Patents Issued in May 18, 2006
  • Publication number: 20060102102
    Abstract: A dog harness is comprised of a torso strap encircling a dog's chest, connected to a chest strap passing around the chest of a dog, and a shoulder strap passing over the back of a dog. The chest strap is provided with a limited slip loop. A leash connector is fixed to the limited slip loop. When a leash is attached to the leash connector, a directional pull on the leash causes the leash connector to slide in the direction of the pull, pulling the limited slip loop to the side and moving the pull off the center of the dog's chest, thus decreasing the opposition reflex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Sharon Bennett, Charles Mann, Robert Anderson
  • Publication number: 20060102103
    Abstract: A significantly improved leash has a strap or belt with a carabiner at a lower end and a loop at an upper end. The loop may be a preconfigured holding loop or it may be an adjustable loop that can be adjusted by clipping a carabiner into eyelets in the leash. The leash permits even an animal that is pulling strongly on the leash to be held in check, by a hand grip disposed in the holding loop, or adjacent to the holding loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Tzanis Fountoulakis, Steven Dunn, Mark Hatherill
  • Publication number: 20060102104
    Abstract: An elastic dog leash and coupler utilizes brightly colored florescent latex tubing for a major portion of the leash and coupler. The tubing is mounted between rings. A monofilament nylon line is mounted within the tubing and connected to the rings. The monofilament line has a length significantly greater than the unstretched length of the tubing, and limits the degree to which the tubing may be stretched. With respect to the leash, a nonstretchable webbing handle is attached at one end and a stop section of the leash is attached at the other end. The coupler is comprised of a plurality of sections of tubing mounted to a ring, which may be attached to the end of the leash. The other ends of the tubing of the coupler are provided with nonstretchable webbing material which may be utilized as a stop section for the coupler leash. The webbing material may be provided with a reflective stripe for additional safety at night.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: W. Young
  • Publication number: 20060102105
    Abstract: A control or guide device for an animal comprising a collar or harness that releasably extends about the neck of the animal, a device for fixing a prescribed position of rotation of the collar relative to the animal, and a connecting mechanism disposed on the collar and provided with a connection stub that extends upwardly when the collar is on the animal. The connection stub is connected to the collar such that it cannot kink. On an end remote from the collar, the connection stub is provided with a coupling, such as a ring or a snap-in device, for receiving a flexible and slack connecting element such as a leash or chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Sohler, Hubert Schneider
  • Publication number: 20060102106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a pair of tube bundles (21, 31) through which the fluid to be heated flows, one primary bundle (21) surrounding a cylindrical burner (40) and the other secondary bundle (31) on which the water steam contained in the combustion gas exhausting from the primary bundle is condensed, whereby the tubes forming the bundles have a flattened section and a helicoidal shape, such that the combustion gas flow between the coils, from the inside to the outside for the primary bundle (21) and in the reverse order for the secondary bundle (31), both bundles being arranged inside a same shell (1). Said heat exchanger is characterised in that the axial dimension (l2) of the secondary bundle is substantially smaller than the axial dimension (I1) of the primary bundle, such that an available space for an exhaust trunking (7) is provided at the end of said secondary bundle (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Joseph Le Mer, Rocco Giannoni
  • Publication number: 20060102107
    Abstract: A vapor generator comprising an evaporator unit, which in turn includes an inner chamber for containing a first fluid in a liquid state, and further includes a preheated liquid inlet and a vapor outlet, the evaporator unit having a heating device therein which can be activated for vaporizing the first fluid contained in the inner chamber to generate vapor. The vapor generator further comprises a preheating tank defining an inner chamber and comprising a liquid inlet for injection of the first fluid in a liquid state in the inner chamber, and a liquid outlet. Moreover, the vapor generator comprises an opened liquid channel connecting the preheating tank liquid outlet to the evaporator unit liquid inlet, and establishing free and continuous fluid communication between the preheating tank inner chamber and the evaporator unit inner chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Raymond Lach
  • Publication number: 20060102108
    Abstract: A combustion-powered tool has an engine and a heating system, where the tool receives and preheats a fuel cell. The fuel cell has a receiving portion for a heat transfer element which is associated with the engine. The heat transfer element is configured for engaging the fuel cell to conduct heat from the engine to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Cheryl Panasik
  • Publication number: 20060102109
