Patents Examined by Tony M. Argenbright
  • Patent number: 7073482
    Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine is described, with at least one cylinder(9), a crankcase (3) which forms a crankcase pump and is connected via a valve (15, 18) each to an air manifold (16) for fresh air on the one hand and to an intake manifold (17) connecting the crankcase (3) with an intake port (11) of the cylinder (9) on the other hand, and with a reservoir (25) for lubricating oil arranged on a conveying device (26) for lubricating oil, with an oil circulation comprising the crankcase (3) as well as an oil separator (19) provided in the intake manifold (17) and with a device (23) for injecting fuel into the intake manifold (17) or into the combustion chamber (29) of the cylinder (9). In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the conveying device (26) connected to the reservoir (25) comprises a duct (27) for injecting lubricating oil into the crankcase (3) and that the intake manifold leads to the oil separator (19) by circumventing the reservoir (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Roland Kirchberger
  • Patent number: 7073467
    Abstract: A cooling water circuit system for an engine includes a radiator bypass passage through which cooling water of the engine bypasses a radiator, a heat exchanger disposed in the radiator bypass circuit to perform heat exchange between the cooling water and lubricant oil of an automatic transmission, and a radiator downstream passage through which the cooling water from the radiator flows into the heat exchanger. Further, a flow adjusting unit is disposed at a join portion where the radiator bypass passage and the radiator downstream passage are joined, to adjust a flow ratio between the cooling water flowing from the radiator downstream passage to the heat exchanger and the cooling water flowing from the radiator bypass passage to the heat exchanger. The flow adjusting unit is controlled by a control unit in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kanno, Nobuyuki Uozumi, Michiya Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 7073466
    Abstract: For an effectively working regulation of the combustion process in the HCCI mode, a modeled combustion process, to be described by internal variables of state, is formed by using process-influencing variables. Output variables of the actual and modeled combustion process are then used to regulate the process-influencing variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Bauer, Dietmar Ellmer, Thorsten Lauer
  • Patent number: 7073489
    Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of gaseous fuel for a coolant cooled engine having a liquid to gas converter where the coolant is adapted to heat the converter. The system includes a gas temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of gas exiting the converter and a valve means adapted to regulate the flow of coolant into the converter. A control means determined when said gas temperature falls below a pre-determined value and opens the valve to cause an increased flow of coolant into the converter thus heating it. The system further includes an embodiment where the control means causes the valve means to close only when the temperature of gas exiting the converter is greater than a pre-determined value. A coolant temperature sensor also ensures that the valve can not be completely closed off unless the coolant temperature is above a pre-set value such as 50 degrees Centigrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventors: Barrington Sexton, Paulus Boon
  • Patent number: 7069885
    Abstract: A cooling water pipe is deformed so as to have outlet openings respectively placed in a position around a fuel injection nozzle and in a position between ports, and the cooling water pipe is inserted to be placed inside the cylinder head. Thereby, the position around the fuel injection nozzle and the position between the ports can be simultaneously and efficiently cooled, and the structure becomes simpler and the production becomes easier. In order to deform the cooling water pipe, for example, the cooling water pipe is bent first, and subsequently bulge forming by hydraulic pressure is performed. Preferably, the cooling water pipe is made of aluminum. Thereby, the cooling water pipe becomes easier to melt into when the cylinder head is cast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Makoto Iida
  • Patent number: 7069906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a throttle device to be received in the intake system of an internal combustion engine, and includes a mechanism housing for receiving an actuator that actuates a throttle valve. A lid element which can be mounted on the mechanism housing is embodied in modular form and includes an opening for receiving a sensor module, which can be positioned independently of the mounting position of the lid element on the mechanism housing relative to a bearing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Josten, Markus Michels
  • Patent number: 7069882
    Abstract: In a water-cooled multi-cylinder vertical engine for an outboard engine system, cooling water having passed through an exhaust-manifold cooling water jacket for cooling an exhaust passage within an engine room is supplied to a cylinder-block cooling water jacket provided in a cylinder block through water supply pipes, a branching member and two upper and lower couplings. In this case, the lower coupling is locked below the center of a lowermost cylinder to minimize unevenness in flow rate of the cooling water flowing through a water jacket on opposite left and right sides of a cylinder toward a cooling water outlet provided at an upper portion thereof, thereby making uniform the distribution of the temperature around a combustion chamber, leading to an enhancement in cooling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yonezawa, Hiroki Tawa, Yoshihiko Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7069883
