Patents by Inventor Aaron John Oakley

Aaron John Oakley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11788602
    Abstract: A dual mass flywheel coupling member for selectively coupling a primary mass and a secondary mass of a dual mass flywheel, the coupling member comprising: a central aperture for enabling axial alignment with the primary mass and the secondary mass; at least one resiliently deformable member, the resiliently deformable member comprising a fixing point attachable to the primary mass to rigidly couple one end of the resiliently deformable member to the primary mass; and at least one engagement feature coupled to the coupling member at a point remote from the fixing point, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage the secondary mass upon deformation of the resiliently deformable member in an installed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Pugh, Aaron John Oakley, Martin Patrick O'Mahony
  • Publication number: 20230073607
    Abstract: A dual mass flywheel coupling member for selectively coupling a primary mass and a secondary mass of a dual mass flywheel, the coupling member comprising: a central aperture for enabling axial alignment with the primary mass and the secondary mass; at least one resiliently deformable member, the resiliently deformable member comprising a fixing point attachable to the primary mass to rigidly couple one end of the resiliently deformable member to the primary mass; and at least one engagement feature coupled to the coupling member at a point remote from the fixing point, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage the secondary mass upon deformation of the resiliently deformable member in an installed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Pugh, Aaron John Oakley, Martin Patrick O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 11525494
    Abstract: A dual mass flywheel coupling member for selectively coupling a primary mass and a secondary mass of a dual mass flywheel, the coupling member comprising: a central aperture for enabling axial alignment with the primary mass and the secondary mass; at least one resiliently deformable member, the resiliently deformable member comprising a fixing point attachable to the primary mass to rigidly couple one end of the resiliently deformable member to the primary mass; and at least one engagement feature coupled to the coupling member at a point remote from the fixing point, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage the secondary mass upon deformation of the resiliently deformable member in an installed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Pugh, Aaron John Oakley, Martin Patrick O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 11519353
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine. In one example, a method comprises stopping an engine via a soft-stop method in response to a likelihood of condensate forming being less than or equal to a threshold likelihood. The method further comprises stopping the engine via an exhaust gas evacuation method in response to the likelihood of condensate forming being greater than the threshold likelihood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Hesketh, Aaron John Oakley
  • Publication number: 20220107001
    Abstract: A dual mass flywheel coupling member for selectively coupling a primary mass and a secondary mass of a dual mass flywheel, the coupling member comprising: a central aperture for enabling axial alignment with the primary mass and the secondary mass; at least one resiliently deformable member, the resiliently deformable member comprising a fixing point attachable to the primary mass to rigidly couple one end of the resiliently deformable member to the primary mass; and at least one engagement feature coupled to the coupling member at a point remote from the fixing point, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage the secondary mass upon deformation of the resiliently deformable member in an installed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Pugh, Aaron John Oakley, Martin Patrick O'Mahony
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20210095607
    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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    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
  • Publication number: 20190360417
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine. In one example, a method comprises stopping an engine via a soft-stop method in response to a likelihood of condensate forming being less than or equal to a threshold likelihood. The method further comprises stopping the engine via an exhaust gas evacuation method in response to the likelihood of condensate forming being greater than the threshold likelihood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: David Hesketh, Aaron John Oakley
  • Patent number: 10030600
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring and adapting sensors and actuators in the induction system and exhaust system of an internal combustion engine during a period of time in which fresh air is flowing through the internal combustion engine without fuel delivery. According to the disclosure, the period of time in which fresh air is flowing through the internal combustion engine when fuel delivery is turned off and the monitoring and adapting is being carried out is extended by transferring torque produced by electric motor to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Emig, Aaron John Oakley, Jon Dixon, Daniel Roettger, Christoph Grewer
  • Patent number: 9890728
    Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating cylinder pressure profiles in cylinders of an engine are disclosed. In one example, fuel injection timing of engine cylinders is adjusted to improve engine combustion in response to output of one or more pressure sensors installed in engine cylinders. Combustion within a plurality of engine cylinders may be adjusted in response to pressure sensed in a single engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Daniel Roettger, Aaron John Oakley, Claus Maerschank
  • Publication number: 20170260922
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring and adapting sensors and actuators in the induction system and exhaust system of an internal combustion engine during a period of time in which fresh air is flowing through the internal combustion engine without fuel delivery. According to the disclosure, the period of time in which fresh air is flowing through the internal combustion engine when fuel delivery is turned off and the monitoring and adapting is being carried out is extended by transferring torque produced by electric motor to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Tobias Emig, Aaron John Oakley, Jon Dixon, Daniel Roettger, Christoph Grewer
  • Patent number: 9599062
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for adjusting a pilot injection during initial engine operation from vehicle manufacture. In one example, a method comprises delivering a first proportion of fuel as the pilot injection, and only decreasing the first proportion of fuel responsive to learning an injector flow characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Aaron John Oakley
  • Publication number: 20170051700
    Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating cylinder pressure profiles in cylinders of an engine are disclosed. In one example, fuel injection timing of engine cylinders is adjusted to improve engine combustion in response to output of one or more pressure sensors installed in engine cylinders. Combustion within a plurality of engine cylinders may be adjusted in response to pressure sensed in a single engine cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Daniel Roettger, Aaron John Oakley, Claus Maerschank
  • Publication number: 20160025031
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for adjusting a pilot injection during initial engine operation from vehicle manufacture. In one example, a method comprises delivering a first proportion of fuel as the pilot injection, and only decreasing the first proportion of fuel responsive to learning an injector flow characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Aaron John Oakley
  • Patent number: 8333071
    Abstract: A method and system to control an engine to maintain turbine inlet temperature utilizes two temperature thresholds: a control initiation temperature and a maximum hardware temperature. An engine parameter is adjusted in a closed-loop manner based on an error, which is a difference between a setpoint temperature and the turbine inlet temperature. The setpoint temperature is initially the control initiation temperature. However, after control over turbine inlet temperature is established, the setpoint temperature ramps gradually to maximum hardware temperature. In one embodiment, the engine parameter is engine torque. Other engine parameters affecting turbine inlet temperature include timing and duration of fuel injection pulses, EGR rate, gear selection, and intake throttle position, any of which can be used in place of, or in combination with, torque for controlling turbine inlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron John Oakley, Paul Martin Niessen, Jason Ronald Smith
  • Publication number: 20120304962
    Abstract: A method for estimating a combustion torque acting upon a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method includes acquiring an instantaneous engine speed signal, calculating a cyclic engine speed signal based on the instantaneous engine speed signal, averaging the cyclic engine speed signal, correcting the averaged cyclic engine speed signal for engine losses, and estimating the combustion torque based on the corrected averaged cyclic engine speed signal. The description also concerns a control unit for an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Francois Tumelaire, Aaron John Oakley, Laurence Paul Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20110023478
    Abstract: A method and system to control an engine to maintain turbine inlet temperature utilizes two temperature thresholds: a control initiation temperature and a maximum hardware temperature. An engine parameter is adjusted in a closed-loop manner based on an error, which is a difference between a setpoint temperature and the turbine inlet temperature. The setpoint temperature is initially the control initiation temperature. However, after control over turbine inlet temperature is established, the setpoint temperature ramps gradually to maximum hardware temperature. In one embodiment, the engine parameter is engine torque. Other engine parameters affecting turbine inlet temperature include timing and duration of fuel injection pulses, EGR rate, gear selection, and intake throttle position, any of which can be used in place of, or in combination with, torque for controlling turbine inlet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron John Oakley, Paul Martin Niessen, Jason Ronald Smith