Patents by Inventor Michael Daniel Shane

Michael Daniel Shane 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: 9919294
    Abstract: Phosphorus tolerant or resistant three-way catalysts (TWC) are disclosed. The TWC may include a substrate defining a plurality of channels. It may include front and rear washcoat portions overlying the substrate and having respective first and second washcoat loadings, the first washcoat loading being at most 2.0 g/in3 and less than the second washcoat loading. The front washcoat portion may include a catalyst material supported on a support material comprising a cerium oxide, such as ceria or CZO, or a pre-phosphated material, such as AlPO4, or CePO4. In one embodiment, the support material may comprise at least 85 wt. % of a cerium oxide or at least 85 wt. % of a phosphate-containing material. The front portion and the underlying substrate may comprise from 3 to 25 vol. % of the three-way catalyst or the front portion may overly up to an initial 15% of an axial length of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul M. Laing, Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Eva Thanasiu, Giovanni Cavataio, Hungwen Jen, Mark John Jagner, Rachael Jean Harrington, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Publication number: 20170312740
    Abstract: Phosphorus tolerant or resistant three-way catalysts (TWC) are disclosed. The TWC may include a substrate defining a plurality of channels. It may include front and rear washcoat portions overlying the substrate and having respective first and second washcoat loadings, the first washcoat loading being at most 2.0 g/in3 and less than the second washcoat loading. The front washcoat portion may include a catalyst material supported on a support material comprising a cerium oxide, such as ceria or CZO, or a pre-phosphated material, such as AlPO4, or CePO4. In one embodiment, the support material may comprise at least 85 wt. % of a cerium oxide or at least 85 wt. % of a phosphate-containing material. The front portion and the underlying substrate may comprise from 3 to 25 vol. % of the three-way catalyst or the front portion may overly up to an initial 15% of an axial length of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Paul M. LAING, Carolyn Parks HUBBARD, Jeffrey Scott HEPBURN, Eva THANASIU, Giovanni CAVATAIO, Hungwen JEN, Mark John JAGNER, Rachael Jean HARRINGTON, Michael Daniel SHANE
  • Patent number: 9764286
    Abstract: A catalyst system for reducing N2O emissions in the exhaust system of a vehicle is provided and comprises a support in communication with the exhaust gas stream, with the support including an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The support has at least one exhaust gas passage therethrough. The support, which may be in the form of a monolithic, multi-cell honeycomb construction, comprises a first catalytic zone and a second catalytic zone positioned downstream from the first zone. The first catalytic zone includes rhodium or a rhodium-enriched catalyst, while the second catalytic zone includes palladium or a palladium-enriched catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Giovanni Cavataio, Hungwen Jen, Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Patent number: 9691192
    Abstract: In a first illustrative embodiment, a computer implemented method includes receiving a recall message from a remote source. The method also includes comparing the recall to stored vehicle data to determine if a recall repair has already been completed. The method further includes delivering the recall message to at least one vehicle occupant through a vehicle system, contingent on the non-completion of the recall repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bala Chander, Robin J. Stiyer, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Publication number: 20160158699
    Abstract: A catalyst system for reducing N2O emissions in the exhaust system of a vehicle is provided and comprises a support in communication with the exhaust gas stream, with the support including an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The support has at least one exhaust gas passage therethrough. The support, which may be in the form of a monolithic, multi-cell honeycomb construction, comprises a first catalytic zone and a second catalytic zone positioned downstream from the first zone. The first catalytic zone includes rhodium or a rhodium-enriched catalyst, while the second catalytic zone includes palladium or a palladium-enriched catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Giovanni Cavataio, Hungwen Jen, Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Patent number: 9194311
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst during engine cold-start conditions. One example embodiment uses positive valve overlap to drive a boosted blow-through airflow through the cylinders of an engine. Fuel is injected with the blow-through airflow during the valve overlap, and also injected into engine cylinders outside the valve overlap. The catalyst is heated by the resulting exothermic reaction of the blow-through airflow with the combustion products and the injected fuel in the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Daniel Shane, James David Pakko, Paul M. Laing
  • Publication number: 20130260723
    Abstract: In a first illustrative embodiment, a computer implemented method includes receiving a recall message from a remote source. The method also includes comparing the recall to stored vehicle data to determine if a recall repair has already been completed. The method further includes delivering the recall message to at least one vehicle occupant through a vehicle system, contingent on the non-completion of the recall repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bala Chander, Robin J. Stiyer, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Publication number: 20130006500
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst during engine cold-start conditions. One example embodiment uses positive valve overlap to drive a boosted blow-through airflow through the cylinders of an engine. Fuel is injected with the blow-through airflow during the valve overlap, and also injected into engine cylinders outside the valve overlap. The catalyst is heated by the resulting exothermic reaction of the blow-through airflow with the combustion products and the injected fuel in the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Daniel Shane, James David Pakko, Paul M. Laing
  • Patent number: 8272362
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst during engine cold-start conditions. One example embodiment uses positive valve overlap to drive a boosted blow-through airflow through the cylinders of an engine. Fuel is injected with the blow-through airflow during the valve overlap, and also injected into engine cylinders outside the valve overlap. The catalyst is heated by the resulting exothermic reaction of the blow-through airflow with the combustion products and the injected fuel in the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Daniel Shane, James David Pakko, Paul M. Laing
  • Publication number: 20110209685
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst during engine cold-start conditions. One example embodiment uses positive valve overlap to drive a boosted blow-through airflow through the cylinders of an engine. Fuel is injected with the blow-through airflow during the valve overlap, and also injected into engine cylinders outside the valve overlap. The catalyst is heated by the resulting exothermic reaction of the blow-through airflow with the combustion products and the injected fuel in the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Daniel Shane, James David Pakko, Paul M. Laing
  • Patent number: 6601382
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling an engine (10) of an automotive vehicle having a catalyst (34) and controller (40) is set forth herein. The controller (40) is configured to determine a first exhaust flow rate and a second exhaust flow rate based on a flow rate of the exhaust gases. The controller is further configured to determine a first temperature (T1) of exhaust gases associated with the first exhaust flow rate based on a steady state temperature and an amount of heat transferred from the exhaust gases associated with the first exhaust flow rate to an exhaust system. The controller is further configured to determine a second temperature of exhaust gases associated with the second exhaust flow rate based on the steady state temperature. The controller is further configured to determine the catalytic converter temperature based on the first temperature and the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Robert Nader, Frank Korpics, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Publication number: 20030089099
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling an engine (10) of an automotive vehicle having a catalyst (34) and controller (40) is set forth herein. The controller (40) is configured to determine a first exhaust flow rate and a second exhaust flow rate based on a flow rate of the exhaust gases. The controller is further configured to determine a first temperature (T1) of exhaust gases associated with the first exhaust flow rate based on a steady state temperature and an amount of heat transferred from the exhaust gases associated with the first exhaust flow rate to an exhaust system. The controller is further configured to determine a second temperature of exhaust gases associated with the second exhaust flow rate based on the steady state temperature. The controller is further configured to determine the catalytic converter temperature based on the first temperature and the second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: David Robert Nader, Frank Korpics, Michael Daniel Shane
  • Patent number: 6532734
    Abstract: A method for determining the effectiveness of a catalyst having both first, relatively high oxidizable material provided to remove emissions from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine and a second, relatively low oxidizable material provided to remove emissions from such exhaust. The method includes measure a difference in oxygen content upstream and downstream of the catalyst while the engine is producing the exhaust to determine the effectiveness of the first material and determining the effectiveness of the second material by comparing time delay in a property of the exhaust as such exhaust passes through the catalyst. In one embodiment, the property of the exhaust is the oxygen content in such exhaust. In one embodiment, the effectiveness of the second material is measured after the first material is determined to be ineffective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Robert Nader, Michael Igor Kluzner, Michael Daniel Shane, Michael James Uhrich, Robert Joseph Jerger