Patents Issued in December 18, 2007
  • Patent number: 7308839
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal device according to the present invention includes: a pedal lever that is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to a vehicle body; a pedal member that is actuated by being stepped upon by a driver; a rotation support device that rotatably supports the pedal member upon the pedal lever so that an angle subtended between the pedal lever and the pedal member is variable; and a reaction force application device that applies a reaction force to the pedal member via the pedal lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Hijikata
  • Patent number: 7308840
    Abstract: A torsionally tuned damper assembly for a geared power transmission is disclosed. The damper assembly, at a power output end of a transmission power output shaft, has an inertia ring with a calibrated natural torsional frequency that reduces the resonance energy developed by gear rattle forces at a transmission gear mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Alvarez, Charles Poon, David Pariseau, Matthew Vance, Craig Smith
  • Patent number: 7308841
    Abstract: Speed adjuster devices, systems, and methods are provided. In an embodiment of the present invention, a speed adjustor device comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, and a housing. The input shaft can receive a first rotational velocity input in a first direction. The housing can receive a second rotational velocity input in a second direction such that the housing rotates relative to the input shaft. The output shaft can be coupled to the input shaft and the housing to provide an output rotational velocity. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Philippe Vauthier
  • Patent number: 7308842
    Abstract: A blind fastener for securing a plurality of workpieces is provided that has a sleeve, and a pin member. In an alternate embodiment, the blind fastener has a sleeve, a pin member and a nut. The sleeves have a head with a plurality of rearwardly sloping recesses disposed therein. The recesses are adapted to be engaged with a plurality of rearwardly sloping nibs disposed on one end of a nose secured to an installation tool. The pin members have a splined head adapted to be engaged with a splined driver secured to an installation tool. Use of the splined head on the pin member, the splined driver, rearwardly sloping recesses on the sleeve, and rearwardly sloping nibs on the nose eliminates camming out of the nibs from the recesses during installation of the blind fastener. A nose assembly for installation of the blind fastener is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhart Hufnagl, Gilbert M. Lee, Randall G. Torrence
  • Patent number: 7308843
    Abstract: Woodworking machines are disclosed having cutting tools for cutting workpieces. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include at least one brake component adapted to engage and stop movement of the cutting tool, and an actuator adapted to move the brake component into contact with the cutting tool at a high acceleration when the detection system detects the dangerous condition between the person and the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, David S. D'Ascenzo
  • Patent number: 7308844
    Abstract: A tile saw includes a base, a frame assembly disposed on the base, a first rail disposed on the frame assembly, the first rail having a longitudinal axis, a table slidingly disposed on the first rail, a support assembly disposed on the base, a saw assembly supported by the support assembly, the saw assembly including a motor, a cutting wheel driven by the motor, the saw assembly being pivotable about a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a switch electrically connected to the motor and disposed on the support assembly so that, when the motor assembly is pivoted about the horizontal axis, the switch remains stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg L. Sheddy, James D. Schroeder, Peter Chaikowsky, Darren B. Moss, Warren A. Ceroll, Stuart J. Wright, William D. Spencer, Jiangang Zhao, William S. Taylor, Frank A. Mannarino
  • Patent number: 7308845
    Abstract: A sawing angle indicating-and-reading device for a table sawing machine includes a saw base, a driving connecting rod and an angle sensing device. The driving connecting rod is actuated to drive the saw base to shift bias for an angle. The angle sensing device is composed of an angular signal reading head and a circuit device. The angular signal reading head is firmly fitted on the inner end of the driving connecting rod to rotate together with the driving connecting rod for producing an angle increasing or decreasing signal and putting it out to the circuit device and simultaneously, the circuit device will put out a digital angular value. By so designing, the sawing angles of the table sawing machine can easily and accurately be read, able to elevate precision in sawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Bor-Yann Chuang
  • Patent number: 7308846
