With Charge Or Cylinder Heating Patents (Class 123/179.21)
  • Patent number: 11828252
    Abstract: An intake air circuit is structured to transmit intake air from a turbocharger compressor to an intake manifold of an engine. A charge air cooler (“CAC”), a bypass line, and a bypass heater are each positioned along the intake air circuit in parallel with each other. A first control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around the CAC. A second control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around at least one of the bypass line and the bypass heater. A controller operatively coupled to each of the engine, and the first and second control valves is structured to control each of the first and second control valves to cause the intake air to flow along a determined desired flow path based on each of measured ambient temperature and measured engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. Mohr, Adrian P. Dale, Samuel C. Geckler, Leon A. LaPointe, David J. Stroh, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Robin J. Bremmer, Ryan Edward Schultz
  • Patent number: 11655779
    Abstract: A thermal choke, includes (1) a body, comprising a heat conductive material, (2) an electric heater, on or in the body, (3) a temperature sensor, on or in the body, and (4) a fin, in a channel surrounded by the body. The thermal choke is configured to fit between a throttle assembly and a cylinder of a spark ignition engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: The Dewey Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Larry J. Markoski, Timothy C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 11300595
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods to provide an adaptive connection of a resistive element and a temperature-dependent resistive element are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a temperature-dependent resistive element. The example apparatus further includes a resistive element. The example apparatus further includes a switch coupled to the temperature-dependent resistive element and the resistive element. The example apparatus further includes a current sensor to measure a current through the temperature-dependent resistive element. The example apparatus further includes a processor to control the switch to, based on the measured current, (A) couple the temperature-dependent resistive element in parallel to the resistive element or (B) couple the temperature-dependent resistive element in series with the resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Duane A. Koehler, Robert Yraceburu
  • Patent number: 11274647
    Abstract: Described is a method for regulating the temperature of a glow plug of an internal combustion engine, wherein a target resistance is determined from a target temperature by means of a resistance temperature characteristic of the glow plug and the actual resistance of the glow plug is regulated to the target resistance, the glow plug is heated to determine the resistance temperature characteristic of the glow plug, and thereby determining a resistance gradient and an electrical resistance of the glow plug is measured before the heating or at a defined time during the heating, using both the measured resistance and the resistance gradient, the resistance temperature characteristic is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Stöckle
  • Patent number: 11007814
    Abstract: A mosaic tile paving device is provided. The mosaic tile paving device includes suckers and a handle. The paving device is characterized in that: Multiple suckers are installed on the vacuuming shell. The suckers and the mosaic tiles can be fixed together or separated by changing the air volume in the vacuuming shell. A handle is connected on the vacuuming shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: JINHUA WANFENG TOOLS FACTORY
    Inventor: Hui Zhan
  • Patent number: 10961897
    Abstract: A method can include: acquiring, via one or more sensors disposed in a vehicle, one or more engine operation parameters relating to operation of an internal combustion engine disposed along a coolant flow path in the vehicle; calculating at least one target coolant temperature according to the one or more engine operation parameters; and controlling a valve actuator to regulate flow of a coolant through the coolant flow path via an electric coolant valve operatively coupled to the valve actuator such that a temperature of the coolant changes in accordance with the at least one target coolant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Hoon Lee, Sejun Kim, Byungho Lee, Sanghoon Yoo, Kwangwoo Jeong
  • Patent number: 10859019
    Abstract: Starting a gaseous fuelled engine employing a pilot fuel at cold temperatures is challenging due to reduced ignitability and combustion efficiency of the fuel(s), and the increased viscosity of engine oil. A technique for starting a compression ignition, gaseous fuelled internal combustion engine employing a pilot fuel comprises determining one of a normal start condition and a cold start condition; during the normal start condition, introducing the pilot fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine when the pilot fuel pressure rises above a first pressure; during the cold start condition, introducing the pilot fuel into the combustion chamber when the pilot fuel pressure rises above a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure; and selectively introducing the gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Wei Fei, James D Walker
  • Patent number: 10746077
    Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor is diagnosed with high accuracy as much as possible while maintaining the function of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. In a diagnostic apparatus for an exhaust gas sensor which is applied to an internal combustion engine including an exhaust gas sensor, a fuel supplier, a controller configured to carry out predetermined fuel supply processing and predetermined oxygen concentration processing, and which diagnoses the exhaust gas sensor based on an output value thereof, provision is made for the controller that sets as a diagnostic output value a first output value, which is an output value at the side of the highest oxygen concentration in the output value of the exhaust gas sensor in a measurement period, and performs the diagnosis of the exhaust gas sensor based on the diagnostic output value, when predetermined fuel supply processing is carried out in the measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hagiwara, Yasushi Iwazaki, Toru Kidokoro, Hirotaka Saito
  • Patent number: 10673363
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, wherein a fuel-air mixture is burnt in the internal combustion engine and the internal combustion engine drives a generator, wherein the generator is connected to a power supply network and delivers power to the power supply network and wherein upon or after detection of a dynamic network fault by which the power delivery of the generator into the power supply network is reduced acceleration of the internal combustion engine is prevented or limited, wherein upon or after the detection of the network fault in the power supply network the fuel feed to the internal combustion engine is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GE Jenbacher GmbH CO OG
    Inventors: Johann Hirzinger-Unterrainer, Uwe Liebscher, Herbert Schaumberger, Josef Thalhauser
  • Patent number: 10634574
    Abstract: A balance inspection device includes a bearing housing in which a bearing supporting a rotary shaft is provided, a jig that is disposed on one side of the bearing housing in a direction of a rotation axis and houses an impeller in an impeller housing space formed therein, a spray nozzle that is provided on the jig and includes a tip opened to the impeller housing space, and a gas supply unit that supplies gas to the spray nozzle. The spray nozzle is adapted to spray the gas from the tip while the gas supplied from the gas supply unit has a circumferential component opposite to a rotational direction of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Kenkichi Murata, Seiji Yoshimura, Tsuyoshi Sato, Yuki Kurotaki
  • Patent number: 10343515
    Abstract: A fuel filling apparatus and method for a bi-fuel vehicle using both gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel are provided to an LPG fuel tank. The fuel filling apparatus and method are capable of temporarily burning a portion of LPG fuel after collecting a fuel portion, using a gasoline fuel tank and a canister, when the internal pressure of the LPG fuel tank in the bi-fuel vehicle is equal to or greater than an LPG filling pressure of a filling gun. Additionally, the internal pressure of the LPG fuel tank is decreased to a level below the LPG filling pressure of the filling gun, thereby achieving smoother LPG fuel filling of the LPG fuel tank by the filling gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chang Han Kim, Jong Ki Kim, Jae Hwa Park, Jae Min Lee
  • Patent number: 10337470
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) apparatus for a turbocharged internal combustion engine, the EGR apparatus comprising: an air intake duct with a throttle valve configured to control an intake air quantity flowing through the air intake duct to a turbocharger compressor; an exhaust gas recirculation inlet connected to the air intake duct downstream of the throttle valve; and an EGR valve configured to control an exhaust gas quantity recirculated to the turbocharger compressor via the exhaust gas recirculation inlet, wherein the throttle valve and the EGR valve are combined in a single valve unit in which the valves are separated by a separating element configured to substantially prevent exhaust gas from entering the air intake duct in a vicinity of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sam Penzato
  • Patent number: 10215615
    Abstract: To realize a stable operation and the suppression of heat generation in the case where an excitation current supplied from a converter is used to generate a power source voltage, a standard signal generator is provided. The standard signal generator includes an input circuit that includes: a rectification circuit that rectifies an excitation current; a resistor that is provided between a power source voltage output terminal for supplying a power source voltage and an output terminal of the rectification circuit; an amplification circuit that outputs an output voltage obtained by amplifying a voltage across both ends of the resistor; and a constant voltage circuit that performs control such that the power source voltage is constant. A power source voltage switch switches the power source voltage with the constant voltage circuit being controlled in accordance with the result of a comparison between the output voltage and a prescribed threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Momose
  • Patent number: 10124793
    Abstract: A power management system for a hybrid vehicle including an engine includes a vehicle power bus distributing power from a battery to vehicle loads. A capacitor includes one of a plurality of supercapacitors and a plurality of ultracapacitors. A starter/generator controller communicates with the capacitor and the battery. A power management module is configured to supply current from the capacitor to the starter/generator controller during cranking of the engine; and supply current from the battery to the starter/generator controller during the cranking of the engine. The power supplied by the battery is greater than or equal to 2% and less than or equal to 20% of a total power supplied to the starter/generator controller during the cranking of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Peter Ciaccio, Brian Moorhead
