the amount of exhaust gas recirculated into a combustion chamber; an excess air ratio controller for controlling the excess air ratio so that the local equivalence ratio in a late combustion stage is lower than the equivalence ratio at which soot is produced; and an intake air temperature controller for controlling the temperature of intake air after being mixed with exhaust gas. The intake air temperature controller controls the temperature of intake air within a temperature range lower than an upper temperature limit below which a predetermined ignition delay time can be secured and higher than a lower temperature limit above which the production of HC and CO can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Shimo, Motoshi Kataoka, Masahiko Fujimoto, Daisuke Fukuda
  • Treated port fuel injectors
    Patent number: 7422161
    Abstract: Treated port fuel injectors are disclosed. The treated port fuel injectors have a surface coated with a film which resists or limits deposit formation on the injector surface. The film may be formed by contacting the port fuel injector with: (i) a succinimide compound comprising the reaction product of polyisobutylene-substituted succinic anhydride and a polyamine; (ii) a Mannich base detergent; and (iii) a spark ignition fuel. The treated port fuel injectors may also include a film formed by contacting the port fuel injector with: (i) a Mannich condensation reaction product of a polyamine having a sterically-hindered primary amino group, a hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound, and an aldehyde; and (ii) a spark ignition fuel. Methods of forming films on port fuel injector surfaces are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Hou, Dennis J. Malfer, Thomas William Nichols