Patents by Inventor Jennifer Topinka

Jennifer Topinka 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: 8527183
    Abstract: A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors to detect a pressure within the air manifold and to detect the pressure within the fuel accumulator. The controller is programmed to calculate an in-cylinder gas pressure. When the engine is operating at a maximum engine load and the in-cylinder gas pressure reaches or exceeds a maximum pressure limit, the controller transmits one or more signals to adjust the fuel injection timing and/or adjust the pressure in the fuel accumulator to maintain NOx and fuel consumption within acceptable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn M. Gallagher, Roy Primus, Bhaskar Tamma, Jennifer Topinka, Robert Mischler, Rajani Boddu
  • Patent number: 8468809
    Abstract: A system is provided for removing particulate matter from a particulate filter. The system includes an engine controller coupled to a sensor and an engine, and a locomotive controller coupled to the engine controller. The sensor outputs a first alert signal to the engine controller, including the current load and the loading rate of one or more particulate filter units. The engine controller determines a projected load and projected loading rate of the one or more particulate filter units along a route, and a time gap or distance gap based on a trip plan until the one or more particulate filter units are fully loaded. The engine controller determines a time region or distance region to remove particulate matter from the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, Roy Primus, Jennifer Topinka
  • Publication number: 20110126516
    Abstract: A system is provided for removing particulate matter from a particulate filter, which includes at least one particulate filter unit. The system includes an engine controller coupled to each sensor and the engine, and a locomotive controller coupled to the engine controller. Each sensor continuously outputs a first alert signal to the engine controller, including the current load and the loading rate of one or more particulate filter units. The engine controller determines a projected load and projected loading rate of the one or more particulate filter units along the route, and a time gap or distance gap based on the trip plan along the route until the one or more particulate filter units are fully loaded. Additionally, the engine controller determines a time region or distance region within the respective time gap or distance gap filter unit, based on at least one of the current load, the loading rate, the projected load, the projected loading rate, and the time region or distance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, Roy Primus, Jennifer Topinka
  • Patent number: 7925431
    Abstract: A system is provided for removing particulate matter from a diesel particulate filter. The system includes an engine controller coupled to the diesel engine, and to a locomotive controller. The locomotive controller includes an algorithm to create a trip plan to optimize the performance of the locomotive along a route in accordance with a power setting of the diesel engine at each location along the route. Each sensor is configured to output a first alert signal to the engine controller once the trapped particulate matter exceeds a predetermined threshold. Upon receiving the first alert signal, the engine controller communicates with the locomotive controller to determine a time region or distance region within the trip plan when the power setting exceeds a power threshold. The engine controller increases the temperature of the diesel exhaust gas entering the diesel particulate filter during the time region or distance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, Roy Primus, Jennifer Topinka
  • Publication number: 20100043753
    Abstract: A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors to detect a pressure within the air manifold and to detect the pressure within the fuel accumulator. The controller is programmed to calculate an in-cylinder gas pressure. When the engine is operating at a maximum engine load and the in-cylinder gas pressure reaches or exceeds a maximum pressure limit, the controller transmits one or more signals to adjust the fuel injection timing and/or adjust the pressure in the fuel accumulator to maintain NOx and fuel consumption within acceptable limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Shawn M. Gallagher, Roy Primus, Bhaskar Tamma, Jennifer Topinka, Robert Mischler, Rajani Boddu
  • Patent number: 7630823
    Abstract: A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors for detecting a temperature of air in an air manifold, a pressure within the air manifold and a barometric pressure. The controller is programmed to estimate an in-cylinder gas density using data received from the sensors. The controller accesses a database having data representative of one or predetermined in-cylinder gas densities that are associated with one or more predetermined fuel injection parameters. The controller then generates one or more commands indicative of the fuel injection parameters that are associated with a predetermined in-cylinder gas density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, Roy Primus, Bhaskar Tamma, Jennifer Topinka
  • Publication number: 20090078236
    Abstract: A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors for detecting a temperature of air in an air manifold, a pressure within the air manifold and a barometric pressure. The controller is programmed to estimate an in-cylinder gas density using data received from the sensors. The controller accesses a database having data representative of one or predetermined in-cylinder gas densities that are associated with one or more predetermined fuel injection parameters. The controller then generates one or more commands indicative of the fuel injection parameters that are associated with a predetermined in-cylinder gas density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, Roy Primus, Bhaskar Tamma, Jennifer Topinka
  • Publication number: 20090044530
    Abstract: A system is provided for removing particulate matter from a diesel particulate filter. The system includes an engine controller coupled to the diesel engine, and to a locomotive controller. The locomotive controller includes an algorithm to create a trip plan to optimize the performance of the locomotive along a route in accordance with a power setting of the diesel engine at each location along the route. Each sensor is configured to output a first alert signal to the engine controller once the trapped particulate matter exceeds a predetermined threshold. Upon receiving the first alert signal, the engine controller communicates with the locomotive controller to determine a time region or distance region within the trip plan when the power setting exceeds a power threshold. The engine controller increases the temperature of the diesel exhaust gas entering the diesel particulate filter during the time region or distance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: SHAWN MICHAEL GALLAGHER, ROY PRIMUS, JENNIFER TOPINKA
  • Publication number: 20060075991
    Abstract: A method for reducing required octane number and a spark ignition gasoline engine system with hydrogen-enhanced knock resistance. The method for reducing required octane number of gasoline needed to prevent knock includes the addition of hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas containing carbon monoxide to gasoline. Octane number can be improved by 5 or more for a hydrogen energy fraction of 10%. The spark ignition gasoline engine system includes a spark ignition gasoline engine and a source of gasoline and hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas. Apparatus is provided to supply the gasoline and the hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas to the engine at a varying hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas to gasoline ratio selected both to prevent knock and to ensure a desired level of combustion stability throughout a full range of engine operation. The engine system may be normally aspirated or boosted; the compression ratio may be high such as greater than 11 or below 11, and EGR may be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: John Heywood, Leslie Bromberg, Alexander Rabinovich, Daniel Cohn, Jennifer Topinka
  • Publication number: 20040035395
    Abstract: A method for reducing required octane number and a spark ignition gasoline engine system with hydrogen-enhanced knock resistance. The method for reducing required octane number of gasoline needed to prevent knock includes the addition of hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas containing carbon monoxide to gasoline. Octane number can be improved by 5 or more for a hydrogen energy fraction of 10%. The spark ignition gasoline engine system includes a spark ignition gasoline engine and a source of gasoline and hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas. Apparatus is provided to supply the gasoline and the hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas to the engine at a varying hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gas to gasoline ratio selected both to prevent knock and to ensure a desired level of combustion stability throughout a full range of engine operation. The engine system may be normally aspirated or boosted; the compression ratio may be high such as greater than 11 or below 11, and EGR may be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: John B. Heywood, Leslie Bromberg, Alexander Rabinovich, Daniel R. Cohn, Jennifer Topinka