Patents Examined by Willis R. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8291892
    Abstract: A heat exchanger suitable for cooling exhaust gases and a method of making same are disclosed. The heat exchanger includes an outer casting member having first and second ends and forming a housing and a plurality of channel members forming alternating first and second flow channels for the flow of an exhaust gas through the first flow channels and coolant through the second flow channels. The channel members form a core having first and second ends, this core being mounted in the casting member. A first flange is fixedly attached to a first end of the core so as to form a sealed joint. A second flange is fixedly attached to the second end of the core so as to form another sealed joint. The first and second flanges are each coupled by fasteners to their respective ends of the casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Herve Palanchon, Hans Katzmaier, Bruno Chapoutol
  • Patent number: 8296043
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the functional capacity of an engine controller having a plurality of execution units, a comparison operating mode is provided, in which a torque monitoring program is executed on a plurality of execution units of the system, and signals outputted during the execution of the monitoring program by the execution units are compared with one another in order to recognize an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Mueller, Volker Pitzal, Rainer Gmehlich
  • Patent number: 8296044
    Abstract: In a method for localizing a fault location within a fuel injection system, when a critical fault is detected by the diagnostic function, a pulse or a series of pulses to the injectors is triggered by a control unit. By observing the voltage value and/or charge value at the injector, it is possible to localize the fault location within the fuel injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Hartmut Wolpert
  • Patent number: 8290688
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and a sensor malfunction monitor. In order to maintain operation during a fuel cut-off situation, the sensor malfunction monitor is arranged to control the fuel cut-off sequencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Iain Watson
  • Patent number: 8290684
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fuel stabilizer system is provided. The fuel stabilizer system includes a fuel additive storage unit that stores fuel stability fluid. A fuel stability fluid supply system supplies fuel stability fluid from the fuel additive storage unit to a fuel storage unit. A control module estimates an age of fuel in the fuel storage unit and selectively controls the fuel stability fluid supply system to supply fuel stability fluid to the fuel storage unit based on the age of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pui-Kei Yuen, Steven P. Kemp, Andrew E. Buczynksky
  • Patent number: 8290692
    Abstract: An engine-starting device for stopping the engine after satisfaction of an idling-stop condition during idling of a vehicle, starting rotation of a starter-motor upon satisfaction of a starter-motor rotation start condition, and causing a pinion gear to mesh with a ring gear upon satisfaction of a pinion gear meshing condition, includes the ring gear to be connected to a crank shaft, the pinion gear for transmitting the starter-motor rotation, a plunger for causing the pinion gear to mesh with the ring gear, and a starter control section for instructing energization of the starter-motor, in which the starter-motor is energized to be rotated upon the satisfaction of the starter-motor rotation start condition prior to clearing of the idling-stop condition in response to a restart request, and the pinion gear is caused to mesh with the ring gear by the plunger upon the satisfaction of the pinion gear meshing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kitano, Masahiko Kurishige, Akihiko Imagi, Daisuke Mizuno, Koichiro Kamei, Kazuhiro Odahara, Naohito Kaneda
  • Patent number: 8276568
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus according to the present invention includes vapor production determining means for determining whether or not the vapor of the fuel is producible, and control means (ECU) for operating a passage resistance adjusting means of a pressure adjusting mechanism to cause increase of the pressure of the fuel supplied to an injector insomuch as the production of the vapor is inhibited when the vapor production determining means has determined a vapor producible condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunio Takagi, Kazuhiko Nishimura, Kazuhiro Yoneshige, Satomi Wada, Hiroki Endo, Masaki Ikeya
  • Patent number: 8275538
    Abstract: Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for controlling injection of gaseous and liquid fuel to a cylinder during engine starting. Specifically, gaseous fuel is injected during or before an intake stroke of the cycle to form a well-mixed overall lean air-fuel mixture, and then liquid fuel is directly injected to the cylinder at least during one of a compression and expansion stroke of the engine cycle to form a rich air-fuel cloud near the spark plug, where a spark initiates combustion of the injected fuels. In one example, the rich cloud enables additional spark retard, and thus faster catalyst light-off, while maintain acceptable combustion stability of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8271183
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle including an engine is provided The engine may include at least one cylinder, a boosting device to boost intake air to the at least one cylinder, a fuel tank, a fuel vapor canister to store fuel vapors vented from the fuel tank, and an emission control device to treat exhaust gas from the engine. The boosting device includes a compressor at least partially driven by an electric motor. The method includes during an engine cold start condition, operating the electric motor of the boost device to boost intake air, directing the boosted intake air through the fuel vapor canister to release a fuel vapor stored in the fuel vapor canister, directing the fuel vapor from the fuel vapor canister to the engine, and performing combustion in the at least one cylinder using the fuel vapor during the engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 8265860
    Abstract: The stop-start control apparatus (20) is applied to the spark ignition type internal combustion engine (1), stops the internal combustion engine 1 in a case that a prescribed stop condition is fulfilled, and restarts the internal combustion engine (1) in a case that a prescribed restart condition is fulfilled. The control apparatus cuts spark ignition for the internal combustion engine 1 in response to the fulfillment of the stop condition, and carries on fuel supply to the internal combustion engine (1). When a restart condition is fulfilled after the fulfillment of a stop condition and prior to a complete stop of the internal combustion engine (1), the control apparatus restarts the internal combustion engine (1) by resuming spark ignition for the internal combustion engine (1) in order that fuel supplied after the fulfillment of the stop condition burns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Ichinose, Takayuki Otsuka, Rentaro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 8261724
    Abstract: An exhaust gas guide member is provided to an airflow control valve varying an opening area of an intake passage. The exhaust gas guide member forms an exhaust gas passage which introduces the exhaust gas flowing from the exhaust gas introducing portion into the intake pipe toward an opposite end of the airflow control valve relative to the valve shaft. Thereby, the exhaust gas flows together with an intake air flow of high velocity generated by the airflow control valve so that a tumble flow can be generated in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Aoki, Jun Yamada, Tadashi Komiyama
  • Patent number: 8260525
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine are described, the fuel being injectable directly into a combustion chamber in particular via at least one first injector and also being injectable into an intake manifold in particular via at least one second injector. For injection of fuel in a full-load operating state of the internal combustion engine, a first selection is made from the at least one first injector and the at least one second injector having a first metering range, including a full-load injection quantity required for the full-load operating state. For injection of fuel in a partial-load operating state of the internal combustion engine, a second selection is made from the at least one first injector and the at least one second injector having a second metering range, including the adjustment of a minimum fuel injection quantity required for operating the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Mallebrein, Michael Frank, Alexander Schenck Zu Schweinsberg, Helerson Kemmer, Wolfgang Samenfink
  • Patent number: 8260531
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an abnormality detection device for an in-cylinder pressure sensor and an abnormality detection method for an in-cylinder pressure sensor that is able to detect preload loss abnormality of an in-cylinder pressure sensor. An in-cylinder pressure sensor has a strain gauge element to which preload was given. Under an operating state of an internal-combustion engine, it is judged whether Pim/Pex that is a ratio of intake pressure Pim to exhaust gas pressure Pex is 1. Reset of temperature drift is performed when Pim/Pex is 1. If an output voltage which serves as a base of calculation of Pim after the reset of a temperature drift is equal to a circuit limit value, existence of preload loss abnormality is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromichi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8249795
    Abstract: A method for detection of emissions levels during extended engine speed controlled operation is provided. The method includes monitoring mass airflow passing through the engine while operating the engine. The method further includes adjusting mass airflow responsive to engine speed to maintain a desired engine speed. The method further includes shutting down the engine when engine mass airflow becomes higher than a predetermined mass airflow threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Bala Chander, Nate Trask, Shane Elwart, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8041502
    Abstract: The engine misfire detection process according to one aspect of the invention first makes tentative detection on the occurrence or the non-occurrence of an engine misfire in execution of both vibration control and rotation speed control. In response to the tentative detection of an engine misfire, the engine misfire detection process subsequently makes final detection on the occurrence or the non-occurrence of an engine misfire. In the event of no final detection of an engine misfire, the engine misfire detection process makes tentative detection and final detection on the occurrence or the non-occurrence of an engine misfire in prohibition of the vibration control. In the event of still no final detection of an engine misfire, the engine misfire detection process makes tentative detection and final detection on the occurrence or the non-occurrence of an engine misfire in further prohibition of the rotation speed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hikokazu Akimoto
  • Patent number: 8020531
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control device in a internal combustion engine for a vehicle can be improved in maintainability and can be reduced in size. An electronic throttle control device in a V-type internal combustion engine for a vehicle has a fuel injection valve and throttle valves in an intake passage. A throttle driving motor controls the opening angle of each throttle valve according to the amount of operation of a throttle grip performed by an operator of the vehicle. The throttle driving motor is located outside a region surrounded by the throttle bodies that are respectively connected to all of intake ports as viewed in plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Kazuhito Hotta, Takaaki Tsukui, Masanobu Urabe
  • Patent number: 8019524
    Abstract: A first arbitration unit determines one demand engine torque of static demand engine torques set in a power train driver model and an ECT torque control system. The demand engine torque determined by the first arbitration unit is converted into dynamic demand engine torque by a conversion unit. A second arbitration unit determines demand engine torque for use in control of an engine from among the dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque by the conversion unit, dynamic demand engine torque set by a VDIM system, and dynamic demand engine torque set by a vibration suppression control system. An engine control system controls the engine according to the demand engine torque determined by the second arbitration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Oishi, Seiji Kuwahara, Shinichi Soejima, Ken Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 8015964
    Abstract: A pump for a combustion engine is disclosed. The pump may have at least one pumping member movable through a plurality of displacement strokes during a single engine cycle. The pump may also have a controller in communication with the pumping member. The controller may be configured to selectively reduce an amount of fluid displaced during at least one, but less than all of the plurality of displacement strokes. The reduction may be initiated in response to a demand for the displaced fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: David Norman Eddy
  • Patent number: 8005606
    Abstract: When a predetermined operation state during idling is set, an ignition timing is set to a basic ignition timing at or following a compression top dead center point, and a temperature rise controlling operation is carried out for injecting fuel prior to the basic ignition timing. Then, a target value of an intake air quantity is set in accordance with an engine request torque that is set when controlling a temperature rise. Thereafter, a limit value of the intake air quantity that is set when controlling the temperature rise is set. When the target value of the intake air quantity is less than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the target value, whereas, when the target value is greater than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Ono
  • Patent number: RE42940
    Abstract: A throttle control apparatus for an engine on a vehicle is provided, in which the number of component parts in the position detection means and the driven means is reduced to improve the accuracy in its position control and at the same time an integrated wiring is achieved and connectors are aggregated. The position detection means for detecting the position of a control valve, the driven means for controlling the position of the control valve, the means for processing control signals, an output from the position control means for controlling the position of the control valve are disposed within a sealed space defined by a body supporting a control valve shaft, and a cover. Based on the fact that the number of component parts of the position detection means may be reduced, the mechanical hysteresis and electrical hysteresis may also be reduced to improve the accuracy in controlling the control valve position, and it is possible to aggregate the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kamimura, Yasushi Sasaki, Sadayuki Aoki, Kazuo Nagayama