Patents Examined by Brandon Lee
  • Patent number: 9334774
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an injection determination module and an injection regulation module. The injection determination module determines a desired rate of hydrocarbon (HC) injection into exhaust gas produced by an engine for regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter. The injection regulation module increases a rate of HC injection from a first rate to the desired rate during a predetermined period before regeneration of the PM filter, wherein the predetermined period is based on a difference between a predetermined temperature and a temperature at an outlet of an oxidation catalyst (OC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Julian C. Tan, John Zeilstra, Christoph Thoele, Gustavo Tepedino
  • Patent number: 9322326
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine system is described herein. The method includes moving a plurality of vanes in a variable geometry turbocharger toward a closed position in response to tip-out and after moving the plurality of vanes toward the closed position, moving an EGR valve from a fully closed position toward an open position in response to tip-in, the EGR valve in fluidic communication with an exhaust sub-system upstream of the turbine. The method further includes, after moving the EGR valve toward an open position, moving the plurality of vanes based on one or more of a driver-requested torque, engine speed, and engine temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Jeremy Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9322363
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine system is described herein. The method includes moving a plurality of vanes in a variable geometry turbocharger toward a closed position in response to tip-out and after moving the plurality of vanes toward the closed position, moving an EGR valve from a fully closed position toward an open position in response to tip-in, the EGR valve in fluidic communication with an exhaust sub-system upstream of the turbine. The method further includes, after moving the EGR valve toward an open position, moving the plurality of vanes based on one or more of a driver-requested torque, engine speed, and engine temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9322345
    Abstract: Various methods for estimating electric actuator temperature during certain operational windows are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting an electric motor to position a wastegate at a desired wastegate position, while during selected conditions, deviating from the desired position by at least one full half-turn of the motor and indicating motor temperature based on winding resistance averaged over the full half-turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Baitao Xiao
  • Patent number: 9297338
    Abstract: The systems and method described above in the present disclosure allow for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter while a vehicle is in stationary power take-off mode. Described is a method of: during select power take-off conditions, reducing an EGR rate responsive to an indication to regenerate a diesel particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Reich, Frank M. Korpics, Dean Pennala, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, David Wynn Philion, James Campbell, Timothy Webb
  • Patent number: 9273574
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an exhaust gas purifying filter capable of effectively removing collected particulate matter. An exhaust gas purifying filter of the present invention includes an inflow surface into which exhaust gas including particulate matter flows, an exhaust surface which exhausts purified gas, and a filter substrate which is constructed of a porous body, wherein the filter substrate includes porous partitions and gas passages which are enclosed by the partitions, and a porous film, which includes silicon carbide and pores having a smaller pore diameter than the pores of the partitions, is provided on the surface of the partitions, and a silicon dioxide layer is formed on at least an outer surface portion of the porous film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Tanaka, Atsushi Kishimoto, Tadashi Neya, Keita Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 9200557
    Abstract: A method pertaining to an SCR system in which reducing agent in liquid form is supplied to a feed device (230) and via which feed device reducing agent is supplied to at least one consumption point (250) from a container (205): the steps of continuously detecting the feed pressure (P) which the feed device (230) furnishes, and controlling the operation of the feed device (230) on the basis of changes (P?) in the feed pressure (P), with the object of reducing the impact of unwanted air supply at the feed device (230). Also pertaining to a computer program product containing program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) for implementing a method according to the invention. Also an SCR system and a motor vehicle which is equipped with the SCR system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Lars Eriksson, Ulf Carlsson, Andreas Liljestrand, Per Bremberg
  • Patent number: 9184365
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device contains at least one module having a first carrier layer and a second carrier layer, an interspace disposed between the first carrier layer and the second carrier layer, and an electrical insulation layer disposed on each of the first carrier layer and on the second carrier layer toward the interspace. The thermoelectric device further has a plurality of p and n-doped semiconductor elements, which are arranged alternately in the interspace between the insulation layers and are alternately electrically connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Sigrid Limbeck, Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 9169755
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injecting water based on duration of cylinder deactivation, and exhaust catalyst temperature during an engine cylinder deactivation event so as to reduce an exhaust catalyst regeneration requirement following the cylinder deactivation, and to prevent catalyst degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Thomas G. Leone, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Patent number: 9117969
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes at least a first metal foil having a first material thickness, a second metal foil having a second material thickness, an interspace between the first metal foil and the second metal foil, an electrical insulation coating on the first metal foil and the second metal foil towards the interspace and a multiplicity of first semiconductor components and second semiconductor components, which are fixed and electrically connected to one another on the insulation coating in the interspace. A thermoelectric apparatus having a multiplicity of thermoelectric devices and a motor vehicle having a thermoelectric apparatus, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Sigrid Limbeck, Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 9068491
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for an engine comprises operating the engine with an upstream exhaust sensor, intermediate exhaust sensor, and downstream exhaust sensor each indicating rich, adjusting engine operation to operate the engine with an upstream exhaust sensor, intermediate exhaust sensor, and downstream exhaust sensor each indicating lean, adjusting engine operation to operate the engine with the upstream exhaust sensor indicating rich and the intermediate and downstream exhaust sensors each indicating lean, and indicating degradation of an SCR catalyst based on when the intermediate and downstream exhaust sensors switch from lean to rich.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Giovanni Cavataio, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Thomas G. Leone, Joseph Robert Theis, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 9046026
