Patents by Inventor Brien Fulton

Brien Fulton 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).

  • Method and system for water in fuel prognostic monitor
    Patent number: 11802520
    Abstract: A method for determining the presence of water and diesel exhaust fluid mixed with diesel fuel is disclosed. In one example, output pressure of a fuel pump may be indicative of the presence or absence of water in diesel fuel. The presence or absence of water in fuel may be evaluated in response to filling a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yun Xing, Brien Fulton, Hassene Jammoussi, John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Carlos Armesto, William P. Boone, Alex John William Michael Howard
  • System and method for fuel pump shutdown
    Patent number: 11761387
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes two fuel pumps are described. In one example, a first fuel pump may be activated or remain activated in response to an engine shutdown request so that a second fuel pump may be cooled before the first fuel pump is deactivated in response to the engine shutdown request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Carlos Armesto, Laural Suzanne-Hughes Feldmeier, Kevin M. Bird, Christopher Woodring, Timothy J. Knott
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WATER IN FUEL PROGNOSTIC MONITOR
    Publication number: 20230088463
    Abstract: A method for determining the presence of water and diesel exhaust fluid mixed with diesel fuel is disclosed. In one example, output pressure of a fuel pump may be indicative of the presence or absence of water in diesel fuel. The presence or absence of water in fuel may be evaluated in response to filling a fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Yun Xing, Brien Fulton, Hassene Jammoussi, John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Carlos Armesto, William P. Boone, Alex John William Michael Howard
  • Methods and systems for engine valve timing or lift adjustment
    Patent number: 11306668
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling and monitoring intake and exhaust poppet valves of an internal combustion engine. In one example, the methods and system include feedback control that estimates intake and exhaust valve timing based on output of an in cylinder pressure sensor. In another example, the methods and system include compensation for feedforward control of intake and exhaust valves based on output of the in cylinder pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Chris Glugla
  • Methods and systems for determining fuel quality
    Patent number: 10982614
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calculating a fuel aging of fuel in a fuel tank. In one example, a method may include alerting a vehicle operator and/or adjusting engine operating parameters in response to a fuel aging being greater than a threshold aging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Eric Kurtz
  • System and method for estimating cylinder pressures
    Patent number: 10634086
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine and determining relative compression ratio differences from a reference cylinder are disclosed. In one example, an engine is rotated via a starter or another type of electric machine and engine deceleration rates related to each engine cylinder are determined. The engine deceleration rates form a basis for compression ratio factors for each engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Hoon Cho, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Engine operating system and method
    Patent number: 10563598
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating maximum in-cylinder pressure for all engine cylinders while reducing the number of individual cylinders required for pressure sensing. Pressure sensing is performed for a single instrumented cylinder. For remaining non-instrumented cylinders, an engine speed-dependent correction factor is applied that compensates for compression pressure variation between cylinders due to intake valve closing differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hoon Cho, Brien Fulton, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • System and method for starting an engine
    Patent number: 10550784
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with an electrically driven compressor are described. In one example, output of the electrically driven compressor is adjusted to increase a temperature of an engine so that the engine may be started without glow plugs or with glow plugs that have a lower heat capacity output. Additionally, a position of a recirculation valve may be adjusted to increase the temperature of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Michiel Van Nieuwstadt, Claus Maerschank, Daniel Roettger
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING FUEL QUALITY
    Publication number: 20190293016
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calculating a fuel aging of fuel in a fuel tank. In one example, a method may include alerting a vehicle operator and/or adjusting engine operating parameters in response to a fuel aging being greater than a threshold aging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Eric Kurtz
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING AN ENGINE
    Publication number: 20190271276
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with an electrically driven compressor are described. In one example, output of the electrically driven compressor is adjusted to increase a temperature of an engine so that the engine may be started without glow plugs or with glow plugs that have a lower heat capacity output. Additionally, a position of a recirculation valve may be adjusted to increase the temperature of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Brien Fulton, Michiel Van Nieuwstadt, Claus Maerschank, Daniel Roettger
  • ENGINE OPERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20190186389
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating maximum in-cylinder pressure for all engine cylinders while reducing the number of individual cylinders required for pressure sensing. Pressure sensing is performed for a single instrumented cylinder. For remaining non-instrumented cylinders, an engine speed-dependent correction factor is applied that compensates for compression pressure variation between cylinders due to intake valve closing differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Hoon Cho, Brien Fulton, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt