Engine Speed Regulator Patents (Class 123/319)
  • Publication number: 20130276748
    Abstract: In order to control an adjusting device of a motor vehicle, in particular a window lift, having a motor-driven adjusting part, the speed of the drive is controlled to a desired speed value during normal operation at least in a sub-range of an adjustment travel and the driving force is controlled to a desired force value in the event of difficult motion for a first time period. After the first time period has ended, the adjusting part is reversed or the drive is at least stopped in the event of pinching. If the difficult motion is not an event of pinching, the speed of the drive is controlled anew to the desired speed value, wherein the driving force is first reduced to a first force and is increased to the desired force value within a second time period and/or a value realized during normal operation is used as a desired force value for the driving force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: ALEX KROMER, THOMAS KLAUCK
  • Publication number: 20130276747
    Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine comprising, at least two cylinders wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group comprises at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different cylinder volumes, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a lesser cylinder volume and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a greater cylinder volume; and the at least one cylinder of the second group comprises an activatable and deactivatable cylinder. Use of the first cylinder group, and deactivation of the second cylinder group during partial loads increases engine efficiency and fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20130276759
    Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine comprising, at least two cylinders wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group comprises at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different compression ratios, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a higher compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a lower compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of the second group comprises an activatable and deactivatable cylinder. Use of the first cylinder group, and deactivation of the second cylinder group during partial loads increases engine efficiency and fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Jan Linsel
  • Publication number: 20130247868
    Abstract: An air-intake control apparatus of an internal combustion engine formed by attaching a flange portion provided to an end portion of a drive motor to a cylindrical hole portion. A throttle body has at least one positioning projection (or recess) provided to an inner wall of the cylindrical hole portion. The drive motor complementarily has at least one positioning recess (or projection) provided to the flange portion at a position corresponding to the positioning projection (or recess). The drive motor is attached to the cylindrical hole portion while the positioning recess (or projection) abuts on the positioning projection (or recess) in such a manner that a center distance between a motor shaft and a throttle shaft takes a predetermined value. Hence, not only attachment workability but also attachment accuracy of the drive motor can be enhanced. The air-intake control device therefore has higher product reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhisa KURITA, Chiaki SUGANO, Teruhiko MORIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20130239926
    Abstract: A drive-train of a motor vehicle, with a drive aggregate comprising at least an internal combustion engine (1), a transmission (3) connected between the internal combustion engine (1) and the drive output (2), and a starting clutch (4) connected between the internal combustion engine (1) and the transmission (3). The drive aggregate also has a shiftable by-pass transmission (5) arranged parallel to the starting clutch (4) which has at least one gear step (6), and an auxiliary clutch (7). In order to reduce the speed of the internal combustion engine (1), during overrun operation of the drive-train, the auxiliary clutch (7) is engaged and the starting clutch (4) is at least partially disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Johannes Glueckler
  • Publication number: 20130228152
    Abstract: An air supply device (1) of a stratified scavenging two-cycle engine includes: a mixture passage (40) that penetrates a carburetor (2) and an insulator (3), the mixture passage being provided by a carburetor-side mixture passage (8) and an insulator-side mixture passage (21); a air passage (41) that is provided by a carburetor-side air passage (9) and an insulator-side air passage (22); a throttle valve (13) provided in a single bore (4) of the carburetor (2), the throttle valve(13) being provided by a butterfly valve that rotates in conjunction with a throttle operation; and a flow rate regulator (28) provided inside the air passage (41), the flow-rate regulator (28) bulging inward in the air passage (41). At least a part of a periphery of a valve body (17) of the throttle valve is close to the flow-rate regulator (28) until the valve body (17) is rotated from an initial position corresponding to an idling speed at a predetermined rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA ZENOAH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryou Ono, Takashi Ohniwa
  • Publication number: 20130199464
    Abstract: Drive device having an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft; an electric machine with a rotor which rotates on a rotor shaft; a gearbox device; wherein the rotational axis of the crankshaft and the rotational axis of the rotor are arranged one next to the other in parallel; wherein the electric machine and the internal combustion engine are connected to one another by means of a gearbox element, wherein the electric machine and the internal combustion engine are positioned outside the gearbox device; the electric machine and the internal combustion engine have a common output shaft which is connected to the gearbox element and which is connected or can be connected to an input shaft of the gearbox device, wherein the common output shaft is positioned upstream of, or together with, the input shaft in the direction of the drive power flux from the internal combustion engine to the gearbox device, and wherein a hydrodynamic clutch is arranged between the rotor shaft of the electric machine and the common
