Patents by Inventor Mikihito Fujii

Mikihito Fujii has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9255503
    Abstract: An exhaust device includes a plurality of independent exhaust passages connected to an exhaust port of one cylinder or a plurality of cylinders that are non-sequential in exhaust order, and a mixing pipe into which exhaust that has passed through the respective independent exhaust passages flows. The downstream ends of the respective independent exhaust passages are connected in a bundled form to the upstream end of the mixing pipe. A cavity expansion chamber is disposed in an exhaust passage downstream from the mixing pipe. The cavity expansion chamber is disposed in a position (at a distance L2) such that, in the intermediate speed range, a negative pressure wave generated due to an exhaust pressure wave generated by opening an exhaust valve being reflected by the cavity expansion chamber reaches the exhaust port during an overlap period of the exhaust valve and an intake valve of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takamasa Matsumoto, Mitsuo Nakamura, Mikihito Fujii, Nobuhiro Soumiyou, Shunki Okazaki, Yoshito Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9188095
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine intake and exhaust having a plurality of independent exhaust passages each connected to an exhaust port in a respective one of a plurality of cylinders, a collecting pipe connected to downstream ends of the plurality of independent exhaust passages, and a volume-enlarged portion provided downstream with respect to the collecting pipe. Each of at least a downstream portion of each of the plurality of independent exhaust passages and at least an upstream portion of the collecting pipe is formed such that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases toward a downstream direction. The volume-enlarged portion is formed such that a cross-sectional area thereof is relatively increased so as to cause a positive pressure wave of exhaust gas reaching the volume-enlarged portion to be reflected and converted to a negative pressure wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takamasa Matsumoto, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 9140173
    Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for a multi-cylinder engine which is capable of suppressing deterioration in ejector effect with a simple configuration comprises: a plurality of independent exhaust ducts each having an upstream end connected to an exhaust port of one cylinder or exhaust ports of two or more cylinders which are non-successive in terms of exhaust order; and a merged portion configured to allow exhaust gas passing through each of the independent exhaust ducts to flow thereinto and formed to be gradually reduced in diameter toward a downstream side in an exhaust gas flow direction. The independent exhaust ducts are connected to an upstream end of the merged portion in such a manner that downstream ends thereof are bundled together. An O2 sensor is provided in the merged portion or a portion of an exhaust duct line downstream of the merged portion, to partially block an exhaust gas flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nakamura, Mikihito Fujii, Nobuhiro Soumiyou, Shunki Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20140250874
    Abstract: An exhaust device includes a plurality of independent exhaust passages connected to an exhaust port of one cylinder or a plurality of cylinders that are non-sequential in exhaust order, and a mixing pipe into which exhaust that has passed through the respective independent exhaust passages flows. The downstream ends of the respective independent exhaust passages are connected in a bundled form to the upstream end of the mixing pipe. A cavity expansion chamber is disposed in an exhaust passage downstream from the mixing pipe. The cavity expansion chamber is disposed in a position (at a distance L2) such that, in the intermediate speed range, a negative pressure wave generated due to an exhaust pressure wave generated by opening an exhaust valve being reflected by the cavity expansion chamber reaches the exhaust port during an overlap period of the exhaust valve and an intake valve of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamasa Matsumoto, Mitsuo Nakamura, Mikihito Fujii, Nobuhiro Soumiyou, Shunki Okazaki, Yoshito Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20140237991
    Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for a multi-cylinder engine which is capable of suppressing deterioration in ejector effect with a simple configuration comprises: a plurality of independent exhaust ducts each having an upstream end connected to an exhaust port of one cylinder or exhaust ports of two or more cylinders which are non-successive in terms of exhaust order; and a merged portion configured to allow exhaust gas passing through each of the independent exhaust ducts to flow thereinto and formed to be gradually reduced in diameter toward a downstream side in an exhaust gas flow direction. The independent exhaust ducts are connected to an upstream end of the merged portion in such a manner that downstream ends thereof are bundled together. An O2 sensor is provided in the merged portion or a portion of an exhaust duct line downstream of the merged portion, to partially block an exhaust gas flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nakamura, Mikihito Fujii, Nobuhiro Soumiyou, Shunki Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20130306025
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine intake and exhaust having a plurality of independent exhaust passages each connected to an exhaust port in a respective one of a plurality of cylinders, a collecting pipe connected to downstream ends of the plurality of independent exhaust passages, and a volume-enlarged portion provided downstream with respect to the collecting pipe. Each of at least a downstream portion of each of the plurality of independent exhaust passages and at least an upstream portion of the collecting pipe is formed such that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases toward a downstream direction. The volume-enlarged portion is formed such that a cross-sectional area thereof is relatively increased so as to cause a positive pressure wave of exhaust gas reaching the volume-enlarged portion to be reflected and converted to a negative pressure wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamasa Matsumoto, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 8311724
