Patents by Inventor Shizuo Sasaki

Shizuo Sasaki 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).

  • Publication number: 20020038654
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine selectively switching between a first combustion where an amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied in a combustion chamber (5) is greater than an amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and a second combustion where the amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied in the combustion chamber (5) is smaller than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks. A particulate filter (24) carrying a NOx absorbent (71) is arranged in the engine exhaust passage. When SOx should be released from the NOx absorbent (71) and there is leeway in the electrical energy stored in the battery (41), the first combustion is performed even when the second combustion should be performed and the drop in output power of the energy is made up by the output torque of an electric motor (37).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Kohei Igarashi, Hiroki Murata
  • Publication number: 20020002822
    Abstract: A device for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The device comprises a particulate filter, arranged in the exhaust system, on which the trapped particulates are oxidized. The engine can be operated in a first operating mode in which it is given priority to improve the fuel consumption rate thereof and a second operating mode in which it is given priority to regenerate the particulate filter to oxidize the trapped particulates. One of the first operating mode and the second operating mode is selected to operate the engine at need.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shizuo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20010054416
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an EGR passage provided with an EGR control valve and a catalyst for purifying the EGR gas. When the internal combustion engine operates in a low-temperature combustion mode in which the amount of EGR gas supplied to a combustion chamber is larger than that of EGR gas with which the amount of soot produced reaches a peak, and almost no soot is produced, a controller reduces an opening amount of the exhaust gas recirculation control valve so as to increase an exhaust gas temperature, and reduces an opening amount of the throttle valve so as to suppress an increase in the amount of the EGR gas, thereby to reduce reductions in the temperature of the EGR gas and the temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouji Yoshizaki, Shizuo Sasaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20010052341
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine performs a second mode of combustion where the EGR is less than the EGR gas that peaks the production of soot. The engine then performs a first mode of combustion where the EGR is greater than the EGR that peaks the production of soot. During the second mode, the engine curbs hydrocarbon supplied to an exhaust gas control catalyst by performing a combustion where hydrocarbon does not increase. The exhaust gas temperature discharged becomes relatively high and the EGR rate is set to zero. The engine then increases the hydrocarbon supplied to the catalyst by performing a combustion that increases the hydrocarbon. The temperature of exhaust gas discharged becomes relatively high, and the EGR rate is gradually increased. Accordingly, the engine quickly warms up the catalyst while preventing problems that occur, like clogging of an exhaust gas recirculation passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Patent number: 6276130
    Abstract: An engine where first combustion where the amount of the EGR gas in the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of EGR where the amount of production of soot peaks and a second combustion where the amount of EGR gas in the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of EGR gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between and where an NOx absorbent is placed in the exhaust passage of the engine. When SOx should be released from the NOx absorbent, the first combustion is performed under a rich air-fuel ratio, while when the second combustion is performed, auxiliary fuel is injected during the first part of the suction stroke or the expansion stroke and the injection timing of the main fuel is delayed by a large extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takekazu Ito, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 6240723
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine, wherein a first combustion where the amount of the inert gas in the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of inert gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of inert gas in the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of inert gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between. The second combustion is performed after the engine operation is started until a catalyst arranged in the engine exhaust passage has become activated and, the first combustion is performed after the catalyst has become activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takekazu Ito, Shizuo Sasaki, Satoshi Iguchi, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 6240721
    Abstract: A first combustion mode in which an amount of an EGR gas within a combustion chamber is higher than that of the EGR gas when a generated amount of soot reaches a peak and substantially no soot is generated. A second combustion mode in which the amount of the EGR gas within the combustion chamber is lower than that of the EGR gas when the generated amount of soot reaches the peak are selectively performed. A catalyst is disposed within an engine exhaust passage wherein a temperature of the catalyst is adjusted so as to be within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takekazu Ito, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Masato Gotoh, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6216676
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is capable of reducing soot and NOx simultaneously, and prevents the occurrence of an undesirable situation where a generation amount of soot is increased in accordance with frequent transitions between a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode. In the system, the first combustion mode in which an amount of inert gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than an amount of the inert gas that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak, such that soot is hardly generated, and a second combustion mode in which an amount of the inert gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of the inert gas that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak, are selectively performed. When conditions are such that switching between the first combustion mode and the second combustion mode has or may occur frequently, the execution of the first combustion mode is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Gotoh, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Takekazu Ito, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6209515
    Abstract: A stable combustion without generating smoke or misfire is performed by selectively conducting a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode. In the first combustion mode, an amount of an inert gas, e.g., EGR gas, provided to a combustion chamber is made to be larger than an amount of the inert gas that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak amount. This causes substantially no soot to be generated. In the second combustion mode, the amount of the inert gas provided to the combustion chamber is made to be smaller than the amount that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak amount. The injection timing is quickened if the injection amount is increased in the first combustion mode, and the injection timing is delayed if the injection amount is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Gotoh, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Takekazu Ito, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6152118
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that selectively switches from a first combustion in which an amount of an exhaust gas recirculation gas within a combustion chamber is more than the amount of the exhaust gas recirculation gas when an amount of soot generated reaches a peak amount to generate substantially no soot, that is, a low temperature combustion, and a second combustion in which the amount of the exhaust gas recirculation gas within the combustion chamber is less than the amount of the exhaust gas recirculation gas when the amount of soot generated reaches the peak amount. The switching is selectively performed, such that, a stable low temperature combustion corresponding to the air fuel ratio is performed by shifting the area for performing the low temperature combustion to the high load side as the air fuel ratio is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito, Kouji Yoshizaki, Hiroki Murata, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 6142119
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine comprising a combustion pressure sensor arranged in the combustion chamber, wherein whether defective combustion is occurring or not is judged from a change in the combustion pressure and the air-fuel ratio is made larger when it is judged that defective combustion is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsukasa Abe, Shinji Ikeda, Shizuo Sasaki, Takekazu Ito
  • Patent number: 6131388
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine, wherein a first combustion where the amount of the recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between and where the second combustion is switched to the first combustion when the temperature of the catalyst arranged in an engine exhaust passage is about to fall below the activation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Satoshi Iguchi, Takekazu Ito, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 6129075
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine, wherein a first combustion where the amount of the recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between. When the first combustion is switched to the second combustion or the second combustion is switched to the first combustion, the amount of fuel injection is reduced and the amount of reduction of the output torque of the engine is compensated for by the output torque of an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Murata, Shizuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6109025
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine, wherein a first combustion where the amount of the recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between. When NOx should be released from an NOx absorbent arranged in an exhaust passage of the engine, the second combustion switched to the first combustion and the amount of reduction of the output torque of the engine is compensated for by the output torque of an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Murata, Shizuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6055968
    Abstract: An engine comprising an exhaust gas recirculation system, wherein a first combustion where the amount of the recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched. The exhaust gas recirculation rate is caused to be changed in a step-like manner when switching from the first combustion to the second combustion or from the second combustion to the first combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Satoshi Iguchi, Takekazu Ito, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 5937639
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas recirculation system, wherein the amount of EGR gas in the combustion chamber is made larger than the amount of EGR gas where the amount of soot produced peaks when the engine load is comparatively low so as to suppress the temperatures of the fuel and gas around the fuel at the time of combustion in the combustion chamber to a temperature lower than the temperature at which soot is produced. This prevents the production of soot and NOx in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Takekazu Ito
  • Patent number: 5890360
    Abstract: A compression ignition type engine, which switches between a first combustion where the amount of the inert gas in the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of inert gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of inert gas in the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of inert gas where the amount of production of soot peaks. The second combustion is provided instead of the first combustion when a catalyst is not activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Satoshi Iguchi, Takekazu Ito, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 5819700
    Abstract: To accelerate a combustion within an entire combustion chamber including the vicinity of an opening portion for air suction to thereby make uniform a flame propagation in a combustion chamber structure for an internal combustion engine, and to provide a technology for preventing the generation of knocks, a longitudinal sectional shape of a top wall surface of the combustion chamber is in the form of a substantially triangular shape in longitudinal section defined and surrounded by a cylinder head, a cylinder and a piston. A projection is provided on a circumferential edge portion of a top surface of the piston, with a surface, facing the top wall surface of the combustion chamber, of the projection being substantially in parallel with the top wall surface of the combustion chamber. A cutaway portion is formed in the vicinity of at least a portion, facing the intake opening portion, of the projection of the top surface of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Ueda, Takeshi Okumura, Shizuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5732554
    Abstract: In the exhaust gas purification device of the present invention, a NO.sub.x absorbent is disposed in the exhaust gas passage of a diesel engine. At the time when NO.sub.x should be released from the NO.sub.x absorbent, a control circuit of the engine reduces the excess air ratio of the engine, and switches the combustion mode of the engine from the normal diesel combustion, in which diffusive combustion is dominant in the combustion chamber of the engine, to the combustion mode in which pre-mixture fuel combustion is dominant. By doing this, it is possible, even in a diesel engine, to reduce the excess air ratio in combustion to thereby make the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas lower than or equal to the stoichiometric. Thus, the regeneration of the NO.sub.x absorbent can be performed even when it is applied to a diesel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Satoshi Iguchi, Kenji Katoh
  • Patent number: 5704333
    Abstract: According to the present invention, each of the cylinders of an engine is provided with a swirl port, which generates a swirl in the cylinder, and a conventional straight port. A swirl control valve is disposed in an inlet air passage connected to the straight port for blocking the flow of inlet air through the straight port. A fuel injection port is disposed in each of the swirl port and the straight port. The fuel injection port in the straight port is disposed at the position adjacent to the upper edge of the valve seat of the straight port inlet valve. When the swirl control valve blocks the inlet air passage leading to the straight port, fuel is injected from the fuel injection port of the straight port in the latter half of the intake stroke of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Okumura, Shigeo Furuno, Shizuo Sasaki