Patents by Inventor Yoko Nakayama

Yoko Nakayama 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: 20060113130
    Abstract: By a lean burn operation, a highly efficient operation region is enlarged, the proportion of engine operation in a low torque condition is increased, and the proportion of motor operation using a battery is decreased. It is possible to provide a hybrid car of an engine-electric motor configuration which can effect a highly efficient operation without increasing the capacity of motor and that of battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Minoru Oosuga, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yoko Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20060102141
    Abstract: A direct injection engine and a controller for the engine, which can realize super-retard combustion under high backpressure and can minimize an emission amount of HC at the startup. A cavity is formed in a piston such that fuel spray injected from a fuel injection valve is blown into the cavity. An obstacle member, such as a step, is provided in the cavity to decelerate or stop the fuel spray blown into the cavity. A mount position, mount posture, nozzle structure, injection port shape, etc. of the fuel injection valve are set such that the fuel spray injected from the fuel injection valve is made up of a lead fuel spray component directed toward the ignition plug and having a penetration to extend long beyond the ignition plug, and a main fuel spray component directed toward the piston, thereby enabling the super-retard combustion to be performed under high backpressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Takuya Shiraishi, Yusuke Kihara, Kenji Tsuchita
  • Patent number: 7021274
    Abstract: A fuel injection equipment to control the instability of combustion when the airflow is weak, and improve the fuel cost. A fuel injection equipment for an cylinder injection type and spark ignition type internal combustion engine that injects gasoline directly to a combustion chamber, wherein the top angle at the point of fuel spray in the pressurized atmosphere of absolute pressure 0.5 MPa is from ?10° to 10°. Further, the fuel is injected at the compression stroke of the internal combustion engine which installs the fuel injection equipment, and said internal combustion engine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Toshiharu Nogi
  • Patent number: 7013863
    Abstract: There is provided a cylinder injection type internal combustion engine capable of performing stratified charge operation at the time of a vehicle speed of 120 km/h and/or an engine rotational speed of 3200 rpm to enhance the fuel efficiency and/or to observe the emission regulations. In the internal combustion engine, a stratum of air and/or air flow is formed between a fuel spray injected from an injection valve and the top face of a piston and/or the wall surface of a combustion chamber, and a face shape contrived to guide the air flow is formed on the top face of the piston. Also, the stratified charge operation can be performed even at the time of cold start or cranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shiraishi, Toshiharu Nogi, Minoru Ohsuga, Yoko Nakayama, Noboru Tokuyasu
  • Patent number: 6991052
    Abstract: By a lean burn operation, a highly efficient operation region is enlarged, the proportion of engine operation in a low torque condition is increased, and the proportion of motor operation using a battery is decreased. It is possible to provide a hybrid car of an engine-electric motor configuration which can effect a highly efficient operation without increasing the capacity of motor and that of battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Minoru Oosuga, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yoko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6976468
    Abstract: In a center injection type of direct engine, since it has an ignition plug and an injector arranged in proximity, there occurs the problem that a sprayed liquid fuel directly strikes the ignition plug and causes the plug to misfire. A notch is to be provided at a portion of the injector end so as to form a coarse-grained portion and a dense portion in sprays of fuel, and the injector is disposed so that the coarse-grained portion is directed towards the ignition plug. It is possible to avoid the misfiring of the ignition plug and thus prolong the life of the plug, by preventing a liquid fuel from directly striking the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yusuke Kihara, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6938607
    Abstract: Fuel-air mixture is supplied with stability to the neighboring area of an ignition plug without any effect on deflection of fuel spray due to the air flow (swirl/tumble) in a combustion chamber, and the deposition of fuel onto the side wall of a combustion chamber is reduced, leading to the prevention of occurrence of smoke. A fuel injection apparatus includes a fuel injection valve having a nozzle opening to a combustion chamber and an ignition plug. The fuel injection valve forms a fuel spray having different levels of average speed. The fuel spray has relatively high speed at least in half of a single cycle of a fuel injection, and after that, the fuel injection valve forms relatively low-speed fuel spray, and consequently, a fuel-air mixture including high-speed fuel spray is supplied to a neighboring area of the ignition plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoko Nakayama, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 6880519
    Abstract: With a cylinder direct injection engine in which fuel is injected directly into combustion chambers and air-fuel mixture is guided by an air flow, it is difficult to secure combustion stability under low engine speed and low load conditions such as during idling. Furthermore, there are needs for improvement of emission characteristics and fuel economy in other operation modes as well. An engine according to the invention injects fuel while dividing the same in plural parts during a compression stroke. The first injection forms a lean air-fuel mixture around an ignition plug, and the second injection makes a flammable air-fuel mixture reach an area around the ignition plug. This ensures efficient stratified combustion and allows improvement in emission and fuel economy performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoshihiro Sukegawa
  • Publication number: 20040187840
    Abstract: In a center injection type of direct engine, since it has an ignition plug and an injector arranged in proximity, there occurs the problem that a sprayed liquid fuel directly strikes the ignition plug and causes the plug to misfire. A notch is to be provided at a portion of the injector end so as to form a coarse-grained portion and a dense portion in sprays of fuel, and the injector is disposed so that the coarse-grained portion is directed towards the ignition plug. It is possible to avoid the misfiring of the ignition plug and thus prolong the life of the plug, by preventing a liquid fuel from directly striking the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yusuke Kihara, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6782867
    Abstract: In a center injection type of direct injection engine, since it has an ignition plug and an injector arranged in proximity, there occurs the problem that a sprayed liquid fuel directly strikes the ignition plug and causes the plug to misfire. A notch is to be provided at a portion of the injector end so as to form a coarse-grained portion and a dense portion in sprays of fuel, and the injector is disposed so that the coarse-grained portion is directed towards the ignition plug. It is possible to avoid the misfiring of the ignition plug and thus prolong the life of the plug, by preventing a liquid fuel from directly striking the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yusuke Kihara, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20040159721
    Abstract: There is provided a cylinder injection type internal combustion engine capable of performing stratified charge operation at the time of a vehicle speed of 120 km/h and/or an engine rotational speed of 3200 rpm to enhance the fuel efficiency and/or to observe the emission regulations. In the internal combustion engine, a stratum of air and/or air flow is formed between a fuel spray injected from an injection valve and the top face of a piston and/or the wall surface of a combustion chamber, and a face shape contrived to guide the air flow is formed on the top face of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shiraishi, Toshiharu Nogi, Minoru Ohsuga, Yoko Nakayama, Noboru Tokuyasu
  • Patent number: 6732706
    Abstract: There is provided a cylinder injection type internal combustion engine capable of performing stratified charge operation at the time of a vehicle speed of 120 km/h and/or an engine rotational speed of 3200 rpm to enhance the fuel efficiency and/or to observe the emission regulations. In the internal combustion engine, a stratum of air and/or air flow is formed between a fuel spray injected from an injection valve and the top face of a piston and/or the wall surface of a combustion chamber, and a face shape contrived to guide the air flow is formed on the top face of the piston. Also, the stratified charge operation can be performed even at the time of cold start or cranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shiraishi, Toshiharu Nogi, Minoru Ohsuga, Yoko Nakayama, Noboru Tokuyasu
  • Patent number: 6722340
    Abstract: A fuel injector employed in a direct injection engine comprising a spark plug arranged on the top of a combustion chamber, a fuel injector located on said combustion chamber and an intake air control means installed on an intake manifold. A forward tumble air flow is formed in the combustion chamber by the intake air control means, and the fuel injector is available in two types; an annular (conical) spray type characterized by uniform density and a spray type characterized by high/low density. In the case of latter type, arrangement is made to ensure that the denser portion is placed face-to-face with the spark plug. Spray fuel rises along the wall surface of the combustion chamber on the intake side, and is carried to the spark plug by forward tumble air flow (called “tumble guide”) moving from the fuel injector to the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoko Nakayama, Yusuke Kihara, Noboru Tokuyasu
  • Publication number: 20040055560
