Patents Issued in January 31, 2017
  • Patent number: 9556803
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a piston axially displaced in a cylinder over a maximal stroke and a connecting rod device for adjusting the compression of the internal combustion engine and having a transverse lever with one end connected by a first joint with a connecting rod articulately arranged in the piston and another end connected by a second joint with an actuatable control lever pivotal about a third joint. The transverse lever is connected between the first joint and the second joint by a fourth joint with a crankpin of the crankshaft which is spaced apart from a rotation axis of the crankshaft, wherein a lateral distance between the rotation axis of the crankshaft and the third joint in relation to the maximal stroke of the piston is at least ?1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Matthias Brendel, Markus Meyer
  • Patent number: 9556804
    Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Carsten Weber, Kay Hohenboeken, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bert Pingen
  • Patent number: 9556805
    Abstract: An improved fuel system for a dual-fuel internal combustion engine. During normal operation, the primary fuel passes through a pressure regulator before arriving at a primary fuel rail. Further, pressurized secondary fuel is delivered to both a secondary fuel rail and to the pressure regulator for purposes of regulating the output pressure of the primary fuel that is delivered to the primary fuel rail. When the pressure at the primary fuel supply or between the primary fuel supply and the pressure regulator drops below a minimum operating pressure, the pressure regulator is isolated from the secondary fuel and the secondary fuel continues to be pressurized until it reaches a suitable pressure for operating in a limp mode. Then, the secondary fuel, which is pressurized to greater than a normal operating pressure, may be injected at the higher pressure for improved performance of the engine in the limp mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Kalu Mumford, Josh Steffen, Derek Puzzuoli
  • Patent number: 9556806
    Abstract: A system for controlling a rotational speed of a marine internal combustion engine has a first operator input device for controlling a speed of the engine in a trolling mode, in which the engine operates at a first operator-selected engine speed so as to propel a marine vessel at a first non-zero speed. A second operator input device controls the engine speed in a non-trolling mode, in which the engine operates at a second operator-selected engine speed so as to propel the marine vessel at a second non-zero speed. A controller is in signal communication with the first operator input device, the second operator input device, and the engine. In response to an operator request to transition from the trolling mode to the non-trolling mode, the controller determines whether to allow the transition based on the second operator-selected engine speed and a current engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: William P. O'Brien, Jason S. Arbuckle
  • Patent number: 9556807
    Abstract: A transmission system is disclosed for use with an engine. The transmission system may have a plurality of gear sets, an input member configured to be powered by the engine and to drive the plurality of gear sets, an output member driven by the plurality of gear sets, and at least one clutch configured to selectively engage select gears of the plurality of gear sets. The transmission system may also have a controller in communication with the engine. The controller may be configured to generate an estimated temperature of the at least one clutch. The controller may further be configured to selectively derate the engine based on the estimated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Hoff, Mark E. Rettig, Michael D. Beyer, Steven D. Spencer
  • Patent number: 9556808
    Abstract: An idle stop condition determination method of an engine includes: calculating and storing a fuel saving estimation amount in idle stop of an engine on the basis of traveling information; calculating the amount of fuel consumption in restarting for restarting, when an idle stop condition of the engine is satisfied; comparing the magnitudes of the fuel saving estimation amount with the amount of fuel consumption in restarting, and stopping the engine in accordance with the result of the comparing; and restarting the engine, when a restarting condition of the engine is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Woong Yoo
  • Patent number: 9556809
    Abstract: A method for optimal fueling of an engine is disclosed. The method includes determining a quantity of exhaust residuals in each cylinder among a plurality of cylinders in the engine. Further, the method includes determining at least one of an intake and exhaust manifolds temperature, at least one of an intake and exhaust manifolds pressure, and a quantity of a first fuel being injected to each cylinder, and calculating a characteristic temperature of each cylinder based on the quantity of exhaust residuals, at least one of the intake and exhaust manifolds temperature and pressure, and the quantity of the first fuel. The method further includes determining a substitution rate of the first fuel for each cylinder based on the characteristic temperature, and controlling at least one of the quantity of the first fuel, and a quantity of a second fuel being injected to each cylinder based on the substitution rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Ricardo Hernandez Pereira, Henrique Moritz
  • Patent number: 9556810
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (“EGR”) in an engine. In one embodiment, the system may include a knock sensor coupled to the engine that sends a signal corresponding to at least one operating condition of the engine to a controller. The controller may estimate an amount of EGR gas administered to the engine and regulate the amount of EGR gas being administered to the engine when the estimated amount of EGR gas is not an effective amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey Jacob Bizub
  • Patent number: 9556811
    Abstract: A system includes a cylinder control module that determines target numbers of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a period, determines, based on the target numbers and an engine speed, N predetermined sequences for controlling the cylinders of the engine during the period, determines whether a transition parameter is associated with at least one of the N predetermined subsequences and selectively adjusts at least one of the N predetermined subsequences based on the determination of whether a transition parameter is associated with at least two of the N predetermined sequences. The system further includes a cylinder actuator module that, during the period, controls the cylinders of the engine based on the N predetermined sequence and based on the at least one selectively adjusted predetermined sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9556812
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products monitor the environmental conditions in an enclosed environment, such as a garage or storage shed. If a dangerous environmental condition is determined, such as elevated carbon monoxide, an entry door may be opened. If further remedial measures are required, ignition of an internal combustion engine may be prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Mehmet Ozkan
  • Patent number: 9556813
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device is provided. An engine executes A/F oscillation that alternates between lean combustion and rich combustion every cylinder. If a reaction state between rich gas and lean gas inside an exhaust passage on the upstream side of a catalyst is judged to be low, the assignment of cylinders conducting lean combustion and cylinders conducting rich combustion is swapped, so that rich combustion is conducted by a #1 cylinder farthest away from the catalyst in terms of the length of the exhaust passage, and also so that lean combustion is conducted by a #2 cylinder closer to the catalyst than the cylinder that is farthest away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Hojo, Shingo Korenaga
  • Patent number: 9556814
    Abstract: A method for controlling pressure in a high-pressure region of an internal combustion engine includes adjusting a fuel outflow from the high-pressure region into a low-pressure region by means of an injector, which has a control valve adjusted by a piezo actuator and a control chamber. The method includes charging the piezo actuator by a first signal such that the control valve is moved from a closed position to a partially open position and fuel flows out from the high-pressure region into the low-pressure region, discharging the piezo actuator by a second signal such that the control valve is moved into the closed position, and partially discharging the piezo actuator by a third signal after the first signal and before the second signal. The method provides pressure control in the high-pressure region via an injector with high reliability even at high rail pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Janos Radeczky
  • Patent number: 9556815
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a failure of a fuel pressure sensor for a high-pressure pump of a GDI engine includes a data collection step of collecting information on a state of a vehicle. A sensor condition determination step determines whether data collected in the data collection step meets conditions for determining the failure of the fuel pressure sensor. A failure determination step determines whether the fuel pressure value of the pressure sensor for the high-pressure pump is greater than or equal to a first reference value, and simultaneously, whether a fuel amount learning value is greater than or equal to a second reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hee Sup Kim, Jong Sung Park
  • Patent number: 9556816
    Abstract: In a system, a fuel supply increasing unit increases, upon determination that abnormal combustion takes place in at least one cylinder, a quantity of fuel to be supplied into the at least one cylinder in comparison to a quantity of fuel to be supplied into the same cylinder in which no abnormal combustion takes place. A vibration determiner determines whether a level of vibrations of a vehicle has reached a predetermined level. A disabling unit disables, upon determination that the level of vibrations of the vehicle has reached the predetermined level while the fuel supply increasing unit is increasing the quantity of fuel to be supplied into the at least one cylinder, the fuel supply increasing unit from increasing the quantity of fuel to be supplied into the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Yamana
  • Patent number: 9556817
