Safety Devices Patents (Class 123/198D)
  • Patent number: 5873343
    Abstract: An improvement for diesel engine emergency shutoff devices and method for intake air-flow shutoff valves. The device includes tubing connecting the engine's exhaust manifold with the intake manifold at a location down stream from the shutoff valve with a check valve which prevents exhaust gas from entering the intake manifold until vacuum within the intake manifold reaches a desired level. When the emergency shutoff device operates, intake manifold vacuum opens the check valve and allows oxygen deficient exhaust gas to enter the intake manifold preventing a sudden damaging vacuum while also allowing the shutoff device to completely shutdown the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel Webster Denton
  • Patent number: 5873335
    Abstract: There is shown an electric motor control of the engine valves of an internal combustion engine. A brushless torque actuator controls the rotation of a cam member which provides the appropriate lift to the engine valve to move the valve from the closed to the open position. The electronic control which is connected to the actuator includes a look-up table for controlling the timing of the engine in accordance with the operation of the internal combustion engine. The electronic control operates to return the cam member to its home position closing the engine valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Danny O. Wright, James A. Nitkiewicz
  • Patent number: 5868111
    Abstract: In a fuel injection control system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a high pressure fuel pump for supplying fuel under pressure to the fuel injection valves of the various cylinders through a distribution line including a fuel distribution element dividing the fuel supply to two groups of fuel injection valves, the fuel distribution element includes a piston disposed in a cylinder and adapted to interrupt fuel flow to any one of the two groups in which a leak occurs such that fuel supply to the other group of fuel injection valves can be maintained for an emergency operation of the engine. If small leaks are detected by the electronic engine operating control, the valves of one of the groups are momentarily deactivated to cause the distribution element to interrupt the fuel supply to the other group of fuel injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz A.G.
    Inventor: Ulrich Augustin
  • Patent number: 5850818
    Abstract: Electric current to a fuel pump in an engine fuel supply system is controlled so that a deviation in the number of pump rotations between a predetermined reference number of rotations of the fuel pump and an actual number of rotations thereof is within a predetermined range. When the deviation exceeds a predetermined range, it is determined that the fuel supply system is abnormal and at this time the operation of the fuel pump is limited. In this manner, the electric power consumed by the fuel pump is reduced because excess fuel is not circulated in the fuel supply system, thus accomplishing an improved reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshiume, Makoto Miwa
  • Patent number: 5832904
    Abstract: In a high-pressure fuel pump, a bellows chamber communicates with a fuel tank. A volume chamber having a predetermined volume is arranged in a return passage which returns a fuel stayed in the bellows chamber to the fuel tank. The fuel which has stayed in a region in the return passage can be flowed into the volume chamber to be prevented from flowing back to the bellows chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Morishita, Keiichi Konishi, Masayasu Miyajima
  • Patent number: 5829397
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine lost motion valve actuation system is disclosed. The system includes a variable length connection means connecting a force imparting means and an engine valve. The connection means may assume plural lengths to provide plural amounts of lost motion. The connection means may provide a maximum amount of lost motion which provides some minimum level of valve actuation suitable for a limp home operation of the engine. The connection means is operable for both engine positive power and engine braking modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Vorih, Haoran Hu
  • Patent number: 5826554
    Abstract: A valve is installed in an opening provided in a thin wall of an air intake pipe, which supplies combustion air from a flow control device to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, to relieve excess pressure in the pipe. The valve includes a socket connected to a segment of the air intake pipe, and an elastomer, umbrella valve member is supported in the socket to normally cover the opening in the pipe and to undergo deformation when the pressure in the pipe reaches a predetermined value to uncover the opening and to connect the interior of the pipe to the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Pierburg AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Kuhnel, Franz Dellen
  • Patent number: 5819698
    Abstract: An engine condition monitoring system includes a sensor for producing a sensor signal representing the oxygen content of the exhaust gas of a small internal combustion engine in a floor buffer fueled by propane or other form of natural gas. A micro-processor, operating in accordance with programming instructions stored in an EPROM, processes the received sensor signal, determines whether the engine is operating in one of four categories: normal, warning, idle and shut down, and generates an output signal indicative of the determined category. The output signal is used to provide a visual display of the engine's condition on red and green LEDs and/or shut down the engine by shorting the ignition circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Pioneer/Eclipse Corporation
    Inventor: Harold Leighton
  • Patent number: 5813427
    Abstract: A device for preventing a fluid from flowing in a canister used in an automobile comprising a casing of a hollow cylindrical shape having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being connected to a vent pipe of the canister and the inlet being connected to the atmosphere, a funnel-shaped plate having a venting port in its center and airtight-coupled to a inner surface of the casing, a bladder positioned below the funnel-shaped plate, having a gating portion fittable to the venting port of the funnel, and biasing means for urging the gating portion of the bladder against the venting port of the funnel-shaped plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung Sun Huh
  • Patent number: 5806500
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system for an automotive vehicle includes a fuel tank, a first vapor recovery canister, a second vapor recovery canister, and a bypass flow metering element. The first canister has an inlet communicating directly with the fuel tank and an outlet. The second canister has an inlet communicating directly with the outlet of the first canister. The bypass flow metering element is disposed between the inlet and outlet of the first canister and directs a predetermined portion of the vapor from the tank directly to the inlet of the second canister, thereby reducing the vapor flow restriction through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gerald Reed Fargo, Philip Jeffrey Johnson, Mark Frederick Jacobson
  • Patent number: 5799639
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine includes a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank, a charging passage, a pressure-regulating valve for regulating pressure within the fuel tank to a predetermined value, a bypass passage, a bypass valve for opening and closing the bypass passage, a purging passage, an open-to-atmosphere passage for relieving the interior of the canister to the atmosphere, a tank system formed by a part of the charging passage on one side of the bypass valve closer to the fuel tank, inclusive of the fuel tank, and a pressure sensor for detecting pressure within the tank system. An ECU opens and closes the bypass valve at cold starting of the engine, and compares the difference between output values from the pressure sensor obtained before and after opening of the bypass valve with a predetermined value. Presence of leakage from the tank system is checked based on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isobe, Fumio Hara
  • Patent number: 5785033
    Abstract: Fuel vapor is produced in a fuel tank and absorbed in a canister. The absorbed fuel vapor is purged through a purge passage into an engine induction passage under predetermined engine operating conditions. The air/fuel ratio is learned for air/fuel ratio feedback control. The learning control is inhibited when the fuel temperature exceeds a reference value during the air/fuel ratio feedback control. In another aspect of the invention, a purge valve is provided in the purge passage. The air/fuel ratio correction factor is set at an initial value in response to a movement of a purge valve from its open position toward its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kawamoto, Atsushi Iochi, Hiroshi Kuriki
  • Patent number: 5782218
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment device comprising a purge control valve for controlling an amount of fuel vapor fed into the intake passage from a charcoal canister. When the engine stalls, it is judged if it was because of the purge action of the fuel vapor. When it is judged that the engine stalled due to the purge action, the purge action is restarted from a purge rate of zero when the engine is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osanai Akinori
  • Patent number: 5775307
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine includes a canister, a charging passage extending between the canister and the fuel tank, a purging passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine, an open-to-atmosphere passage for relieving the interior of the canister to atmosphere, a charge control valve, a purge control valve, a vent shut valve, a pressure sensor for detecting pressure within the charging passage, and a float valve arranged at an end of the charging passage opening into the fuel tank. When the engine is in a predetermined operating condition, the interior of the canister is negatively pressurized into a predetermined negatively pressurized state by opening the purge control valve and the charge control valve and closing the vent shut valve. The interior of the changing passage is stabilized by closing the charge control valve and the purge control valve over a predetermined time period after the negative pressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isobe, Kotaro Miyashita, Hirofumi Mutoh
  • Patent number: 5775291
    Abstract: A diesel engine controller for a car is disclosed including preheating determine means for determining according to data detected during starting whether a preheating device is driven; fuel injection time determining means for deciding a fuel injection time according to the detected data; air conditioner operation determining means for determining whether the engine is overloaded or not according to the data detected when the air conditioner switch operates; idling number determining means for during engine idling, determine whether the idling number is normal according to the detected data from the transmission lever position detecting sensor; self-diagnosing means for determining whether a trouble is caused according to the detected data; and an electronic control unit for controlling the output according to respective decision results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Nam-Yong Choi
  • Patent number: 5771855
    Abstract: The damage detecting apparatus for ceramic parts detects breakage of the ceramic combustion chamber structure and valves or breakage and wear of the cylinder liner and minimizes the damages to the structure and valves. The breakage of the head liner forming the ceramic combustion chamber can be detected by arranging the conductive ceramic wires on the outer circumferential surface of the head liner and passing a small current through these wires. The breakage of the valves installed in the ports of the cylinder head can be detected by arranging the conductive lines over the entire length of the valve stem and passing a small current to the conductive lines. The damages to the ceramic cylinder liner, such as wear, can be detected by arranging the conductive lines over the inner wall surface and passing a small current to the conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Isuzu Ceramics Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5769055
    Abstract: An overheat protecting system and method for an internal combustion engine wherein a preventive action is initiated if the engine temperature exceeds normal temperature but is still below the danger level. The engine is protected by providing additional cooling such as by supplying additional fuel to the engine. The dangerous condition may also be sensed if the engine temperature increases at more than a predetermined rate for more than a predetermined time or if the engine temperature is more than a predetermined amount for more than a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Motose, Masaki Okazaki
  • Patent number: 5765539
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine includes a canister, a charging passage extending between the canister and a fuel tank, a purging passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine, an open-to-atmosphere passage for relieving the interior of the canister to the atmosphere, a charge control valve for opening and closing the charging passage, a purge control valve for opening and closing the purging passage, a vent shut valve for opening and closing the open-to-atmosphere passage, and a pressure sensor for detecting pressure within the charging passage. When the engine is in a predetermined operating condition, the interior of the fuel tank is negatively pressurized into a predetermined negatively pressurized state by opening the purge control valve and the charge control valve and closing the vent shut valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isobe, Hiroshi Yatani
  • Patent number: 5765540
    Abstract: This invention performs a diagnosis on the evaporative system in a short period of time by pulling down the evaporative system with a negative pressure of the intake manifold of the engine and by checking a change in the internal pressure of the evaporative system being pulled down. To realize this diagnosis, when introducing a negative pressure from the intake manifold, the pulldown rate is changed based on the internal pressure of the evaporative system. Because the pulldown rate is corrected and controlled during the diagnostic process, a preliminary process for the diagnosis can be eliminated, shortening the time required for the diagnosis. Further, this method allows the evaporative system to be diagnosed without being influenced by external factors such as atmospheric pressure, the internal volume of the evaporative system, the amount of evaporative gas generated, or presence or absence of leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Ishii, Yutaka Takaku, Kazuya Kawano
  • Patent number: 5758628
    Abstract: An abnormality detecting apparatus for a purge control system is capable of making an abnormality determination in a reliable and safe manner without a feeling of wrongness. A purge amount of a fuel gas is controlled in accordance with an intake pressure in an intake pipe and an amount of fuel in a fuel tank when abnormality determination conditions are satisfied. If abnormality determination conditions exist, a concentration of a fuel gas in a canister is taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Wada
  • Patent number: 5752490
    Abstract: An improved fuel injection system for use with an internal combustion eng mounted in a vehicle. The fuel system has fuel, a fuel pump, a throttle position sensor for sensing the power requested, and an engine control unit. The improvement comprises a fuel pump control circuit using three distinct duty cycle modulator circuits to control fuel pump speed. One duty circuit is used on startup to bring the system to full operating pressure, a second duty circuit provides modulated pulses to the fuel pump to operate the fuel pump at the level set by the throttle position sensor and a third duty circuit operates the fuel pump at idle the third duty circuit maintaining the fuel flow at a level which prevents vapor lock and being also adapted to operate the fuel pump at the reduced level in the event of throttle position sensor failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Jack G. Rodgers, John J. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5754971
    Abstract: A fault diagnosis apparatus for a fuel evaporative emission suppressing system has an electronic control unit which inputs an average value of integral terms for air-fuel ratio feedback control, engine speed, etc. when diagnosis executing conditions are satisfied, and then starts opening operation of a purge control valve. Subsequently, the average value of integral terms, engine speed, etc. are input again. If no substantial change occurs in the average value, etc. with driving of the purge control valve, it is concluded that purge air for fault diagnosis has not been introduced, and that the suppressing system is faulty. In driving the purge control valve, its driving duty ratio is increased by a relatively small increment till the driving duty ratio reaches a predetermined duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Miyake, Toru Hashimoto, Toshiro Nomura, Hidetsugu Kanao
  • Patent number: 5749349
    Abstract: An electrically controlled vacuum operated valve controls flow of fuel vapors from a collector canister to the engine intake manifold. A pressure regulator controls fuel vapor flow from the canister to the inlet of the electric valve and is normally closed. During engine operation, if the control valve maintains a threshold level of vacuum at the regulator outlet, the regulator will permit fuel vapor flow from the canister to the control valve, otherwise the regulator is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Detweiler, Daniel L. Deland, Gerrit V. Beneker
  • Patent number: 5746191
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine is comprised of an evaporative emission control system including a canister, a charging passage extending between the canister and the fuel tank, a purging passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine, a purge control valve, and a vent shut valve. A pressure sensor detects the pressure within the evaporative emission control system. The interior of the evaporative emission control system is negatively pressurized into a predetermined negatively pressurized state, by opening the purge control valve and closing the vent shut valve. Then, the purge control valve is closed, and leakage from the evaporative emission control system is checked based on the rate of decrease in negative pressure within the evaporative emission control system over a first predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isobe, Takushi Toda
  • Patent number: 5738063
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system and a fuel injection system for performing the method, in which the fuel is supplied in measurable amounts at high pressure to a high-pressure fuel reservoir, whose pressure is controlled by a pressure control valve and from which fuel is drawn for injection via electrically controlled injection valves. The system is monitored for leakage losses in that the fuel quantity supplied to the high-pressure fuel reservoir by a fuel pump and the quantity removed from the high-pressure fuel reservoir via the injection valves and the pressure control valve are compared with one another, and if these quantities deviate from one another a signal device is tripped, or an intervention into the operation of the fuel injection system is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch, GmbH
    Inventors: Berthold Pfuhl, Rainer Burkel, Wilhelm Eyberg
  • Patent number: 5735252
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for pneumatically checking the operability of a tank-venting system having a tank made of a material such as plastic. The tank-venting system includes an adsorption filter having a venting line with a closeable shutoff valve mounted in the venting line. The adsorption filter is connected to the tank via a tank connecting line and a tank-venting valve. In the method, the tank-venting system is first charged with a first overpressure or underpressure which exceeds, by a predetermined value, a second overpressure or underpressure corresponding to a diagnostic overpressure or diagnostic underpressure with the tank-venting valve and the shutoff valve being closed. The first overpressure or underpressure is then removed after a pregiven time span has elapsed and an overpressure or underpressure decay gradient measurement is made only after an essentially constant diagnostic overpressure or diagnostic underpressure adjusts in the tank-venting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Blumenstock
  • Patent number: 5727515
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an internal combustion engine having a high-pressure injection, and in particular, for controlling an internal combustion engine having a common rail system. The fuel is delivered by at least one pump from a low-pressure area into a high-pressure area. The fuel pressure prevailing in the high-pressure area is detected by a pressure sensor and is regulated by a pressure-regulation means. Given a defect in the area of the pressure regulation, the fuel pressure is controlled by influencing the flow of fuel in the low-pressure area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Biester
  • Patent number: 5727530
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine for use in a vehicle. A passage extends between the fuel tank and the intake passage of the engine, for guiding evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank, for processing, and across which a canister having an air communication port is arranged. A drain passage is connected to the air communication port, to which a valve casing is connected. A first passage is connected to the valve casing, and a first valve is associated with the first passage and the valve casing, for allowing air to flow into the canister through the first passage, the valve casing and the air communication port and for inhibiting evaporative fuel from being discharged from the canister through the air communication port, the valve casing and the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Honda, Hideki Matsumoto, Naritoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 5718210
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treating device that collects fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank and treats the vapor without releasing it into the atmosphere. The treating device is provided with a canister that collects the fuel vapor through a vapor line. A vapor control valve provided in the canister adjusts the flow of fuel vapor directed toward the canister from the tank. A purge line connects the canister to an air intake passage of an engine. The fuel collected in the canister is purged into the air intake passage through the purge line. A purge control valve provided in the purge line adjusts the flow rate of the fuel flowing through the purge line. A three-way valve selectively switches the section which the pressure sensor is connected to between the tank side and the canister side. An electronic control unit (ECU) controls the purge control valve and the three-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokiji Ito, Susumu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 5718052
    Abstract: A hand lever device is disclosed which is adapted so that a throttle valve as a driven member can be adjusted appropriately in its degree of opening via a cable and kept at a desired degree of opening and yet immediately returned to the minimum degree of opening to ensure high safety. Thus, fatigue of an operator's fingers can be diminished. Also, the throttle valve is enabled to be brought to the degree of opening at which it had stood before it was returned to the minimum degree of opening without the necessity of readjustment. The hand lever device comprises an eccentric cam shaft (40) including a supporting shaft portion (42) and a pivot pin portion (41, 43) having pivotal axis (0b) eccentric to axis (0a) of the supporting shaft portion (42), a main lever (30) pivotally fitted on the supporting shaft portion (42), and a sub-lever (50) fixed to the pivot pin portion (41). The main lever (30) and sub-lever (50) are pivotally operated to draw a cable (20) connected to a driven member (CV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Taomo, Hisato Ohsawa, Hirofumi Yamami, Fumihiko Aiyama
  • Patent number: 5715800
    Abstract: A load adjustment device, intended for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, has a desired-value transmitter actuatable by means of an accelerator pedal. The accelerator pedal has a safety contact which opens when the idle position of the accelerator pedal is reached. This safety contact is connected directly to an actuator, thus circumventing a control electronics system of the load adjustment device, and preventing action on the actuator by the control electronics system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Uwe Marz
  • Patent number: 5715786
    Abstract: A device for detecting leakage in a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine in which fuel is pumped from a fuel container under pressure by at least one pump and reaches injection valves over corresponding lines, the device has a control unit, a plurality of operating condition detecting sensors detecting operating conditions of the internal combustion engine and sending signals to the control unit, a return line with a valve formed so that excess fuel is returnable to the fuel container, the valve being connected with the control unit so that when the control unit detects a predetermined operating state of the engine from the signals of the operating condition sensors, the control unit closes the valve, and a pressure sensor, and a pressure sensor operative for measuring a fuel pressure when the valve is closed and connected to the control unit so that the pressure sensor supplies to the control unit a signal corresponding to the measured pressure, and the control unit compares the signal corresp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Seiberth
  • Patent number: 5715799
    Abstract: A method of leak detection for an evaporative emission control system during periods of low engine vacuum includes the steps of pulsing a leak detection pump at a predetermined rate and determining whether engine vacuum level is low. The method also includes the steps of maintaining pressurization of the evaporative emission control system if the engine vacuum level is low, maintaining pressurization behind a vapor canister vent valve if the engine vacuum level is low, and detecting for leaks in the evaporative emission control system after a normal engine vacuum level is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Blomquist, Gary D. Dawson, Roland T. Richardson, Glen Tallarek, John E. Letcher, Mark E. Hope
  • Patent number: 5711339
    Abstract: A fuel outflow preventing valve device of the invention is formed of a housing, a plurality of valves, and a plurality of energizing members. The housing has a flow path, a plurality of orifices communicating with the flow path, a plurality of cavities, and a plurality of openings communicating with the cavities. Each cavity communicates with each orifice. Each valve is situated in each cavity and moves to open or close the corresponding orifice. Each energizing member is situated in each cavity to support each valve and has strength such that each energizing member can not move the valve toward the orifice to close the orifice by its own force, but each energizing member can move the valve toward the orifice to close the orifice when fluid enters into the cavity to provide buoyancy to the valve. Therefore, the fuel outflow preventing valve device has a simple structure, and each valve is prevented from being stuck to a valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5711273
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method for detecting an electrical fault condition of a driver circuit is disclosed. The driver circuit is used to energize an electrohydraulic device that regulates fluid pressure. The method detects the fault condition, and responsively switches from a normal fluid pressure control strategy to a fault mode fluid pressure control strategy in order to continue to control the fluid pressure during the fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Prasad V. Parupalli
  • Patent number: 5709197
    Abstract: Fuel is pressurized by the expansion and contraction of a pump chamber defined inside a casing according to the rotation of a power input shaft which penetrates from the outside of the casing into its inside. A first seal member is provided between the casing and the power input shaft and prevents escape of fuel which is inside the casing, and a second seal member is provided in series therewith. Further, leakage of fuel to the outside of the casing from the second seal member is prevented by the provision of a drain conduit which drains fuel which has leaked into a space defined between the first seal member and the second seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Oshidari, Atsuhiro Sakamoto, Shigeru Kamegaya, Iwane Inokuchi
  • Patent number: 5709187
    Abstract: A flame arrestor (70) for a marine engine (12) includes an air box (72) mounted to the combustion air intake (14), and a uniplanar flame arresting element (78) mounted to the air box (72) and passing combustion air therethrough in a first direction (80) into the air intake (14) and blocking flame propagation in a second opposite direction out of the air intake (14). Air flow from the flame arresting element (78) to the air intake (14) is rectilinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew W. Jaeger, Richard C. Todhunter, David J. Dickson, Douglas P. McIntire
  • Patent number: 5706776
    Abstract: A backfilling system for a liquid fuel tank of a vehicle using engine exhaust gas to prevent the accumulation of explosive vapors in the fuel tank. Exhaust gas is cooled, filtered and regulated in pressure before entering the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Elmer L. Luehring
  • Patent number: 5701863
    Abstract: A system and method for the identification of the fuel being transported within a fuel delivery system of an internal combustion engine that may utilize an advanced fuel such as a fuel in water emulsion is provided. The identification of the fuel is accomplished using a fuel identification sensor that distinguishes the fuel type based on differences in optical properties, electrical properties, physical properties, or other characteristics between an aqueous fuel emulsion and a conventional fuel. The disclosed fuel identification device is readily incorporated in an anti-tampering device for preventing the use of a conventional fuel, such as diesel fuel, in an engine designed and certified for aqueous fuel emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Cemenska, Gerald N. Coleman, James E. Sibley
  • Patent number: 5691692
    Abstract: A portable machine having a frame and an engine supported by the frame, the engine having a power source and an engine cutoff device connected to the engine. In combination with the machine is a machine diagnosis circuit comprised of at least one protective switch connected in series with the engine power source and the engine cutoff device. The circuit also includes a diagnosis indicator combination wired across each of the at least one protective switches, the diagnosis indicator combination is comprised of an LED pair and resistor. In order to provide an indication of a machine problem, an indicator panel is located along the outside of the machine. The panel overlays the LED pairs and includes at least one icon which is illuminated by the LED pair to provide an outside readable graphical indication of the existence and location of the machine problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Dale R. Herbstritt
  • Patent number: 5690076
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine has an evaporative emission control system. An ECU carries out negative pressurization of the interior of the evaporative emission control system, by opening a purge control valve and closing a vent shut valve, and determines presence/absence of leakage from the evaporative emission control system, based on a rate of decrease in negative pressure within the system, by closing a purge control valve. Before the negative pressurization, the interior of the evaporative emission control system is opened to the atmosphere, and during the open-to-atmosphere, a pressure state within the fuel tank is estimated based on a rate of change in an output from a pressure sensor which senses pressure within the evaporative emission control system. The ECU determines whether the evaporative emission control system is normal, based on the estimated pressure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Hashimoto, Hideo Moriwaki, Yoshiaki Matsuzono, Sachito Fujimoto, Satoshi Kiso
  • Patent number: 5685268
    Abstract: A method and system implementation of a fail-safe algorithm utilizes the engine controller of a fuel-injected vehicle, and detects leakage in the high-pressure portion of the fuel delivery system. A control volume is defined to include the outlet of the high-pressure pump, the fuel line from the pump to the fuel pressure regulator, the regulator solenoid and block, the lines from the regulator block to the fuel rail, the fuel rail itself, the lines from the fuel rail to the fuel injectors, the pressure sensor, the fittings, and the injectors themselves. The total mass of fuel entering and leaving the control volume can be calculated, and the difference corresponds to a portion of the fuel that is not accounted for, presumably as a result of leakage. A fault signal is then produced that can result in any of several corrective measures, including illumination of a warning indicator, engine shutdown, or implementation of a limp-home mode at reduced fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Russell J. Wakemen
  • Patent number: 5685279
    Abstract: A method of de-pressurizing an evaporative emission control system includes the steps of pulsing a leak detection pump at a predetermined rate and purging accumulated vapors from a vapor canister. The method also includes the steps of determining whether a last pump period is greater than or equal to a predetermined system de-pressurization mode pump period and continuing the method if the last pump period is less than the system de-pressurization mode pump period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Blomquist, Gary D. Dawson, Roland T. Richardson, Glen Tallarek
  • Patent number: 5682862
    Abstract: A method of purging a canister is disclosed, wherein purge ratio is variably controlled under predetermined condition when air fuel ratio closed loop or feedback control based on output of an oxygen sensor is effected. Accumulated amount of purge air (EVPCNT) is calculated. The purge rate is increased as EVPCNT increases. But, when EVPCNT exceeds a predetermined large value (N), the purge rate is fixed at a very small value, for example 1% since the fuel remainder in the canister is considered minimum. As purging process proceeds, i.e., as EVPCNT increases, the percentage of evaporated fuel within the purge air is subject to a drop. To compensate for this drop, the purge rate is increased to cause the purge air to increase in amount, thereby to keep a ratio of flow rate of evaporated fuel to flow rate of air constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sato, Yutaka Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 5680849
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel gas purging system performs breakdown analysis without deterioration of drivability and exhaust emission even when the amount of purged fuel gas is large. During introduction of negative pressure into the purge system, a control value DUTY sets opening of a purge control valve and a purge flow amount GPG is derived from a map based on differences in the control value DUTY, atmospheric pressure and intake pipe pressure. Thereafter, a purge ratio PGR is calculated from intake air GA and purge flow GPG (PGR=GPG/GA), and a fuel injection correction value FAFLEAK=PGR.times.(FGPGAV-1).times.K1 is calculated, with FGPGAV-1 being the air-fuel ratio feedback correction deviation per 1% purge ratio, and K1 being an error correction coefficient. Then, the fuel injection correction FAFLEAK is guard-processed to maintain it below an upper limit guard value KFLEAKMX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Morikawa, Katsuhiko Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 5669349
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system and particularly an outboard motor wherein the outboard motor is provided with a control for preventing engine damage in response to an abnormal condition by reducing the speed of the engine through disabling certain cylinders. The cylinders disabled are chosen on the vertical position of the cylinder in the engine so as to provide improved running and avoid undesirable results. In addition, the disabling of the cylinders is precluded until the abnormal condition has existed more than a predetermined time period upon initial start-up so as to permit unencumbered normal warm up of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Iwata, Akihiko Hoshiba, Sadato Yoshida, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5669360
    Abstract: A fuel-vapor emission-control system for an internal combustion engine which is capable of achieving both a reduction of the exhaust of vapor into the atmosphere and the prevention of an excessive increase in pressure within the fuel tank, regardless of the amount of internal pressure in the fuel tank, by providing on an atmospheric release port of the canister which adsorbs vapor adsorbed from the fuel tank of the internal combustion engine, thereby preventing release of the vapor into the atmosphere, an atmospheric release surface area changing valve which changes the surface area of an aperture to the atmosphere. The atmospheric release surface area valve operates to make the atmospheric release surface area larger when the internal pressure in the fuel tank is large than when the internal pressure in the fuel tank is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Hyodo, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5666925
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for checking the tightness of a tank-venting system used with an internal combustion engine having an intake pipe. The tank-venting system includes a fuel tank wherein fuel vapor forms, a storage device connected to the fuel tank, the storage device having a vent opening and a device for closing the vent opening, and a tank-venting valve interconnecting the intake pipe and the storage device whereby the fuel vapor is conducted from the tank to the intake pipe via the storage device and the tank-venting valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Denz, Ernst Wild, Andreas Blumenstock, Georg Mallebrein
  • Patent number: 5666924
    Abstract: When a malfunction determination mode for a fuel-evaporated-gas processing device is employed (step S1), an engine control unit 9A determines whether a malfunction of an O.sub.2 sensor 10 is being checked or not (step S2). When a malfunction of the O.sub.2 sensor 10 is being checked, the determination of a malfunction of the O.sub.2 sensor 10 is executed (step S4) without determining a malfunction of the fuel-evaporated-gas processing device. When the O.sub.2 sensor 10 malfunctions, a processing to be taken when the O.sub.2 sensor 10 malfunctions is executed (step S8) and a warning lamp is turned on (step S9). With this operation reliability in the determination of a malfunction of the fuel-evaporated-gas processing device can be improved without employing a countermeasure such as an increase of the number of determinations and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Kadota
  • Patent number: 5653211
    Abstract: A canister 12 is provided with a first and second charcoal chambers 22, 23 which are separated from each other by a partition wall 21. An adsorbing material layer 26 is formed in each of the charcoal chambers 22, 23 and the adsorbing material layer 26 is filled with activated carbon particles 25. Fuel vapor introducing ports 29, 32 are formed above the first charcoal chamber 22 so as to introduce fuel vapor, which is generated in a fuel tank 11. An air vent port 33 is formed above the second charcoal chamber 23 so as to discharge fuel vapor (air) from which the fuel component thereof has been collected by the adsorbing material layer 26. Also, a diffusion chamber 28 is formed to connect the first and second charcoal chambers 22, 23. Slanted portions 42, 43 are formed at opposite ends of the diffusion chamber 28 to reduce the flow resistance of the fuel vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ishikawa