Using Multiple Injectors Or Injections Patents (Class 123/299)
  • Patent number: 11873776
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector having a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated. A second fuel injector has a second electronically-controlled valve and a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated. The fuel injection system also includes a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Bradley D. Ferguson, Eric L. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11858346
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods, implementable in a vehicle equipped with adaptive cruise control, for maintaining in a subject vehicle substantially constant following distance relative to a preceding target vehicle where there has been a change in slope of a surface on which the subject vehicle is travelling and/or where pitch of the subject vehicle has changed. Systems and methods disclosed herein may maintain such substantially constant following distance by managing engine torque. Such engine torque management effective for maintaining substantially constant following distance relative to a preceding target vehicle, notwithstanding change in driving surface slope and/or change in pitch of the subject vehicle, may be realized, according to the subject vehicle's torque map, based on data received into the subject vehicle's electronic control unit through sensors for detecting surface slope and sensors for detecting vehicle pitch, which may be located on the subject vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: James Thomas Beaucaire, Paul Anton Wieshuber
  • Patent number: 11852097
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for measuring an injected fuel quantity during multipulse injection events in a common rail of a fuel system including a fuel pump to supply fuel to the common rail. The method, using a control unit, determines if each of the multipulse injection events in a normal operating condition includes a pilot pulse; in response to determining that the pilot pulse is included, obtaining an enforced separation value between the pilot pulse and the main pulse to emulate a single-pulse injection; while the fuel pump is temporarily shut off, performing a temporary enforced separation on a fraction of the multipulse injection events; measuring a pressure change in the common rail during the temporary enforced separation; and resuming the normal operating condition of the multipulse injection events after the pressure change is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Carey, Sanjay Manglam
  • Patent number: 11835020
    Abstract: A nozzle body has an injection hole configured to inject fuel and a fuel passage connecting to the injection hole. A needle is configured to open and close the fuel passage to switch between fuel injection from the injection hole and stop of the fuel injection. An injection hole axis is an imaginary line extending along a center of the injection hole. An injection hole perpendicular cross section is a cross section of the injection hole perpendicular to the injection hole axis. The injection hole perpendicular cross section has a flat shape. The injection hole perpendicular cross section has an area that gradually expands from an inlet of the injection hole to an outlet of the injection hole while maintaining a similar shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Niwa, Yosuke Nakagawa, Masahiro Okuma, Noritsugu Kato, Hiroki Kaneta
  • Patent number: 11835004
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for determining a pilot injection mass during skip fire operation of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Wolk, Justin Lee, Timothy Hayden Shipp
  • Patent number: 11767798
    Abstract: An engine including a main fuel injection valve, a pilot fuel injection valve, a liquid fuel supply rail pipe, and a pilot fuel supply rail pipe. The main fuel injection valve supplies liquid fuel from the liquid fuel supply rail pipe to a combustion chamber during combustion in a diffusion combustion system. The pilot fuel injection valve supplies pilot fuel from the pilot fuel supply rail pipe to the combustion chamber in order to ignite gaseous fuel during combustion in a premixed combustion system. The liquid fuel supply rail pipe is disposed at one side of an imaginary vertical plane including an axis of a crank shaft. The pilot fuel supply rail pipe is disposed at the side of the imaginary vertical plane at which the liquid fuel supply rail pipe is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Nishimura, Koichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 11674465
    Abstract: A normal control unit performs a normal control to cause an injection apparatus to perform predetermined normal injection and subsequently cause an ignition plug to perform ignition. In a delay region in a combustion chamber, propagation of flame is retarded further than in another region when the normal control is performed. In a knock state, self-ignition occurs in the delay region when the normal control is performed. When the knock state is established, an adjustment control unit performs, to suppress the self-ignition, an adjustment control to perform main injection and subsequently perform sub-injection in a second half of a compression stroke to adjust a fuel distribution in the combustion chamber to facilitate propagation of flame to the delay region further than in the normal control and subsequently cause the ignition plug to perform the ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11668259
