Patents Issued in December 26, 2017
  • Patent number: 9850805
    Abstract: Generally, embodiments of a pre-chamber unit having a pre-combustion chamber including one or more induction ports in a configuration which achieves flow fields and flow field forces inside the pre-combustion chamber which act to direct flame growth away quenching surface of the pre-combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Prometheus Applied Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maria-Emmanuella Sotiropoulou, Luigi P. Tozzi
  • Patent number: 9850806
    Abstract: In certain embodiments with large size prechambers and/or with prechambers that have large spark-gap electrode assemblies, a poor scavenge of the crevice volume may cause deterioration of the preignition margin, which then may limit the power rating of the engine, may cause the flow velocity field of the fuel-air mixture to be excessively uneven and may result in the deterioration of the misfire limit. One or more auxiliary scavenging ports may allow admission of fuel rich mixture to the crevice volume, thereby cooling the residual gases and preventing occurrence of preignition. More organized and powerful flow velocity fields may be obtained in the spark-gap electrode assembly region. This condition may result in a significant extension of the flammability limit and may significantly improve the combustion efficiency of the prechamber. Passive prechambers using the active scavenge concept may increase the engine power output and reduce the emission of pollutants from engine combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Prometheus Applied Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maria Emmanuella Sotiropoulou, Luigi P. Tozzi
  • Patent number: 9850807
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a pre-chamber connected to a pre-chamber feed conduit for supplying the pre-chamber with a fuel (F), and a main combustion chamber. Fuel (F) in the main combustion chamber can be ignited by an ignition flare which passes from the at least one pre-chamber into the at least one main combustion chamber and which is produced by ignition of fuel (F) in the pre-chamber. At least one valve can be open-loop or closed-loop controlled by an open-loop or closed-loop control device depending on a parameter characteristic of a change in a power produced by the internal combustion engine, and/or by which a pre-chamber fuel flow directed through the pre-chamber feed conduit to the at least one pre-chamber can be at least partially diverted into a volume separate from the at least one pre-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GE Jenbacher GMBH & CO OG
    Inventors: Mario Graus, Francisco Lopez, Herbert Schaumberger, Nikolaus Spyra
  • Patent number: 9850808
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an air intake coupled to the internal combustion engine and configured to intake air and supply the air to the engine, a temperature controller coupled to the air intake and to the internal combustion engine, and a control system coupled to the air intake, the internal combustion engine, and to the temperature controller. The control system being configured to receive engine operating data and control a temperature of the air via operation of the temperature controller to control an operating condition of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9850809
    Abstract: An inlet duct, an induction system, and a system are disclosed for directing an inlet flow into an inlet compressor for use in an internal combustion engine. An example inlet duct may include one or more relief features disposed on an inner surface of the inlet duct. The one or more relief features may be made integral with the inlet duct. The one or more relief features may be disposed to protrude into the inlet flow to cause the inlet flow to swirl before reaching the inlet compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Henry Hermann, Randall Alan Stec, Douglas White, Jacqueline Tomlin, William C. Ronzi, Roger Khami, Robert Bruce Bonhard, Bhaskara Rao Boddakayala
  • Patent number: 9850810
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) with a compressor wheel (2); with a turbine wheel (3); and with a shaft (4) on which the compressor wheel (2) and the turbine wheel (3) are arranged in a rotationally secured manner. The turbine wheel (3) has a through-opening (5) in which a first end region (6) of the shaft (4) is arranged, and the turbine wheel (3) is braced between an end-side stop (7) connected to the end region (6) and a compressor wheel-side shaft sleeve (8) fixed on the shaft (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Juergen Tschirschke
  • Patent number: 9850811
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the opening of a scroll valve of a binary flow turbine. Scroll valve adjustments are used at different engine operating conditions to improve engine performance and boost response. Scroll valve adjustments are coordinated with wastegate and EGR valve adjustments for improved engine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Amey Y. Karnik, Julia Helen Buckland, Brad Alan Boyer, Stephen Lee Cooper
  • Patent number: 9850812
    Abstract: A compression ignition (diesel) engine uses two or more fuel charges during a combustion cycle, with the fuel charges having two or more reactivities (e.g., different cetane numbers), in order to control the timing and duration of combustion. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot). At low load and no load (idling) conditions, the aforementioned results are attained by restricting airflow to the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (as by throttling the incoming air at or prior to the combustion chamber's intake port) so that the cylinder air pressure is below ambient pressure at the start of the compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage Kokjohn
  • Patent number: 9850813
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine includes a control shaft rotatably supported by an engine body, a variable compression ratio mechanism, an actuator for driving the control shaft, and a speed reducing mechanism for reducing a rotational power of the actuator and for transmitting the speed-reduced power to the control shaft, and structured to have a rotation shaft rotatably supported in a housing fixed to the engine body and a lever that connects the rotation shaft and the control shaft. Located in the engine body is a first regulation part for mechanically regulating the control shaft to a position of maximum rotation on a high compression ratio side. Also located in the housing is a second regulation part for mechanically regulating the rotation shaft to a position of maximum rotation on a low compression ratio side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Yoshiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9850814
    Abstract: An annular spring for a bearing assembly of gas turbine engine is provided. The annular spring includes a multiple of ligaments between an inner support and an outer support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gary L. Grogg
  • Patent number: 9850815
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide power generation using predominantly CO2 as a working fluid. In particular, the present disclosure provides for the use of a portion of the heat of compression from a CO2 compressor as the additive heating necessary to increase the overall efficiency of a power production system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: 8 Rivers Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Brock Alan Forrest, Jeremy Eron Fetvedt
  • Patent number: 9850816
    Abstract: An inlet air conditioning system for a gas turbine includes an inlet duct for the with an air flow path to provide inlet air to the gas turbine; evaporative cooling media disposed in the air flow path; a water chiller; and a circulation pump that circulates water through the water chiller and the evaporative media in series. The chiller is configured to chill the water to below ambient wet-bulb temperature before the water is circulated to the evaporative cooling media. A power plant includes a gas turbine including a compressor, a combustion system, and a turbine section; a load; and the inlet air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: JIanmin Zhang, Brad Aaron Kippel
  • Patent number: 9850817
    Abstract: A controller according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cold plate and at least one electronic component mounted to the cold plate by an intermediate thermoelectric cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Debabrata Pal
  • Patent number: 9850818
    Abstract: An airflow control system for a gas turbine system according to an embodiment includes: a compressor component of a gas turbine system; a mixing area for receiving an exhaust gas stream produced by the gas turbine system; an air extraction system for extracting a supply of bypass air from an excess flow of air generated by the compressor component of the gas turbine system; an enclosure surrounding the gas turbine system and forming an air passage, the bypass air flowing through the air passage and around the gas turbine system into the mixing area to reduce a temperature of the exhaust gas stream; and an exhaust processing system for processing the reduced temperature exhaust gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Robert Joseph Reed
  • Patent number: 9850819
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a main compressor section having a downstream most end, and more upstream locations. A turbine section has a high pressure turbine. A tap taps air from at least one of the more upstream locations in the compressor section, passes the tapped air through a heat exchanger and then to a cooling compressor. The cooling compressor compresses ng air downstream of the heat exchanger, and delivers air into the high pressure turbine. The heat exchanger has at least two passes, with one of the passes passing air radially outwardly, and a second of the passes returning the air radially inwardly to the compressor. An intercooling system for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler, Joseph Brent Staubach, Brian D. Merry, Wesley K. Lord
  • Patent number: 9850820
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a turbine engine is provided. The power transmission system includes a transmission shaft that is connected to a drive shaft by bevel gears, and that drives equipment or accessories. The transmission shaft is designed to operate under supercritical conditions and includes a damper system for damping vibration at its resonant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: SNECMA, HISPANO SUIZA
    Inventors: Serge Dominique Pettinotti, Vincent Abousleiman, Sebastien Bourget, Mickael Moreiras, Diane Gueudry, Bernard Cartier, Florian Poinsot-Berthelot
  • Patent number: 9850821
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a speed reduction device driven by the shaft, and a fan including a fan rotor driven by the speed reduction device. A compressor section has a plurality of compressor stages driven by the shaft. At least one inducer stage is positioned aft of the fan and coupled for rotation with the fan rotor. The at least one inducer stage is positioned upstream of the compressor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9850822
    Abstract: A disclosed gas turbine engine includes a first fan section including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis, a compressor in fluid communication with the first fan section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor and a first turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor. The first turbine section includes a low pressure turbine that drives the first fan section. A second fan section is supported between the first fan section and the compressor and is driven by a second turbine section disposed between the second fan section and the compressor for driving the second fan section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 9850823