  • Patent number: 10073141
    Abstract: Resistance values for a first time for respective areas of a plurality of electrical connections are generated. Respective normalized resistance values are generated from the resistance values. Respective temperature rise values for a second time for respective ones of the areas of the electrical connections are generated. An average temperature value is generated from the temperature rise values. Respective normalized temperature rise values for the generated temperature rise values are generated based on the average temperature values. An abnormal condition of at least one of the connections is detected responsive to the normalized temperature rise values and the normalized resistance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fangji Wu, Li Yu, Jiong Chen, Zuhui Li
  • Patent number: 9909479
    Abstract: In an exhaust passage, an exhaust manifold connected to exhaust ports of each cylinder of an engine body and formed to extend vertically is arranged in a side portion of a cylinder head. A secondary air supply system has an intake silencer, a check valve configured to permit only a flow to the exhaust passage side, a secondary air supply control valve configured to control a flow rate of the secondary air, and a secondary air supply passage configured to connect those components to each other and the exhaust passage. The secondary air supply system is arranged in a side portion of a cylinder block placed between a crankcase of the engine body and an assembly of the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shomura, Ryuji Hamada, Tomohiko Miyaki, Toshio Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9890838
    Abstract: An electromechanical front gear changer for a bicycle is provided, the bicycle having a chain, including a base member attachable to the bicycle. A linkage is movably coupled to the base member. A chain guide is movably coupled to the linkage for contacting the chain. A motor is supported by the base member. A gear transmission is driven by the motor to move the linkage. A CPU is provided for controlling the motor and a power supply is supported by the base member to power the motor and the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan, Mark Santurbane, Henry Tsao
  • Patent number: 9790912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a glow time control device (100) for controlling glow rods (206-209) in a vehicle (200). The glow time control device (100) comprises a control unit (IC1), at least two power transistors (T1, T4) and a protective circuit (T6, T7). The control unit (IC1) comprises a control output (GG1) for emitting a control signal, a supply voltage input (VCC) and a supply voltage output (VDD). The control unit (IC1) provides an output voltage at the supply voltage output (VDD) depending on a voltage at the supply voltage input (VCC). A corresponding glow rod control output (G1, G4) is assigned to each of the power transistors (T1, T4) and the control inputs of the power transistors (T1, T4) are coupled to the control output (GG1). The protective circuit (T6, T7) comprises a protective circuit output which is coupled to the control inputs of the power transistors (T1, T4), and an input which is coupled to the supply voltage output (VDD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Viktoria Habermann, Wolf-Rüdiger Schillinger
  • Patent number: 9790909
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for pre-heating an engine of a mild hybrid vehicle are provided, and the apparatus includes: a pre-heating plug pre-heating the engine; a pre-heating controller recognizing the mild hybrid vehicle based on vehicle driving information, determining whether the mild hybrid vehicle enters a coasting driving mode based on the vehicle driving information, and generating a duty control signal according to a coasting driving time when the mild hybrid vehicle is driven in the coasting driving mode; and a driver supplying electrical energy of the low-voltage battery to the pre-heating plug according to the generated duty control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hwa Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 9683536
    Abstract: Methods for controlling a glow plug temperature in a diesel engine are herein described. In one example, a controller may adjust a first phase voltage coupled to the glow plug in relation to a parameter associated with engine start time, and couple a lower second phase voltage to the glow plug in order to control the cylinder temperature and thereby the engine start time. In one particular example, the reduced second phase voltage allows the operating cycle push phase to be extended, which increases glow plug durability and further allows for the useful life of the glow plug to be extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • Patent number: 9464617
    Abstract: A glow plug driving control apparatus. The glow plug driving control apparatus includes a glow switch 2 and a glow plug 1 which are connected in series between a power supply and ground, and an electrical controlling unit 101 which controls opening and closing of the glow switch 2, and that can perform energization driving of the glow plug 1. The glow plug driving apparatus also includes an energization path switching switch 5 that connects in series a stability coil 3 in a serial connection path of the glow switch 2 and the glow plug 1 at the time of an energization start of the glow plug 1, and after the energization start, causes both the glow switch 2 and the glow plug 1 to return to a serial connection state between the power supply and the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihito Fujishiro, Tomohiro Nakamura, Yutaka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9371991
