Throttling (e.g., Volume Varying Using Throttle Valve) Patents (Class 123/403)
  • Patent number: 7779812
    Abstract: In one example, a method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting dilution in the combustion chamber of the engine to reduce surge in response to the vehicle acceleration. The dilution may be adjusted by adjusting cam timing, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Publication number: 20100154742
    Abstract: A variable ratio throttle control is disclosed for an off road utility vehicle. The variable ratio throttle control includes a butterfly throttle on a throttle shaft pivotably mounted to a throttle body, a bell crank on the throttle shaft, and a lever extension extending radially from the bell crank to provide an extended lever arm until the butterfly throttle is partially open. A throttle cable is connected between an accelerator pedal and the lever extension, the throttle cable being displaceable by depressing the accelerator pedal to turn the extended lever arm. The lever extension abuts a kick plate once the butterfly throttle is partially open. The butterfly throttle may be fully opened by displacing the throttle cable to turn the bell crank after the lever extension abuts the kick plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Alex Reuteman Scheuerell
  • Publication number: 20100126462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method which uses an injection mould for the production of an intake system which is composed of plastic and is intended for internal combustion engines, and which has a plurality of parallel-running intake pipes and which has, arranged in the intake pipes, throttle flaps operated by way of a shared shaft bearing against bearings located in the walls of the intake pipe. A simplified production process is obtained if two mandrels (1, 2) of the injection mould, intended for formation of apertures for the bearings, are inserted respectively from one side of the injection mould in such a way that ends of the mandrels (1, 2) bear against one another in the injection mould, and if the method of production of apertures situated further outwards, with respectively greater diameter than the adjacent inwardly situated apertures is such that each mandrel (1, 2) is of staged shape, and the mandrels (1, 2) are drawn out during demoulding at the two sides of the injection mould.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Schnabel, Siegfried Deiss
  • Patent number: 7721708
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a general-purpose air-cooled internal combustion engine having two cylinders each equipped with a throttle valve and a fuel injector, and a cooling fan that selectively directs air onto the cylinders, a throttle driver selectively drives the respective throttle valve of each cylinder to open or close. The system also includes an injector driver that selectively drives the respective injector of each cylinder to open, and a controller that controls operation of the throttle driver and injector driver in such a way that the throttle opening and an amount of fuel to be injected are different for each cylinder, such that an engine speed becomes substantially constant, thereby enabling the engine to obtain desired output characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Matsuda, Tomoki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7699038
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling the opening of an internal combustion engine throttle valve body assembly, characterized in that it includes the following steps: specifically mapping the engine, limiting the opening angle of the throttle valve body assembly, and defining particular operating points requiring replacement of the usual mapping by the specific mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Renault Sport Technologies
    Inventors: Christophe Laurens, Francois Ratinet, Frederic Thevenod
  • Patent number: 7654247
    Abstract: A gas engine has a starting operation mode in which fuel gas flow is controlled based on actual mixture flow rate and adequate excess air ratio prescribed for each of detected values of operating conditions of the engine and then mixture flow is controlled so that engine rotation speed approaches a target rotation speed, and a normal operation mode in which fuel gas flow is controlled so that engine rotation speed approaches the target rotation speed and then mixture flow rate is controlled so that air fuel ratio of the mixture coincides with an adequate value prescribed for each of detected values of operating conditions of the gas engine with the fuel gas flow flowing at the commanded fuel gas flow rate, and a switchover rotation speed is predetermined so that operation mode is switched from starting mode to normal mode when engine speed reaches the switchover rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shiraishi, Yoshitaka Kakuhama, Kei Sakai, Yosuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7647159
    Abstract: When the engine load is in a high-load zone, an absolute value control is executed, wherein the actual values of valve timings of an intake valve and an exhaust valve and a valve duration of the intake valve are controlled to coincide with respective target values set based on the operating state of an internal combustion engine. When the engine load is in a low-load zone, a relative value control is executed, wherein an actual value of a valve overlap amount of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is controlled to coincide with a target valve overlap amount obtained based on the target values. Therefore, a control method for the internal combustion engine that is appropriate for the operating state of the engine when the operating state of the engine is in transition is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naohide Fuwa
  • Publication number: 20090250037
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine calculates a provisional target value of the throttle opening in accordance with an accelerator pedal travel, upon detection of a sudden operation of the accelerator pedal. The system also calculates a target pressure change in the surge tank according to the provisional target value, on the basis of the actual surge tank pressure and the cylinder intake mass airflow, using a virtual intake system model. The control system sets a target throttle opening in accordance with the surge tank pressure and the cylinder intake mass airflow, so as to provide the target pressure change under a condition of the actual surge tank volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Eiraku
  • Patent number: 7597072
    Abstract: A system and method to control valve timing and valve lift of an engine is described. The valve timing can be adjusted to improve engine operation when a range of fuels are used. The method can improve engine performance and the energy utilization, at least under some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Stein, Stephen L. Hahn
  • Publication number: 20090194068
    Abstract: A flow controlling method for an auxiliary intake flow passage for use in a power unit which includes a starter clutch which is automatically engaged and disengaged in response to the engine speed. An intake air control valve (IACV) carries out changeover from water temperature dependent control (open loop control of adjusting the flow rate of the auxiliary intake flow passage in response to the warming up state of an engine) to target engine speed feedback control when the actual engine speed NE [rpm] drops to a clutch disengagement engine speed NEout (engine speed at which the centrifugal clutch is disengaged) (S3: Yes) and the opening ?1 [degree] of the throttle valve becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value (throttle valve opening threshold value TH—?1 (S4: Yes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Yasutaka Usukura, Hiroshi Noda, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20090198431
    Abstract: The disclosure sets forth operating a spark-ignition, direct-fuel injection internal combustion engine, including transitioning the engine from operating in a stratified charge combustion mode to operating in a homogeneous charge combustion mode. External EGR flow is discontinued, and an in-cylinder trapped air mass and an in-cylinder EGR mass in an air intake system of the engine are estimated. Engine throttle position is controlled to achieve trajectories for air/fuel ratio and the in-cylinder EGR mass determined based upon the estimated in-cylinder trapped air mass and the in-cylinder EGR mass in the air intake system. A double-injection fueling strategy and a single-injection fueling are used during the transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Cleary, Jyh-Shin Chen, Qi Ma
  • Publication number: 20090182486
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for operating an internal combustion engine, which make possible an improved characteristics curve correction of an actuator in an air supply of the internal combustion engine. In the process, an air mass flow supplied to the internal combustion engine is influenced via the actuator in an air supply. For the setting of an actuating position of the actuator having a specified, e.g., minimum, air mass flow, starting from a specified actuating position, the actuator is moved by an offset value of the actuating position. The offset value of the actuating position is corrected as a function of an offset value for the air mass flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Alex Grossmann, Michael Drung, Torsten Baumann
  • Patent number: 7506632
    Abstract: An air-intake device includes a throttle valve pivotally movable around a shaft connected to one end of the throttle valve and an airflow passage formed in the intake air passage above an upper end of the throttle valve. In a region where an amount of intake air is small (i.e., in a region where an opening-degree of the throttle valve is small), an amount of intake air passing through the airflow passage is precisely controlled. In the same region, a high-speed airflow is generated in the airflow passage thereby to formulate a uniform air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. These functions are easily realized by simply adding a member for forming the airflow passage to a throttle valve unit disposed in the intake air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Suzuki, Katsuya Torii
  • Publication number: 20090071149
    Abstract: A method of operating a stationary internal combustion machine comprising a compressor device of variable compressor geometry which compresses gas fed to the internal combustion machine, and a throttle device which is connected downstream of the compressor device and with which the amount of compressed gas fed to the internal combustion machine is variable, wherein the internal combustion machine is regulated by way of the actuation of at least two adjusting members, wherein the internal combustion machine is regulated to a—preferably substantially constant—engine regulating value, and upon a deviation in the engine regulating value from a reference value the amount of gas fed to the internal combustion machine is altered by the actuation of the throttle device as the first adjusting member and by the variation in the geometry of the compressor device as the second adjusting member so that the engine regulating value is re-set to the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Rainer Greuter, Johann Hirzinger, Johann Klausner
  • Publication number: 20090071438
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling starting of a gas engine is proposed which is superior in starting performance and improved in load responsivity while maintaining air fuel ratio control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shiraishi, Yoshitaka Kakuhama, Kei Sakai, Yosuke Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20090071439
    Abstract: An integrative control method and device for controlling gas engines is proposed which is improved load responsivity of the engine while maintaining air fuel ratio control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shiraishi, Yoshitaka Kakuhama, Kei Sakai, Yosuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7469677
    Abstract: A butterfly valve device (1), particularly an electrically actuated butterfly valve device (1) e.g. for use in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine is designed in such a way that the effort required for assembling the intake manifold can be reduced while the requirements regarding dimensional tolerances and tightness can be met and the number of parts is minimized. This aim is achieved by the fact that at least one housing part (3) of the butterfly valve device (1) is embodied monolithically along with an intake pipe (15) that is disposed upstream or downstream of the butterfly valve device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hannewald, Stefan Köhler, Hubert Limbrunner
  • Publication number: 20080308066
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain in a vehicle is provided. The powertrain includes an electric drive and an internal combustion engine. The method comprises providing torque to drive the vehicle from both the electric drive and the engine, where engine torque is varied within an allowable range; and when operating the engine at an edge of the range, adjusting the range based on whether a selected operating condition can be provided by the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Ed Badillo, Paul M. Gartner
  • Patent number: 7461644
    Abstract: A method for controlling a dethrottled internal combustion engine, which has a shared fresh gas line which supplies fresh gas to fresh gas pipes, which in turn supply fresh gas to each cylinder. The engine has at least one intake valve per cylinder, a clocked valve per fresh gas pipe for opening and closing the gas pipe and a fuel injector for each cylinder, for metered addition of fuel. The chronological location of the injection time of the fuel is adjusted for the respective cylinder as a function of a point in time of a change in the switch position of the respective clocked valve, to improve the emission values of the engine. In addition, the clocked valves are controlled so that the metered addition of fresh gas is accomplished for the respective cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Elsässer, Jörg Rückauf
  • Patent number: 7444983
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of calculating a correction coefficient K (1) having a value that is greater as an accelerator pedal position is greater, calculating a first throttle position (1) as a product of a reference value BSE (1) and the correction coefficient K (1), calculating a correction coefficient K (2) having a value that is greater as the accelerator pedal position is greater, and calculating a second throttle position (2) as a product of a reference value BSE (2) and the correction coefficient K (2). If the throttle position is equal to or higher than the first throttle position (1), a target position lower than a provisional target position set in accordance with the accelerator pedal position is set. If the throttle position is set to the second throttle position (2), the throttle position is maintained at the second throttle position (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Tanei
  • Patent number: 7418945
    Abstract: A fresh gas system for a piston engine has a collecting line for supplying fresh air to multiple individual lines. The fresh gas system has the collecting line which is unthrottled and a control unit for actuation of the additional valves is designed so that it subdivides a fresh gas charge of the combustion chamber which depends on the load state into two charging phases (A, B) within an intake time window (T). This is limited by the opening and closing of the intake valve such that it actuates the additional valve to close within the intake time window (T) at a closing point in (TS). This depends on the load state and then actuates it to open at a later opening point in time (TO) that depends on the load state of the piston engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Elsässer, René Dingelstadt
  • Publication number: 20080184960
    Abstract: The throttle body of the present invention includes a reversion restriction preferably in the form of a reed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Steven M. Tassinari, Scott A. Tassinari
  • Patent number: 7401579
    Abstract: An intake port of an internal combustion engine 10 is provided with a fuel injection valve 22. An intake adjustment mechanism 30 for varying the valve timing of an intake valve 24 and an exhaust adjustment mechanism 32 for varying the valve timing of an exhaust valve 26 are furnished. Immediately after internal combustion engine startup, fuel atomization is facilitated by exercising control so that the valve opening timing for the intake valve 24 coincides with a retarded valve opening timing after exhaust top dead center. In such an instance, the fuel introduced into a cylinder is inhibited from adhering to the exhaust valve 26 and its neighborhood by exercising control in such a manner that the valve closing timing for the exhaust valve 26 coincides with a retarded vale closing timing, which is retarded from a normal valve closing timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Murase, Hiroki Ichinose, Yuuichi Katou
  • Patent number: 7380538
    Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle body, a seat, an engine, an ECU, a throttle body, a throttle valve, a throttle valve actuator, a throttle operator, and a throttle operator position sensor. A shifter is disposed on the vehicle in proximity to the seat for selecting a vehicle operation direction between a forward direction and a reverse direction. A vehicle operation direction sensor senses the vehicle operation direction. The ECU limits a maximum speed of the vehicle when it operates in the reverse direction. In another aspect, the ECU limits the degree of opening of the throttle valve when it operates in the reverse direction. Methods of controlling an engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gagnon, Jean Daunais
  • Patent number: 7367314
    Abstract: A governor system is provided for limiting a degree of throttle travel of a throttle as a function of rotational speed of a drive axle. The governor system includes a governor shaft rotatably supported by the drive axle and operably interconnected to internal components of the drive axle for varying a feedback torque, a governor arm fixed for rotation with the governor shaft, a throttle cable interconnected with the governor arm for applying a first pulling force to the throttle and an accelerator cable resiliently interconnected with the governor arm to apply a second pulling force to the governor arm. The second pulling force induces rotation of the governor arm for applying a torque on the governor shaft. The torque balances with the feedback torque of the governor shaft for limiting the second pulling force as a function of the rotational speed of the drive axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Houston
  • Patent number: 7360514
    Abstract: A process for operating an internal combustion engine with a charging device such as a turbocharger and with an intake valve drive mechanism which is variable with respect to its intake valve control times and/or its intake valve stroke. Upon recognition of a positive charge requirement during the operation of the charging device, the at least one variable intake valve drive mechanism is driven in such a manner that an available stroke reserve and/or intake closure control time reserve is utilized to increase the charge amount introduced into an engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gregor Rottenkolber, Fabian Balles
  • Patent number: 7360515
    Abstract: A variable valve mechanism performs a valve lift switching operation for an intake valve. ECU defines valve lift switching characteristics corresponding to the engine operating region and executes the valve lift switching operation based on the switching characteristics. ECU calculates a parameter fluctuation amount of an engine occurring in response to the valve lift switching operation, and corrects the valve lift switching characteristics when the calculated parameter fluctuation amount exceeds a predetermined judgment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20080078357
    Abstract: An air intake control system is provided for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The control system includes an intake port of a cylinder head for an engine main body, a throttle body having a throttle valve and connected to the intake port, an electric actuator having an electric motor and arranged on the throttle body to drive open or close the throttle valve, and a connector disposed on a housing of the electric actuator in a position facing toward one axial end of a crankshaft. The connector is provided in order to connect to an outside conductor to the electric motor of the electric actuator. The resulting configuration facilitates the work to connecting the outside conductor to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Takeru Abe, Masanobu Urabe, Takaaki Tsukui
  • Publication number: 20080078356
    Abstract: A control device for an internal-combustion engine has a casing having an intake passage through which intake air is supplied to a combustion chamber of the internal-combustion engine, an intake air control valve which is arranged at the intake passage, an actuator for actuating a shaft of the intake air control valve, and an engine control unit for controlling the actuator based on an operation state of the internal-combustion engine. The engine control unit makes an operation of the internal-combustion engine continue until a predetermined period has elapsed since an engine key switch became OFF, and controls the actuator such that an opening degree of the intake air control valve is in a predetermined valve closed state where the suction control valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masamichi Akagawa
  • Patent number: 7347183
    Abstract: For accurately estimating an air quantity flowing into a cylinder at the time of operating an intake control valve, a control apparatus for an engine according to the present invention is provided with an intake control valve which can open/close an intake passage in synchronization with opening/closing of an intake valve, intake control valve controlling means which opens the intake control valve in the midst of the intake stroke and thereafter, closes the intake control valve, and air quantity estimating means which estimates an air quantity flowing into a cylinder after the intake control valve has opened, based upon opening timing of the intake control valve, closing timing or an opening period of the intake control valve, and a pressure at a downstream side of the intake control valve at the opening timing of the intake control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Tabata, Tomohiro Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20080060614
    Abstract: During a process of increasing the throttle opening when the accelerator pedal is depressed while the vehicle is in a decelerating condition, first throttle opening holding control for holding the throttle opening substantially constant is performed. During the process of increasing the throttle opening after the first throttle opening holding control is finished, second throttle opening holding control for holding the throttle opening substantially constant again is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hanamura
  • Patent number: 7334566
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a manifold, from which an induction pipe leads to an intake of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. A gas intake valve is located at the intake of the cylinder. A pulse charging valve is positioned upstream of the gas intake valve in the induction pipe, the latter being released or sealed depending on the selected position of the pulse charging valve. The internal combustion engine is also provided with a pressure sensor, which is located in the induction tract and detects an induction pipe pressure. The progression of the detected induction pipe pressure is compared to that of a reference induction pipe pressure, which characterizes a predetermined operating state of the pulse charging valve. A malfunction of the pulse charging valve is detected depending on said comparison, thus guaranteeing a reliable monitoring of the pulse charging valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernhard Klingseis
  • Publication number: 20080035123
    Abstract: A method of carboration and combustion where a combustible gas is mixed and burned in a compression combustion engine yielding power and no hydro carbons. Where a certain H2 gas derivative is mixed with other gases and burned. And where the gas entering the combustion area is controlled by varing the pressure and thus the power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: William F. Rosskob
  • Publication number: 20080006241
    Abstract: A butterfly valve device (1), particularly an electrically actuated butterfly valve device (1) e.g. for use in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine is designed in such a way that the effort required for assembling the intake manifold can be reduced while the requirements regarding dimensional tolerances and tightness can be met and the number of parts is minimized. This aim is achieved by the fact that at least one housing part (3) of the butterfly valve device (1) is embodied monolithically along with an intake pipe (15) that is disposed upstream or downstream of the butterfly valve device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Hannewald, Stefan Kohler, Hubert Limbrunner
  • Patent number: 7314028
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine for controlling the engine while compensating for a deviation of an intake air amount from the proper value, caused by the thermal expansion and contraction of a variable intake mechanism thereof, which makes it possible to improve the control accuracy, make the engine compact in size, increase the degree of freedom of design, and reduce manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Hiroshi Tagami
  • Patent number: 7311083
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 7305967
    Abstract: In throttle control, a throttle opening is set with sufficient control accuracy in accordance with the operating state of an engine despite variations in a throttle body and various kinds of sensors. A target effective opening area is calculated from a target amount of intake air, an atmospheric pressure, an intake pipe internal pressure and an intake air temperature by using a flow rate formula for a throttle type flow meter. A target throttle opening is calculated from a correlation map. An actual effective opening area is calculated from the amount of intake air, the atmospheric pressure, the intake pipe internal pressure, and the intake air temperature by using the above-mentioned flow rate formula, and a learning throttle opening is calculated from the correlation map. The target throttle opening is corrected by a throttle opening learning value calculated from a deviation between the target throttle opening and the learning throttle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Hagari, Hideki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7284522
    Abstract: A choke valve is controlled finely suited to the running state of an engine. A throttle valve 8 and a choke valve 9 are provided in series on an intake pipe 6, and the opening degree of the choke valve 9 is controlled by a stepping motor 11. A choke valve opening degree upon start of engine (start opening degree) and a driving pulse rate of a stepping motor 11 are determined depending on the engine temperature. When lower than the engine temperature TL, the pulse rate is set at first rate, or the lowest rate in a specified range. Depending on the engine temperature, the pulse rate is set higher gradually up to second rate TH. When releasing the choke gradually in warm-up operation, the pulse rate is lowered so as to obtain a choke opening degree of high precision by a high torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kamimura, Kouichi Asai, Hitoshi Abe, Ryo Saito, Masashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7281368
    Abstract: In an NOx discharge quantity estimation method for an internal combustion engine equipped with an EGR apparatus, the gas components (e.g., oxygen molecules and NOx) of intake gas taken into a combustion chamber are assumed to be uniformly distributed throughout the entire region of the combustion chamber. Under such assumption, the combustion chamber is divided into a combustion region (region B) and a non-combustion region (region A) by making use of the ratio of the “mass of oxygen consumed as a result of combustion” to the “total mass of oxygen taken in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruhiko Miyake, Shigeki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7222594
    Abstract: A variable valve mechanism performs a valve lift switching operation for an intake valve. ECU defines valve lift switching characteristics corresponding to the engine operating region and executes the valve lift switching operation based on the switching characteristics. ECU calculates a parameter fluctuation amount of an engine occurring in response to the valve lift switching operation, and corrects the valve lift switching characteristics when the calculated parameter fluctuation amount exceeds a predetermined judgment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7222603
    Abstract: Disclosed is a subunit having a hollow cylinder which is provided with an opening on at least one face and in which a spring bearing is arranged on the inside of the face and a first valve spring resting against said spring bearing. A shaft that is guided within the spring bearing is disposed in the first valve spring so as to be reversibly movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder. A thrust bearing for the first valve spring is located at the end of the shaft, which faces away from said face of the hollow cylinder, the thrust bearing being connected to the shaft. A second valve spring is placed between the thrust bearing and the interior on the opposite face of the hollow cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Rajko Colic, Herbert Severien
  • Patent number: 7213550
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism for changing a valve timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve; a pressure for detecting an intake pressure and an exhaust pressure of the internal combustion engine that pulsate in association with the actions of the piston, the intake valve, and the exhaust valve; and controller for setting the valve timing based on a magnitude relationship between the intake pressure and the exhaust pressure detected by the pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 7210454
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having cylinders capable of selectively resting during engine operation is capable of eliminating step increases in engine output when the number of operative cylinders is changed. The internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders divided into two or more groups, at least some of the cylinders being restable. A throttle valve of each of the cylinders is independently operable on the basis of the group to which the cylinder belongs, and the number of resting cylinders is controlled according to the throttle grip opening. The throttle valve opening is different between the groups, except for the full opening condition and the full closure condition of the throttle valve, and an ECU is provided for opening the throttle valve of the next cylinder group before the throttle valve opening of the former cylinder group reaches the full opening condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Shinji Saito, Kazuhito Hotta, Takaaki Tsukui
  • Patent number: 7162999
    Abstract: A governor system is provided for limiting a degree of throttle travel of a throttle as a function of rotational speed of a drive axle. The governor system includes a governor shaft rotatably supported by the drive axle and operably interconnected to internal components of the drive axle for varying a feedback torque, a governor arm fixed for rotation with the governor shaft, a throttle cable interconnected with the governor arm for applying a first pulling force to the throttle and an accelerator cable resiliently interconnected with the governor arm to apply a second pulling force to the governor arm. The second pulling force induces rotation of the governor arm for applying a torque on the governor shaft. The torque balances with the feedback torque of the governor shaft for limiting the second pulling force as a function of the rotational speed of the drive axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Houston
  • Patent number: 7143743
    Abstract: The throttle position corresponding to the rotational angle of the throttle valve is calculated based on electric signals output from a rotor position detector constituted by three Hall ICs that detect the rotational position of a magnet rotor of a brushless DC motor. A valve position control quantity of the throttle valve is so calculated as to eliminate the difference between the thus calculated valve position and a target valve position. The motor current control quantity of the brushless DC motor is so determined as to eliminate the difference between the calculated valve position and the target valve position. Though the throttle position sensor is omitted, the electric signals output from the rotor position detector are used for calculating both the valve position control quantity and the motor current control quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Uda, Tsuyoshi Kanda, Taisuke Murata, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7107948
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine and an engine control unit. The engine includes an intake valve that opens and closes the opening of a cylinder, a valve actuator that drives the intake valve and can arbitrarily control the lift amount of the intake valve, an intake passage that introduces air and fuel into the cylinder through the opening of the cylinder, and a throttle valve provided to open and close the opening of the intake passage and control the quantity of air to be introduced into the cylinder in response to a load required by a driver. During intake operation in substantially all the load states of the engine, the valve actuator is controlled so that the opening area of the opening determined by the lift amount of the intake valve is not less than the opening area of the opening determined by the opening degree of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Tomii
  • Patent number: 7077103
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for regulating the filling of an internal combustion engine to which a combustion air mass flow is fed. Said combustion air mass flow is regulated by a first and a second actuator which are triggered regarding the position thereof. The second actuator is disposed downstream of the first actuator within the air mass flow and has a final upper position in which said actuator is open to the maximum and a final lower position in which the second actuator is closed to the maximum. The actual rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is detected while a set point intake pipe pressure is predefined for triggering the first actuator. The set point intake pipe pressure is determined by means of an rpm-related characteristic map in which the set point air mass flow is not taken into account as long as the second actuator is not located in the final lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Henn, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7073469
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine is provided which comprises a variable valve control apparatus capable of variably and continuously controlling the amount of intake air of an internal combustion engine by varying valve lift characteristics of an intake valve, a collector fluidly connected with a plurality of intake passages for cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and a pressure control mechanism for producing within the collector a vacuum that increases with increase of one of the amount of intake air, engine speed and engine load of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneyasu Nohara, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: RE39851
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a variable valve train capable of altering opening and closing timings and/or opening amounts of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is characterized in that the internal combustion engine is further provided with a negative pressure mechanism that operates using intake pipe negative pressure generated in an intake passage of the internal combustion engine, a throttle valve for adjusting the flow rate of intake air flowing through the intake passage, and negative pressure generating device that controls at least one of the variable valve train and the throttle valve to generate the intake pipe negative pressure, when the intake pipe negative pressure for operation of the negative pressure mechanism is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ogiso, Mitsuru Saitoh, Isao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: RE40350
    Abstract: A fail-safe throttle positioning device is disclosed for an engine induction system. A throttle body is provided having a fluid passage. A movable throttle valve is disposed within the fluid passage for at least idle speed control. An actuator mechanism is connected to the throttle valve for operably moving the throttle valve between a minimum fluid flow position and a maximum fluid flow position. A fail-safe mechanism urges the throttle valve toward an intermediate position between the minimum and maximum fluid flow positions to prevent inoperability of the engine during failure of the actuator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Kotchi, Michael J. Halsig