    Abstract: A cylinder injection valve that injects fuel inside a cylinder and an intake passage injection valve that injects fuel inside an intake passage are provided. When it is determined that deposit greater than or equal to a predetermined amount accumulates, the fuel is forcibly injected by the cylinder injection valve (deposit removing control). The deposit removing control is performed when a pressure of the fuel supplied to the cylinder injection valve is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and an engine load is relatively high. On the other hand, the deposit removing control is not performed when the pressure of the fuel supplied to the cylinder injection valve is greater than or equal to the predetermined value and the engine load is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Patent number: 9556818
    Abstract: A two-stroke uniflow engine is provided with: a cylinder; a piston; an exhaust valve that is opened and closed in order to discharge exhaust gas that is generated inside the cylinder; a scavenging port that takes active gas into the interior of the cylinder in accordance with a sliding movement of the piston; a fuel injection port that is provided in the internal circumferential surface of the cylinder; a fuel injection valve that injects fuel gas into the fuel injection port; and a fuel injection control unit that executes control of the injection of the fuel gas in the fuel injection valve, wherein the fuel injection control unit decides at least one of an injection pressure and an injection time of the fuel injection valve based on a change in pressure inside the cylinder that is caused by a reciprocating movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamada, Takayuki Hirose, Yasunori Ashikaga, Takahiro Kuge, Takeshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9556819
    Abstract: The invention provides for a cylinder bore coating system that includes at least one cylinder bore configured to receive an axially movable piston. The at least one cylinder bore has a recessed area having an axial length and a radial depth. A first coating layer is arranged within at least the recessed area. A second coating layer covers the first coating layer and a portion of the at least one cylinder bore axially spaced from the recessed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: OERLIKON METCO AG, Wohlen
    Inventors: Peter Ernst, Bernd Distler
  • Patent number: 9556820
    Abstract: A cylinder of a combustion engine for a vehicle includes at least one intake duct and a spark plug which in turn includes a ground electrode. The spark plug is mounted in the cylinder such that during an operation of the combustion engine the ground electrode is cooled in as optimum a manner as possible by an airflow generated by the at least one intake duct. A spark plug and a method for manufacturing a cylinder of a combustion engine are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Andreas Birkigt, Lars Hentschel, Martin Stolle, Claudio-Sebastian Sonder
  • Patent number: 9556821
    Abstract: A piston structure for an engine is provided. The piston structure includes a piston for reciprocating within a cylinder, a connecting rod having a smaller-end part and a larger-end part in both ends, respectively, the smaller-end part coupled to the piston, the larger-end part coupled to a crankshaft, a cross-sectionally hollow piston pin coupling the piston to the smaller-end part, and a dynamic absorber provided inside the piston pin, including a fixed part fixed to the piston pin and a movable part pivotally supported by the fixed part, and for suppressing the piston, the piston pin, and the smaller-end part from integrally resonating with respect to the larger-end part of the connecting rod on combustion stroke. The dynamic absorber includes an assemblable dynamic absorber in which the movable part is formed by attaching a mass adjusting part to the fixed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Hirata, Mitsutaka Yamaya, Shuji Takuma, Yasunori Kanda, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Takeshi Motomuro
  • Patent number: 9556822
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an engine with an integrated mixing of fluids device and associated technology for improvement of the efficiency of the engine, and more specifically to an engine equipped with a fuel mixing device for improvement of the overall properties by inline oxygenation of the liquid, a change in property of the liquid such as cooling form improved combustion, or the use of re-circulation of exhaust from the engine to further improve engine efficiency and reduce unwanted emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TURBULENT ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: David Livshits, Lester Teichner
  • Patent number: 9556823
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the injection of recirculated exhaust gases from a vehicle engine, in particular a diesel engine, the injection device comprising a plurality of injection ports (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4), provided in a portion of the material of the injection device, each injection port (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4) having a cross section and a height extending through the thickness of the material. According to the invention, the cross sections and/or the heights of at least two of the injection ports (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4) are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Georges De Pelsemaeker, Jean-Pierre Galland, Laurent Odillard
  • Patent number: 9556824