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for vaporizing and, optionally, igniting a liquid fuel, preferably, a distillate fuel. The apparatus includes the following components: a heat-conductive reticulated screen positioned within a chamber; a first inlet path into the chamber for delivering a liquid fuel onto the screen; a second inlet path into the chamber for contacting an oxidant with the screen and fuel; a means for heating the screen to a temperature sufficient to vaporize and, optionally, ignite the liquid fuel; and a recuperator in fluid communication with the chamber for transferring heat from the chamber to the second inlet path. The apparatus is suitably employed in compact and portable oxidation reactors, for example, in external combustion engines, catalytic partial oxidation reformers, and hybrid combustors operating in flame and/or catalytic modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: PRECISION COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Mastanduno, David Spence, Subir Roychoudhury, Bruce Crowder
  • Patent number: 9079496
    Abstract: A device distributing engine torque between first and second wheel sets of a vehicle, including a mode switch movable between a first stable position and a second unstable position, activating first and second engine torque distribution modes. When the vehicle stops while the second distribution mode is activated and then restarts after a stop duration, the second distribution mode is activated if the stop duration is less than a time delay, otherwise the first distribution mode is activated. It is determined, in the second distribution mode, whether the vehicle exceeds a predetermined maximum speed threshold. If so, a transition is made to an on-road mode. In the off-road mode, it is determined whether the vehicle exceeds a predetermined intermediate speed threshold, strictly less than maximum speed threshold in an off-road mode, during a time greater than a predetermined duration, to transition back to the on-road mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Olivier Boutron, Pascal Febrer, Francois Foussard, Nicolas Romani
  • Patent number: 9038608
    Abstract: Embodiments for an engine system are provided. One example internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder head and at least two cylinders, in which each cylinder has at least one inlet opening for the supply of combustion air into the cylinder, comprises an intake line leading to each inlet opening, an overall intake line where the intake lines of at least two cylinders merge, such that a distributor junction point is formed, and a heating device arranged in the overall intake line which has at least one strip-like heating element, a first narrow side of a cross section of which faces toward intake combustion air flow, wherein the heating device is arranged adjacent to the distributor junction point at which the intake lines merge to form the overall intake line, a spacing between the heating device and the distributor junction point being smaller than the diameter of a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Winge Vigild, Wilbert Hemink, Daniel Roettger, Andreas Kuske
  • Publication number: 20150075473
    Abstract: A glow plug includes a cylindrical housing having an axial hole and provided with a screw portion, and a heater member which is inserted into the axial hole in a state where at least a front end portion thereof projects from a front end of the housing. The housing includes a pressure contact portion brought into pressure contact with a seat surface of an internal combustion engine when the screw portion is screwed into a mounting hole of the internal combustion engine, and a cylindrical front-end-side body portion provided between the pressure contact portion and the screw portion. The front-end-side body portion includes a holding portion which holds the heater member directly or indirectly at an inner circumference thereof, and the holding portion has a smallest outer diameter in the front-end-side body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Osawa, Shuei Ishii
  • Publication number: 20150059680
    Abstract: A glowplug control device for controlling an applied voltage or power for a glowplug is provided, which includes a target calculating module for calculating a target applied voltage or power to adjust a glowplug temperature to a predetermined target temperature, an output module for applying the target applied voltage or power to the glowplug when the target applied voltage or power is below a maximum applicable voltage or power, and applying the maximum applicable voltage or power to the glowplug when the target applied voltage or power is above the maximum applicable voltage or power, and a temperature estimating module for estimating the glowplug temperature to be the target temperature when the target applied voltage or power is applied to the glowplug, and estimating the glowplug temperature to be below the target temperature by a temperature decrease amount when the maximum applicable voltage or power is applied to the glowplug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Motonori Yoshida, Shingo Harada
  • Publication number: 20140202414
    Abstract: A warm-up air system to aid cold start up is provided. The system includes a turbine with electrical heaters linked to a throttle body or to an air sending tube to the throttle body forming a warmed up air circulation circuit. The system also includes valves controlled by an electronic unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Fiat Automoveis S.A. - Filial Mecanica