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a liquid crystal display panel includes a cutting wheel having a spindle shape substantially corresponding to two conical shapes being attached to each other at circular bottom surfaces, a cutting blade along a central portion of the cutting wheel, a holder to which the cutting wheel is mounted, and a support part at the holder, the support part fixing and supporting the cutting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Chul Kwon, Jung-Sik Kim, Jong-Yull Park, Kyu-Jae Jeon
  • Patent number: 7308847
    Abstract: A perforating gun loading bay is described for protecting adjacent areas from an accidental explosion during gun loading. The bay can be an insert-type arrangement or a stand-alone structure. The bay includes metal plate walls, a floor and a roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Walker's Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Troy S. Walker
  • Patent number: 7308848
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation, thus eliminating the need for electronically or mechanically user controlled systems. The pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator, utilizes dual spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure. The dual spools function in cooperation with one another to maintain a state of equilibrium in the system, namely to keep pressure acting on or within the actuator (the load pressure), or the feedback pressure corresponding to the load pressure, the same as the pilot pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sarcos Investments LC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Shane Olsen, Michael Morrison
  • Patent number: 7308849
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump has at least one pump element including a pump piston defining a work chamber and driven at least indirectly by a drive shaft in a reciprocating motion, counter to the force of a restoring spring. The pump piston is braced on the drive shaft at least indirectly via a sleevelike tappet, and the restoring spring engages at least the pump piston. A support element in the tappet braces the pump piston toward the drive shaft and is braced at least indirectly on the drive shaft. The restoring spring, via a spring plate, engages the pump piston and the tappet. The spring plate is elastically deformable in the direction of motion of the pump piston in such a way that as a result of its elastic deformation, deviations in the position of its contact faces on the pump piston and on the tappet are compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alfons Schoetz, Walter Fuchs, Gerhard Meier, Jochen Aleker, Andreas Dutt
  • Patent number: 7308850
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum piston for a combustion engine having a ring element, which is made of NiResist, is placed in the radially outer edge area of the piston head, and which, together with the base body, forms an annular cooling channel. The ring element is fastened to the base body of the piston via a screwed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Scharp
  • Patent number: 7308851
    Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an outer member defining a storage chamber in which is stored the one or more beverage ingredients, an inner member having a discharge spout forming an outlet for outflow of beverage formed from the one or more beverage ingredients, and a filter disposed between the storage chamber and the discharge spout, characterized in that the inner member and filter are conjoined in one operation to the outer member by means of at least one weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Halliday
  • Patent number: 7308852
    Abstract: A cooking oven, wherein air in a cooking chamber is sucked into a blower on the outside of the cooking chamber and fed to an upper duct and a lateral duct, air current led into the upper duct is heated by an upper heater and re-circulated from an upper blowing port to the cooking chamber, a catalyst block heated by a catalyst heating heater is disposed in the upper duct to decompose lamp black and smell substances contained in the air current, catalyst paint is applied onto the inner wall surface of the upper duct to reinforce a performance for decomposing the lamp black and smell substances, both the lateral duct and the upper duct are formed in the same structure, the distributions of heating volumes of the upper heater and the lateral heater in the cross sections of the upper duct and the lateral duct are set so that larger heating volumes are generated on larger air volume sides according to the air volume distributions in the cross sections of the ducts, and the catalyst block is also disposed in the cro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuyasu Kaminaka, Tadashi Nasu, Masayuki Iwamoto, Yuzi Andoh, Takashi Hashimoto, Toshiyuki Irie, Tetsuichi Arita
  • Patent number: 7308853
    Abstract: Provided is a bulk paper feeding device with an intermediate conveyor comprising a carrier capable of carrying a large quantity of paper, a paper feeding mechanism for picking up and feeding one sheet at a time of the paper from the carrier, and an intermediate conveyor for transporting a sheet of paper fed from the feeding mechanism to the main paper feeding table of the paper feeder on the body of the image forming device or to the vicinity of a paper feeding port that faces the main paper feeding means of the paper feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Satoh, Mituru Takahashi, Tomotaka Osada, Yoshiyuki Araseki
