Charge Forming Device (e.g., Pollution Control) Patents (Class 123/434)
  • Patent number: 11885271
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detonation control in spark ignition engines. The apparatus includes an analog neurocomputing hardware device, a knock sensor coupled to a spark ignition engine, an ignition coil for the spark ignition engine, and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for the spark ignition engine. The analog neuromorphic hardware device is configured to receive knock signals from the knock sensor, receive ignition coil data from the ignition coil, determine a knock level and ignition quality measure based on the received knock sensor signals and the received ignition coil data, and transmit the knock level and ignition quality measure to the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PolyN Technology Limited
    Inventors: Aleksandrs Timofejevs, Boris Maslov, Nikolai Kovshov, Dmitri Godovskiy
  • Patent number: 11885445
    Abstract: A duct system for an air intake system for a vehicle, the duct system including a first duct having a first duct wall that defines a first duct opening and forms a conduit configured for conveying fluid through the first duct opening in an axial direction of the first duct opening, and a rim fixed with the first duct wall and extending from the first duct in the axial direction of the first duct opening, and disposed around the first duct opening, with a first rim portion and a second rim portion disposed along opposite sides of the first duct opening in a lateral direction of the first duct opening perpendicular to the axial direction of the first duct opening. The duct system also includes a second duct including a second duct wall that defines a second duct opening in fluid communication with the first duct opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Stephen James Marshall, Steve Faria, Taiga Marukawa, Patrick J. Ellison, Takashi Nakano, Akira Futatsuhashi, Keiichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11846240
    Abstract: A method and a system for adjusting a base idle speed of an engine are described. In one example, the method reduces engine speed according to output of a sensor that senses mechanical vibrations. Once a vibration level exceeds a threshold, engine speed reduction ceases and the base engine idle speed is adjusted according to a present engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Shelby, Thomas Leone, Christopher Cundy
  • Patent number: 11448156
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes an ignition control section and an injection control section. When partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of a expansion stroke to initiate the SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes the injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. Energy of the preceding ignition is set to be lower when an in-cylinder temperature specified by an in-cylinder temperature specification section is high than when the in-cylinder temperature is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kota Matsumoto, Tomonori Urushihara, Keiji Maruyama, Masanari Sueoka, Ryohei Ono, Yuji Harada, Toru Miyamoto, Atsushi Inoue, Tatsuhiro Tokunaga, Takuya Ohura, Yusuke Kawai, Tomohiro Nishida, Keita Arai, Yodai Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11255275
    Abstract: An intake device is provided with a throttle body having a valve that can rotate relative to a body, and an intake pipe provided downstream of the throttle body and connected to an internal combustion engine, an intake passage of the intake pipe being provided with a flow adjustment part that guides the air supplied from the throttle body in the direction in which the intake passage extends, and the flow adjustment part being provided to an upstream end that is on the throttle body-side in the intake passage and also being provided so as to connect to an inner peripheral surface of the intake passage at a position of non-contact when the valve is fully open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Arai, Masao Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11187596
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring temperature of a medium, comprising at least one temperature sensor having at least one sensor element, an electronics unit, an input unit, and a display unit. The electronics unit is embodied to determine and/or to monitor at least the temperature of the medium and to detect whether the temperature sensor is immersed at least partially in at least one comparison medium with known comparison temperature. When the temperature sensor is immersed in a comparison medium the electronics unit performs a comparison measurement for calibrating and/or validating the sensor element. The temperature of the comparison medium is determined in the form of a comparison temperature measured value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Wetzer GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Alfred Umkehrer, Pavo Vrdoljak
  • Patent number: 11143135
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing errors in estimated fuel rail pressure incurred at the time of a scheduled injection event due to engine-driven cyclic fuel rail pressure changes. In one example, a pulse-width commanded during a scheduled injection event is determined as a function fuel rail pressure samples collected over a moving window that is customized for the corresponding fuel injector. In another example, the commanded pulse-width is determined as a function of an average fuel rail pressure sampled during a quiet zone of injector operation and predicted fuel rail pressure altering events occurring between the quiet zone and the scheduled injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Thomas, David Oshinsky, Michael Uhrich, Paul Hollar
  • Patent number: 10801403
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to an internal combustion engine having an anodic oxide coating formed on at least a portion of an aluminum-based wall surface facing a combustion chamber. The anodic oxide coating has a plurality of nanopores extending substantially in the thickness direction of the anodic oxide coating, a first micropore extending from the surface toward the inside of the anodic oxide coating, and a second micropore present in the inside of the anodic oxide coating; the surface opening diameter of the nanopores is 0 nm or larger and smaller than 30 nm; the inside diameter of the nanopores is larger than the surface opening diameter; the film thickness of the anodic oxide coating is 15 ?m or larger and 130 ?m or smaller; and the porosity of the anodic oxide coating is 23% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Nishikawa, Akio Kawaguchi, Hideo Yamashita, Keisuke Tanaka, Toshio Horie, Yoshifumi Wakisaka, Fumio Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10746152
    Abstract: In an ignition device, a proportion of a yoke end width defined as a distance from one end to another end of an end portion of each of a pair of yokes in the circumferential direction to a magnet width defined as a distance from one end to another end of a permanent magnet disposed on the outer circumferential surface of a flywheel, in the circumferential direction is in a range of 60% to 100%. Moreover, a proportion of the magnet width to a yoke interval between the pair of yokes is in a range of 95% to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO DENSO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Oana, Kousuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10288003
    Abstract: A system includes a reciprocating engine having a piston disposed in a cylinder, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust flow path downstream of the exhaust valve. The system also includes a first sensor configured to obtain a first feedback indicative of an exhaust gas parameter in the exhaust flow path. The system also includes a controller configured to identify a valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amit Shrivastava, Chandan Kumar, Pavan Chakravarthy Nandigama
  • Patent number: 10280877
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the oxy-combustion of fuel in an internal combustion engine (ICE) used to power a vehicle includes one or more air separation devices that separate oxygen from the atmospheric air to mix with the fuel and return the nitrogen to the atmosphere and converts the free energy available in the form of waste heat from the engine exhaust gas stream and coolant system on board the vehicle into electrical and/or mechanical energy, which energy is used to separate oxygen from air to eliminate or significantly reduce the volume of nitrogen entering the ICE's combustion chamber, and thereby reduce NOx pollutants released into the atmosphere and increase the concentration of CO2 in the engine exhaust stream for capture using an integrated system to compress and increase the density of the captured CO2 for temporary on-board storage until it is discharged at a recovery station, e.g., during vehicle refueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Esam Zaki Hamad, Wajdi Issam Al-Sadat
  • Patent number: 9752497
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing NOx emissions are provided, comprising: adjusting an amount of water injected into an intake manifold responsive to an oxygen concentration, temperature and pressure in the intake manifold; and heating the injected water if humidity is higher than a threshold. Water injected into the intake manifold decreases the temperature of, and dilutes the oxygen content of intake gases thereby decreasing NOx emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 9654041
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control apparatus includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to change, in a stepped manner, an air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine so as to change over a combustion mode of the internal combustion engine between lean combustion and stoichiometric combustion, when an operating point of the internal combustion engine satisfies a first changeover condition that is defined by a rotational speed and a torque of the internal combustion engine. The first changeover condition is defined by the rotational speed and the torque that correspond to a predetermined intake air amount at which a thermal efficiency of the internal combustion engine is maintained before and after changeover of the combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihito Kanno
  • Patent number: 9476358
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulation system is provided. The fuel pressure regulation system includes a supply arrangement for supplying an outlet flow. A primary metering circuit is provided, an inlet of which receives a first portion of the outlet flow of the supply arrangement, the primary metering circuit comprising a fuel metering valve and a primary pressure regulator. The primary pressure regulator is connected to an outlet of the fuel metering valve. The system also includes at least one secondary metering circuit. The primary pressure regulator is operably connected to the at least one secondary metering circuit to sense a pressure of the at least one secondary metering circuit. The system also includes a bypass regulator connected in parallel with the primary metering circuit and the least one secondary metering circuit such that an inlet of the bypass regulator receives a second portion of the outlet flow of the supply arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Carthel C. Baker, Michael P. Garry
  • Patent number: 9181903
    Abstract: An engine system comprising an accelerator device which is operable to increase the amount of fuel delivered to the engine for combustion; an exhaust gas recirculation system for removing exhaust gas from the engine and recirculating a portion of the exhaust gas to the engine; and an oxygen delivery apparatus adapted to deliver oxygen to the engine in response to operation of the accelerator device. Using this system, performance losses from EGR can be abated by introducing compensatory oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Edward Caine
  • Patent number: 9043118
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for tuning a turbine are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving at least one of a measured operating parameter or a modeled operating parameter of a turbine during operation; and tuning the turbine during operation. The turbine may be tuned during operation by applying the measured operating parameter or modeled operating parameter or parameters to at least one operational boundary model, applying the measured operating parameter or modeled operating parameter or parameters to at least one scheduling algorithm, comparing the output of the operational boundary model or models to the output of the scheduling algorithm or algorithms to determine at least one error term, and closing loop on the one error term or terms by adjusting at least one turbine control effector during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Andrew Healy
  • Patent number: 9031764
    Abstract: Various methods are described for controlling engine operation for an engine having a turbocharger and direction injection. One example method includes performing at least a first and second injection during a cylinder cycle, the first injection generating a lean combustion and the second injection injected after combustion such that it exits the cylinder unburned into the exhaust upstream of a turbine of the turbocharger; and adjusting at least the first injection based on engine speed, where the at least first and second injection are performed responsive to turbocharger speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias John Pallett, Eric Matthew Storhok, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20150101570
    Abstract: Electrical component assemblies and other electrical connectors are provided having protective coatings that allow for use in high temperature and highly corrosive environments. Methods for applying protective coatings are also provided. In one embodiment, a connector is provided and includes a protective coating that encapsulates at least a portion thereof. The connector can be, for example, an electrical lead frame, or a connector having a distal side and a proximal side that is disposed in an automotive fuel system such that the distal side is sealed from the proximal side. Methods for coating connectors are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: John David Seaton
  • Publication number: 20150059698
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an internal combustion engine that includes a combustion chamber and a rotating component. The internal combustion engine further includes a sensing system that detects an angular position of the rotating component. A controller calculates a ratio between air and fuel in the combustion chamber based on the detected position of the rotating component. As an example, the rotating component may be a crankshaft where the controller calculates a speed of the crankshaft and an acceleration of the crankshaft based on the detected position of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Robert J. Danforth
  • Patent number: 8967128
    Abstract: An air induction system for an engine includes an air filter box configured to receive an air filter that separates the air filter box into an atmosphere side and a filtered air side, a clean-air duct coupled downstream from the air filter box and upstream of the engine relative to a direction of air flow during engine operation, a flow-through hydrocarbon trap positioned within the clean-air duct, and a bypass hydrocarbon trap secured within the air filter box on the filtered air side, the hydrocarbon trap having a plurality of generally flat or coiled layers of hydrocarbon adsorbing material sandwiched together and secured one to another. Mechanical fasteners such as grommets may extend through the plurality of layers to secure the layers together. The fasteners may be secured to ribs extending along an upper surface of the air filter box or an interior surface of the clean-air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew George Bellis
  • Publication number: 20150052748
    Abstract: A wing (1) including a vertical plate (2) and a horizontal plate (3) is placed in the throat of a carburetor (41) or throttle body (93). The wing (1) is located adjacent to and downstream from the throttle valve (46, 94). The edges (6, 7, 13, and 131) are held in a spaced apart relationship from the carburetor wall (44) by locating tabs (4, 14, 15 and 16) which abut the wall (44). Securing tabs (5, 24) extend from the edges and grip a gasket or boot associated with an existing intake manifold. The wing (1) causes the air/fuel mixture exiting a carburetor to follow channelized parallel paths (78, 81 and 84) into the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Lonn M. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8944029
    Abstract: A turbo charger driven by exhaust gas from a combustion engine via an exhaust inlet to the turbo charger, the turbo charger having an axial inlet for combustion air generally at atmospheric pressure, from an outlet at a bent pipe portion with an inlet from an inlet channel from an air inlet, the inlet channel having at least one arched wall of non-magnetic material, with an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface relative to the inlet channel, wherein along the arched wall is arranged a series of at least three magnets having sequentially opposite magnetization directions directed mainly orthogonal to the wall, and with a pole surface of each magnet generally in level with the wall, and with a mutual separation between the magnets being at least as long as a half of a first width of the inlet channel's cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Carbon Reduction Solutions AS
    Inventor: Anders Thalberg
  • Patent number: 8936011
    Abstract: A method of imposing a variable load upon the internal combustion engine as it is typically used in the performance of degassing operations includes coupling a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to a secondary internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: BRB/Sherline, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernhardt R. Bruns
  • Publication number: 20150013641
    Abstract: A fuel combustion enhancement apparatus of an internal combustion engine, which is capable of greatly reducing fuel and improving combustion efficiency and torque and reducing exhaust gas, includes a power source terminal, a conductor plate 10 for gas activation, an amplifier 30, and a gas activation enhancement device 20 which includes a frequency resonance coil power source 22, a local oscillation power source, a detection circuit 23, a power amplification circuit 24, a power amplification IC 27, and an amplifier power source 28 connected between the power source terminal and the conductor plate. The conductor plate 10 includes a coil unit 12, and copper plates 14 are electrically connected between both ends of the coil unit 12, and auxiliary plates 16 made of materials having a different standard electrode potential value from materials of the copper plates are disposed at bottoms of the copper plates 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Yunsik Lim
  • Patent number: 8931458
    Abstract: A carburetor having an inlet opening that includes a pair of concavities operative to direct air toward the metering rod of the carburetor. A carburetor having an inlet opening that includes an arcuate manifold adjacent to the inlet opening and in fluid communication with a fuel reservoir. A carburetor having a slide assembly that includes a positioning mechanism operative to adjust the position of the metering rod relative to the throttle slide. A throttle slide that includes a flow guide that bisects an arcuate relief on an underside thereof. A method for configuring the throat of a carburetor that includes an upper portion of a first diameter and a lower portion of a second diameter that is offset from the first diameter. The method comprises deriving an optimum size for the first and second diameters and the offset based on the pumping efficiency and operating parameters of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: APT IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: William Corey Dyess, Aaron Aldrich Hudlemeyer
  • Publication number: 20150007784
    Abstract: A cylinder head is disclosed. The cylinder head may include a body, and a lower jacket formed in a lower portion of the body. The cylinder head may also have a centrally-located fuel injector opening passing through the lower portion of the body, and a plurality of intake and exhaust valve openings spaced evenly around the fuel injector opening. The cylinder head may also include at least one inlet located between adjacent ones of the plurality of intake valve openings or between adjacent ones of the plurality of exhaust valve openings, and at least one outlet located between one of the plurality of intake valve openings and one of the plurality of exhaust valve openings. The cylinder head may further include a plurality of cooling passages surrounding the plurality of intake and exhaust valve openings, and connecting the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Robert Thurber MacVicar
  • Publication number: 20140352669
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a suitable engine torque response during a transient condition is presented. In one example, when a desired inlet manifold pressure is greater than a throttle inlet pressure of a first throttle, a second throttle positioned upstream from the first throttle is opened to increase the throttle inlet pressure. The method may provide an appropriate torque response while minimizing impact on fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Matthew John Gerhart, Julia Helen Buckland, Suzanne Kay Wait, Michael Howard Shelby, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, John Eric Rollinger, Gopichandra Surnilla, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 8903627
    Abstract: When alcohol mixing fuel is supplied to an internal combustion engine, an intake air flow rate is detected and a basic amplitude amount ? of an upstream target air-fuel ratio abyfr corresponding to this detected intake air flow rate is calculated. Next, alcohol concentration in the fuel (in more detail, ethanol concentration Cetha) and a cooling water temperature (or an intake air temperature) are detected, hydrogen concentration Ch in a mixing exhaust gas is calculated based on the detected ethanol concentration Cetha and the detected cooling water temperature (or the detected intake air temperature) amplitude gain ? corresponding to the calculated hydrogen concentration is calculated and finally, an amplitude amount (?×?) of the upstream target air-fuel ratio is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Morita
  • Publication number: 20140345566
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for dosing inlet fluid in an engine and for regulating the temperature thereof, comprising a dosing body wherein a first and a second circulation channel are arranged. First (10) and second (20) movable flow dosage flaps are arranged in said circulation channels. Said dosing body additionally comprises an actuator motor and a kinematic capable of actuating the first and/or the second flap, and said device additionally comprises first and second tubes, at least one of the tubes comprising a means for modifying the temperature of the fluid, characterised in that the kinematic is shaped so as to position at rest, if flap actuation is lost, the flap (10) of the cool channel being then in a fully open position and the flap (20) of the hot channel being then in a fully closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Mathieu Lallemant, Franck Girardon, Patrick Lebrasseur
  • Patent number: 8887693
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for estimating the flow rate of air entering an air inlet of a turbocharger compressor. A first pressure value corresponds to pressure at or near the air inlet of the compressor, and a second pressure value corresponds to pressure at or near the air outlet of the compressor. A temperature value corresponds to a temperature at or near the air inlet of the compressor, and a speed value corresponds to an operating speed of the turbocharger. The flow rate of air entering the air inlet of the turbocharger compressor is illustratively estimated as a function of the first pressure value, the second pressure value, the temperature value and the speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri
  • Publication number: 20140331969
    Abstract: An engine system, comprising a metal engine valve with a coating that includes a phosphate, an additive delivery apparatus coupled to one or more engine cylinders, and an additive tank with an amount of additive located coupled to the additive delivery apparatus. The additive may include a chemical that reacts with the valve coating to produce a dry film lubricant that may be periodically injected into the engine chambers to provide valve lubrication and protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Publication number: 20140331753
    Abstract: A system for determining a health of a bearing associated with a connecting rod is provided. The system includes a sensor associated with the connecting rod and remotely disposed relative to the bearing of the connecting rod. The sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the bearing. The system includes a controller communicably coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the temperature of the bearing. The controller further determines a health of the bearing as a function of the signal of the temperature of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Wiebrecht, Colin P. Garner, Andrew M. Williams, Michael Gore
  • Publication number: 20140305406
    Abstract: A system for a gaseous-fueled engine, comprising: a gaseous fuel tank, a first pressure regulator comprising: a high pressure chamber coupled to the gaseous fuel tank, a low pressure chamber coupled to an engine fuel rail, and a reference chamber; a second pressure regulator coupled to the reference chamber; a first valve controlling fuel flow from the gaseous fuel tank to the engine fuel rail; a second valve controlling fuel flow from the second pressure regulator to the reference chamber; and a controller including memory with instructions therein for adjusting the valves based on a desired fuel rail pressure. In this way, the system enables at least two different fuel rail pressures such that peak fuel demand can be satisfied without maintaining peak fuel rail pressure at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8857411
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a piston engine, more preferably of a motor vehicle, with a fresh air system for feeding fresh air to cylinders of the piston engine and with an exhaust system for discharging exhaust gas from the cylinders, wherein during a gas exchange by a positive pressure wave on the fresh air side the charging of the respective cylinder with fresh air and/or by a negative pressure wave on the exhaust gas side the discharging of exhaust gas from the respective cylinder is supported. An increased variability is obtained if the respective pressure wave is generated by at least one electroacoustic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Krüger, Rolf Jebasinski
  • Patent number: 8838361
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a general-purpose engine used as a prime mover of an operating machine, the apparatus regulating a throttle opening such that an engine speed is converged to a desired engine speed, calculating a basic fuel injection amount based on the engine speed and throttle opening, and controlling engine warm-up operation by correcting the basic fuel injection amount with a correction coefficient to calculate a warm-up time fuel injection amount after engine start is completed and injecting fuel by the calculated amount, a fuel injection amount with which the engine output becomes maximum is searched based on the throttle opening regulated in response to increase/decrease operation of the warm-up time fuel injection amount conducted when the engine speed is constant; and the correction coefficient is corrected using the searched fuel injection amount. With this, a warm-up correction coefficient appropriate for the engine warm-up condition can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Saito, Tomoki Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20140245994
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an anodic oxidation coating formed on at least a part of a wall surface that faces a combustion chamber, wherein the anodic oxidation coating has voids and nano-holes smaller than the voids; at least part of the voids are sealed with a sealant derived by converting a sealing agent; and at least a part of the nano-holes are not sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Nishikawa, Takumi Hijii, Akio Kawaguchi, Ryouta Yatsuduka, Fumio Shimizu, Yoshifumi Wakisaka, Hidemasa Kosaka
  • Publication number: 20140238348
    Abstract: Embodiments for diagnosing a humidity sensor are provided. One example method comprises, responsive to a humidity sensor test cycle, pumping air conditioning and windshield washer gas flows past a humidity sensor, and indicating humidity sensor degradation based on a response of the humidity sensor to the air conditioning and windshield washer gas flows. In this way, degradation of the humidity sensor may be indicated if the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor does not change responsive to the humidity sensor test cycle being initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar
  • Patent number: 8818688
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine (100), particularly of a motor vehicle, operated with a gas as fuel, a lambda value of an air/fuel mixture being regulated by means of lambda control as a function of a signal from a lambda probe (130), and, when a lean/rich jump is detected by the lambda probe (130), a mixture control factor (GRF) which controls the mixture composition being varied at least for a predeterminable time such that a shift of the lambda air ratio toward rich is caused, is characterized in that the mixture control factor (GRF) is varied in such a way that an additional defined shift of the lambda air ratio toward rich is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Foerster, Winfried Langer
  • Publication number: 20140230788
    Abstract: A method and system to arrange combustion air for a combustion engine or cooling air for an electric motor that are situated in warm indoor space. A started combustion engine or a combustion engine to be started or the air intake equipment of an electric motor has in immediate closeness at least one air intake box where there is connected or will be connected an air channel that reaches the outdoor space and then the outdoor air flows through the air channel to the air intake box and further to the engine air intake equipment. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are used in the air intake of the lorries, trailer trucks and busses and also power tools and the cooling air of the electric motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: JPTUF OY
    Inventor: Jukka-Pekka TIUSANEN
  • Patent number: 8812214
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device the present invention provides is a control device that can realize both of request torque and a request A/F for each of cylinder groups with high precision, even when the request A/F differs at each of the cylinder groups. The present control device sets a reference A/F within a range from the leanest A/F to the richest A/F out of the request A/Fs to the respective cylinder groups. The present control device calculates a target air quantity for realizing the request torque under the reference A/F, based on data that defines a relation between engine output torque and an air quantity in relation to an A/F. The present control device controls a throttle opening in accordance with the target air quantity, and controls fuel injection amounts of the respective cylinders in accordance with the request A/F s to the respective cylinder groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Kaoru Shokatsu, Masashi Shibayama, Hajime Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20140224212
    Abstract: A leakage diagnosis apparatus is applied to an evaporated-gas purge system including a negative-pressure sensor and a pressure detecting portion. The negative-pressure sensor introduces a negative pressure into an evaporation system. The pressure detecting portion detects the pressure in the evaporation system. The leakage diagnosis apparatus includes a leakage-diagnosis portion and a determining portion. The leakage-diagnosis portion executes a leakage diagnosis to determine whether a leakage of the evaporation system is generated. The determining portion determines whether an evaporated-gas amount in the evaporation system is in an excessive state while the internal combustion engine is stopped. The leakage-diagnosis portion prohibits or terminates the leakage diagnosis, when the determining portion determines that the evaporated-gas amount is in the excessive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: DENSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo TAMURA, Yoshinori MAEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20140224211
    Abstract: A direct use of combustion fluid from cylinder(s) of a prime mover is used to supply compressible fluid to a pneumatic system. The fluid is extracted from combustion chamber(s)(2) during the compression and power cycles. The fluid is cooled, filtered, and dried to provide a clean media for the pneumatic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: ROGER L. SWEET
  • Publication number: 20140202428
