Patents Issued in April 18, 2017
  • Patent number: 9624857
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and system for determining recommendations for vehicle operation that reduce soot production in view of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) of an exhaust aftertreatment system. Recommendations generated can reduce excessive particulate matter (PM) production during transient engine events and provide for operating conditions favorable for passive regeneration. In this way, less frequent active regeneration of the DPF is needed and/or more opportunities are provided for passive regeneration. The system and method can utilize location and terrain information to anticipate and project a window of operation in view of reducing soot production and soot loading of the DPF, or provide the operator with instruction when such opportunities are present or will soon be encountered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC., PACCAR, INC., EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Timothy R. Frazier
  • Patent number: 9624858
    Abstract: A method, comprising: setting an engine intake airflow parameter based on an engine oil viscosity index. In this way, engine operating conditions that depend on engine friction and engine intake airflow, such as engine idling speed and engine friction torque, may be determined and implemented with an increased consistency. This in turn may decrease the possibility of engine stalls and improve engine performance, particularly at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 9624859
    Abstract: An engine stopping section first selects, when an engine stop condition is satisfied, a power-generation braking mode in which a power-generation braking torque is applied to the engine by a power generation operation of the generator, to thereby apply the power-generation braking torque to the engine, and then selects a short-circuit braking mode in which a short-circuit braking torque is applied to the engine by short-circuiting each energization phase of an armature coil with a semiconductor switch and by causing a field current to flow through a field coil, to thereby apply the short-circuit braking torque to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nozomu Kamioka, Satoshi Wachi, Toshiaki Date, Noriya Sagayama
  • Patent number: 9624860
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the control and regulation of a V-type internal combustion engine (1), comprising an independent common rail system on the A side and an independent common rail system on the B-side, in which the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine (1) is regulated in a speed control loop and a nominal torque as an adjusted variable of the rotational speed governor is limited during the starting procedure to a starting torque for representing a nominal injection null set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 9624861
    Abstract: A mixture pilot control for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular a gasoline engine of a motor vehicle, is provided. The mixture pilot control determines at least one composition of an air-fuel mixture required for a predetermined target air-fuel mixture ratio. The internal combustion engine is also provided with a lambda control with at least one lambda probe arranged in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine for determining a deviation of the actual air-fuel ratio from the predetermined target air-fuel ratio. Operating-parameter-dependent correction factors for the composition of the air-fuel mixture by the mixture pilot control are determined in dependence on the lambda control deviation, at least one of the load and/or the rotational speed and/or the temperature of the internal combustion engine, and further operating parameters of the vehicle other than the load, rotation speed or temperature of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Weber, Winfried Weuste, Stephan Wenzel, Johannes Rieger, Florian Mehringer
  • Patent number: 9624862
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine in the present invention is provided with a fuel injection valve (12) which is capable of directly injecting fuel into a cylinder, and which includes: a needle valve (12b) that has a seat contact part (12b1) at its distal end part; and a nozzle body (12a) that has a seat part (12a1) with which the seat contact part (12b1) comes into contact, a fuel receiving part (12d) formed downstream of the seat part (12a1), and a plurality of nozzle holes (12e) formed downstream of the seat part (12a1). The control apparatus executes learning control of fuel injection amount to learn the fuel injection amount. Further, the control apparatus executes pre-learning injection of fuel prior to execution of learning-use injection of fuel for the learning control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 9624863
    Abstract: A system for supplying fuel to an engine is disclosed. The system includes a first sensing unit for determining multiple operating parameters and multiple ambient conditions of the engine. The system includes an adaptive adjustment mechanism, a pressure regulator having a first valve and a second valve, and a controller communicating with the adaptive adjustment mechanism and the pressure regulator. The controller determines a first error and a second error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to a pre-combustion chamber and a main combustion chamber, respectively, and receives an output signal indicative of an adjustment factor determined by the adaptive adjustment mechanism. The controller controls the first valve and the second valve based on the first error, the second error, and the output signal, to supply the fuel to the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber at a first pressure and a second pressure, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xinyu Ge, Shuowei Yang
  • Patent number: 9624864
