Exhaust Gas Circulation (egc) Patents (Class 701/108)
  • Patent number: 11927157
    Abstract: A heat exchanger cleaning system (HECS) includes an engine having an intake conduit and an exhaust port, and an EGR cooler having a cooler inlet in fluid communication with the engine exhaust port, a cooler outlet in fluid communication with the engine intake conduit, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve disposed between the engine exhaust port and the EGR cooler. A first pressure sensor is disposed between the engine exhaust port and the EGR valve, and a second pressure sensor disposed in the engine intake conduit. A controller is in electrical communication with the EGR valve, the first pressure sensor, and the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to implement a predetermined set of operating parameters for the engine and/or the EGR valve, wherein implementation of the predetermined set of operating parameters causes an increased flow velocity of exhaust gas through the EGR cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Keblusek, Kyle O'Hara
  • Patent number: 11772498
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a power source, a requested driving force calculator, and an actual driving force calculator, and a driving controller. The requested driving force calculator calculates a requested driving force on the basis of a driving operation. The actual driving force calculator calculates an actual driving force following the requested driving force, while limiting a rate of change in the actual driving force. The driving controller controls the power source to output the actual driving force calculated. The actual driving force calculator changes the rate of change in the actual driving force, on the basis of a difference between the requested driving force and the actual driving force, and a lapsed time of limiting the rate of change in the actual driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chihiro Oguro, Motohiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11703005
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has one or more combustion chambers defined by one of more cylinders, corresponding pistons, and a cylinder head. A crankshaft is operatively connected to the pistons and to an electric turning machine. To start the engine, the electric turning machine rotates the crankshaft in a first direction toward a reversal point corresponding to a local maximum drag torque of the internal combustion engine, this rotation being made without rotating the crankshaft beyond the reversal point. The electric turning machine then rotates the crankshaft in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a momentum impressed on the crankshaft by compression obtained when rotating in the first direction increasing a speed of the crankshaft in the second direction. Thereafter, fuel is injected in one of the combustion chambers in which the corresponding piston first reaches a top dead center position and the fuel is ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Lukas Killingseder, Martin Freudenthaler, Alexander Burgstaller, Philipp Hollinger
  • Patent number: 11639704
    Abstract: A controller executes a fuel introduction process when stopping combustion in a cylinder under a situation in which a crankshaft is rotating. The fuel introduction process causes a fuel injection valve to inject fuel and causes the fuel to flow out unburned from inside the cylinder to an exhaust passage. The opening degree of an exhaust gas recirculation valve at a point in time when a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is not satisfied is switched to a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is satisfied is a preliminary opening degree. During the execution of the fuel introduction process, the recirculation valve controlling section causes the opening degree of the exhaust gas recirculation valve to be smaller than the preliminary opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Ikuta, Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Keiichi Myojo, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
  • Patent number: 11494535
    Abstract: A method for simulating a control unit. In the method, relationships between inputs and outputs of software component are modeled for at least one software component of the control unit, and a propagation time behavior of the control unit is simulated on the basis of the relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Baumgaertner
  • Patent number: 11459917
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a cylinder deactivation mechanism can comprise executing a valve lift event configured to lift a valve via a rocker arm. The rocker arm can be configured with a controllable latch in a latched condition, wherein the controllable latch is configured with an edge that is clamped in a recess in the rocker arm during the valve lift event, a clamp force supplied in part by pressure from the valve lift event. A deactivation signal can be sent to select the unlatched condition to collapse the controllable latch from the recess while the controllable latch is configured in the valve lift event with the edge clamped in the recess. A subsequent valve lift event can have actuation deactivated by collapsing the controllable latch from the recess once the valve lift event is complete and the clamp force is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E McCarthy, Jr., Douglas J Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11339732
