Patents Examined by Tony M. Argenbright
  • Patent number: 7051704
    Abstract: An intake air control apparatus method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which the engine includes a variably operated valve mechanism for making at least one of an operating angle of an intake valve and a valve lift thereof variable. A determination is made on whether a deceleration fuel supply cutoff condition to cutoff the fuel supply to the engine is established. A fuel supply cutoff control is carried out when the deceleration fuel supply cutoff condition is established, and at least one of the operating angle of intake valve and the valve lift thereof is reduced by the variably operated valve mechanism to a predetermined extreme minimal value before the fuel supply cutoff control is started in a state in which the deceleration fuel supply cutoff condition is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7047909
    Abstract: A method of operating a compression ignition engine comprises introducing enriching component to a combustion chamber of the compression ignition engine, wherein the enriching component comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; introducing bulk fuel to the combustion chamber; heating a glow plug to cause the enriching component to release thermal energy; and initiating combustion of the bulk fuel with the released thermal energy from the enriching component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean J Botti
  • Patent number: 7047937
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided, and has a throttle element mounted in the intake channel of the engine so as to be pivotable, via a throttle shaft, between an idling position and a full-load position. An abutment is fixedly connected with the throttle shaft. In the idling position, the abutment rests against a stop element that is fixed in position on the intake channel. The stop element is adjustable and establishes the idling position of the throttle element. The abutment forms, with the stop element, a switch that is actuated in the idling position of the throttle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Thomas Frank, Andreas Hägele, Mohamed Abou-Aly, Eberhard Schieber
  • Patent number: 7047947
    Abstract: A fuel system for supplying LPG fuel, the system including a fuel storage tank and a fuel transfer tank. A first pump pushes fuel to a vehicle engine from the transfer tank and excess fuel from the engine is returned to the storage tank or the transfer tank. A second pump pulls fuel from the storage tank into the transfer tank when a fluid level within the transfer tank falls below a certain level. A method of providing LPG fuel to the engine of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Bi-Phase Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Victor Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 7047128
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preventing a control program written in a first engine control unit (ECU) from running in a second ECU, comprising obtaining an ID number from the first ECU; encrypting the ID number; writing the encrypted ID number into a flash memory of the first ECU; encrypting the ID number again and writing the encrypted ID number into an EEPROM of the first ECU; and requiring the control program to match the encrypted ID number placed in the flash memory and the EEPROM before running the program, and if the match fails, terminating the control program from running further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignees: RTK Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Frank Dudel, Mitchell W. Simmons, Todd G. Williams
  • Patent number: 7044100
    Abstract: The invention is an improved power transmission drive, for an internal combustion engine. The drive is of the type having a flexible link medium for transmitting power between a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine and drive components not associated with a primary purpose of the internal combustion engine. The drive is improved by the inclusion of a drive frame, a camshaft sprocket releasably mounted upon the drive frame, a crankshaft drive-wheel releasably mounted upon the drive frame, an engine accessory mounted upon the drive frame, an accessory drive-wheel mounted upon a shaft of the engine accessory, and the camshaft sprocket, the crankshaft drive-wheel, and the accessory drive-wheel each entrained by the flexible link medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Roger D. Stone
  • Patent number: 7044089
    Abstract: In a cylinder head structure of a multi-cylinder engine, a head-side water jacket is provided in the cylinder head, a lateral rib extending in the engine width direction is provided at an upper face of the portion located between cylinders of bottom deck, the lateral rib bifurcates, getting around intake-side and exhaust-side connecting holes connecting the head-side water jacket with a water jacket in cylinder block, its both ends are connected with intake-port and exhaust-port walls, and its top portion is configured so as to become taller gradually from its central portion toward its outside portions. Accordingly, rigidity of the portion located between cylinders of the cylinder head can be increased in the cylinder-line direction as well as in the vertical direction, which can improve the sealing between the cylinder block and the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7044113
