Patents Examined by Tony M. Argenbright
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Patent number: 7168397Abstract: A control valve suitable for forming part of a cooling circuit comprising a first branch which contains a radiator and a second branch that constitutes a bypass of a radiator is described. The control valve has a third branch, which, in a motor vehicle combustion engine cooling circuit, has at least one unit heater for heating the vehicle cabin.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Valeo Thermique MoteurInventors: Matthieu Chanfreau, Daniel Virey
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Patent number: 7165516Abstract: An inventive cooling unit for an internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of cooling fins provided on outer surfaces of a cylinder block and a cylinder head, and vibration control rubbers interposed between cooling fins that face each other so as form a cooling air guide which guides air flow along lateral sides of the engine to rear parts of the engine. The cooling unit significantly increases the cooling efficiency of a cylinder and prevents vibration of cooling fins by interposing vibration control rubbers between cooling fins that face each other. The vibration control rubbers are formed in a streamlined shape and direct the flow of traveling air within the cooling fins about the exterior surface of the engine. The arrangement of the vibration control rubbers on side surfaces of the engine is such that angle ? of longitudinal axes of the vibration control rubbers with respect to the advancing direction of the vehicle becomes gradually larger moving from the front to the rear of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Yasushi Takahashi
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Patent number: 7162989Abstract: An engine unit for an motorcycle is disclosed in which an accessory drive gear is disposed downstream of primary dampers in the engine power transmission path, and simultaneously upstream of a clutch mechanism in the engine power transmission path. In this engine unit, an accessory, for example, generator, is connected to an intermediate shaft that is parallel to a crank shaft and a counter shaft so as to rotate integrally with the intermediate shaft. An accessory driven gear is meshed with the accessory drive gear, and an accessory damper is disposed between the intermediate shaft and the accessory for absorbing rotational shocks. Furthermore, a starter motor is gear-engaged with the intermediate shaft via a one-way clutch, and the position of this gear engagement is provided between the accessory damper and the accessory driven gear.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hidetoshi Arakawa
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Patent number: 7152569Abstract: An engine crankshaft includes a split crankshaft journal that includes offset connecting rod journals for two connecting rods. Oil supply systems disposed on opposite axial sides of the crankshaft journal each lubricate a corresponding one of the connecting rod journals. The oil supply systems are either axial or peripheral oil supply systems that do not require oil to be supplied to the crankshaft through the main crankcase bearings. Consequently, the oil supply systems sufficiently lubricate each connecting rod journal without requiring weakening holes or grooves in the main crankcase bearings.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Stephan Leiber, Robert Kindl
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Patent number: 7146941Abstract: A rotary valve which can securely shut off a fluid flow without improving a working accuracy of an outer peripheral surface of a valve and an inner diameter portion of a body, and which has a simple and compact structure, wherein a gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the valve and the inner diameter portion of the body, a lip portion of seal means attached within a second lead air flow path is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve on the basis of an elastic force of a support portion, and the lip portion securely seals between the second lead air flow path and the gap.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Komatsu Zenoah Co.Inventor: Takamasa Ohtsuji
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Patent number: 7134419Abstract: Methods and apparatus to flush residual used oil from the lubrication system of an engine during an oil change. The method includes draining used oil from a tank of the lubrication system and then adding fresh oil to the tank. An adaptor or fitting is used to provide an outlet in the lubrication system to flush any residual used oil that may not have been drained along with used oil in the oil tank. The engine may be started such that a scavenging pump of a lubrication system pumps residual used oil out of the system through the outlet. Once a user observes that residual used oil has been substantially flushed from the system, the engine is stopped to terminate the flushing process.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Inventor: Phil LaFleur
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Patent number: 7134418Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine is provided that is capable of use in many power tools, including those power tools subjected to tippable applications. The engine includes an oil reservoir and a crank chamber separated by a divider. The divider includes a slot that allows lubricant to move from the oil reservoir into the crank chamber and from the crank chamber into the oil reservoir in response to pressure fluctuations of the engine. The engine can include an insert positioned within the slot to at least partially restrict the slot thereby modifying the lubricant communication between the crank chamber and the oil reservoir through the slot. The insert can be wedge-shaped and at least partially define a passage such that when the insert is positioned within the slot the transfer of lubricant between the crank chamber and the oil reservoir occurs through the passage.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: John Jerome Nagel, John Alan Zbiegien, Jr.