    Abstract: Early stage detection of engine liquid cooling problems is provided with temperature, pressure and other sensors and associated logic circuits configured for detecting alarm conditions including below normal static coolant pressure coupled with an elevated coolant temperature, above normal static coolant pressure, below normal coolant pump pressure condition, coolant voids due to coolant loss or boiling, and external steam or liquid leakage from the cooling system. A gauge displays the difference between coolant pump output pressure and static coolant pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Robert M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 7066121
    Abstract: A method to select cylinder and valve operational modes in an internal combustion engine with valves that may be deactivated. A simplified method to select cylinder and valve modes is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John O. Michelini, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7066114
    Abstract: A system for reducing the time that it takes a vehicle fuel cell engine to reach its operating temperature at vehicle start-up. The system includes a radiator and a fan, where a cooling fluid from the engine is directed through the radiator where it is cooled by airflow from the fan during high load conditions. The radiator also receives ambient air through a front grill from movement of the vehicle. During vehicle start-up, when the engine is below its optimal operating temperature, the fan is operated in a reverse direction at variable speeds depending on the speed of the vehicle, so that the airflow through the grill that may otherwise convectively cool the engine is significantly reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Uwe Hannesen, Roberto Diesel, Jan Meschkat
  • Patent number: 7066140
    Abstract: A crankcase scavenged and lubricated four-stroke engine (1) comprising especially: a mixture-preparation device (15) for supplying an air-fuel-lubricant mixture; an intake channel (16) connecting to the crankcase or cylinder to supply at least air (13) to the crankcase volume (12); an overflow channel (17) connecting to the crankcase or cylinder and to the intake opening (7) with intake valve (8) to supply to the intake at least air and lubricant from the crankcase volume; a valve drive assembly (18) driven by a crankshaft (4) for actuating the intake valve (8) and the exhaust valve (10); a valve drive assembly housing (19, 20, 21, 21?, 22) comprising one or more sections (19, 20, 21, 21?, 22) which is/are separate from the crankcase but in communication exclusively with the crankcase volume via at least one small size passage (23, 24, 25, 26, 27), and each section (19, 20, 21, 21?, 22) of the valve drive assembly housing has a lowest part situated closer to the combustion chamber, than the lowest part of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Lennart Emanuelsson, Peter Gunnarsson, Esbjörn Ollas, Tore Aronsson
  • Patent number: 7066125
    Abstract: A frost plug adapter assembly having a locking mechanism that provides a positive capture through an existing frost plug aperture. A cylindrical body is engaged within a frost plug aperture and is maintained in place by a bolt, a locking element and a wing nut. The bolt is advantageously positioned through the cylindrical body with a bolt head at the outer end. The wing nut is screwed onto a threaded end of the bolt so that the wings engage channels of arms of the locking element to spread the arms until they contact an inner annulus of the frost plug aperture. The frost plug adapter assembly is also capable of providing access to engine fluid by providing channels through the inner end of the cylindrical body. The frost plug adapter assembly is easy to install and the locking mechanism prevents the assembly from falling out under severe conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Active Gear Co of Canada Limited
    Inventor: David Lieberman
  • Patent number: 7063067
    Abstract: An intake air control apparatus uses a male screw portion of an intermediate opening adjustment screw retractively screwed in a female screw hole of a sleeve nut fixedly held between fitting bosses. The intermediate opening degree adjustment screw can be thus held on a gear housing. Stress otherwise generated by forcing the male screw directly into a resin portion is prevented around or in the neighborhood of the female screw hole, i.e. the fitting bosses. The intermediary of the sleeve nut also increases the area of the resin portion receiving the shock load, thereby improving shock resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kado, Hiroshi Tanimura, Tsuyoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 7063050
    Abstract: In an engine-driven handheld vacuum/blower, a first grip is provided as one part of an outer shape of an engine casing in which an engine is mounted, and a second grip is formed on a fuel tank which forms another part of the outer shape of the engine casing. The first grip and the second grip are positioned on the opposite sides of the center axis of the engine. Therefore, since there is no unbalanced load applied on either of both the hands, an operator can easily maintain the posture during operation, and can work with the vacuum/blower under good efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Robin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsunori Watanabe, Hiroshi Kubota, Hiroyuki Noda
  • Patent number: 7063048
    Abstract: A cover is used to integrate two thermostat valves in a compact set, wherein the cover has a hollowed body (1) projected from a flange (2) converging to a center part in which a vertical tubular element (5) is fitted to interconnect with a radiator via a hose. In the interior of the hollowed body (1), there are two adjacent galleries (7) shaped with independent end entrances (8 and 9) that are open in the base of the flange (2), and which share a single exit (10) defined by the tubular element (5). The mouthpieces of the two independent entrances are surrounded by grooves (11) that receive sealing rings (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Wahler Metalurgica Ltda.
    Inventor: Joao José Cardinali Ieda
  • Patent number: 7063079
    Abstract: Two embodiments of an integrated ionization detection circuit and ignition coil driver, an ASIC and a single electronic package, are disclosed. The apparatuses reduce the cost and complexity of an in-cylinder ionization detection system by combining like functionality into one ASIC or electronic module easing packaging constraints. In both embodiments, a current sink is used. The current sink removes noise in the form of voltage splices. The voltage spikes are high voltage, but of short duration. The current sink prevents these spikes from turning on the IGBT. However, the current sink allows the IGBT command signal to pass. This device also comprises a switch whereby ionization current and coil primary current are multiplexed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Garlan J. Huberts, Michael T. Nation, Guoming G. Zhu, Kevin D. Moran, Bruce Wang, Kenneth L. Gould
  • Patent number: 7063049
    Abstract: A piston cooling spray jet, installation tool there for, and method for the installation of the spray jet in an engine cylinder block are provided. A piston cooling nozzle has a hollow main body portion adapted to be press fit into a through bore of the engine cylinder block. A first end of the through bore is located in a piston gallery and a second end of the through bore is located in the main bearing journal. The through bore intersects with an oil circuit in the cylinder block. The main body portion of the nozzle has an orientation feature. An installation tool has a main body portion adapted to mateably engage a surface of the main bearing journal. A cap screw extends through an aperture in the main body portion, and an orientation key affixed to the main body portion partially surrounds the cap screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dominic Alan Kemp, Larry Linn Kriener, Stanley Milton Jagodzinski, Craig William Lohmann
  • Patent number: 7059276
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus reduces fuel vaporization and leakage the positions of vaporization and leakage and their amount in the fuel tank and the fuel pipe is detected properly in case of 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 heat or cools the fuel pipe leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine. A flow rate controlling apparatus adjusts 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: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Yamaoka, Minoru Oosuga, Kinya Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 7055513
    Abstract: A device for use in an air intake path of an internal combustion engine to improve the engine performance. The device body has a top surface, bottom surface and at least one air passage defined about an axis from the top surface-to the bottom surface, containing a chamfer at each end. The upper portion of the passage surface contains a plurality of V-shaped veins about the axis of the passage. The lower portion of the passage narrows in diameter to a point equal to or greater than the vein extension in the upper portion. The lower portion also defines a grooved surface starting at it's beginning having a 60 degree slope edge and a flat bottom major diameter spaced in such a manner as to have a helical shape and to circumscribe the passage wall terminating prior to the end of the lower passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: John Boveia
  • Patent number: 7051723
    Abstract: An ignition spark enhancing device and spark plug wire disposed in or establishing the electrical path between a spark source and a spark plug of an internal combustion engine. The device includes one or more coils of conductive hollow tubing formed from a length of conductive tubing configured for connection to the spark plug wire of the device or to a spark plug. The tubing is preferably copper and may also be aluminum or other conductive material and is also preferably used to form each spark plug wire as well for durability. At least five complete loops or turns wound concentrically or in helix fashion are preferred. The device is also preferably coated with a non-conductive material to reduce any risk of electrical shock or short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Harvey George Kiker