Patents by Inventor Michael Paul Withrow

Michael Paul Withrow 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: 7802427
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed that monitors for boost leak. The system has an engine, a compressor located upstream of the engine, at least one auxiliary flow device located downstream of the engine, and a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor. The estimated value takes into account a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device distinct from a flow from the compressor toward the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Michael Paul Withrow, James Harris Mutti, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7721529
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a combustion source is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a passageway connected to receive an exhaust flow from the combustion source, and a sensor disposed within the passageway. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of the concentration of a constituent in the exhaust flow. The exhaust system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor to receive the signal. The controller may be configured to selectively communicate a flow of calibration gas with the sensor during operation of the combustion source, and compare the signal received during the selective communication with a reference value. The controller may be further configured to adjust the sensor output in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Louise Kesse, Paul Adam Gamble, James Joshua Driscoll, Michael Paul Withrow
  • Patent number: 7623953
    Abstract: A method to integrate engine and exhaust aftertreatment control may include connecting an engine controller to an aftertreatment controller using a common data link protocol to provide a bidirectional data flow between the engine controller and the aftertreatment controller. The method may also include connecting the engine controller to one or more engine components. The method may also include connecting the aftertreatment controller to one or more aftertreatment components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Withrow, Ryan Edward Graham, Timothy William Grunow, II, Arvil Duane Wilson, Andrew Alfred Knitt
  • Patent number: 7513108
    Abstract: A method for altering an operating condition of a filter includes actively increasing the temperature of the filter to a desired temperature below a regeneration temperature and sensing a filter operating condition at about the desired temperature. The method also includes comparing the sensed filter operating condition to an expected filter operating condition range and actively increasing the temperature of the filter to the regeneration temperature in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Wayne Tomlins, Steven James Funke, Chandini Muniratnam Ammineni, Michael Paul Withrow, Anil Raina
  • Patent number: 7464681
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine is provided. The engine may include a combustion chamber and a working member positioned adjacent the combustion chamber. The method may include providing a source of fuel for the engine. The method may also include starting the engine producing power by combusting fuel in the combustion chamber to drive the working member. Additionally, the method may include selectively controlling delivery of the fuel to the combustion chamber at least partially as a function of an air temperature in response to achieving at least one predetermined condition involving the air temperature. The air temperature may be at least one of an ambient air temperature and an intake air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Duncan Rockwell, Michael Paul Withrow
  • Patent number: 7426924
    Abstract: An engine has a housing and a working member movable within an interior of the housing and separating a combustion chamber from a non-combustion chamber. Additionally, the engine may include a chamber-ventilation system that may include a passageway with a first end of the passageway connected to the non-combustion chamber and a second end of the passageway located downstream of the first end of the passageway. The chamber-ventilation system may further include a filter system disposed within the passageway. The filter system may include a filter housing and a filter disposed in the filter housing. Additionally, the chamber-ventilation system may be configured such that, during operation of the engine, gas travels from the non-combustion chamber, into the first end of the passageway, through the passageway, to the second end of the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Withrow, Seth Evan Slaughter, Christopher Michael Dolan, Bryant Lee Richie
  • Publication number: 20080127633
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a combustion source is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a passageway connected to receive an exhaust flow from the combustion source, and a sensor disposed within the passageway. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of the concentration of a constituent in the exhaust flow. The exhaust system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor to receive the signal. The controller may be configured to selectively communicate a flow of calibration gas with the sensor during operation of the combustion source, and compare the signal received during the selective communication with a reference value. The controller may be further configured to adjust the sensor output in response to the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Mary Louise Kesse, Paul Adam Gamble, James Joshua Driscoll, Michael Paul Withrow
  • Publication number: 20070266706
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed that monitors for boost leak. The system has an engine, a compressor located upstream of the engine, at least one auxiliary flow device located downstream of the engine, and a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor. The estimated value takes into account a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device distinct from a flow from the compressor toward the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Michael Paul Withrow, James Harris Mutti