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Patent number: 7131419Abstract: A crankshaft supporter having a support member which is attached to a cylinder block of an engine so as to support a crankshaft and which is formed of an aluminum alloy matrix with a preform cast inside. The support member includes a mounting surface, bolt holes and a dowel hole. A penetrated section of the preform has a through hole defining the bolt hole. The support member has a recess section formed of the matrix. The recess section is positioned between the mounting surface of the support member and an opposing surface of the penetrated section that faces the mounting surface so as to shape the dowel hole therein.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Makoto Nakamura
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Patent number: 7131417Abstract: A coolant-shunt-providing cylinder liner of the flanged type is provided with a shunt circuit within the liner for coolant flow through the liner. The shunt circuit includes an array of three annular cooling channels separated from each other by two annular ribs. The width (axial extent) of each channel is substantially less than half the axial extent of the liner's cylinder block engaging portion that is associated with the upper end of the liner. The width (axial extent) of the array of three channels is substantially greater than half the axial extent of the cylinder block engaging portion. Cutouts in the ribs are provided for distributing incoming coolant to the three cooling channels from a main coolant chamber of a cylinder block in which the liner is receivable.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Inventors: Jerry A. Jones, Thomas F. Gazik
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Patent number: 7131403Abstract: A locomotive includes an engine (12), an intercooler (16), and an oil cooler (28), each having respective cooling passages formed therein. The locomotive also includes a cooling system (10) in selective communication with the respective cooling passages for selectively providing a first coolant (56) and a second coolant (52) at a higher temperature than the first coolant to the cooling passages. A method of operating the cooling system includes providing, in a first mode, a first coolant flow (26) to the intercooler and a second coolant flow (30) to the oil cooler at a first temperature different than the first coolant flow to achieve preferential cooling of the intercooler. The method also includes providing, in a second mode, the first coolant flow to the intercooler and the second coolant flow to the oil cooler at a second temperature different than the first coolant flow to achieve preferential cooling of the oil cooler.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sandeep Banga, Brian L. Walter, Susan Mary Napierkowski, William D. Glenn, Gerald Edward Lacy, Mahesh Aggarwal
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Patent number: 7130739Abstract: A control system for a marine engine includes a control device to control the engine. A transmitter creates a command signal and sends the command signal to a receiver. The receiver receives the command signal and transfers the command signal to the control device. The control device includes memory to store the command signal. The control device determines whether the command signal is correctly transferred to the control device. The control device controls the engine in complying with the command signal transferred from the receiver when the command signal is correctly transferred. The control device controls the engine in complying with the command signal stored in the storage device when the command signal is not correctly transferred.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazumasa Ito, Syu Akuzawa
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Patent number: 7128030Abstract: A combustion-engined setting tool for driving fasting elements such as nails, bolts, pins in an object, includes a combustion chamber (13), a fuel source (11), a fuel conduit (12) connecting the fuel source (11) with combustion chamber (13) for feeding fuel thereinto, and at least one metering device (30) for metering a predetermined amount of fuel for effecting a setting process and having at least one variable volume metering chamber (31), and a displaceable piston body (34) for a pulsed ejection of fuel from the metering chamber (31).Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Hilti AktiengesellschaftInventors: Hans Gschwend, Kaveh Towfighi, Lothar Voelker, Ulrich Schiestl, Iwan Wolf, Ulrich Rosenbaum
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Patent number: 7128027Abstract: A cooling system of an outboard motor provides back and forth flow of water from one side of an exhaust passage to the opposite side in order to avoid the creation of stagnant pools of water within which minerals and debris can collect. This result is accomplished by causing the cooling water to flow back and forth from one side of the exhaust passage to the other so that all portions of the water passages are forced to conduct water through them at a relatively high velocity. A water reservoir is formed between an exhaust conduit and an oil reservoir in order to reduce the operating temperature of the oil within the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Anthony M. Straub, Kenneth R. Seymour, II, David J. Belter
