Patents by Inventor Steven Schwochert
Steven Schwochert 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: 11300063Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing a temperature of a catalyst of an engine by operating the engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode. In one example, a method may include, while operating an engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode, adjusting a magnitude of a lambda split between a rich set of combustion events and a lean set of combustion events based on soot formation in the rich set of combustion events. In this way, catalyst temperature may be increased while maintaining engine efficiency and preventing soot formation in the cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Schwochert
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Publication number: 20220018298Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing a temperature of a catalyst of an engine by operating the engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode. In one example, a method may include, while operating an engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode, adjusting a magnitude of a lambda split between a rich set of combustion events and a lean set of combustion events based on soot formation in the rich set of combustion events. In this way, catalyst temperature may be increased while maintaining engine efficiency and preventing soot formation in the cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Schwochert
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Patent number: 10634078Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an aftertreatment system arranged in a vehicle underbody downstream of close-coupled aftertreatment devices, the aftertreatment system including a first aftertreatment device and a second aftertreatment device adjacent one another. In one example, the first aftertreatment device is a hydrocarbon trap and the second aftertreatment device is a three-way catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jason Lupescu, Steven Schwochert, Carolyn Hubbard, Melissa Zamora
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Patent number: 10436142Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating whether or not a fuel amount that is greater than a threshold has been release to an engine via fuel injectors when the fuel injectors are commanded off are presented. In one example, an oxygen sensor is activated and engine cranking is prevented until a pumping current of the oxygen sensor is proportionate to a concentration of oxygen sensed via the oxygen sensor so that released fuel may be observed during engine starting.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
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Publication number: 20190271279Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating whether or not a fuel amount that is greater than a threshold has been release to an engine via fuel injectors when the fuel injectors are commanded off are presented. In one example, an oxygen sensor is activated and engine cranking is prevented until a pumping current of the oxygen sensor is proportionate to a concentration of oxygen sensed via the oxygen sensor so that released fuel may be observed during engine starting.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2019Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
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Publication number: 20190218991Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating whether or not a fuel amount that is greater than a threshold has been release to an engine via fuel injectors when the fuel injectors are commanded off are presented. In one example, an oxygen sensor is activated and engine cranking is prevented until a pumping current of the oxygen sensor is proportionate to a concentration of oxygen sensed via the oxygen sensor so that released fuel may be observed during engine starting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
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Patent number: 10337443Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating whether or not a fuel amount that is greater than a threshold has been release to an engine via fuel injectors when the fuel injectors are commanded off are presented. In one example, an oxygen sensor is activated and engine cranking is prevented until a pumping current of the oxygen sensor is proportionate to a concentration of oxygen sensed via the oxygen sensor so that released fuel may be observed during engine starting.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
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Publication number: 20190178181Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an aftertreatment system arranged in a vehicle underbody downstream of close-coupled aftertreatment devices, the aftertreatment system including a first aftertreatment device and a second aftertreatment device adjacent one another. In one example, the first aftertreatment device is a hydrocarbon trap and the second aftertreatment device is a three-way catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Jason Lupescu, Steven Schwochert, Carolyn Hubbard, Melissa Zamora
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Patent number: 10294883Abstract: Methods and system for controlling air-fuel ratios in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One embodiment comprises, adjusting a sensor calibration correction value of an exhaust sensor upstream of a catalyst based on an exhaust sensor downstream of the catalyst. The adjustment of the sensor calibration correction value takes advantage of the fact that certain aromatic hydrocarbons causing errors in the reading of the upstream sensor are not present at the downstream sensor due to sufficient catalytic activity of a catalyst positioned between the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
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Patent number: 9879625Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the performance of a variable displacement engine. Split injection and spark retard may be used in active cylinders during a VDE mode to heat an exhaust catalyst and extend the duration of VDE mode operation. Split injection and spark retard may also be used in reactivated cylinders at a time of cylinder reactivation to improve restart combustion stability.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
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Patent number: 9840971Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the performance of a variable displacement engine. Split injection and spark retard may be used in active cylinder during a VDE mode to heat an exhaust catalyst and extend the duration of VDE mode operation. Split injection and spark retard may also be used in reactivated cylinders at a time of cylinder reactivation to improve restart combustion stability.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
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Publication number: 20170298848Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the performance of a variable displacement engine. Split injection and spark retard may be used in active cylinders during a VDE mode to heat an exhaust catalyst and extend the duration of VDE mode operation. Split injection and spark retard may also be used in reactivated cylinders at a time of cylinder reactivation to improve restart combustion stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
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Publication number: 20170292465Abstract: Methods and system for controlling air-fuel ratios in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One embodiment comprises, adjusting a sensor calibration correction value of an exhaust sensor upstream of a catalyst based on an exhaust sensor downstream of the catalyst. The adjustment of the sensor calibration correction value takes advantage of the fact that certain aromatic hydrocarbons causing errors in the reading of the upstream sensor are not present at the downstream sensor due to sufficient catalytic activity of a catalyst positioned between the sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
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Patent number: 9732686Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the performance of a variable displacement engine. Split injection and spark retard may be used in active cylinders during a VDE mode to heat an exhaust catalyst and extend the duration of VDE mode operation. Split injection and spark retard may also be used in reactivated cylinders at a time of cylinder reactivation to improve restart combustion stability.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
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Patent number: 9708999Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
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Patent number: 9695731Abstract: Methods and system for controlling air-fuel ratios in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One embodiment comprises, adjusting a sensor calibration correction value of an exhaust sensor upstream of a catalyst based on an exhaust sensor downstream of the catalyst. The adjustment of the sensor calibration correction value takes advantage of the fact that certain aromatic hydrocarbons causing errors in the reading of the upstream sensor are not present at the downstream sensor due to sufficient catalytic activity of a catalyst positioned between the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
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Publication number: 20160131073Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
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Patent number: 9303577Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
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Patent number: 9297329Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved. The injections are adjusted based on the alcohol content of the injected fuel to take advantage of the charge cooling properties of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
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Patent number: 9255541Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa