Patents Issued in February 13, 2018
-
Patent number: 9890718Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of this invention includes: a turbo-supercharger; an exhaust gas purifying catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage on the downstream side of a turbine; and a WGV capable of opening and closing an exhaust bypass passage that bypasses the turbine. At the time of a catalyst warm-up request, catalyst warm-up control that opens the WGV and retards the ignition timing is executed. If the sensitivity of control of an intake air amount by a throttle valve is high, the intake air amount is controlled using the throttle valve during execution of the catalyst warm-up control. If the control sensitivity is low, the intake air amount is controlled using the WGV during execution of the catalyst warm-up control. When the WGV degree of opening is controlled toward a closed side during execution of the intake air amount control using the WGV, a retard amount of the ignition timing is increased.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Tsunooka
-
Patent number: 9890719Abstract: A control apparatus for a diesel engine includes a neighboring temperature estimating section which estimates a temperature of a neighborhood of a glow plug that heats an interior of a cylinder upon startup, and a supercharging pressure control section which controls a supercharging pressure in such a way that a rotation fluctuation of the engine does not increase, on the basis of the estimated temperature of the neighborhood of the glow plug.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toru Nishizawa, Shuichi Iio, Kiyoshi Ohga, Ryota Nakayama, Takashi Yamazaki, Yoshihiro Imaoka, Yasushi Ohmura, Isshou Uehara, Masahiko Nakano, Manabu Hasegawa
-
Patent number: 9890720Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which has: an intake section and an engine with an number of cylinders and a receiver which is arranged upstream of the cylinders wherein the intake section has: a supercharging system with a compressor and a bypass for bypassing the supercharging system, and wherein the receiver is assigned an engine throttle, and the bypass is assigned a compressor bypass throttle; and a setting of the engine throttle and/or of the compressor bypass throttle is set as a function of the operation in order to influence a charge fluid. The intake section is assigned an intake section model by which at least a mass flow and/or state of the charge fluid upstream of the engine are/is determined and on the basis of a determination result the compressor bypass throttle is set as a function of the engine throttle.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBHInventors: Andreas Flohr, Andreas Geller, Alexander Bernhard
-
Patent number: 9890721Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining barometric pressure. In one example, an onboard vacuum pump is utilized to draw a vacuum at a constant flow rate across a reference orifice, and the resulting vacuum level is converted to a barometric pressure. In this way, other sensors for determining barometric pressure in a vehicle may be rationalized without the use of engine operation, and in an example where the other sensors for determining barometric pressure are not functioning as desired, barometric pressure as inferred from the onboard pump may be utilized to adjust engine operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Aed M. Dudar
-
Patent number: 9890722Abstract: A fuel injection control method for an internal combustion engine includes instantaneous injection that injects fuel to a predetermined cylinder is executed immediately when it is determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied after cranking of the engine is started. A leaning influence ratio which is a ratio of a time period during which vaporized fuel supplied to the predetermined cylinder becomes lean to a instantaneous injection time period which is a time period over which fuel is injected by the instantaneous injection is estimated. A threshold value is set based on temperature of the engine. When the leaning influence ratio is larger than the threshold value, the instantaneous injection is inhibited.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kanta Tsuji, Takaaki Fukusako
-
Patent number: 9890723Abstract: A system includes an exhaust treatment system configured to treat emissions from a combustion engine via a catalyst. The system includes a controller configured to obtain an operating parameter indicating catalyst performance. The controller is configured to determine a deterioration factor indicating deterioration of the catalyst based at least in part on the operating parameter. The controller is configured to determine an adaptation term configured to modify an air-fuel ratio command for the combustion engine to account for the deterioration.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Prashant Srinivasan, William Collins Vining, Maruthi Narasinga Rao Devarakonda
-
Patent number: 9890724Abstract: A control system of an engine in which a purge gas containing evaporated fuel desorbed from a canister is supplied to an intake passage of the engine is provided. The control system includes a deceleration fuel cutoff module for performing a deceleration fuel cutoff to stop a fuel supply from an injector to the engine when a predetermined deceleration fuel cutoff condition is satisfied in a decelerating state of the engine, a purge unit for purging by supplying the purge gas to the intake passage during the deceleration fuel cutoff, an O2 sensor provided in an exhaust passage of the engine, an abnormality determining module for determining an abnormality of the O2 sensor based on a change of an output value of the O2 sensor that is caused by the deceleration fuel cutoff, and a purge restricting module for restricting the purge during the abnormality determination.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kazuaki Tanaka, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Yuusou Sakamoto
