With Fuel Or Intake Air Control Patents (Class 123/179.16)
  • Patent number: 11928081
    Abstract: A control system for a valve or other flow control device can include a processor device. The control system can further include a memory in communication with the processor device. The memory may have a fixed maximum capacity. The control system can further include one or more ports to receive signals corresponding to events for the valve or other flow control device. The processor device can be configured to execute operations that include: over a time interval, counting a quantity of events of a first type, corresponding to the signals received at the one or more ports, and after the time interval, storing in the memory a record of the first type of event over the time interval, based on the counted quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Fischer Controls International LLC
    Inventor: Mitch Stephen Panther
  • Patent number: 11473546
    Abstract: A starter assembly which includes a switch for energizing a solenoid. Energizing the solenoid biases a starter gear into engagement and energizes the starter motor. A thermally responsive switch is positioned to absorb heat generated by operation of the electric motor and is disposed in an electrical line controlling operation of the switch controlling the solenoid wherein opening of the thermally responsive switch results in the opening of the solenoid switch. The use of such a thermally responsive switch de-energizes the electric motor when the electric motor is subjected to elevated operating temperatures that might otherwise cause damage to the electric motor. The starter assembly may also include control circuitry that includes a microprocessor wherein the control circuitry is operably coupled with the switch controlling the solenoid. The control circuitry is programmed to de-energize the solenoid upon the satisfaction of predetermined conditions to thereby prevent damage to the electrical motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Kirk, William P. Whitlock, Jr., Randy L. Andis, Rodney E. Spangler
  • Patent number: 11307225
    Abstract: A vehicle electric drive includes a controller programmed to operate a power converter to boost voltage from a battery for a DC bus and to limit voltage output from the power converter to a predefined maximum voltage value that varies with temperature of coolant used to cool the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lihua Chen, Boris Curuvija, Baoming Ge
  • Patent number: 11150261
    Abstract: A method for producing sensor information depends on a rotational speed, using a rotational speed sensor which is adapted to output rotational speed pulses in predetermined angular positions of a physical sensor field that rotates at the rotational speed. In order to increase resolution, a digital angle signal each is determined between the pulses. A defined number of most significant bits of said angle information is output to determine the rotational speed so that the interval between two pulses is subdivided into a defined number of subintervals. An angle value which can be unambiguously interpreted by means of the sinusoidal signal can be determined from the cosine signal by using two phase shift sinusoidal signals and an arccos function. The device optionally outputs the angle signal below a threshold value and an impulse signal above the threshold value to determine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Jöckel, Timo Dietz, Bernhard Schmid, Roland Hilser
  • Patent number: 11125181
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle has at least one cylinder, a cylinder head, and a piston which is movably mounted in the cylinder and has a combustion chamber side which delimits a combustion chamber with the cylinder head and the cylinder. The cylinder head has a combustion chamber roof, in which at least two valve seats for at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve are provided. The combustion chamber roof has at least one arched cylinder head section which is arranged between the at least two valve seats and points away from the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brack, Alexander Hiereth, Timo Klees, Lukas Schaefer, Florian Schwarzmueller, Dominik Suckart
  • Patent number: 11098714
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pump, having a contour ring, having a rotor, having vanes, having side plates, having a housing and a housing cover, having under-vane grooves for supplying the lower vane faces with pressure, the vanes being arranged radially displaceably in the rotor and extending under the vanes as a result of the pressure and being pressed against the contour ring. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for supplying oil to a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS EFP DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Ante Bodrozic, Karl Prinzhorn, Christian Roll, Jan Schmid-Dallinger
  • Patent number: 10961925
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for starting an internal combustion engine comprising: in a first phase after a starting process, setting a throttle valve to a value near to zero so the pressure in the intake tract is lowered below the ambient pressure and injecting a fuel into the intake tract above a rich combustion limit at which the fuel/air mixture would still just be combustible; in a second phase, reducing the fuel mass as a function of the pressure; in a third phase shorter than the second phase, further reducing the fuel mass and increasing the opening of the throttle valve to increase the pressure in the intake tract; and in a fourth phase, increasing the fuel mass as a function of rising pressure in the intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Reiner Otto Beckmann
  • Patent number: 10830189
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving canister back-purging operations in multi-canister evaporative emissions systems. In one example a method comprises controlling a state of one or more valves positioned in the evaporative emissions system of a vehicle that includes at least two fuel vapor storage canister, so that fuel vapors may be selectively purged from a single canister while other canisters are bypassed. In this way, fuel vapors from the single canister may be directly back-purged to the fuel tank, which may in turn reduce opportunity for release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10774765
    Abstract: A method is for starting a combustion engine having a pull-rope starter. A fuel/air mixture is fed to the engine via an intake channel. The mixture is ignited by a spark plug. The combustion drives the piston downward and drives a crankshaft rotationally. The fuel system has a fuel channel opening into the intake channel. An electric fuel valve is open in its currentless state and closes a fuel channel only when an operating voltage is applied. An electronic control unit actuates the fuel valve and triggers an ignition spark and is utilized by a generator to supply energy to the control unit, the fuel valve and the ignition device. To prevent excessive enriching of the fuel/air mixture during starting, the energy, which is generated at the beginning of the rotation of the crankshaft, is used to first close the fuel valve before the control unit triggers an ignition spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Geyer, Martin Kiesner, Joerg Praeger, Steffen Bantle, David Fallscheer, Erik Ames
  • Patent number: 10731581
    Abstract: Various embodiments include method comprising: determining a torque of each cylinder resulting from an injection; determining a difference in the respective torque output; determining a progression of a pressure in one of the cylinders within a cycle; determining a progression of the crankshaft speed within the cycle; determining a time interval between a maximum the pressure and a subsequent maximum of the speed within the cycle; comparing the difference in the torque outputs with a threshold; if the difference exceeds the threshold, determining a progression of the crankshaft speed for each of the cylinders within a respective cycle and determining the respective maxima; determining a respective time of the maxima within the associated cylinder cycle; determining a difference between the respective maxima; and if the difference is greater than a predetermined threshold, changing an injection time in one of the cylinders based on the determined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10634084
    Abstract: A fuel injection controller is applied to a fuel injector injecting fuel to be combusted in an internal combustion engine by an open-valve operation of the valve body according to an electromagnetic suction force generated by an energization of a coil. The fuel injection controller controls an injection state of the fuel injector by controlling a coil current flowing through the coil. The fuel injection controller includes an increasing control portion which increases the coil current to a first target value, a holding control portion which holds the coil current increased by the increasing control portion to the first target value, and a changing portion which changes the first target value according to the operation state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Eiji Ito
  • Patent number: 10502146
    Abstract: A priming system for an engine system having a throttle valve configured to regulate a flow of air and fuel into an intake manifold of an engine is disclosed. The priming system may include a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a value of an engine parameter, an auxiliary fuel line configured to direct fuel from a fuel source to a primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, an auxiliary fuel valve disposed in the auxiliary fuel line, and a controller in communication with the first sensor and the auxiliary fuel valve. The controller may be configured determine the value of the engine parameter from the first sensor signal and cease directing fuel from the auxiliary fuel line to the primed cylinder subset when the engine parameter value is greater than or equal to a threshold engine parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Cress
  • Patent number: 10495011
    Abstract: A vibration suppression device of a vehicle includes a controller, a memory a vibration detector. The controller determines whether the vehicle is in a normal driving condition. The controller obtains data of a longitudinal vibration of the vehicle from the vibration detector. The controller determines whether a vibration level corresponding to a reference frequency band is greater than a vibration level threshold. The controller calculates a torque generated by each cylinder and a correction amount for the fuel injection amount for each cylinder so that a torque difference among the plurality of cylinders is reduced. The controller corrects the command fuel injection amount for each cylinder based on the calculated correction amount, controls each fuel injection device based on the corrected command fuel injection amount, and stores the calculated correction amount in the memory member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Mitsuru Kondo
  • Patent number: 10408146
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is provided, which includes an engine, an engine control mechanism configured to control torque generated by the engine, a steering device, and a processor. The processor determines whether a vehicle is traveling and a steering angle related value that is related to a steering angle of the steering device increases, executes a control of the engine control mechanism to reduce the torque when the vehicle is determined to be traveling and the steering angle related value is determined to increase, determines whether a combustion frequency of the engine per unit time is lower than a given value, executes the control for reducing the torque when the combustion frequency is determined to be higher than the given value, and prevents the execution of the control for reducing the torque when the combustion frequency is determined to be lower than the given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu, Osamu Sunahara, Yasunori Takahara, Yuichiro Akiya, Chikako Ohisa, Atsushi Yamasaki, Keiichi Hiwatashi
  • Patent number: 10371113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a power generating device (2) comprising an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas motor or a gas turbine, and an energy accumulator. Said internal combustion engine and the energy accumulator are electrically coupled together. Said internal combustion engine (16) can be operated in accordance with a first estimated value and in accordance with a second estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: EKU Power Drives GmbH
    Inventors: Leonardo Uriona Sepulveda, Martin Ball
  • Patent number: 10336331
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a hydraulic control unit (HCU) having a set of electrically-actuated valves configured to open/close to accumulate a pressurized hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic apply circuit of a first clutch of a transmission; a hydraulic fluid pump mechanically driven by an engine and configured to provide the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the HCU; and a controller configured to: prior to temporarily stopping the engine, control the engine and the HCU such that the pressurized hydraulic fluid accumulates in the hydraulic apply circuit of the first clutch to a desired hydraulic fluid pressure, and upon restarting the engine, control the set of electrically-actuated valves of the HCU to provide the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic apply circuit first clutch to a hydraulic apply circuit for a second clutch of the transmission to apply the second clutch and shift the transmission into drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: William Mayhew, Stephen Tokish
  • Patent number: 10215144
    Abstract: A fuel system is provided for switching between two separate regulated pressures of a first fuel pump to a supply line. The supply line supplies both a second fuel pump of a high pressure fuel injection system and a fuel injector separate from the high pressure fuel injection system. The switchover can include multiple regulators, one of which is selectively disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Brent D. Keppy, Justin Allen
  • Patent number: 10215124
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device is a control device controlling an injection of fuel by a fuel injector and includes: a setting part that sets a request injection quantity of an injection quantity requested of the fuel injector; a dividing part that divides the request injection quantity set by the setting part into a specified injection quantity and an adjusting injection quantity other than the specified injection quantity; an injection performing part that performs a dividing injection of an adjusting injection and a partial lift injection by the fuel injector, the adjusting injection injecting the adjusting injection quantity of fuel, the partial lift injection finishing a lift of a valve body of the fuel injector in a partial lift state before the valve body reaching a full lift position and injecting the specified injection quantity of fuel; and a learning part that learns an injection characteristic of the fuel injector at the time of the partial lift injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Nakano, Hiroshi Katsurahara
  • Patent number: 10208710
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicle with LPG may include an auxiliary chamber disposed in an LPG bombe of the LPG vehicle, an auxiliary injection line branched from a fuelling line extending to the LPG bombe from a fuel inlet port for connection to the auxiliary chamber, a solenoid valve mounted in the auxiliary injection line to selectively allow or block a flow of LPG to the auxiliary chamber, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature in the bombe, and a controller to control the solenoid valve to be opened when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chang Han Kim, Jae Hwa Park, Jong Ki Kim, Jae Min Lee, Keun Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10167789
