Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9719429
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having a driver-actuated accelerator pedal includes an economy mode activation module and a standard fueling module. The economy mode activation module is configured to compare throttle input data with defined limits. The throttle input data is controllable by a driver of the vehicle via positioning of the accelerator pedal. The economy mode activation module is configured to control the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine via an economy fuel map if the throttle input data falls within the defined limits for a defined amount of time. The standard fueling mode activation module is configured to control the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine via a standard fuel map if the throttle input data does not fall within the defined limits for the defined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew A. Morris
  • Patent number: 9719430
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine has an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust purifying catalyst that purifies exhaust gas after combustion of a fuel. During a fuel cut in which no fuel is supplied, a closing timing of the intake valve is controlled to a delayed angle side more than at a timing when the fuel is supplied and to a delayed angle side more than at a timing at a bottom dead center of an intake stroke, and an opening timing of the exhaust valve is controlled to an advanced angle side more than at the timing when the fuel is supplied and to an advanced angle side more than at the timing at the bottom dead center of an expansion stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ueda, Tomoaki Nakano, Shigeru Maeda, Masataka Nishikori, Shuhei Oe, Hikaru Kokumai
  • Patent number: 9719431
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine that includes at least two cylinders, includes operating the internal combustion engine in a first operating mode in partial engine operation, in which at least one of the cylinders is not fired, monitoring the internal combustion engine during the partial engine operation for potentially torque-increasing errors, and switching over from the partial engine operation into a full engine operation in which all of the cylinders are fired when a potentially torque-increasing error is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Walter
  • Patent number: 9719432
    Abstract: A control apparatus for the internal combustion engine has a multicore processor mounted with a plurality of the cores, calculates various tasks regarding an operation of the internal combustion engine, and distributes the tasks to the plurality of the cores respectively to perform a calculation, and a controller that makes the number of cores for use in the calculation smaller while fuel cutoff is carried out than before the fuel cutoff is carried out. The controller selects, as a designated core, at least one of the cores for use in a specific calculation associated with combustion of the internal combustion engine. The controller stops the designated core from being used while fuel cutoff is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hayato Nakada
  • Patent number: 9719433
    Abstract: The gross output power of an engine distributed to at least one main machine and one auxiliary machine. A total load value calculation unit calculates the value of the lost power consumed by the auxiliary machine, and calculates the value of total load power by adding to this lost power value a target value for the main output power of the engine to be distributed to the main machine. A gross output value control unit controls the value of the gross output power so that the value of the gross output power becomes equal to the value of the total load power when the value of the total load power is less than a predetermined threshold value, and so that the value of the gross output power becomes equal to the above described threshold value when the value of the total load power is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Shizume, Yukio Sugano
  • Patent number: 9719434
    Abstract: A control system for a machine having an engine, a first alternator, a second alternator, and an aftertreatment system is disclosed. The control system may include a sensor associated with the aftertreatment system and configured to determine a temperature of exhaust passing through the aftertreatment system, and a controller in communication with the sensor and connectable to the first and second alternators. The controller may be configured to determine an available power output of the first alternator, determine a load increase of the engine needed to raise the temperature of the exhaust to an operating temperature of the aftertreatment system, and selectively connect the first alternator to a power consumer to achieve the load increase when the available power output of the first alternator is greater than the load increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Michael Biagini, William Charles Hawkins, John Franklin Kral
  • Patent number: 9719435
    Abstract: Techniques for measuring cylinder pressure include receiving an analog cylinder pressure signal indicative of pressure in a cylinder of an engine and an angular position signal indicative of an angular position of the engine. The analog cylinder pressure signal is converted to a digital cylinder pressure signal by (i) windowing the analog cylinder pressure signal in the angle-domain using the angular position signal and (ii) sampling the windowed analog cylinder pressure signal in the time-domain, and the digital cylinder pressure signal is filtered in the time-domain to obtain a filtered digital cylinder pressure signal. A measured pressure in the angle domain is obtained by sampling the filtered digital cylinder pressure signal using the angular position signal, and operation of the engine is controlled using the measured cylinder pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Andrew Kohn, Dung Kieu Lam
  • Patent number: 9719436
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling spark plug fouling and pre-ignition in a newly manufactured vehicle. One method comprises, during a pre-delivery phase of the newly manufactured vehicle including an engine, operating the engine with a first setting for air/fuel ratio to reduce spark plug fouling, and adjusting the first setting of the air/fuel ratio responsive to pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 9719437
    Abstract: A system comprising an engine and a controller configured to determine an air mass flow command to provide a target air mass flow value to the engine that is based on a base air mass flow value adjusted for engine operating conditions, deviations in the actual torque from a target torque, and corrected for flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Karim Abdoul Azizou
  • Patent number: 9719438
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for a vehicle comprising a turbocharger, a tank for compressed gas and an exhaust manifold conduit in fluid communication with an inlet of the turbocharger. The tank is in fluid communication with the manifold conduit and is arranged and controlled to push compressed gas into the manifold conduit during a predetermined pulse duration time period for initial compressor spin up in the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Goran Almkvist, Jonas J. Bjorkholtz, Erik Lindgren
  • Patent number: 9719439
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a cylinder activation module and a spark timing module. The cylinder activation module selectively deactivates and reactivates a cylinder of an engine based on a driver torque request. When the cylinder is deactivated, the spark timing module selectively increases an amount by which spark timing of at least one active cylinder of the engine is retarded based on noise and vibration generated by the engine when the cylinder is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 9719440
    Abstract: An object is to provide a DPF regeneration control device whereby it is possible to prevent clogging of a DOC more efficiently than conventional techniques, and to recover the DOC securely from a clogging condition even if the DOC is actually clogged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Nishizawa, Tomohide Yamada, Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 9719441
    Abstract: A control device for a compression ignition engine includes a controller configured to operate an engine body by compression ignition combustion when the engine body operates in a predetermined compression ignition range. When the engine body operates in a predetermined high load range of the compression ignition range, the controller maximizes a filling amount of the cylinder using a gas state adjustment system, and lowers an EGR ratio so that the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder is lean with an excess air ratio ? higher than 1 in a lower speed range, and maximizes the filling amount of the cylinder, and increases the EGR ratio so that the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder has the excess air ratio ? of 1 or lower in a higher speed range than the lower speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Atsushi Inoue, Kota Matsumoto, Takashi Kaminaga, Toru Miyamoto, Takashi Youso
  • Patent number: 9719442
    Abstract: A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s
    Inventors: David Gerard, Fano Rampanarivo, Pascal Emery
  • Patent number: 9719443
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes an acceleration generating device (engine, T/M) that generates an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a vehicle control device that controls the acceleration generating device, based on an accelerator pedal stroke representing an operation of an accelerator pedal by a driver, and a vehicle speed of the vehicle. In the vehicle control system or method, the vehicle control device controls the acceleration generating device, based on a required acceleration that is determined based on a relationship between the accelerator pedal stroke and the required acceleration, including, as a condition, an acceleration corresponding to a given accelerator pedal stroke, which is specified by a relationship between the vehicle speed and the acceleration when the accelerator pedal stroke is held at the given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 9719444
    Abstract: An engine including having a frame structure with a central longitudinal space containing a gear train in which end gears drive end crankshafts and a central gear drives a central crankshaft, a pair of dual piston and cylinder assembly are connected between each end crankshaft and central crankshaft on opposite side of the central space. The combustion chambers of cylinders on each side of the central are intercommunicated by passages extending through the hubs of gears in the gear train, a controller for the fuel injectors of the cylinders selectively causes the double pistons of each pair of passage connected to have either simultaneous internally fired power drive strokes in one mode or simultaneous internally fired and shared power drive strokes in another mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Raymond F. Lippitt
  • Patent number: 9719445
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, via a first sensor, a signal representative of at least one of a manifold pressure, a manifold temperature, or a manifold mass flow rate of a manifold. The method further includes deriving, via a manifold model and the first sensor signal, a gas concentration measurement at a first manifold section of the manifold. The method additionally includes applying the gas concentration measurement during operations of an engine, wherein the manifold is fluidly coupled to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Oscar Eduardo Sarmiento Penuela, Medy Satria, Johannes Huber, Prashant Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9719446
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of different regeneration strategies for nitrogen oxide storage catalysts (NOx storage catalyst, LNT or NSC), depending on the exhaust gas temperatures, to reduce in the total exhaust gas the greenhouse gas N2O (nitrous oxide) that is produced as a secondary emission during the regeneration of the storage catalyst. If the exhaust gas temperature is below 275° C.-290° C., regeneration takes place using a strategy with short pulses of around 2 seconds and ? Lambda 0.95 rich.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Frank Adam, Stephan Eckhoff, Sebastian Mueller
  • Patent number: 9719447
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method may include receiving knock data corresponding to knock levels over a time period. The method may also include determining from the knock data whether the knock levels change over the time period. Further, the method may include determining that a variation in the gas composition of the gaseous fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine has occurred when the knock levels change over the time period. In addition, the method may include adjusting an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to adapt a knock susceptibility of the internal combustion engine to the varying gas composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eike Joachim Sixel, Daniel Wester, Arvind Sivasubramanian, Adam Stubbs
  • Patent number: 9719448
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting heater power of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method for an engine includes adjusting heater power of a heating element of the oxygen sensor when the heater power increases by a threshold amount. The method includes subsequently increasing heater power back to a baseline power level responsive to a temperature of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9719449
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust purification catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine and being able to store oxygen in inflowing exhaust gas and an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged at a downstream side of the exhaust purification catalyst in a direction of exhaust flow and detecting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing out from the exhaust purification catalyst and stops or decreases a feed of fuel to a combustion chamber as fuel cut control. The abnormality diagnosis system calculates a characteristic of change of an air-fuel ratio based on an output air-fuel ratio output from the air-fuel ratio sensor at the time when the output air-fuel ratio first passes a part of an air-fuel ratio region of a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or more after an end of the fuel cut control, and diagnoses abnormality of the air-fuel ratio sensor based on the characteristic of change of the air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyamoto, Keiichiro Aoki, Yasushi Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 9719450
    Abstract: A device executes a power limiting process when the number of pressure sensors determined to be normal in a second determination process made by a second processing unit is smaller than or equal to one. When only one pressure sensor is determined to be normal through the second determination process, and when that pressure sensor and a pressure sensor connected to only a first processing unit are determined to be normal in a first determination process made by the first processing unit, a process associated with fuel injection based on a detected value of the pressure sensor determined to be normal in the second determination process is executed, and a degree of limiting engine power through the power limiting process is reduced as compared with when both the pressure sensors are determined to be abnormal in the first determination process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Miyaura, Yoshiyasu Ito, Nobuyoshi Takigawa
  • Patent number: 9719451
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine which has a plurality of cylinders is comprised of an exhaust purification catalyst, a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor, and a control device which controls the average air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas and the combustion air-fuel ratios of the cylinders. The control device performs average air-fuel ratio control where it alternately controls the average air-fuel ratio between the rich air-fuel ratio and the lean air-fuel ratio and inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio control where it controls the combustion air-fuel ratios of the cylinders so that the combustion air-fuel ratio becomes the rich air-fuel ratio at least at one cylinder among the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hokuto, Koichi Hoshi, Yuji Miyoshi, Yuji Yamaguchi, Kazuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9719452
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein a first engine control device generates a control signal to actuate a function of the engine. A switchover device transmits the control signal of the first control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine. The first control device transmits a sign-of-life signal which indicates functionality of the control device to the switchover device. The first engine control device does not transmit the sign-of-life signal or transmits the signal incorrectly if a fault occurs which endangers proper actuation of the function of the engine by the first engine control device. If the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control device is not or is incorrectly received by the switchover device, the switchover device stops transmitting the control signals of the first engine control device and starts transmitting a control signal generated by a second engine control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Mehr, Christoph Hirschle, Jan Henker, Roger Elze
  • Patent number: 9719453
    Abstract: A method for determining an effective injection time of a valve having a coil drive includes determining an opening time of the valve, determining a closing time of the valve, and determining the effective injection time of the electric actuation of the valve for an injection operation based on the defined opening time and the defined closing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Beer, Alexander Artinger
  • Patent number: 9719454
    Abstract: A display system for an engine includes a processor configured to receive a first measurement indication relating to a measurement of a fuel control valve position of the engine, wherein the fuel control valve position is configured to control an air/fuel ratio of the engine. The processor is further configured to compare the first measurement indication to a first preset fuel control valve range, generate a first completion indication based on when the measurement is within the first preset fuel control valve range, and display the first completion indication on a display of the display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis John Spaulding, Nathan Patrick Schaefer, Robert Jarvis Selberg, Derek Christopher Sammons
  • Patent number: 9719455
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a jackrabbit accident using a vehicle black box includes a jackrabbit accident prevention unit that is provided in the vehicle black box, synchronizes an accelerator position signal with a vertical synchronization signal for recording of an image to generate first jackrabbit analysis information to be transmitted to an accident record unit, combines the accelerator position signal with a throttle position signal to be transmitted to the accident record unit as second jackrabbit analysis information and to determine jackrabbit based on the second jackrabbit analysis information, and prevents the jackrabbit accident by automatically shutting off driving power to a fuel pump in the jackrabbit state, and the accident recording unit that provides horizontal and vertical synchronization signals for storing of an image to the jackrabbit accident prevention unit, maps the first jackrabbit analysis information with a recorded image, and stores the mapping result in a memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MUREUNG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Il-Wong Kim
  • Patent number: 9719456
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine in various operating modes and for controlling an engine having dual injectors, may include selecting a number of injectors configured to inject fuel based on an operating mode of the various operating modes, and injecting fuel based on a selection of whether to inject fuel while an intake valve is open, or to inject fuel while the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Young Kyu Oh
  • Patent number: 9719457
    Abstract: This disclosure provides system and method that can determine hydraulic start of injection (SOI) in engines using an in-cylinder pressure sensor. The system and method determine apparent heat release rate (AHRR) curve data for the cylinder from the pressure information provided by the in-cylinder pressure sensors, and the hydraulic SOI from the derivative of the AHRR curve data. The system and method provide diagnostic, control and/or compensation opportunities for fuel injector operation in high pressure fuel rail engine systems without use of expensive or complex fuel injector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul V. Moonjelly, Richard A. Booth, Lester L. Peters, Jeffrey C. Huang, Phanindra Garimella
  • Patent number: 9719458
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device of an engine is disclosed, that is provided with a fuel injection valve configured to inject a fuel according to a target pulse width into an intake passage, an intake flow rate detection unit arranged to detect a flow rate of an intake air supplied to the engine, an intake pressure detection unit arranged to detect an intake pressure in the intake passage, a fuel pressure detection unit arranged to detect a pressure of a fuel supplied to the fuel injection valve, and a pressure control unit configured to control the fuel pressure according to an engine operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumichi Terauchi, Shigehiro Yokoya, Akio Amano, Takatsugu Katayama
  • Patent number: 9719459
