Patents by Inventor Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Ross Dykstra Pursifull 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).

  • EV FAST CHARGING CORD AND RECEPTACLE
    Publication number: 20200247254
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a charging plug including at least one handle cover covering at least a portion of the plug, and a vehicle charge receptacle configured to receive the plug, the plug and receptacle comprising a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material of at least one polymer and at least one ceramic to transfer heat generated during charging through the plug portion and receptacle into the vehicle body for dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth DELLOCK, Ross Dykstra PURSIFULL, Stuart C. SALTER, David Brian GLICKMAN, Talat KARMO
  • Method and system for fuel injector balancing
    Patent number: 10731593
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improved injector balancing. In one example, fuel rail pressure samples collected during a noisy zone of injector operation are discarded while samples collected during a quiet zone are averaged to determine an injector pressure. The injector pressure is then used to infer injection volume, injector error, and update an injector transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Systems and methods to control steering of a vehicle
    Patent number: 10723380
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control steering of a vehicle are disclosed. An example system includes a first sensor to measure a tilt angle associated with a vehicle positioned on a road surface. The example system also includes a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor to receive the tilt angle. In addition, the example system includes steering system communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller provides feedforward control data to the steering system based on the tilt angle. The steering system generates a first steering torque based on the feedforward control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • High pressure fuel pump control for idle tick reduction
    Patent number: 10718301
    Abstract: A method for operating a solenoid valve coupled to the inlet valve of a fuel injection pump comprises adjusting a pull-in electrical energy of the solenoid valve based on a fuel injection pump volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Paul Zeng
  • Methods and systems for fixed and variable pressure fuel injection
    Patent number: 10718289
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a high pressure injection pump to provide each of high fixed fuel pressure at a port injection fuel rail and high variable fuel pressure at a direct injection fuel rail. Port injection fuel rail pressure can be raised above a pressure provided with a lift pump via a fuel system configuration that includes various check valves, pressure relief valves, and a spill valve positioned between an inlet of the high pressure injection pump and the port injection fuel rail. High pressure port injection may be advantageously used to provide fuel at high pressure during conditions when fuel delivery via high pressure direct injection is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph F. Basmaji, Mark Meinhart, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Vehicle external speaker system
    Patent number: 10708700
    Abstract: A system includes a microphone mounted inside a vehicle, a speaker mounted outside the vehicle, a camera with a field of view encompassing a seat of the vehicle, and a computer in communication with the microphone, speaker, and camera. The computer is programmed to, in response to data from the camera indicating a gesture by an occupant of the seat, activate the speaker to broadcast based on data transmitted by the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Kristopher Karl Brown
  • Methods and apparatus to detect warped rotors based on brake pressure
    Patent number: 10703351
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed that detect warped rotors. An example apparatus includes a controller configured to receive a brake pressure and one or more wheel parameters of a vehicle associated with a first braking event, determine a presence of a warped rotor based on a comparison of the brake pressure to a threshold pressure, and identify a wheel of the vehicle associated with the warped rotor based on the brake pressure and the one or more wheel parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method for crankcase ventilation in a boosted engine
    Patent number: 10704477
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing crankcase ventilation in a boosted engine. During boosted conditions, a crankcase may be ventilated via vacuum generated at an aspirator coupled in a compressor bypass passage. However, when the aspirator is plugged, pressure in the crankcase may be relieved by flowing crankcase gases through an aspirator bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mark Steadman, Katherine Jane Brewer
  • Filter diagnostics and prognostics
    Patent number: 10697337
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for a lubricant filter. In one example, a method for a lubricant filter comprises indicating a condition of the filter based on a difference between a measured pressure differential and an expected pressure differential during select conditions in which all lubricant pumped by a pump upstream of the filter flows into the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method for increasing vacuum production for a vehicle
    Patent number: 10677196
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing vacuum to a vehicle are described. In one example, a method adjusts an engine air-fuel ratio in response to provide additional vacuum to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE IDLE SPEED CONTROL