    Abstract: A valve overlap period is increased as a desired torque of an engine increases by advancing an opening timing of an intake valve at a rate greater than that of retarding a closing timing of an exhaust valve in a low engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively low (step S16). The valve overlap period is increased as the desired torque of the engine increases by retarding the closing timing of the exhaust valve at a rate greater than that of advancing the opening timing of the intake valve in a high engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively high (step S17). Accordingly, the drivability can be improved by obtaining the proper torque and the smooth torque curve in the wide driving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihito Fujii, Kazuya Yokota, Naoyuki Yamagata, Kazuaki Narahara
  • Patent number: 8141357
    Abstract: An engine system with a turbocharger is provided. The system may include an exhaust manifold having plural independent exhaust passages, each of the exhaust passages being connected to an exhaust port of a corresponding engine cylinder. The system may further include a collective part formed by gathering said independent exhaust passages in said exhaust manifold or on a downstream side of said exhaust manifold. The system may further include an exhaust turbocharger connected to a downstream side of said collective part. The system may further include a variable exhaust valve for changing each passage cross-sectional area of said independent exhaust passage at an upstream side of said collective part. The system may further include a controller for controlling said variable exhaust valve, wherein said controller is configured to perform independent exhaust throttle control for reducing a passage cross-sectional area of at least one of said independent exhaust passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamagata, Mikihito Fujii, Susumu Masuyama
  • Publication number: 20100217504
    Abstract: A valve overlap period is increased as a desired torque of an engine increases by advancing an opening timing of an intake valve at a rate greater than that of retarding a closing timing of an exhaust valve in a low engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively low (step S16). The valve overlap period is increased as the desired torque of the engine increases by retarding the closing timing of the exhaust valve at a rate greater than that of advancing the opening timing of the intake valve in a high engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively high (step S17). Accordingly, the drivability can be improved by obtaining the proper torque and the smooth torque curve in the wide driving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikihito FUJII, Kazuya YOKOTA, Naoyuki YAMAGATA, Kazuaki NARAHARA
  • Patent number: 7628015
    Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an electrically driven supercharger of an internal combustion engine. The method comprises operating the supercharger at a first speed during a first engine operating condition. The method further comprises operating the supercharger at a second speed during a second engine operating condition, the second speed being lower than the first speed and increasing as the capacity of the electric power source decreases. According to the method, during a transition from the second engine operating condition to the first engine operating condition, the speed of the supercharger is increased from the second speed to the first speed. At that time, the second speed is increased as the capacity of the electric power source decreases, and as a result, the supercharger speed increase that results from the transition may become smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Marumoto, Yoshihisa Nakamoto, Naoyuki Yamagata, Mikihito Fujii
  • Publication number: 20090094978
    Abstract: An engine system with a turbocharger is provided. The system may include an exhaust manifold having plural independent exhaust passages, each of the exhaust passages being connected to an exhaust port of a corresponding engine cylinder. The system may further include a collective part formed by gathering said independent exhaust passages in said exhaust manifold or on a downstream side of said exhaust manifold. The system may further include an exhaust turbocharger connected to a downstream side of said collective part. The system may further include a variable exhaust valve for changing each passage cross-sectional area of said independent exhaust passage at an upstream side of said collective part. The system may further include a controller for controlling said variable exhaust valve, wherein said controller is configured to perform independent exhaust throttle control for reducing a passage cross-sectional area of at least one of said independent exhaust passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamagata, Mikihito Fujii, Susumu Masuyama
  • Publication number: 20070051349
    Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an electrically driven supercharger of an internal combustion engine. The method comprises operating the supercharger at a first speed during a first engine operating condition. The method further comprises operating the supercharger at a second speed during a second engine operating condition, the second speed being lower than the first speed and increasing as the capacity of the electric power source decreases. According to the method, during a transition from the second engine operating condition to the first engine operating condition, the speed of the supercharger is increased from the second speed to the first speed. At that time, the second speed is increased as the capacity of the electric power source decreases, and as a result, the supercharger speed increase that results from the transition may become smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Marumoto, Yoshihisa Nakamoto, Naoyuki Yamagata, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 6684630
    Abstract: A direct-injection, spark-ignition engine of the present invention includes a turbo-charging device which promotes the temperature rise or activation of the exhaust-gas purification catalyst disposed downstream of a turbine during cold start. During engine cold start, the fuel injection by the fuel injector is divided into a leading fuel injection performed during the latter half of the compression stroke, prior to the ignition timing, and a trailing fuel injection performed during the expansion stroke, after the ignition timing. The amount of the intake-air and the amount of the fuel injection are so controlled that the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber during the combustion of the fuel by the leading fuel injection (a leading air-fuel ratio) is within the range of 2<&lgr;<3, and the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber during the combustion of the fuel by the trailing fuel injection (a total air-fuel ratio) is within the range of 1<&lgr;<2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Uchida, Kazuaki Umezono, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 6550445