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Ulrich Burr
  • Publication number: 20130192560
    Abstract: A safety device for controlling an engine includes a first and a second sensor of an environmental parameter, two channels for processing data measured by the sensors, each of the channels each including a command module and a power supply. The device includes at least two relays. The first relay is capable of receiving a first command coming from a supply and delivering, in the absence of the first command, data from the first sensor to the second command module. The second relay is capable of receiving a second command coming from the supply and delivering, in the absence of the second command, data from the second sensor to the first command module. The supply of the active channel sends a command to the relay associated with it, the relay sending data from the sensor to the active channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventor: Florent Nobelen
  • Publication number: 20130180499
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing variability in air-fuel control due to variations in brake booster vacuum levels at an engine start. A throttle position is adjusted during an engine start based on the vacuum availability in the brake booster to control a rate of intake aircharge flow. By allowing aircharge to enter the intake manifold at a more consistent rate, air-fuel control is improved and exhaust emissions are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Michael White, Mike Liebert, Andrew Clement Dame, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8463522
    Abstract: A vehicle running control device including: a vehicle speed sensor which detects an actual vehicle speed; a target vehicle speed setting unit; a target drive force calculation unit; a drive force control unit; a vehicle speed lowering allowance value setting unit; and a target drive force upper limit calculation unit. If the actual vehicle speed lowering amount with respect to the target vehicle speed is within the lowering allowance value, the target drive force calculation unit limits the target drive force to be not greater than the target drive force upper limit and the drive force control unit executes drive force control in accordance with the limited target drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Tomokuni, Naoto Sen, Akira Sugiyama, Tadayoshi Okada, Hiroshi Sato
  • Publication number: 20130092125
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for an engine system which includes a throttle turbine generator having a turbine which drives an auxiliary generator and disposed in a throttle bypass are described. In some examples, a throttle bypass valve is controlled to adjust airflow through the throttle bypass responsive to airflow to cylinders of the engine. In other examples, an operating parameter such as throttle position is controlled based on transient operating conditions of the engine. In still other examples, charging of a battery is coordinated between the auxiliary generator and a primary generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8397694
    Abstract: A method of torque-based control for an internal combustion engine may include determining a desired airflow rate into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine during an engine start condition, determining a torque limit for a torque-based engine control module based on the desired airflow rate, and regulating engine torque based on the determined torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Jon C. Miller, Robert C. Simon, Jr., Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Todd R. Shupe, Mark D. Carr
  • Patent number: 8387589
    Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a housing with an output shaft extending from the housing. There is a magnet disposed on the output shaft and the output shaft is coupled to an actuator arm. A motor rotates the output shaft. A position sensor mounted on a circuit board determines the position of the output shaft based on the position of the magnet. A position of the actuator arm may be determined based on the rotating position of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Marine Canada Acqusition Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Tat Lung Wong, Neil Garfield Allyn
  • Publication number: 20130054121
    Abstract: An engine system may include a fuel and air supply circuit and an exhaust circuit, a temperature sensor mounted on an exterior of the engine and an oxygen sensor located in the exhaust circuit. The fuel and air supply circuit may include a throttle body mounted on the engine and having a throttle valve to control the flow rate of air delivered to the engine, a fuel injector carried by the throttle body to deliver fuel to the engine and a fuel rail carried by at least one of the throttle body and the fuel injector and having an input to receive a supply of fuel and an outlet through which fuel is routed to the fuel injector. An engine control unit may be communicated with these components to control the fuel and air mixture provided to the engine as a function of the temperature and oxygen sensor outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Massimo Casoni, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs, Mark S. Swanson, Eric G. Zbytowski
  • Patent number: 8374758
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, determining preferability factors associated with the current and potential transmission operating range state and the engine state wherein the preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states include transmission input speed trip preferability factors, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the present transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Jason J McConnell