    Abstract: A method of protecting a direct injection fuel injector in a multi-fuel engine, the method includes selectively operating the multi-fuel engine with a directly injected fuel introduced through the direct injection fuel injector and a second fuel; when fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel, selectively commanding a fuel system protection technique when determining that the direct injection fuel injector requires cooling, an age of directly injected fuel is above a predetermined value, transmission status has changed, an engine shutdown event has occurred and a global positioning system signal indicates an engine shutdown event will occur; wherein the fuel system protection technique includes commanding that the directly injected fuel be a portion of total fuel consumed and reducing quantities of the second fuel that is injected so that total fuel consumed equals a desired amount of fuel measured on an energy basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Hamed Karimi-Sharif, Raymond Bzymek
  • Patent number: 9624865
    Abstract: A control method takes an internal combustion engine including a port injection valve that injects fuel into an intake port and a cylinder injection valve that directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber as a control target. In the control method, when request torque to the internal combustion engine is in a first torque range, lean combustion is realized by port asynchronous injection. When the request torque is increased from the first torque range to a second torque range which is higher than the first torque range, fuel injection is switched to port synchronous injection from port asynchronous injection, and lean combustion is realized by the port synchronous injection. When the request torque is increased from the second torque range to a third torque range that is higher than the second torque range, the port synchronous injection is stopped, and lean combustion is realize by cylinder injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shintaro Hotta
  • Patent number: 9624866
    Abstract: A method of estimating an injection pressure for an internal combustion engine of an automotive system is disclosed that is well-suited for use with a digital pressure sensor, which periodically acquires injection pressure signals. An updated injection pressure value is calculated starting from an injection pressure signal and compensated with a pressure-correcting parameter, based on an elapsed time from the injection pressure signal acquisition, an actual engine speed and an actual fuel injection quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Pelizzoni, Luca Lauritano
  • Patent number: 9624867
    Abstract: Proposed is a method for open-loop and closed-loop control of an internal combustion engine (1), the rail pressure (pCR) being controlled via a low pressure-side suction throttle valve (4) as the first pressure-adjusting element in a rail pressure control loop. The invention is characterized in that a rail pressure disturbance variable is generated to influence the rail pressure (pCR) via a high pressure-side pressure control valve (12) as the second pressure-adjusting element, by means of which fuel is redirected from the rail (6) into a fuel tank (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 9624868
    Abstract: A spark-ignition direct injection engine is provided. The engine includes an engine body having a cylinder, intake and exhaust valves for opening and closing intake and exhaust ports that open to the cylinder, respectively, a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into the cylinder, a catalyst in an exhaust passage, and a controller for operating the engine body by controlling the intake and exhaust valves and the fuel injection valve. The controller performs a fuel cut by suspending the fuel injection during engine deceleration in a non-operated accelerator state, and when the engine speed drops to a predetermined speed, the controller resumes the fuel injection. During the fuel cut, the controller opens the exhaust valve on an intake stroke and then opens the intake valve, and after closing the exhaust valve and when mixture gas is blown back to the intake port, the controller closes the intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kouhei Iwai, Junichi Taga
  • Patent number: 9624869
    Abstract: A cylinder liner associated with an internal combustion engine includes a cooling moat to reduce temperatures at an upper cylinder liner seal. The cooling moat may have a gap extending upwardly toward an inner running surface of the cylinder liner to supply coolant to an upper portion of the cylinder liner. The cooling moat may be provided at a location between the inner running surface of the cylinder liner and a groove for the upper cylinder liner seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Batta, Thomas Bowman
  • Patent number: 9624870
    Abstract: An adaptive fan system for a variable cycle turbofan engine having at least one turbine, includes a shaft structured to receive mechanical power from a turbine in the variable cycle turbofan engine and a first fan stage that is coupled directly to the shaft and is driven directly by the shaft. A transmission system is coupled to the shaft and a second fan stage is coupled to the shaft via the transmission system and is driven by the shaft via the transmission system. The transmission system is structured to selectively vary a speed between high and low speeds at which power is supplied from the shaft to the second fan stage relative to at least one of the shaft and the first fan stage, wherein the first fan stage and the second fan stage are configured to rotate in the same direction and at the same high speed to increase the mechanical power of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Ress, Jr., Steve Stratton, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 9624871