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air control system in the front end of a motor vehicle with openings in a front wall defining the front end, through which cooling air flows into a motor compartment. Air ducts (6, 10, 11, 18) are provided which feed the cooling air into athe motor compartment, substantially against the direction of travel and which are formed by boundary walls (7, 19) running approximately parallel to the direction of the air flow. It is therefore the task of the invention that an air guidance is created in the front end of a motor vehicle while assuring a low-loss flow, in which the assembly is substantially simplified. According to the invention, the boundary walls (17, 19) are integrated into a body panel (1) which extends appromately across the direction of air flow in the motor compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dirk Becker, Patrick Hoefer, Martin Konermann, Ulrich Paetzold, Sascha Rabensdorf, Jurgen Schreiber, Creslaw Zolich
  • Publication number: 20060102110
    Abstract: A cylinder block (10) is such that a main body cylinder block (4; 404) and an outer cylinder block (6; 406) are molded separately. As a result, the portion of the die which is used to mold a water jacket (50; 450) does not need to be made thin, thereby increasing the life of the die. Further, cylinders (12; 412) are of a simple shape and the pressure in the axial direction of the cylinder (12; 412) is able to be dispersed substantially evenly between the cylinders (12; 412) and the outer cylinder block (6; 406), thus enabling the cylinders (12; 412) to be thin. Accordingly, there is an increased degree of freedom in design of the portion which forms the water jacket (50; 450). The water jacket (50; 450) and the cylinders (12; 412) can therefore both be made sufficiently thin, thereby contributing to a decrease in both the size and weight of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Kazumari Takenaka, Seiji Omura, Toshihiro Takami, Kazuya Yoshijima
  • Publication number: 20060102111
    Abstract: A combustion-type power tool includes a cylinder and a combustion chamber disposed on top of the cylinder that accommodates a gaseous mixture of existing air in the combustion chamber and fuel injected therein. A spark plug generates a spark to combust the gaseous mixture in the combustion chamber. A trigger switch produces the spark in the spark plug when operated. A piston is movably supported in the cylinder and driven by combustion in the combustion chamber. A driving blade is integrally formed with the piston for driving a fastener. A push lever is provided at one end of the housing and coupled with the combustion chamber frame. A temperature sensor is provided, for example, on the combustion chamber frame to sense the temperature thereof. A stopper is operated to adjust the position of the push lever to be shifted from an initial position when the sensed temperature is higher than a critical value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Yasuki Ohmori, Shinki Ohtsu
  • Publication number: 20060102112
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling stopping position of a crankshaft during shutdown of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine influence cylinder pressure independent of associated intake/exhaust valves during shutdown of the engine so the crankshaft stops in a position favorable for restarting. Embodiments include an engine having variable compression ratio cylinders with the compression ratio of the cylinders controlled to vary cylinder pressure during shutdown to control stopping position of the crankshaft, or an auxiliary control valve disposed in a cylinder wall to control pressure within the cylinders during shutdown so the crankshaft stops in a position desirable for restarting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Phlips, Bernd Steiner, Klemens Greiser, Ulrich Kramer
  • Publication number: 20060102113
    Abstract: A reed valve assembly is provided with a body, at least one flexible member, and at least one rigid member. Preferably, the at least one flexible member has a periphery so as to substantially cover opening(s) in the body when positioned adjacent to the body, and the at least one rigid member has a periphery so as to limit deformation of the at least one flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: S & S Cycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Tiller, James Simonelli, Floyd Baker, David Roethel, Jeffrey Bailey, Bill Swiggum
  • Publication number: 20060102114
    Abstract: An assembly modification of an existing two-stroke single cylinder 43 CC to 52 CC combustion engine. The assembly substantially increases the horsepower of the stock two-stroke engines. The modifications include using a reed valve kit which is modified to connect to the threaded carburetor connection bolt holes on the outside of the engine casing at the intake port. A drilled excavation in the interior face of the engine cylinder to provide for an additional transfer port at the location of the fuel/air intake port is also provided. The additional transfer port has a roof with varying angles of inflection depending on the performance characteristics desired during operation of the combustion engine. The reed valve kit also provides additional configurations for larger or smaller carburetors located at the intake port of the reed valve block. The piston skirt is modified for an additional opening at the intake port for providing fuel air mixture into the crank case for additional volume intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Brad Holtorf
  • Publication number: 20060102115
