Patents Issued in March 2, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170058777
    Abstract: A valve system includes a valve, a valve controller, a thermoelectric cooler, and a controller. The valve is configured to open and close a control device in response to a working fluid. The valve controller controls the flow of the working fluid through the valve. The thermoelectric cooler surrounds the valve controller transfers heat between the valve controller and an ambient environment. The controller directs a current to drive the thermoelectric cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Donald E. Army
  • Publication number: 20170058778
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a combustion section with a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. A structural member is positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section. Additionally, a piston ring holder is provided attached to the structural member at a first end and positioned proximate to the aft end of the liner at a second end. The piston ring holder is a bimetallic member including a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Publication number: 20170058779
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of first heat generating sub-systems arranged in operable communication with the engine, a fuel supply sub-system, a fuel circulation sub-system, and one or more combustors. The fuel supply sub-system is adapted to supply a de-oxygenated fuel to the fuel circulation sub-system, and the fuel circulation sub-system is adapted to circulate the de-oxygenated fuel to lubricate and cool each of the plurality of first heat generating sub-systems, and then to combust the de-oxygenated fuel in the or each combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Giles E. HARVEY, Martyn RICHARDS
  • Publication number: 20170058780
    Abstract: In one aspect the present subject matter is directed to a system for suppressing acoustic noise within a combustion section of a gas turbine. The system includes at least one static structure disposed forward of a combustion chamber defined within the combustion section. The static structure at least partially defines a diffuser cavity upstream of the combustion chamber. A baffle plate is coupled to the static structure. The baffle plate and the static structure at least partially define an air plenum within the combustion section forward of the combustion chamber. The baffle plate includes an aperture that provides for fluid communication between the diffuser cavity and the air plenum. The at least one static structure and the baffle plate define a Helmholtz resonator within the combustion section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Kwankoo KIM, Fei HAN, Owen GRAHAM
  • Publication number: 20170058781
    Abstract: An inter-spool energy transfer system is provided and includes a first spool, a second spool, which includes components that are rotatable at a different speed as compared to components of the first spool and an inter-spool interface system coupled to at least one of the components of the first spool and at least one of the components of the second spool. The inter-spool interface system includes a controller, which is configured to supply power to one of the first and second spools and to draw power from the other of the first and second spools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Peter James Waltner, Tad Arthur Mondell, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170058782
    Abstract: A system for directing airflow, a gas turbine engine, and a method for directing airflow exiting a cascade of internal airfoils are provided. An exemplary method for directing airflow exiting a cascade of internal airfoils includes coupling a first plasma generating device on a first surface and a rounded trailing edge of each of the internal airfoils. The method also includes coupling a second plasma generating device on an opposite second surface and the rounded trailing edge of each of the internal airfoils. Further, the method includes selectively energizing the first plasma generating device and the second plasma generating device on each of the internal airfoils to produce a plasma and to selectively alter a direction of local airflow around each of the internal airfoils to produce a combined airflow exiting the cascade in a desired direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Nick Nolcheff, Dan Frias, Thomas C. Corke, Scott C. Morris
  • Publication number: 20170058783
    Abstract: A hybrid variable bleed valve includes a static bleed slot disposed in a transition duct defining a flow path for a core air flow, a variable bleed valve door disposed radially outwardly of the transition duct and the static bleed slot, a radially inward bleed cavity defined radially outwardly of the transition duct and radially inward of the variable bleed valve door for collection of a plurality of particulates and a pressure recovery return duct in fluid communication with the radially inward cavity and the transition duct. The hybrid variable bleed valve apparatus operable to open and close the variable bleed valve door to a booster bleed flow, flowing radially outwardly from the static bleed slot, for extraction of the particulates and provide a pressure recovery flow into the core air flow via the pressure recovery return duct. The hybrid variable bleed valve configured for use in a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Chiong Siew Tan, Hsiung-Wei Yeong
  • Publication number: 20170058784