-
Patent number: 9890725Abstract: A constant current circuit is controlled to stop a constant current Ics (Ics=0) flowing between sensor electrodes of an oxygen sensor, in a period before the oxygen sensor becomes active, during a fuel cut of an engine, and after the engine stops. When an abnormality (for example, a failure) occurs in the constant current circuit, a sensor output equivalent to an output of the oxygen sensor of when the constant current circuit is controlled to stop the constant current Ics is different from a normal sensor output. An abnormality diagnosis is executed to determine a presence or absence of the abnormality in the constant current circuit depending on whether the output of the oxygen sensor is out of a predetermined normal range, in a period before the oxygen sensor becomes active, during a fuel cut of an engine, and after the engine stops (when the constant current circuit is controlled to stop the constant current Ics).Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Mikiyasu Matsuoka, Shingo Nakata
-
Patent number: 9890726Abstract: An individual cylinder air-fuel ratio estimation of estimating an air-fuel ratio of an individual cylinder is performed on a sensed value of an air-fuel ratio sensor set in an exhaust gas collection part of an engine, and an individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control of controlling the air-fuel ratio of the individual cylinder is performed in such a way that a variation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders becomes small on the basis of an estimated air-fuel ratio of the individual cylinder. Further, it is determined whether or not a misfire of the engine is caused and when it is determined that the misfire of the engine is caused, the individual cylinder air-fuel ratio estimation and the individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control are stopped and an individual cylinder correction value by the individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control is reset.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Noriaki Iwase, Yasuo Mukai
-
Patent number: 9890728Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating cylinder pressure profiles in cylinders of an engine are disclosed. In one example, fuel injection timing of engine cylinders is adjusted to improve engine combustion in response to output of one or more pressure sensors installed in engine cylinders. Combustion within a plurality of engine cylinders may be adjusted in response to pressure sensed in a single engine cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Daniel Roettger, Aaron John Oakley, Claus Maerschank
-
Patent number: 9890729Abstract: A fuel injection control unit includes an injection amount detector and a correction unit. When implementing partial lift injection where a valve closing operation is started after the valve body starts a valve opening operation and before a valve body reaches a maximum valve open position, the injection amount detector detects a physical quantity (valve closing timing) having a correlation with an injection amount. When implementing the partial lift injection, the correction unit corrects an energization time of a fuel injection valve on the basis of a detection value (learning value) that was previously detected by the injection amount detector. An energization time in a small amount region longer than a predetermined time in the partial lift injection is allowed to be corrected on the basis of a value (small amount time detection value) detected in the small amount region by the injection amount detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tanaka, Hiroaki Nagatomo
-
Patent number: 9890730Abstract: When an air-fuel ratio detection performed by detecting an output of a downstream sensor, which is a limiting-current type air-fuel ratio sensor arranged at a downstream side of a catalyst in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and calculating an air-fuel ratio at the downstream side of the catalyst in accordance with the output, if the output is within a predetermined range including an output corresponding to a theoretical air-fuel ratio, a relationship between the output and an air-fuel ratio that is calculated by calculation means is shifted more to a rich side relative to a correspondence relationship between an output of an upstream sensor, which is a similar sensor to the downstream sensor arranged at an upstream side of the catalyst in the exhaust passage of the engine, and an air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2011Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Keiichiro Aoki
-
Patent number: 9890731Abstract: To exert combustion control using a CNG injector, a first cutoff valve is opened. On condition that the first cutoff valve is opened, the presence or absence of fuel leakage in a high-pressure side path is determined based on a drop in a detected value of a pressure in the high-pressure side path (high-pressure side detected value PH). Inserting a nozzle for CNG filling into a filling opening causes a phenomenon where the high-pressure side detected value PH rises once and then drops. If the high-pressure side detected value PH rises at a specified rate or more, a CPU stops determination as to the presence or absence of a fuel leakage malfunction for a specified period of time.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiro Ariie, Akito Onishi
-
