Patents by Inventor James M. Crane

James M. Crane 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 homogenizing exhaust from an engine
    Patent number: 8683791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for homogenizing exhaust from an engine. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an automobile. The automobile can include a fuel delivery unit, an engine, an exhaust system, and a control unit. The exhaust system can include a swirl inducement unit, multiple sensors, and multiple catalytic converters. The swirl inducement unit can homogenize an exhaust from the engine. The swirl inducement unit can include a plurality of vanes and/or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions can be a plurality of bumps and/or a plurality of semi-circular rings. The plurality of vanes can be rotatable with the rotation of the vanes being controlled by the control unit. The rotation of the vanes can be based on an operating condition of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Crane
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HOMOGENIZING EXHAUST FROM AN ENGINE
    Publication number: 20120042641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for homogenizing exhaust from an engine. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an automobile. The automobile can include a fuel delivery unit, an engine, an exhaust system, and a control unit. The exhaust system can include a swirl inducement unit, multiple sensors, and multiple catalytic converters. The swirl inducement unit can homogenize an exhaust from the engine. The swirl inducement unit can include a plurality of vanes and/or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions can be a plurality of bumps and/or a plurality of semi-circular rings. The plurality of vanes can be rotatable with the rotation of the vanes being controlled by the control unit. The rotation of the vanes can be based on an operating condition of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: James M. Crane