    Abstract: A system and related method for maintaining emissions compliance while operating a gas turbine in turndown mode are disclosed herein. The system includes a gas turbine including a compressor, a combustor, a turbine and an exhaust section. The combustor comprises a plurality of axially staged fuel injectors positioned downstream from a plurality of primary fuel nozzles and a center fuel nozzle. The gas turbine further comprises a bleed air extraction port that is in fluid communication with at least one of the compressor, a compressor discharge casing or the combustor. The system further includes a controller programmed to bleed compressed air from the bleed air extraction port and to energize the plurality of axially staged fuel injectors during turndown operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Doyle Vandale, Michael Anthony Cocca, Joseph Phillip Klosinski, Mihir Kumar Lal, James Harper
  • Publication number: 20170058785
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a gas turbine, the gas turbine having an operating space during operation and a current operating point during operation, a computing device communicatively coupled to the gas turbine and configured to calculate, based on the current operating point of the gas turbine, the operating space for the gas turbine by solving for a plurality of corner points that define the operating space, and display, to a user, a graph that includes the calculated operating space and the current operating point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Benjamin David Laskowski
  • Publication number: 20170058786
    Abstract: A propulsion system is disclosed comprising a gas turbine engine and an acceleration schedule which determines the rate of acceleration of the gas turbine engine from an idle condition in response to a demand for increased thrust off-idle. The acceleration schedule determines the rate of acceleration in dependence upon the value of an engine parameter of the engine the value of which is substantially unaltered by variation in the magnitude of an electrical load drawn from the engine while it is operating in the idle condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Mark T. STOCKWELL
  • Publication number: 20170058787
    Abstract: A controller of an internal combustion engine receives a request for engine braking and, in response thereto, activates an exhaust braking subsystem. Additionally, after passage of a period of time, the controller further activates a compression release braking subsystem. The period of time is preferably selected to permit development of increased back pressure in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine prior to activation of the compression release braking subsystem. Additionally, following activation of the exhaust braking subsystem, the controller may whether the exhaust braking subsystem has failed and, if so, cause the compression release braking subsystem to operate in a reduced braking power mode, for example at less than full braking power potentially down to and including no braking power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Matei ALEXANDRU
  • Publication number: 20170058788
    Abstract: A carburetor may include a body having a main bore from which a fuel and air mixture is discharged for use by an engine, a throttle valve head, a choke valve head and a flow directing feature. The throttle valve head may be carried by the body and is moveable between an idle position and a wide open position to control at least some fluid flow through the main bore. The choke valve head may also be carried by the body and is moveable between a first position and a second position to at least in part control fluid flow through the main bore. And the flow directing feature associated with the choke valve head or the throttle valve head may alter at least one of the velocity or direction of at least a portion of the fluid that flows in the main bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Teruhiko Tobinai
  • Publication number: 20170058789
    Abstract: Spigots are respectively formed on engine sides of intake passages defined in a first throttle body and intake passages defined in a second throttle body, and end parts of rubber joints extending from individual cylinders of an engine are fitted to corresponding spigots and are fastened and fixed thereto with hose bands. A gear unit is disposed between both throttle bodies and drives and rotates a throttle shaft with a motor via the gear unit to open and close throttle valves of the cylinders. Axis lines of the spigots of the intake passages positioned on both sides of the gear unit are formed to have eccentricity in a direction away from each other, so that a part of the gear unit is positioned between the spigots. Therefore, attachment spaces of the rubber joints are secured without elongating the throttle bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Riki MURASAKA
  • Publication number: 20170058790
    Abstract: A Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) mitigation system employs a combination of technologies coupling VOC laden exhaust with a reciprocating engine and generator system (Combined Heat & Power (CHP) System) with heat recovery to destroy the VOC emissions and generate electric power and useful thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Leidos, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ronald Steen, Scott Francis Coon
  • Publication number: 20170058791
    Abstract: A fuel storage apparatus includes a fuel tank, a heat exchanger, a fuel pipe, and a medium pipe. The heat exchanger performs heat exchange between fuel inside the fuel tank and a heat exchange medium. The fuel pipe is provided inside the fuel tank and delivers the fuel to the heat exchanger. The medium pipe is provided outside the fuel tank and delivers the heat exchange medium to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a first joint and a second joint. The first joint is provided inside the fuel tank and is connectable to the fuel pipe. The second joint is provided outside the fuel tank and is connectable to the medium pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kengo ISHIMITSU
  • Publication number: 20170058792
    Abstract: A method for regulating the charge pressure pboost of a supercharged internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method may include adjusting each of two wastegates, a variable turbine geometry, and a downstream compressor bypass valve to regulate engine boost pressure as a function of a first setpoint value for pressure between compressors and a pressure difference in a first regulation loop, a second setpoint value for pressure downstream of multiple compressors, and the pressure difference in a second regulation loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Arno Bartsch, Benedikt Seier, Alain Marie Roger Chevalier, Michael Marbaix
  • Publication number: 20170058793
    Abstract: An engine (1) includes an engine body, an injector (33), and an engine controller (100). The engine body includes a piston (15) inside a cylinder (11), and a combustion chamber (17) defined by the cylinder (11) and the piston (15). The injector (33) injects fuel containing at least gasoline into the combustion chamber (17) via a nozzle port (41). The engine controller (100) allows the injector (33) to inject the fuel in at least a second half of a compression stroke, and controls an injection condition of the injector (33). The injector (33) has a parameter for adjusting spread of fuel spray. The engine controller (100) adjusts the parameter to increase the spread of fuel spray with an increase in pressure in the combustion chamber (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji HARADA, Hiroyuki YAMASHITA, Tatsuya TANAKA, Tsugio FUKUBE
  • Publication number: 20170058794
    Abstract: In an EGR device configured to reflux part of exhaust gas of the engine as EGR gas into intake air of the engine, an EGR valve configured to restrict a flow rate of the EGR gas is closed when rotation speed N of the engine is between a low-speed threshold and a high-speed threshold, and fuel injection rate is between a low-injection rate threshold and a high-injection rate threshold that are set for each rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ryo Yuki, Satoshi Nakano, Takuya Ishiguro
  • Publication number: 20170058795
    Abstract: A method for operating a supercharger having an electrically operable compressor in an engine system having an internal combustion engine, having the following steps: determining a particular system state when the internal combustion engine is shut off; forming a purge path between an air supply system and an exhaust gas system of the engine system; activating the electrically operable compressor as a function of the determined system state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Florian Schmitt, Johannes-Joerg Rueger, Udo Schulz
  • Publication number: 20170058796
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive system including an internal combustion engine, the drive system including an electromotively-assisted exhaust-driven supercharging device or a strictly electrically operated supercharging device, the method including checking on whether a gear change has been initiated and a drive train has been disengaged accordingly; upon detecting an initiated gear change, adjusting the compressor power of the supercharging device by additionally facilitating electric power to the electromotively-assisted exhaust-driven supercharging device or to the strictly electrically operated supercharging device, in such a way that, at least toward the end of the gear change, a charging pressure is made available in a charging pressure section of the drive system which is higher than a charging pressure resulting at a compressor power, which corresponds to the exhaust gas enthalpy of the internal combustion engine provided during the gear change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Florian Schmitt, Udo Schulz
  • Publication number: 20170058797
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for operating a supercharger for an automotive engine is disclosed. The supercharger has: an input shaft for coupling to an engine crankshaft, and coupled to the rotor of a first electrical machine and a first component of an epicyclic gear train; and an output shaft connected to a compressor and a second component of the epicyclic gear train; wherein the third component of the epicyclic gear train is connected to the rotor of a second electrical machine. The first electrical machine is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine. The method includes the steps of: (a) calculating a required speed of the second electrical machine that would give rise to a required pressure at an outlet of the compressor; and (b) setting the speed of the second electrical machine to the calculated required speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Luke Barker
  • Publication number: 20170058798
    Abstract: A sensing unit that provides fixed arrangement of crankshaft and camshaft position sensors is disclosed. The sensing unit attaches to the front timing cover to replace the existing distributor so that the position of sensing unit is aligned according to the tight tolerances of the existing distributor with respect to the camshaft and crankshaft. The sensing unit has a housing with the mounting positions for the camshaft and crankshaft position sensors. The sensing unit can also include a camshaft reluctor within the housing. A crankshaft reluctor is installed onto the engine crankshaft for detection by the crankshaft sensor. The sensing unit is also installed in conjunction with a wiring harness converter that allows a different engine control unit to be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Paul Gregory De Boer
  • Publication number: 20170058799
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating the flow of fuel vapor in an evaporative emissions system. In one example, a method may include re-routing fuel tank vapors responsive to an indication of a leaky canister purge valve such that fuel tank vapors may be efficiently adsorbed by a fuel vapor canister during engine-off conditions, rather than bypassing the fuel vapor canister and being released to the atmosphere. In this way, evaporative emissions may be prevented during the duration of time following an indication of a leaky canister purge valve and servicing the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Publication number: 20170058800
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a load of a canister included in an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle. One example method comprises flowing each of purge vapors, refueling vapors, and breakthrough vapors through a common hydrocarbon sensor and using output from the hydrocarbon sensor based on the flowing of different vapors to estimate the load of the canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Publication number: 20170058801
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided herein for controlling a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine fitted with a fuel injection system and an exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example, in a deceleration phase a closed exhaust gas recirculation circuit is formed, a mass (mcirc) of an air quantity enclosed therein is determined, a first oxygen content (O2,exh1, O2,man1) of the air quantity is detected, a test injection is carried out with an injection valve, a second oxygen content (O2,exh2, O2,man2) of the air quantity is detected, and the fuel mass (mfuel) injected in the test injection is determined from the mass (mcirc) of the air quantity and the first and the second oxygen content (O2,exh1, O2,man1, O2,exh2, O2,man2). The disclosure also relates to a corresponding device for controlling a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine fitted with a fuel injection system and an exhaust gas recirculation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christian Winge Vigild, Frederik De Smet, Daniel Roettger
  • Publication number: 20170058802
    Abstract: A method for determining an amount of energy released in the working cycle of an internal combustion engine cylinder includes: (a) recording a time curve of the rotational speed of the engine crankshaft using tooth timings measured using a toothed sensor disc, (b) assigning each tooth timing to a working cycle of a selected cylinder, (c) determining a cylinder-specific average value from the tooth timings assigned to the selected cylinder, (d) determining cylinder-specific tooth timing deviations from the determined cylinder-specific average value, for the tooth timings assigned to each working cycle of the selected cylinder, (e) determining a cylinder-specific characteristic tooth timing by summing the determined tooth timing deviations, and (f) specifying the amount of energy released in the working cycle of the selected cylinder as a function of the determined cylinder-specific characteristic tooth timing, the amount of energy released being indirectly proportional to the determined cylinder-specific chara
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Dirk Heinitz
  • Publication number: 20170058803
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an internal combustion engine and a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which an electronic controller is programmed to determine whether the internal combustion engine is operating within a cylinder cutout enabling region and, when the engine operates in the cylinder cutout enabling region, to cutout one or more of the engine cylinders by causing the cutout cylinder's fuel injector to cease injecting fuel into cutout cylinder, and to also cause the still-active engine cylinders to operate with an additional amount of fuel such that a steady state engine torque output remains unchanged before and after the second cylinder is cutout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan, Derek Tanis, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, Frank J. Lombardi
  • Publication number: 20170058804
    Abstract: An engine control system may include an engine including first and second banks, each of which includes a plurality of cylinders, first and second CDA devices provided to selectively deactivate the respective cylinders of the first or second bank, a first catalyst connected with the first bank, and a second catalyst connected with the second bank, a temperature measurer measuring a temperature of one of the first and second catalysts connected with a bank of which a CDA device among the first and second CDA devices is deactivated while one of the first and second CDA devices is being activated, and an engine controller deactivating an activated CDA device among the first and second CDA devices and activates the other CDA device when the measured temperature of the catalyst is higher than or equal to a reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20170058805