Patent number: 9890732Abstract: Methods and systems are described for detecting valve actuation faults in internal combustion engines operating in a skip fire operational mode. In one aspect, for each skip fire working cycle, an expected exhaust pressure is determined for a time period corresponding to a potential exhaust event. One or more exhaust gas pressure sensors are then used to measure an actual exhaust pressure during the potential exhaust period. The actual exhaust pressure is compared to the expected exhaust pressure to determine whether a valve actuation fault has occurred. A variety of valve actuation faults can be identified using the described approach. In some embodiments pressure sensors are deployed in the runners of the exhaust manifold.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen
-
Patent number: 9890733Abstract: A control device is configured to calculate a basic accelerator request torque based on an accelerator opening degree detected by an accelerator opening degree sensor, and calculate a target acceleration increase amount based on relations between the target acceleration increase amount and an accelerator opening degree increase amount. Further, the control device is configured to calculate a torque increase amount correction amount based on the target acceleration increase amount, calculate a request engine torque based on the basic accelerator request torque and the torque increase amount correction amount, calculate a request injection amount based on the request engine torque, and control a fuel injection valve based on the request injection amount. The relations are such that as a present operating state is close to a constraint, a ratio of the target acceleration increase amount and the accelerator opening degree increase amount becomes smaller.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroi Nagasawa
-
Patent number: 9890734Abstract: An engine includes first nozzles, second nozzles and a control unit. The first nozzles are arranged in cylinders, and inject fuel directly into the cylinders respectively. The second nozzles are arranged in intake ports of the cylinders, and inject fuel into the intake ports respectively. The control unit controls fuel injection of the first nozzles and the second nozzles. When the engine is started, the control unit performs initial fuel injection by one of the first and second nozzles into the cylinders having odd-number of initial ignition order, and performs initial fuel injection by the other one of the first and second nozzles into the cylinders having even-number of initial ignition order.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Kawabe, Fumiaki Hiraishi, Nobuaki Murakami
-
Patent number: 9890735Abstract: A method and an assembly for controlling the pressure in a high-pressure region of an injection system in an internal combustion engine. A set high pressure is compared to an actual high pressure in order to determine a control deviation, the control deviation representing an input variable of a controller. A high pressure pump is controlled by a solenoid valve and the angle at which the delivery of fuel by the at least one high-pressure pump is to start is used as a manipulated variable of the high-pressure closed-loop control system.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBHInventor: Armin Dölker
-
Patent number: 9890736Abstract: A injection control device for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve directly injecting a fuel into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and a drive current setting unit setting a drive current of the fuel injection valve according to a fuel pressure that is a pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel injection valve, using a drive current profile specifying a relation between the fuel pressure and the drive current. When a compression stroke injection injecting the fuel in a compression stroke or an expansion stroke injection injecting the fuel in an expansion stroke is executed, the drive current setting unit sets the drive current using a predetermined profile having no hysteresis in change characteristics of the drive current with respect to the fuel pressure in a fuel pressure region of the compression stroke injection or the expansion stroke injection, as the drive current profile.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Hatsumi Takeuchi
-
Patent number: 9890737Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine has a housing (12) in which a plurality of elements (18, 44) are arranged. An optical duct (24) is formed in the housing (12) and is assigned to at least one of the elements (18). The optical duct (24) is assigned an infrared detector (28) that is designed to detect infrared radiation (30) from the at least one element (18) through the optical duct (24) to determine a temperature (T) of the at least one element (18).Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Johannes Wuest, Maximilian Fischer
-
Patent number: 9890738Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder head (1) for an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, having at least one valve seat ring (3) for a lifting valve, wherein the valve seat ring (3) is surrounded by an annular cooling duct (4) for a coolant that is at least partly molded into the cylinder head (1), wherein the cooling duct (4) at least partly surrounds the valve seat ring and extends between an inlet (5, 15, 25) and at least one outlet (6). In order to reduce the valve wear, provision is made for a plurality of inlets (5, 15, 25) to open into the cooling duct (4), wherein the inlets (5, 15, 25) are preferably arranged asymmetrically in relation to a meridian plane (?) of the valve seat ring (3) through the outlet (6).Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: AVL List GmbHInventors: Robert Pöschl, Christof Knollmayr
-