    Abstract: A control system and method for a gas turbine engine are provided A controller (40) is responsive to at least one parameter to control an air-to-fuel ratio. The parameter may be a measured engine exhaust temperature from a temperature sensor (42). During a transient, such as a ramping condition of the engine, a measured value of such parameter may have a time lag affecting one or more control settings during the transient condition. The controller is programmed to predictively determine a bias for the measured value of the parameter to correct such control settings and avoid combustion instabilities and high emissions during such transient conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Krishna C. Miduturi, Danny W. Kozachuk
  • Patent number: 9850824
    Abstract: A drive circuit (203) of an actuator (2) calculates an actual working angle from an actual operation quantity with reference to a reference table used to calculate a target operation quantity, and transmits the actual working angle and the actual operation quantity to a command unit (4). The command unit (4) determines whether or not the received values of the actual working angle and the operation quantity correspond to the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the reference table stored in the command unit (4), to detect a discrepancy between the operation modes of the actuator (2) and the command unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Habara, Toyokazu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9850825
    Abstract: In a vehicle control device with an automatic engine stop function, when the engine is in a non-operating state and the shift lever is operated to the parking range, the engine is controlled to start to supply operating oil to a valve timing changing means. The valve timing changing means is thereupon caused to change the intake valve close timing (IVC) to a predetermined advance angle position and subsequently locked thereat. The engine is then controlled to stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Orita
  • Patent number: 9850826
    Abstract: An asymmetry cylinder de-activation (CDA) engine provided with a first, a second, a third and a fourth cylinder of which CDA apparatuses are mounted thereto respectively may include a crankshaft connected with pistons of each cylinder through a first, a second, a third and a fourth cranking journal respectively, and a controller configured to control operations of the CDA apparatuses, in which phase differences between cranking journals according to firing order may include 90±10 degrees and 270±10 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: In Sang Ryu, Ingee Suh, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Kiyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9850827
    Abstract: Emission targets, such as NOx levels, for gaseous fuelled internal combustion engines that burn a gaseous fuel in a diffusion combustion mode are increasingly more challenging to achieve. A method of fuel injection for an internal combustion engine fuelled with a gaseous fuel comprises introducing a first amount of pilot fuel in a first stage of fuel injection; introducing a first amount of main fuel (the gaseous fuel) in a second stage of fuel injection; and introducing a second amount of main fuel in a third stage of fuel injection. The first and second amounts of main fuel contribute to load and speed demand of the internal combustion engine. Engine maps calibrated for different engine performance can be employed in different regions of the load and speed range of the engine. The engine maps are blended when the engine transitions between two regions; and momentary excursions into different regions do not change the engine calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Wei Fei, James D. Walker, Gordon P. McTaggart-Cowan, Kenneth R. Mann
  • Patent number: 9850828
    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 compression ignition range. When the engine body operates in a low load range with a load lower than a predetermined load in the compression ignition range, the controller sets a time of fuel injection with the fuel injection valve in a first half of a compression stroke or earlier, and allows the ozonator to introduce the ozone into the cylinder. When the engine body operates in the low load range, the controller controls an ozone concentration to be lower at a higher speed than at a low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Atsushi Inoue, Kota Matsumoto, Takashi Kaminaga, Toru Miyamoto, Takashi Youso
  • Patent number: 9850829
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (100), which serves as a control device for an internal combustion engine, executes feedback control for controlling the torque of an internal combustion engine (10) so as to coincide the rate of decrease in engine rotational speed with a target rate of decrease in the engine rotational speed. The electronic control unit (100) calculates a required torque that is a torque required to keep the engine rotational speed at a constant rotational speed, and increases a feedback gain in the feedback control as the calculated required torque increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9850830
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an air charging system with a boost air system. A method to control the boost air in the air charging system, decoupled from the air and EGR system controls, includes monitoring a reference boost pressure and operating parameters of the air charging system; creating a turbocharger energy balance model of the air charging system; applying feedback linearization control to the turbocharger energy balance model to create an approximately linearized feedback system; and determining a boost control command for the air charging system using the approximately linearized feedback system based on the monitored reference boost pressure and the monitored operating parameters of the air charging system. The boost air in the air charging system is controlled based upon the boost control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Vincenzo Alfieri, Giuseppe Conte
  • Patent number: 9850831
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for engine speed flare control in an engine system having multiple staged charge boosting devices. In one example, during an engine start, an upstream compressor is rotated backwards via an electric motor to reduce the intake manifold pressure. The engine is then fueled based on the lower manifold pressure to reduce torque and engine speed flare until idle engine speed conditions are reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hamid-Reza Ossareh, Adam Nathan Banker, Baitao Xiao