    Inventor: Luis Carlos Monteiro SALES
  • Patent number: 8763577
    Abstract: In a method, the starting behavior of an internal combustion engine (1) with a heating device (40) for heating a coolant is improved. According to the method, the temperature of the coolant to be heated by the heating device (40) and an additional temperature that is associated with the internal combustion engine (1), are determined. The temperatures are compared and a starting fuel amount is determined in accordance with the compared temperatures. The internal combustion engine (1) is started by metering the starting fuel amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Beckmann, Jörg Herrlitz
  • Patent number: 8707923
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an internal combustion engine are provided. One example method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder head and at least two cylinders, in which each cylinder has at least one inlet opening for the supply of combustion air into the cylinder, comprises activating a heating device for heating the combustion air when a fuel supply of the internal combustion engine is deactivated, the heating device arranged in an overall intake line coupled to the internal combustion engine, the overall intake line including at least two merged intake lines, each intake line leading to an inlet opening of a respective cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Winge Vigild, Andreas Kuske, Daniel Roettger
  • Publication number: 20140102396
    Abstract: The accuracy in controlling the heating temperature of a glow plug and the reliability of the control operation are improved. An electronic control unit 101 is configured such that a standard applied voltage for glow plugs 50-1 to 50-n is set according to the engine speed and the load conditions of the engine. In addition, a correction coefficient set in advance according to the temperature classification of the mounted glow plugs 50-1 to 50-n is readably stored in the electronic control unit 101 as a correction coefficient map. By multiplying the standard applied voltage by a correction coefficient K read from the correction coefficient map and applying a voltage of the multiplication result to the glow plugs 50-1 to 50-n as a driving voltage through the power circuit 102 to perform driving control, stable and reliable heating temperature control can be realized regardless of variations in the heating temperature characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BOSCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakamura, Yutaka Tanaka, Yoshihito Fujishiro
  • Publication number: 20140096733
    Abstract: There is provided a new glow plug that can be easily determined as to whether or not it is a new article. An additional circuit 12 formed by connecting a diode 13, a fuse 14, and an adjusting resistor 15 in series in this order is connected in parallel to a heating element 11 of a glow plug 1. The diode 13 is provided so as to have an anode located on the positive electrode side of the heating element 11 and a cathode located on the fuse 14 side. In the case of a unit inspection, by applying a positive voltage for test to a heating element negative electrode connecting portion 3a, it is possible to determine whether or not the glow plug 1 is normal without blowing the fuse 14 before the glow plug 1 is used in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakamura, Yutaka Tanaka, Yoshihito Fujishiro, Yasuo Toyoshima
  • Publication number: 20140090618
    Abstract: A glow plug including a metal sheath tube having a closed front end; a heating element accommodated within the sheath tube; insulating powder filling the interior of the sheath tube so as to surround the heating element; a rod-shaped metal lead connected to the heating element and inserted into the sheath tube from the rear end thereof; and a seal member located in a seal portion at the rear end of the sheath tube to hermetically seal the gap between the sheath tube and the lead. The glow plug is characterized in that the sheath tube is formed to have a substantially uniform outer diameter over an axial range including and extending beyond a range where the seal portion is formed, and the sheath tube has an engagement projection formed at the seal portion and deformed so as to protrude radially inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuto Morita
  • Patent number: 8677981
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing heated fuel to a fuel injector of an engine are provided. According to the approaches described herein, adequate cold-start fuel atomization may be provided without compromising driver satisfaction due to excessive pre-ignition delay, while at the same time reducing unnecessary heating of fuel during warm engine off conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8677730
    Abstract: Low-temperature, continuous “cold” combustion, constant pressure, active chamber motor-compressor unit operating with working compressed air and using a piston travel control device as well as an active chamber, with a cold chamber (29) able to reduce to very low temperatures the atmospheric air that supplies the input (28) of an air compression device (28,25,26,33), which then forces this working compressed air, still at low temperature, in an external combustion chamber (19) fitted with a heating device (19A) at constant pressure where it increases in volume, before its quasi-isothermal transfer in the active chamber (13) producing work, before being expanded in an engine cylinder (2) to produce work again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: MDI Motor Development International S.A.