    Abstract: A sliding component for an internal combustion engine includes: a sliding component main body that includes a plurality of concave portions formed in a predetermined portion thereof; and a coating layer that covers a portion of the sliding component main body, in which the plurality of concave portions are not formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashi, Hiroyoshi Hiejima, Keiki Sugano, Akihiro Okamoto, Takuya Niimi, Ryo Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9719460
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an engine oil pan, which includes a cylinder block, wherein a plurality of arc-shaped grooves are disposed on the second end surface of the cylinder block along the axial direction of a crank shaft; the arc-shaped grooves form arc-shaped bulges in a sunk portion on the first end surface of the cylinder block; the arc-shaped bulges divide the sunk portion into first space and second space; a platform is disposed inside the sunk portion of the cylinder block; and the height of the platform is lower than the height of the arc-shaped bulges. The technical solution employed by the present invention enables lubricating oil in the engine oil pan to flow more effectively, and enables the lubricating oil in the oil pan to be utilized more effectively when the engine is used in any position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SUZHOU CLEVA PRECISION MACHINERY & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhao Kong, Ning Guo, Gan Chen, Keya Feng
  • Patent number: 9719461
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block defining at least one main bearing bulkhead adjacent to a cylinder, and a crankshaft rotatably housed within the block by a main bearing. A bulkhead insert has a cap portion, and an insert portion provided within the bulkhead. The insert portion has having first and second end regions connected by first and second straps. Each strap having a flanged beam cross section. The first and second ends of the insert portion are configured to connect a main bearing cap column to a cylinder head column. Each of the first and second end regions define at least one protrusion having a surface substantially normal to engine combustion and reactive loads. The cap portion is configured to mate with the first end region at the main bearing cap column and support the main bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Mark W. Thibault, James Douglas Ervin, James Maurice Boileau, Bryan McKeough
  • Patent number: 9719462
    Abstract: A cylinder block for an internal combustion engine includes a network structure projecting from a sidewall thereof. The network structure is formed by a plurality of ribs including a first group of parallel ribs extending in a first diagonal direction with respect to an axis of a cylinder, a second group of parallel ribs extending in a second diagonal direction with respect to the axis of the cylinder, and a third group of parallel transverse ribs intersecting the diagonal ribs in such a way to form a triangular arrangement of ribs. The network structure further includes cylindrical portions in correspondence of the vertices of the triangular arrangement of ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Lavazza
  • Patent number: 9719463
    Abstract: An engine is described having a crankcase, a liner and a head assembly. The crankcase is split along a plane defining a two part crankcase, where fluid passages are passing through only one of the crankcase portions, so as to not require crossing the split line. A connecting rod also includes a tapered end, and the piston has a complementary carrier receiving the connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bret Allen Oltmans, Chad Michael Slater, Daniel Joseph Nugteren, George Jay McKoskey, Gordon Raymond Nelson, David Andrew Galsworthy, Blake Andrew Anderson
  • Patent number: 9719464
    Abstract: A flat gasket has a functional layer with at least one media through-opening and at least one combustion chamber through-opening. A second layer, which is separate from the functional layer. The second layer has a media through-opening that corresponds to the media through-opening in the functional layer and a combustion chamber through-opening that corresponds to the combustion chamber through-opening in the functional layer. The functional layer has at least one combustion chamber sealing bead, which is preferably a full bead, for each combustion chamber through-opening. The second layer has an outer boundary sealing bead and an elastomer sealing profile for each media through-opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Sealing Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Klinner
  • Patent number: 9719465
    Abstract: An engine system has a gas generator, a bi-fi wall surrounding at least a portion of the gas generator, a casing surrounding a fan, and the casing having first and second thrust reverser doors which in a deployed position abut each other and the bi-fi wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L Suciu, Jesse M Chandler
  • Patent number: 9719466
    Abstract: A system and method for providing reverse thrust is disclosed. The system can include one or more cascade elements. The one or more cascade elements can each include a plurality of vanes to redirect engine thrust in a forward direction relative to travel. Some, or all, of the vanes can include raised geometric patterns configured to increase the mixing of the airstreams between the reversed engine thrust and the airstream over the vehicle to reduce noise and improve reverse thrust. The angle, curvature, and geometric pattern of the vanes can be optimized for a particular cascade element, engine, location on the engine, row, or can be optimized individually to maximize reverse thrust and minimize noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Omid B. Nakhjavani