    Abstract: A method and system for treating exhaust emitted via an exhaust line from a diesel engine. A POC system is installed on the exhaust line, and has at least one diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), a set of two or more particulate oxidation catalyst (POC) elements, a first differential pressure sensor (?P1) to measure the pressure difference across the first and all but the last POC elements, and a second differential pressure sensor (?P2) to measure pressure differences across the last POC element. During operation of the engine, ?P1 is monitored to determine whether its POC elements require active regeneration, and ?P2 is separately monitored to determine whether its (the last) POC element requires active regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Rijing Zhan, Phillip A. Weber, Michael A. Chadwell
  • Patent number: 8943799
    Abstract: In a control device for an internal combustion engine including an air-fuel ratio sensor that includes a catalyst layer that covers an exhaust gas-side electrode, an oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst layer is acquired based on a sensor output of the air-fuel ratio sensor. The sensor output is corrected if the oxygen storage capacity is higher than a predetermined value and the sensor output is in a predetermined range in the vicinity of the theoretical air-fuel ratio. Preferably, the oxygen storage capacity is calculated by integrating the product of a deviation amount ?A/F of the sensor output with respect to the theoretical air-fuel ratio and a dwell time thereof. A correction period in which a correction operation is performed is set based on the oxygen storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8919492
    Abstract: An adsorption unit for combustion gas of an internal combustion engine has an adsorption housing having a chamber section with an inner wall. An adsorption element disposed in the adsorption housing is made of a gas-permeable adsorption medium that is formed to a hollow body and encloses an interior of the adsorption element. The hollow body has opposed open ends. A main flow passage extends through the hollow body and the combustion gas flows in main flow direction through the hollow body. The adsorption element has an exterior circumferential side facing away from the interior and delimiting together with the inner wall of the chamber section a bypass chamber surrounding the absorption element outwardly. In the main flow direction, the bypass chamber has a downstream end that is closed off and an upstream end that has at least one bypass opening that communicates with the main flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Metzger, Calogero Colletto, Johannes Stuerner, Armin Ludmann
  • Patent number: 8915067
    Abstract: Provided is a diesel engine which can efficiently regenerate a diesel particulate filter. The control for regeneration using an ECU includes a first regeneration by burning particulate matter at slightly more than 300° C. for 20 minutes when the accumulation of particulate matter exceeds a first threshold; a second regeneration by burning particulate matter at approximately 560° C. for 30 minutes by an additional injection to remove particulate matter other than ash when the accumulation of particulate matter exceeds the first threshold for a first predetermined period of time, or every 100 hours; and a third regeneration by burning particulate matter at approximately 600° C. for 15 minutes by an additional injection to remove particulate matter other than ash when the accumulation of particulate matter exceeds a second threshold and an emergency regeneration switch is pushed, or after 50 hours since the second or third regeneration and the emergency regeneration switch is pushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Oohashi, Tomohiro Fukuda, Taichi Togashi
  • Patent number: 8910471
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe heats coolant with heat of exhaust gas. The structure of the exhaust pipe can increase heat exchange efficiency because a flow direction of the coolant is arranged to be opposite to a flow direction of the exhaust gas. The coolant can smoothly flow inside the housing, because density of the coolant decreases as the coolant is heated while flowing in a lower side of the housing and flowing out of an upper side of the housing. In addition, the heat transfer pipe of which one surface is in contact with the exhaust gas and the other side is in contact with the coolant has wrinkle portions which are formed on a surface of the heat transfer pipe, where heat exchange is performed, and thereby, a heat exchange area can be increased and the coolant can be more rapidly heated without increasing a size of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ki Chul Park
  • Patent number: 8863497
    Abstract: A controlling method for adjusting concentrations of, for example, individual cylinder's exhaust gas constituents to provide engine functions such as catalytic converter diagnosis, increased overall catalytic converter efficiency and rapid catalyst heating, before and/or after initiating closed loop fuel injection control, using a selected temperature sensor location within a low thermal mass catalytic converter design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph E. Legare
  • Patent number: 8857152
    Abstract: A method unloads hydrocarbon emissions deposited by an exhaust gas on an after-treatment device that is employed in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining whether the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The method also includes increasing the preset idle speed by a predetermined value if the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The increasing of the engine idle speed increases a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the after-treatment device and unloads the deposited hydrocarbon emissions. A system for unloading hydrocarbon emissions deposited on an after-treatment device and a vehicle employing such a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr, Thomas Larose, Jr., Sarah Funk
  • Patent number: 8844271
    Abstract: In a method for regenerating s catalyzed diesel particulate filter (DPF) via active NO2-based regeneration with enhanced effective NO2 supply, a NOx containing gas is introduced into the DPF, and a temperature of at least one of the DPF, the NOx containing gas, and soot in the DPF is controlled while control Sing NOx levels at an inlet of the DflF so that the NOx containing gas reacts with the catalyst to form N 02 molecules that thereafter react with soot particles to form CO, CO2, and NO molecules and a N02 efficiency is greater than 0.52 gC/gNO2 and so that less than two thirds of the soot mass that is removed from the DPF is oxidized by 02 molecules in the gas to form CO and CO2 molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Huber, Kenth I. Svensson
  • Patent number: 8820053
    Abstract: A method for operating a reducing agent delivery device having a liquid reducing agent tank, an injector dispensing reducing agent into an exhaust treatment device, an internal combustion engine and a reducing agent line from tank to injector, includes conveying the reducing agent from tank to injector with a pump and providing a pressure sensor in the line. The method includes, repeatedly: determining and providing supply pressure for the injector in the delivery device with the pump, calculating an injector opening time from a determined injection volume and supply pressure and opening the injector at the calculated injector opening time. A venting procedure at a point in time includes: determining an increase of a pressure conveying volume characteristic in the delivery device, calculating an air bubble volume by comparing the increase to a target increase, and conveying a conveying volume through the injector. A motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Jan Hodgson, Peter Bauer