Patent number: 9890739Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for measuring and controlling nozzle areas of variable area fan nozzles. A control system attached to a nozzle may include a cable having one end connected to a linear displacement measuring device, such as a string potentiometer. The other end of the cable may be connected to a petal. A reference portion of the cable extends across multiple petals of the nozzle and, in some embodiments, substantially parallel to the nozzle circumference. The linear displacement measuring device measures any changes in the length of this reference portion as the petals actuate outwardly or inwardly during operation of the nozzle. The output of the linear displacement measuring device may be used to control actuators that move the petals. In some embodiments, potentiometer's output may be combined with one or more outputs from other sensors, such as a linear variable differential transducer and/or thermocouple.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jason Joseph Jackowski, Matthew A. Carpenter, Kent Edmund Karnofski
-
Patent number: 9890740Abstract: An exhaust duct includes a duct plate (21) having a cylindrical shape, a heat insulation panel (23) disposed at a predetermined interval on an inner surface side of the duct plate (21), a heat insulation material (22) disposed between the duct plate (21) and the heat insulation panel (23), and a connecting member (24) configured to connect the duct plate (21) to the heat insulation panel (23) and also including a first plate portion (31) and a second plate portion (32) as a stress absorption unit capable of absorbing stress in two directions intersecting in a longitudinal direction. With this structure, durability is improved by preventing damage of the connecting member between the duct plate and the heat insulation panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Keisuke Matsuyama, Naoya Takeshita, Tomonori Toda
-
Patent number: 9890741Abstract: A dual fuel common rail engine supplies pressurized natural gas and liquid diesel fuel at different pressures through a co-axial quill assembly for direct injection from a single fuel injector into an engine cylinder. Pressure waves in the gaseous fuel common rail are damped in a pressure damping chamber of the co-axial quill assembly to promote consistent gaseous fuel injection rates and quantities from the fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Dennis H. Gibson, Shivangini S. Hazari, Dana R. Coldren, Daniel R. Baldwin
-
Patent number: 9890742Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an emulsifying apparatus for the operation of a diesel engine with a water-diesel fuel emulsion, wherein the water fraction is varied as a function of the engine operating point and/or the emulsifying apparatus and/or parts of the injection line are flushed with pure diesel fuel upon a shutdown of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventor: Roman Taniel
-
Patent number: 9890743Abstract: A method for eliminating hydrocarbon vapors generated in a fuel tank of a vehicle powertrain including at least one heat engine, by a canister adapted to absorb the vapors. The method includes detecting movements of the hydrocarbon vapors from the tank to the canister, increasing a counter value when the vapors move from the tank to the canister, and calculating a number of gas volumes passing through the canister when the heat engine is started so as to reduce the value of the counter by purging the gasoline vapors in a direction of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.Inventors: Belen Lahaye, Pascal Pignon, Gilbert Jain, Caroline Lapierre, Thierry Prunier
-
Patent number: 9890744Abstract: Systems and methods for performing evaporative emissions leak detection in a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises initiating a leak test via an electronic controller in a vehicle responsive to selected route conditions. In this way, a leak test may run without premature termination, therefore saving resources.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Yonghua Li
-
Patent number: 9890745Abstract: A method for an engine is presented, wherein purge air is routed through a fuel vapor canister during a first condition such that desorbed fuel vapor traverses a canister purge port en route to an engine intake, and wherein purge air is routed through a fuel vapor canister during a second condition such that desorbed fuel vapor traverses a canister load port en route to the engine intake. Bypassing the canister purge port during a canister purge event allows for cleaning adsorbed fuel vapor from the canister even if flow through the canister purge port is restricted. In this way, vehicle emissions may be mitigated during conditions where a carbon dust filter at the canister load port is clogged.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Aed M. Dudar
-
Patent number: 9890746Abstract: A fuel vapor canister is presented, comprising two or more pneumatically coupled concentric adsorbent beds, a vent port configured to deliver fresh air to an outermost concentric adsorbent bed, and a purge port configured to couple an engine intake to an innermost concentric adsorbent bed. The concentric adsorbent beds facilitate improved purging of the canister, thus decreasing bleed emissions. The concentric adsorbent beds may have a bi-conical structure yielding a conical flow path which allows fresh air to flow through the adsorbent beds equally, reducing the size of a canister heel.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Aed M. Dudar
-
Patent number: 9890747Abstract: A valve assembly providing flow control between a fuel tank and a carbon canister, which includes two valves providing two different flow paths, where the first valve provides active vacuum relief along the first flow path, and the second valve provides passive vacuum relief along the second flow path. A reservoir is added to the cap which is common for both flow paths. The second valve has a sealing valve member and a biasable member that passively relieves fuel tank vacuum pressure at a predetermined vacuum level.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ben Dominick Williams, David William Balsdon, Robert Douglas Jefford, David Rene Forgeron, Brian Gordon Woods
-