  • Patent number: 9719467
    Abstract: An engine pressure sensor monitoring system uses the position of a wastegate in a turbo-charged engine when known and calibrated engine operating conditions occur to provide diagnostic information for various engine pressure sensors and for the operation of the wastegate itself. Discrete measurement windows are defined for engine conditions with specific values for parameters that may include rpm, torque, injection timing and fuel consumption. Other sensor readings for intake manifold pressure, turbocharger compressor output pressure, peak cylinder pressure, and wastegate valve position during these measurement windows should match predicted values. If measured and predicted values do not match, one or more sensors may be bad and an alarm may be raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Xinyu Ge
  • Patent number: 9719468
    Abstract: An air cleaner system that potentially reduces debris entering a prime mover (e.g., engine) during removal/replacement of an air cleaner. In one embodiment, the engine includes a shroud defining an air cleaner compartment. The engine further includes a tubular air feed port defining a combustion air intake. The air feed port terminates at an end face located at or within the air cleaner compartment, and a lower portion of the end face is notched relative to other portions of the end face. In other embodiments, an engine oil drain system is provided that selectively positions a distal end of an oil drain tube at a drain position located away from the engine. The oil drain tube may also be repositioned to a stored position, wherein the distal end of the drain tube attaches to a nipple connected to either an engine housing or surrounding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jay J. Kakuk, Trent R. Roth, Warren H. Daun, David J. Martin, Philip C. Dretzka
  • Patent number: 9719469
    Abstract: The present invention uses the exhaust gas of an internal combustion reciprocating engine to drive a turbine. The turbine is position around the cylinder. The turbine is connected to systems that will use the energy to improve the total system efficiency. One such system would be connected to a compressor to create the force induction required for two-stroke engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Riley Dale Pelfrey, Rick Dean Pelfrey, Jordan Matthew Gartenhaus
  • Patent number: 9719470
    Abstract: An inlet manifold includes a plenum having a plenum floor and a plenum cover positioned next to the plenum floor, and at least one straw supported on and extending from the plenum floor toward the plenum cover to transport water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Katherine Jane Brewer
  • Patent number: 9719471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection valve, comprising a nozzle body (1) and a pressure chamber (3) formed therein, wherein the pressure chamber (3) can be filled with fuel under high pressure and wherein a piston-shaped nozzle needle (5) is arranged in the pressure chamber so as to be movable longitudinally, which nozzle needle interacts with a nozzle seat (7) formed in the nozzle body (1) by means of a sealing surface (6) formed at the end of the nozzle needle on the combustion chamber side and thereby controls the flow of fuel from the pressure chamber (3) to at least one injection opening (8). A sleeve (12) accommodates the end of the nozzle needle (5) facing away from the nozzle seat and bounds a control chamber (20). By means of the pressure of the control chamber, a hydraulic force is applied to the nozzle needle (5) in the direction of the nozzle seat (7). A closing spring (16) is arranged in the control chamber (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Ohm, Christian Wehr, Christian Kanka
  • Patent number: 9719472
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for a high pressure pump includes a pump housing with a depression, and a valve housing configured to be inserted in the depression, and a clamping disc. The valve housing has at least one radial projection with a first axial boundary surface and a second axial boundary surface arranged opposite the first axial boundary surface, wherein the clamping disc extends radially over the radial projection of the valve housing and has a third axial boundary surface that corresponds with the second axial boundary surface of the valve housing. On the circumferential side, the clamping disc has a thread that can be screwed into a thread on the inner side of the depression to brace the valve housing onto the first boundary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Muehlbauer, Matthias Bleeck, Burhan Dagdelen, Joerg Bernhardt, Juergen Bohmann
  • Patent number: 9719473
    Abstract: An air cooled V-twin engine comprises first and second cylinders, first and second cylinder heads, first and second fuel injectors, a fuel tank, and first and second fuel pumps. The cylinders and the cylinder heads comprise cooling fins and define first and second combustion chambers. Each of the fuel injectors is attached to a respective one of the cylinder heads in a manner such that they can discharge fuel directly into said combustion chamber. The first fuel pump is operatively connected to the fuel tank and to the second fuel pump in a manner such that the first fuel pump can pump fuel from the fuel tank to the second fuel pump. The second fuel pump is operatively connected to the fuel injectors in a manner such that the second fuel pump can pump fuel to the fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MIDWEST MOTORCYCLE SUPPLY DISTRIBUTORS CORP.
    Inventor: John M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 9719474
    Abstract: An injector is designed to provide continuously variable injection rate shaping. With a hydro-mechanical internal feedback mechanism, injector needle position can be determined by controlling a feedback valve's on/off timing. According to the needle position, an injection needle valve opening can be controlled, and then the injection flow rate can be delivered proportionally. Also in accordance with the present invention a CRDI systems are provided including injectors of the present invention, wherein results demonstrate that injector designs of the present invention not only achieve rate shaping capability but also solve the above-noted problems of the current CRDI system. Finally, an iterative learning controller has also been developed to track the desired injection rate, and an injection rate estimator is designed to realize a cycle to cycle feedback control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Zongxuan Sun, Chienshin Wu
  • Patent number: 9719475
    Abstract: A control valve is provided, in particular for metering in a fluid for a delivery pump which is arranged downstream. The control valve has a flow channel, an axially movable valve needle, and a valve element which can be loaded by the valve needle in an opening direction and is arranged in the flow channel. If the valve element is actuated in the opening direction by the valve needle, the fluid can flow back through the flow channel at least temporarily counter to the opening direction of the valve element. Upstream of the valve element as viewed in the backflow direction, the flow channel has a fluidically active shield which keeps the backflow at least partially free of a face of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Thorwirth, Winfried Eckart, Dominik Brunner, Christian Heinen
  • Patent number: 9719476
    Abstract: A fuel injector device for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided in which the fuel injector includes a body having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, an annular shoulder between the upper and lower chambers, an armature assembly disposed in the upper chamber, and a pilot valve seat having an inlet orifice disposed in the lower chamber and an outlet orifice disposed in the upper chamber. The pilot valve seat has a shaft extending between the outlet and inlet orifice and an angled shoulder between the outlet and inlet orifice. The angle shoulder of the shaft prevents fuel flow around the shaft between the upper and lower chambers. The armature assembly is configured to move to an upward position and to a downward position, the shaft also being disposed within the armature assembly to guide the armature assembly between the upward and downward positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Tamas Rauznitz
  • Patent number: 9719477
    Abstract: A power generation and starting device for a utility vehicle having a battery source capable of storing electrical energy, a logic/driver module operably coupled to the battery source and capable of outputting power to a drive system of the utility vehicle, an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force, and a generator system operably coupled to the internal combustion engine and electrically coupled to the logic/driver module. The generator system is capable of operating as a generator in response to the mechanical driving force of the internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to the logic/driver module. The generator is further capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from the logic/driver module to drive the internal combustion engine during startup of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lowell Harper, Osahenrhunwen Erhun Iyasere
  • Patent number: 9719478
    Abstract: A starter device for an internal combustion engine includes a starter housing, an electric motor and an engagement pinion driven in rotation by the motor around the pinion rotation axis, the pinion being movable in a translational motion along its pinion rotation axis between a retracted position and an engaging position for engaging a gear connected to the internal combustion engine, the translational motion being caused by the rotation of the electric motor, the starter device further comprising a non-rotatable element which is blocked in rotation with respect to the starter housing, a rotatable element driven in rotation by the electric motor, a helical linkage between the non rotatable element and the rotatable element for causing the translational motion of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Romain Nicolas, Yann Boete