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying gaseous fuel from a tender car to an internal combustion engine on a locomotive comprising storing the gaseous fuel at a cryogenic temperature in a cryogenic storage tank on the tender car; pumping the gaseous fuel to a first pressure from the cryogenic storage tank; vaporizing the gaseous fuel at the first pressure; and conveying the vaporized gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine; whereby a pressure of the vaporized gaseous fuel is within a range between 310 bar and 575 bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Melanson, Melissa S. A. McKinnon, Paul M. Blomerus
  • Patent number: 9624872
    Abstract: An engine system, comprising a metal engine valve with a coating that includes a phosphate, an additive delivery apparatus coupled to one or more engine cylinders, and an additive tank with an amount of additive located coupled to the additive delivery apparatus. The additive may include a chemical that reacts with the valve coating to produce a dry film lubricant that may be periodically injected into the engine chambers to provide valve lubrication and protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Patent number: 9624873
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a leakage in a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel supply system includes a fuel line system with fuel line sections and a pressure monitoring system with monitoring segments, a set of valves, and a pressure sensor. The method includes detecting a leakage between the fuel line sections and the pressure monitoring system when the set of valves are opened to fluidly connect the monitoring segments. The method also includes performing at least two pressure measurements for at least two selected sets of neighboring monitoring segments for providing pressure behavior information for the selected sets of neighboring monitoring segments. The method further includes comparing the pressure behavior information of the selected sets of neighboring monitoring segments, and identifying a leaking monitoring segment based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benjamin Bleyer
  • Patent number: 9624874
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus including an engine; a suction line; an exhaust line; a post-processing unit which is disposed in the exhaust line to reduce hazardous substances contained in the exhaust gas; a first circulation line which guides a part of the exhaust gas, which is guided to the exhaust line, to the suction line; a second circulation line which guides a part of the exhaust gas, which is guided to a downstream side of the post-processing unit, to the suction line; and a bypass line which branches off from an upstream side of the second circulation line, and merges with a downstream side of the second circulation line, wherein ammonia slip, which is discharged from the post-processing unit, is prevented from being guided to the suction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji Hoon Lim
  • Patent number: 9624875
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a high-pressure fluid reservoir includes an isolation valve having a selectively energizable coil, an armature that is moveable between a first position when the coil is energized and a second position when the coil is de-energized, and an isolation valve seal coupled to the armature. The assembly also includes a float valve having a float with a passage at a bottom portion and an orifice at a top portion of the float, wherein the isolation valve seal is aligned to open and close the passage and wherein vapor flows through the passage and the orifice when the coil is energized during a high pressure condition. A housing houses both the isolation valve and the float valve and has a port that is opened and closed by the float valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn K. Mills
  • Patent number: 9624876
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for compensating a pulse width of a signal applied to a solenoid purge valve based on an input voltage, and delays in opening and/or closing the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9624877
    Abstract: A tubular hydrocarbon adsorption trap includes a fuel vapor permeable porous media sheet which is circularly wrapped around to form a circumferentially closed elongated tubular body having at least one interior chamber in which the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent media is arranged. Opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped media sheet are secured by ultrasonic welding or other means to securely close the circumference of the tubular body. The tubular body is closed on the top and bottom longitudinal edges to retain hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent media within. A method of manufacturing the tubular hydrocarbon adsorption trap is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventor: Rick Weckerle
  • Patent number: 9624878
    Abstract: A non-return valve device for an internal combustion engine includes a valve housing comprising an aperture with a downstream end arranged in a duct housing. The aperture defines a flow cross section. A valve seat surrounds the flow cross section. A valve closing member, provided as leaf springs, adapts, closes or opens the flow cross section. A distance between each of the leaf springs in their maximum opened position at the downstream end of the aperture and the duct housing arranged opposite to each of the leaf springs has a maximum which is twice as large as a distance between each of the leaf springs in their maximum opened position and the valve seat arranged opposite to each of the leaf springs. Defining inner walls of the duct housing downstream of the valve housing are arranged so that the flow cross section is first continuously reduced and then continuously enlarged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Hambloch, Lars Baumeister, Jessica Jasper
  • Patent number: 9624879
    Abstract: The condensed water processing device determines (S2) whether the pH of condensed water stored in the condensed water tank is smaller than a threshold value (t). When the pH of condensed water is smaller than the threshold value (t), the supply quantity of urea water being supplied to the upstream side of the NOx catalyst is increased (S7) so that the supply quantity is larger than that in normal control (S4) executed when the pH of the condensed water is equal to or more than the threshold value (t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Takada, Takeshi Hashizume
  • Patent number: 9624880
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intake system of an internal combustion engine. A plasma actuator is provided in a region which is on an inner wall surface of an intake passage and to which fuel injected from a fuel injection valve adheres. The plasma actuator is disposed so as to generate an airflow in a predetermined direction not including a component in a direction toward a downstream side of the intake passage at the time of its operation. A control unit is configured to control the plasma actuator so as to actuate the plasma actuator in at least a part of a period from start of fuel injection by the fuel injection valve to start of valve opening of an intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Ito
  • Patent number: 9624881
    Abstract: An airbox for an engine is provided. The airbox includes a first cylinder bank including a plurality of first cylinder sections. The airbox also includes a second cylinder bank including a plurality of second cylinder sections. The airbox further includes an isolation assembly provided in association with the first cylinder bank and the second cylinder bank. The isolation assembly is configured to isolate at least one first cylinder section of the plurality of first cylinder sections from another first cylinder section of the plurality of first cylinder sections, at least one second cylinder section of the plurality of second cylinder sections from another second cylinder section of the plurality of second cylinder sections, and the first cylinder bank from the second cylinder bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Deep Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 9624882
    Abstract: An aspirator for a brake system is provided having the integrated functions of a flow bypass and a check valve for automotive applications to achieve various suction flow openings in response to different engine operating condition to enhance brake boost performance. The brake system includes a brake vacuum booster, an engine having an intake manifold, an aspirator having a movable total flow divergence nozzle, the aspirator being connected to the manifold, and a vacuum line connecting the booster to the aspirator. The aspirator includes a body having an internal end wall. A biasing element such as a spring is provided between the movable total flow divergence nozzle and the internal end wall of the aspirator body. The body of the aspirator includes an air flow path having an upstream area and a downstream area. The movable motive flow nozzle is positioned in the downstream area of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9624883
    Abstract: An apparatus for closed loop operation of a solenoid-activated actuator includes an external control module and a power source which are electrically and operatively coupled to an activation controller of the actuator. The external control module and the power source are located externally to the actuator. The apparatus further includes an activation controller which is integrated within the body of the actuator. The activation controller includes a control module and an actuator driver and is configured to communicate with the external control module and to receive electrical power from the power source. The apparatus additionally includes at least one sensor device which is integrated within the body of the actuator and is electrically and operatively coupled to the activation controller. The at least one sensor device is configured to measure one or more parameters during operation of the actuator and the measured parameters are provided as feedback to the activation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Thomas Wolfgang Nehl, Avoki M. Omekanda, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9624884
    Abstract: In a method for operating a magnetic switching element, at least one connection of at least one sensor device is connected to at least one connection of a coil of the magnetic switching element, and at least one measuring state is established in which the at least one connection of the coil is largely at least temporarily decoupled from a ground, a voltage source, and/or a current source activating the coil, and at least one auxiliary voltage and/or at least one auxiliary current is/are applied to the at least one connection of the coil in the measuring state, and at least one sensor signal is ascertained from at least one electrical potential, at least one potential difference, and/or at least one current flowing at the connections of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Nestor Rodriguez-Amaya, Siegfried Ruthardt, Holger Rapp, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Bernd Berghaenel, Marco Beier
  • Patent number: 9624885
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body, a valve needle and a first guiding element that axially guides the valve needle. The first guiding element is bottle shaped and is axially deformable at least in part. The first guiding element is fixedly coupled to the valve needle in a bottle neck section of the first guiding element, and coupled to the wall of the valve body in an axial end section of the first guiding element remote from the bottle neck section. Based on these features of the first guiding element, an axial displacement of the valve needle away from the closing position results in a widening of an outer shape of the first guiding element at least in a fixation section to press it against the wall of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefano Filippi, Mauro Grandi, Francesco Lenzi, Valerio Polidori
  • Patent number: 9624886
    Abstract: A hydraulic coupling is specified, particularly for fuel injectors, which has a housing pot having a pot bottom and a lateral pot surface, a piston guided axially displaceably in the housing pot, a fluid-filled coupling gap that is provided between the piston and the pot bottom, diaphragm situated on the outer side of the housing pot facing away from the piston, a compensation chamber that is bordered by the diaphragm and flow-connected to the coupling gap, and a spring element acting upon the diaphragm with an axially directed spring force. In order to achieve a low overall stiffness of the hydraulic coupling at the required specified coupling force, the spring element is developed as a spring bracket fixed to the housing pot, which lies against the diaphragm with axial prestressing in the region of the pot bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Dietmar Schmieder, Thomas Sebastian, Andreas Jakobi
  • Patent number: 9624887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a maintenance system for an injector controlled by a solenoid actuator. The system comprises an electronic control unit arranged in a housing from which an electrical cable extends terminated by a special adapter capable of being connected onto the injector so that the injector is electrically connected with the electronic control unit while it remains in place on the internal combustion engine. The electronic control unit is designed for executing a plurality of operations according to a cycle of measurements including checking the electrical insulation, measuring the electrical resistance and measuring the electrical inductance of the solenoid and a solenoid activation test. The system is further provided with actuating means for starting the cycle and an information means for indicating data relating to the cycle in progress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg
    Inventors: Stephane Belsoeur, Guillaume Faber
  • Patent number: 9624888
    Abstract: An injection gate (44,144,244,344) for high pressure, high velocity secondary fluid for admixture of an atomized spray (80,180) thereof with another or primary fluid that atomizes the other fluid. The secondary fluid may be an accelerant and the primary fluid may be a low pressure fuel/air mixture in a fuel injection arrangement for an internal combustion engine. An injection billet (10,110,210,310) for an engine is interposed between the carburetor (12) and the manifold (14), with an array of such injection gates (44,244,344) paired with an array of fuel/air gates (34,234,334) about an aperture coinciding with a throttle bore (60,160,260,360) and evenly balancing the spray about the throttle bore, creating a halo effect of atomized admixture of accelerant/fuel. The injection of accelerant is directed sharply downwardly toward the center of the bore and through the injected fuel stream, atomizing the fuel thereof for a high efficiency boost of horsepower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Steven Wilson
  • Patent number: 9624889
    Abstract: An apparatus (200) for controlling the rail pressure of the high-pressure common-rail tube cavity of the high-pressure common-rail fuel system of an engine, comprising an operation condition acquiring device (202), which is used for acquiring operation conditions associated with the high-pressure common-rail fuel system of the engine; a fuel quantity metering valve equivalent cross-sectional area determining device (204) coupled with the operation condition acquiring device (202), which is used for determining an equivalent cross-sectional area of the fuel quantity metering valve (210) by a linear physical model (212) of fuel quantity metering valve equivalent cross-sectional area based on an acquired operation condition and a target value of the rail pressure of the high-pressure common-rail tube cavity; a signal generating device (206) coupled with the fuel quantity metering valve equivalent cross-sectional area determining device (204), which used for generating a driving signal (208) for controlling the e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Weichai Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guangdi Hu, Shaojun Sun, Dehui Tong
  • Patent number: 9624890
    Abstract: A self-contained starting module for outdoor power equipment that has control circuit and a start button. The starting module includes internal control circuit that can be either microprocessor based or analog. The control circuit receives a start signal from a start button of the starting module. The control circuit monitors for the presence of an enable device and, upon activation of the start button and the presence of the enable device, provides electric power to the electric load of the power equipment. When the start button is depressed for longer than a minimum engagement period, the control circuit initiates operation of the engine. If the start button is pressed for less than the minimum engagement period, the control circuit activates the electric load for an auxiliary period without starting the engine. During engine operation, if the start button is depressed, the operation of the engine is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert John Koenen, Jason Hansen, Andrew Paskov, Daniel Brueck, Steven J. Weber
  • Patent number: 9624891
    Abstract: A starter battery pack with a start button included as part of the starter battery pack is shown and described. The starter battery pack includes a start button that, when the starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of outdoor power equipment, such as a lawn tractor, allows the starter battery pack to provide power to a starting circuit of the power equipment. The battery pack is selectively rechargeable and preferably is a type of battery, such as lithium ion, that can be repeatedly discharged and recharged without affecting battery life. When the starter battery pack is received within the receptacle, activation of the start button provides current and voltage front the starter battery pack to an electric starter motor, which initiates operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert John Koenen, Jeffrey Zeiler
  • Patent number: 9624892
    Abstract: An apparatus for starting an engine, capable of switching output characteristics of a starter without an electronic control unit (ECU) controlling field current flowing through field coils. The apparatus includes a starter including a wound-field-type brushed direct current (DC) motor, a bypass path electrically connected in parallel with at least part of field coils of the motor, and a switch provided along the bypass path and configured to render the bypass path conducting or non-conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 9624893
    Abstract: When a non-hybrid motor vehicle is stopped, its engine is shut-off upon concurrence of certain conditions precedent without turning off the ignition switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Falaise, Dean Alan Opperman, Stacey Parker
  • Patent number: 9624894
    Abstract: In an automatically stopped internal combustion engine, a rotation speed at next and subsequent ignition timings is predicted at every ignition timing of the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is stopped automatically. Whether self-restorable restarting is allowed is determined according to a comparison result of the predictive rotation speed and a self-restoration determination rotation speed, so that self-restorable restarting is performed in a reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohisa Shoda, Osamu Ishikawa, Takeru Okabe, Hiroaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 9624895
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a controller configured to adjust a temperature of an evaporator constituting an air conditioning system of the vehicle to a target temperature; the controller being configured to automatically stop an engine when a predetermined engine automatic stop condition is satisfied; the controller being configured to automatically start the engine when at least the temperature of the evaporator reaches a predetermined temperature or higher during automatic stop of the engine, and the predetermined temperature being higher than the target temperature; and the controller being configured to set the target temperature of the evaporator to be lower when a vehicle speed is low than that when the vehicle speed is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Iwasaki, Takahiro Araki
  • Patent number: 9624896
    Abstract: A starter assembly is provided and includes a shaft to transmit rotation to a ring gear via a pinion and including a first helical spline with angling directed reversely with respect to a direction of the rotation and an elastic element anchored on the first helical spline to bias the pinion in an axial direction. The ring gear and the pinion include complementary teeth and the pinion defines a bore with a second helical spline to register with the first helical spline such that the pinion teeth are forwardly rotated into ring gear teeth engagement positions as the shaft moves axially relative to the pinion in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kirk Neet, David Fulton, Andrew Dragon
  • Patent number: 9624897
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine capable of controlling an intake-pipe pressure within a range which allows restartability to be ensured. A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an idle-stop control section for restarting the engine in response to generation of a restart request; and an intake-air amount control section for setting a control amount of an intake system so that the intake air amount becomes zero when an intake-pipe pressure of the engine upon generation of the automatic stop request is higher than a predetermined pressure and setting the control amount of the intake system so that the intake air amount becomes larger than the amount upon generation of the automatic stop request, and then becomes zero when the intake-pipe pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Okabe, Osamu Ishikawa, Tomohisa Shoda, Hideaki Tani, Toru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9624898
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 9624899
    Abstract: A subsurface reaction body arranged for use in apparatus for converting wave motion in a body of water to useful energy is provided. The subsurface reaction body is arranged to be selectively filled with air to a maximum buoyancy configuration and to be filled with water to a minimum buoyancy configuration. The subsurface reaction body has an arrangement of chambers therein to inhibit free flow of water through the reaction body and to define at least one further preset buoyancy configuration between the respective maximum and minimum configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Marine Power Systems Limited
    Inventors: Graham Foster, Gareth Stockman, John Chapman
  • Patent number: 9624900
    Abstract: A buoy includes a flotation device configured to float at surface of a body of water. A vibrational linear electric generator (VLEG) is configured to generate power from vibrational oscillations caused by waves using compressed repulsive magnetic fields focused by end magnetic field deflecting magnets. A power collection circuit, which includes a first battery, is configured to collect and store energy generated by the VLEG. One or more electronic components are powered by the vibrational linear electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ENERGYSTICS, LTD.
