Patents by Inventor Brien Lloyd Fulton
Brien Lloyd 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).
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Publication number: 20130305715Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing turbo lag in a boosted engine. A boost reservoir coupled to the engine may be charged with compressed intake air and/or combusted exhaust gas. The pressurized charge may then be discharged during a tip-in to either the intake or the exhaust manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Freeman Carter Gates, Adam J. Richards
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Publication number: 20130275030Abstract: Embodiments for estimating intake air humidity in an engine are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises adjusting an engine parameter in response to intake air humidity estimated based on a concentration of one or more engine-out emissions. In this way, one or more exhaust emission sensors may be used to estimate intake air humidity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Yong-Wha Kim, In Kwang Yoo, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton
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Publication number: 20130268178Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring an internal combustion engine are disclosed. In one example, output of a temperature sensor is converted into a fuel pressure variable to determine if fuel system components are operating as desired and cylinder air charge may be limited if degradation is determined. The methods and systems may reduce fuel system cost while also providing redundant system data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Brien Lloyd Fulton
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Publication number: 20130227945Abstract: A method for operating a turbocharged engine is disclosed. In one example, during a first condition an engine operation is adjusted in response to a turbocharger expansion ratio exceeding a first limit and during a second condition an engine operation is adjusted in response to the turbocharger expansion ratio exceeding a second limit that differs from the first limit. Degradation of the engine may be reduced under some engine operating conditions by adjusting engine operation in response to the turbocharger expansion ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopal Krishna Chamarthi, Dean Pennala, David Ives, David Robert Nader, Paul Martin Niessen, Jason Ronald Smith
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Patent number: 8516815Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
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Patent number: 8516799Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine having a turbocharger, and a particulate filter upstream of a turbocharger turbine. In one example, the method comprises, under selected boosted operating conditions, injecting a reductant upstream of the filter during an exhaust stroke to generate an exothermic reaction at the filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
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Publication number: 20130213353Abstract: Embodiments for controlling cylinder air flow are provided. In one example, a method for controlling airflow into a cylinder of an engine comprises, if a previous cylinder airflow is different than a desired cylinder airflow, allocating flow into an intake manifold between a throttle and an EGR valve to provide the desired cylinder airflow while maintaining a desired EGR amount in the cylinder. In this way, transient air flow requests may be met without delay while maintaining desired cylinder EGR amounts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Freeman Carter Gates, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Rommel Racelis
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Publication number: 20130152894Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, glow plugs of a compression ignition engine are selectively operated during automatic engine starting. The methods and systems may be useful to reduced glow plug degradation and improve emissions of an automatically started engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Viet Quoc To, Brien Lloyd Fulton, John Richard Blankenship
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Publication number: 20130118162Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an emission control system, the emission control system comprising a catalyst downstream of a turbine of a boosting device and a reductant injector upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises injecting reductant into exhaust upstream of the turbine, mixing the injected reductant with exhaust gas via the turbine, and delivering the mixed reductant to the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2013Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
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Patent number: 8439014Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle and its method of operation are provided. In one embodiment, a control system is configured to indicate a clogging of a fuel filter based on a period of time that a fuel pressure switch remains in a low pressure state. In some embodiments, the control system may respond to an indicated clogging of the fuel system by limiting one or more of fuel pressure, fuel flow rate, and vehicle speed. By limiting the flow rate and/or the pressure at which fuel is delivered to the engine during conditions when the low pressure fuel sub-system is unable to provide sufficient fuel pressure and/or flow, degradation and/or damage to the fuel system, including the high pressure pump, may be reduced or eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Brien Lloyd Fulton
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Publication number: 20130008409Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle and its method of operation are provided. In one embodiment, a control system is configured to indicate a clogging of a fuel filter based on a period of time that a fuel pressure switch remains in a low pressure state. In some embodiments, the control system may respond to an indicated clogging of the fuel system by limiting one or more of fuel pressure, fuel flow rate, and vehicle speed. By limiting the flow rate and/or the pressure at which fuel is delivered to the engine during conditions when the low pressure fuel sub-system is unable to provide sufficient fuel pressure and/or flow, degradation and/or damage to the fuel system, including the high pressure pump, may be reduced or eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Brien Lloyd Fulton
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Publication number: 20130013168Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
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Patent number: 8347609Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an SCR catalyst downstream of an exhaust turbine and a particulate filter upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises, adjusting a turbine wastegate to adjust a catalyst temperature to a desired catalyst temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
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Patent number: 8347611Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an emission control system, the emission control system comprising a catalyst downstream of a turbine of a boosting device and a reductant injector upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises injecting reductant into exhaust upstream of the turbine, mixing the injected reductant with exhaust gas via the turbine, and delivering the mixed reductant to the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
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Patent number: 8312866Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle and its method of operation are provided. In one embodiment, a control system is configured to indicate a clogging of a fuel filter based on a period of time that a fuel pressure switch remains in a low pressure state. In some embodiments, the control system may respond to an indicated clogging of the fuel system by limiting one or more of fuel pressure, fuel flow rate, and vehicle speed. By limiting the flow rate and/or the pressure at which fuel is delivered to the engine during conditions when the low pressure fuel sub-system is unable to provide sufficient fuel pressure and/or flow, degradation and/or damage to the fuel system, including the high pressure pump, may be reduced or eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Brien Lloyd Fulton
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Patent number: 8272215Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
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Publication number: 20120216778Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the fuel system includes a fuel supply coupled to a low pressure fuel pump, the low pressure fuel pump coupled to a high pressure fuel pump to provide fuel to a fuel rail. Further, the fuel system includes a plurality of injectors coupled to the fuel rail to provide fuel to a plurality of engine cylinders. Further still, the fuel system includes a first fuel return line coupling the fuel rail to the fuel supply and a thermal recirculation valve, the thermal recirculation valve further coupled to a low pressure pump intake line; a second fuel return line coupling the high pressure fuel pump to the first fuel return line; and a third fuel return line coupling the plurality of injectors to a high pressure pump intake line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Brad Allen Brown, Carlos Armesto, Larry Castleberry, Scott J. Szymusiak
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Patent number: 8251046Abstract: A fuel system for a diesel engine has both a low pressure pump, which extracts fuel from the fuel tank, and a high pressure pump, which is fed by the low pressure pump and supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injectors supply fuel to the engine cylinders, with a small portion of fuel routed back into the fuel system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the injector return fuel is routed into a low pressure fuel line between the low and high pressure fuel pumps, with return fuel from the fuel rails returned through a fuel cooler to the fuel tank. The low pressure fuel line has a filter disposed therein and the injector return fuel is returned to the low pressure fuel line upstream of the filter.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bradley Allen Brown, Larry Castleberry, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Scott James Szymusiak
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Publication number: 20120117963Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a turbocharged engine including a particulate filter positioned upstream of a turbocharger turbine, a catalyst positioned downstream of the turbine, and an EGR passage coupled between an engine exhaust and engine intake. In one example, the method comprises, diverting exhaust gas from downstream of the filter to the engine intake via the EGR passage, and adjusting an amount of diverted exhaust gas based on filter operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Charles Ruona, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Matthew Kurtz
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Publication number: 20120102944Abstract: A method for operating a turbocharged engine is disclosed. In one example, an engine operation is adjusted in response to a turbocharger expansion ratio. Degradation of the engine may be reduced under some engine operating conditions by adjusting engine operation in response to the turbocharger expansion ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopal Krishna Chamarthi, Dean Pennala, David Curtis Ives, David Robert Nader, Paul Martin Niessen, Jason Ronald Smith