    Abstract: A device for the recycling of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. The device comprises an exhaust gas heat exchanger constructed with a first housing element with an inlet and an outlet for the exhaust gas and at least one inlet and at least one outlet for a coolant, and a compressor which is constructed with a second housing element with an inlet and an outlet for the exhaust gas. The first housing element of the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the second housing element of the compressor are constructed as a housing connected to a cohesive, compact component so that the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the compressor are arranged inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Carsten Ohrem, Peter Diehl
  • Patent number: 9556825
    Abstract: A valve device has a valve that opens and closes a passage, and a cantilever bearing member rotatably supporting a rotating shaft of the valve. The cantilever bearing member has rolling-element bearings arranged in series in an axial direction of the rotating shaft. One of the rolling-element bearings located the closest to the passage has a rolling element, an inner race, an outer race and a seal portion. A space is defined between the inner race and the outer race to receive the rolling element. The seal portion made of rubber tightly seals the space on a side adjacent to the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kobayashi, Katsuya Torii
  • Patent number: 9556826
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for reducing friction in an EGR driver may include a space member mounted on a stem and having a side provided with a plurality of depressed portions to reduce a contact area with an inner side of a valve, such that the friction generated by a contact of the stem with a stem guide when the stem provided inside the valve vertically moves is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventor: Young Min Kim
  • Patent number: 9556827
    Abstract: A first pressure sensor capable of detecting pressure in a narrow pressure range with a high accuracy to detect internal pressure in the fuel tank is arranged in the fuel tank, and a second pressure sensor that is capable of detecting pressure in a wide pressure range with a low accuracy with respect to the first pressure sensor, and is capable of detecting internal pressure of the fuel tank, is arranged in vapor piping between the fuel tank and a tank blocking valve. When a filler lid switch is operated to release internal pressure of the fuel tank, the first pressure sensor detects internal pressure of the fuel tank so that an operation of the tank blocking valve is controlled on the basis of the detection result, and then a filler lid is opened when the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norifumi Iwaya, Atsushi Wakamatsu, Takayuki Sano
  • Patent number: 9556828
    Abstract: The tank ventilation system has an adsorption vessel, a regeneration duct and a pump. The adsorption vessel captures and temporarily stores fuel vapors emerging from a fuel tank. A purge air flow can flow through the adsorption vessel. The regeneration duct connects the adsorption vessel to an intake duct. In the regeneration duct there is arranged a pump designed to draw the purge air out of the adsorption vessel and admix the purge air to intake air in the intake duct. A density of the purge air that flows in the regeneration duct is determined. Furthermore, a purge air mass flow flowing in the regeneration duct is determined as a function of the density of the purge air and a predefined pump characteristic of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Weigl
  • Patent number: 9556830
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus has a casing defining an adsorption chamber therein and having a tank port, a purge port, and an atmospheric port. The tank port is connected to a fuel tank. The purge port is connected to an internal combustion engine. The atmospheric port is open to the atmosphere. A heater is disposed between the adsorption chamber and the atmospheric port and has a fin heat exchanger and a heating element. The heating element is configured to generate heat by electricity supply. The fin heat exchanger is joined to the heating element. The surface area of the fin heat exchanger between the heating element and the adsorption chamber is larger than the surface area of the fin heat exchanger between the heating element and the atmospheric port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Junya Kimoto
  • Patent number: 9556831
    Abstract: A thermal fuel delivery system includes an insertion assembly and a fuel device. The insertion assembly includes a housing defining a cavity for housing the fuel device. The housing is disposed above and coupled to a pair of frame members via a plurality of connecting members. The frame members extend laterally away from the housing. The insertion assembly further includes an intake manifold coupled to the housing via a tube. A plurality of runner tubes extend laterally away from the intake manifold and pass through the frame members at an inner portion of the frame members and terminate at an outer portion of the frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FRANK JASPER PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Raymond Jasper
  • Patent number: 9556832
