Patents Issued in November 29, 2016
  • Patent number: 9506402
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core section having a low spool, intermediate spool and a high spool that rotate about a common axis. The intermediate spool is supported at an aft position by an inter-shaft bearing arrangement on the low spool. The low spool is supported for rotation in an aft position by an aft roller bearing supported on a turbine exhaust case of the gas turbine engine. The high spool is supported by a high spool aft roller bearing disposed within a high spool bearing compartment. The high spool bearing compartment is positioned within a radial space between the combustor and the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry
  • Patent number: 9506403
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener for securing two pipe adapters within a casing such as a gas turbine casing. The fastener comprises a fastener body having a central bore for receiving the pipe adapters and having a first engagement portion, e.g. a radial projection extending into said central bore, for engagement with a first pipe adapter. The central bore has a second engagement portion, e.g. a threaded portion, for engagement with a second pipe adapter. The fastener further comprises an outer wall at least partly surrounding and spaced from the fastener body in a concentric arrangement. The outer wall comprises a fastener flange extending radially in a direction away from the fastener body for overlaying the casing. At least a portion of the outer wall is deformable (e.g. formed as bellows) so that, in use, axial and/or radial movement of the pipe adapters is dampened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCS plc
    Inventor: Samuel John MacLaren Clarke
  • Patent number: 9506404
    Abstract: An assembly including a protection device and an element of a turbine engine for protecting, for example, an oil tank including a magnetic particle detector, the protection device including a flexible protection blanket placed on and closed around the element for protecting and including eyelets that are engaged on fastener studs provided on the blanket or on the element for protecting. The protection device further includes at least one cable carrying an attachment mechanism for attaching to the fastener studs to prevent the studs being withdrawn from the eyelets in the blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Philippe Fardel, Georges Cousseau, Denis Barthelemy, Joel Roudil
  • Patent number: 9506405
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one propulsion member and a power generation system. The power generation system includes a power source and a transmission configured to provide torque to the at least one propulsion member. The power generation system further includes a control apparatus comprising an input device and a processor. The processor is configured to receive signals indicative of a power output command, a plurality of detected ambient air conditions, and a plurality of detected power generation system parameters. The processor is also configured to determine a plurality of power generation system control settings for improving efficiency of the vehicle based on at least one of signals indicative of the power output command, the signals indicative of the plurality of detected ambient air conditions, and the signals indicative of a plurality of power generation system parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Vos
  • Patent number: 9506406
    Abstract: A throttle control device includes a throttle lever fixed to a throttle shaft which is arranged to open or close a valve of a carburetor, an elastically deformable tube having a first end connected to a connection point on the throttle lever, the connection point being spaced from a rotating center of the throttle lever, and an intermediary section fixed at a first fixing position spaced from the connection point by a predetermined distance, and a throttle wire slidably accommodated in the tube and having a first end fixed at a second fixing position, the second fixing position being disposed outside the tube and at a distance from the first end of the tube, and a second end arranged to be manipulated by means of a throttle control lever so that the throttle wire moves relative to the tube, wherein the tube has a curved portion between the connection point and the first fixing position, the curvature radius of which changes due to the movement of the throttle wire relative to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Takashi Ohniwa
  • Patent number: 9506407
    Abstract: A system and method selectively reduce power of an engine having at least one piston movable in a cylinder and an exhaust port includes providing an exhaust valve in communication with the exhaust port of the engine. The exhaust valve has an adjustable position to change an effective size of the exhaust port. The system and method also include sensing a condition likely to cause damage to the piston of the engine and adjusting a position of the exhaust valve to reduce a size of the exhaust port in response to sensing the condition likely to cause damage to the piston of the engine, thereby limiting power of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Dallas J. Blake
  • Patent number: 9506408
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling fuel injection in a variable displacement engine. One method for a deactivatable cylinder comprises, before deactivating the cylinder responsive to operating conditions, disabling a port injector and fueling the cylinder only via the direct injector. The method further comprises, when reactivating the cylinder from deactivation, enabling both the port injector and the direct injector, and injecting a higher amount of fuel via the direct injector while simultaneously injecting a lower amount of fuel via the port injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9506409
    Abstract: A method of switching between liquefied gas fuel and liquid fuel consuming modes of a direct injection combustion engine including pumping liquefied gas fuel to a high pressure, pump for pumping the liquefied gas fuel to a high pressure rail of the engine during the liquefied gas fuel consuming mode, switching to the liquid fuel consuming mode, pumping the liquid fuel to the high pressure pump, flushing liquefied gas fuel via a return line between the high pressure pump and a fuel tank, controlling pump operation, controlling flow through the return line, and controlling the pressure of the fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: INDOPAR B.V.
    Inventors: Sebastiaan Martinus Emanuel Ten Broeke, Jeroen Visscher
  • Patent number: 9506410
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes a fuel supply device for at least one first and one second fuel, wherein the internal combustion engine has at least one cylinder which includes at least one intake valve and into which air, in particular fresh air, can be supplied via an intake pipe. In a first operating mode of the internal combustion engine, the first fuel is introduced only into the intake pipe, and in a second operating mode, the second fuel is exclusively introduced directly into the cylinder, and in the second operating mode an intake valve opening time period is adjusted to be shorter than in the first operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ralf Budack, Michael Kuhn, Peter Senft
  • Patent number: 9506411
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using selective cylinder deactivation for knock control with reduced fuel penalty. Cylinders with heavier knock and/or more borderline limited spark may be transiently deactivated until they are sufficiently cool. While reactivating the cylinders following cooling, other cylinders that are knocking, hot, or borderline spark limited may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 9506412
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to restrain blow-by gas from reaching a catalyst during fuel cutoff, and protect the catalyst while coping with an increase in oil dilution amount resulting from the use of alcohol fuel, in an internal combustion engine that uses the alcohol fuel. An engine is equipped with a PCV mechanism that introduces blow-by gas in a crankcase into an intake system. Besides, when fuel cutoff is executed with the PCV mechanism in operation, an opening degree of a throttle valve during fuel cutoff is set on the basis of an oil dilution amount in lubricating oil. Thus, the throttle opening degree during fuel cutoff is adjusted in accordance with a generation amount of blow-by gas, so that an intake negative pressure can be appropriately reduced. Accordingly, during fuel cutoff, the amount of blow-by gas that is sucked out from the crankcase due to the intake negative pressure and introduced into the intake system can be held small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsukagoshi, Kouji Morita, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kazuhisa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9506413
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on intake valve closing time. The method also describes selecting the first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on an end of fuel injection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, David Bruce Reiche, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 9506414
    Abstract: A cold start emissions reduction diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant temperature module including a coolant temperature input, and a memory module having a coolant temperature look-up table. The cold start controller also includes a cold start emissions reduction module configured to selectively compare coolant temperature values with desired emission values in the look-up table to determine at least one of a fuel injection timing and a fuel injection quantity to establish a desired cold start emissions profile. A fuel injection monitoring module is configured and disposed to sense changes in fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity, and an emission reduction diagnostic model module is configured and disposed to determine emission parameters based on the changes in the one of the fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity sensed by the fuel injection monitoring module during a cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steve L. Melby, Kevin J. McKay
  • Patent number: 9506415
    Abstract: A control device is interposable between an oxygen sensor and an electric control unit of a motor vehicle to receive a voltage signal of the oxygen sensor, alter the voltage signal, and output an altered voltage signal. The altered voltage signal is received by the electronic control unit and causes the electronic control unit to produce fuel injector control signals that provide a richer fuel mixture to the internal combustion engine than what would be provided in the absence of said controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen Mullen
  • Patent number: 9506416
    Abstract: A first parameter correlated with a degree of a variation in the output from the air-fuel ratio sensor is calculated. A possible range of a second parameter representing a degree of a variation in air-fuel ratio among the cylinders is determined based on the first parameter. The first parameter is calculated with an air-fuel ratio of a predetermined cylinder forcibly changed. A difference between the unchanged first parameter and the forcibly changed first parameter is determined. A first characteristic representing a relation between the second parameter and the difference is determined based on the possible range of the second parameter and the difference. One of the determination value and the first parameter calculated before the forced change is corrected based on inclination of the determined first characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Yasushi Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 9506417
    Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting high pressure pump bore wear, wherein wear between a piston and bore of a pump may cause an excessive amount of fuel to leak out of a compression chamber of the pump. A reliable method is needed that involves a pump performance model that incorporates a number of physical effects and is verified by real high pressure pump test data. A method is proposed that involves comparing a target pump rate based on the pump performance model to a real fuel injection rate in order to determine if an abnormal amount of fuel may be leaking from the high pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mark Meinhart, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9506418