    Publication number: 20200165987
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel economy by opportunistically lowering engine idle speed below a base idle speed when electrical loads are not present. A hydraulic brake pressure is increased when the idle speed is raised, in anticipation of vehicle propulsion. The brake pressure counteracts any creep torque and unintended vehicle acceleration resulting from the rising engine idle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method for determining a dilution of recirculated gases in a split exhaust engine
    Patent number: 10648413
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a dilution of recirculated gases, including blowthrough air, combusted exhaust gas, and fuel vapor, in a split exhaust engine. In one example, the dilution rate may be calculated using a steady state model based on temperature measurements from an intake region of the engine. The steady state model may be further used in combination with a feedforward model adapted to estimate engine dilution during engine transients as a correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Madison, Joseph Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING ENGINE COMPRESSION TORQUE
    Publication number: 20200122709
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing engine compression torque when an engine having a split exhaust system is spun unfueled. In one example, a method may include maintaining closed a blowdown exhaust valve of a cylinder, the blowdown exhaust valve coupled to a first exhaust manifold that directs gases from the cylinder to a catalyst, and opening a scavenge exhaust valve of the cylinder, the scavenge exhaust valve coupled to a second exhaust manifold that directs gases from the cylinder to an exhaust gas recirculation system. In this way, compression of gases within they cylinder is reduced while gas flow to the catalyst is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Joseph Ulrey, William Cary Cole, Brad Boyer, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Systems and methods for compression heated air
    Patent number: 10626816
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for compression heating of air. In one example, a method may include, during an engine start and prior to a first combustion event, deactivating cylinder exhaust valves while spinning the engine electrically and unfueled until a threshold intake air temperature is reached, and alternately activating and deactivating the exhaust valves of one or more cylinders to maintain the intake air temperature above the threshold temperature after the first combustion event. In this way, a temperature of an air charge may be increased, resulting in increased fuel economy and decreased vehicle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FUEL INJECTOR BALANCING
    Publication number: 20200116099
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improved injector balancing. In one example, fuel rail pressure samples collected during a noisy zone of injector operation are discarded while samples collected during a quiet zone are averaged to determine an injector pressure. The injector pressure is then used to infer injection volume, injector error, and update an injector transfer function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20200114885
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating reverse vehicle rollback. In one example, in response to a request to shift a transmission from reverse to forward when vehicle speed is elevated, vehicle brakes are applied and the actual transmission shift is delayed until the vehicle motion in the reverse direction is sufficiently decelerated. Additionally, the engine may be stalled and restarted before the transmission shift is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORY DRIVE TRAIN
    Publication number: 20200114759
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle adapted to be operated based on fuel combustion or electric power. In one example, an accessory train of the vehicle, including an air conditioning pump and a power steering pump, may be operated according to a first mode or according to a second mode based on a power system of the vehicle. When in the second mode, the vehicle may be instructed to coordinate operation of the air conditioning pump and the power steering pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, William Charles Ruona
  • Crankcase integrity breach detection
    Patent number: 10619534
    Abstract: 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. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger
  • Methods and system for decelerating a vehicle
    Patent number: 10611376
    Abstract: A method for improving operation of a vehicle that includes an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter clutch is disclosed. In one example, the method assesses whether or not driver braking is expected and adjusts driveline braking accordingly. The method freewheels the driveline to extend vehicle coasting when driver braking is not expected and the method increases or decreases driveline braking based on a closing distance between the vehicle and an object in the vehicle's path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HEATING VEHICLE CABIN WITH WATER-COOLED ALTERNATOR
    Publication number: 20200086715
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a cabin of a vehicle using an alternator of the vehicle. In one example, a method may include operating in a first operating mode to heat a cabin of a vehicle, the first operating mode including shorting an alternator output of an alternator of the vehicle to ground, and closing a coolant valve positioned between a coolant system of an engine of the vehicle and an alternator coolant circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull