Patents by Inventor Alex Colvin

Alex Colvin 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: 7805986
    Abstract: A portable exhaust gas flow sensor includes a tube for coupling to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle and having a thin screen or similar flow restricting element to induce a pressure drop based on the exhaust gas flow with an upstream port and a downstream port relative to the flow restricting element connected to a differential pressure transducer. A thermocouple extends through a temperature port to measure exhaust gas temperature flowing through the tube. A processor in communication with the thermocouple and the differential pressure transducer determines the exhaust gas flow based on the differential pressure and the temperature. The flow restricting element includes sufficient spaces to resist formation of condensation and minimize added back pressure while providing an accurately measurable pressure drop for flows ranging from idle to full throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Colvin, James Butler, Thomas Korniski
  • Publication number: 20090211351
    Abstract: A portable exhaust gas flow sensor includes a tube for coupling to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle and having a thin screen or similar flow restricting element to induce a pressure drop based on the exhaust gas flow with an upstream port and a downstream port relative to the flow restricting element connected to a differential pressure transducer. A thermocouple extends through a temperature port to measure exhaust gas temperature flowing through the tube. A processor in communication with the thermocouple and the differential pressure transducer determines the exhaust gas flow based on the differential pressure and the temperature. The flow restricting element includes sufficient spaces to resist formation of condensation and minimize added back pressure while providing an accurately measurable pressure drop for flows ranging from idle to full throttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Colvin, James Butler, Thomas Korniski
  • Patent number: 7568383
    Abstract: A portable exhaust gas flow sensor includes a tube for coupling to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle. The tube includes a circular flow restricting element to induce a pressure drop based on the exhaust gas flow with an upstream port and a downstream port relative to the flow restricting element connected to a differential pressure transducer. A thermocouple extends through a temperature port to measure exhaust gas temperature flowing through the tube. A processor in communication with the thermocouple and the differential pressure transducer determines the exhaust gas flow based on the differential pressure and the temperature. The circular flow restricting element includes sufficient spaces to resist formation of condensation and minimize added back pressure while providing an accurately measurable pressure drop for flows ranging from idle to full throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Colvin, James Butler, Thomas Korniski
  • Publication number: 20050274169
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of exhaust gas analysis. It includes maintaining a gas sample at a constant temperature and at a constant pressure and maintaining a constant gas sample delay time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: James Butler, Alex Colvin, Thomas Korniski, Christine Gierczak
  • Publication number: 20050274899
    Abstract: An ultraviolet spectroscopic system and method is described that allows accurate, real-time, analysis of an ultraviolet absorbing gas species (e.g., nitric oxide) in vehicle exhaust independent of the air/fuel ratio (i.e., changing hydrocarbon concentrations). The method, which accurately accounts for the continuously changing background, allows the gas species to be measured selectively and accurately in undiluted vehicle exhaust with portable hardware that can be used on-board a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: James Butler, Alex Colvin, Thomas Korniski
  • Publication number: 20050257605
    Abstract: A portable exhaust gas flow sensor includes a tube for coupling to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle. The tube includes a circular flow restricting element to induce a pressure drop based on the exhaust gas flow with an upstream port and a downstream port relative to the flow restricting element connected to a differential pressure transducer. A thermocouple extends through a temperature port to measure exhaust gas temperature flowing through the tube. A processor in communication with the thermocouple and the differential pressure transducer determines the exhaust gas flow based on the differential pressure and the temperature. The circular flow restricting element includes sufficient spaces to resist formation of condensation and minimize added back pressure while providing an accurately measurable pressure drop for flows ranging from idle to full throttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Colvin, James Butler, Thomas Korniski