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber incorporates a fuel conditioner and injector employs a vessel having a wall exposed within the combustion chamber to be heated by combusting fuel. The vessel encompasses an expansion chamber and has at least one open fuel injection passage through the wall into combustion chamber. An inlet conduit receives liquid fuel at a predetermined pressure from a fuel delivery system. A nozzle interconnects the inlet conduit and the expansion chamber. A pin operably seals the nozzle for timed injection of liquid fuel into the expansion chamber. An operator actuates the pin from a closed position sealing the nozzle to an open position placing the fuel injection volume in fluid communication with the expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Combustion Engine Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Sergin
  • Patent number: 9556833
    Abstract: An air cleaner positioned above a cylinder head is connected to an intake port of the cylinder head through a connecting tube, a throttle device, and an insulator. An insulator attachment surface is formed in a rear-side wall of a cylinder head such that the insulator attachment surface is inclined to extend in a forward direction while extending upwardly. An insulator is formed in such an arc shape in a side view wherein a flow direction of air flowing inside the insulator is directed more in a forward direction as the air approaches the cylinder head. A throttle device having an intake passage thereof directed in a vertical direction is connected to the insulator. A connecting tube is formed to curve in such a shape that the connecting tube has its upstream end opened in a forward direction and is rounded outwardly in an obliquely rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ozaki, Ryoji Imai
  • Patent number: 9556834
    Abstract: The intake system has a valve seat, a plate valve, and an elastic sealing member. A path is provided to pass through the valve seat and to communicate with an intake passage of an internal combustion engine. The plate valve fits to or separates from the valve seat to close or open the path. The plate valve is provided with through holes passing through the plate valve in the thickness direction at a valve periphery part. The through holes are arranged linearly one after another in a peripheral direction of the plate valve to be offset to each other in the direction perpendicular to the peripheral direction. The elastic sealing member includes an elastic covering part that covers a first surface and a second surface of the plate valve and elastic coupling parts that are disposed in the through holes and are coupled with the elastic covering part at the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 9556835
    Abstract: An intake module an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes at least one air duct element via which air is to be supplied to the internal combustion engine, and a cylinder head cover connected to the air duct element by means of which a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine is to be at least partially covered. A lubricant separation device and a cooling device for cooling the air are integrated into the intake module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jochen Haefner, Cecile Jecker
  • Patent number: 9556836
    Abstract: A fuel pump including a low pressure infeed leading to a pumping chamber, a pumping plunger for pressurizing fuel in the pumping chamber, an outlet valve for delivering pressurized fuel from the pumping chamber to a high pressure outlet line during pumping, and an overpressure relief valve connected between the high pressure outlet line and the pumping chamber. A ball type relief valve element is spring biased to close against the relief valve seat. The spring is in a spring chamber that is fluidly isolated from the pumping chamber while the valve element is closed, preferably in direct hydraulic communication with the low pressure infeed, thereby reducing dead volume during normal pumping. The spring can act on the valve element through a piston, and in an alternative embodiment, the piston can provide a spill path from the pumping chamber to the low pressure infeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Stanadyne LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Morel, Robert G. Lucas
  • Patent number: 9556837
    Abstract: A fuel pump module for installation between top and bottom walls of a fuel tank. The housing defines a space accommodating a pump. The fuel pump module includes a mounting component coupled to the housing. The mounting component includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the housing, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The mounting component and the housing are joined with a spring-loaded coupling such that the mounting component is urged away from the housing. The mounting component further includes a U-shaped recess that is concave on the first side of the mounting component. The bottom side of the housing forms a first distal end of the fuel pump module for engaging the bottom wall. The first surface of the mounting component forms a second distal end of the fuel pump module for engaging the top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Rossi, Steven Lee, Paul Mason
  • Patent number: 9556838
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an aircraft is provided for delivering in use fuel from a fuel tank to an aircraft powerplant. The in use fuel flows along a fuel flow passage from the fuel tank to the powerplant. A downstream pump is associated with the powerplant and configured to draw fluid along the fuel flow path so as to supply it to the powerplant in use. An upstream pump is disposed in or associated with the fuel tank and operable to pump fluid along the fuel flow passage. A pressure sensor is configured to monitor a pressure at an inlet to the downstream pump. A fuel system controller is responsive to the pressure sensor and configured to control the upstream pump so as to maintain the pressure at the inlet to the downstream pump at or above a predetermined threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: EATON LIMITED