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing fuel economy and maintaining particulate emissions below a threshold of an engine system in a vehicle. An engine system has port fuel injection, direct injection, variable compression ratio, and independent compression/expansion. A processor predicts settings for the four systems that optimize for a fuel economy that is maximized. A particulate rate of the engine system is computed based on the settings. A determination is made of whether the particulate rate is below a threshold. When the particulate rate is below the threshold, command signals are delivered to actuators of the systems to move to the settings. When the threshold is exceeded, the settings are revised to maintain the particulate below the threshold while optimizing for fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Gwidt, Andrew B. Gillett, Karen Margaret-Bell Gwidt
  • Patent number: 11639683
    Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Morgan, James Eatwell, Andrew Atkins, Adam Gurr
  • Patent number: 11624328
    Abstract: The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ethanol Boosting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 11619187
    Abstract: A system and method for transitioning a firing fraction of a variable displacement internal combustion engine when generating a desired torque output. During and following the transition to the second firing fraction, a combustion recipe is ascertained and used operating the cylinders of the variable displacement internal combustion engine to generate the desired torque output. The recipe is preferably optimized for the engine operating at the second firing fraction, at least relative to the previous charge of the previous combustion recipe used with the first firing fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xiaoping Cai, Shikui Kevin Chen, Benjamin M. Wolk, Avra Brahma, Justin R. Lee
  • Patent number: 11619183
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a multi-fuel engine. In one example, a method includes increasing a temperature reducing mass of a combustion mixture during a transition to multi-fuel combustion from single-fuel combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Lavertu, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Eric Dillen
  • Patent number: 11603804
    Abstract: A control system of an electronic-controlled oil-gas dual fuel engine includes electronic control pumps, fuel gas injection electromagnetic valves, a fuel gas control device and a fuel oil control device. The fuel gas control device and the fuel oil control device are electrically connected with a control device of the engine. The fuel gas control device is electrically connected with the fuel gas injection electromagnetic valves and controls the opening time and the opening duration of each fuel gas injection electromagnetic valve installed on a pipeline between a natural gas rail and a cylinder cover air inlet channel of the engine. The fuel oil control device is electrically connected with the electronic control pumps, and controls the starting time and the operation duration of the electronic control pump, and the electronic control pumps are installed on a pipeline between an engine fuel oil rail and a cylinder cover fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: Zichai Machinery Co., Ltd., Zichai Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Huang, Qiangzhi Xin, Baofu Jia, Yanrui Wang, Shanggang Yang, Hongxiang Zhang, Li Yan, Lei Yuan, Xinliang Zhang, Jin Guo, Lihong Sun, Gaojie Wang, Hongxia Zhang, Ying Zhang, Hui Zhao, Juan Li, Xigao Wang
  • Patent number: 11598273
    Abstract: A system comprising engine driven pumps, control units, a rate control algorithm, and a trained algorithmic model. The control units store operation variables for the engine driven pumps. The rate control algorithm includes an instruction set to read the operation variables for the engine driven pumps. The instruction set comprises a trained algorithmic model with a parameter space based on historical operation variables. The trained algorithmic model determines an optimal distribution rate based on an objective. The instruction set generates rate control variables based on the determined optimal distribution rate. Each rate control variable comprises a selected control unit identifier and a rate value. The instruction set distributes each rate control variable based on the selected control unit identifier. The trained algorithmic model determine the optimal distribution rate using an objective that defines a desired mixture between a first fuel and a second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Srividhya Sridhar, Jie Bai, Ubong Akpan Inyang
  • Patent number: 11549454
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed that include a divided exhaust engine with at least one primary EGR cylinder and a plurality of non-primary EGR cylinders. The systems, apparatus and methods control the amount of recirculated exhaust gas in a charge flow in response to EGR fraction deviation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Alcides Lana, David J. Stroh, Samuel C. Geckler, Marten H. Dane, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Karthik Kappaganthu, Govindarajan Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 11549474
