Indicators And Safety Devices Patents (Class 123/41.15)
  • Patent number: 11774326
    Abstract: A method for testing an engine in a vehicle includes arranging a bath separate from the vehicle configured to cool a driveline component of the vehicle, adjusting a temperature of the driveline component to a target temperature, and responsive to the driveline component achieving the target temperature, operating the engine according to a mapping procedure, and controlling the bath to maintain the temperature of the driveline component at the target temperature during the operating. The method further includes measuring heat transfer from the driveline component to the bath during the operating, and calculating torque loss or energy loss of the driveline component during the operating based on the heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HORIBA Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Leo Alphonse Gerard Breton
  • Patent number: 11649760
    Abstract: Methods and systems to diagnose operation of an engine coolant pump are presented. In one example, the engine coolant pump is operated while an engine is stopped so that operation of the coolant pump may not effect engine operation. The engine coolant pump may be operated at different speeds to assess engine coolant pump operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11365670
    Abstract: A method of modifying the oil cooling system of a diesel engine includes the steps of removing the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and installing a manifold having a configuration adapted to match the mounting configuration of the oil passages of the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. The manifold has an oil outlet port directed to a remotely mounted oil cooler. The manifold also has a water passage having a configuration that is adapted to match the mounting configuration of the water passages of the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. The water passage causes the entirety of the flow of water to be discharged back to the water cooling system of the engine where it is circulated by the water pump through the water cooling passages in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Neal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Neal, Kennieth Neal
  • Patent number: 11313260
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block having formed therein a plurality of cylinders, a main oil gallery, and a spray jet gallery. A cross-hole is fluidly connected to the main oil gallery and extends to the spray jet gallery. Oil spray jets are each fluidly connected to one of a plurality of oil feed holes fluidly connected to the spray jet gallery. An oil admission valve, which can be hydraulically actuated or electrically actuated, is supported in the cylinder block and movable between a closed position to block the spray jet gallery and each of the oil feed holes from the cross-hole, and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Yao Chen, Samuel Jaroslav Stafl, Chad Palmer Koci, Thomas L. Atwell, Andrew David Schick
  • Patent number: 11260744
    Abstract: A fuel system is provided that includes a fuel tank, a heat detector, and a control circuit. The digital heat detector is disposed in proximity to the fuel tank. The control circuit is coupled with the digital heat detector and is configured to detect that a thermal event has occurred. The fuel system is configured to implement an emergency countermeasure in response to the detection of the thermal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Agility Fuel Systems LLC
    Inventors: Michael Gregory Volkmer, Chad Alvin Cederberg, David Neil Morgan, Glen Edward Lampe, Michael Dean Hawkins, Hector Adrian Ortiz, Eric M. Coupal-Sikes, Todd F. Sloan, Chris Forsberg
  • Patent number: 11015513
    Abstract: A cooling device uses siphon circulation whose heat source is an object-to-be-cooled installed in a vehicle to circulate refrigerant to the object-to-be-cooled, the cooling device including: a tank that is disposed above the object-to-be-cooled and stores the refrigerant; an outflow path that opens to the inside of the tank and through which the refrigerant flows out; a passage member that extends from the inside to the outside of the tank, with an open end of an inside section of the passage member positioned inside the tank being positioned above an opening of the outflow path; and identifying means that is provided at an outside section of the passage member positioned outside the tank and by which the position of the open end inside the tank can be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SANOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Kadoi, Yoshiaki Agui, Masatoshi Hada, Nobuteru Hane, Satoru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10996134
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing a leak in a coolant system of an automobile includes repeatedly measuring the coolant level within the coolant system at a pre-determined time interval, calculating a short term leak rate, wherein the short term leak rate is the rate of coolant leakage over a first pre-determined length of time, calculating a long term leak rate, wherein the long term leak rate is the rate of coolant leakage over a second pre-determined length of time, further wherein the second pre-determined length of time is longer than the first pre-determined length of time, identifying a coolant system leakage state based on a current coolant level within the coolant system, the short term leak rate, and the long term leak rate, and providing notification of the coolant system leakage state to an operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shiming Duan, Paul E. Krajewski, Christopher H. Knieper, Calvin Wang
  • Patent number: 10961959
    Abstract: A filter system for filtering a fluid has at least one filter housing with a first housing part and a second housing part. The filter housing has at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the fluid. A fluid path extends between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet. At least one filter element is arranged in the at least one filter housing in the fluid path. At least one damper element is provided that is completely or partially filled with the fluid at least after an initial filling. The at least one damper element is provided with a volume that, at least in operation of the filter system, is filled completely or partially with the fluid. The volume is separated from the fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Klink, Christine Oprisch, Matthias Alex
  • Patent number: 10916062
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described for obtaining, from a first tracking system, an initial three-dimensional (3D) position of an electronic device in relation to image features captured by a camera of the electronic device and obtaining, from a second tracking system, an orientation associated with the electronic device. Responsive to detecting a movement of the electronic device, obtaining, from the second tracking system, an updated orientation associated with the detected movement of the electronic device, generating and providing a query to the first tracking system, the query corresponding to at least a portion of the image features and including the updated orientation and the initial 3D position of the electronic device, generating, for a sampled number of received position changes, an updated 3D position for the electronic device and generating a 6-DoF pose using the updated 3D positions and the updated orientation for the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Aveek Purohit, Kan Huang
  • Patent number: 10830651
    Abstract: A thermostat monitoring method includes measuring an engine coolant temperature with an engine coolant temperature sensor a predetermined amount of time after engine startup, comparing, with a controller, the engine coolant temperature to determine whether the engine coolant temperature has met a predetermined threshold, when the engine coolant temperature has met the predetermined threshold, measuring a plurality of engine coolant temperatures with the engine coolant temperature sensor, comparing with the controller each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures with a corresponding predetermined temperature model, and increasing a passing index with the controller for each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures that is greater than the corresponding predetermined temperature model or reducing the passing index for each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures that is less than the corresponding predetermined temperature model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yichao Guo, Eugene Danquah, Wei Lu, Janean Kowalkowski, Brent Crary
  • Patent number: 10458308
    Abstract: A method of modifying the oil cooling system of a diesel engine includes the steps of removing the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and installing a manifold having a configuration adapted to match the mounting configuration of the oil passages of the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. The manifold has an oil outlet port directed to a remotely mounted oil cooler. The manifold also has a water passage having a configuration that is adapted to match the mounting configuration of the water passages of the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. The water passage causes the entirety of the flow of water to be discharged back to the water cooling system of the engine where it is circulated by the water pump through the water cooling passages in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Neal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Neal, Kennieth Neal
  • Patent number: 10450940
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes an opening module configured to determine a coolant valve (CV) opening, a flow control valve (FCV) opening, and a block valve (BV) opening based on at least one of a block temperature difference, a head temperature difference, and a coolant outlet temperature difference. A CV control module is configured to selectively actuate a CV based on the CV opening. The CV regulates coolant flow from the FCV to a radiator and a coolant channel bypassing the radiator. A BV control module is configured to selectively actuate a BV based on the BV opening. The BV regulates coolant flow from the engine block to the FCV. A FCV control module is configured to selectively actuate a FCV based on the FCV opening. The FCV regulates coolant flow from the cylinder head and the BV to the CV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Luca Scavone, Luigi Russiello, Andrea Lorena Torres Cuadros, Andrei Gheorghi Kanev
  • Patent number: 10344664
    Abstract: A cooling system of an internal combustion engine includes a flow channel switching valve for sequentially switching between a plurality of cooling water passages so as to distribute cooling water to at least one cooling water passage. When a control device for the cooling system switches between the cooling water passages by controlling the flow channel switching valve in accordance with the progress of warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the control device suppresses the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Murai, Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Yuichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 10138850
    Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine block, a compression device, a cooling circuit, a first pump, and a fuel delivery device. The engine block at least partially defines a combustion chamber and a cooling passage. The cooling passage extends through the engine block. The compression device is received in the engine block to partially define the combustion chamber. The compression device is movable within and relative to the engine block. The cooling circuit is in fluid communication with the cooling passage. The first pump is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit and is configured to circulate a fuel through the cooling circuit and the cooling passage. The fuel delivery device is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit and is configured to deliver the fuel to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav R. Johnson, Julian Sherborne
  • Patent number: 9996989
    Abstract: Embodiments for tracking vehicle events by capturing data from a vehicle component by a processor. Sensory instrumentation associated with the vehicle component is initialized to provide data to a repository when one of the vehicle events occurs. The data in the repository is analyzed to extrapolate the vehicle event to determine a condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamer E. Abuelsaad, Gregory J. Boss, John E. Moore, Jr., Randy A. Rendahl
  • Patent number: 9926835
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a valve that is disposed at a predetermined position in a cooling channel to discharge bubbles produced in a coolant out of the cooling channel. Additionally, a controller is configured to detect whether bubbles have been produced in the coolant using a rate of pressure change based on a temperature increase in the cooling channel and open the valve in response to detecting that bubbles have been produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Su Dong Han, Hyung Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 9893391
    Abstract: A battery water level detector assembly for a battery operated device comprising a control unit configured for use with a battery of the device, with the control unit including an electronic sensor operative to provide a signal indicative of the water level within the battery and with the control unit being operative to provide a control signal in response thereto. The electronic sensor is operative to detect when a visual indicator operably connected to the battery provides a display that the water level within the battery has decreased below a desired level. The control signal in turn may be used to generate an alert, including a remotely transmitted alert, and/or alter operational functionality of the battery operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Pacific Steamex Cleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kipling J Kauffman
  • Patent number: 9869233
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fault diagnosis method of a thermostat including: confirming, by a controller, whether a flow stop valve is equipped in a vehicle; if it is determined that the flow stop valve is equipped in the vehicle, diagnosing the flow stop valve; and if it is determined that the diagnosis on the flow stop valve ends, diagnosing the thermostat to determine whether the thermostat is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jung Sup Byun, Seong Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 9822742
    Abstract: A valve for controlling piston cooling jets in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The valve includes a valve body equipped with an oil inlet for drawing oil from an oil gallery and an oil outlet for connection with a piston cooling jet gallery. The valve body is equipped with an air inlet for drawing air from an intake manifold of the engine, and with a valve element configured to be actuated by the pressure of the oil entering the oil inlet and of the air entering the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Giorgio Candela, Giuseppe Larocca
  • Patent number: 9735452
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for monitoring a breakdown of a battery system component are provided to more accurately determine whether a cooling fan for cooling a battery of an environment-friendly vehicle or a part related to the cooling fan fails. The method for monitoring a breakdown of a battery system component compulsorily driving, by a controller, the cooling fan and measuring the current temperature of the battery when the battery management system fails to receive a pulse width modulation PWM signal that represents an operation state of the cooling fan and a feedback signal (PFM) of the cooling fan from a cooling fan controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung In Min
  • Patent number: 9494457
    Abstract: A tank liquid depth measurement method includes the steps of: a) providing a sensor capable of detecting a liquid pressure, b) providing a main unit for receiving data from the sensor, c) mounting the sensor under the liquid level in a water tank and mounting the main unit in the car, d) initiating the sensor and the main unit so as to cause the sensor to measure the internal liquid pressure and to enable the main unit to store the identification code and communication code of the sensor, and e) enabling the main unit to receive data from the sensor for matching and recording. By means of the operation of the sensor to transmit the detected data to the main unit for warning or informing the driver, the expected effects and objectives of the present invention are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: CUB ELECPARTS INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Tao Yu, Ming-Hong Lin
  • Patent number: 9228482
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a pump control module and a pump diagnostic module. The pump control module commands a water pump to switch between on and off, wherein the water pump circulates coolant through an engine when the water pump switches on as commanded. The pump diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the water pump based on a change in a crankshaft speed of the engine when the water pump is commanded to switch between on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Levijoki
  • Patent number: 9228516
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel system including a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank and a second fuel pump in fluid communication with the first fuel pump. A pump control module selectively turns on the first fuel pump when a door opens before an engine is started, the engine is not cranking and a rail pressure of the first fuel pump is less than a predetermined rail pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dean R. Kwapis, Rafat F. Hattar, Maher El-Jaroudi, Timothy J. Braman
  • Patent number: 9163551
    Abstract: The character or nature of cooling water is correctly estimated. A cooling system for an internal combustion engine includes a radiator, a bypass passage which bypasses the radiator, a thermostat, and a control unit which changes a valve opening temperature of the thermostat. The cooling system for the internal combustion engine further includes an estimating unit which forbids valve opening of the thermostat and which estimates the character of the cooling water on the basis of temperature transition of the cooling water provided in this state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Nakatani, Akira Yamashita, Takenori Saoda
  • Patent number: 9151211
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an engine coolant system includes modeling the total energy stored within an engine coolant. If an actual temperature of the engine coolant is below a minimum target temperature, the modeled total energy stored within the energy coolant is compared to a maximum stored energy limit to determine if sufficient energy exists within the engine coolant to heat the engine coolant to a temperature equal to or greater than the minimum target temperature. The engine coolant system fails the diagnostic check when the modeled total energy stored within the energy coolant is greater than the maximum stored energy limit, and the minimum target temperature has not been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, Daniel A. Bialas, Morena Bruno, Daniel Siebert, John W. Siekkinen
  • Patent number: 9103266
    Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing failure of a thermostat that includes a controller configured to measure a coolant temperature and a coolant model temperature and determine a temperature of engine oil, when the coolant temperature is greater than a first reference temperature and the coolant model temperature is equal to or less than a second reference temperature. In addition, the controller is configured to determine an open status or a close status of the thermostat and diagnoses whether there is a failure in the open status of the thermostat, using the temperature of the engine oil as an independent variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 8978598
    Abstract: A sensor abnormality detection apparatus which is installed in a vehicle with an electric water pump for circulating engine cooling water and is configured to perform an abnormality detecting process related to a first temperature sensor or a second temperature sensor based on a relationship between a detection result of the first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the engine cooling water and a detection result of the second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of another medium which is correlated with the temperature of the engine cooling water or an estimation result of the temperature of the engine cooling water, comprising: a water pump forced-operating part configured to force the electric water pump to operate if the detection result of the first temperature sensor and the detection result of the second temperature sensor or the estimation result of the temperature of the engine cooling water do not meet a predetermined relationship, under a condition where the electric water
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Iwai
  • Patent number: 8955473
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine having a cylinder head, comprising: following light-off of an exhaust catalyst from a cold-start condition, circulating liquid coolant through a cooling jacket of the cylinder head, and at a subsequent engine-off condition, draining at least some of the liquid coolant from the cooling jacket. In this way, at a cold start condition, the cooling jacket of the cylinder head may be filled with air, thus decreasing the amount of time needed for the exhaust catalyst to reach a light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8813693
    Abstract: A system includes a pump control module and a pump diagnostic module. The pump control module switches a switchable water pump from off to on. The pump diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the switchable water pump based on a first difference between an engine material temperature and an engine coolant temperature when the switchable water pump is switched from off to on. The engine coolant temperature is a temperature of coolant circulated through an engine and the engine material temperature is a temperature of at least one of an engine block and a cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bialas, Stephen Paul Levijoki, John W. Siekkinen, Igor Anilovich, Michele Bilancia, Morena Bruno
  • Patent number: 8800502
    Abstract: A heat storage device of a vehicle may include an insulation container, a coolant passage connected to an engine, a heat exchanger having a fin formed on the coolant passage inside the insulation container, a phase change material charged in the insulation container to exchange heat with flowing coolant, a phase change material temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, and a control portion that circulates the coolant according to the driving condition of the engine and the coolant temperature such that the coolant exchanges heat with the phase change material. Accordingly, fuel for warming an engine or heating an interior room is reduced, a separate heating device or a warm up device such as a PTC heater can be replaced, quality of the exhaust gas is quickly improved, and there is a merit in overcoming environmental regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University Erica Campus
    Inventors: Yong Hyun Choi, Yong Chul Kim, June Kyu Park, Jungha Park, Man Hee Park, Ki-hyung Lee, Jung-wook Son
  • Patent number: 8794197
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled engine provided with cooling means for cooling an area surrounding a combustion chamber using a cooling liquid cooled by a radiator and caused to flow through a cooling passage. The cooling passage is embedded inside a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cooling passage is formed in a continuous fashion such that the cooling liquid is introduced from the radiator to cool an area surrounding the combustion chamber, and thereafter returns to the radiator by looping around an area surrounding an exhaust valve for opening and closing an exhaust port of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sato, Keita Ito, Yasuhiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8739746
    Abstract: Embodiments for indicating degradation of a piston-cooling jet system are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises indicating degradation of a piston-cooling jet system in response to a relationship between engine speed and oil pressure at maximum oil pump displacement conditions. In this way, engine operation may be adjusted in response to an indicated degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, John Eric Rollinger, John Smiley, Ed Badillo
  • Patent number: 8726870
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic heater is provided having a rotational member and a stationary member. The rotational member is operable to rotate relative to the stationary member about an axis so as to induce fluid shear and therefore, thermal energy to the working fluid. The hydrodynamic heater may be a component of a heat generation system comprising an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft for rotating the rotational member of the hydrodynamic heater. The heat generated by the hydrodynamic heater, as well as the heat generated by the engine from the engine exhaust and engine cooling system, is combined to heat a working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick M. Cronin
  • Patent number: 8701603
    Abstract: A control valve unit for a liquid circuit of an internal combustion engine, includes a valve housing (1) having at least one inlet opening (2) or outlet opening (2?) and at least two outlet openings (31, 32, 33) or inlet openings (31?, 32?, 33?) and at least two closing elements (41, 42, 43) actuated by a control device (22). The closing elements selectively open or close an associated outlet or inlet opening. The closing elements may be continuously adjusted between maximum open and closed positions. The control device (22) includes at least one displaceable or rotatable cam (6) and includes at least two cam tracks (71, 72, 73), each of which is assigned to a closing element (41, 42, 43) and acts on at least one driving pin (11) that is in contact with said closing element (41, 42, 43). The cams (6) are adjusted by an actuator (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Stéphane Warnery, Pascal Noiseau, Mickael Cormerais
  • Patent number: 8695552
    Abstract: A temperature control system for an internal combustion engine, to which a block heater for warming a coolant and keeping the coolant warm is attachable, the temperature control system includes a coolant circulating apparatus circulating the coolant, a fluid temperature detecting device detecting a fluid temperature of the coolant, a block heater disuse estimating portion estimating a possibility of disuse of the block heater under a condition that a circulation of the coolant is stopped, and a block heater usage determining portion determining whether or not the block heater is used on the basis of changes in the fluid temperature under a condition that the coolant is circulated in a case where the block heater disuse estimating portion does not estimate the disuse of the block heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Onozawa, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8695542
    Abstract: A module for a cooling circuit of a motor vehicle engine includes at least one control valve allowing a circulation according to at least one normal mode. The module also includes a thermal safety device capable of allowing a circulation according to another mode called the short-circuit mode in the event of failure of the normal circulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Frédéric Vacca, Alain Farkh
  • Patent number: 8622043