  • Patent number: 8364382
    Abstract: In a hybrid type vehicle designed to use an engine (1) and motor generators (MG1, MG2) to drive the vehicle, the engine (1) is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism (A) and a variable valve timing mechanism (B). When a required output of the engine (1) is a boundary output (PY) or less, minimum fuel consumption rate maintenance control satisfying the required output of the engine by changing the engine speed in a state maintaining the mechanical compression ratio at the maximum compression ratio is performed. When the required output of the engine is increased over the boundary output (PY), the mechanical compression ratio is lowered to the minimum mechanical compression ratio, then the engine output is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Irisawa
  • Patent number: 8347856
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having one or more deactivatable cylinders, the method including controlling the stability of a vehicle in response to vehicle acceleration, and reactivating or deactivating combustion in at least a cylinder in response to vehicle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Husein Sukaria, Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 8347854
    Abstract: A composite device assembled into a top of a head combustion chamber as a formed in place multiple spark ignition structure with embedded electrodes connected in a series electrical circuit spaced from a single centrally located ignition source to receive an arc from a central spark plug electrode to initiate a series multiple spark ignition within the series electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Flexible Ceramics, Inc
    Inventor: William A Clarke
  • Patent number: 8347855
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a stop-start initiation module and a load control module. The stop-start initiation module shuts down the engine in response to an engine shutdown request. The load control module, in response to the engine shutdown request, increases a rate at which a rotational speed of the engine decreases during engine shutdown by increasing a rotational load input to the engine by an engine accessory coupled to a crankshaft of the engine. A method for an engine includes shutting down the engine in response to an engine shutdown request. The method further includes increasing, in response to the engine shutdown request, a rate at which a rotational speed of the engine decreases during engine shutdown by increasing a rotational load input to the engine by an engine accessory coupled to a crankshaft of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Norman Schoenek, Michael G. Reynolds, Amin Abboud, Gary E. McGee, Douglas R. Verner, Sharon Liu
  • Patent number: 8340865
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle wheel spin control apparatus that, when it is determined that a wheel spin occurs, reduces engine torque to prevent the wheel spin, including: detecting driving control information and information on the state of a vehicle and determining whether basic conditions required to perform engine torque limit control to prevent the wheel spin are satisfied; when the basic conditions are satisfied, calculating a speed variation and the speed gradient value, and comparing the speed gradient value with a predetermined speed gradient value to determine whether a spin occurs; when it is determined that the spin occurs, using a torque gradient map set according to the current engine torque to perform the engine torque limit control; and when the vehicle speed is reduced by the engine torque limit control and cancellation conditions are satisfied, canceling the engine torque limit control and returning to normal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyungsoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120304965
    Abstract: A motorcycle having a head pipe, a vehicle body frame including a pair of left and right main flames extending rearward from the head pipe, and an engine below the vehicle body frame and including a cylinder having an inclined cylinder axis, and an intake device. The intake device has an air cleaner box above the engine and the main frames; a throttle body provided with throttle bores and a valve shaft penetrating the throttle bores, the throttle body is located on a rear side of the engine between the pair of left and right main frames and guides intake air from the air cleaner box to the engine; and a measuring device located on a rear side of the throttle body which rotates about a rotational shaft parallel to the valve shaft to measure a throttle operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsushi UCHIYAMA, Ikuo YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8315783
    Abstract: There are provided: a pedal operation amount detection unit 12 that detects an operation amount s of the accelerator pedal 11; a speed ratio detection unit 14, 15 that detects a speed ratio e of an input shaft and an output shaft of the torque converter 2; a load pressure detection unit 16 that detects a load pressure P of the hydraulic pump 6; a speed stage detection unit 18 that detects a low speed stage of a transmission 3 capable of varying a speed stage between a low speed stage and a high speed stage; and a speed limiting unit 10 that limits a maximum speed of the engine 1 to a lower speed upon satisfaction of following speed limitation conditions: at least a pedal operation amount s is equal to or greater than a predetermined value s1, a speed ratio e is equal to or less than a predetermined value ea, a load pressure P is equal to or greater than a predetermined value Pa, and the low speed stage of the transmission has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Hiroki Nakazono, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Atsushi Shimazu, Masaki Yoshikawa, Kentaro Itoga, Kazuo Chonan, Tomoo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8275523