  • Patent number: 7308854
    Abstract: A printing member such as a printing cylinder includes an at least partly metal cylinder, or a sleeve to be mounted on a mandrel rotating about its axis. The printing member comprises a body having a thickness. With the printing member there is associated an activatable signaling device that is connectable to a recording device that is arranged to store data related to at least one characteristic of the printing member or to the use of the printing member. The activatable signaling device can include a transponder such as an RFID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Erminio Rossini, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Felice Rossini, Michael Bell
  • Patent number: 7308855
    Abstract: A railway car truck is provided that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of a bearing assembly. An adapter pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. Protrusions extend from the adapter pad and are received in depressions in the bearing adapter to provide longitudinal stability for the adapter pad on the bearing adapter itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: ASF-Keystone, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Van Auken
  • Patent number: 7308856
    Abstract: An improved sleeve bearing for locomotive traction motor that provides additional lubrication over and above that of the one central wick currently used. The sleeve bearing is provided with a recirculation system comprised of either at least two additional wicks located near the 6:00 operating location or multiple oil communication and delivery grooves passageways communicating with the oil flinger grooves placed for the purpose of collecting and providing a mechanism for providing additional lubrication for extending the oil-wetted envelope available for supporting the truck-axle journal in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Magnus Div. of LV Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Foster, Paul Bien, John E. Macklin
  • Patent number: 7308857
    Abstract: In one embodiment, pallet substructure can comprise: a reinforcement structure disposed in a plane, a foot member, and a gusset. The gusset can be disposed in mechanical communication with the reinforcement structure and the foot member, wherein the gusset is configured to restrict movement in vertical directions when the substructure is oriented for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: The Engineered Pallet Company, LLC
    Inventors: Roy E. Moore, Jr., Ronald P. Brochu, Daniel J. Swistak
  • Patent number: 7308858
    Abstract: A foldable stand for a machine includes a tabletop, a plurality of legs each having one end pivotally mounted to the tabletop such that the legs are turnable relative to the tabletop between an extended position and a received position, a plurality of first locking members each having a body portion movably pivotally mounted to the worktop and a stop portion protruded from the body portion for stopping against the legs so as to lock the legs in the extended position, and a plurality of second locking members respectively mounted in the tabletop for locking the legs in the received position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Rexon Industrial Corp. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Lo, George Ku
  • Patent number: 7308859
    Abstract: A planting unit is provided having a seed trench opener that forms a seed trench in a ground surface as the planting unit travels along the ground. A depth regulating member is provided that has a predetermined vertical position relative to the opener. The depth regulating member is operable to ride along the ground and thus predetermined the seed trench depth. A suspension assembly is provided to reduce the shock forces on the planting unit when obstacles are encountered. Furthermore, a suspension system is provided to the seed trench opener, in addition to the depth regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, Brian T. Adams
  • Patent number: 7308860
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel sewing machine for decoratively stitching a cricket ball, the machine of the present invention will be particularly useful to provide decorative stitching on hemispherical leather cups prior to assembling them and stitching them to form the cricket ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Hardyal Singh, Surinder Singh Sehmby, Narayan Prasad Mukherjee, Gopalsamy Balamurugan, Uma Datta, Joydeb Roychoudhury
  • Patent number: 7308861
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of embroidery having a pile structure which may be performed by a general embroidering machine is disclosed. The method is accomplished by providing a base fabric, a first sheet having a predetermined thickness, and a second sheet in order, and embroidering a predetermined pattern on the base fabric together with the first and second sheet. An adhesive is applied over the back surface of the base fabric to fix the threads, and then the threads are cut over the first sheet. Finally, the first sheet and the second sheet are removed from the base fabric to form the resultant embroidery having a pile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Yupoong, Inc.
    Inventor: Byoung-Woo Cho
  • Patent number: 7308862
    Abstract: A flexible fluid containment vessel fabricated out of fabric for transporting and containing a large volume of fluid, particularly fresh water, with the fabric being made from coated thermoplastic yarns or fiber such that its respective sides have coatings so formed thereon that are different from each other or the fabric is coated with voids such that its overall density of the coated fabric is less than 1 g/cm3 allowing it to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Romanski, Crayton Gregory Toney, Joseph G. O'Connor, Maurice R. Paquin
  • Patent number: 7308863
    Abstract: A system and method for the offshore transfer of liquefied natural gas from an LNG tanker vessel to a moored or dynamically positioned regasification plant is disclosed. Once the state of the natural gas has been changed from liquid to gas or regasified, the natural gas is conveyed to another location in a gaseous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Jaap de Baan
  • Patent number: 7308864
    Abstract: A warning flag assembly is disclosed for attachment to an overhanging load on a roadway vehicle. The flag assembly is generally cylindrical and has one margin secured to a holder that may be releasably attached to the overhanging load using conventional hardware whereby the flag assembly can be used with a variety of loads, re-used and conveniently stored when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Anthony J. Catner
  • Patent number: 7308865
    Abstract: An installation for the electrostatic oiling of metal strips, with an integral system for heating the fluid circuits which allows the application of products which are solid at room temperature with melting point of 30-50° C., wherein the main heated components of the installation are constituted by: a container (3) provided with double wall an shell and bottom within which diathermic oil circulates, a heated circulation pump (5); an electrical passage heater (6); heated Duplex filters (7, 13); heated metering pumps (8); heated pipelines (4, 12, 14); a heated booth (20); heated self-priming pump (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Ravarini Castoldi & C.S.R.L.
    Inventor: Luigi Ravarini
  • Patent number: 7308866
    Abstract: Example embodiments related to a method of automatically milking animals, wherein the animals are allowed to move in area intended therefore. The area may include a resting area and a feeding area housing a milking station, whereby the animals are allowed to visit individually and which a selected group of the animals have to visit in order to move from the resting area to the feeding area. The method may establish a condition for low utilization of the milking station; and feed the animals by a feeding device when the condition for low utilization of the automatic milking machine is met to thereby entice animals in the resting area to move to the feeding area and to therewith present themselves at the milking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Delaval Holdings AB
    Inventor: Uzi Birk
  • Patent number: 7308867
    Abstract: Deer and other nocturnal animals may be allowed to feed from a feeding device which also restricts feeding by squirrels, birds, and other diurnal feeders. The apparatus includes a walled enclosure having a sloped bottom for facilitating the gravity flow of animal feed toward an outlet from which the feed can then be accessed by the target animals. The opening is provided with a sliding cover which is controllably movable between a first position aligned over the opening to prevent dispensing of feed, and a second position removed from the opening to allow dispensing of feed. To prevent blockage of the cover by the feed when the cover is moved from the open to the closed position, an internal member is disposed within the enclosure which creates an accumulation chamber or dead space into which feed can be readily moved out of the path of the moving cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Joe Mathews Pound, John Allen Miller, Gary Ray Earl, Randy Wayne Ryan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7308868
    Abstract: A cage includes side panels, each having top and bottom edges extending along a length of the cage. Coextensive top and bottom panels have sides extending along a length of the cage and are engaged with the side panels, defining a cavity therebetween. End panels are conjoined to the top, bottom and side panels. One end panel includes an access door pivotal about a fulcrum axis. Each side, top, bottom and end panel is formed from rigid steel shafts arranged in a mesh pattern. A mechanism is included for locking the access door at a lowered position. Spikes extend from the cage for deterring animals from tampering therewith. The spikes fit between the mesh pattern and lay coplanar with the side, top, bottom, and end panels during lowered positions. The spikes are evenly spaced along the panels. A mechanism is included for rotating the spikes between extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Jerry J. Borg
  • Patent number: 7308869
    Abstract: A compression-ignition internal combustion engine for aircraft generally comprises a stationary crankshaft, a crankcase adapted to rotate about the stationary crankshaft, and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the crankcase. Each cylinder includes a piston adapted to reciprocate therein and a connecting rod drivingly coupling the piston to the crankshaft. The engine further comprises a valve assembly for operating an exhaust valve associated with each cylinder and a fuel assembly for supplying fuel to each cylinder. First and second cams mounted on the crankshaft are adapted to operate the valve assembly and fuel assembly in a timed manner as the crankcase rotates about the crankshaft. The engine also includes a propeller synchronizer for adjusting the pitch of a plurality of propellers radially extending from the rotating crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Nicholas Mathew Stone
  • Patent number: 7308870
    Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine in which bubbles are not transferred to the water pump, and thereby the efficiency of the water pump is maintained. The interior of a water outlet mounted on a cylinder head is divided by a partition wall to form a feeding chamber to feed the coolant introduced from the cylinder head to a first path provided with a radiator, and a receiving chamber forming a second path to receive the coolant returned from a heater core. Between the receiving chamber and the feeding chamber is a channel making one or both chambers communicate with the other. As a result, bubbles in the coolant running through the second path are introduced into the feeding chamber through the channel and removed from the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Aichi Machine Industry Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hada, Takayoshi Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7308871
    Abstract: An engine control unit diagnoses whether or not a unit that controls a variable valve apparatus is failed, and when it is diagnosed that the unit is failed, the engine control unit shuts off the power supply to a drive circuit for an actuator of the variable valve apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7308872
    Abstract: A valvetrain system mechanization for an internal combustion engine using compression ignition, including homogeneous charge compression ignition, having two intake and one or more exhaust valves per cylinder. The valves are operated by dual overhead camshafts having two-step cams. The intake and exhaust camshafts are provided with phasers for varying the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. A two-step roller finger follower is disposed for each valve between the cam lobes and the valve stem. The two sets of intake and exhaust valves are controlled by separate oil control valves. Swirl of gases may be introduced by mismatching the lifts of the valves. The valve opening times, closing times, lifts, fuel injection, compression ratio, and exhaust gas recirculation may be varied to optimize combustion conditions for a range of engine operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Philip J. G. Dingle
  • Patent number: 7308873
    Abstract: A variable valve control system for an internal combustion engine, includes a valve to open and close an opening of a combustion chamber of the engine, a variable lift characteristic control mechanism to adjust a valve lift characteristic of the valve, a sensing section to collect information needed to determine an estimated valve lift characteristic of the valve, an input section to receive an externally input calibration-mode command. The variable valve control system is configured to perform: controlling the valve lift characteristic to be a mechanically defined small setting in response to the calibration-mode command; collecting the information when the valve lift characteristic is the small setting; and calibrating the sensing section in accordance with the collected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Katsuhiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7308874
    Abstract: A valve drive mechanism for actuating a valve of an internal combustion engine includes a cam member with a cam surface having a first portion and a second portion. A roller is configured to rotate and contact the first portion of the cam surface when the valve is in a closed position and the second portion of the cam surface with the valve is in an open position. The cam member and the roller are configured to reciprocally move relative to each other to open and close the valve. When the roller contacts the first portion, a gap within the valve drive mechanism exists between components of the valve drive mechanism on a downstream side of a force transmission path to the valve with respect to a contact point between the roller and the cam surface. A spring member urges the roller and the cam surface into contact with each other during motion between the cam member and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
  • Patent number: 7308875
    Abstract: An intake control apparatus of an internal combustion engine including respective intake valves 5 opened when intake air reaching respective branch intake paths r1 from a main intake path Rim of the internal combustion engine is introduced to respective combustion chamber 2, and respective intake control valves 15 respectively arranged upstream from the intake valves on the respective branch intake paths for adjusting an intake introducing time period Tq for introducing intake air into the combustion chamber 2 in which both of the valves are brought into an opened state by controller 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7308876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjuster (1) for adjusting and fixing the relative position of the angle of rotation of a camshaft (8) in relation to a crankshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. The adjusting device comprises a high transmission and friction-reduced adjusting gear mechanism (2), comprising a drive shaft which is rotationally fixed to the crankshaft, a driven shaft which is rotationally fixed to the camshaft (8) and an adjusting shaft (9) which is connected to an adjusting motor shaft (10) of an adjusting motor. A camshaft adjuster (1), which is economical to run, can be produced such that the adjusting gear mechanism (2) and the adjusting motor (3) are embodied as separate units and are connected together by a rotational backlash-free, disengaging coupling (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jörg Degelmann, Jon Heywood