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector housing having a nozzle assembly with a nozzle piece, and a nested check assembly of an outer check and an inner check. Spray orifices are formed in the nozzle piece in a first orifice set equipped with a first spray duct set and a second orifice set equipped with a second spray duct set. The inner check can be opened to spray fuel from the first orifice set and the outer check can be opened to spray fuel from both the first orifice set and the second orifice set. The outer check is non-rotating while the inner check can be permitted to rotate during service. Spray ducts associated with the first orifice set may have a different duct length and duct inside diameter than spray ducts associated with the second orifice set. The first orifice set may include lower-flow spray orifices and the second orifice set may include higher-flow spray orifices. Related methodology is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Clifford Martin, Bobby John, Jonathan William Anders
  • Patent number: 11519398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of venting a synthetically commutated hydraulic pump (2). The connecting fluid conduits (8, 16), connecting said synthetically commutated hydraulic pump (2) with a fluid reservoir (7) is vented at least on start-up of the synthetically commutated hydraulic pump (2), using a fluid intake device (14, 17, 20) that connects to a fixed displacement pump (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Alexis Dole, Luke Wadsley
  • Patent number: 11499492
    Abstract: Provided is a diesel engine capable of regenerating a DPF even during no-load and/or light-load operation. In a DPF regeneration process, opening-degree reduction control S2 for an exhaust-air throttle valve is performed after a start condition S1 of the regeneration process of the DPF in which PM is deposited is satisfied. When exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined after-injection permissible temperature TA, after-injection control is subsequently started S5. Post-injection control is started S7 after the exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined post-injection permissible temperature TP by combustion of after-injection fuel. The PM deposited in the DPF is incinerated by the exhaust air increased in temperature by catalytic combustion of post-injection fuel in a valve downstream-side DOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Yuki Ishii, Hiroaki Imahara, Hiroaki Okano
  • Patent number: 11480128
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine system includes controlling a fuel injector to perform a zero-fueling injector operation during operation of the engine, the zero-fueling injector operation including a non-zero injector on-time resulting in zero fueling by the injector, determining an injection system pressure change associated with the zero-fueling injector operation, modifying at least one fuel injection control parameter in response to the injection system pressure change, and using the modified fuel injection control parameter to control injection of fuel by the fuel injector during operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Benson
  • Patent number: 11473459
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing compression release during a stop/start event in an engine. In one example, a method includes: responsive to a request for a stop/start event in an engine with a continuously variable valve lift (CVVL) system including a compression release hydraulic valve actuator coupled to a valve of a first cylinder, determining a desired stop position of the engine; and prior to restarting the engine during the stop/start event, adjusting the compression release hydraulic valve actuator to open the valve during a compression stroke of the first cylinder. In this way, an amount of torque used to restart the engine may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan VanDerWege, Michael Shelby
  • Patent number: 11466641
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling knocking for an engine of a vehicle having a plurality of different types of fuel injectors and a combustion chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes one or more sensors of the vehicle and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to measure an intensity of engine knocking for the engine. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate adjusting a fuel injection ratio of respective amounts of fuel provided by the plurality of different types of fuel injectors to the combustion chamber, based on the intensity of the engine knocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Gwidt, Vitor Lanznaster Penteado
  • Patent number: 11434840
    Abstract: A method for increasing a resolution of a magnetic sensor for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The sensor delivers an electrical synchronization signal having successive, spaced-apart crenels, one of the rising or falling edges of which corresponds to a respective angle of rotation of the element of the engine. A synchronization voltage range is interposed between an upper voltage modulation range above and a lower voltage modulation range below the upper and lower voltage of the synchronization range, respectively, the electrical signal in each of the lower and upper modulation ranges being modulated so as to include additional crenels, which are supplementary to the crenels of the synchronization signal, corresponding to periodic clock crenels with a period dependent on engine speed, an angle of rotation being identified by one of the rising or falling edges of each additional crenel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: Denis Bouscaren, Thierry Chauchard
  • Patent number: 11415073
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a controller (104) and method (400) for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine (101). The controller (104) is configured to: receive a first request signal indicative of a request to stop fuel being supplied to the engine (101), and cause an intake valve (301) of a cylinder (103) of the internal combustion engine (101) to remain closed during the current revolution of the internal combustion engine (101) and revolutions of the internal combustion engine (101) immediately following the current revolution of the internal combustion engine (101) in dependence on at least one of: the intake valve (301) being closed at the time of receiving the first request signal; or a next opening of the intake valve having not been scheduled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: Adam Moorcroft
  • Patent number: 11391235
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel, and controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, while a demanded engine load is a first load, at least part of a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a first G/F, and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the first G/F, whereas while the demanded load is a second load (>the first load), at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a second G/F (<the first G/F), and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the second G/F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kaminaga, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa, Naoya Ito, Ryohei Matsuo, Yuta Sasaki, Junki Hori, Mitsuhiro Muto, Takuma Fujii
  • Patent number: 11391226
    Abstract: To accurately evaluate combustion stability in consideration of the effect of the trend even at the time of the transient operation. The present invention is configured to have a combustion energy calculation unit that calculates a combustion energy W_t of one combustion cycle in an internal combustion engine, a trend calculation unit that calculates a trend Tr of change in the combustion energy W_t calculated by the combustion energy calculation unit in a plurality of the combustion cycles, and a combustion stability judgment unit that judges combustion stability based on the combustion energy W_t in the plurality of combustion cycles and the trend Tr of change calculated by the trend calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 11391230
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes moving a piston downward from a top dead center position to a bottom dead center position expanding a combustion chamber in an intake stroke, dispensing a first portion of fuel into the combustion chamber, subsequent to moving the piston downward in the intake stroke, moving the piston upward in the vertical direction compressing the combustion chamber in a compression stroke, subsequent to moving the piston upward in the compression stroke, moving the piston downward in the vertical direction in an expansion stroke, while moving the piston downward in the vertical direction in the expansion stroke, dispensing a second portion of fuel into the combustion chamber, and while moving the piston downward in the expansion stroke, igniting at least a part of the first portion of fuel and the second portion of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Vallinayagam Raman, Yoann Viollet, Junseok Chang
  • Patent number: 11384708
    Abstract: Operating an engine includes injecting a liquid alcohol fuel such as methanol into a stream of compressed intake air at an upstream injection location, and injecting the liquid fuel at a plurality of downstream injection locations into a plurality of streams of the compressed intake air from an intake manifold to combustion cylinders in the engine. A fueling control unit apportions a total injected quantity of the liquid fuel between the upstream injection location and the plurality of downstream injection locations based on a temperature parameter of the compressed intake air. The compressed intake air is combusted with the liquid fuel and a compression ignition pilot fuel in the plurality of combustion cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Schroeder, David Todd Montgomery, Arnold Myoungjin Kim, Michael Bardell, Nikolas Karl Landin, Kenth I. Svensson
  • Patent number: 11371448
    Abstract: The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 11346297
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for balancing a plurality of fuel injectors. In one example, a method includes adjusting direct injector parameters in response to a learned direct injector fueling error. The pulse-width supplied to the direct injectors is adjusted to balance cylinder fueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Rani Kiwan, Paul Hollar, Joseph Thomas, David Oshinsky, Michael Uhrich
  • Patent number: 11326532
    Abstract: A system and method for transitioning a firing fraction of a variable displacement internal combustion engine when generating a desired torque output. During and following the transition to the second firing fraction, a combustion recipe is ascertained and used operating the cylinders of the variable displacement internal combustion engine to generate the desired torque output. The recipe is preferably optimized for the engine operating at the second firing fraction, at least relative to the previous charge of the previous combustion recipe used with the first firing fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xiaoping Cai, Shikui Kevin Chen, Benjamin M. Wolk, Avra Brahma, Justin R. Lee
  • Patent number: 11293369
    Abstract: Provided is an engine control device which controls at least an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a fuel injection valve injecting a fuel into an intake pipe such that internal EGR is realized, in which timing of opening and closing of the intake valve is set to be later in comparison with a reference operation state which is a first operation state and timing of closing of the exhaust valve is set to be earlier in comparison with the reference operation state, and the fuel injection valve is caused to inject the fuel in a period which is: after a piston starts to rise which had been passed through a bottom dead center for the first time after an exhaust stroke is finished, which is followed by closing of the intake valve; and before the intake valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Izumi, Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11261821
    Abstract: An aircraft diesel engine may be operated at a minimal fuel rate. Shaft output power of the engine may be reduced by initiating combustion during the compression stroke. Combustion may be initiated during the compression stroke by advancing fuel injection, splitting fuel injection, and/or manipulating individual injection quantities. Initiating combustion during the compression stroke may slew torque generation to the compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: Science Application International Corporation, U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Rik Denis Meininger, Bernard Acker
  • Patent number: 11255260
    Abstract: Variable compression ratio engines and methods for homogeneous charge, compression ignition operation. The engines effectively premix the fuel and air well before compression ignition. Various embodiments are disclosed including embodiments that include two stages of compression to obtain compression ratios well above the mechanical compression ratio of the engine cylinders for compression ignition of difficult to ignite fuels, and a controllable combustion chamber volume for limiting the maximum temperature during combustion. Energy storage with energy management are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sturman Digital Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Patent number: 11242818
    Abstract: A control device that controls an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit configured to, during an operation other than a start-up of the internal combustion engine, cause the fuel injection valve to execute one or a plurality of fuel injections in each cycle such that a target fuel injection amount in one injection becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum injection amount, and when the internal combustion engine is started up, in a case where startability of the internal combustion engine is insufficient, execute an excess split injection control for causing the fuel injection valve to execute more fuel injections than the maximum number of fuel injections per cycle while making the target fuel injection amount in one injection smaller than the minimum injection amount per cycle and maintaining a target total fuel injection amount per cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Mitani
  • Patent number: 11236693
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus including a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform calculating a target injection time, determining a first crank angle defining a start of fuel injection and a second crank angle defining an end of fuel injection, controlling a fuel injector in a first injection mode in which the fuel is injected for the first target injection time from a first time point corresponding to the first crank angle or a second injection mode in which the fuel is injected for the second target injection time from a second time point corresponding to a target crank angle, and the controlling including controlling the fuel injector so as to inject the fuel in the first injection mode first and in the second injection mode last when the fuel is injected multiple times between an intake stroke and a compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakajima, Hidekazu Hironobu, Nobuaki Ito, Yasunori Shinmi, Ryuichi Hata, Daiki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11230989
    Abstract: A system and method for toolless disablement of diesel engine fuel injectors during engine cranking to facilitate diagnostics by depressing an engine throttle to a predetermined minimum depression level, say, at least 90% of an engine throttle distance to a floor of a diesel vehicle, depressing a brake, actuating a compression-ignition cycle actuator to a crank position, and holding the depressed brake, depressed engine throttle to its predetermined depression level for a predetermined minimum period, for instance at least 3 seconds, sending signals from an engine throttle position sensor and an ignition sensor to an engine control module, receiving signals from the engine throttle position sensor and ignition sensor by the engine control module, sending signals from the engine control module to the at least one fuel injector to disable the at least one fuel injector, controlling cranking of an engine with the engine control module, and allowing the engine to crank with at least one disabled fuel injector and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Stephan Ehlers
  • Patent number: 11220976
    Abstract: A method to control the combustion of a compression ignition engine having the steps of: establishing, for each combustion cycle, a fuel quantity to be injected into the cylinder; injecting a first fraction of the fuel quantity; heating a second fraction of the fuel quantity, which is equal to the remaining fraction of the fuel quantity, to an injection temperature higher than 100° C.; injecting the second fraction of the fuel quantity heated to the injection temperature into the cylinder at the end of the compression stroke and at no more than 60° from the top dead centre; and decreasing the injection temperature and the ratio between the second fraction and the first fraction as the internal combustion engine increases and as the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MARMOTORS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Luca Marmorini
  • Patent number: 11199152
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition control section and an injection control section. When partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of an expansion stroke to initiate SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes an injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. Ignition timing of the preceding ignition is set to be more retarded when an in-cylinder pressure specified by an in-cylinder pressure specification section is high than when the in-cylinder pressure is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kota Matsumoto, Tomonori Urushihara, Keiji Maruyama, Masanari Sueoka, Ryohei Ono, Yuji Harada, Toru Miyamoto, Atsushi Inoue, Tatsuhiro Tokunaga, Takuya Ohura, Yusuke Kawai, Tomohiro Nishida, Keita Arai, Yodai Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11193464
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a needle valve that controls communication between a high pressure chamber and an injection hole, a follower valve provided inside a control chamber controlled by fuel pressure inside an intermediate chamber, and an open-close valve that controls communication between a first passage and a low pressure passage and communication between a second passage and the low pressure passage. The fuel injection valve is configured to control the gradient of the fuel injection rate from the injection hole with an improved configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanada, Naofumi Adachi, Masayuki Suzuki, Toshiaki Hijima, Motoya Kambara
  • Patent number: 11156181
    Abstract: A method of operating a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. The engine is determined to have a mode control value, which represents a threshold torque. During operation of the engine, a demanded torque of the internal combustion engine is determined and compared to the threshold torque. If the demanded torque is less than the threshold torque, the engine is operated in a low load mode that uses spark ignition and pre-mixed combustion. If the demanded torque is greater than the threshold torque, the engine is operated in a high load mode that uses compression ignition and diffusion combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Terrance Francis Alger, Thomas E. Briggs, Jr., Graham Thomas Conway
  • Patent number: 11143153
    Abstract: An injector nozzle used with an internal combustion engine for shaping a fluid flow is provided. The nozzle has a body and an orifice plate provided at an outlet of the body. The body and the plate extend symmetrically with respect to a central axis. The plate has an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, which are substantially parallel to each other to define a thickness of the plate. The plate has fluid passageways each having an orifice on the exterior surface. The fluid flow diverges through the fluid passageways to create stream jets. The imaginary extensions the passageways converge to create a focal point and an included angle associated with the focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: NOSTRUM ENERGY PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Nirmal Mulye, Osanan L. Barros Neto, Frank S. Loscrudato, William R. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 11131259
    Abstract: A system and method for transitioning a firing fraction of a variable displacement internal combustion engine when generating a desired torque output. During and following the transition to the second firing fraction, a charge of a combustion recipe is ascertained and used operating the cylinders of the variable displacement internal combustion engine to generate the desired torque output. The charge is preferably optimized for the engine operating at the second firing fraction, at least relative to the previous charge of the previous combustion recipe used with the first firing fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xiaoping Cai, Shikui Kevin Chen, Benjamin M. Wolk, Avra Brahma, Justin R. Lee
  • Patent number: 11111846
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, Lube Oil Controlled Ignition (LOCI) Engine Combustion overcomes the drawbacks of known combustion technologies. First, lubricating oil is already part of any combustion engine; hence, there is no need to carry a secondary fuel and to have to depend on an additional fuel system as in the case of dual-fuel technologies. Second, the ignition and the start of combustion rely on the controlled autoignition of the lubricating oil preventing the occurrence of abnormal combustion as experienced with the Spark Ignition technology. Third, LOCI combustion is characterized by the traveling of a premixed flame; hence, it has a controllable duration resulting in a wide engine load-speed window unlike the Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition technology where the engine load-speed window is narrow. Adaptive Intake Valve Closure may be used to control in-cylinder compression temperature to be high enough to realize the consistent auto ignition of the lubricating oil mist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Prometheus Applied Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maria-Emmanuella Sotiropoulou, Luigi P. Tozzi
  • Patent number: 11085410
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly in one embodiment includes a nozzle, at least one needle, and at least one actuator. The nozzle includes at least one cavity in fluid communication with nozzle openings. The at least one needle is movably disposed within the at least one cavity, and prevents flow through the nozzle openings in a closed position. The at least one actuator is configured to move the at least one needle within the cavity. The at least one actuator is configured to move the at least one needle to at least a first fuel delivery configuration and a second fuel delivery configuration. A first amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the at least one needle in the first fuel delivery configuration, and a second amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the at least one needle in the second fuel delivery configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Victor Manuel Salazar, Adam E. Klingbeil, Pradheepram Ottikkutti
  • Patent number: 11053869
    Abstract: The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 11015540
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is structured to determine that a combustion cylinder is operating in a transition period between an exhaust stroke and an intake stroke of the combustion cylinder. The second circuit is structured to provide an injection command during the transition period to a fuel injector associated with the combustion cylinder, the injection command being to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of the combustion cylinder such that at least a portion of the fuel escapes from the combustion chamber through an exhaust port of the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Chandan Mahato, John L. Hoehne, E. Nathan Linen, Shounak Mishra, Boopathi S. Mahadevan, Foy C. Henderson
  • Patent number: 10961932
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device includes a combustion degree of stoppage determination unit which determines whether stoppage of combustion of an internal combustion engine has reached a threshold degree, and an internal combustion engine control unit which performs a normal control in the case that the combustion of the engine is resumed in a state where stoppage of combustion has not reached the threshold degree, and performs a soot suppression control in the case that the engine combustion is resumed in a state where stoppage of combustion has reached the threshold degree. In the soot suppression control, the split injection or the single injection is carried out within the predetermined stroke, and the engine control unit causes a fuel injection timing in the single injection of the soot suppression control to be delayed with respect to the fuel injection timing in the single injection of the normal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Hashimoto, Naoki Fukuoka, Masayuki Yoshiiri, Kengo Takada, Mitsuo Hashizume
  • Patent number: 10934966
    Abstract: A combustion control system for a dual fuel engine includes a combustion control unit structured to receive phasing data for combustion of a main charge of gaseous fuel ignited by way of pilot shots of a liquid fuel, output a pilot fueling command based on the phasing data, and output a valve timing command. The combustion control unit is further structured to vary a phasing of combustion of a main charge of a gaseous fuel ignited by pilot shots of a liquid fuel based on an adjustment to at least one of a pilot shot delivery parameter or a valve timing parameter such as intake valve closing timing from a first engine cycle to a second engine cycle. Control of the intake valve timing can be based on a main pilot shot timing error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Anders, Jason Jon Rasmussen, Bobby John
  • Patent number: 10907568
    Abstract: A control device for a compression ignition engine is provided, which causes an injector to perform a pre-injection and a main injection, sets fuel injection timings of these injections so that an interval between a first peak of a heat release rate resulting from the combustion of fuel injected by the pre-injection and a second peak of the heat release rate resulting from the combustion of fuel injected by the main injection becomes an interval to make pressure waves caused by these combustions cancel each other out, and when an increase of an oxygen concentration of intake air supplied to a combustion chamber is detected, controls the injector to reduce the injection amount and retard the injection timing of the pre-injection compared with a case where the concentration increase is not detected under a condition that engine load and speed are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Matsuo, Yoshie Kakuda, Sangkyu Kim, Daisuke Shimo
  • Patent number: 10900450
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector having a nozzle with first and second sets of spray orifices formed therein. The fuel injector also includes a first and a second outlet check movable to open and close the first and second sets of spray orifices. Spray plume ducts are supported at fixed orientations relative to a nozzle of the fuel injector, and each are oriented in-line with a center axis defined by one of the spray orifices. The spray plume ducts may be directly attached to the fuel injector or to a duct carrier mounted to an engine head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Bobby John, Robert Michael Campion, Jonathan W. Anders