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a lean NOx trap. In one example, a method may include, responsive to an indication to regenerate a lean NOx trap (LNT), operating an engine with an overall rich air-fuel ratio to regenerate the LNT while minimizing fuel oil dilution by operating each cylinder of the engine with an alternating rich to lean air-fuel ratio pattern of two rich combustion events for every one lean combustion event across a plurality of engine cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Kim Ford, James Bromham, Matthew Allen Schneider
  • Publication number: 20170058806
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive system having at least one drive engine for a motor vehicle, having the following: carrying out an acceleration monitoring of the motor vehicle, a changeover to an alternative monitoring being made when the acceleration monitoring can no longer carry out a reliable monitoring, and, in the alternative monitoring, an engine rotational speed being limited to a maximum permissible engine rotational speed; and ascertaining the maximum permissible rotational speed as a function of a rotational speed specification specified by a driver's request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Tobias SOLLER, Gabor PONGRACZ, Matthias SCHUELER
  • Publication number: 20170058807
    Abstract: A controlling apparatus for an engine, includes: an auto-ignition index calculating unit that is configured to calculate, based on a cylinder temperature and a cylinder pressure in a combustion chamber, an auto-ignition index which indicates easiness of occurrence of auto-ignition of fuel at a crank angle before an ignition timing in a compression stroke; a first correction coefficient calculating unit that is configured to calculate, based on an amount of fuel adhering to a wall surface of the combustion chamber at the crank angle, a wall-adhering fuel correction coefficient for correcting the auto-ignition index; and a low-speed pre-ignition predicting unit that is configured to predict, based on the auto-ignition index and the wall-adhering fuel correction coefficient, occurrence of low-speed pre-ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensuke YANAGAWA, Nozomu NAKAMURA, Fumiaki HIRAISHI, Masayuki YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20170058808
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to the pull away from rest of a motor vehicle on a slope. The vehicle includes an automatic transmission and internal combustion engine with an electronic controller. The engine torque response to the accelerator pedal input is modified accounting for the slope to improve consistency of pull away on different slopes and reduce the dead pedal feeling on steep slopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: James GENNARD, John SPOONER
  • Publication number: 20170058809
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a leak of a fuel system in a vehicle is provided. The method includes determining whether an engine is actuated and a vehicle is thus driven as a monitoring condition for diagnosing the leak of the fuel system and determining whether an additional monitoring condition for monitoring an outflow of the fuel system is satisfied in response to determining that the engine is actuated and the internal pressure of a fuel tank included in the fuel system is less than a target value. The additional monitoring condition is a condition of preventing misdiagnosis of the leak in the fuel system due to disturbance while the vehicle is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Se Geun Kim
  • Publication number: 20170058810
    Abstract: A control system for a small engine operated device includes an emitter carried by the engine or a portion of the device spaced from the engine and a control circuit. The control circuit may include memory with which control data related to device conditions, engine conditions or both is stored, and a processor in electrical communication with the first emitter. The control circuit provides a signal corresponding to the control data to the emitter so that the emitter provides an output in response to device conditions, engine conditions, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy, Jason L. Osantowski
  • Publication number: 20170058811
    Abstract: A device, and associated methods of operation, for adjusting automotive operational parameters of a vehicle to improve automotive performance. The device includes a connector configured to mate with an on-board diagnostics port of the vehicle. The device further includes a processor configured to communicate with an engine control unit of the vehicle when the connector is mated with the on-board diagnostics port. The processor obtains information from the engine control unit, such as vehicle identification information and diagnostics information. The obtained information is transmitted to a remote database for processing via a transmitter of the dongle device. After the information is processed, the processor receives instructions from the database for adjusting the engine control unit and transmits the instructions to the engine control unit to adjust select operational parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Sameer Misson, Hakam Misson
  • Publication number: 20170058812
    Abstract: An engine control method of a hybrid vehicle for controlling the engine depending on an engine load of the hybrid vehicle includes: learning a change amount of an engine load; determining at least one engine torque depending on a magnitude of the engine load; calculating an optimum torque value by using the learned change amount of the engine load and at least one determined engine torque; and controlling the engine by using the calculated optimum torque value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Il Kwon PARK, In Eok CHO
  • Publication number: 20170058813
    Abstract: A method of limiting a maximum speed of a vehicle comprises steps of changing a set speed of the vehicle; tuning a fuel injection map according to the change in the set speed; changing the amount of injected fuel to a predetermined percentage of the maximum amount of injected fuel based on the fuel injection map when the driving speed of the vehicle reaches the set speed level; and changing the speed of the vehicle according to a gradient of a road or whether the vehicle is loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Nam Gyu WOO
  • Publication number: 20170058814
    Abstract: A fuel management system for a hybrid vehicle driven by an electric motor and an internal combustion engine is provided. The system includes a check unit that detects a time in which the internal combustion engine was last operated and stores the detected time as an engine driving point in time. A controller receives the stored engine driving point in time and determines that a fuel remaining in a fuel tank is aged when a time period elapsing from the engine driving point in time reaches a set fuel leaving time period, to operate the internal combustion engine while the hybrid vehicle is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Cheol Hun Cho, Jeong Seok Lee, Ju Tae Song
  • Publication number: 20170058815
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector and an engine control system. The engine control system is configured to send electrical fuel injection signals to the fuel injector to open the fuel injector, monitor a current amplitude of electrical fuel injection signals, detect the mechanical openings of the fuel injector based on the monitored current amplitudes of electrical fuel injection signals according to inflection points between a decreasing slope and an increasing slope in the monitored current amplitudes of electrical fuel injection signals, calculate time delays between the sent electrical fuel injection signals and the mechanical openings of the fuel injector, and set durations of electrical fuel injection signals based on the calculated time delays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Seng Hung Tervin Tan, Jin Seo Park, Patrick Leteinturier
  • Publication number: 20170058816
    Abstract: A control apparatus that is applied to a gasoline engine including cylinders is provided, which includes a controller for controlling the engine to perform a compression self-ignition operation within a first operating range, and perform a forced-ignition operation within a second operating range. Within a third operating range where an engine load is above the first range and below the second range, the controller executes a combined operation control in which a first cylinder performs the compression self-ignition operation and a second cylinder performs the forced-ignition operation, and the controller causes a change rate of a torque from the first cylinder to be lower than that of a torque from the second cylinder, the rates being taken in relation to a change of a requested load of the engine, the first cylinder being one or some of the cylinders, the second cylinder being the rest of the cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tsumura, Keitaro Ezumi
  • Publication number: 20170058817
    Abstract: A control apparatus that is applied to a gasoline engine including cylinders is provided. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling the engine to perform a compression self-ignition operation within a first operating range, and perform a forced-ignition operation within a second operating range. Within a third operating range where the engine load is above the first range and below the second range, the controller executes a combined operation control in which a first cylinder performs the compression self-ignition operation and a second cylinder performs the forced-ignition operation, and the controller causes the first cylinder to generate a torque that is the same or lower than a torque before the control, and causes the second cylinder to generate a torque that is higher than a torque before the control, the first cylinder being one or some of the cylinders, the second cylinder being the rest of the cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tsumura, Keitaro Ezumi
  • Publication number: 20170058818
    Abstract: A control system for automatically adjusting air/fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine having a mechanical fuel injector system. The automatic air/fuel mixture control system has an electronic control unit which controls the quantity of fuel provided to the combustion chamber in response to sensor inputs in accordance with desired parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: John Peter Halsmer