    Inventor: John Henry Wood
  • Patent number: 9556839
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system includes detecting the pressure prevailing in a pressure accumulator using a fuel injection valve piezo actuator that includes, in addition to the active piezo region used to actuate the closing element, a passive piezo region that acts as a pressure sensor. Using this pressure sensor, the closing element force acting on the passive piezo region, and therefore the pressure prevailing in the pressure accumulator, can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Detlev Schoeppe
  • Patent number: 9556840
    Abstract: The invention describes a method and an arrangement for the regulation of the rail pressure in an internal combustion engine. In the method, the rail pressure is regulated, with a target high pressure being predefined. Said target high pressure is filtered, before being input, by way of a target high pressure filter which is configured as a dynamic target high pressure filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 9556841
    Abstract: A fuel supply system may include a fuel pump configured to supply fuel from a fuel tank to a target, a motor for driving the fuel pump, and a controller coupled to the motor. The controller may determine a duty ratio of a control signal through a feedback control and to output the control signal to the motor, so that a fuel pressure of the fuel supplied from the fuel tank approaches a target fuel pressure. The controller may estimate the duty ratio based on the target fuel pressure and information regarding a fuel pressure of the fuel supplied from the fuel tank, and may guard an upper limit of the duty ratio by an upper limit guard value. The upper limit guard value may be determined based on a rotational speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki Tagawa, Minoru Akita
  • Patent number: 9556842
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes: a needle valve with a seat surface at a distal end; a nozzle body with a seat section on which the seat surface rests and with an injection opening disposed downstream of the seat section; and a swirl flow generating section with a spiral groove for causing fuel injected via the injection opening to swirl. The seat surface includes a first contact point. The first contact point contacts a second contact point included in the seat section during valve closing. A line segment that is drawn by connecting the first contact point and the second contact point during valve opening intersects a virtual straight line passing a bottom of a first groove section that appears the most downstream side of a cross section of the swirl flow generating portion in a plane including a central axis of the needle valve and a bottom of a second groove section that appears one step upstream side of the first groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9556843
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes: a nozzle body having a plurality of injection holes; and a needle accommodated in the nozzle body to inject a DME fuel containing dimethyl ether as a main component. The nozzle body has a seat part to which the needle seated or from which the needle separated, and a tip end chamber arranged downstream of the seat part in a flow of the DME fuel to communicate with the plurality of injection holes. The DME fuel in the tip end chamber is heated with combustion heat in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to have a supercritical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Kato
  • Patent number: 9556844
    Abstract: A nozzle for a member of a fuel combustion system of an engine includes a hollow nozzle body. The nozzle body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer opening. The inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer opening and the inner opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner opening. The orifice surface includes a boundary surface and a protrusion. The protrusion projects from the boundary surface radially inwardly into the orifice passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew I. Rowan, Lucas Burger
  • Patent number: 9556845
    Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing heated fuel to compensate for a low cetane number, cetane number variance and sub-optimal engine cold-start performance in internal combustion engines are disclosed herein. Systems comprise a heater, a sensor, and an engine control unit (“ECU”). Methods can comprise detecting variables that affect combustion, calculating conditions inside a combustion chamber, determining the difference between current ignition delay and a desired ignition delay, estimating a cetane number of a fuel, and using the data to determine a suitable temperature that will compensate for cetane number and improve the ignition delay. Other methods comprise sending a signal to a heater in communication with a fuel injection system such that said heater warms fuel within the fuel injection system prior to injecting the fuel into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: EcoMotors, Inc.