    Abstract: A liquified gas delivery system for a motorized platform includes a holding tank configured to receive liquified gas. A first conduit extends from a vapor holding portion of the tank to a valve device. A second conduit extends from a liquid holding portion of the tank to the valve device. Fluid coupled to the valve device is a vaporizer which is in communication with an engine. The valve device selectively withdraws either liquified gas or liquified gas vapor from the tank depending on the pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank. Various configurations of the delivery system can be utilized for pressurizing the tank during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis N. Bingham, Bruce M. Wilding, James E. O'Brien, Ali S. Siahpush, Kevin B. Brown
  • Patent number: 7040283
    Abstract: The invention is intended to simplify a default mechanism of a throttle valve opening and closing device for the purpose of improving mountability of the device to a vehicle. When a motor generate no driving forces, a throttle valve is held in a position (1) by a return spring. In this position, gaps are formed between the throttle valve and a wall surface of an intake passage. Spherical recesses are formed in parts of the wall surface of the intake passage. In a position (2) where the throttle valve is opposed to the spherical recesses, the gaps are minimized in an operating range of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Soshino, Takehiko Kowatari, Yuzo Kadomukai, Yuki Ejiri, Kenji Ono, Yasuhiro Kamimura, Norihiro Isozaki, Eisuke Wayama, Hitoshi Andoh, Yutaka Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7040279
    Abstract: A Divided Chamber combustion system comprising an energy-cell built in the bottom of a deep piston bowl; aligned in the cylinder's centerline; in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber through one main transfer passage disposed in its centerline and a plurality of auxiliary transfer passages circularly disposed around it. Each auxiliary transfer passage is at least inclined on a plane parallel to the cell's centerline. The injection nozzle, centrally-located in the fire deck of the cylinder head, includes a central pintle discharging fuel on the cylinder's centerline; and a plurality of small auxiliary orifices circularly surrounding the central pintle; discharging at a radial angle to the cylinder's centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Jose Francisco Regueiro
  • Patent number: 7040274
    Abstract: For attaching the oil sump (10) to the engine block (30) of a combustion engine, a seal is made between the engine block (30) and the oil sump (10) by means of a curable composition (20). The adhesion of the composition (20) when cured is sufficient to secure the oil sump (10) to the engine block (30). The adhesion should be at least 0.5 N/mm2, especially more than 0.8 N/mm2. The curable composition (20) can be a silicone composition. The oil sump (10) can be fixed to the engine block (30) at least during the curing of the composition (20). To this end, the edge of the oil sump can be designed such that a self-fixing takes place when the oil sump (10) is joined to the engine block (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Henkel Loctite Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Ritter, Thomas M. Schmatz
  • Patent number: 7040262
    Abstract: This engine relies on a flywheel having a flywheel axis and an undulating cam surface. A piston wit a roller at its base is positioned in a cylinder such that the roller abuts the undulating cam surface at some radial distance from the flywheel axis. Thus, as the piston is pushed downward by combustion pressure in the cylinder, it pushes against the cam surface causing the flywheel to rotate. As the flywheel continues to rotate its undulating surface pushes the piston back into position for a repetition of the cycle. The cam surface can be configured to control engine parameters such as compression ratio, duration of intake stroke, duration of exhaust stroke, duration of combustion stroke, duration of power stroke, compression stroke pattern, volumetric efficiency, or power stroke pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Patrick C. Ho
  • Patent number: 7040296
    Abstract: An engine start control system provides at least one sensor detecting engine operating conditions, an injector, and a control unit. The control unit controls the injector based on signals of the at least one sensor and it is programmed to perform a control logic comprising, determining whether an accumulated number of cases in which engine start is determined to be delayed is greater than a predetermined reference value and controlling the injector to not inject fuel for a predetermined number of engine cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Woo Jik Lee
  • Patent number: 7040285