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an example electrical power generation system that includes a fluid containment system (FIG. 2 shows the example electrical power generation system of FIG. 1 where the fluid containment system is filled with fluid F). The electrical power generation system includes an internal combustion engine and an alternator that is driven by the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power. The electrical power generation system further includes an enclosure such that the internal combustion engine and alternator are positioned within the enclosure. The fluid containment system is positioned below the internal combustion engine and the alternator to collect fluids F. The fluid containment system includes a drain. The electrical power generation system further includes a control that selectively operates the drain to permit fluids F to exit the fluid containment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: John R. Thiel
  • Patent number: 8567356
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one fan (13) for the regulation of the cooling demand of at least two cooling elements (12) included in a drill rig (1), the cooling demand of each one of the cooling elements (12) being determined, that the determined cooling demands are weighted together and that the fan (13) is controlled based on the weighting together. The method is characterized in that at least one of the cooling elements is equipped with a safety thermostat (21), which, if required, prevents overcooling that the fluid is not allowed to circulate in the cooling elements. The invention also relates to a drill rig for the execution of the above-mentioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB
    Inventor: Henrik Jacobsson
  • Publication number: 20130255603
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine system heating by stagnating coolant in one of a plurality of loops in an engine cooling system. Degradation of the various valves and thermostats of the cooling system can be diagnosed by adjusting the valve and monitoring changes in one or more of coolant temperature, transmission temperature and cabin temperature. Based on engine operating conditions, the various valves may be adjusted to vary coolant temperature in different regions of the cooling system, thereby providing fuel economy benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Publication number: 20130255605
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing each of a plurality of engine cooling system components including various valves and grill shutters. Each valve may be individually closed and opened for a specified duration, and corresponding changes in coolant temperature may be monitored. If all the components are functional, the various valves may be adjusted to stagnate coolant at the engine and expedite engine warm-up during a cold-start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John Smiley, John Eric Rollinger
  • Publication number: 20130255604
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing each of a plurality of engine cooling system components including various valves and grill shutters. Each valve may be individually closed and opened for a specified duration, and corresponding changes in coolant temperature may be monitored. If all the components are functional, the various valves may be adjusted to stagnate coolant at the engine and expedite engine warm-up during a cold-start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Roy Jentz, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20130192545
    Abstract: Embodiments for indicating degradation of a piston-cooling jet system are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises indicating degradation of a piston-cooling jet system in response to a relationship between engine speed and oil pressure at maximum oil pump displacement conditions. In this way, engine operation may be adjusted in response to an indicated degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, John Eric Rollinger, John Smiley, Ed Badillo
  • Patent number: 8485142
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine cooling system includes: an internal combustion engine; a water pump for circulating a fluid; a flow path for the fluid circulated at least between the internal combustion engine and the water pump; a first sensor disposed on the flow path through which the fluid flows from the internal combustion engine to the water pump; a first flow path provided with a fluid cooling means; a second flow path provided with a heat exchange means; a first valve provided on the flow path and configured to control inflow amounts of the fluid into the first flow path and the second flow path; a second valve provided on the second flow path and configured to control inflow of the fluid into the second flow path; and a controller for performing failure determination of the second valve based on a detection result of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Ozawa, Yoshikuni Ito
  • Patent number: 8489267
    Abstract: In a hybrid-electric vehicle that includes a cabin, methods and systems are provided for modifying a first curve for engine coolant temperature (ECT) warm-up trajectory. The system includes a processor configured to execute software instructions, and a memory configured to store software instructions accessible by the processor. In one embodiment, the software instructions comprise an offset lookup table that is configured to generate, based on a calculated thermal power loss across a heater core and an ambient air temperature, an offset value for modifying the first curve for ECT warm-up trajectory to produce a desired curve for ECT warm-up trajectory that is offset from the first curve. The desired curve for ECT warm up trajectory is used to adjust temperature in the cabin so that fuel consumption can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Allen J. Lehmen
  • Patent number: 8443766
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, where, during normal operation in a first controller mode, a charge air temperature controller is set as dominant for a map-controlled thermostatic valve for automatically controlling the charge air temperature (TLL), or, during normal operation in a second controller mode, a coolant temperature limit controller is set as dominant for the map-controlled thermostatic valve for automatically controlling the coolant temperature (TKM). If a charge air temperature sensor fails, the second controller mode is set with the coolant temperature limit controller dominant, and if a coolant temperature sensor fails, the first controller mode is set with the charge air temperature controller dominant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 8370052
    Abstract: An onboard cooling system diagnostic strategy utilizes at least one temperature sensor fluidly positioned between an electronically controlled engine and a thermostat. The diagnostic algorithm operates by monitoring coolant temperature during engine startup. By comparing the actual coolant temperature during engine start-up to a predicted coolant temperature that should occur if no cooling system error is present, a cooling system fault condition may be identified. If a cooling system fault is detected, the diagnostic logic may activate the engine cooling fan or intrusively open an electrically controlled thermostat while monitoring the coolant temperature response to the intrusive action. If there is a substantial change in coolant temperature responsive to the intrusive action, this phenomenon can be utilized to correctly distinguish between a thermostat failure and a vehicle configuration error corresponding to an overcooled vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Lin, Gurpreet Gambhir, Zenebe Gete
  • Patent number: 8336509
    Abstract: A flap control apparatus of a vehicle and a control method thereof are disclosed. The flap control apparatus can control flaps, disposed at the front side of the vehicle to adjust inflow of air into a radiator, and can perform a fail-safe operation by releasing a corresponding flap from a locked state so that the corresponding flap can be opened by drive wind pressure upon occurrence of a malfunction making the flaps substantially non-operative, thereby preventing the engine from overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In Cheol Kim
  • Publication number: 20120318214
    Abstract: A sensor abnormality detection apparatus which is installed in a vehicle with an electric water pump for circulating engine cooling water and is configured to perform an abnormality detecting process related to a first temperature sensor or a second temperature sensor based on a relationship between a detection result of the first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the engine cooling water and a detection result of the second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of another medium which is correlated with the temperature of the engine cooling water or an estimation result of the temperature of the engine cooling water, comprising: a water pump forced-operating part configured to force the electric water pump to operate if the detection result of the first temperature sensor and the detection result of the second temperature sensor or the estimation result of the temperature of the engine cooling water do not meet a predetermined relationship, under a condition where the electric water
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Atsushi Iwai
  • Patent number: 8229609
    Abstract: A marine vessel control apparatus is arranged to start and stop engines that are respectively provided in multiple propulsion devices. The marine vessel control apparatus includes multiple individual start/stop switches arranged to correspond to the respective multiple propulsion devices and arranged to be operated by an operator to individually start and stop the engines in the respective multiple propulsion devices, an all-device start/stop switch arranged to be operated by the operator to collectively start and stop the engines in the multiple propulsion devices, an operating state acquiring unit arranged to acquire operating states of the engines in the respective multiple propulsion devices, and a control unit. The control unit includes multiple input ports corresponding to the respective multiple individual start/stop switches. Each of the input ports is connected with the corresponding individual start/stop switch. All of the input ports are connected commonly with the all-device start/stop switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Bamba, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 8196554
    Abstract: Mounting port, provided adjacent to a cooling water passageway, has a hole opening from the passageway for mounting an anode metal in the passageway. Lid member, which closes the outer end of the hole, has a head portion formed at its outer end and an externally threaded portion engageable with an internally threaded portion of the hole with a sealing member sandwiched therebetween. The lid member having the anode metal fixed thereto is inserted in and attached to the port with the threaded portions engaging with each other with a sealing tape sandwiched therebetween. Space is defined between an outer end portion of the port and an outer end portion of the lid member between the head portion and the externally threaded portion so that part of the sealing member protruding from between the threaded portions can be received in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Amano, Wataru Shimazaki, Hiroshi Watanabe, Yutaka Kubota