  • Patent number: 7308877
    Abstract: A variable valve timing controller adjusts valve timing of an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve by varying a motor speed relative to a camshaft. When an engine is running under a predetermined condition, an actual valve timing is calculated based on a cam angle signal and crank angle signal every when the cam angle signal is inputted. A final valve timing is calculated by adding a valve timing variation amount to the actual valve timing at the time the cam angle signal is outputted. The valve timing amount is periodically calculated based on a difference between a motor speed and a rotational speed of the intake camshaft. When the engine is running under another condition, only actual valve timing at the time the cam angle signal is outputted is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Izumi, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Patent number: 7308878
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member formed with a plurality of recessed portions into which a supporting jig is insertable at a second side thereof in the axial direction, a fluid pressure chamber, a vane, a lock member, and a cover plate formed with a plurality of through holes, through which the supporting jig is insertable, at a position in which each of the plurality of through holes is overlapped with each of the plurality of recessed portions of the driven side rotational member in a condition where the relative rotational phase is restrained at the lock phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Kira
  • Patent number: 7308879
    Abstract: A deactivation valve lifter includes a lifter body. The lifter body has a first end configured for engaging a cam of an engine and at least one annular pin chamber. A pin housing includes a pin housing bottom. The pin housing bottom defines at least one pin stop aperture and a radially directed pin bore. A deactivation pin assembly is disposed within the pin bore and includes pin members. The pin housing is concentrically disposed within the lifter body. A portion of each pin member may be disposed within the annular pin chamber to thereby selectively couple and decouple the lifter body to the pin housing. A drain aperture defined by the pin housing bottom extends from the pin bore to an outside surface of the pin housing. A stop pin is disposed in the at least one pin stop aperture for limiting the inward motion of the pin members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Mark J. Spath
  • Patent number: 7308880
    Abstract: A starting system rotates and starts an internal combustion engine by injecting fuel into a predetermined cylinder using an injector and igniting the fuel using an ignition plug, and upon starting the engine, the fuel pressure supplied to the injector is detected, and the engine is started by combustion in the predetermined cylinder only when the detected pressure is at or greater than the predetermined pressure, thereby guaranteeing the fuel pressure when combustion starting is employed, and consequently the engine can be securely started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatsugu Katayama, Naoki Osada, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Hidehiro Fujita, Masahiko Yuuya, Atsushi Mitsuhori, Tadanori Yanai, Shouta Hamane
  • Patent number: 7308882
    Abstract: An oil feeding system of an engine equipped with a transmission configured to change a rotational speed of rotation of a crankshaft and to output the rotation, including an oil pump configured to be driven in cooperation with the rotation of the crankshaft, an oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump flows, in which the oil passage includes a transmission oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump is guided to the transmission, and an engine body oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump is guided to portions other than the transmission, and an oil control portion configured to change a ratio between a pressure of the oil flowing through the transmission oil passage and a pressure of the oil flowing through the engine body oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Suzuki, Yoji Fukami, Yosuke Nonaka
  • Patent number: 7308883
    Abstract: A vehicular accessories drive apparatus includes a main engine, a subsidiary engine, and vehicular accessories that are driven by the main engine or the subsidiary engine. Furthermore, a fuel consumption predicting portion predicts an amount of fuel that is consumed in order for the main engine to drive the vehicular accessories during operation of the engine, and an amount of fuel that is consumed in order for the subsidiary engine to drive the vehicular accessories. An electromagnetic clutch carries out the switching between driving force sources so that the vehicular accessories are driven by the subsidiary engine if the predicted fuel consumption of the main engine is greater than the predicted fuel consumption of the subsidiary engine, and so that the vehicular accessories are driven by the main engine if the predicted fuel consumption of the main engine is less than or equal to the predicted fuel consumption of the subsidiary engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7308884
    Abstract: A circular column-shaped flywheel rotor 4 that rotates inside a rotor housing 1 in which a cylindrical-shaped hollow section is formed; a piston head 34 that is located on the flywheel rotor 4 so that it can come in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall of the rotor housing 1 or be released from sliding contact; an intake valve 10 and airtight-sealing valve 21 that are constructed so that they are capable of partitioning and dividing a combustion chamber or opening up the combustion chamber; a spark plug 16; and an exhaust valve 28 that is located so that it is capable of connecting or disconnecting the combustion chamber with the outside; and whereby linking these components with the rotating movement of the piston head 34, performs air intake, compression, combustion expansion (explosion) and exhaust, to obtain rotational power output from the output shaft 6 that supports the flywheel rotor 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Seiki Tathuzaki
  • Patent number: 7308885
    Abstract: A fuel control system for a cylinder direct injection internal combustion engine. A predetermined portion of the fuel spray is appropriately ignited regardless of the correction of the ignition timing, thereby always securing stable, satisfactory combustion. In the case where the ignition timing is corrected, the fuel injection timing is corrected in accordance with the ignition timing correction amount. The fuel injection timing is corrected also with the change in the internal cylinder pressure and the fuel injection velocity taking the intake pipe pressure and the fuel pressure into account, thereby maintaining the required ignition point of the fuel spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Asano
  • Patent number: 7308886
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle in engine braking mode, in which the internal combustion engine is operated with at least one unfired cylinder, and the internal combustion engine has variably controllable valve drives for intake and exhaust valves of each cylinder, and a turbocharger device for increasing pressure in the intake tract of the cylinder. The object of the invention is to improve the engine braking characteristic and the response of the turbocharger device. The object is achieved by controlling the intake valves and exhaust valves for setting a specified braking torque that may be set by compressing the air mass in each unfired cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fabian Balles, Gregor Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 7308887
    Abstract: After initial combustion at the time of engine startup under very low temperature conditions, a fuel-injection start time point and a fuel-injection end time point are restricted to a period of time during which smoldering of an ignition plug is less prone to occur, to warm up the inside of a cylinder and increase engine speed. Thereafter, a fuel injection period is adjusted by gradually elongating it by reducing the restriction on the injection start time point and the injection end time point each time the engine speed exceeds a predetermined value in the course of the increase in the engine speed. In this way, the engines are made to reach a state where the engine can operate in a self-sustaining manner, before smoldering of the ignition plugs progresses after the initial combustion at the time of the engine startup under very low temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Maemura, Masanao Idogawa, Takeyasu Muraishi
  • Patent number: 7308888
    Abstract: A cam arrangement for use with a high pressure fuel pump arrangement for delivering fuel to an associated engine, the cam arrangement including at least two cams (28) that are mounted, in use, upon an engine camshaft and each of which is arranged to drive a respective pumping plunger (16) of the fuel pump arrangement, wherein each plunger is driven to perform a pumping stroke, against return biasing means (32), during which fuel within a pump chamber (22) associated with each plunger is pressurised, and whereby said return biasing means (32) effects a plunger return stroke, and wherein each cam (28) is oriented relative to the or each other cam and has a surface (50) shaped such that the associated plunger return stroke is interrupted to define at least one step of plunger movement that is substantially synchronous with the pumping stroke of another of the plungers (16) of the pump, thereby to reduce negative torque loading of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John Williams, Anthony Thomas Harcombe
  • Patent number: 7308889
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel system supplies gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine. Gaseous fuel pressure within the system is at least 17 MPa during normal operation. The system comprises a number of components and conduits and at least one resilient member for sealing at an interface between two components. The resilient member consists essentially of thermoplastic polyurethane. A corresponding method provides sealing between components containing gaseous fluids at pressures that can be above 17 MPa, in which the gaseous fluids routinely undergo rapid reductions in pressure. The method comprises disposing a resilient member, which consists essentially of thermoplastic polyurethane, at an interface between the components. Gas pressure fluctuations can occur during operation of the components or when the high-pressure gas is vented from the components upon shut down of the high-pressure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J. Post, Thomas C. Brook