Engine Cylinder Cutout Patents (Class 123/481)
  • Patent number: 11946423
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for managing recharging of cylinders of an internal combustion engine during skip fire operation of the engine. In one method, a maximum allowed deactivation time for a cylinder is determined and the cylinder is recharged before the maximum allowed deactivation time is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Joe Serrano, Xiaoping Cai, Yongyan Cao, Vijay Srinivasan, Kevin Shikui Chen, Andrea Marie Evans, Avra Brahma
  • Patent number: 11821379
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an ICE by (a) generating a running history of one or more-cylinder events per cylinder, and (b) using the running history to select a least-used non-rotating firing pattern, among a plurality of non-rotating firing patterns, provided for each firing fraction less than one (1). By making the least used selection based on the running history, unequal usage among cylinders of the ICE can be mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, Shikui Kevin Chen, Xi Luo, Robert C. Wang, Xiaoping Cai, Vijay Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11821375
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for skipping fire in one or more cylinders in a dual fuel engine. In one example, a method may include injecting a combination of two fuels to a first set of cylinders of the engine while disabling fuel injection to all remaining cylinders of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu, Eric Dillen
  • Patent number: 11767800
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a controller for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine, a control system, an internal combustion engine, a vehicle, a method and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The controller is configured to, during fuel cut, cause opening of an intake valve of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine to enable air having a mass to enter the cylinder. The mass is below a first range of masses which enable the internal combustion engine to provide combustion torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: James Hill
  • Patent number: 11761395
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for managing transitions between operational states of an internal combustion engine during skip fire operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11761408
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine system (100), comprising: —an internal combustion engine (2) comprising a cylinder block (3) housing a plurality of cylinders (4), a first intake manifold (6a) connected to a first group of cylinders (4a) a second distinct intake manifold (6b) connected to a second group of cylinders (4b) and a first, respectively a second, exhaust manifold (8a, 8b) for receiving the exhaust gas emitted from the first, respectively the second, group of cylinders (4a, 4b); —an air inlet line (10); —an EGR line (20) connected to the first and second exhaust manifolds (8a, 8b); wherein the internal combustion engine system is operable in at least two operating modes, respectively a normal operating mode in which all cylinders are supplied with fuel and a regeneration operating mode, in which the cylinders of the first group of cylinders (4a) are no longer supplied with fuel, characterized in that: —the system also includes a mixing unit (30) comprising a four-way valve, said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Laurent Bauvir, Raphael Bost
  • Patent number: 11732662
    Abstract: A CPU performs a regeneration process of stopping combustion control in one or some of cylinders and making the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture in the other cylinders or cylinder richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio, when the amount of PM collected by a GPF increases. In performing the regeneration process, the CPU itself compensates for a fall in the output of an internal combustion engine by gradually increasing the filling efficiency of the other cylinders or cylinder. It should be noted, however, that since the output of the internal combustion engine temporarily fluctuates, the CPU compensates for the fluctuations through the use of a second motor-generator. The CPU varies the retardation amount of a timing of starting the regeneration process with respect to a timing of gradually increasing the filling efficiency, in accordance with the state of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Fujitake
  • Patent number: 11674423
    Abstract: System and methods are described for optimizing exhaust flow rate and temperature during specified operational periods warm-up and keep-warm conditions, by minimizing or maximizing heat flux during those specified operational periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen
  • Patent number: 11560818
    Abstract: System and methods are described for optimizing exhaust flow rate and temperature during specified operational periods warm-up and keep-warm conditions, by minimizing or maximizing heat flux during those specified operational periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen
  • Patent number: 11536210
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) operating in cycles, having: a plurality of piston-cylinder units (2), wherein each piston-cylinder unit (2) of the plurality of piston-cylinder units (2) is assigned an ignition device (3) which can be controlled regarding activation and selection of an ignition timing by an engine control (4), wherein a piston-cylinder unit (2), when the ignition device (3) is activated, produces a power by combustion of a gas-air mixture, which can be transmitted as a torque to a crankshaft (5) of the internal combustion engine (1) an intake stroke (6) and an exhaust stroke (7), each coupled to the plurality of piston-cylinder units (2) a supply device (8) for supplying a gas-air mixture under a boost pressure to the intake stroke (6) a signal detection device (9) for acquiring at least one signal which represents a power demand on the internal combustion engine (1) or from which a power demand on the internal combustion engine (1) can be calculated an engine control (4) for actuating a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Johannes Huber, Tobias Keller, Josef Thalhauser, Stefan Koeberl
  • Patent number: 11530659
    Abstract: A system for controlling operations of an engine comprises a plurality of cylinders and a controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of cylinders. The controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the engine, and in response to determining that the operating condition is suitable for activating less then all cylinders of the plurality of cylinders during a cycle of the engine, determine a first firing pattern, and a second firing pattern different from the first firing pattern for activating the plurality of cylinders of the engine. The controller is configured to activate a first set of cylinders of the plurality of cylinders based on the first firing pattern, and subsequent to activating the first set of cylinders, activate a second set of cylinders of the plurality of cylinders different from the first set of cylinders based on the second firing pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Aaron William Beinborn, Lyle E. Kocher
  • Patent number: 11512658
    Abstract: An engine device includes: an engine; and a control device that executes a return rich control that controls the engine so that an air-fuel ratio becomes rich over a predetermined period after the engine returns from the fuel cut. When the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control, the return rich control is executed for a period shorter than the predetermined period after the engine is restarted. Thus, when the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control and the engine is restarted thereafter, it is possible to suppress a total period of the return rich control from becoming long. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas and suppress deterioration of emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 11499490
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating exhaust gas emissions via cylinder deactivation are provided. A system includes a controller coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric motive device. The controller includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to: command the internal combustion engine to operate in a cylinder deactivation mode whereby at least one cylinder of a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine is deactivated; receive a power request exceeding a current power output from the internal combustion engine; command the electric motive device to provide a supplemental power output based on the received power request; and, subsequent to commanding the electric motive device to provide the supplemental power out, activate the at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Avra Brahma
  • Patent number: 11486321
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to perform various operations. The operations include determining that the vehicle is in reverse and in response, deactivating a cylinder of an engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron William Beinborn, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 11473520
    Abstract: A control system for an aero compression combustion drive assembly, the aero compression combustion drive assembly having an engine member, a transmission member and a propeller member, the control system including a sensor for sensing a pressure parameter in each of a plurality of compression chambers of the engine member, the sensor for providing the sensed pressure parameter to a control system device, the control system device having a plurality of control programs for effecting selected engine control and the control system device acting on the sensed pressure parameter to effect a control strategy in the engine member A control method is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs, Alexander Seybold-Epting
  • Patent number: 11473515
    Abstract: A method provides for operating an engine configured to use a plurality of differing fuels. The method includes determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of differing fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the engine based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles. This maintains one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of differing fuels relative to defined corresponding threshold values. The fuel combustion ratio includes a ratio of the plurality of differing fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder. A fuel delivery system delivers the plurality of differing fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel George Norton, Adam Edgar Klingbeil
  • Patent number: 11359561
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for managing transitions between operational states of an internal combustion engine during skip fire operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11352966
    Abstract: Controllers and methods for managing transitions into and/or out of a cylinder cut off mode are described. In some embodiments, a skip fire based transition into a cylinder cut off mode is used in which the fraction of working cycles that are fired is gradually reduced to a threshold firing fraction. Once the threshold firing fraction has been reached, all of the working chambers are deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Carlson, Xin Yuan, Siamak Hashemi, Vijay Srinivasan, Srihari Kalluri, Andrew W. Phillips, Mark A. Wilcutts, Louis J. Serrano, Shikui Kevin Chen
  • Patent number: 11274612
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a crankshaft with at least one throw being formed as a complete disc over at least a portion of its thickness. Permanent magnets are attached to the disc of the at least one throw in an annular array. Electromagnets are attached to the engine block, a brace coupled to the engine block, and/or an oil pan mounted to the engine block. The brace may include one or more circular structures surrounding the discs of the throws, and may support the electromagnets. The electromagnets are positioned opposite the permanent magnets. A control system selectively provides electrical current to the electromagnets to affect the motion of the crankshaft, and may further selectively activate and deactivate at least one of the cylinders by stopping fuel flow, spark, and/or intake valve actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: Douglas Alan Pelmear
  • Patent number: 11261807
    Abstract: Various methods and arrangements for improving fuel economy and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire controlled engine are described. An engine controller dynamically selects a gas spring type for a skipped firing opportunity. Determination of the skip/fire pattern and gas spring type may be made on a firing opportunity by firing opportunity basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry F. Fuschetto, Matthew A. Younkins, Ihab S. Soliman, Mark A. Wilcutts, Steven E. Carlson, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 11180152
    Abstract: A fuel management system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores fuel rate maps for multiple firing fractions, where: each of the firing fractions corresponds to a respective firing pattern of an engine; at least some of the firing patterns include deactivating one or more cylinders. The control module: for each of the firing fractions, determines a fuel efficiency value for each of multiple transmission gear ratios, where fuel efficiency values are provided for transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; applies drive ability constraints to provide resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; subsequent to applying the drive ability constraints and based on the fuel efficiency values, selects one of the resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; and concurrently operates a transmission and the engine according to the selected one of the transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shushan Bai, Nathan M. Picot, Brandon M. Fell, Gregory M. Wilson, Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 11149701
    Abstract: A filtration monitoring system is an electronic system control module installed on an internal combustion engine or within a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine. The filtration monitoring system monitors the health and status of the filtration systems present on the engine. The filtration monitoring system tracks filter loading patterns and predicts remaining service life of the filters by running smart algorithms based on sensor feedback (e.g., pressure sensor feedback, fluid quality characteristic sensor feedback, etc.). In some arrangements, the described filtration monitoring systems provide feedback as to whether a genuine (i.e., authorized, OEM approved, etc.) or unauthorized filter cartridge is installed in a given filtration system. The filtration monitoring system may be retrofit into an existing internal combustion engine or vehicle that does not already have a filtration monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Amit Dhingra, Bharadwaj Prabhala, Abhijeet Vaidya, Abhijit Shimpi, Eric R. Burgan
  • Patent number: 11105281
    Abstract: Provided is a marine engine, including: an air controller configured to supply compressed air to a combustion chamber in an upstroke of a piston after a crash astern signal is output; a fuel controller configured to stop supply of fuel to the combustion chamber when the crash astern signal is output, and to resume the supply of the fuel after a backward rotation of a crankshaft; and a compression ratio controller configured to move a top dead center position of the piston toward an opposite side of a bottom dead center position of the piston when the crash astern signal is output, and the top dead center position of the piston is on the bottom dead center position side with respect to a predetermined position set in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Masuda, Yoshiyuki Umemoto, Toshihiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11078854
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to perform various operations. The operations include determining that the vehicle is in reverse and in response, initiating a cylinder deactivation mode for an engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron William Beinborn, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 11015539
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying when an exhaust valve of an engine cylinder is not functioning as desired while the engine is being operated to raise a temperature of an exhaust system emissions control device, and in turn taking mitigating action. Thus, in one example a method comprises adjusting an amount of fuel that is provided to each of a plurality of cylinders of an engine during an exhaust stroke of the engine in response to an indication of degraded combustion stemming from a cylinder of the engine. In this way, the engine may continue to be operated to raise the temperature of the exhaust system emissions control device, while mitigating the issue of the degraded combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Aaron John Oakley, Kirk Andrew Parrish, Sanket Anil Gujarathi, Nicholas Sovis, Dayton Brenner, Joseph Goode, Nicholas John Vella
  • Patent number: 10954874
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining operation of a cylinder deactivating/reactivating device are disclosed. In one example, a direction of engine rotation is selected to maximize air flow through the engine while the engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel. Operation of one or more cylinder valve deactivating mechanisms is assessed while the engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10815910
    Abstract: A control system for a compression ignition engine is provided, which includes a sensor and a cylinder count control module which changes between all-cylinder and reduced-cylinder operations when the compression ignition combustion is performed at a given lean air-fuel ratio. The cylinder count control module executes a preparation control to change from the all-cylinder operation to the reduced-cylinder operation when the change is demanded. In the preparation control, the cylinder count control module outputs a signal to a throttle valve to execute an air amount increase processing, outputs a signal to a fuel injection valve to execute a fuel amount increase processing, and outputs a signal to an ignition plug to execute a retard processing. The cylinder count control module ends the fuel amount increase processing and the retard processing when it is determined that an air-fuel ratio is in a given air-fuel ratio state, and starts the reduced-cylinder operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Masuda, Masayoshi Higashio, Yugou Sunagare, Michio Ito, Kenko Ujihara, Yuto Matsushima
  • Patent number: 10724451
    Abstract: For exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fueling control, at least one donor cylinder of a plurality of cylinders in an engine provides exhaust gas to an air intake for the plurality of cylinders. A fuel variable restriction initially provides fuel concurrent with an intake stroke for the at least one donor cylinder in response to a transition from withholding the fuel to the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Geckler, Andrea Beck, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Patent number: 10690070
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tracking a fuel puddle mass in the intake port of a deactivated engine cylinder. The difference in fuel evaporation rate in the deactivated cylinder intake is accounted for by applying distinct time constant and gain values to a transient fuel compensation model. A fuel vapor content is clipped once the intake vapor pressure in the intake port of the deactivated cylinder reaches a saturation pressure limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Amey Karnik, Pravin Sashidharan, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, Eric Storhok
  • Patent number: 10655571
    Abstract: Various methods for controlling EGR rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises routing at least a portion of exhaust from a first exhaust manifold to an intake manifold, and not to atmosphere, the first exhaust manifold exclusively coupled to a first cylinder group. The method further includes routing exhaust from at least one additional exhaust manifold coupled to a corresponding at least one additional cylinder group to atmosphere, and during a first engine operating condition where an engine fuel demand is below a threshold demand, not injecting fuel to each of a subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group while injecting fuel to a subset of all cylinders coupled to the at least one additional exhaust manifold, where a number of cylinders of the subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group decreases in response to an increase in a target EGR rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Omowoleola Chukuwuemeka Akinyemi, Adam Klingbeil, Neil Xavier Blythe, Shawn Michael Gallagher, James Robert Mischler, Luke Henry, Jennifer Lynn Jackson
  • Patent number: 10502175
    Abstract: In a control device for an internal combustion engine and a method of estimating a combustion chamber-wall temperature of an internal combustion engine of the invention, a difference between a wall temperature of the combustion chamber and a cooling water temperature is set according to an integrated value of the intake air amount of the internal combustion engine after start of the fuel-cut, and the estimated value of the wall temperature of the combustion chamber during the fuel-cut is obtained based on the difference and the cooling water temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Toyama, Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Atsushi Murai
  • Patent number: 10253706
    Abstract: Methods, devices, estimators, controllers and algorithms are described for estimating working chamber air charge during engine operations. The described approaches and devices are well suited for use in dynamic firing level modulation controlled engines. Manifold pressure is estimated for a time corresponding to an induction event associated with a selected working cycle. The manifold pressure estimate accounts for impacts from one or more intervening potential induction events that will occur between the time that the manifold pressure is estimated and the time that the induction event associated with the selected working cycle occurs. The estimated manifold pressure is used in the estimation of the air charge for the selected working cycle. The described approach may be used to individually calculate the air charge for each induction event at any time that the engine is operating in a mode that can benefit from the individual cylinder air charge estimations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan J. Kotwicki, Joel D. Van Ess, Mark A. Wilcutts
  • Patent number: 10233796
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine capable of cylinder deactivation or skip fire control in combination with variable valve lift control. One bank of cylinders can be deactivated while the air induction of the other bank of cylinders is regulated using variable valve lift control to increase engine efficiency. An internal combustion engine with two cylinder banks, where control of one cylinder bank using skip fire control can be operating at an appropriate firing fraction in combination with variable valve lift control on the other cylinder bank. A single bank of cylinders can be controlled in a skip fire manner in conjunction with variable valve lift control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Shost, Matthew A. Younkins
  • Patent number: 10119886
    Abstract: A filtration monitoring system is an electronic system control module installed on an internal combustion engine or within a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine. The filtration monitoring system monitors the health and status of the filtration systems present on the engine. The filtration monitoring system tracks filter loading patterns and predicts remaining service life of the filters by running smart algorithms based on sensor feedback (e.g., pressure sensor feedback, fluid quality characteristic sensor feedback, etc.). In some arrangements, the described filtration monitoring systems provide feedback as to whether a genuine (i.e., authorized, OEM approved, etc.) or unauthorized filter cartridge is installed in a given filtration system. The filtration monitoring system may be retrofit into an existing internal combustion engine or vehicle that does not already have a filtration monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Amit Dhingra, Bharadwaj Prabhala, Abhijeet Vaidya, Abhijit Shimpi, Eric R. Burgan
  • Patent number: 10087874
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine has a controller configured to control a fuel injection valve arranged to directly inject a fuel into a combustion chamber, and a variable compression ratio mechanism arranged to vary an upper dead center position of a piston, and thereby to vary a compression ratio of the internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to control a fuel cut by which the fuel injection from the fuel injection valve is stopped, when a predetermined fuel cut condition is satisfied during a traveling of a vehicle. The fuel injection from the fuel injection valve is restarted when a predetermined fuel cut recovery condition is satisfied during the fuel cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Uchida, Futoshi Yoshimura, Tomoyoshi Date, Rina Kamio
  • Patent number: 10072592
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine is described. The engine is operated in a skip fire manner such that selected skipped working cycles are skipped and selected active working cycles are fired to deliver a desired engine output. A particular level of torque output is selected for each of the fired working chambers. Various methods, arrangements and systems related to the above method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 9964051
    Abstract: In various described embodiments skip fire control is used to deliver a desired engine output. A controller determines a skip fire firing fraction and (as appropriate) associated engine settings that are suitable for delivering a requested output. In one aspect, the skip fire controller is arranged to select a base firing fraction that has a repeating firing cycle length that will repeat at least a designated number of times per second at the current engine speed. Such an arrangement can be helpful in reducing the occurrence of undesirable vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Adya S. Tripathi, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 9878718
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for controlling transitions between firing fractions during skip fire and potentially variable displacement operation of an engine. In general, actuator first transition strategies are described in which an actuator position (e.g., cam phase, TCC slip, etc.) is changed to, or close to a target position before i corresponding firing fraction change is implemented. When the actuator change associated with a desired firing fraction change is relatively large, the firing fraction change is divided into a series of two or more firing fraction change steps. A number of intermediate target selection schemes are described as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Steven E. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9856808
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling fuel injection in a variable displacement engine. One method for a deactivatable cylinder comprises, before deactivating the cylinder responsive to operating conditions, disabling a port injector and fueling the cylinder only via the direct injector. The method further comprises, when reactivating the cylinder from deactivation, enabling both the port injector and the direct injector, and injecting a higher amount of fuel via the direct injector while simultaneously injecting a lower amount of fuel via the port injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9856806
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders and is provided with an arrangement for exhaust gas recirculation. The plurality of cylinders is divided into a first group and a second group of cylinders. The internal combustion engine further has a control device arranged to provide a heating mode of the internal combustion engine where the first group cylinders are deactivated and the second group cylinders are activated. The control device is arranged to provide a higher proportion recirculated exhaust gas than inlet air to the first group cylinders in the heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Magnus Bjurman
  • Patent number: 9835101
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an engine with skip fire are provided. In one example, a method comprises during a skip fire mode or during a skip fire mode transition, port injecting a first fuel quantity to a cylinder of an engine, the first fuel quantity based on a first, predicted air charge amount for the cylinder and lean of a desired air-fuel ratio, and direct injecting a second fuel quantity to the cylinder, the second fuel quantity based on the first fuel quantity and a second, calculated air charge amount for the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Brad Alan Boyer, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 9790876
    Abstract: For exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fueling control, at least one donor cylinder of a plurality of cylinders in an engine provides exhaust gas to an air intake for the plurality of cylinders. A fuel variable restriction initially provides fuel concurrent with an intake stroke for the at least one donor cylinder in response to a transition from withholding the fuel to the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Geckler, Andrea Beck, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Patent number: 9677498
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an ignition energy provided to an engine cylinder upon reactivation from a VDE mode of operation. Ignition energy is increased by increasing an ignition coil dwell time and/or an ignition coil strike frequency. The increased ignition energy improves combustion stability during the transition out of the VDE mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Garlan J. Huberts, Michael Damian Czekala, Nelson William Morrow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9605601
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an engine with skip fire are provided. In one example, a method comprises during a skip fire mode or during a skip fire mode transition, port injecting a first fuel quantity to a cylinder of an engine, the first fuel quantity based on a first, predicted air charge amount for the cylinder and lean of a desired air-fuel ratio, and direct injecting a second fuel quantity to the cylinder, the second fuel quantity based on the first fuel quantity and a second, calculated air charge amount for the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Brad Alan Boyer, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 9599047
    Abstract: A firing module determines a target number of activated cylinders of an engine based on a torque request and a present gear ratio of a transmission. A combination identification module, based on the torque request, identifies a combination including a possible number of activated cylinders and a possible transmission gear ratio, wherein at least one of: the possible number of activated cylinders is different than the target number of activated cylinders; and the possible transmission gear ratio is different than the present gear ratio of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Randall S. Beikmann, Nitish J. Wagh
  • Patent number: 9562485
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an internal combustion engine and a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which an electronic controller is programmed to determine whether the internal combustion engine is operating within a cylinder cutout enabling region and, when the engine operates in the cylinder cutout enabling region, to cutout one or more of the engine cylinders by causing the cutout cylinder's fuel injector to cease injecting fuel into cutout cylinder, and to also cause the still-active engine cylinders to operate with an additional amount of fuel such that a steady state engine torque output remains unchanged before and after the second cylinder is cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan, Derek Tanis, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, Frank J. Lombardi
  • Patent number: 9556811
    Abstract: A system includes a cylinder control module that determines target numbers of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a period, determines, based on the target numbers and an engine speed, N predetermined sequences for controlling the cylinders of the engine during the period, determines whether a transition parameter is associated with at least one of the N predetermined subsequences and selectively adjusts at least one of the N predetermined subsequences based on the determination of whether a transition parameter is associated with at least two of the N predetermined sequences. The system further includes a cylinder actuator module that, during the period, controls the cylinders of the engine based on the N predetermined sequence and based on the at least one selectively adjusted predetermined sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9395274
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing equipment with variable geometries of an aircraft engine, especially turbomachine. In a first phase, a computer tests the chain of controls of the fuel dosage function. In a second phase, said computer tests the jacks of the chains of controls of equipment with variable geometries by keeping the aircraft shut-off valve open during rod extensions of jacks and by controlling the injection shut-off valve to expel fuel into the injection chamber during their rod retractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Matthieu Dussap, Antoine Veyrat-Masson
  • Patent number: 9388786
    Abstract: An ignition system including: a first control unit configured to generate a high voltage that is to be supplied to a spark plug at a secondary winding of an ignition coil by applying and then cutting off a primary current to a primary winding of the ignition coil; a second control unit configured to cut off electric power supplied from the secondary winding to the spark plug by energizing the primary winding after the first control unit cuts off the primary current; a re-energizing current measuring unit configured to measure a re-energizing current energizing the primary winding by the second control unit; and an energizing period determining unit configured to determine an energizing period during which the primary current is applied to the primary winding by the first control unit, corresponding to the re-energizing current measured by the re-energizing current measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakano
  • Patent number: 9316165
    Abstract: Various methods for controlling EGR rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for controlling EGR rate in an engine comprises routing exhaust from a first cylinder group to an intake coupled to the engine, and not to atmosphere, routing exhaust from a second cylinder group to atmosphere, and, during a first engine operating condition, injecting fuel to each cylinder in the first cylinder group while injecting fuel to a subset of cylinders of the second cylinder group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Omowoleola Chukuwuemeka Akinyemi, Adam Klingbeil