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Patent number: 7124730Abstract: An oil catching system for an internal-combustion engine, particularly for an opposed cylinder engine, has an oil catching housing arranged below a crankcase. An oil suction space is provided in the oil catching housing from which the lubricating oil is transported by way of a main oil pump equipped with an oil suction pipe to consuming devices. At least one oil collecting space adjoins the oil suction space, in which oil collecting space the lubricating oil coming from the consuming devices is returned by way of an oil pipe. The oil suction space is separated from the oil collecting space by at least one oil separating wall, in which at least one passage opening is arranged which can be controlled by way of a flap, by way of which passage opening the lubricating oil can flow from the oil collecting space into the oil suction space.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Schwarzl, Tobias Baeumler
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Patent number: 7124714Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus reduces the fuel vaporization and leakage. The positions of vaporization and leakage and their amount in the fuel tank and the fuel pipe are detected when using a low boiling point fuel having a vapor phase in the normal temperatures and atmospheric pressures, and the fuel state is controlled based on those detected values. By providing another container made of elastomatic material having an expandable mechanical characteristic inside the fuel storing container, the low boiling point fuel is stored in the separate container. A flow rate controlling apparatus is provided for heating or cooling the fuel pipe leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine. A flow rate controlling apparatus is provided for adjusting the flow rate of the fuel in the fuel pipe for leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shiro Yamaoka, Minoru Oosuga, Kinya Nakatsu
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Patent number: 7124729Abstract: An engine part that contacts oil during engine operation has a coating layer that provides one or more oil additives into the oil during a desired period of engine use. The coating layer includes one or more oil additives that are incorporated into the oil over the period of engine use as well as a coating matrix that releases the additive(s), e.g. by dissolution or diffusion of the additive(s), into the oil over the desired period of engine use. The additives replenish the oil to maintain or improve oil performance over the period of engine use.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Frank Caracciolo
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Patent number: 7124923Abstract: A combustion-powered tool has an engine and a heating system, where the tool receives and preheats a fuel cell. The fuel cell has a receiving portion for a heat transfer element which is associated with the engine. The heat transfer element is configured for engaging the fuel cell to conduct heat from the engine to the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Cheryl L. Panasik
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Patent number: 7121234Abstract: A series type hybrid electric vehicle that controls an internal combustion engine, generator, and electric motor for reducing the load applied to the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is restarted, lowers the thermal stresses to the internal combustion engine when the engine is turned off and is able to remove excess fuel when turning off the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2005Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Transportation Techniques, LLCInventors: Robert W. Schmitz, Thomas F. Wilton, Joshua J. Anderson
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Patent number: 7121233Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that is capable of switching between compression ignition combustion and spark ignition combustion is provided. The control apparatus is configured to perform fuel cut. The spark ignition combustion is performed over a time period after the fuel cut. The compression ignition combustion is permitted when the time period elapses. Fuel cut decreases the temperature within the combustion chamber. According to the invention, if fuel cut is performed, the temperature within the combustion chamber is raised by the spark ignition combustion. Since the compression ignition combustion is permitted after the temperature within the combustion chamber rises, engine misfire and an increase of NOx emission are prevented. The time period is preferably determined based on the temperature within the combustion chamber immediately before the fuel cut is performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tohru Kitamura, Toshihiro Yamaki, Tomio Kimura, Shohei Okazaki, Katsura Okubo, Akira Kato
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Patent number: RE39507Abstract: The Fuel supply system reduces fuel quantity initially supplied and ineffective residual quantity of fuel. A throat in the shape of a passage is provided at a bottom portion of a sub-tank that supplies fuel from the fuel tank to the interior of the sub-tank by a jet pump. The throat has a suction port communicating with the exterior of the sub-tank and a supply port communicating with the interior of the sub-tank. The throat is inclined with respect to a bottom surface of the tank so that the height of the throat increases gradually from the suction port toward the supply port. The sub-tank has a check valve for opening and closing the supply port. This check valve prevents the fuel in the sub-tank from flowing out to the exterior of the sub-tank through the throat and becomes substantially vertical during valve closing.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Tadashi Hazama