Patents by Inventor Mineo Kashiwaya

Mineo Kashiwaya 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: 6499456
    Abstract: A cylinder injection engine includes a fuel injector for injecting a fuel into a combustion chamber formed between a cylinder head and a piston, an intake port opening to the combustion chamber, an intake valve disposed in the intake port, a plurality of spark plugs provided for each cylinder for effecting ignition of a mixture formed within the combustion chamber, an external EGR valve having a function of EGR amount control to the cylinder, and a gas flow control valve. The engine has air/fuel ratio mode setting and ignition mode setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoko Nakayama, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yusuke Kihara, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Minoru Ohsuga, Mineo Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 6248040
    Abstract: In an engine system, an ignition timing is changed in accordance with operation parameters of an engine. The engine system includes an exhaust gas clarifying equipment with a catalyst to clarify the specified components in the exhaust gas, catalyst temperature detecting unit for estimating or detecting the temperature of the catalyst, torque fluctuation detecting unit for detecting the state of fluctuation of an output torque of the engine, and ignition timing calculating unit for calculating the final ignition timing on the basis of the detected results of the torque fluctuation detecting unit and the catalyst temperature detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Tatsuya Ochi, Mineo Kashiwaya, Yoshishige Ohyama
  • Patent number: 5979404
    Abstract: The invention provides an output torque control method and apparatus for a lean burn internal combustion engine which accounts for aging of component parts, and in which no stepwise change of torque or shock occur when an air fuel ratio is changed. The method and apparatus according to the invention control an intake air amount while maintaining an emission purification function by controlling the air fuel ratio to that of a theoretical mixture (air fuel ratio of 14.7) in a case where a limit NOx emission is determined by using a detected air fuel ratio and lean burn operation becomes difficult due to the amount of NOx emissions. Abrupt change of an output torque when the air fuel ratio is changed is curtailed by controlling a fuel amount or an air amount after calculating the fuel amount or the air amount from an engine speed and an accelerator depression angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Mineo Kashiwaya, Naoyuki Ozaki, Matsuo Amano, Hiroshi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 5894724
    Abstract: In an engine system, an ignition timing is changed in accordance with operation parameters of an engine. The engine system includes an exhaust gas clarifying equipment with a catalyst to clarify the specified components in the exhaust gas, catalyst temperature detecting unit for estimating or detecting the temperature of the catalyst, torque fluctuation detecting unit for detecting the state of fluctuation of an output torque of the engine, and ignition timing calculating unit for calculating the final ignition timing on the basis of the detected results of the torque fluctuation detecting unit and the catalyst temperature detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Tatsuya Ochi, Mineo Kashiwaya, Yoshishige Ohyama
  • Patent number: 5818178
    Abstract: In a valve control apparatus for an automobile, an H-bridge type chopper main circuit 4 is operated by a control signal PWM from a microcomputer 1 to thereby drive a motor 9 for controlling a throttle valve 10. The power element current from the chopper main circuit 4 is detected by a shunt resistor 5 in the form of a voltage, and the detected voltage is amplified by an amplifier 6 and then taken into the microcomputer 1 through a sample hold circuit 12 and an A/D converter. The sample hold circuit 12 is operated in synchronism with the control signal PWM from the microcomputer 1. Further, the A/D converter is also operated in synchronism with the control signal PWM from the microcomputer 1. The motor 9 is controlled by a throttle valve opening angle command and a throttle valve opening angle signal, and further the motor 9 is controlled by a detected motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Marumoto, Toshimichi Minowa, Mineo Kashiwaya, Matsuo Amano
  • Patent number: 5752485
    Abstract: The invention provides an output torque control method and apparatus for a lean burn internal combustion engine which accounts for aging of component parts, and in which no stepwise change of torque or shock occur when an air fuel ratio is changed. The method and apparatus according to the invention control an intake air amount while maintaining an emission purification function by controlling the air fuel ratio to that of a theoretical mixture (air fuel ratio of 14.7) in a case where a limit NOx emission is determined by using a detected air fuel ratio and lean burn operation becomes difficult due to the amount of NOx emissions. Abrupt change of an output torque when the air fuel ratio is changed is curtailed by controlling a fuel amount or an air amount after calculating the fuel amount or the air amount from an engine speed and an accelerator depression angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Mineo Kashiwaya, Naoyuki Ozaki, Matsuo Amano, Hiroshi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 5660157
