Patents by Inventor Freeman Carter Gates
Freeman Carter Gates 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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Patent number: 10156194Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Kirk Pulay, Stephen George Russ
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Publication number: 20180245530Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Kirk Pulay, Stephen George Russ
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Patent number: 10024254Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Kirk Pulay, Stephen George Russ
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Publication number: 20180003114Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Kirk Pulay, Stephen George Russ
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Patent number: 9835100Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Kirk Pulay, Stephen George Russ
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Patent number: 9797343Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining degradation of an EGR cooler based on differential pressure across the EGR cooler during EGR flow. In one example, the differential pressure across the EGR cooler may be based on differential pressure across an EGR valve and a pressure downstream from the EGR valve with and without EGR flow. The pressure downstream from the EGR valve may be a compressor inlet pressure or an intake manifold pressure in a low pressure EGR system or high pressure EGR system, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Freeman Carter Gates
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Publication number: 20170130660Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Kirk Pulay, Stephen George Russ
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Patent number: 9617928Abstract: Systems are provided for EGR mass and air mass estimation during steady state and transient operations. By utilizing a combination sensor comprising of a manifold absolute pressure sensing element and a differential pressure sensing element sharing a common pressure chamber with connections to the intake manifold, errors in EGR mass estimation may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Dennis Vroman, Fadi Maroun Naddaf, Gitanjli McRoy
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Patent number: 9528429Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Freeman Carter Gates, Adam J. Richards
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Patent number: 9470162Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving control of high dilution EGR. An intake plenum is divided so that fresh intake air and EGR can be delivered to engine cylinders via dedicated plenum portions. Distinct sets of throttles are provided in the cylinder intake ports coupled the different plenum portions so that a ratio of intake air flow and EGR flow to the engine cylinders can be rapidly adjusted in response to sudden changes (e.g., increase or decrease) in EGR demand.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Freeman Carter Gates
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Patent number: 9243547Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a parallel twin-turbocharged internal combustion engine. Using an EGR cooler with a single exhaust inlet and outlet to cool recirculated exhaust gas may increase the complexity and size of the engine package, along with adding unnecessary cost from extra ductwork to decrease the chance of turbocharger boost imbalance. To provide a way to reduce package size without affecting engine performance, an EGR cooler with two exhaust inlets and outlets is used to cool exhaust flows leading from two cylinder banks.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dennis Vroman, Freeman Carter Gates
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Patent number: 9222426Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Freeman Carter Gates, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Rommel Racelis
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Publication number: 20150226108Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a parallel twin-turbocharged internal combustion engine. Using an EGR cooler with a single exhaust inlet and outlet to cool recirculated exhaust gas may increase the complexity and size of the engine package, along with adding unnecessary cost from extra ductwork to decrease the chance of turbocharger boost imbalance. To provide a way to reduce package size without affecting engine performance, an EGR cooler with two exhaust inlets and outlets is used to cool exhaust flows leading from two cylinder banks.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dennis Vroman, Freeman Carter Gates
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Publication number: 20150192078Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving control of high dilution EGR. An intake plenum is divided so that fresh intake air and EGR can be delivered to engine cylinders via dedicated plenum portions. Distinct sets of throttles are provided in the cylinder intake ports coupled the different plenum portions so that a ratio of intake air flow and EGR flow to the engine cylinders can be rapidly adjusted in response to sudden changes (e.g., increase or decrease) in EGR demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Freeman Carter Gates
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Publication number: 20150128916Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining degradation of an EGR cooler based on differential pressure across the EGR cooler during EGR flow. In one example, the differential pressure across the EGR cooler may be based on differential pressure across an EGR valve and a pressure downstream from the EGR valve with and without EGR flow. The pressure downstream from the EGR valve may be a compressor inlet pressure or an intake manifold pressure in a low pressure EGR system or high pressure EGR system, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Freeman Carter Gates
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Publication number: 20140324323Abstract: Systems are provided for EGR mass and air mass estimation during steady state and transient operations. By utilizing a combination sensor comprising of a manifold absolute pressure sensing element and a differential pressure sensing element sharing a common pressure chamber with connections to the intake manifold, errors in EGR mass estimation may be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Dennis Vroman, Fadi Maroun Naddaf, Gitanjli McRoy
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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: 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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Patent number: 8042528Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an EGR valve determine a base valve position to deliver a target flow using a stored map and adjust the base position in response to differential pressure across an orifice in the EGR flow to move the valve to a position different from the base position to provide the target flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Songping Yu, Sassan Farahmand
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Patent number: 7963277Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system has an EGR valve disposed in an EGR duct connecting an engine intake and exhaust. A diaphragm of said EGR valve is actuated via vacuum from the engine intake, the application of the vacuum is controlled via an electronic valve regulator (EVR). The EVR is provided a fixed signal to cause it to be fully open when it is determined that the engine is about to encounter a condition in which there is insufficient vacuum to open the EGR valve. The EVR is provided a variable signal during other operating conditions in which there is sufficient vacuum to open the EGR valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Freeman Carter Gates, Gitanjli McRoy, Sassan Farahmand, Joseph Michael Grandas