Patents Examined by Willis R. Wolfe
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Patent number: 7836868Abstract: A by-pass valve to regulate the passage of a gas towards two areas of a device, comprising a body coupled to said device, with an internal chamber in which the inlet gas is received through an inlet pipe, and two outlet pipes directed towards said areas and having a planar face with an access opening to its internal chamber through which there is inserted a planar plate on which the closing member and its actuation means are assembled, the closing member being duly positioned so as to close the outlet pipes.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Borgwarner Emissions Systems Spain, S.L.Inventors: Carlos Manuel Castaño Gonzalez, Xoán Xosé Hermida Domínguez, José Antonio Sanroman Prado
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Patent number: 7835847Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining a regeneration availability profile for an exhaust gas aftertreatment system. The method, in one embodiment, tracks historical attempts and success to determine the availability of regeneration for the system. In a further embodiment, the method divides the system operation into segments according to desired conditions which affect regeneration, for example the workload of an engine, and tracks separate success ratios for each operating condition. This allows prediction of success of a given regeneration based upon the current operating condition, as well as diagnostics of regeneration problems where an operating condition experiences trouble regenerating when historically it should not.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Cummins IP, IncInventors: Martin T. Books, Melissa H. Dye, J. Steve Wills
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Patent number: 7832384Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase and a cylinder head which covers a cylinder of the crankcase and in which a fresh-gas channel and an exhaust-gas channel are made which open on a cylinder-head longitudinal side and are connected to in each case a fresh-gas line and an exhaust-gas collection line, and wherein there is an exhaust-gas recirculation system, including an exhaust-gas recirculation line and a control valve. An internal combustion engine having an exhaust-gas recirculation system is provided, in which the exhaust-gas recirculation system remains uninfluenced by the exhaust-gas collection line which is hot during operation. This is achieved in that the exhaust-gas recirculation system is arranged on that cylinder-head side which lies opposite the fresh-gas line and the exhaust-gas collection line.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: DUETZ AktiengesellschaftInventor: Alfons Bleffert
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Patent number: 7832372Abstract: A process is provided for enhancing homogeneous combustion and improving ignition in rotary and reciprocating piston IC engines. Physical embodiments supporting this process have secondary chambers embedded in the cylinder periphery to initiate radical ignition (“RI”) species generation in an earlier cycle for use in the main chamber combustion of a later cycle. These communicate with the main chamber via small conduits. Coordinated with the progressions facilitated by these secondary chambers are novel control measures for regulating the quantities of RI species ultimately generated for and conveyed to the later cycle. The pre-determinable presence of RI species so supplied then alters or adds controlled variety to the dominant chain-initiation reactions of the main combustion ignition mechanism of the later cycle. This presence does so by lowering both the heat and the fuel ratios required for starting and sustaining combustion.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: HCRI Technologies International, LLCInventor: David A. Blank
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Patent number: 7831373Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine in which at least one secondary fuel injection is carried out, and a device for implementing the method. The level of the motor oil of the internal combustion engine is ascertained, which is compared to a first threshold value for the maximum possible oil level. If a threshold is exceeded, a warning signal is provided. Preferably an oil-dilution signal, which is a measure for the quantity and/or the volume of the oil dilution input into the motor oil of the internal combustion engine by the at least one secondary fuel injection, is taken into account when ascertaining the oil level.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Stefan Forthmann
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Patent number: 7831376Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders and an exhaust tract into which a mixture which is situated in the respective cylinder is introduced in the respective discharge strokes. A combustion misfire rate is determined as a function of at least one operating variable of the internal combustion engine. A temperature in the exhaust tract is determined as a function of the combustion misfire rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Erhard Binder, Christian Schweigert
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Patent number: 7831375Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine includes an EGR mechanism for introducing exhaust gas into intake air, and is capable of a partial cylinder operation in which combustion in a part of the cylinders is halted. The multi-cylinder engine includes an EGR rate control unit for setting an introduction rate at which the exhaust gas is introduced into the intake air to be lower in a first partial cylinder operating state in which the ignition intervals are unequal, than in a second partial cylinder operating state, in which ignition intervals among a plurality of operating cylinders are equal.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomohiro Shinagawa
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Patent number: 7827954Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling a plasma-jet spark plug in a four-stroke internal combustion engine, including the steps of: causing the spark plug to generate a primary discharge during either a compression stroke or an expansion stroke of the engine in such a manner as to produce a plasma by the primary discharge; and causing the spark plug to generate a secondary discharge during a time after the primary discharge and before the completion of a subsequent intake stroke of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Nagasawa, Katsunori Hagiwara, Wataru Matsutani
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Patent number: 7826955Abstract: In a general-purpose internal combustion engine connectable to operating machines such as a snowplow, a washing machine and a wood chipper having an electronic control unit that controls operation of the operating machine when connected, there are provided a signal output terminal that is installed in the electronic control unit and outputs a signal generated by the electronic control unit to the operating machine and a signal selector constituted by a personal computer that selects a signal to be outputted by the signal output terminal from among signals in response to manipulation by an operator. The engine can be easily connected with any operating machine without a complicated electronic control unit, thereby improving versatility and convenience.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshihisa Shinogi
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Patent number: 7826959Abstract: In a cruise controller for a saddle-seat vehicle, it is configured to comprise desired throttle opening control execution means (ECU 110) for executing desired throttle opening control by operating the actuator (74) such that the actual throttle opening becomes the desired throttle opening, determine whether the throttle opening command APS is in a predetermined relationship with the actual throttle opening TPS (S60), and switch the cruise control to the desired throttle opening control (S50) when it is discriminated that they are in the predetermined relationship and a disable condition has been established (S62 to S66). By suitably setting the predetermined relationship, the cruise control can be disabled and shifted to the desired throttle opening control at the actual throttle opening anticipatable by the operator, so that driving feel is not impaired and no unnecessary engine output is produced upon switching to the desired throttle opening control.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Keihin CorporationInventors: Takashi Namari, Toru Shiitsuka, Hideki Watanabe
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Patent number: 7826958Abstract: An arrangement and a method for recirculation of exhaust gases of a combustion engine. A return line extends from an exhaust line for engine exhaust gases to an inlet line for air to the combustion engine. An EGR valve in the exhaust line regulates the amount of exhaust gases led through the return line. A control unit controls the EGR valve. An EGR cooler cools the exhaust gases in the return line by means of a cooling system of the combustion engine. The control unit decides whether the coolant in the cooling system is at a too low a temperature and, if it is, controls the EGR valve so that a larger amount of exhaust gases is led through the return line with extra heating.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Scania CV AB (Publ)Inventor: Hans Wikström
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Patent number: 7822532Abstract: A method of adjusting the operation of an engine-driven machine to avoid engine under-speeding entails converting a received speed or torque command into a power command. When an engine under-speed condition is sensed, the system performs underspeed correction in the power domain before converting the underspeed processed power command back into the units of the original domain. The converted underspeed processed power command is issued to the transmission or other component to alleviate the engine under-speeding condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Brian D. Hoff, Frank A. DeMarco, Thomas M. Sopko, Michael Barngrover, Brian D. Kuras
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Patent number: 7822534Abstract: A fuel supply device (30) for an engine (1) pressurizes the fuel drawn up from a fuel tank (31) by the low-pressure fuel pump (32) and stores it in a delivery pipe (34), and injects the fuel stored in the delivery pipe (34) from an injector (35). The fuel supply device (30) includes a return passageway (50) connecting the delivery pipe (34) and the fuel tank (31), and a relief valve (51) that is provided on the return passageway (50) and that is capable of being switched between an open state for connecting the delivery pipe (34) and the fuel tank (31) in communication and a closed state for shutting off the delivery pipe (34) and the fuel tank (31) from each other in communication. An ECU (60) switches the relief valve (51) to the open state and operates the low-pressure fuel pump (32), if a predetermined stop condition for stopping the engine (1) is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuji Matsubara
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Patent number: 7822531Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method and system for reducing emissions and improving knock-tolerance in an engine. Air, including exhaust gas present at levels greater than 20% by total air mass, may be introduced into a combustion chamber having a volume including a piston and a cylinder head. A first amount of fuel and a second amount of fuel may be directly injected into the combustion chamber at various points during the cycle, wherein the ratio of the air, including the exhaust gas, to the first and second amounts of fuel is 14.0:1 to 15.0:1. The first and second amounts of fuel may then be ignited. An electronic control unit may be utilized to time the injections and control the introduction of exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Terrence Francis Alger, II, Charles Edward Roberts, Jr., Darius Mehta
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Patent number: 7809492Abstract: A method for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine operating with alternating intake valves is presented. According to the method, engine air-fuel ratio can be adjusted by changing valve timings or fuel during a cylinder cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini, Gang Song
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Patent number: 7809494Abstract: An engine control apparatus for controlling the amount of the air flowing into each cylinder in accordance with the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder at the time of starting the engine is disclosed. Further, at the engine starting time, the target amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is calculated and/or the amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is controlled, based on the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder. The amount of the fuel remaining in the neighborhood of the engine intake port or in the intake pipe is calculated by being separated into a balanced liquid film amount and unbalanced liquid film amount. Based on the unbalanced liquid film amount, the injection fuel amount is corrected so that the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder is controlled with high accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
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Patent number: 7805238Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle and method of operation are provided. As one example, the system comprises an engine including at least one combustion chamber, a motor configured to selectively propel the vehicle via the drive wheel, a fuel system configured to deliver a first substance and a second substance to the combustion chamber in varying relative amounts, wherein the first substance includes a fuel and the second substance includes a greater concentration of a knock suppressing substance than the first substance; and a control system configured to operate the fuel system to vary the relative amounts of the first substance and the second substance delivered to the combustion chamber in response to an operating condition while operating the motor to propel the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2010Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Michael Andri
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Patent number: 7801664Abstract: A method of operating an engine is provided. The engine includes at least one cylinder communicating with an intake manifold via an intake manifold valve and an exhaust manifold via an exhaust manifold valve, the cylinder including a piston arranged within the cylinder, wherein the piston is coupled to a crankshaft of the engine. The method comprises discontinuing combustion in the cylinder during a plurality of cycles of the engine; during the plurality of cycles, operating the exhaust manifold valve and the intake manifold valve to provide a net flow of gases from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold via the cylinder and adjusting a torque signature provided to the crankshaft during each cycle by the piston responsive to an operating condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Vincent J. Winstead
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Patent number: 7798118Abstract: A method and apparatus for installation and functioning of a flame front type ignition system in a throughbore through the wall of the head of an internal combustion engine. The flame front ignition system employs a flame cone which is thread ably inserted within the throughbore. The inboard end of the flame cone is provided with a plurality of exit ports opening from a central channel and into the combustion chamber. The flame cone is provided with indicia on its outboard face and a marker is provided on the outer rim of the throughbore. When an indicia letter on the flame cone is aligned with the marker, the flame cone is properly installed. The depth of insertion of the flame cone is adjustable by means of spacer washers adapted to selectively adjust the dept as well as seal the flame cone in the throughbore.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Econo Plug Technologies Inc.Inventors: Howard Gagliano, Marion Satterfield
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Patent number: 7797097Abstract: When it is determined that fuel in use is low-cetane fuel or a present location point is at a high altitude, a map of rich combustion, exhaust gas fuel addition or a post-injection is rewritten on the occasion of reduction of NOx to inhibit a misfire. Also, deterioration of fuel consumption due to regeneration of a diesel particulate filter is inhibited by suppressing excessive discharge of smoke due to the rich combustion. Thus, an exhaust purification device of an internal combustion engine capable of achieving both of inhibition of the deterioration in the fuel consumption due to the regeneration of the diesel particulate filter and inhibition of torque shock accompanying the misfire during the rich combustion for the NOx reduction is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Jun Kawamura, Masakuni Yokoyama