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are moved between fuel injections in response to combustion phase. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons and/or carbonaceous particulate matter may be reduced when cetane of combusted fuel changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Douglas Kuhel
  • Patent number: 9506419
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling combustion noise of diesel fuel. The method includes steps of setting a first target value indicating a crank angle at a maximum heat release rate and a second target value indicating a combustion noise index; calculating the value of X, which is the difference between a crank angle under the current conditions of a vehicle and the first target value and calculating the value of Y, which is the difference between a combustion noise index under the current conditions of the vehicle and the second target value; setting a third target value indicating a value of Y for the value of X, and calibrating the amount of pilot fuel injected into an engine according to the difference between the value of Y and the third target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: In Soo Jung
  • Patent number: 9506420
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate-estimation module and a control module. The EGR rate-estimation module receives a first signal indicating a first relative humidity of a flow of air and a second signal indicating a second relative humidity of a mixed flow of air and exhaust gas. The EGR rate-estimation module determines an estimated EGR rate based on the first relative humidity and the second relative humidity, wherein the estimated EGR rate corresponds to a flow rate of a flow of exhaust gas to an engine. The control module selectively adjusts an engine operating parameter based on the estimated EGR rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Darrell W. Burleigh, Gerald W. Fly
  • Patent number: 9506421
    Abstract: A cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine may include a cast iron alloy having a pearlitic structure with at least 70% of graphitization with spheroidal graphite morphology. The cast iron alloy may include at least 2.8% to 4.0% in weight of carbon; 1.8% to 3.5% in weight of silicon; 0.2% to 1.0% in weight of manganese; a maximum of 0.5% in weight of phosphorus; a maximum of 0.05% in weight of sulfur; a maximum of 0.5% in weight of vanadium; a maximum of 0.5% in weight of molybdenum; 0.2% to 1.5% in weight of nickel; a maximum of 0.3% in weight of tin; 0.005% to 0.06% in weight of magnesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: MAHLE Metal Leve S.A., MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Soares J. Edmo
  • Patent number: 9506422
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a spool, a turbine coupled to drive the spool, and a propulsor that is coupled to be driven by the turbine through the spool. A gear assembly is coupled between the propulsor and the spool such that rotation of the turbine drives the propulsor at a different speed than the spool. The propulsor includes a hub and a row of propulsor blades that extends from the hub. The row includes no more than 20 of the propulsor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Byron R. Monzon
  • Patent number: 9506423
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core engine, a first bypass passage disposed about the core engine and a second bypass passage disposed about the first bypass passage. A flow control is disposed within the second bypass for controlling bypass airflow through the second bypass. The flow control translates axially between an open position and a closed position to vary and control airflow through the second bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Felix Izquierdo, Robert H. Bush, Timothy J. McAlice
  • Patent number: 9506424
    Abstract: A device and a method for bleeding compressor air in an engine includes at least one actuator and at least one closing element linked to the actuator for closing or partially closing a bypass duct via which compressor air can be bled off. It is provided here that the closing element is designed to be successively moved into the bypass duct, with the airflow passing through the bypass duct being settable by the position of the closing element. Furthermore, an air guiding device linked to the closing element is provided and has air guiding surfaces which adjoin the closing element downstream, the spatial alignment of the air guiding surfaces being dependent on the position of the closing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Siering
  • Patent number: 9506425
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a supercharger, an oil tank, a scavenging pump, a first passage, a second passage, and a one-way valve. The supercharger is provided in an intake passage. The oil tank communicates with a crankcase via a collecting passage. The scavenging pump is provided in the collecting passage to transport a fluid in the crankcase to the oil tank. The first passage connects an upper space located above a liquid surface in the oil tank and a downstream portion of the intake passage located on a downstream side with respect to the supercharger. The second passage connects the upper space and an upstream portion of the intake passage located on an upstream side with respect to the supercharger. The one-way valve is provided in the first passage and allows the fluid to flow only from the upper space toward the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sato, Atsushi Sato, Hirosuke Niwa