    Abstract: A dual fuel engine includes an engine operable on a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel and has an electrical power generator. The dual fuel engine also includes a carburetor attached to an intake of the engine to mix air and fuel and connect to a gaseous fuel source and a liquid fuel source. A liquid fuel cut-off connects to the carburetor to selectively interrupt a flow of liquid fuel to the engine. The liquid fuel cut-off is operable in open and closed states such that the liquid fuel cut-off interrupts the flow of liquid fuel when closed. The dual fuel engine also includes controller operably connected to operate the liquid fuel cut-off in the open and closed states, and the controller may be programmed to implement a delay period upon engine startup before closing the liquid fuel cut-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Champion Engine Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Kendall J. Collie, Mark J. Sarder, Aleko D. Sotiriades, James J. Dehn, Leigh Jenison, Hiroaki Sato
  • Patent number: 10156594
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for detecting tampering of a fuel dispenser. Power is applied to a valve coil of a fuel dispenser. The valve coil is part of a control valve configured to accomplish a gradated fuel flow of the fuel dispenser. Current flowing through the valve coil is measured in response to the power being applied to the valve coil. The current measurements are compared with predetermined criteria and tampering with the valve coil is determined if the current measurements are sufficiently different than expected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Benton, Michael L. Jennings
  • Patent number: 10125717
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine having a reciprocating piston includes performing a multi after-injection pattern having at least one pair of consecutive injection pulses both starting after a top dead center of the piston and separated by a dwell time shorter than 200 as.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Isadora Ricci, Giorgio Nati, Cosma Negro, Stefano Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 10094300
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine actuator control module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a cylinder activation module. The valve lift control module adjusts a target lift state of a valve actuator of an engine to adjust an amount by which at least one of an intake valve of a cylinder of the engine and an exhaust valve of the cylinder is lifted from a valve seat. The cylinder activation module determines a target number of activated cylinders in the engine. The engine actuator control module that controls a first actuator of the engine at a present time based on at least one of the target lift state at a future time and the target number of activated cylinders at the future time. The first actuator is different than the valve actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Julian R. Verdejo
  • Patent number: 10087870
    Abstract: A fuel injection controller is applied to a fuel injector injecting fuel to be combusted in an internal combustion engine by an open-valve operation of the valve body according to an electromagnetic suction force generated by an energization of a coil. The fuel injection controller controls an injection state of the fuel injector by controlling a coil current flowing through the coil. The fuel injection controller includes an increasing control portion which increases the coil current to a first target value, a holding control portion which holds the coil current increased by the increasing control portion to the first target value, and a changing portion which changes the first target value according to the operation state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Eiji Ito
  • Patent number: 10066838
    Abstract: A dual fuel heating system can be used in a gas appliance. A dual fuel heating system can have a fuel selector valve for selecting between a first fuel and a second fuel different from the first. The dual fuel heating system can include a regulator unit configured to regulate the pressure of the two different fuels. The selector valve determines which flow path for which fuel is open and which is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Patent number: 10054076
    Abstract: A system to control fuel-pressure of fuel delivered to a fuel-injector includes a fuel-pump, an absolute-pressure-sensor, a pressure-regulator, and a controller. The fuel-pump is operable to vary fuel-pressure of fuel output by the fuel-pump. The absolute-pressure-sensor indicates an absolute-pressure of the fuel. The pressure-regulator limits the fuel-pressure by releasing fuel output by the fuel-pump when the fuel-pressure exceeds a tank-pressure of the fuel-tank by a pressure-threshold. The controller is in communication with the absolute-pressure-sensor and the fuel-pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Bernard M. McFarland
  • Patent number: 9995226
    Abstract: A control device causes the engine to start with a throttle valve being set to a first throttle position when required power required in an engine is smaller than a first threshold value and a detected fuel pressure detected by a low-pressure fuel sensor is lower than a second threshold value. The control device causes the engine to start with the throttle valve being set to a position larger than the first throttle position when the required power is smaller than the first threshold value and the detected fuel pressure is higher than the second threshold value. With this structure, a control device for a vehicle can be provided which allows intermittent operation of the engine with reduced variation in air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9932936