Patent number: 9890748Abstract: Provided is a method for calculating an oxygen concentration in a combustion chamber, including: calculating volume efficiency of the combustion chamber while a variable valve lift is in an on state and the volume efficiency of the combustion chamber and the volume of internal EGR from the volume of the combustion chamber while the variable valve lift is in an off state; and calculating a mass of the internal EGR from the pressure of an exhaust manifold, the temperature of the exhaust manifold, and the volume of the internal EGR.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: JangSu Lee, Seungcheol Han
-
Patent number: 9890749Abstract: A method for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system which is provided with an intake throttle valve and an EGR valve driven by a motor may include detecting an engine speed and an amount of intake air for each cylinder of an engine while the engine is operating, determining an amount of air flow supplied to the engine based on the engine speed and the amount of intake air for each cylinder, determining an equivalent cross-section of the EGR valve based on the amount of air flow, determining an opening angle of the EGR valve based on the engine speed, the amount of intake air for each cylinder, the amount of air flow, and the equivalent cross-section of the EGR valve, and controlling the EGR valve according to the opening angle of the EGR valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Dong Hee Han, Yoon Joo Kim, Kwanhee Choi, Hyun Jun Lim, Joowon Lee, Nahm Roh Joo, Jong Il Park
-
Patent number: 9890750Abstract: A filter element, and filter apparatus, include a filter pack, a seal member, and a seal support frame operatively connecting the seal member to the filter pack. The seal support frame includes an annular extension, which is preferably canted at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis, for supporting the seal member. The seal support frame also preferably includes a first end thereof including the annular extension, and a second end thereof spaced from the first end thereof along the longitudinal axis, with the first and second ends of the seal support frame joined by a hub of the outer peripheral sidewall of the seal support frame to define a cavity within the seal support frame for receiving the filter pack. The first and second ends of the seal support frame, and the filter pack are preferably joined and sealed to one another by a single bead of adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Gene W. Brown, Steven J. Merritt
-
Patent number: 9890751Abstract: An air cleaner hose is provided. The air cleaner hose includes a bellows part and a low-rigidity part. The low-rigidity part is in a region between the bellows part and one end of the air cleaner hose. The low-rigidity part is included in a part of the air cleaner hose in a circumferential direction, wherein the low-rigidity part is configured to have a buckling deformation such that a buckling load of the low-rigidity part with respect to a compressive load in an axial direction of the air cleaner hose is smaller than a buckling load of a region other than the low-rigidity part with respect to the compressive load.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuji Matsubara, Taro Hasegawa, Shinya Makihara
-
Patent number: 9890752Abstract: The invention relates to a muffler (1), in particular a vehicle muffler, comprising at least one resonator chamber (12), which is bounded by at least a first housing part (2) having a first outer jacket (15) and a first end wall (16) in which an inflow opening (19) is disposed arranged on the inflow side (25), and a first internal pipe segment (20). Furthermore, at least one coupling device (6) for coupling to a turbocharger (9) is provided, which is accommodated in the first end wall (16) of the first housing part (2). The coupling device (6) comprises a coupling body (7) which is designed as a deep-drawn part. The first housing part (2) is likewise formed by a deep-drawn part, and the inflow opening (19) of the first housing part (2) has an extension which is tapered in steps man axial section (23) in which the coupling body (7) and a sealing element (27), such as a radial sealing ring, are accommodated.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Henn GmbH & Co KG.Inventors: Harald Hartmann, Christian Hubmann
-
Patent number: 9890753Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic valve structure improved in terms of the responsiveness of the electromagnetic valve and helping to realize a more accurate flow rate control, and to provide a high-pressure fuel supply pump in which the same is mounted. There is provided a high-pressure fuel supply pump having an electromagnetic valve equipped with an electromagnetic coil generating an electromagnetic force for opening and closing a valve body provided between a fuel intake path and a pressure chamber, a movable member operated by the electromagnetic force, a housing accommodating the movable member, and a back-pressure chamber formed between the housing and the movable member, wherein a first fuel path causing the back-pressure chamber to communicate with the intake path passes the center axis of the movable member.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Shunsuke Aritomi, Hitoshi Konno, Yukio Takahashi, Masayuki Suganami, Katsumi Miyazaki, Kenichirou Tokuo
-
Patent number: 9890754Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided that executes fuel injection and ignition with respect to a cylinder that remains stopped in an expansion stroke, and that performs ignition startup that starts up the internal combustion engine by rotationally driving a crankshaft by pressure of combustion accompanying the fuel injection. A motor generator (MG) that can rotationally drive the crankshaft is provided. A required assist torque Ast_trq exerted by the MG at the time of ignition startup is determined based on a maximum value Cyl_prss of an in-cylinder pressure that is detected by an in-cylinder pressure sensor at the time of ignition startup. The MG is controlled at the time of ignition startup based on the required assist torque Ast_trq that is determined.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masakatsu Nagai, Shigeyuki Urano, Keisuke Sasaki, Rui Onoda