    Abstract: The invention provides an output torque control method and apparatus for a lean burn internal combustion engine which accounts for aging of component parts, and in which no stepwise change of torque or shock occur when an air fuel ratio is changed. The method and apparatus according to the invention control an intake air amount while maintaining an emission purification function by controlling the air fuel ratio to that of a theoretical mixture (air fuel ratio of 14.7) in a case where a limit NOx emission is determined by using a detected air fuel ratio and lean burn operation becomes difficult due to the amount of NOx emissions. Abrupt change of an output torque when the air fuel ratio is changed is curtailed by controlling a fuel amount or an air amount after calculating the fuel amount or the air amount from an engine speed and an accelerator depression angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Mineo Kashiwaya, Naoyuki Ozaki, Matsuo Amano, Hiroshi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 5609132
    Abstract: The present invention has a structure of a lean-burn combustion engine 25 for burning a fuel by increasing the proportion of air to the fuel, a swirl control valve 8 for regulating a swirl intensity of combustion air inside an intake port in a lean-burn operation range of the lean-burn combustion engine 25, an accelerator pedal 1 for setting an acceleration request of a driver, and mechanical connection for mechanically connecting the accelerator pedal 1 to the swirl control valve 8, having a mechanism capable of setting the swirl control valve opening so that a lean limit can be expanded. Also, the invention has a structure of an intake system including the swirl control valve for regulating a swirl intensity of combustion air inside an intake port and a a driving mechanism for the valve can be produced easily and at a low cost, and a lean limit can be expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Minoru Ohsuga, Mineo Kashiwaya, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5241480
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the quality of combustion in each cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is disclosed. The invention determines a combustion stroke of each cylinder by sensors and detects the rotational speed of the engine at least three times during each combustion stroke by a rotation speed calculation device. The detected rotational speeds are evaluated by an arithmetic calculation device to identify the variation in rotational speed of each piston during a combustion stroke whereby the quality of combustion is, thus, determined. In a feature of the invention fluctuations in rotational speed caused by reciprocating inertia (.omega..sub.c) are calculated and eliminated from fluctuation in engine speed caused by combustion (.omega..sub.g) so that the quality of combustion based only upon variation in detected speeds caused by combustion is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Takaku, Mineo Kashiwaya, Toshio Ishii, Naoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5109824
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve includes a fuel swirl element disposed upstream of a valve seat for giving a swirl force to fuel, a fuel injection port disposed downstream of the valve seat, fuel dividing device disposed downstream of the fuel injection port for dividing a fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Yozo Nakamura, Mineo Kashiwaya, Eigi Hamashima
  • Patent number: 5108037
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve (10) has a valve member (2) arranged to be controllably movable in an axial direction toward and away from a circular valve seat (4) so as to control fuel flow from a port (5) downstream from the valve seat. An axial fuel passage (7) extends from upstream of the valve seat (4) through a clearance between the seating portion and the seat (4) for producing a substantially non-swirling fuel flow from the port (5). A transverse fuel passage (8) is also provided and the transverse fuel passage extends transversely to the axial passage and communicates with the axial fuel passage at a location offset to a diameter of the valve seat for producing a swirling fuel flow from the port (5). A combination of swirling and non-swirling fuel flow is thus supplied by the port (5), for producing finer fuel droplets of improved distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignees: Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Haruo Watanabe, Hiroyuki Ando, Youzou Nakamura, Mineo Kashiwaya, Eiji Hamashima
  • Patent number: 4976243
    Abstract: A fuel supply control system for internal combustion engines with an air flow mounted in a intake manifold, a throttle valve opening sensor and a control unit, in which at quick acceleration the control unit generates a correction air flow quantity signal in accordance with the change of the output of the throttle valve opening sensor and corrects the output signal of the air flow sensor by the correction air flow quantity signal, whereby estimating real air flow quantity sucked into the engine cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Sano, Mineo Kashiwaya, Yuuji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 4838223
    Abstract: When auxiliary equipment of a car, such as car air conditioner, is required to operate, fuel to be supplied for an engine is at first increased and at a predetermined time thereafter additional air commensurate with the increment of fuel is supplied, and after the engine increases its output power by the above mentioned increase of fuel and air, the auxiliary equipment is actually operated, whereby the number of revolutions of the engine is prevented from decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tanabe, Mineo Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 4644923
    Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel injection apparatus in which opening degree of a throttle valve or throttle aperture is sampled periodically at a predetermined time interval to detect change in the throttle aperture for determining deceleration. Upon every determination of the deceleration, a correcting quantity is accumulatively determined so that deceleration is corrected for compensating delay in the control of fuel injection in dependence on magnitude of change in the throttle aperture. An improved engine performance and optimum air-fuel ratio control can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyomi Morita, Mineo Kashiwaya, Masahide Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4584981
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel injector disposed in an induction passage upstream of a pivotally mounted throttle plate having an idle position in which the throttle plate has upstream and downstream edge portions slightly spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the induction passage to define therewith narrow gaps for the passage of air and injected fuel particles. A bypass air passage is formed in the peripheral wall of the induction passage and has a downstream end open thereto to produce a jet of air directed toward the central zone of the downstream face of the throttle plate when in the idle position. The air jet is operative to compensate for the difference in pressure between a central space immediately downstream of the throttle plate and peripheral zones adjacent to the narrow gaps whereby whirling-up of air and fuel particles just downstream of the throttle plate and resultant formation of drops of liquid fuel can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tanabe, Mineo Kashiwaya, Kiyomi Morita, Katsunobu Kameta
  • Patent number: 4528964
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine for supplying an additional amount of fuel in addition to a basic amount of fuel when an acceleration condition is detected in accordance with a throttle opening change rate. The amount of additional fuel injection is increased in acceleration so as to prevent the fuel air mixture from being lean in acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mineo Kashiwaya, Kiyomi Morita, Masahide Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4524739
    Abstract: An engine control method for an engine control system comprising a central processing unit for computing a value of duty factor for a by-pass valve in response to the respective outputs of a plurality of sensors for detecting operating conditions of the engine and a pulse generating circuit responsive to the output of the central processing unit for supplying the by-pass valve with a pulse signal representing the computed value of duty factor. The engine control method comprises a step of computing the duty factor for the by-pass valve on the basis of the outputs of the sensors in an idling operation of the engine, and a step of supplying the by-pass valve with a pulse signal representing a predetermined duty factor on the basis of the computed value of duty factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mineo Kashiwaya, Kiyomi Morita, Masahide Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4517837
    Abstract: An air flow rate measuring apparatus in which an air flow sensor whose electric characteristic varies with the rate of air flowing by the sensor is supported on a heat-insulating support member and located in a bypass tube provided in the vicinity of the main venturi of an internal combustion engine, whereby the air flow sensor is isolated from adverse thermal influences so as to reduce an error in measuring air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshishige Oyama, Teruo Yamauchi, Mamoru Fujieda, Yutaka Nishimura, Takao Sasayama, Shinichi Sakamoto, Hisanori Moriya, Takeshi Atago, Kanemasa Sato, Yoshikazu Hoshi, Sadayasu Ueno, Tadahiko Otani, Mineo Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 4495802
    Abstract: An air flow meter for detecting the air flow supplied to an internal combustion engine includes a hot-wire disposed in a by-pass air passage opening at its one end to a portion of an air passage upstream from a venturi portion formed in the air passage and at its other end in the venturi portion. The by-pass air passage is provided to lengthen a distance between the inlet opening of the by-pass passage and the hot-wire, to thereby settle the flow of air in the by-pass passage at least in the area around the hot-wire. The inlet opening of the by-pass air passage may open in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the venturi portion and within the area of upper projection of the venturi portion, to prevent carbon and oil particles from coming into the by-pass passage to thereby prevent the contamination of the hot-wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mineo Kashiwaya, Kinsaku Yamada
  • Patent number: 4475518
    Abstract: In a fuel injection apparatus for internal combustion engine wherein a hot wire sensor is provided in an air bypass communicating the upstream side of a Venturi portion formed in an air-intake path with the Venturi portion, the amount of air flowing in the air bypass is controlled by an air-scaling valve driven by an electromagnetic device so that the output of the hot wire sensor converges to a set level, fuel is scaled by a fuel-scaling valve driven by the electromagnetic device in accordance with the change of the amount of air supplied to the engine, and the scaled fuel is continuously injected into the air-intake path, the set level is determined to a value which is smaller than a maximum output value of the hot wire sensor occurring when the air-scaling valve is fully opened during idling operation of the engine, thereby ensuring that the output of the hot wire sensor can converge to the set level during the idling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mineo Kashiwaya, Yoshiyuki Tanabe, Kinsaku Yamada, Hisato Tsuruta