  • Publication number: 20170058819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device and a control method for an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an electric fuel pump. In stopping the internal combustion engine, the control device stops driving of the fuel pump and then fuel injection by the fuel injection valve, and increases the total amount of fuel injection by the fuel injection valve after stopping of driving of the fuel pump as the temperature of fuel in stopping the internal combustion engine decreases, thereby reducing a fuel pressure in a stop period. In this manner, fuel leakage from the fuel injection valve in the stop period can be reduced with a simple configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitatsu NAKAMURA, Tomoyuki MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20170058820
    Abstract: In an in-cylinder injection mode, a misfire count M is incremented by value 1 when a time variation ?T30[i] with regard to a cylinder [i] is not less than a reference value ?T30ref in each ignition cycle. When a number of operations N becomes equal to or greater than a reference value Nref, the misfire count M is compared with a reference value Mref1. When the misfire count M is equal to or greater than the reference value Mref1, it is determined that an in-cylinder injector has a failure. When the misfire count M is less than the reference value Mref1, on the other hand, a likelihood that the in-cylinder injection mode is likely to be continued is increased at a large value (L/N), compared with the likelihood at a small value (L/N).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20170058821
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an actual value of a quantity of fuel injected into an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle to a target value is provided, wherein a deviation of the actual quantity of fuel injected from the target value is determined based on a ratio of the component of the combusted quantity of gas in the induction system to the concentration of oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust system and the injected quantity of fuel is readjusted according to the deviation. Furthermore, an arrangement for carrying out the method is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Christian Winge Vigild, Daniel Roettger
  • Publication number: 20170058822
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine capable of performing additional injection in addition to regular injection includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to calculate an ignition timing at a predetermined crank angle before a compression top dead center. The electronic control unit is configured to calculate an injection amount of fuel at a predetermined time interval and to calculate an injection amount of the fuel at the predetermined crank angle. The electronic control unit is configured to control the fuel injection valve such that the fuel injection valve additionally injects the fuel in an increase amount before ignition, when the injection amount calculated at the predetermined crank angle is increased due to retardation of the ignition tinting calculated after the fuel in the injection amount calculated at the predetermined time interval is regularly injected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryota IWASAKI, Masanao IDOGAWA, Ryusuke KURODA
  • Publication number: 20170058823
    Abstract: A cylinder head defines an inlet port having an exit. A valve seat insert defines a seat cut surface that is disposed adjacent to the exit of the inlet port. A cross section of the inlet port parallel to a centerline of the inlet port defines a long turn edge of the inlet port cross section. The long turn edge of the inlet port cross section defines a flow path trajectory of the inlet port. The seat cut surface and the flow path trajectory are substantially aligned to extend the flow path trajectory of the long turn edge of the inlet port cross section across the seat cut surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Kenneth M. Eastman, Edward J. Keating, Erwan Gautier
  • Publication number: 20170058824
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine having an upper part joined by a positive material connection to a lower part, wherein the lower part includes a skirt and at least one pin bore, wherein the upper part includes a combustion bowl and a piston crown with a crown edge, wherein at least one joining point is located in the area of a ring belt and/or in an outer wall of the combustion bowl. A method for producing a piston for internal combustion engines is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Eberhard Weiss, Gerhard Luz, Jochen Muller, Emmerich Ottliczky
  • Publication number: 20170058825
    Abstract: An air-cooled internal combustion engine including a crankshaft, a cylinder, a blower assembly including a blower housing and a fan, and a static cover. The static cover includes a main body that is aligned with the crankshaft, an arm that extends from the main body and is aligned with the cylinder, and a plurality of air intake openings. A first subset of the air intake openings is formed through the main body and a second subset of the air intake openings is formed through the arm, and the static cover is configured to prevent user access to a moving component of the engine. The fan is configured to move air into the blower housing through the air intake openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sullivan, Gary S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170058826
    Abstract: A propulsive force imparted to an object is vectored using rotatable members arranged in one or more arrays disposed in the path of a fluid ejected by a fluid accelerator unit, such as air ejected by a fan driven by a gas turbine engine. The propulsive force is vectored by changing the rotation of one or more of the rotatable members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice