Patents by Inventor Kyle Pohlkamp

Kyle Pohlkamp 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 systems for engine braking via coordinated EGR and VGT actuation
    Patent number: 11674461
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an EGR valve and VGT vanes during engine braking. In one example, a method may include during an engine braking event in an engine, coordinating adjustments of both of a cross-sectional area of an inlet of a turbine and an opening of a valve of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to achieve a desired braking power and to maintain an exhaust system temperature above a threshold temperature during the engine braking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Shawn Spannbauer, Kyle Pohlkamp, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Curtis Michael Bauer
  • METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR ENGINE BRAKING VIA COORDINATED EGR AND VGT ACTUATION
    Publication number: 20230139973
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an EGR valve and VGT vanes during engine braking. In one example, a method may include during an engine braking event in an engine, coordinating adjustments of both of a cross-sectional area of an inlet of a turbine and an opening of a valve of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to achieve a desired braking power and to maintain an exhaust system temperature above a threshold temperature during the engine braking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Shawn Spannbauer, Kyle Pohlkamp, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Curtis Michael Bauer
  • Systems and methods for fuel cooling
    Patent number: 11002228
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling fuel in an engine. In one example, a fuel temperature is reduced by transferring heat from the fuel to a cooling fluid. The heat exchange may occur in an unpressurized region of a fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • System and method for operating a fuel injector
    Patent number: 10907567
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a direct fuel injector of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, a nozzle needle is moved in two directions to maintain fuel flow through the direct fuel injector and to reduce the possibility of the nozzle needle impacting a piezoelectric actuator. The method and system may permit long fuel injection times without causing undesirable impacts between components of a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Eric Kurtz
  • Method of fuel injection control in diesel engines
    Patent number: 10352266
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting fuel injections provided to a cylinder when a fuel rail pressure deviation from a threshold pressure is detected. In one example, a method may include reducing a total number of pilot and/or main fuel injections provided to a cylinder in a given cylinder cycle in response to a reduction of pressure in a fuel rail. In this way, the threshold rail pressure may be maintained, reducing the likelihood the engine will be derated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Kyle Pohlkamp
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL INJECTOR
    Publication number: 20190203658
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a direct fuel injector of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, a nozzle needle is moved in two directions to maintain fuel flow through the direct fuel injector and to reduce the possibility of the nozzle needle impacting a piezoelectric actuator. The method and system may permit long fuel injection times without causing undesirable impacts between components of a fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Eric Kurtz
  • METHOD OF FUEL INJECTION CONTROL IN DIESEL ENGINES
    Publication number: 20180328307
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting fuel injections provided to a cylinder when a fuel rail pressure deviation from a threshold pressure is detected. In one example, a method may include reducing a total number of pilot and/or main fuel injections provided to a cylinder in a given cylinder cycle in response to a reduction of pressure in a fuel rail. In this way, the threshold rail pressure may be maintained, reducing the likelihood the engine will be derated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Kyle Pohlkamp
  • Pilot fuel injection adaptation
    Patent number: 9784235
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adapting pilot fuel injection pulse widths are disclosed. In one example, pilot fuel injection values are varied to determine adjustments to a fuel injector transfer function and a glow plug is activated in response to a request to adapt the fuel injector transfer function so that adaptation may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Pohlkamp
  • PILOT FUEL INJECTION ADAPTATION
    Publication number: 20160369765
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adapting pilot fuel injection pulse widths are disclosed. In one example, pilot fuel injection values are varied to determine adjustments to a fuel injector transfer function and a glow plug is activated in response to a request to adapt the fuel injector transfer function so that adaptation may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Kyle Pohlkamp
  • EGR operation method and system for increased drivability
    Patent number: 9422878
    Abstract: A method for an engine may comprise, in response to an EGR valve closing, determining an EGR oxygen content, and purging an EGR system when the EGR oxygen content is less than a threshold oxygen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • System and method for determining turbine degradation and mitigating turbine degradation in a variable geometry turbocharger
    Patent number: 9410475
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle system is described herein. The method includes indicating a variable geometry turbine degradation based on a comparison of a modeled set of turbine pressure values and a sensed set of turbine pressure values, each set of turbine pressure values including a pressure value upstream of the turbine and a pressure value downstream of the turbine and the variable geometry turbine positioned downstream of an engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Morelli, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Thomas Kostrzewski, Jason Ronald Smith, Kyle Pohlkamp
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TURBINE DEGRADATION AND MITIGATING TURBINE DEGRADATION IN A VARIABLE GEOMETRY TURBOCHARGER
    Publication number: 20150354442
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle system is described herein. The method includes indicating a variable geometry turbine degradation based on a comparison of a modeled set of turbine pressure values and a sensed set of turbine pressure values, each set of turbine pressure values including a pressure value upstream of the turbine and a pressure value downstream of the turbine and the variable geometry turbine positioned downstream of an engine cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony Morelli, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Thomas Kostrzewski, Jason Ronald Smith, Kyle Pohlkamp
  • EGR OPERATION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASED DRIVABILITY
    Publication number: 20150292423
    Abstract: A method for an engine may comprise, in response to an EGR valve closing, determining an EGR oxygen content, and purging an EGR system when the EGR oxygen content is less than a threshold oxygen content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Brien Lloyd Fulton