  • Patent number: 9506426
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for recycling internal combustion engine feedgas exhaust emissions during cold-start conditions. By adjusting a restriction valve provided in an exhaust passage upstream of a catalytic converter, an amount of engine exhaust flowing through the catalytic converter prior to the catalytic converter reaching its operational temperature may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Enrique Remes
  • Patent number: 9506427
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for recirculating engine exhaust gas, and more particularly, to a system for recirculating engine exhaust gas, which mixes a part of exhaust gas discharged from an engine with air for combustion, and recirculates the mixture, thereby inhibiting nitrogen oxide (NOx) from being generated. Therefore, a technical problem to be achieved in the present disclosure is to provide a system for recirculating engine exhaust gas which may have a simplified structure. In addition, another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for recirculating engine exhaust gas, which improves output of an engine by increasing an amount of intake air, and further improves fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taejoong Wang, Dongin Lee
  • Patent number: 9506428
    Abstract: A system which includes a turbo bypass switching valve (BSV) positioned at a beneficial location as a direct mount on an air box to achieve compliance to OBD hose-off requirement via electronic actuation of the BSV and monitoring of the fuel tank pressure sensor for pressure change. When the turbocharger unit is generating pressurized air, the turbo BSV is open, and vapor is passing through the purge valve, some level of vacuum in the fuel tank is sensed. By closing the BSV, flow through the venturi is reduced, producing both less vacuum and a change in fuel tank pressure. The pressure change does not occur if any of the hoses become disconnected. This results in a simple OBD “venture hose off” check without additional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Douglas Jefford, Benjamin Dominick Manton Williams, David William Balsdon, David Rene Forgeron, Adrian Ovidiu Crisan
  • Patent number: 9506429
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved system and method of operating a fuel injector of an engine to provide at least two different types of fuel spray in a combustion chamber of the engine by application of ultrasonic pulses to fuel in the fuel injector during an injection event. A first type of spray includes larger droplets that reduce the effective diffusion combustion area around the droplets and a second type of spray includes relatively small droplets that increase the effective diffusion combustion area around the droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Lester L. Peters, David L. Buchanan, Vesa Hokkanen
  • Patent number: 9506430
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting an operating parameter in response to a degraded grille shutter, the degraded grille shutter determined based on a temperature difference across a charge air cooler. In this way, degradation of the charge air cooler or engine may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Alan Smith, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Chris Paul Glugla, Charles Allen Cockerill
  • Patent number: 9506431
    Abstract: A detachable connecting device for connecting first and second functional components to each other has a connecting element arranged in a connecting element receptacle of the first functional component so as to be force-transmitting. A bushing that is circumferentially closed is arranged on the connecting element. A bushing receptacle is provided on the second functional component. The bushing together with the connecting element is arranged in the bushing receptacle for realizing force transmission between connecting element and second functional component. The bushing receptacle has a circumferential side relative to the connecting axis that is provided with an insertion section with insertion opening to insert the bushing from outside of the circumferential side into the interior of the bushing receptacle or to remove the bushing from the interior of the bushing receptacle through the circumferential side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Korn, Gerrit-Tobias Speidel, Mustafa Guengoer, Andreas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 9506432
    Abstract: A sealing device that is capable of suppressing the generation of unusual noise by guiding a gas flow and suppressing the generation of unusual noise caused by resonance between the gas flow and a pipe. An intake noise reduction portion (20) includes a flow-guiding net portion (21) for guiding a gas flowing in an intake pipe, an annular frame body portion (22) for supporting the flow-guiding net portion (21), a cylindrical portion (23) that extends from the frame body portion (22) in a direction in which the pipe extends, and is fitted into an inner circumferential surface of a second pipe (220) and a flange portion (24) that extends from an end portion of the cylindrical portion (23) toward an outer circumferential surface side, and is disposed in a space between an end surface of a first pipe (210) and an end surface of the second pipe (220). A gasket portion (10) is provided on both surfaces of the flange portion (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Inoue, Tomonari Saito, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9506433