    Inventor: Shizuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9556846
    Abstract: An engine ignition shutdown module includes a voltage regulator circuit connected to a key switch, and a pair of isolated MOSFET driver circuits connected to the voltage regulator circuit. Each MOSFET driver circuit charges a capacitor while the key switch is in a run position and the interlock switches are closed, and each capacitor discharges through a resistor for a time delay period once the key switch is moved from the run position to an off position or at least one of the interlock switches are opened. A pair of high voltage output MOSFET transistors are switched on while the capacitors discharge and provide an output to a magneto ignition for the time delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David A. Straka, Quintin D. Rigert, Jason D. Raabe, Allan D. Narveson
  • Patent number: 9556847
    Abstract: A plasma ignition device 20 includes a spark plug 100, a DC power supply 210, an AC power supply 220, and a coupling section 300. The coupling section 300 includes a capacitor 320 which electrically connects the AC power supply 220 to the spark plug 100. The coupling section 300 reduces the capacitance of the capacitor 320 in the second ignition mode in which transmission of AC power is halted, as compared with that in the first ignition mode in which AC power is transmitted to the spark plug 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Yamada, Kohei Katsuraya
  • Patent number: 9556848
    Abstract: This invention provides a tidal current generating device and an installation frame thereof. The tidal generating device includes an installation frame, at least three hydro turbines, and at least one power generation module. The installation frame of the tidal current generating device includes an outer frame and at least two buoy units. The at least two buoy units are disposed on two sides of the outer frame. When the installation frame of the tidal current generating device is used, the at least two buoy units are vertical to a horizontal plane and parallel to a direction of water flow. The at least three hydro turbines are disposed in parallel within the outer frame. The at least one power generation module is connected with the three hydro turbines. When water flows to the hydro turbines, the hydro turbines rotate to drive the power generation module to generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HANGZHOU LHD INSTITUTE OF NEW ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Dong Lin, Changzheng Huang, Zhenghan Chen
  • Patent number: 9556849
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. A vortex generator accessory is mounted to either of the suction side or pressure side and includes a base portion and a protrusion member extending upwardly from the base portion. An attachment layer connects the base portion to the suction or pressure side. The attachment layer has a lower shear modulus than the base portion to allow for shear slippage between the base portion and the underlying suction or pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Gabell Riddell, Michael Christopher Booth, James Robert Tobin
  • Patent number: 9556850
    Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine rotor blade, the blade comprising a pitch axis about which the blade can be pitched, and a flap movable to alter the aerodynamic profile of the blade, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pitch angle request (?) to a pitch actuator; determining an initial flap angle request (?_flap); providing a decoupled flap angle request (?) to a flap actuator; herein the decoupled flap angle request (?) is calculated from the pitch angle request (?) and the initial flap angle request (?_flap) such that the decoupled flap angle (?) provided to the flap actuator does not counteract the pitch angle request (?); and pitching the blade according to the pitch angle request (?) and moving the flap according to the decoupled flap angle request (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jenny Goodman, Kelvin Hales
  • Patent number: 9556851
    Abstract: A system for reducing vibration in a wind turbine includes a mass structure having at least one hole extending therethrough; a rod having a top threaded portion, an upper level stop disposed on or below the threaded portion, and a fixed lower level stop disposed below the upper level stop. The mass structure has a designed weight and shape that, in combination with the adjustable axial distance between the upper level stop and the lower level stop, is designed to provide a properly tuned system for a particular frequency. A base having an aperture designed for receipt of the lower level stop therein is configured for attachment to a component of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Farong Zhu, Munishwar Ahuja, Biao Fang
  • Patent number: 9556852
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a power plant controller arranged to carry out the method. The method is on an intelligent dispatching of the power production to wind turbines and optional compensation equipment of a wind power plant, as the power producing units of a wind power plant. The invention relates to a case where the requested produced power (both active and reactive) is less than the total capacity of the power plant, and the invention relates to utilizing this situation to dispatch set points to the wind turbines and the compensation equipment based on correction factors relating to the operating conditions of the wind park. This method may increase the wind turbines' life time, help in scheduling maintenance and expand the electrical operating range of the wind power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Mehrdad Babazadeh, Saed Ehsani, Martin Ansbjerg Kjær, Henrik B. Møller
  • Patent number: 9556853
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine plant is provided. Such a wind turbine plant comprises at least one transmission branch comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators and coupled to an electrical grid at a point of common coupling through at least one circuit breaker comprising a breaking capacity. The method comprises monitoring the electrical grid for a low voltage fault event; and if a low voltage fault event is detected: calculating a grid short circuit strength, determining a short circuit current limit if the grid short circuit strength requires an initial fault current contribution which exceeds the breaking capacity of the circuit breaker to be passed through the circuit breaker, determining a maximum fault current contribution based on the short circuit current limit and operating the wind turbine generators to provide to the electrical grid the maximum fault current contribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Manoj Gupta, Dilip Kumar Guru, Amit Kumar Gupta