  • Patent number: 9850832
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing fuel vapor canister purging operations during engine off conditions. In one example, a method may include, responsive to an indication of breakthrough of vapors from a fuel vapor canister during engine-off conditions, configuring a first cylinder with both intake and exhaust valves open, opening a canister purge valve, and applying air pressure to the vapor canister such that desorbed canister vapors may be routed to an exhaust catalyst, the exhaust catalyst temperature maintained above a light off temperature. In this way, during engine-off conditions, including conditions wherein a vehicle is powered solely by battery, bleedthrough emissions may be reliably reduced by purging the vapor canister to the exhaust catalyst without requiring turning on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9850833
    Abstract: A diagnosis device for an engine, the diagnosis device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute EGR diagnosis processing to diagnose whether or not the EGR device operates normally while a vehicle is being decelerated, execute air flow meter diagnosis processing to diagnose whether or not the air flow meter is normal while the vehicle is decelerated, execute the EGR diagnosis processing after starting the air flow meter diagnosis processing, and execute the EGR diagnosis processing when the air flow meter diagnosis processing has not been completed and predetermined conditions that a duration of deceleration of the vehicle being shorter than a diagnosis time that is required to execute the air flow meter diagnosis processing are fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Miyahara, Kenichiro Kawase
  • Patent number: 9850834
    Abstract: A method of operating a gasoline engine having a first subset of cylinders and a second subset of cylinders includes providing a flow of compressed air from a single-sequential compressor to the engine, selectively deactivating the first subset of cylinders, and igniting gasoline mixed with the compressed air in the second subset of cylinders. The single-sequential compressor includes a dual sided impeller having a first blade arrangement in fluid communication with a first air inlet, and an opposing second blade arrangement in fluid communication with a second air inlet. Additionally, deactivating the first subset of cylinders includes sealing the first subset of cylinders such that the flow of compressed air is provided only to the second subset of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Edward J. Keating
  • Patent number: 9850835
    Abstract: A guided-vane rotary internal combustion engine including a plurality of working chambers which are separated from one another by way of vane assemblies which rotate with a rotor assembly about an axis employs a rotor assembly having a plurality of sectors wherein each sector is associated with a corresponding working chamber and a plurality of spark plugs wherein each spark plug is mounted within a corresponding sector for igniting an air/fuel mixture contained within a corresponding working chamber. A rotor disk is mounted upon the rotor assembly for rotation therewith and acts as a distributor through which energizing charges are conducted to the spark plugs. In addition, a controller is utilized for selectively activating or de-activating the working chambers of the engine upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BRM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold J. Beal
  • Patent number: 9850836
    Abstract: An automatic control apparatus for an engine detects an operation position of a mechanical shift lever for shifting gears of a transmission, automatically stops the engine when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the case where the operation position is at a first specific range, and automatically restarts the engine in the case where, after the operation position is switched from the first specific range to a second specific range while the engine is stopped, the second specific range is maintained for a predetermined time. When the operation position is switched from the first specific range to the second specific range while the engine is stopped, it is determined whether or not the driver has an intention to start the vehicle, and if YES, the predetermined time is set to be shorter than when it is determined that there is no intention to start the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutaka Oda, Hiroaki Tabuchi, Yu Sakai
  • Patent number: 9850837
    Abstract: A microcomputer determines that an abnormality has occurred in calculation functions regarding calculation of an injection amount command value and the like, based on a deviation of the injection amount command value, in an increasing manner, from a monitoring injection amount. The microcomputer calculates, based on a cooling fluid temperature of an engine, a start-up injection amount such that the start-up injection amount becomes smaller when the cooling fluid temperature is high than when the cooling fluid temperature is low, and uses the start-up injection amount as the injection amount command value immediately after the completion of start-up of the engine. Besides, the microcomputer uses the smaller one of a start-up injection amount calculated this time and a monitoring start-up injection amount calculated last time, as a monitoring start-up injection amount that is used as the aforementioned monitoring injection amount immediately after the completion of start-up of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Ito, Morihisa Sakamoto, Takuya Inamasu
  • Patent number: 9850838
    Abstract: A system for reducing vibration from an engine shock event caused by turning on an engine of a vehicle. The system includes an engine vibration sensor connected to the engine and configured to detect vibration data. The system includes an engine shock dampening unit configured to analyze the vibration data received from the engine vibration sensor to detect the engine shock event. The engine shock dampening unit is further configured to determine a vibration cancellation instruction for partially or completely cancelling the vibration from the engine shock event when the engine shock event is detected. The system includes a vibration unit configured to vibrate in an opposing direction of the vibration from the engine shock event based on the vibration cancellation instruction such that the vibration from the engine shock event is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Justin J. Chow
  • Patent number: 9850839
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to assist a vehicle ascending a hill are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a trailer connection component configured to determine whether a trailer is connected to the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a road geometry component configured to determine a slope of a road on which the vehicle is driving. The example apparatus also includes a vehicle payload component configured to determine a gross vehicle weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a throttle adjuster configured to adjust a throttle based on the gross vehicle weight to maintain a set speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nunzio DeCia, Stephen Jay Orris, Jr., David A. Herman, Richard D. Bridgewater, Nicholas Alexander Scheufler
  • Patent number: 9850840
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) of an internal combustion engine, which includes an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged at a downstream side of an exhaust purification catalyst, is configured to judge if a state of the air-fuel ratio sensor is normal or abnormal based on the first characteristic of change of air-fuel ratio and, if a judgment cannot be made based on the first characteristic, the ECU is configured to judge if the state of the air-fuel ratio sensor is normal or abnormal based on a second characteristic of change of air-fuel ratio. As a result, it is possible to suppress the effects of the change of state of the exhaust purification catalyst while accurately diagnosing the abnormality of deterioration of response of a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyamoto, Yuji Miyoshi, Yasushi Iwazaki, Toru Kidokoro, Keiichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 9850841
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a system for controlling an exhaust gas communicated from an engine system to a turbine component of a turbocharger system. The system can include an engine having an operational speed; a turbocharger system including a turbine component, the exhaust gas being output from the engine in an exhaust line; a controller in communication with the engine; and a sensor disposed in the exhaust line being in communication with the controller, the system operating according to the following method: measuring the first temperature of the exhaust gas, determining if the measured first temperature of the exhaust gas is within a temperature safety window of the system; calculating an engine speed of the engine; and adjusting an engine speed setpoint and speed of the engine based on the measured first temperature and the calculated engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julian R. Knudsen, Troy Christopher Gosselin, Yupeng Xiong, James Kristopher von der Ehe
  • Patent number: 9850842
    Abstract: A controller for a common-rail injection system includes a plurality of fuel injectors, a common fuel supply line for the fuel injectors, a high-pressure pump for supplying the common fuel supply line with fuel, and a pressure sensor for determining the pressure in the common fuel supply line. A determination unit evaluates data of the pressure sensor and, from the pressure drop caused by an injection in the common fuel supply line, determines the fuel quantity actually injected during this injection or a value derived therefrom. An adaption unit uses the results of the determination unit in order to adapt the actuation of the fuel injectors. The determination unit carries out at least one test injection, and the actually injected fuel quantity or a value derived therefrom is effected by way of the test injection or injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
    Inventors: Konrad Christ, Francois Masson, Richard Pirkl
  • Patent number: 9850843
    Abstract: A vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an engine configured to autostop and autostart during a drive cycle. The vehicle additionally includes a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to present on the user interface a metric indicative of a quantity of engine autostops during a drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nupur Dokras, Marirose Ilkka, Kirk Pebley
  • Patent number: 9850844
    Abstract: A control and evaluation unit for the operation and evaluation of at least one sensor, in particular for the operation and evaluation of at least one lambda probe of an internal combustion engine, signal inputs being disposed for the reception of analog measured signals of the at least one sensor, received analog measured signals being digitized by way of an analog/digital converter, a signal transfer unit, by way of which digitized signals are transferred to a calculation unit, being disposed, and provision being made in particular that the signal inputs are switchable by way of a multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Claudius Bevot
  • Patent number: 9850845
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for monitoring a fuel level of a vehicle. The fuel may be a gaseous fuel, such as natural gas. An electronic control unit may be able to receive a signal from one or more sensors. The electronic control unit may provide a command to drive a fuel gauge to display the fuel level. The electronic control unit may determine the gauge command based on the received signal and a filling compensation scheme. The electronic control unit may be initialized through a user interface. A filling compensation scheme may be selected during initialization. The electronic control unit may be capable of communicating various sensors, gauges, devices, controls and/or other ECUs of varying specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AGILITY FUEL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Sloan, Chris Forsberg
  • Patent number: 9850846
    Abstract: A high strength cast iron material for application in heavy duty diesel engines with Pa peak cylinder pressure greater than 240 bar is disclosed, the material a ductile material austempered to get a ausferrite matrix structure with higher mechanical properties than conventional cast iron materials available by using a designed low cost alloying cast material with heat treatment. Furthermore, the cylinder liner may be formed using novel heat treatment and/or fine honing processes to improve the properties thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ZYNP INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: Xiaocai Qin
  • Patent number: 9850847
    Abstract: A piston includes a combustion chamber that is formed at a piston top surface and an oil gallery that is formed so as to surround the combustion chamber. Wall thickness from a sliding side surface of the piston to the oil gallery is set greater on a piston skirt side than on a piston top surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mori Ishii
  • Patent number: 9850848
    Abstract: A sensor support structure includes a connection portion positioned in the cylinder head cover of an internal combustion engine from an outer surface of the cylinder head cover to a position where the connection portion comes in contact with a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, an arm portion extending from an outer end side of the connection portion toward an outer side of the connection portion in a radial direction, a sensor support portion provided at an extending end of the arm portion, the sensor support portion being formed to protrude in a direction away from a side where the cylinder head is positioned, the sensor support portion supporting a sensor that detects a rotation of a camshaft of the internal combustion engine; and a restriction portion restricting a movement of the arm portion relative to the cylinder head cover in a circumferential direction about the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Kira
  • Patent number: 9850849
    Abstract: A nacelle may include a tertiary lock for a thrust reverser. The tertiary lock may comprise a locking face which prevents the thrust reverser from accidentally deploying. An actuator may be coupled to a track beam. The actuator may contact a left tertiary lock and a right tertiary lock to disengage the locks. The locks may rotate and allow the thrust reverser to deploy. A spring may bias the locks to engage when the thrust reverser returns to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Stuart Byrne
  • Patent number: 9850850
    Abstract: A thrust reverser track beam is disclosed. The thrust reverser track beam may comprise a recess defined by a reception surface and/or a perimeter surface surrounding the reception surface and extending away from the reception surface, wherein the reception surface and the perimeter surface bound a recess that is configured to receive a noise suppressing structure. The thrust reverser track beam may further comprise the noise suppressing structure. The recess is generally triangular in shape and may extend away from a plane. The noise suppressing structure may be generally triangular in shape and may extend away from a plane. The noise suppressing structure may be coupled within the recess of the track beam and/or to the track beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Aten
  • Patent number: 9850851
    Abstract: A carburetor base of an engine defines an axial through hole and a pulsation hole channel. An anti-blocking component is mounted inside the axial through hole and defines an air inlet channel. The air inlet channel communicates with the pulsation hole channel so as to avoid blocking of condensed fuel oil inside the pulsation hole channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Suzhou Cleva Precision Machinery & Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhao Kong, Ning Guo, Keya Feng
  • Patent number: 9850852
    Abstract: A method and system for recycling permeated gas is disclosed. A container encapsulating a pressure vessel defines a containment volume. Gas permeating through the pressure vessel is captured in the containment volume. When a sensor detects a threshold level of permeated gas captured within the containment volume, a control module sends a command to open a purge valve. The open purge valve allows permeated gas captured within the containment volume to be supplied to an engine, a repressurization unit, or a secondary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Third Shore Group, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Kondogiani, Michael F. Donoughe
  • Patent number: 9850853
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating fuel volatility. During a vehicle-off condition following a refueling event, fuel volatility may be estimated by operating a fuel pump of a fuel system immediately after the refueling event while a fuel tank temperature is stable. Based on estimated fuel volatility, fuel injection amount and leak test thresholds may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 9850854
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine for a vehicle to ensure a stable driving state of the engine on an electrical failure of a Purge Control Solenoid Valve (PCSV) may include determining, by a controller, whether a situation of an electrical failure where an opening state of the Purge Control Solenoid Valve (PCSV) is held is detected, increasing, by the controller, a failure detecting counter to a first reference value according to a state where the situation of the electrical failure of the PCSV has been detected is kept as a result of performing the failure detecting, and compensating, by the controller, a rotation number of the engine to increase the rotation number of the engine when the failure detecting counter exceeds the first reference value as a result of performing the increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jung Sup Byun, Seong Kyu Park