Patents by Inventor Ryan C. Roecker

Ryan C. Roecker 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: 9803571
    Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of gaseous fuel delivered to the engine. At operating conditions that result in an equivalence ratio below a predetermined threshold (which typically occur at mid or part loads), it is determined whether better performance and/or lower emissions can be achieved by reducing gaseous fuel to some cylinders and increasing gaseous fuel to others. Typically, the gaseous fuel is reduced to zero to a number of cylinders and increased to others, with the increase resulting in an equivalence ratio that will provide improved emissions and efficiency and the desired engine output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: John C. Hedrick, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan, Jeremy D. Eubanks, Ryan C. Roecker, Garrett L. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170211490
    Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of gaseous fuel delivered to the engine. At operating conditions that result in an equivalence ratio below a predetermined threshold (which typically occur at mid or part loads), it is determined whether better performance and/or lower emissions can be achieved by reducing gaseous fuel to some cylinders and increasing gaseous fuel to others. Typically, the gaseous fuel is reduced to zero to a number of cylinders and increased to others, with the increase resulting in an equivalence ratio that will provide improved emissions and efficiency and the desired engine output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: John C. Hedrick, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan, Jeremy D. Eubanks, Ryan C. Roecker, Garrett L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9605613
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus to reduce fuel consumption while remaining in NOx compliance by simultaneous and coordinated control of the engine and the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. More particularly, the present disclosure identifies methods and apparatus to increase NOx output within a diesel engine to optimize the performance of a given SCR system while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption at a selected and targeted intake oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Ryan C. Roecker
  • Patent number: 9518516
    Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of diesel fuel delivered to the engine. The method compensates for the poor transient response of gaseous fueling. A controller receives a signal from the operator of the engine representing a desired torque, and based on this signal, determines a desired intake manifold state. It generates commands to various actuators to control the intake air and the intake gaseous fuel such that the desired intake manifold state will occur. The controller also receives sensor data from which the current in-cylinder state can be measured or estimated. It determines a current amount of diesel fuel based on the desired torque, the engine speed and the current in-cylinder state, and generates a diesel fueling command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ryan C. Roecker, Jayant V. Sarlashkar, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan
  • Publication number: 20160201592
    Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of diesel fuel delivered to the engine. The method compensates for the poor transient response of gaseous fueling. A controller receives a signal from the operator of the engine representing a desired torque, and based on this signal, determines a desired intake manifold state. It generates commands to various actuators to control the intake air and the intake gaseous fuel such that the desired intake manifold state will occur. The controller also receives sensor data from which the current in-cylinder state can be measured or estimated. It determines a current amount of diesel fuel based on the desired torque, the engine speed and the current in-cylinder state, and generates a diesel fueling command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ryan C. Roecker, Jayant V. Sarlashkar, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan
  • Publication number: 20160025593
    Abstract: A method of detecting a stuck plate valve of a gas engine. An accelerometer is mounted on or near the valve, such that the valve is operable to detect the closing and/or opening of the valve. A detection unit stores values representing the output of the accelerometer when the valve is operating normally. During operation of the engine, the detection unit receives current output from the accelerometer, and compares the current output with the stored values to determine whether the valve is operating normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Garrett L. ANDERSON, Ryan C. ROECKER
  • Patent number: 7621120
    Abstract: A method for the use of hybrid technology to control lean NOx trap (LNT) and particulate filter regenerations using an electric motor wherein for the LNT (a) the electric motor is adapted to absorb torque excursions of the engine during regeneration of the LNT, (b) wherein the electric motor is adapted to add torque to thereby reduce the air required in the engine and to thereby reduce the amount of fuel needed to regenerate the LNT, or (c) both (a) and (b), or wherein for the particulate filter the electric motor is (a) adapted to load the engine to thereby increase the exhaust temperature to thereby facilitate regeneration of the particulate filter, (b) adapted to use a power source for the electric motor to power an electrically powered particulate filter regeneration unit to thereby facilitate regeneration of the particulate filter, or (c) both (a) and (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Andrew C. Matheaus, Ryan C. Roecker, Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7299623
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas provides control of the maximum temperature of the exhaust gas to prevent thermal damage to the Diesel engine components and associated aftertreatment devices during regeneration of the aftertreatment devices. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve opening timing and duration, either singly or in combination with selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Ryan C. Roecker, Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Lee G. Dodge, Christopher J. Chadwell, Darius Mehta, Daniel W. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7142975
    Abstract: A virtual cylinder pressure sensor for use with an internal combustion engine. The sensor has one or more independent modules, each used to estimate a different cylinder pressure variable. Each module is trained using measurement data from a physical cylinder pressure sensor and a real engine. After the modules are trained, they can be embedded into the engine control unit of the same engine type, and used to estimate and predict the values for which they were trained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Junmin Wang, Ryan C. Roecker, Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7010914
    Abstract: Compressor surge on turbocharged Diesel engines when operating in temporary throttled airflow, such as are required for the periodic regeneration of lean NOx traps is prevented by controlled operation of a boost air blow-off valve positioned downstream of the compressor outlet of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Ryan C. Roecker
  • Publication number: 20040123588
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas provides control of the maximum temperature of the exhaust gas to prevent thermal damage to the Diesel engine components and associated aftertreatment devices during regeneration of the aftertreatment devices. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve opening timing and duration, either singly or in combination with selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Ryan C. Roecker, Charles E. Roberts,, Lee G. Dodge, Christopher J. Chadwell, Darius Mehta, Daniel W. Stewart
  • Patent number: 6732507
    Abstract: A very high efficiency NOX aftertreatment system is provided for use in lean burn engines. A lean NOX adsorber is synergistically combined with a selective catalytic reduction catalyst to use the ammonia formed within the NOX adsorber, during regeneration of the NOX adsorber while periodically operating the engine in a fuel-rich combustion mode, to reduce NOX remaining in the exhaust gas stream after passage through the NOX adsorber during normal operation of the engine in a lean burn combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Ryan C. Roecker, Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Daniel W. Stewart