    Inventors: Guy Negre, Cyril Negre
  • Patent number: 8519306
    Abstract: A glow plug including a pressure sensor (830) and a heater (150). The glow plug includes a position-defining member which defines the positional relationship between the pressure sensor (830) and the heater (150) and has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the heater. The pressure sensor (830) is fixed at a predetermined sensor reference position relative to the position-defining member. The heater (150) is held by a heater-holding member (820) in such manner that an attachment position A of the heater-holding member to the heater can be displaced, with a change in external pressure, relative to a predetermined heater reference position defined by the position-defining member. A displacement transmission member (840) is arranged between the heater (150) and the pressure sensor (830) so as to transmit displacement of the heater (150) to the pressure sensor (830).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Itoh, Shunsuke Maeda, Masanori Suda, Toshiyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8505511
    Abstract: A glow plug includes: a tubular body (2) having at one of its ends a plug head (10) as well as a zone for being fixed into a bore, an arm (4) mounted on the body (2) of the plug at the end opposite to the plug head (10), and secured to the body (2) in a linking zone (16), an elastically deformable portion (18), located between the linking zone (16) with the arm (4) and the zone fixing the plug body (2), such that the linking zone (16) is mobile and can move longitudinally relative to the so-called stationary fixing zone, and a pressure sensor (8) arranged between an element (30) secured to the linking zone (16) and a fixed element (20) of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Federal-Mogul Ignition Srl
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti, Cyrille Patri, Laura Beretta
  • Publication number: 20130152894
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, glow plugs of a compression ignition engine are selectively operated during automatic engine starting. The methods and systems may be useful to reduced glow plug degradation and improve emissions of an automatically started engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Viet Quoc To, Brien Lloyd Fulton, John Richard Blankenship
  • Publication number: 20130118432
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glow plug for a diesel engine, said glow plug comprising a ceramic glow pencil, which has a heating portion, and a housing, from which the glow pencil protrudes, wherein the glow pencil has a ceramic inner conductor, an insulation layer surrounding the inner conductor, and a ceramic outer conductor layer arranged on the insulation layer. In accordance with this disclosure, the outer conductor layer in the heating portion only partially covers the insulation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: BORGWARNER BERU SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130087114
    Abstract: A method for reducing the temperature tolerance of sheathed-element glow plugs is described, in which, in a first step, the sheathed-element glow plugs of an auto-ignition internal combustion engine are classified into at least two temperature classes, at least one temperature class including a temperature range above a setpoint temperature range, at least one temperature class including a temperature range below the setpoint temperature range, and/or one temperature class including the setpoint temperature range. In a second step, the control voltage of sheathed-element glow plugs which were assigned to a temperature class which includes a temperature range above the setpoint temperature range is reduced, and the control voltage of sheathed-element glow plugs which were assigned to a temperature class which includes a temperature range below the setpoint temperature range is increased. A device for performing the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Sascha Joos
  • Patent number: 8269145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element in a motor vehicle by pulse width modulation, wherein fluctuations in the supply voltage are compensated for by adapting the duty cycle so as to achieve a desired heating output. According to the invention, during a voltage pulse the voltage that is present at the heating element and/or the current flowing through the heating element are measured at specified intervals, and the measured values or values determined therefrom are added to calculate a sum value, which rises with the energy that is fed into the heating element by the voltage pulse, and the voltage pulse is ended at the latest when the sum value has reached a target value. The invention furthermore relates to a glow plug controller for carrying out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Blanc, Andreas Bleil
  • Patent number: 8151771
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing heated fuel to a fuel injector of an engine are provided. According to the approaches described herein, adequate cold-start fuel atomization may be provided without compromising driver satisfaction due to excessive pre-ignition delay, while at the same time reducing unnecessary heating of fuel during warm engine off conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Techologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8150576
    Abstract: A motor vehicle engine (10) has glow plugs (20) for aiding combustion of fuel in combustion chambers of the engine when the engine is cold and an ignition switch (24) is operated to crank the engine. An aberration in engine speed (36) is used to indicate an under- or non-performing glow plug. Data from sources other than the engine speed source (28), such as data related to engine fueling, is also processed by a processor (30) to exclude them as the cause of the aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Richard Ptak, Ly V. Tran, David M. Hsia
  • Patent number: 8006671
    Abstract: A start control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which takes an amount of a fuel vaporized from a heated fuel into consideration to prevent deterioration of startability due to an overrich or overlean condition caused by an excessive or insufficient amount of the vaporized fuel and to realize improvement of cold startability. The start control apparatus includes: a heater (14) for heating a fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine; fuel heating control unit (22) for energizing the heater when a cooling water temperature is less than an internal combustion engine start possible water temperature value to heat the fuel; and start time fuel setting unit (26) for setting a start time fuel injection amount of the internal combustion engine according to a fuel temperature after the fuel is heated by the fuel heating control unit (22), an alcohol concentration, and the cooling water temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Maeda, Hideki Takubo
  • Patent number: 7963832
    Abstract: A system for managing engine intake air temperature may comprise a first air flow control device having an inlet coupled to an outlet of a turbocharger compressor and a first outlet coupled to an inlet of a charge air cooler. A second outlet is coupled via a bypass conduit to the air intake manifold. The first air flow control device may selectively control air flow from the compressor outlet to the charge air cooler and/or bypass conduit. The system may alternatively or additionally include a second air flow control device having a first inlet receiving air external to the engine compartment, a second inlet receiving air from within the engine compartment and surrounding the engine and an outlet providing air flow to the engine. The second air flow control device may selectively control air flow from the first and/or second inlets thereof to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Publication number: 20110067665
    Abstract: In a method, the starting behaviour of an internal combustion engine (1) with a heating device (40) for heating a coolant is improved. According to the method, the temperature of the coolant to be heated by the heating device (40) and an additional temperature that is associated with the internal combustion engine (1), are determined. The temperatures are compared and a starting fuel amount is determined in accordance with the compared temperatures. The internal combustion engine (1) is started by metering the starting fuel amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Reiner Beckmann, Jörg Herrlitz
  • Publication number: 20100031911
    Abstract: A method and a device for starting a diesel engine with no heater plugs, comprising pistons and cylinders defining combustion chambers into which gases intended to participate in combustion are admitted, in which method a strategy is adopted whereby the gases present in the chambers are heated up in such a way as to raise them to a minimum temperature within the entire volume defined by the chambers when the pistons are in the position of maximum compression or close to that position. The gases are heated by compressing the air in the cylinders using an electrical machine, or using a heating system in the intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Bertrand Gessier, Claudiu Vasilescu, Michael Chemin, Laurent Albert, Philippe Colacicco, Yohan Comorassamy, Benoit Dupeux, Nicolas Labbe, Philippe Lutz
  • Patent number: 7631625
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a temperature of a combustion chamber heater of an engine includes a calculation module that determines a temperature of the combustion chamber heater based on an effective resistance of the combustion chamber heater, and a control module that controls the temperature of the combustion chamber heater by commanding a duty cycle of the combustion chamber heater based on an operating temperature signal of the combustion chamber heater and a desired temperature of the combustion chamber heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley E. De Pottey
  • Patent number: 7620491
    Abstract: Person authentication for determining if there is a specified driver is performed by biometrics or the like. Then when authenticated that there is a previously registered driver, it is predicted that the engine will be started, and prior to the driver operating the ignition key, operation of a fuel pump, or a heater fitted to an engine fuel injection valve, is commenced. Thereafter when the ignition key is operated by the driver, control shifts to normal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090277411
    Abstract: A container (14), which contains a latent heat storage material (X), is provided in a water jacket (13) of an internal combustion engine. A nucleation device (2) is provided in the container. The nucleation device includes a plate-like member (29), which is formed of bimetal, a water wheel (25), which is located in the water jacket, a rotating body (23), which is located in the container, and claws (24), which extend radially from the rotating body. When coolant starts circulating in the water jacket as the engine is started, the water wheel is rotated, thereby rotating the claws of the rotating body. The claws scratch the surface of the plate-like member to form a new surface. The nucleation device operates to nucleate the heat storage material by bringing the new surface into direct contact with the supercooled heat storage material. Thus, an inexpensive warming-up device of the internal combustion engine having a simple structure is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryu Hamaguchi, Takasuke Shikida
  • Publication number: 20090070020
    Abstract: In a process of automatically stopping a diesel engine upon fulfillment of automatic engine stop conditions, an ECU cuts off fuel injection when the engine speed equals a preset first engine speed N1. The ECU limits the amount of intake air at the first engine speed N1 and, then, increases the amount of intake air at a point in time when the engine speed equals a second engine speed N2, at which point a piston in a cylinder which will be on a compression stroke at engine stop is expected to transfer to a last intake stroke, so that the piston in the compression stroke cylinder at engine stop stops at a point within a specified range closer to the bottom dead center than a piston in a cylinder which will be on an expansion stroke at engine stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki TETSUNO