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a commercial vehicle with a control unit connected with the drive of the commercial vehicle and to a method for controlling a commercial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Krimbacher
  • Patent number: 8260527
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a CPU, a throttle sensor, a shift actuator, and fuel injectors. When the CPU detects a control failure of the throttle valve with a value detected by the throttle sensor, the CPU adjusts the output of the engine by controlling the fuel injectors such that the motorcycle runs with a previously set negative target acceleration. Also, the CPU controls the shift actuator such that the transmission is shifted down in steps as the speed of the motorcycle decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Arai
  • Patent number: 8181627
    Abstract: An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin T. Sharples, Mark H. Costin, Timothy J. Hartrey, Christopher E. Whitney, Bahram Younessi, Weixin Yan, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard B. Jess, Joseph M. Stempnik, John A. Jacobs, Jinchun Peng, Leonard G. Wozniak, Vivek Mehta, Bruce A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8181628
    Abstract: A throttle valve controller for an internal combustion engine has a throttle valve driven by a motor. The target opening of the throttle valve is determined based on the operating state of the vehicle or internal combustion engine. A first lower limit is determined beforehand as the minimum target opening, and a second lower limit is set which is smaller than the first lower limit if the determined target opening is smaller than a predetermined opening and/or if the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is lower than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Akagi, Hidefumi Iwaki, Kenji Ono
  • Patent number: 8146565
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having one or more deactivatable cylinders, the method including controlling the stability of a vehicle in response to vehicle acceleration, and reactivating or deactivating combustion in at least a cylinder in response to vehicle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Husein Sukaria, Eric Tseng
  • Publication number: 20110265760
    Abstract: Engine systems have two or more internal combustion power units. The units are connected to deliver power by way of freewheeling mechanisms so that one of the power units may be stopped or idled while one or more other power units continues to supply power. A control system is configured to shut an air shut off valve and/or disable an ignition and/or fuel injection system to shut down an auxiliary one of the power units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Gile Jun Yang Park
  • Publication number: 20110220060
    Abstract: An implement comprises an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve. At least one handle, the inside of which is provided with a gas lever likewise in a pivotal manner, is attached to a housing surrounding the internal combustion engine. The minimum distance between the gas lever and the handle is defined by a stop. When the operator lifts the implement by the handle, the position of the gas lever also changes. Even when the gas lever is fully depressed, only a part-load position is achieved at the throttle valve. In this way, effective rotational speed limitation is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Wacker Neuson SE
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hausler, Helmut Braun
  • Patent number: 8019524
    Abstract: A first arbitration unit determines one demand engine torque of static demand engine torques set in a power train driver model and an ECT torque control system. The demand engine torque determined by the first arbitration unit is converted into dynamic demand engine torque by a conversion unit. A second arbitration unit determines demand engine torque for use in control of an engine from among the dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque by the conversion unit, dynamic demand engine torque set by a VDIM system, and dynamic demand engine torque set by a vibration suppression control system. An engine control system controls the engine according to the demand engine torque determined by the second arbitration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Oishi, Seiji Kuwahara, Shinichi Soejima, Ken Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 8012597
    Abstract: In a throttle body, a passive film and a corrosion-resistant film are stacked in that order on a substrate of aluminum. The passive film has a concave part on its corrosion-resistant film side. A metal layer is provided in the concave part. In shot blasting, upon collision of a blasting material against the corrosion-resistant film, a part of the blasting material is separated and adhered onto the resultant concaves to form the metal layer. For example, aluminum having a purity of not less than 98% is selected as the blasting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Botaro Watanabe, Takeshi Hirama
  • Publication number: 20110192374
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine spin-down in an engine that is shutdown during engine idle-stop conditions and restarted during restart conditions. In one example, the method comprises, during an automatic engine idle-stop, turning off spark, operating a first cylinder with a rich ratio of air to injected fuel richer than a rich flammability limit, operating a second cylinder with a lean ratio of air to injected fuel leaner than a lean flammability limit, and mixing un-combusted exhaust from the first and second cylinders with exhaust, the exhaust mixture being substantially stoichiometric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7950366
    Abstract: An engine control device includes a governor lever, a centrifugal governor, a control lever operated to oscillate between a low-speed position and a high-speed position, and a governor spring expandedly provided between the control lever and the governor lever. An automatic choke device is connected to a choke valve of a carburetor. A play is provided between the governor lever and the governor spring. The play holds the governor spring in a free state during rotation of the control lever from the low-speed position to the high-speed position by a predetermined angle. A subsidiary spring is provided between a fixed structure and the governor lever so as to constantly urge the governor lever in a direction to open the throttle valve. A spring constant of the subsidiary spring is smaller than that of the governor spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Arai, Takanori Sato, Ryuhei Tamamoto
  • Patent number: 7950365
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an oil pressure regulating valve having a solenoid, a variable cam phase mechanism for changing a cam phase, and an ECU for controlling the oil pressure regulating valve. The ECU includes an actual cam phase detecting unit, a target cam phase setting unit, a feedback control unit, a coil temperature detecting unit, a circuit resistance calculating unit, and an integral term initial value calculating unit. When an integral term is initialized, the feedback control unit sets the holding output duty as the integral term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Tanaka, Shinji Watanabe, Tatsuhiko Takahashi, Masayoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7934582
    Abstract: A noise and vibration reduction system for an engine affixed to a body and a method for reducing vibrations in the body produced by that engine during operation. The present invention is particularly related to noise and vibration reduction in auxiliary power units installed on long-haul trucks and similar types of transportation vehicles. The primary noise and vibration reduction components of the present invention include an air intake silencer, a vibration tuner, and an engine speed limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Go Green APU LLC
    Inventors: Edward Joseph O'Malley, Glenn Thomas Williamson, Richard Glen Shaff
  • Publication number: 20110041800
    Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a housing with an output shaft extending from the housing. There is a magnet disposed on the output shaft and the output shaft is coupled to an actuator arm. A motor rotates the output shaft. A position sensor mounted on a circuit board determines the position of the output shaft based on the position of the magnet. A position of the actuator arm may be determined based on the rotating position of the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Ray Tat Lung Wong, Neil Garfield Allyn
  • Patent number: 7878173
    Abstract: A control device for a marine engine comprised so that a section of an angle sufficiently narrower than a crank angle corresponding to each stroke of a combustion cycle of the engine is set as an instantaneous speed detection section, a crank angle position that appears every time the engine rotates in the instantaneous speed detection section is detected as a specific crank angle position, an instantaneous rotational speed of the engine is detected every time each specific crank angle position is detected, it is determined whether the engine needs to be assisted from the degree of reduction in the instantaneous rotational speed, and a motor-generator including a rotor directly connected to a crankshaft of the engine is driven to apply a drive force from the motor-generator to the engine when it is determined that the engine needs to be assisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Kishibata
  • Patent number: 7849680
    Abstract: A system for reducing the emissions produced by an engine affixed to a body during operation and reducing noise and vibration. The present invention is particularly related to a small form factor active/passive Diesel Particulate Filter system having an exhaust backpressure sensor, a heating element, a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, a power relay switch, a filter and an electronic control unit for controlling the heating element based on backpressure detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Go Green APU LLC
    Inventors: Richard Shaff, Raymond English, Edward Patrick Picton
  • Patent number: 7848859
    Abstract: A device and a method for evaluating a sensor signal indicating the position of an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the device compares the sensor signal to a first comparison level, and an idle state is ascertained if the first comparison level is undershot. When a start of the motor vehicle from rest is detected, a departure from the idle state is inferred if a second comparison level, which is lower than the first comparison level, is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Homeyer, Michael Dornhausen
  • Patent number: 7840336
    Abstract: In a gas turbine aeroengine control system, in Ch-A (first control channel), a first CPU monitors the operation of a second CPU and the second CPU monitors the operation of the first CPU; in Ch-B (second control channel), third and fourth CPUs similarly monitor each other, and when the operation of at least one of the first and second CPUs in Ch-A is found not to be normal, the output sent to an FCU (fuel control unit) is switched from the output of one or the other of the first and second CPUs of Ch-A to the output of one or the other of the third and fourth CPUs of Ch-B, thereby achieving improved CPU failure detection and realizing high redundancy and high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Muramatsu, Yuichi Hattori, Makoto Tezuka
  • Publication number: 20100288214
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and a method for maximizing fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block assembly having an electromagnet coupled thereto and an engine component movable relative to the engine block assembly. The engine component includes a permanent magnet coupled thereto. A control system is provided to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Douglas A. Pelmear
  • Patent number: 7822535