    Abstract: A spark-ignition type 4-cycle direct injection engine is provided with a turbocharger for boosting intake air and an injector for directly injecting fuel to a combustion chamber within a cylinder, wherein in a &lgr;=1 region (II) and an enriched region (III) on the high-speed high-load side, fuel is injected during the intake stroke of the cylinder to attain a state of homogenous combustion. When the engine is in the high-speed side (specific region) of the enriched region (III), the air-fuel ratio A/F of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder is controlled to become A/F≦13, the tumble flow T is strengthened by closing the TSCVs, and the opening degree of a wastegate valve of the turbocharger is controlled in order to increase the maximum boost pressure and compensate the drop in intake efficiency that is caused by closing the TSCVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Umezono, Hiroyasu Uchida, Mikihito Fujii
  • Publication number: 20030024499
    Abstract: A spark-ignition type 4-cycle direct injection engine is provided with a turbocharger for boosting intake air and an injector for directly injecting fuel to a combustion chamber within a cylinder, wherein in a &lgr;=1 region (II) and an enriched region (III) on the high-speed high-load side, fuel is injected during the intake stroke of the cylinder to attain a state of homogenous combustion. When the engine is in the high-speed side (specific region) of the enriched region (III), the air-fuel ratio A/F of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder is controlled to become A/F≦13, the tumble flow T is strengthened by closing the TSCVs, and the opening degree of a wastegate valve of the turbocharger is controlled in order to increase the maximum boost pressure and compensate the drop in intake efficiency that is caused by closing the TSCVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Umezono, Hiroyasu Uchida, Mikihito Fujii
  • Publication number: 20020162320
    Abstract: A direct-injection, spark-ignition engine of the present invention includes a turbo-charging device which promotes the temperature rise or activation of the exhaust-gas purification catalyst disposed downstream of a turbine during cold start. During engine cold start, the fuel injection by the fuel injector is divided into a leading fuel injection performed during the latter half of the compression stroke, prior to the ignition timing, and a trailing fuel injection performed during the expansion stroke, after the ignition timing. The amount of the intake-air and the amount of the fuel injection are so controlled that the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber during the combustion of the fuel by the leading fuel injection (a leading air-fuel ratio) is within the range of 2&lgr;3, and the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber during the combustion of the fuel by the trailing fuel injection (a total air-fuel ratio) is within the range of 1<&lgr;<2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Uchida, Mikihito Fujii, Kazuaki Umezono
  • Patent number: 6240724
    Abstract: A control device for a direct injection engine having a catalyst provided in an exhaust passage for converting exhaust gases and an injector for injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber, includes a temperature state identifier for judging the temperature state of the catalyst, a load condition detector for sensing engine load conditions, and a fuel injection controller for controlling fuel injection from the injector. The fuel injection controller performs quick light-off control operation by causing the injector to inject fuel in one-time injection mode during a compression stroke in a specific low-load operating range of the engine when the catalyst is in its unheated state where its temperature is below its activation temperature, and switching the mode of fuel injection to intake-compression stroke split injection mode in a specific high-load operating range of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kudou, Hiroyuki Yamashita, Fumihiko Saito, Mikihito Fujii, Masakazu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5161492
    Abstract: An intake system for a vehicle for delivering intake air through separate or discrete intake passages of the intake system into engine cylinders through discrete intake passages. A collector chamber and a resonator chamber connect with an upstream main intake passage and the discrete intake passages. The collector chamber communicates at one end with upstream ends of the discrete intake passages and at its another end, opposite to the one end, with the resonator chamber. The discrete intake passages are clustered or grouped together at their upstream ends and connected as a cluster to the collector chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hitomi, Toshihiko Hattori, Masashi Marubara, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 5144918
    Abstract: Discrete intake passages communicating with respective cylinders of a multiple-cylinder in-line engine are merged into an integrated chamber at their upstream ends. The integrated chamber is disposed above the engine and extends substantially horizontally. Each discrete intake passage extends from the engine body, bends upward toward the integrated chamber and is connected to the downstream side end face of the integrated chamber. The discrete intake passages for the cylinders which are positioned relatively near to the integrated chamber are connected to the downstream side end face of the integrated chamber at an upper portion of the end face and the discrete intake passages for the cylinders which are positioned relatively far from the integrated chamber are connected to the downstream side end face of the integrated chamber at a lower portion of the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Tanaka, Naoyuki Yamagata, Mitsuo Hitomi, Toshihiko Hattori, Masashi Marubara, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 5133308
    Abstract: An engine has a plurality of cylinders and the cylinders are divided into first and second cylinder groups so that the cylinders in each cylinder group do not fire one after another. An intake system for the engine has a plurality of discrete intake passages extending from the respective cylinders of the engine and merge into a junction chamber, a common intake passage which opens to the atmosphere at its upstream end and communicates with the junction chamber at its downstream end, a first communicating passage which is connected to the discrete intake passages for the first cylinder group at their intermediate portions and communicates them with each other, and a second communicating passage which is connected to the discrete intake passages for the second cylinder group at their intermeidate portions and communicates them with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hitomi, Toshihiko Hattori, Mikihito Fujii