    Inventors: Reed E. Phillips, Elianne M. Gabbay
  • Patent number: 9624901
    Abstract: The invention concerns a work platform for use in connection with work on a wing blade for a wind energy plant, where the work platform is typically used for working on a wing blade which is brought to a substantially vertical position, and where the work platform is hoisted up and down from a position above the workplace, typically from a region close to the root end of the wing or from the rotor hub. The work platform is provided with space for a person and is preferably adapted for positioning along a leading or trailing edge of a wing blade, and is further including at least two projecting arms for contact against the surface of the wing, where the projecting arms are provided with protective means between the arm and the wing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventors: Allan Bach, Markus Malaschewski, Mads Bergmann Rasmussen, Anders Peter Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9624902
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation tool for assembling a main rotor shaft unit and an assembly method thereof. The installation tool comprises a first element for supporting the generator end of the rotor shaft and a rotatable support plate is coupled to a second element of the installation tool via engaging coupling elements. The rotor shaft is rotated by a single crane unit via lifting elements mounted to the generator end, and then lifted out of the installation tool and placed on a floor. The bearing units are then mounted to the outer surface of the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is afterwards lifted onto the installation tool so that the coupling element is brought into engagement and the rotor shaft is rotated on to the first element. This provides an installation tool that eliminates the need for two crane units to rotate the rotor shaft and reduces the amount of man-hours needed to assemble the rotor shaft unit by up to six hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Envision Energy (Denmark) ApS
    Inventor: Jan Westergaard
  • Patent number: 9624903
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for an electrical generator (2) is disclosed. The apparatus includes arms (6) adapted to support blades (14) in a flow of fluid. A central shaft (4) pivotably supports each of the arms about a respective horizontal axis such that flowing fluid engages the blades to cause rotation of the shaft about its longitudinal axis to actuate an electrical generator (28). A flap (16) adjusts orientation of the arms about the respective horizontal axes in dependence on direction of fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Innova Limited
    Inventor: David Francis Coulson
  • Patent number: 9624904
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a number of passive and active defense designs and methods that enable a wind turbine to escape high wind events. The disclosure includes descriptions of multiple designs and methods for lowering the elevated portion of a wind turbine. Other embodiments of the invention concern ways to connect the elevated portion of a wind turbine to the tower. Numerous counterweight systems are also disclosed which enable the lowering of the elevated portion of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED INVENTION, LLC
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Luke Walter Khanlian, Dev Kumar, Jascha Tucker Little
  • Patent number: 9624905
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing excessive loading on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes determining a current wind turbine parameter using at least one operating condition via a processor, the operating condition indicative of wind turbine operation; storing the current wind turbine parameter in a memory store over a predetermined time period; calculating a standard deviation of a plurality of the stored current wind turbine parameters; determining a future wind turbine parameter; calculating a maximum wind turbine parameter as a function of the standard deviation of the plurality of stored wind turbine parameters and the future wind turbine parameter; and, controlling the wind turbine based on a difference between the maximum wind turbine parameter and a parameter setpoint to prevent excessive loading from acting on the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Brandon Shane Gerber, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Venkata Krishna Vadlamudi
  • Patent number: 9624906
    Abstract: System for stabilizing an offshore horizontal axis wind turbine having a tower, the system comprising sensors for generating signals representing detected movements of the tower, and gyroscopes. Each gyroscope has a spinning axis, an input axis and an output axis, and a flywheel rotatable about the spinning axis. The system further comprises an actuator for each gyroscope, said actuator being arranged with its related gyroscope in such a way that this actuator can apply a torque about the input axis of the gyroscope. The system also comprises a control unit for receiving the signals representing detected movements of the tower, and for providing the actuator with suitable control signals for said actuator to apply a torque about the related gyroscope input axis, said torque about the input axis producing a torque about the output axis of the same gyroscope that at least partly dampens the detected movements of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Alstom Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Isaac Pineda Amo