    Abstract: When engine stop control is executed, an ECU estimates input power to a power storage device in accordance with an estimation of power generated by a generator and estimation of total power consumption of circuitry from the generator to the power storage device in the current state of operation. Further, the ECU compares the estimated input power with a tolerable input power to the storage device. When the generated power is excessive, the state of operation of the circuitry is changed such that the total power consumption by the circuitry increases, and then, torque output of the generator is permitted, to attain desired deceleration at the engine stop. Accordingly, in the engine stop control in which stopping force is generated by the power generating operation by the rotating electric machine, excessive charging caused by excessive power input to the power storage device can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 7816874
    Abstract: In a four-wheel drive vehicle, front wheels 14L and 14R are driven by an engine 1, and rear wheels 15L and 15R are driven by an electric motor 5. A high-power alternator 2 is driven by the engine 1, and electric power generated from the alternator 2 drives the motor 5. In addition to controlling the power generation of the high-power alternator 2 and the driving of the motor 5, a 4WD CU 100 estimates an induced voltage E of the motor 5 from a voltage MHV of the motor and from an output current Ia of the high-power alternator, and estimates a rotating speed Nm of the motor from estimation results on the induced voltage E.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Matsuzaki, Masaru Ito, Shin Fujiwara, Yuuichirou Takamune, Kohei Itoh
  • Patent number: 7788021
    Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a control unit for monitoring and limiting the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine that are designed in such a manner that after a predetermined first speed threshold an integral formation of the current present values over time occurs, and that, on reaching a predetermined integral limit value, the rotational speed is automatically limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7698050
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a drive unit are provided, which allow for a reproducible load reversal damping. For this purpose, a setpoint value for an output variable of the drive unit is limited so that an overrun fuel cutoff of the drive unit is prevented. A limiting value for the setpoint value for the output variable is formed as a function of a loss value of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Ludwig, Ruprecht Anz
  • Patent number: 7669580
    Abstract: An electronic engine speed control system for a grass mowing machine powered by an internal combustion engine includes a microcontroller providing an output signal to an engine speed actuator for the engine, a pedal position sensor connected to a foot pedal and providing a voltage input signal to the microcontroller based on the position of the foot pedal, a PTO clutch switch providing a signal input to the microcontroller indicating if a PTO clutch is engaged, and a lever position sensor connected to a hand lever and having a range of positions including an Automatic mode position and a plurality of Manual mode positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, John Boyd Kuhn, Harlin J. Trefz, Donald William Ertmer
  • Patent number: 7627407
    Abstract: An ECU determines the presence/absence of a fault of a negative pressure generation device that has an ejector that generates a negative pressure that is greater than the negative pressure that is to be extracted from an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, and a VSV that causes the ejector to function or stop functioning. The ECU includes a presence/absence-of-abnormality determination portion that determines the presence/absence of an abnormality of the negative pressure generation device on the basis of variation of the rotation speed Ne of the internal combustion engine in accordance with change in the state of operation of the VSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigemasa Hirooka
  • Patent number: 7584743
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing noise associated with an internal combustion engine comprises operating an engine at an initial speed. An exhaust system has a resonant cavity to attenuate exhaust noise. A microphone detects a sound level at or near an exhaust system of the engine operated the initial speed. A controller controls or adjusts the initial speed to a revised speed if the detected sound level does not meet or fall below a desired sound level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Clement Vanden Godbold
  • Patent number: 7530347
    Abstract: There is provided an air amount computing unit, and a fuel control unit, of an internal combustion engine that calculates a cylinder flow-in air amount during a transient state without response delay and so as not to have any inflection point in changes of flow rate and that allows a desirable air-fuel ratio to be kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Asano, Masahiro Sato, Shigeru Nishita, Kenichi Kotabe, Kenji Mizushima, Sadato Horiuchi, Makoto Muto
  • Patent number: 7509205
    Abstract: A speed control system is for a vehicle having an engine including a carburetor with a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position. The speed control system includes a ground speed limiter mechanism operatively coupled with the throttle plate and configured to displace the plate toward the minimum position as ground speed of the vehicle approaches a predetermined maximum value. An engine speed limiter mechanism is operatively coupled with the throttle plate and is configured to displace the plate toward the minimum position as a speed of the engine approaches a predetermined maximum value. Preferably, a control linkage is connected with the throttle plate and is moveable between a first configuration, at which the throttle plate is disposed at the minimum position, and a second configuration at which the throttle plate is disposed at the maximum position, the two limiter mechanisms displacing the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Club Car, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Warren McLeod