Patents Examined by Wendell E. Burns
  • Patent number: 4495929
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for diesel engines including an exhaust gas recirculation passage and a recirculation control valve for controlling the gas flow in the recirculation passage. A control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the control valve. The control circuit receives an engine speed signal and a position signal which represents the angular position of the control lever in the fuel injection pump and closes the control valve to cut-off the exhaust gas recirculation when the engine speed signal becomes smaller than the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tooru Maeda, Tsunao Yajima
  • Patent number: 4494510
    Abstract: Engine exhaust gas is recirculated by a fluid pressure actuated valve receiving a control signal from a controller which receives and modulates engine induction vacuum to provide a primary source and receives a carburetor throttle-blade controlled suction as a secondary source and compares the primary and secondary sources and discriminates therebetween to provide the lesser as the outward control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William W. Kelly, Cyril E. Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 4492210
    Abstract: A serviceable valve is provided for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases within an internal combustion engine. The valve includes a housing having a first section provided with an interior chamber and a second section secured to and subtending said first section. A diaphragm is affixed to and interposed the housing sections and is in communication with the chamber. In response to a predetermined chamber pressure, the diaphragm is distorted in one direction from a predetermined rest position. The housing is mounted on a fitting, which subtend the housing second section, whereby said housing and the diaphragm are rotatable as a unit about an axis of the fitting to selected positions of adjustment. The fitting is removably mounted on the engine. Carried on the diaphragm is a stem assembly which is movable longitudinally in response to the distortion of the diaphragm. A portion of the stem assembly extends through and protrudes from the fitting and has a valve piece mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Ballwin-Washington, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Hunt
  • Patent number: 4492209
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is an exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine, in which system communication is provided between an exhaust passage and an intake passage by way of an exhaust gas recirculation passage so that the exhaust gas in the exhaust passage is partially recirculated into the intake passage by the intake vacuum prevailing in the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Otani, Yasuo Ikenoya, Masafumi Araki
  • Patent number: 4489703
    Abstract: Anti-smog means for internal combustion engines of the type having a fuel intake channel and an exhaust pipe. A pickup chamber is connected to the exhaust pipe. A tank is connected to the pickup chamber. The intake channel is connected to the tank to feed unburnt hydrocarbons from the pickup to the fuel intake channel. A curved box in the pickup facilitates separating unburnt hydrocarbons from water and solid particles in the engine exhaust. Positive cleaning manifold valve facilitates the separation of escaping loose hydrocarbons from water at sludge surge chamber of valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph S. Falzone
  • Patent number: 4488533
    Abstract: An atmospheric pressure compensation system for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) of an internal combustion engine comprises a vacuum source for generating vacuum of a substantially constant absolute value, an EGR valve for regulating the gas flow passing through an EGR passage by means of the vacuum, an atmospheric pressure compensation valve for opening and closing a passage for transmitting the vacuum from the vacuum source to the EGR valve, a control circuit for detecting the engine running conditions and generating a control signal, and an actuator for contributing to actuate the compensation valve in response to the control signal. The atmospheric pressure compensation valve comprises a valve body defining at least two chambers partitioned by a diaphragm. The atmospheric pressure is introduced into one of the chambers, while the substantially constant vacuum from the vacuum source is introduced into the other chamber. A servo valve is operatively connected to the diaphragm and to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Sekiguchi, Takeshi Tanaka, Michio Kawagoe, Mitsumasa Yamada
  • Patent number: 4485794
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas in a diesel engine includes an EGR valve responsive to an EGR control signal for relatively opening and closing a recirculation duct to the passage of exhaust gas therethrough. A sensor provides a signal indicative of the level of particulates in the exhaust gas stream. Control circuitry responsive to various signals indicative of engine operating conditions, including the signal indicative of exhaust gas particulate level, provides an EGR control signal for regulating the EGR valve at least partly as a function of the sensed level of particulates in the exhaust gas stream. The engine operating condition signals typically are indicative of the speed of the engine or fuel injection pump, the engine load, and engine operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: United Technologies Diesel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Kimberley, Robert H. Bullis
  • Patent number: 4484445
    Abstract: An arrangement for exhaust gas recirculation in a supercharged internal combustion engine has an intake system and an exhaust system joined to each other via a conduit for recirculating exhaust gases to an intake conduit. This recirculation is controlled by a valve in response to the engine intake pressure, said valve having control means comprising an outer and an inner chamber separated by a movable membrane attached to which is a valve member regulating the flow through the conduit. Said valve member is acted on via the membrane by a spring in the outer chamber, which chamber is connected via a conduit to the intake conduit immediately upstream of the idle position for a throttle valve pivotably mounted in the intake conduit. The inner chamber is connected via a conduit to the intake conduit upstream of the connection of the conduit from the outer chamber but downstream of a compressor of the intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Saab-Scania Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Per S. Gillbrand
  • Patent number: 4483308
    Abstract: An air intake side secondary air supply system for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system uses a single source of control pressure for supplying a control pressure both into an air control valve for controlling the amount of the air intake side secondary air and an EGR flow control valve for controlling the amount of exhaust gas recirculation. Further, a pressure supply passage for directing the control pressure into the air control valve and the EGR flow control valve is designed to provide a desirable relation between the operations of the air control valve and the EGR flow control valve in accordance with an air/fuel ratio detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shumpei Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4481910
    Abstract: A stratified-charge two-stroke cycle scavenged spark-ignition engine 1 includes a piston (2) reciprocal in a cylinder (3) between a combustion chamber 4 and a crankcase (5). A carburetor (17) is mounted to the crankcase substantially coaxially with the piston to afford narrow engine design. An elongated scavenging air passage (14) extends between the crankcase and the combustion chamber and has a length substantially greater than that of a fuel-air transfer passage (7), and the height of piston (2), to reduce fuel mixture in the scavenging air passage and afford substantially only air at an air inlet port (16), which port is between fuel-air mixture inlet port (8) and exhaust port (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin L. Sheaffer
  • Patent number: 4481911
    Abstract: A stratified-charge cross-flow scavenged two-stroke cycle spark-ignition engine (1) includes a piston (2) having a raised crown (6) with a baffle (7) and chamfered sides (8, 9) and reciprocal in a cylinder (3) between a combustion chamber (4) and a crankcase (5). Transfer passage structure is disclosed wherein a pair of elongated scavenging air passages (17, 18) extend between the crankcase and combustion chamber on opposite sides of a shorter fuel-air transfer passage (11). A pair of scavenging air inlet ports (20, 21) in the combustion chamber are adjacent the fuel-air inlet port (12) therebetween and substantially distally opposite the exhaust port (16). The scavenging air inlet ports face the baffle at its edges along the chamfered sides of the piston crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin L. Sheaffer, John M. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 4481909
    Abstract: A crankchamber precompression type two-cycle internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder assembly, each cylinder assembly including a stepped cylinder constituted by a minor diameter cylinder portion and a major diameter cylinder portion, a stepped piston received in the stepped cylinder and constituted by a minor diameter piston portion and a major diameter piston portion adapted to be fitted in the minor diameter cylinder portion and the major diameter cylinder portion respectively, a crankchamber connected to the major diameter cylinder portion, a working chamber defined between the minor diameter cylinder portion and the minor diameter piston portion, and a sub-intake chamber defined between the major diameter cylinder portion and the minor diameter piston portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takada, Hitoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4480601
    Abstract: A two cylinder engine has a reverse scavenging system with exhaust ports itioned on either front end of the cylinder block and directed towards areas without any ports which are located next to each other in the center of the engine. Intake ports are directed towards either side wall of each cylinder where they open into charge compartments which are closed, e.g., with covers whose dimensions will permit milling and core-pulling tools to have access to the intake ports. Between the port-free areas of the cylinders a gap is provided which connects the water jackets of the cylinders in the upper part and the charge compartments in the lower part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignees: Avl Gesellschaft Fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen Und Messtechnik m.b.H., Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c. Hans List
    Inventors: Othmar Skatsche, Gerhard Feichtinger
  • Patent number: 4480968
    Abstract: Arrangements for engine compressor units are disclosed in which power cylinders operating on the two-stroke cycle are provided with charging air from a blower or other source which also provides charging air to two-cycle compressor cylinders so as to increase compressor volumetric efficiency through the delivery of precompressed inlet charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Duerr
  • Patent number: 4479478
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas for an internal combustion engine 1 in which an air-fuel mixture intake pipe 2 and an exhaust pipe 3 are connected with each other by a recirculation circuit having a main valve 4 and connecting pipes 5 and 6. This valve 4 is controlled by the partial vacuum prevailing at the venturi V of the intake pipe 2 by a solenoid valve 14. According to the invention, this control device includes a control system 13 having an additive type pneumatic amplifier 17 that generates a partial vacuum signal for the control of this main valve 4 whose strength is greater than the value of partial vacuum at the nozzle 16 of the venturi throat V, with a constant value in a range of extended operation. Application is particularly to internal combustion engines equipped with a system for recirculation of exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventor: Henri Arnaud
  • Patent number: 4478199
    Abstract: A method of controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine provided with an exhaust-gas recirculation system by which the exhaust gases emitted from the exhaust manifold are partially recirculated into the intake manifold of the engine, comprising cutting off the recirculation of exhaust gases to the intake manifold of the engine when the engine is being warmed up, recirculating exhaust gases to the intake manifold of the engine at a rate variable in a predetermined required exhaust-gas recirculation ratio to the rate at which air is circulated to the intake manifold of the engine after the engine is warmed up, and recirculating exhaust gases to the intake manifold of the engine with a reduced exhaust-gas recirculation ratio lower than said required exhaust-gas recirculation ratio during a transient period of time intervening the conditions in which the engine is being warmed up and the conditions in which the engine has been warmed up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Narasaka, Kazuo Otsuka, Eiji Kishida
  • Patent number: 4478180
    Abstract: A crankchamber precompression type two-cycle internal combustion engine including cylinder assemblies of an even number consists of at least one pair of cylinder assemblies having working cycles with 180.degree. phase difference, each cylinder assembly having a stepped cylinder constituted by a minor diameter cylinder portion and a major diameter cylinder portion, a stepped piston received in the stepped cylinder and constituted by a minor diameter piston portion and a major diameter piston portion, the minor diameter and major diameter piston portions being in sliding engagement with the minor diameter and the major diameter cylinder portions of the stepped cylinder respectively to provide an annular space serving as sub-intake chamber in the major diameter portions of the cylinders, the sub-intake chambers being connected to an auxiliary scavenging nozzle oriented toward a combustion chamber of the other associated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuzo Fujikawa, Toshiyuki Takada
  • Patent number: 4476817
    Abstract: A controlled amount of a fluid (steam or water or a solution of water plus additives) is injected into an internal combustion engine to improve combustion, efficiency, and to reduce emissions. The amount of the fluid injected is controlled in response to engine need. The steam is generated by the heat produced by the engine. Combustion gas temperature is used to control the amount of steam produced by varying the fluid flow through one or more fixed or variable orifice control valves. The steam is injected in a piston engine to cool peak temperatures, to prevent detonation and pre-ignition, to smooth out hot spots, to prevent auto-ignition or dieseling, and to use the vapor energy in the expansion cycle to increase low speed torque and acceleration. The steam is used to cause full retard of the vacuum spark advance during acceleration at full load from low speed, and a large amount of steam is injected at this point in the cycle to prevent pre-ignition and detonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Owen, Wickersham & Erickson, P.C.
    Inventor: John E. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 4476821
    Abstract: An engine has preferably coupled together a reciprocating air compressor discharging through a heat exchanger into a reciprocating cylinder piston combination, the flow into the piston cylinder combination being controlled by a cam-actuated inlet valve which is maintained open for a substantial fraction of the out-stroke of the combustion piston. There is also an exhaust valve from the combustion chamber which releases exhaust gas to the heat exchanger for transfer of thermal energy to the incoming compressed air. A fuel injector supplies fuel to the compressed air entering through the inlet valve into the combustion chamber over a large part of the out-stroke of the power piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventors: Thomas C. Robinson, Sotiris Kitrilakis
  • Patent number: 4475525
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine, orifices disposed in a passage for recirculating the exhaust gas is made of a sheet of a bimetal or other material capable of changing from a normal shape to a deformed shape when the heat of the exhaust gas is applied, in order to prevent carbon contained in the exhaust gas from depositing on the orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukae