Patents by Inventor Michael Stephen Sweppy
Michael Stephen Sweppy 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).
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Patent number: 11306631Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a state of a vent hose that fluidically couples a crankcase of an engine to an engine air intake system. In one example, a method may include sealing the crankcase from the vent hose, initiating cranking of the engine, monitoring a series of pressure pulsations during a monitoring window duration via a pressure sensor positioned between a crankcase oil separator and the vent hose, and indicating a presence of degradation associated with the vent hose based on the series of pressure pulsations and the monitoring window duration. In this way, diagnosis of a state of the vent hose may be reliably assessed without crankcase pressures confounding pressure measurements as recorded via the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Adam Joseph Krach
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Publication number: 20210285348Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a state of a vent hose that fluidically couples a crankcase of an engine to an engine air intake system. In one example, a method may include sealing the crankcase from the vent hose, initiating cranking of the engine, monitoring a series of pressure pulsations during a monitoring window duration via a pressure sensor positioned between a crankcase oil separator and the vent hose, and indicating a presence of degradation associated with the vent hose based on the series of pressure pulsations and the monitoring window duration. In this way, diagnosis of a state of the vent hose may be reliably assessed without crankcase pressures confounding pressure measurements as recorded via the pressure sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Adam Joseph Krach
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Publication number: 20200400050Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system. In one example, a PCV system diagnostic method is provided that includes a determining a fault condition in a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system by comparing a pressure sampled from a pressure sensor positioned on a clean side of an oil separator coupled to a crankcase with a modeled pressure representing an expected pressure on the clean side of the oil separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy
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Patent number: 10871129Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system. In one example, a PCV system diagnostic method is provided that includes a determining a fault condition in a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system by comparing a pressure sampled from a pressure sensor positioned on a clean side of an oil separator coupled to a crankcase with a modeled pressure representing an expected pressure on the clean side of the oil separator.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy
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Patent number: 10767590Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system. In one example, a diagnostic method for a PCV system is provided that includes, when an intake manifold air pressure is above a threshold boost value, determining a PCV system breach based on a pressure determined using a pressure sensor positioned on a clean side of an oil separator coupled to a crankcase and receiving crankcase gas from the crankcase. In the PCV system a ventilation line provides fluidic communication between the oil separator and an intake conduit upstream of a compressor.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy
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Patent number: 9664079Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. Integrated CVT pressure readings are used to diagnose disconnection of the CVT on the air intake side and distinguish from disconnection on the crankcase side. Use of integrated pressure readings allows for a more reliable and quicker diagnosis even at lower engine airflows.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Rommel Racelis, Michael Stephen Sweppy
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Publication number: 20160097355Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. Integrated CVT pressure readings are used to diagnose disconnection of the CVT on the air intake side and distinguish from disconnection on the crankcase side. Use of integrated pressure readings allows for a more reliable and quicker diagnosis even at lower engine airflows.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Rommel Racelis, Michael Stephen Sweppy
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Patent number: 9114796Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an intake air temperature sensor in a hybrid electric vehicle. An engine temperature is compared to each of an intake air temperature sensed before an engine start but after sufficient engine soak, as well as an intake air temperature sensed after selected vehicle operating conditions have elapsed since the engine start. Based on discrepancies between the air temperature and the engine temperature, degradation of the sensor is determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Matthew D. Smith, John Smiley
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Patent number: 8984934Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a controller and a fuel system having a fuel tank, a fuel level indicator (FLI), and a pressure sensor. The controller is configured to: pull a vacuum on the tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure, and provide a diagnostic code in response to comparing a fuel level indicated by the FLI to a rate of pressure change in the tank. A method for performing a fuel level indicator (FLI) diagnostic for a vehicle is provided. A vacuum is pulled on the fuel tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure. A diagnostic code is provided in response to comparing a fuel level indicated by an FLI to a rate of pressure change.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Stephen Sweppy, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar
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Publication number: 20150075267Abstract: A method for verifying reliable operation of a fuel tank pressure transducer coupled to a fuel tank of a PHEV. The method monitors pressure and fuel level within the fuel tank, employing a fuel level sensor providing fuel level signals to a controller, as well as a pressure transducer providing pressure signals to the controller. The system identifies a sloshing event, as indicated by high amplitude, rapidly fluctuating fuel level signals, and it then analyzes the vapor dome pressure signals to determine whether vapor dome pressure signals respond to the sloshing event. Reliable operation of the fuel tank pressure transducer is indicated upon a determination that the vapor dome pressure signals appropriately respond to the sloshing event.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: MICHAEL STEPHEN SWEPPY, AED M. DUDAR, ROBERT ROY JENTZ
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Publication number: 20140260576Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a controller and a fuel system having a fuel tank, a fuel level indicator (FLI), and a pressure sensor. The controller is configured to: pull a vacuum on the tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure, and provide a diagnostic code in response to comparing a fuel level indicated by the FLI to a rate of pressure change in the tank. A method for performing a fuel level indicator (FLI) diagnostic for a vehicle is provided. A vacuum is pulled on the fuel tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure. A diagnostic code is provided in response to comparing a fuel level indicated by an FLI to a rate of pressure change.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Stephen Sweppy, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar
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Publication number: 20130245867Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an intake air temperature sensor in a hybrid electric vehicle. An engine temperature is compared to each of an intake air temperature sensed before an engine start but after sufficient engine soak, as well as an intake air temperature sensed after selected vehicle operating conditions have elapsed since the engine start. Based on discrepancies between the air temperature and the engine temperature, degradation of the sensor is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Matthew D. Smith, John Smiley