    Abstract: A fuel injection equipment to control the instability of combustion when the airflow is weak, and improve the fuel cost. A fuel injection equipment for an cylinder injection type and spark ignition type internal combustion engine that injects gasoline directly to a combustion chamber, wherein the top angle at the point of fuel spray in the pressurized atmosphere of absolute pressure 0.5 MPa is from −10° to 10°. Further, the fuel is injected at the compression stroke of the internal combustion engine which installs the fuel injection equipment, and said internal combustion engine is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Toshiharu Nogi
  • Patent number: 6702053
    Abstract: By a lean burn operation, a highly efficient operation region is enlarged, the proportion of engine operation in a low torque condition is increased, and the proportion of motor operation using a battery is decreased. It is possible to provide a hybrid car of an engine-electric motor configuration which can effect a highly efficient operation without increasing the capacity of motor and that of battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Minoru Oosuga, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yoko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6702194
    Abstract: A combustion chamber is formed using a flat piston having a low cooling loss and therein a forward tumble is generated. A fuel spray is formed by a provision of a splitter which is provided to make off-set from a center of an injection port at a tip end of a tumble atomization system fuel injector. The fuel spray is divided into a fuel spray having a strong penetration force and a fuel spray having a small penetration force. The fuel spray having the strong penetration force is injected in a vicinity of an ignition plug. Accordingly, a fuel adhesion to the piston can be reduced and further a reduction of a discharge HC and a fuel consumption can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Minoru Ohsuga, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Yusuke Kihara
  • Patent number: 6659075
    Abstract: A direct injection engine capable of direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber characterized in that discharge of gas containing hazardous gas component such as HC can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved by stratified charge combustion in the operation range of low to high speeds. Spray fuel from the fuel injector is fed to the ignition plug by tumble air flow generated in the combustion chamber and formed between the fuel injector located on the side of the combustion chamber and the ignition plug installed on the top of the combustion chamber. This engine (a tumble guide direct injection engine) is configured to ensure that fuel reaches the ignition plug at the time of its ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tokuyasu, Toshiharu Nogi, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoko Nakayama, Yusuke Kihara
  • Publication number: 20030192504
    Abstract: With a cylinder direct injection engine in which fuel is injected directly into combustion chambers and air-fuel mixture is guided by an air flow, it is difficult to secure combustion stability under low engine speed and low load conditions such as during idling. Furthermore, there are needs for improvement of emission characteristics and fuel economy in other operation modes as well. An engine according to the invention injects fuel while dividing the same in plural parts during a compression stroke. The first injection forms a lean air-fuel mixture around an ignition plug, and the second injection makes a flammable air-fuel mixture reach an area around the ignition plug. This ensures efficient stratified combustion and allows improvement in emission and fuel economy performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoshihiro Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 6557532
    Abstract: With a cylinder direct injection engine in which fuel is injected directly into combustion chambers and air-fuel mixture is guided by an air flow, it is difficult to secure combustion stability under low engine speed and low load conditions such as during idling. Furthermore, there are needs for improvement of emission characteristics and fuel economy in other operation modes as well. An engine according to the invention injects fuel while dividing the same in plural-parts during a compression stroke. The first injection forms a lean air-fuel mixture around an ignition plug, and the second injection makes a flammable air-fuel mixture reach an area around the ignition plug. This ensures efficient stratified combustion and allows improvement in emission and fuel economy performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Yoshihiro Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 6550444
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a compression-ignition internal combustion engine capable of improving its engine performance by appropriately setting ignition timing. In order to attain the above-mentioned object, the compression-ignition internal combustion engine comprises a valve mechanism control means for controlling opening and closing timings of a valve mechanism including an intake valve and an exhaust valve arranged in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Using the valve mechanism control means, the compression pressure can be controlled corresponding to an operating condition of the engine, and accordingly the auto-ignition timing can be controlled corresponding to the operating condition of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shiraishi, Toshiharu Nogi, Minoru Ohsuga, Yoko Nakayama, Noboru Tokuyasu