    Abstract: A choke removal mechanism for an autochoked engine includes an actuator arm which is configured to have an actuated state and an idle state, an actuator which is configured to be mechanically coupled to the actuator arm, a choke which is configured to have an open state and a closed state, and a choke spring which is configured to be mechanically coupled to the choke and the actuator arm, where the choke spring is configured to mechanically link the actuator arm to the choke such that when the actor arm is in the actuated state the choke is in the open state and when the actuator arm is in the idle state the choke is in the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: George P. Klonis, Timothy M. Schulte
  • Patent number: 9927161
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration system (TRS) and method of subcooling a heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer circuit of a TRS are disclosed. The TRS includes a heat transfer circuit. The heat transfer circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator are in fluid communication such that a heat transfer fluid can flow therethrough. The heat transfer circuit is configured to be in thermal communication with a pressure-regulating device of a system separate from the heat transfer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Michael Lattin
  • Patent number: 9926877
    Abstract: An injection control device of the present disclosure includes a control section that controls a fuel injection of an injector and a filter to which a sensing signal of a fuel pressure sensor to sense a fuel pressure of the injector is inputted. The filter includes a first filter and a second filter which is higher in a cut-off frequency than the first filter. The control section determines a fuel injection start timing, at which the injector is opened to start injecting the fuel into the internal combustion engine, by a crank angle and calculates a valve opening output to bring the injector from a closed state to an opened state on the basis of the sensing signal. Further, at an earlier timing, which is earlier than the fuel injection start timing by a calculation time required to calculate the valve opening output, the control section samples the sensing signal via the second filter and calculates the valve opening output on the basis of the sampled sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Omi
  • Patent number: 9875836
    Abstract: A diode accommodation core, for use in solenoids of starter engines and accommodation of the diodes in these solenoids without thereby affect the structural configuration of the diodes or the structures of starter engines. The diode accommodation core includes a structural body having opening for the accommodation of body of diode, and two contact sides opposite each other, wherein each side is provided with accommodation guide of the respective terminals of the diode, which has a surface portion in which at least one of the terminals is supported and at least partially exposed regarding the surface of the corresponding contact side of structural body, in order to promote electrical contact with at least one adjacent component by pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Motores De Partida E Alternadores Ltda.
    Inventor: Breno Raizer
  • Patent number: 9847694
    Abstract: A rotor of a motor capable of simplifying a manufacturing process and improving precision. The rotor includes a screw type of ball spindle, and a nut spindle that surrounds the ball spindle, is screwed onto the ball spindle, and has magnets attached to an outer circumferential surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Seob Shim
  • Patent number: 9803773
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an oil-gas dual-purpose integrated switch. The oil-gas dual-purpose integrated switch comprises a valve and a knob switch for controlling an ignition coil and a carburetor solenoid valve; the valve cap is fixed on the valve body to form a valve cavity; the valve core is disposed in the valve body; the valve core passes through the valve cap to be fixed with the knob of the knob switch such that when the knob switch is rotated, the valve core is driven to rotate; the valve body is provided with an oil inlet pipe joint, an oil outlet pipe joint, a gas inlet pipe joint and a gas outlet pipe joint which are communicated with the valve cavity; the valve core is provided with an oil duct, and a gas duct. The oil-gas dual-purpose integrated switch can switch the oil path and the gas path randomly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CHONGQING RATO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Zhang, Quan Yang, Wen-Bin Zhou, Jin-Hua Du
  • Patent number: 9796320
    Abstract: A system for reclaiming fuel from a vehicle fleet is comprised of a trailer capable of defueling multiple vehicles simultaneously that operates in conjunction with a remote computing device. The remote computing device communicates bi-directionally with an on-board computing device located in a combustion engine vehicle, where the on-board computing device is directed by the remote computing device to cause the vehicle's fuel pump to operate without starting the vehicle's engine. The remote computing device also queries for and receives data about the vehicle from the on-board computing device, such as the Vehicle Identification Number, diagnostic information about the vehicle, and/or data about how the vehicle is being driven and transmits such data to at least one second computing device in communication with the remote computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Jerry McGuffin
  • Patent number: 9797333
    Abstract: There is provided a configuration in which a cylinder which is in an inlet stroke when an internal combustion engine is in a stop (automatic stop) state is determined and stored, and when starting the engine upon detection of a start request, the fuel injection of an initial cycle to the cylinder, which has been determined as having been stopped in the inlet stroke when the engine was in the stop state before starting, is split into a plurality if injections at least including an injection before engine rotation, to thereby perform injections. As a result, startability is improved while suppressing pre-ignition at the time of starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitatsu Nakamura, Tomoyuki Murakami, Atsushi Murai
  • Patent number: 9745903
    Abstract: A dual fuel system for a combustion engine includes an air and fuel mixer configured to mix air and fuel provided to the combustion engine, a first fuel path for a first fuel, and a second fuel path for a second fuel. The first and second fuels have different physical and chemical properties. The dual fuel system also includes a common fuel path coupled to the air and fuel mixer and both the first and second fuel paths, wherein the common fuel path includes an electronically controlled valve configured to regulate the air to fuel ratio of an air/fuel mixture provided to the combustion engine in response to control signals from a controller, and both the first and second fuel paths are coupled to the common fuel path at a location upstream of the electronically controlled valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Walter Sorge, Jared Joseph Wentz, Michael Thomas Roll, Amy Ann Lindblad, Jerrold Arthur Pratt
  • Patent number: 9677529
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnosis system includes an abnormality determiner for determining whether a vehicle having an abnormality regarding a temporal engine stop function or a power regeneration function is caused in a mode that cancels a greenhouse gas reduction effect of the engine. When an abnormality that cancels, due to disablement of the temporal engine stop function or the power regeneration function, such an abnormality is quickly notified to a driver of the vehicle by the vehicle diagnosis system so that the abnormality is quickly fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Ohsaki
  • Patent number: 9644557
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine, a motor configured to drive the vehicle, an air-fuel ratio sensor, and a control unit configured to stop and start the engine according to vehicle required power. The control unit is configured to change a threshold value of the vehicle required power at which the engine is started such that a difference between an air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio decreases in a case where the difference exceeds a predetermined value when the engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Mamada
  • Patent number: 9624894
    Abstract: In an automatically stopped internal combustion engine, a rotation speed at next and subsequent ignition timings is predicted at every ignition timing of the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is stopped automatically. Whether self-restorable restarting is allowed is determined according to a comparison result of the predictive rotation speed and a self-restoration determination rotation speed, so that self-restorable restarting is performed in a reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohisa Shoda, Osamu Ishikawa, Takeru Okabe, Hiroaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 9618557
    Abstract: A diagnostic circuit arranged to measure an electrical characteristic in a drive circuit of a coil of a fluid injector and compare the measured electrical characteristic with another electrical characteristic to determine whether a PN junction is working to discharge electrical energy in the coil of the fluid injector, in particular a selective catalytic reduction dosing injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
    Inventor: Martin A. P. Sykes
  • Patent number: 9616892
    Abstract: A shifting system for a vehicle includes an engine with a throttle connected to a transmission. An activating assembly is connected to the transmission, the throttle and a brake. The activating assembly is capable of activating the transmission to change direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: American-Iowa Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Shane D. Simon
  • Patent number: 9605614
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control system for executing a fuel saving based on a learned value of fuel consumption obtained from an actual running of the vehicle. The control system makes an assessment of a fuel saving control by learning fuel consumption within a predetermined learning zone including a zone where the fuel saving control is executed and determines whether or not to execute the fuel saving control based on a result of the assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Miura, Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono
  • Patent number: 9581111
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a fuel bowl to supply liquid fuel to a carburetor. The fuel bowl comprises a float chamber and a fuel inlet cavity which receives a fuel delivery insert. The fuel delivery insert receives a fuel inlet valve and comprises passages to direct incoming fuel to a bottom portion of the float chamber. A float comprises an elongate member rotatably hinged within a float cavity of the fuel delivery insert, such that the float rises according to a quantity of fuel within the float chamber. The fuel inlet valve supplies liquid fuel to the float chamber by way of the passages according to the operation of the float within the float chamber. A ventilation chamber allows air and fuel vapors to exit as liquid fuel enters the float chamber while preventing liquid fuel from entering into the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kyle
  • Patent number: 9540013
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for vehicle includes: an engine; an oil pump driven by the engine; a clutch device brought into engagement to enable power transmission between the engine and drive wheels by delivering a pressurized fluid thereto, and brought into disengagement to interrupt the power transmission between the engine and the drive wheels by discharging the fluid therefrom; and an accumulator storing the fluid delivered to the clutch device. The hydraulic control system is configured to control the hydraulic pressure applied to the clutch device, to stop the engine while bringing the clutch device into disengagement upon satisfaction of a predetermined stopping condition, and to restart the engine while bringing the clutch device into engagement upon satisfaction of a predetermined restarting condition. In the hydraulic control system, a hydraulic circuit increases flow rate of the fluid flowing between the accumulator and the clutch device when the engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuro Morino, Shuji Moriyama, Yoshio Ito
  • Patent number: 9487369
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a swing-type sensor assembly, comprising a support and a sensor vibrator. The support is provided with a pin shaft, and the sensor vibrator is connected to the pin shaft and capable of swinging about the pin shaft. The support is further connected to an air pipe, which is capable of blowing air towards the sensor vibrator. The air pipe is provided with a control valve, an inlet of which is connected, via a pipe, to a supply for clean and dry compressed air. The swing-type sensor assembly saves the sensor vibrator from easy adhesion, thus ensuring a restoring force thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jia Li
  • Patent number: 9476653
    Abstract: There is provided a controller for a heat capture and storage system configured to capture and store energy from heat expelled in engine exhaust. The controller includes a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, and at least one processor coupled to a memory for storing within the memory instructions executable by the at least one processor. The controller is configured by execution of the instructions stored in the memory to: receive signals at one or more of the plurality of inputs, the signals representing at least one operating parameter of the heat capture and storage system; and based on at least one operating parameter, generate signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs for controlling at least one component of the heat capture and storage system to capture and store the energy from the heat expelled in the engine exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Enermotion Inc.
    Inventors: John Hamilton Stannard, David Robert Gibbs, Christopher Bachalo
  • Patent number: 9447747
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a stop/start vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine throttle position is adjusted in response to whether or not a starter engages a flywheel during engine stopping. The throttle may be adjusted to a more open position if the starter engages the flywheel or to a more closed position if the starter does not engage the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, David Oshinsky, Richard John Hippley, Danny Zdravkovski, Craig Cabadas
  • Patent number: 9434386
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle powertrain that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a position of a transmission clutch in response to battery current during engine cranking. The method may reduce clutch wear and improve vehicle launch from a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Matthew John Shelton, Roger Lyle Huffmaster
  • Patent number: 9429107
    Abstract: A choke system for an internal combustion engine includes a carburetor having an air intake, a choke valve disposed in the air intake, and a choke lever coupled to the choke valve, wherein the choke valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, a mechanical linkage coupled to the choke lever, and a solenoid attached to the carburetor and coupled to the mechanical linkage so activation of the solenoid moves the choke valve, wherein the solenoid is activated in response to activation of a starter system of an internal combustion engine, thereby moving the choke valve via the mechanical linkage to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Casey E. Groh, Adam J. Hellman, Timothy J. Kwiatkowski, Andrew J. Perez, Jeff J. Steenbergen, Michael R. Visuri
  • Patent number: 9341129
    Abstract: Various methods for inferring oil viscosity and/or oil viscosity index in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one example, a new control method comprises cranking the engine during a start mode with an electric motor connected to a substantially constant source of electrical power, inferring engine oil viscosity based at least on engine oil temperature and speed of the engine while being cranked by the electric motor during the start mode, and correcting an operating parameter of the engine based on the inferred engine oil viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alexander O'Connor Gibson