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine variable compression ratio system is provided that includes a piston inner (5a), a piston outer (5b) that, while being fitted around the outer periphery of the piston inner (5a), so that it can slide only in the axial direction, is capable of moving to a low compression ratio position (L), a high compression ratio position (H), and a medium compression ratio position (M) between the above positions, and two sets of raising means (R1, R2) disposed in line in the axial direction between the piston inner and outer (5a, 5b), each set of raising means (R1, R2) including a movable raising member (141, 142), which can pivot individually between a non-raised position (A) and a raised position (B) around the axis of the piston inner and outer (5a, 5b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hirano
  • Publication number: 20060102116
    Abstract: Provided is a variable stroke property engine that can prevent an increase in the resistance to the engine owing to the contact between the variable stroke piston mechanism and lubricating oil. In a variable stroke property engine equipped with a variable piston stroke mechanism consisting of a plurality of links 4, 5 and 12, a baffle plate 40 is provided between the links and the oil surface of the lubricating oil received in an oil pan so that the links may be separated from the oil surface by the baffle plate and the lubricating oil is prevented from contacting the links. Thereby, an increase to the resistance to the movement of the links can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Akinori Maezuru, Koichi Ikoma, Kenji Abe
  • Publication number: 20060102117
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve actuator for reciprocating engine includes at least a hydraulic cylinder (3) for opening at least one valve (2) via at least one valve opening selector (11) with at least one hydraulic positive displacement pump (4) whereof the hydraulic fluid supplied at the output can be forced into a high pressure circuit (10) by at least one pump outlet closure (8), the valve (2) capable of being maintained opened by an opening non-return valve (24), then of being reseated by a valve closing selector (25) which directs the hydraulic fluid contained in the hydraulic cylinder (3) in the hydraulic positive displacement pump (4) input by co-operating with a pump input non-return valve (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Vianney Rabhi
  • Publication number: 20060102118
    Abstract: A pair of link arms (19A and 20A) each supported at one end thereof on an engine body (1) for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for a valve-operating cam (16) are connected at the other ends, for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis, directly to a rocker arm (18A) having a valve abutment (15) abutting against an engine valve (6) and a cam abutment (17) contacting with the valve-operating cam (16). At least any one of the link arms (19A and 20A) is swingably supported at one end thereof on the engine body (1) for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis for the valve-operating cam (16). Such an arrangement ensures that a valve-operating system can be constructed compactly, and the opening lift amount of the engine valve can be changed continuously, while ensuring an excellent followability to the valve-operating cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Noriarki Fujii, Hiromu Nakamura, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20060102119
    Abstract: The invention provides a valvetrain configuration in an internal combustion engine in which a plurality of two-step rockers enable the engine poppet valves to switch between two lift profiles. In addition, a lost-motion stationary lash adjuster enables the deactivation of the engine poppet valve. The integration of a two-step rocker with a deactivating stationary lash adjuster yields a better control of the combustion process, under different engine operating conditions than what is achievable with either one of these actuators acting alone. Preferably, the locking and unlocking of the two-step rocker arm and deactivating stationary lash adjuster is controlled by two on/off hydraulic valves in a hydraulic circuit, and a piloted check valve prevents hard landings between stationary and moving components within the stationary hydraulic lash adjuster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Burak Gecim, Ioan Manole, Vimesh Patel
  • Publication number: 20060102120
    Abstract: A valve train device for an engine for driving a valve which opens and closes a valve opening of a combustion chamber comprises: a valve drive device comprising a drive member and driving force transmission mechanism. The drive force transmission mechanism is configured to transmit a driving force from the drive member to the valve. The drive force transmission mechanism comprises a transmission portion configured to transmit the driving force from the drive member to the valve and a variable portion configured to continuously change a state of the transmission portion to thereby continuously change an opening duration of the valve or the amount of valve lift. At least part of the variable portion is positioned within in the transmission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
  • Publication number: 20060102121
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for use in a four-stroke, internal combustion, compression-ignition engine having at least one engine cylinder, at east one combustion chamber, at least one intake valve and a crankshaft. The EGR system includes at least one exhaust gas intake valve that is opened during at least a portion of an engine intake stroke when the exhaust gas pressure is greater than the pressure of gas in the combustion chamber, thus allowing exhaust gas to flow into the combustion chamber to establish internal EGR. A cam-operated intake rocker arm assembly has the form of both a first class lever and a second class lever. The first class lever directly communicates motion of the intake rocker arm assembly to open the intake valve, and the second class lever communicates motion of the intake rocker arm assembly through a hydraulic transfer assembly to open the exhaust gas intake valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Yury Kalish, James McCarthy, Michael Ryzer, Eugene Ryzer
  • Publication number: 20060102122
    Abstract: This variable valve train has a camshaft, a rocker shaft, and a rocker arm mechanism for transmitting a motion of a cam formed on the camshaft to a valve. The rocker arm mechanism includes a first arm which drives the valve, a second arm, a third arm, and a variable mechanism which rocks the rocker shaft. The first arm is rockably supported on the rocker shaft. The second arm is driven by the cam and rocks around a universal joint as a pivot on the side of the rocker shaft. The third arm is displaced to drive the first arm as the second arm rocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20060102123
    Abstract: A valve drive mechanism is configured for an internal combustion engine that includes an outer body formed, at least in part, from a crankcase and a cylinder that protrudes from the crankcase. The valve drive mechanism comprises a drive gear that is mounted to a crankshaft supported on the crankcase. A shaft is supported for rotation by a bearing. A driven gear is mounted to the shaft. The driven gear is configured to mesh with the drive gear. A drive pulley is mounted to the shaft. A driven pulley is mounted to a camshaft supported on the cylinder. A transmitter member extends between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. A bracket, which is a separate component from the engine outer body, is configured to be mounted to the engine outer body. The bracket is configured to support the bearing and the rotating shaft. The bracket, the bearing, the rotating shaft, the driven gear, the drive pulley and the bracket are assembled together as a unit that can be mounted to the outer body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyazaki, Masanori Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20060102124
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder four-stroke internal combustion engine enabling a method for on-the-fly switching between two or more firing orders. Switching to the new firing order is done without requiring any tear-down of the engine such as to swap camshafts. Switching can be triggered by the rider, or it can be triggered automatically per conditions such as selected gear, RPM range, track location, velocity, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Richard Calderwood
  • Publication number: 20060102125
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a driving device that is capable of operating regardless whether the engine is running or not. A variable valve actuation mechanism is driven by the driving device. During an idling operation of the engine, a control section controls the driving device such that the variable valve actuation mechanism maintains the valve timing at a valve timing advanced relative to a most retarded valve timing. The control section controls the driving device such that the variable valve actuation mechanism changes the valve timing to the most retarded valve timing after a stopping operation of an autonomous operation of the engine is initiated. Therefore, shock due to the initiation of the engine starting operation is reduced without decreasing fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Publication number: 20060102126
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing excessive fuel supply during engine startup, including supplying supplementary fuel during cranking of a cold engine and preventing supply of the supplementary fuel if the engine fails to start running. A solenoid valve in a supplementary fuel supply passage permits the supply of supplementary fuel. A switching device controls the solenoid valve and is grounded by a thermistor that is placed adjacent to a heater element. During cranking, electric current is supplied to the heater element, which progressively increases in temperature to cause the electric resistance of the adjacent thermistor to decrease over a predetermined time, thereby causing the transistor to turn off and deactivate the solenoid valve. Thus, if the engine fails to start within the predetermined time, the supplementary fuel supply is cut off by the solenoid valve, thereby reducing the possibility of excessive fuel enrichment and engine flooding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakata, Makoto Waku
  • Publication number: 20060102127
    Abstract: At an intake timing of an initial combustion cylinder, an actual intake valve timing is adjusted to a target intake valve timing corresponding to a target intake air flow rate of the initial combustion cylinder. At intake timing of the other cylinders which contributes to increment of the engine speed after the initial combustion, the actual intake valve timing is adjusted to a target valve timing corresponding to a target intake air flow rate of the other cylinders. Thereby, the intake air flow rate of each cylinder is accurately controlled, so that the increment of the engine speed is restricted within a range in which a startability is not deteriorated and a vehicle vibration and an over shoot of the engine speed is appropriately restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunari Izumi, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Publication number: 20060102128
    Abstract: An engine air intake device for an outboard motor includes a plurality of main intake pipes corresponding to each cylinder. First and second branch pipes extend from an upstream end of each main part. The first branch pipes are longer than the second branch pipes. The second branch pipes each include a valve and are selectively closed. The first branch pipes open into a first surge tank. The second branch pipes open into a second surge tank that is formed separately from the first surge tank. In operation, the valves of the second branch pipes are open when the engine is operating in high engine speed and are closed at low-to-medium speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshibumi Iwata, Masanori Takahashi, Satoshi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20060102129
    Abstract: A recoil starter has a guide surface with limited polar symmetry about the axis of the pull-rope limiting rotational orientation of the pull-handle in the at-rest position to less than three angular positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Purdy, Mark Lokken, Koichiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20060102130
    Abstract: The invention to which this application relates is the provision of an engine or pump which operates in an improved manner. The engine or pump is provided with a cylinder for selective connection with an inlet to allow the fuel and air mixture to be introduced and an exhaust to allow the removal of gases following combustion in the chamber of the cylinder. The connection of the combustion chamber with the inlet and exhaust is selectively controlled by a rotary valve arrangement. The control of the valve arrangement allows the efficient operation of the cylinder and in turn each of the other cylinders of the engine or pump and thereby improve efficiency in the power and drive obtained from the engine or pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Leon Bachelier
  • Publication number: 20060102131
    Abstract: The present invention provides a piston apparatus having an oil scraper ring, by which smoke due to incomplete combustion of fuel is prevented in a manner of preventing oil attached to an inner cylinder wall and piston in an internal combustion engine from rising into a combustion room by a reverse pressure and preventing a blow-by phenomenon and in which the oil scraper ring can play roles as an oil ring and an oil scraper to prevent excessive oil consumption. The present invention includes an oil scraper ring provided to a ring groove formed below the compression ring, wherein upper and lower protrusions provided to an outer circumference of the oil scraper ring to be brought into contact with an inner circumference of a cylinder and wherein the upper and lower protrusions built in one body have no perforated hole in-between to provide a scraper function and an oil ring function simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Geum Han
  • Publication number: 20060102132
    Abstract: The invention allows the well-known class of crankcase oil windage control devices known as “crank scrapers” to achieve greater efficiency. The efficiency of a scraper is inversely related to the clearance present with moving parts sweeping past it. Typically constructed of metal, scrapers have had recommended running clearances of 0.035? to 0.060? for many decades. By using a material in the scraper than can safely contact the moving parts this clearance can be reduced to zero. Many versions of this new class of device built by the inventor have been tested and are in successful use worldwide in passenger car and racing engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Kevin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20060102133
    Abstract: An engine lubrication system comprising a pump for supplying oil to an engine, a filter for purifying the oil and at least one sensor for discerning parameters of the engine lubrication system and generating signals indicative thereof. The engine lubrication system includes a controller operable to receive the signals generated by the sensors and to issue commands responsive thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Callan
  • Publication number: 20060102134
    Abstract: A lubrication system of an outboard motor delivers lubricant to an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is supported by an upper end of a case. The lubrication system has an oil pan configured to hold lubricant oil. An oil conduit has a lower end opening to the oil pan. An upper end of the oil conduit extends towards the internal combustion engine. An oil pump delivers the lubricant oil towards the internal combustion engine through the oil conduit. The oil pump is located in the vicinity of a front part of the oil pan as viewed from the side of the outboard motor. An inside bottom surface of the oil pan defines a lower bottom portion and an upper bottom portion. The lower bottom portion is located under the lower end of the oil conduit. The upper bottom portion of the oil pan is positioned rearward of the lower bottom portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Hiraoka, Hiroaki Takase
  • Publication number: 20060102135
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that replaces the throw journal of a crankshaft with a contour that is dynamic rather than static. The contour is such that three cycles of engine operation is not affected, i.e. exhaust, intake, and compression. The contour deviates only during the power stroke where an increased incidence to the circular for approximately ninety degrees of rotation is incorporated. This defers from previous attempts by eliminating complex geometries such as epitrochoidal, sinusoidal, or the elliptical that by their nature negatively affect the exhaust, intake, and compression strokes of the Otto cycle when compared to the traditional crankshaft. Additionally, the deviation from the circular orbit during the power cycle optimizes to a larger extent the leverage available for peak thermodynamic pressures in the cylinder in the brief optimum time afforded by that pressure. Compressors so configured would also be more efficient by reducing the energy requirements of an input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Johnson
  • Publication number: 20060102136
    Abstract: Fuel management system for enhanced operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder. It is preferred that the direct injection occur after the inlet valve is closed. It is also preferred that stoichiometric operation with a three way catalyst be used to minimize emissions. In addition, it is also preferred that the anti-knock agents have a heat of vaporization per unit of combustion energy that is at least three times that of gasoline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel Cohn, John Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060102137
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling stopping position of a crankshaft during shutdown of an internal combustion engine control a fluid pressure to control a corresponding drive torque of a fluid pump. Kinetic energy of the engine at shutdown may be used to control fluid pressure in a power steering system or fuel injection system to stop the crankshaft in a position favorable for restarting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Phlips, Bernd Steiner, Klemens Greiser, Ulrich Kramer, Markus Lemmen, Ulla Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20060102138
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling shut down of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine include a mechanical energy storage device to decelerate an engine crankshaft to a stopping position desirable for restarting of the engine. Energy stored during shut down may be used to adjust or reposition the crankshaft to one of a plurality of angular orientations advantageous for restarting, and/or used to rotate the crankshaft during restarting of the engine. A flywheel having a variable mass, such as provided by two or more segments, which may be fixedly or selectively coupled to one or more springs may be used to selectively store and release energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Ulrich Kramer, Klemens Greiser, Patrick Phlips, Harald Stoffels, Torsten Sude
  • Publication number: 20060102139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary internal combustion engine. More specifically, the invention relates to a coaxial stator (1) and rotor (7). The stator (1) is provided with an inlet nozzle (19) and an exhaust nozzle (20) while the rotor is provided with radial mobile blades (9) which are disposed in grooves (8) with room to move. According to the invention, the inner tips of the aforementioned blades (9) are provided with shafts (15) and a pair of connecting rods (16) is articulated to each of said shafts (15). In this way, at each of the ends of the engine, four connecting rods (16) form a deformable parallelogram which connects four alternating blades (9), while another four connecting rods form a second parallelogram which connects the other four blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventor: Balbino Fernandez Garcia
  • Publication number: 20060102140
    Abstract: A plurality of spark electrodes are disposed in an arc shape on the surface or so as to be projected from the surface of an insulating member formed on a part of the wall face of a combustion chamber, and are formed so as to be in series electrically via discharging gaps. A spark plug is provided integrally with an injector, and the spark plug and the ignition coil are integrated. The three members are constructed as an integral unit, thereby improving installability to an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yusuke Kihara
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20060102142
    Abstract: In an intake system of an internal combustion engine, with an inlet duct which includes at least one inlet valve, and with a throttle member for swirling the gas flowing to the inlet valve, the throttle member is movable into the inlet duct in an introduction direction and can be moved into a position in which it bears annularly against a wall section of the inlet duct where the inlet duct has a recess accommodating the throttle member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Eberhard Holder, Karl-Ernst Hummel, Bernhard Huurdeman, Arnold Kaden, Zhongxiong Liang, Herbert Pietrowski, Stephan Wild
  • Publication number: 20060102143
    Abstract: A throttle position corresponding to a R-R torque representing a torque in which a reserve torque is added to a required torque at MBT is computed. The throttle position is offset by an amount of a reserve torque in a torque increasing direction. An ignition retard amount for obtaining the required torque is computed based on a ration between the required torque and the R-R torque to cancel an increment in torque due to the offset of the throttle position. Because the offset amount of the ignition timing in the retard direction can be computed without an estimated torque which is determined based on the intake air flow rate including the leak air, it is restricted that the ignition retard amount becomes too large even if the large amount of leak air is generated at the throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toyoji Yagi
  • Publication number: 20060102144
    Abstract: A target value of an engine load ratio is calculated. A target throttle opening required for making the actual engine load ratio equal to the target engine load ratio is calculated on the basis of an intake pipe pressure which is a pressure in the intake passage downstream of the throttle valve. It is judged whether the target throttle opening can be realized by a step motor. A final target throttle opening is set to a maximum or minimum throttle opening which can be realized by the step motor when it is judged that the calculated target throttle opening cannot be realized by the step motor. The step motor drives the throttle valve so that the actual throttle opening is made equal to the final target throttle opening, and the intake pipe pressure is estimated on the basis of the final target throttle opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Yuichiro Ido
  • Publication number: 20060102145
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060102146
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060102147
    Abstract: When a combustion mode of an engine is a diffuse combustion mode in which an initial rising inclination of a heat-release-rate is steep, an electronic control unit (ECU) calculates an ignition timing in which the heat-release-rate exceeds an ignition determining value. Thus, even if a cylinder pressure sensor has a gain deviation or an offset deviation, the ignition timing is accurately detected to control the injection start timing. When the combustion mode is a premix combustion mode in which the initial rising inclination of the heat-release-rate is moderate, a peak arising timing of the heat-release-rate is calculated. Thus, the peak arising timing is accurately detected to control the injection start timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sumiko Norimoto, Hiroshi Haraguchi, Akira Umehara, Eiji Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20060102148
    Abstract: An EGR control method and unit for an internal combustion engine includes an EGR passage configured to recirculate a portion of an exhaust gas from an exhaust system to an intake system. An EGR valve, disposed in the EGR passage, is configured to control an amount of EGR, and an index calculator is configured to calculate a surge-increase index according to a variance in rotation of the engine. A detector is configured to compare the surge-increase index with a determination threshold to detect a surge increase, an adjuster is configured to adjust a correction value relative to a target amount of the EGR according to an output of the detector, and a target-amount calculator is configured to calculate the target amount of the EGR by subtracting the correction value from a reference target amount of the EGR determined based upon an engine operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Takanobu Ikeuchi
  • Publication number: 20060102149
    Abstract: An electrically driven type low-pressure fuel pump whose flow rate can be set draws fuel from a fuel tank and discharges it at a prescribed pressure commonly to a low-pressure fuel supply system including intake manifold injectors and a low-pressure delivery pipe and to a high-pressure fuel supply system including in-cylinder injectors, a high-pressure delivery pipe and a high-pressure fuel pump. The discharge flow rate of the low-pressure fuel pump is set based on required supply quantities to the low-pressure fuel supply system and to the high-pressure fuel supply system obtained according to the engine operation conditions. The discharge quantity of the fuel pump in the internal combustion engine can be set as appropriate, and thus, deterioration in fuel efficiency due to excessive flow rate setting and operation failure due to insufficient fuel supply can be prevented, whereby reliability is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Furusawa, Terutoshi Tomoda, Mitsuto Sakai, Daichi Yamazaki, Tomihisa Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20060102150
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for internal combustion engines includes a high-pressure accumulator acted on with highly pressurized fuel by a high-pressure delivery unit and in turn supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injection system has a pressure control valve, which is disposed between a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side and actuating a valve element. The pressure control valve is actuated by means of an electrical actuator. An end surface of the pressure control valve delimits the low-pressure region in the high-pressure accumulator and is sealed by means of a seal disposed on the low-pressure side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Kurt Frank, Claudia Frank, Simone Frank, Verena Frank, Werner Wagner
  • Publication number: 20060102151
    Abstract: The injection system (1) comprises a pump (7) designed to send fuel at high pressure to an accumulation volume, for example formed by a common rail (6), for supplying a plurality of injectors (5). The pump (7) comprises at least one pumping element (18) actuated with reciprocating motion with a compression stroke (Pi-Ps) at a sinusoidal speed (24), in synchronism with each step of fuel injection. The injection system (1) comprises at least one by-pass solenoid valve (14), which is controlled by a chopper control unit (16, 28) for modulating the delivery of the pumping element (18) by varying both the instant of start (To) and the instant of end (T1) of delivery during the compression stroke (Pi-Ps), in such a way that the delivery is synchronous with the injection phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Matthaeis, Raffaele Ricco, Domenico Lepore