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine may include a first tank and a second tank connected to each other via a fuel line. A first pump and a first fuel filter may be arranged between the first tank and the second tank. A second fuel pump and a second fuel filter may be arranged between the second tank and the engine. The first fuel filter may have a water separator. A first return line may be fluidly connected to the engine on an inlet side and to the second tank on an outlet side and/or the first fuel filter on a raw side. A preheating valve may be arranged in the first return line and be configured to distribute the fuel flowing back from the engine to the first fuel filter and/or the second tank. A second return line may connect the first and second tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Gänswein, Joern Wetzel, Stefan Jauss
  • Patent number: 9506434
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes first and second check valve members that open and close first and second nozzle outlet sets, respectively, to inject two fuels that differ in at least one of chemical identity, pressure and molecular state. The first check valve member defines a through passage, includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the first control chamber, and moves into and out of contact with a first seat on an injector body. The second check valve member includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a second control chamber, and moves into and out of contact with a second seat located on the first check valve member. A control valve member is movable between first and second positions that respectively block and allow fluid communication between the first and second control chambers and a drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Dana R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 9506435
    Abstract: In one aspect, a fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet. A direct operated check valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a needle valve member with an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a nozzle supply passage, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber. The needle valve member is movable between a first position at which the nozzle supply passage is blocked to the nozzle outlet, and a second position at which the nozzle supply passage is open to the nozzle outlet. A needle control valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a control valve member movable between a first position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet, and a second position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly blocked to the drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jayaraman Venkataraghavan, John McDonnell, Nadeem Bunni, Christopher D. Hanson
  • Patent number: 9506436
    Abstract: A pipe connector comprising a connector body, a first fitting connectable to a first double wall pipe, the first fitting comprising a first portion connectable to an inner flow space and a second portion connectable to an outer flow space of the first double wall pipe, a second fitting connectable to a second pipe, a third fitting comprising a first portion and a second portion, which first portion is connectable to the third pipe, and a flow channel arranged in the connector body for interconnecting the first portion of the first fitting, the second fitting and the first portion of the third fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventor: Vesa Voutilainen
  • Patent number: 9506437
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes: a magnetic coil; an armature; and a valve needle connected to the armature for actuating a valve closing body which forms, together with a valve seat surface, a seal seat. Formed downstream from the valve seat surface is a spray opening that has, at the transition from a first to a second spray opening segment, a tear-off edge such that the complete opening angle of the spray opening at the tear-off edge is greater than 270° over the entire circumferential tear-off edge, so that, going out from the tear-off edge, on the floor of the second spray opening segment of the spray opening, there extends a circumferential floor region that is recessed behind the transition plane in which the tear-off edge is situated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Pilgram
  • Patent number: 9506438
    Abstract: In a fuel injection valve support structure, a pair of contact surfaces are formed on an intermediate portion of the valve so as to be opposite to each other with a plane therebetween, the plane including a center axis of the valve and a center line of a coupler, the elastic support member includes a base plate placed on a second load receiving portion, an elastic piece extending from the base plate, coming into pressure contact with a fuel supply cap elastically, and biasing the valve against an engine by a reaction force resulting from the contact, and a pair of rotation locking pieces extending from the base plate and coming into contact with the respective contact surfaces to restrict rotation of the valve about the axis, and at least one of the contact surfaces has a positioning groove for elastically engaging corresponding one of the rotation locking pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Inomata, Atsushi Kamahora, Yuzuru Sasaki, Takahiro Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9506439
    Abstract: A ducted combustion system is disclosed. The ducted combustion system includes a combustion chamber bound by a flame deck surface of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and by a piston top surface of a piston disposed within the internal combustion engine. The system includes a fuel injector including one or more orifices, the one or more orifices injecting fuel into the combustion chamber as one or more fuel jets. The system includes one or more adjustable length ducts disposed within the combustion chamber between the flame deck surface and the piston top surface, the one or more adjustable length ducts being disposed such that each of the one or more fuel jets, at least partially, enters one of the one or more adjustable length ducts upon being injected into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Anders, Kenth Svensson, Chad Koci
  • Patent number: 9506440
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection system including a common rail and control unit, a pump, an on/off valve, controlled by the control unit, to regulate the volume of fuel sent to the pump to be fed into the common rail, the control unit including: first determination elements for determining a peak phase duration during which a command must be applied to the valve to obtain a peak current to cause a change of state of the valve; second determination elements for determining a holding ratio according to which a command must be applied to the valve, after its change of state, to maintain a holding current necessary to maintain the state of the valve; application elements for applying the command to the valve first continuously during the peak phase duration and then by pulse width modulation according to the holding ratio; and at least one recurrent and automatic adaptation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Jérôme Lachaize
  • Patent number: 9506441
    Abstract: The present invention provides, with reference to FIG. 1, an internal combustion engine (10) having a fuel injector which comprises a sprung piston (55) or a resilient diaphragm piston (8155) and an electrical coil (57, 8158) for displacing the piston (55, 8155). The piston draws fuel into and expels fuel from a pumping chamber (52, 8152). The number of operations of the injector per engine cycle is controlled by an electronic controller (23, 8159) to control the quality of fuel delivered per cycle to a combustion chamber. A voltage measured in the coil (52, 8158) by movement of the piston under action of the spring or due to its own resilience is used to give an indication of vapor pressure of the fuel. A device akin to the injector can be used to draw fuel from a pipeline to measure the vapor pressure of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventor: Benjamin David Smither
  • Patent number: 9506442
    Abstract: A direct injector unit includes a fuel pipe and injectors fixed to the fuel pipe. The direct injector unit is assembled to a cylinder head by: mounting the cylinder head in a predetermined posture; holding the direct injector unit while positioning a reference injector and guiding remaining injectors such that their leading end portions are movable; and inserting the injectors into injector mounting holes of the cylinder head by relatively moving the direct injector unit toward the cylinder head in a state in which the reference injector is positioned with respect to a corresponding injector mounting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Watanabe, Takeshi Hara, Yusuke Miho, Hiroshi Yoshioka, Kenichi Yokoo
  • Patent number: 9506443
    Abstract: An engine-starting device for a vehicle having an engine, a parking lock mechanism and an automatic transmission, the engine-starting device being provided with a drive plate connected to a crankshaft of said engine, an electric motor having a pinion selectively engageable with the drive plate, and an actuator device configured to move said pinion to an engaging position for engagement with said drive plate to start said engine, comprises: said parking lock mechanism having a manual shaft selectively switchable between a rotation permitting position for permitting a rotary motion of an output shaft of said automatic transmission, and a parking lock position for inhibiting the rotary motion of the output shaft; and said actuator device being configured to move said pinion between said engaging position and a non-engaging position for disengagement from said drive plate, said electric motor being connected to said manual shaft to rotate the manual shaft from one of said rotation permitting position and said par
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Morise, Shinji Oita
  • Patent number: 9506444
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling an engine of an idle-stop and go (ISG) vehicle. The method includes allowing, when an engine stop condition is satisfied, the engine to idle-stop and maintaining, when an engine stop signal is transmitted from an outside, an idle-stop state of the engine although an engine restarting condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 9506445
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the starter motor includes determining starter motor resistance associated with an engine starting event and determining a back-emf for the starter motor based upon the starter motor resistance. A state of health of the starter motor corresponding to the back-emf of the starter motor and engine cranking time is determined. Engine stop/start functionality is controlled based upon the state of health of the starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mark N. Howell
  • Patent number: 9506446
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing power, the apparatus having a housing; a battery module positioned inside of the housing, the battery module having: a battery, a battery circuit board coupled to the battery and an ignition output port coupled to the battery circuit board; a circuit board positioned inside of the housing and coupled to the battery module, the circuit board having: a charge module, a discharge module, a lighting module and a control module coupled to the charge module, the discharge module and the lighting module; a light source coupled to the circuit board; and wherein the apparatus is configured to provide sufficient power to jump start a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SPACEKEY (USA), INC.
    Inventor: Liu Xinfang
  • Patent number: 9506447
    Abstract: An engine control device 13 that cannot output a control signal to an electromagnetic wave emission device 30 is used to emit electromagnetic wave at an appropriate timing from the device 30 to a combustion chamber 10. A signal processing device 40 is connected to the engine control device 13 that outputs an ignition signal for instructing an ignition device 12 of the engine 20 to ignite fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber 10 of the engine 20. The signal processing device 40, upon receiving the ignition signal, outputs to the electromagnetic wave emission device 30 an electromagnetic wave drive signal that determines based on the ignition signal an emission period, which is a period for the electromagnetic wave emission device 30 to emit an electromagnetic wave to the combustion chamber 10, so that an ignition operation is performed during the emission period of the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Minoru Makita
  • Patent number: 9506448
    Abstract: Alternative hydroelectric power plant uses a volume of water necessary for operation in a closed circuit. Hydroelectric power plant consists of a structure for mounting a head water reservoir at a requisite height, the structure including a building with a machine room, a device for supplying water to a hydraulic turbine, the head water reservoir and a tail water reservoir and balanced conveyor-type water-lifting apparatuses which can be set into motion by wind energy, starting from a low-velocity wind, by the energy from the water used in the hydraulic turbine and by the actual hydraulic turbine, by transmitting rotational motion from the hydraulic turbine to the conveyor-type water-lifting apparatuses, which provide for lifting water to the requisite height in order to create the pressure necessary for operation of the hydraulic turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Valeriy Mihaylovich Doronin
  • Patent number: 9506449
    Abstract: A submersible power generator with an inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism provided with an outer rotational armature and an opposing inner rotational armature to rotate opposite to the outer rotational armature, and a pair of propellers, where one of the propellers is connected to one of the inner and outer rotational armatures and the other of the propellers is connected to the other armatures, and a casing for accommodating the inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism and shielding it from an external environment. The submersible power generator is installed under water to operate in a water current with a gravity W that is larger than buoyancy F acting thereon during operation of the submersible power generator, and makes a rotational moment center that a sum total of rotational moments generated by gravity W, buoyancy F, and drag D in a water current becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOWA ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kanemoto, Isao Samura
  • Patent number: 9506450
    Abstract: A submersible power generator with an inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism provided with an outer rotational armature and an inner rotational armature opposing the outer rotational armature and rotatable in a direction opposite of the outer rotational armature, and a pair of propellers disposed coaxially with blades of each of the pairs of propellers twists in opposite directions relative to an extending direction of a central axis of the pair of propellers, and a casing for accommodating and shielding the inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism. The submersible power generator, as installed under water to operate in a current, has a buoyancy F acting thereon that is larger than gravity W acting thereon during operation of the submersible power generator due to gravity acting on the mooring wire, so that F>W+gravity acting on the mooring wire?buoyancy acting on the mooring wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOWA ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kanemoto, Isao Samura
  • Patent number: 9506451
    Abstract: The present invention describes a floating yawing spar buoy current/tidal turbine. The spar includes a spreader above the rotor(s) with the spreader tips connected to fore and aft cable yokes that transition to opposing mooring lines connected to anchors on the seabed. The spreader comprises a yaw motor, which drives gears that engage with a ring gear fixed to the outer perimeter of the spar. Flow direction sensors activate the yaw motor for automatic yaw adjustments of the spar turbine. As tidal direction changes, the entire spar and turbine are yawed to maintain the rotor plane facing the tidal flow. The bottom end of the spar extends to approximately the bottom sweep of the rotor plane and contains a winched vertical mooring line, extending to the seabed and attached to a gravity or suction pile anchor. The turbine drive train can be accessed for servicing from the surface via hatches and ladders within the spar to enter the drive train and generating system vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Aquantis, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. P. Dehlsen