-
Patent number: 9890755Abstract: An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal, a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal. Each of the enable terminals is positioned remote from the related voltage output terminals. The voltage output terminals of the rechargeable battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery cell and the starter motor when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle. The enable terminal of the rechargeable battery must be connected with the enable terminal of the battery receiver for the rechargeable battery to receive an enable signal to allow the rechargeable battery to provide power to the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Robert Koenen, Matthew Markowski, Michael Meyer, James Nommensen
-
Patent number: 9890756Abstract: A heating and cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprising a heat storage circuit and a radiator circuit, and a method of controlling such a system are disclosed. The heat storage circuit comprises a heat storage container in which engine coolant is stored and allowed to flow into and out of. The radiator circuit comprises a radiator for flow of the engine coolant, and the radiator has a radiator inlet connected via an upstream radiator conduit to a coolant outlet of the engine, and a radiator outlet connected via a downstream radiator conduit to a coolant inlet of the engine. A bypass conduit is connected between the upstream radiator conduit and the downstream radiator conduit to allow coolant to bypass the radiator. A thermostat controlled valve is arranged in the upstream radiator conduit at a coolant outlet of the engine and connected to the bypass conduit.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Stefan Mats Sundemo, Kaj Johansson, John Nilsson, Rikard Rigdal, Bengt Salekarr
-
Patent number: 9890757Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine electronic control system according to the present invention is provided with a power switching device that applies or shuts off a primary current of an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine so that at the secondary side of the ignition coil, there is generated a voltage for making an ignition plug of the internal combustion engine produce a spark discharge; and a control unit that turns on or off the power switching device. The internal-combustion-engine electronic control system is characterized in that the control unit is provided with a circuit unit that makes the power switching device softly shut off so as to prevent the ignition plug from producing the spark discharge, and in accordance with the characteristics of the power switching device, the control unit changes the characteristics of the soft shutoff halfway through the shutoff operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Mizukami, Hisanori Nobe, Toru Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Sera
-
Patent number: 9890758Abstract: A system and method for assessing the presence or absence of ignition coil degradation for an ignition system that includes two ignition coils for each spark plug. Ignition coil degradation may be determined without having to monitor ignition coils via specialized hardware circuitry. In one example, degradation of one or more ignition coils may be inferred from cylinder the presence or absence of cylinder misfire.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Qiuping Qu
-
Patent number: 9890759Abstract: A discharge control unit causes a high voltage to be generated in a secondary coil by controlling an igniter unit so as to block a flow of current from a primary coil towards a ground side, and controls a spark plug so that electric discharge is formed between electrodes of the spark plug. An energy input control unit controls an energy input unit to input electrical energy to an ignition coil after start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit. A normal ignition control unit controls ignition of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber only through control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit. A specific ignition control unit controls the ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber through control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit and through control of the energy input unit by the energy input control unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hidekazu Fujimoto, Satoru Nakayama
-
Patent number: 9890760Abstract: A control device suitable for use in a vehicle includes a housing, a circuit board having a circuit element disposed thereat, and a thermal fuse having a first contact soldered at the circuit board at a first solder joint and a second contact soldered at the circuit board at a second solder joint. The thermal fuse is biased by the housing of the control device to exert a force at the circuit board in a direction away from a surface of the circuit board. When a temperature at the circuit element exceeds a threshold temperature and when the first solder joint at the first contact sufficiently melts, the thermal fuse moves the first contact away from the circuit board to break the electrical connection at the first solder joint and between circuitry electrically connected to the first contact and circuitry electrically connected to the second contact.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Michael Vogelbacher
-
Patent number: 9890761Abstract: A hydro-electric power system includes two containers and a support beam having two ends, each end holding one of the containers. The ends allow the containers to travel along a length of the support beam. The support beam pivots about a pivot point, giving each container a maximum height and a minimum height. Fluid flows into each of the containers when located near their maximum height, the flow of water weighting each container and causing it to descend, each container moving longitudinally outward from the pivot point along the support beam as it descends. A dumping mechanism causes each container to release fluid near its minimum height, each container ascending after releasing water and moving longitudinally inward toward the pivot point along the support beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventor: Gene D. Kasten
-
Patent number: 9890762Abstract: A hydraulic power system is used in a river, ocean or any other body of water having a current. The method is useful for generating useful electric power from flowing water. The flowing water rotates a turbine and a pump that provides hydraulic power to an electric generator for a clean, renewable energy source. The hydraulic power system tethered to the bottom of a body of water and a positive buoyancy mechanism can be integrated or tethered to the pump assembly. The positive buoyancy can support the pump assembly at a predetermined distance above the sea floor.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventor: Gregory McManus
-
Patent number: 9890763Abstract: Counterweight system for a wind turbine comprising a hub mounted to a nacelle such that the hub is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the nacelle. The counterweight system comprises: a mechanical unit comprising a fixed part and a rotatable part, the fixed part being mountable to the hub in such a way that the rotatable part is rotatable with respect to the hub substantially around the rotation axis of the hub; a drive unit for causing rotation of the rotatable part; a beam coupled to the rotatable part at a first point of the beam in such a way that the beam is arranged substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hub; and a counterweight mass coupled to the beam at a second point of the beam. A method of mounting a blade to a hub by using said counterweight system is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: ALSTOM Renewable TechnologiesInventors: Santiago Canedo Pardo, Javier Bescos
-
Patent number: 9890764Abstract: A trailing edge protective cap for a rotor blade of a wind turbine and method of manufacturing same is disclosed. The method includes infusing a first material onto a first mold so as to form a first part having a length. While the first part is still in the first mold, the method may also include placing a second mold onto the first part. The method may then include infusing a second material onto the second mold and at least a portion of the first part so as to form a second part having a length. The first and second parts may then be joined or infused together along a portion their respective lengths so as to form the protective cap, wherein the protective cap includes a joined section and an open section.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sujan Kumar Pal, Wilfred A. A. W.
-
Patent number: 9890765Abstract: Various air deflector shapes, sizes and configurations for use in a load compensating device on an airfoil are provided. The air deflector arrangements are configured to alter the airflow around the air deflector in order to affect sound or acoustics associated with the air deflector when deployed during operation. Some example configurations that may alter the air flow around the air deflector include air deflectors having a plurality of apertures, air deflectors including a scalloped edge, and/or air deflectors including a plurality of protrusions extending from a portion of the air deflector.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLCInventors: Qing Tian, Jehan Z. Khan, Jonathon P. Baker
-
Patent number: 9890766Abstract: Pitch drive system for a wind turbine comprising a motor, a drive pinion operationally connected with the motor and a gear arranged to mesh with the drive pinion, wherein a first plate is provided on one side of the drive pinion, the first plate comprising one or more channels adapted to provide a lubricant to a tooth of the drive pinion that is in meshing engagement with teeth of the gear. The disclosure further relates to a wind turbine rotor.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: ALSTOM Renewable TechnologiesInventors: Pierre Pasquet, Javier Checa Caballero, Daniel GarcĂa I Erill
-
Patent number: 9890767Abstract: The invention relates to a wind energy system with at least one pitch adjustment system for adjusting the pitch of at least one rotor blade of the wind energy system, wherein the pitch adjustment system comprises at least one electrohydraulic drive that comprises an unregulated electromotor rotating in one direction of rotation for generating pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbHInventors: Anton Gaile, Anton Staimer, Oliver Wennheller, Hans-Peter Lavergne
-
Patent number: 9890768Abstract: A hybrid vertical axis wind turbine using a highly aerodynamic blade-profile is disclosed. The blade-profile is simple, asymmetrical with unequal upper and lower surfaces cambers and is capable of generating high starting torque even at low wind. Wind tunnel tests demonstrated that this aerodynamic profile would generate high torque of similar magnitude when wind comes from leading or trailing edge. Other characteristics of this profile are that it is compact, lightweight, durable and economical. The target users for this patent will be 44% of the world population that live in rural areas where roof-top wind turbine will be cost effective to provide enough household required electric power. This compact turbine can also use batteries to store energy, thereby reducing and possibly eliminating the need for grid power.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventor: Anjik Ghosh