    Abstract: Various embodiments include engine carburetors. Various embodiments provide for methods of cylinder manufacturing engines. Various embodiments provide for methods of cylinder manufacturing four-stroke engines. Various embodiments provide for methods of cylinder manufacturing two-stroke engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Nagesh S. Mavinahally, Jay Veerathappa, Pushpa Nagesh Mavinahally
  • Patent number: 8746191
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine has an intake arrangement including a carburetor. An intake channel divides into a mixture channel and an air channel. An intermediate flange is mounted between the carburetor and the cylinder. This flange has a carburetor connecting surface, which faces toward the carburetor, and a cylinder connecting surface which faces toward the cylinder. Referred to the flow direction in the intake channel, the air channel divides upstream of the cylinder connecting surface into two branches. The first branch has a first longitudinal center axis and the second branch has a second longitudinal center axis. The intersect points of the center axes with the connecting surfaces are mutually connected via an imaginary connecting line in the carburetor connecting surface or the cylinder connecting surface. The two connecting lines conjointly define an angle ? in the carburetor connecting surface with this angle being greater than 0°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jörg Elfner, Fevronia Konstantinidou, Karsten Schmidt, Michael Raffenberg
  • Patent number: 8744733
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to promptly detect a crank angle based on in-cylinder pressures and easily compensate for a detection error by processing that has a low computational load. An ECU 50 calculates an in-cylinder pressure ratio (Pn+1/Pn) based on in-cylinder pressures Pn and Pn+1 at two crank angles separated by a predetermined angle ??. The ECU 50 includes map data that represents relations between volume ratio parameters (Vn?/Vn+1?) calculated using in-cylinder volumes Vn and Vn+1 at the crank angles, and the crank angles. Therefore, when cranking, a crank angle can be detected based on the in-cylinder pressure ratio and the map data earlier than a conventional cylinder discrimination operation. Gains included in the in-cylinder pressures Pn and Pn+1 can be removed by dividing the two pressures, and exponential operations and the like can be eliminated by using the map data to thus suppress the computational load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sano
  • Patent number: 8731802
    Abstract: A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Hagner, Mrdjan Jankovic, Marcus Fried
  • Patent number: 8706383
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine control module that generates fuel injector command signals for fuel injectors of an engine and engine parameter signals that indicate operating characteristics of the engine. A fuel injector control module communicates with the engine control module via a network. The engine control module transmits the engine parameter signals to the fuel injector control module via the network. The fuel injector control module generates compensated fuel injector signals based on the fuel injector command signals and the engine parameter signals. The engine control module may generate fuel injector command signals for a gaseous fuel mode based on signals received from the fuel injector control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Sauve, Louis A. Avallone, Karl H. Kozole
  • Patent number: 8695569
    Abstract: A vehicle burner (6) for heating a gas flow (14) in a motor vehicle is provided with a fuel pump (10) for delivering a fuel to an injection nozzle (11) that can be actuated for injecting the fuel into a combustion chamber (7), with an air delivery device (16) for delivering air to the combustion chamber (7), with a control (17) for operating the. A vehicle burner (6), which is coupled with the fuel pump (10), with the air delivery and/or air regulating device (16) and with the injection nozzle (11). Burner waste gas, which is generated during the operation of the. A vehicle burner (6) by the reaction of fuel with air in the combustion chamber (7), is used to heat the gas flow (14). To increase efficiency, a control (17) determines a quantity of fuel, a quantity of air and a fuel pressure as a function of a presettable heat output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Emission Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 8683976
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying and indicating degradation of an engine cylinder spark plug. In response to a cylinder misfire event during selected engine operating conditions, followed by an occurrence of a threshold number and/or rate of pre-ignition events in the same cylinder, a controller may determine that the spark plug is degraded. The controller may limit combustion in the cylinder in response to the degradation. Additionally, cylinder pre-ignition mitigating steps may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Michael Joseph Zaitz, Ken Jahr, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Patent number: 8682566
    Abstract: Various methods are described for controlling engine operation for an engine having a turbocharger and direction injection. One example method includes performing at least a first and second injection during a cylinder cycle, the first injection generating a lean combustion and the second injection injected after combustion such that it exits the cylinder unburned into the exhaust upstream of a turbine of the turbocharger; and adjusting at least the first injection based on engine speed, where the at least first and second injection are performed responsive to turbocharger speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias John Pallett, Eric Matthew Storhok, Gopichandra Surnilla