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).

  • Patent number: 11300063
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20220018298
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Schwochert
  • Patent number: 10634078
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lupescu, Steven Schwochert, Carolyn Hubbard, Melissa Zamora
  • Patent number: 10436142
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20190271279
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20190218991
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
  • Patent number: 10337443
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Ulrey, Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20190178181
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Jason Lupescu, Steven Schwochert, Carolyn Hubbard, Melissa Zamora
  • Patent number: 10294883
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
  • Patent number: 9879625
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
  • Patent number: 9840971
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
  • Publication number: 20170298848
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
  • Publication number: 20170292465
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
  • Patent number: 9732686
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Steven Schwochert, Ken Jahr
  • Patent number: 9708999
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9695731
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20160131073
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9303577
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 9297329
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 9255541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa