Patents Represented by Attorney Allen Hall McCoy Russell & Tuttle LLP
  • Patent number: 8132560
    Abstract: A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in an adsorbent canister in a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine and a fuel tank coupled to the adsorbent canister. The method comprises, during a first operating condition including a higher availability of compressed air, metering the compressed air from a first air source, and flowing the metered, compressed air through the adsorbent canister along a first flow path. The method further comprises, during a second operating condition including a lower availability of compressed air, flowing air from a second air source through the adsorbent canister, and, during the first and second operating conditions, venting the fuel tank to an intake of the engine and flowing effluent enriched in the vapor from the adsorbent canister to the intake of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7640899
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling electromechanical valves operating in an engine is presented. According to the method, valve operation can be adjusted in a number of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Vince Winstead, James D. Ervin
  • Patent number: 7121085
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling hydrocarbon injection into engine exhaust to reduce NOx. The method and system inject the hydrocarbon into the engine exhaust in accordance with detection of a light-off event. The light-off event can be detected because when there is this hydrocarbon-O2 reaction, such reaction is an exothermic reaction and thus heat is generated and given off. The generation of such heat may be detected by measuring the difference in temperature across the catalyst. The peak in NOx conversion efficiency temperature changes with age. However, because the peak in NOx conversion efficiency temperature occurs at substantially the same light-off temperature, a determination of light-off by the system and method enables adjustment in the hydrocarbon injection level for maximum NOx reduction efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel Jacques van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: D570827
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: TOA Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Azumi