    Abstract: A knocking control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is applied to an internal combustion engine including a variable valve mechanism that can vary a valve characteristic of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and which changes an engine control amount based on a result of a knocking determination as to whether knocking occurs, includes a controller which performs the knocking determination as to whether knocking occurs based on an output signal from a knock sensor that detects a vibration occurring in the internal combustion engine, and which changes a mode of the knocking determination according to a change in a combustion state of an air-fuel mixture, the change being caused by a change in the valve characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kato, Yuji Miyanoo
  • Patent number: 7036484
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine, an alternator, a load, and a controller that communicates with the engine, the alternator, and the load. The controller signals the engine to drive the alternator when the engine idles. When a load increase on the engine is detected, the controller reduces an alternator load on the engine in response to the load increase. Air flow into the engine is adjusted to compensate for the load increase, and concurrently the alternator load is increased. When a load decrease is detected, the alternator load is increased, and the air flow is subsequently adjusted while decreasing the alternator load. In another embodiment, spark timing of the engine is adjusted to compensate for the load decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Mathews, Nick S. Kapsokavathis
  • Patent number: 7032568
    Abstract: A fuel feed device of a gas engine of non-supercheged type for feeding air and fuel to an intake port without mixing by amixer, wherein fuel gas is fed into the intake port by utilizing a negative pressure generated in the intake port in an intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryouichi Hagiwara, Tohru Nakazono
  • Patent number: 7032547
    Abstract: An insert for a siamese-type internal combustion engine that separates a water jacket surrounding the cylinders into an upper portion and a lower portion. Below a predetermined engine speed coolant flows primarily in the upper water jacket portion so as to provide enhanced cooling at the upper portions of the cylinders. Above a predetermined engine speed coolant is introduced into the lower water jacket portion from the upper water jacket portion so as to provide improved cooling of the lower cylinder portions, without compromising cooling of the upper cylinder portions or the conjoined cylinder wall portions. The water jacket insert enhances coolant flow velocity at the siamesed or conjoined portions of the cylinder walls, and directs incoming initially coolant over the exhaust-side of the cylinders. Use of the insert reduces circumferential and axial intra-cylinder temperature deviations as well as inter-cylinder temperature deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Xin
  • Patent number: 7032845
    Abstract: A fuel injector for the direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided, which injector includes a valve needle having at its spray-discharge end a valve-closure member, which cooperates with a valve-seat surface formed on a valve-seat member to form a sealing seat. At least one swirl channel is provided in a section of the valve-seat member surrounding the valve needle, and at least one spray-discharge orifice is provided in the valve-seat member. The at least one swirl channel, when viewed through the swirl channel in the flow direction of the fuel, is inclined counter to the spray-discharge direction relative to the center axis of the valve needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Dantes, Joerg Heyse
  • Patent number: 7028646
    Abstract: The cooling system of a skid-steer loader provides for heat exchangers, e.g. liquid, oil coolers, mounted in the upper portion of an engine compartment and in direct communication with a forced air flow. Circulating air is drawn into the engine compartment from the rear, is carried over the engine and is blown out through the heat exchangers to cool the liquid within the heat exchangers. The housing of a centrifugal fan is rigidly coupled to the engine block and the fan is also directly coupled to the engine flywheel. This allows for closer tolerances between the fan and its housing which results in higher efficiency because this dual coupling to the engine inhibits differential vibration between the fan and the housing. Interconnection between the heat exchangers and fan housing is via a flexible bellows and an air diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLP
    Inventor: Edward L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7028644
    Abstract: A hydrogen enhanced engine system using high compression ratio is optimized to minimize NOx emissions, exhaust aftertreatment catalyst requirements, hydrogen requirements, engine efficiency and cost. In one mode of operation the engine is operated very lean (equivalence ratio ?=0.4 to 0.7) at lower levels of power. Very lean operation reduces NOx to very low levels. A control system is used to increase equivalence ratio at increased torque or power requirements while avoiding the knock that would be produced by high compression ratio operation. The increased equivalence ratio reduces the amount of hydrogen required to extend the lean limit in order to avoid misfire and increases torque and power. The engine may be naturally aspirated, turbocharged, or supercharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, Alexander Rabinovich, John B. Heywood