    Abstract: A turbocharger control method and related systems are provided. An operational command to control a level of boost provided by the turbocharger is received. In response to receiving the operational command, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve is instructed to move from a current position to a desired position. A time taken for the EGR valve to move from the current position to the desired position is determined. A maximum rise rate of exhaust manifold pressure corresponding to a predicted EGR valve position is determined. A permitted exhaust manifold pressure limit for the turbocharger is determined based on a current exhaust manifold pressure, the maximum rise rate of exhaust manifold pressure and the time taken. An operation of the turbocharger is controlled such that the permitted exhaust manifold pressure limit is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jon Dixon, Andres Arevalo
  • Patent number: 11293366
    Abstract: A system or method for determining virtual data of a system, relative to a measurement point having a sensor located nearby, is determined by a controller. The system calculates modeled data at the measurement point, filters the modeled data to determine filtered data, and calculates a differential between the modeled data and the filtered data to determine a compensation term. The system also determines raw-sensed data from the sensor at the measurement point, and combines that raw-sensed data with the compensation data to calculate the virtual data at the measurement point. In some configurations, the modeled data is determined from a physics-based model. Furthermore, filtering the modeled data may include using a low-pass filter, and a time constant for the low-pass filter may be calculated based on operating conditions of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Giuseppe Conte, Carmen Pedicini, Vincenzo Alfieri
  • Patent number: 11286871
    Abstract: A combustion control method and system for an engine of a vehicle comprises a controller configured to access a trained feedforward artificial neural network configured to model a volumetric efficiency (VE) of the engine based on measured engine speed, engine intake manifold absolute pressure, intake and exhaust camshaft positions, intake air temperature, and engine coolant temperature, generate a base VE of the engine using the trained feedforward artificial neural network and the measured parameters, estimate an air charge mass flowing to each cylinder of the engine based on the base VE of the engine, and control combustion in the cylinders of the engine based on the estimated air charge mass to improve at least one of combustion stability, torque response, and fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Shuonan Xu, David A Lawrence, Ethan E Bayer
  • Patent number: 11199120
    Abstract: A system and an approach for determining various flows in an internal combustion engine, such as an amount of recirculation exhaust gas flow through a controlled valve and a fresh air mass flow to an intake of an engine. Also, among the sensors accommodated in the system, is an inexpensive but slow-responding lambda sensor in the exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Pachner, Michael Uchanski, Lukas Lansky
  • Patent number: 10996266
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for testing voltage monitor circuits are provided. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) includes power management unit (PMU), a set-reset (S-R) latch circuit, a multiplexer, and an AND gate circuit. A voltage monitor circuit of the PMU generates an output signal based on a difference between a received reference voltage and a received sense voltage from a functional supply. A power on reset (PoR) generator of the PMU generates a PoR signal based on a power up condition of the PMU. The S-R latch circuit generates an enable signal based on the output signal of the comparator circuit and the PoR signal. The multiplexer passes-through the output signal of the comparator circuit during a functional condition of the PMU. The AND gate circuit generates an enable signal based on an output of the multiplexer and an output of the S-R latch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Venkata Narayanan Srinivasan, Rajesh Narwal, Srinivas Dhulipalla
  • Patent number: 10947887
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for sensing particulate matter by a particulate matter (PM) sensor positioned upstream, or downstream, of a diesel particulate filter in an exhaust system. The PM sensor may include a curved sensor surface having interdigitated electrodes of differing voltages disposed thereon. An inlet may be disposed to capture a sample flow of exhaust from an exhaust flow from a diesel engine. A conduit may be formed to direct the sample flow toward the curved sensor surface in a direction that may form an acute angle with a line normal to the curved sensor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10844813
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). In one example, an engine system includes a first EGR valve coupling an exhaust manifold to an engine exhaust system, a second EGR valve coupling the exhaust manifold to an engine intake system, and a control unit. The control unit selectively adjusts a position of the first EGR valve based on a target amount, and adjusts a position of the second EGR valve based on the target amount and a position of the first EGR valve. Responsive to a first degradation condition of the first EGR valve, the control unit adjusts the position of the second EGR valve based on the target amount and based on a pressure of the first exhaust manifold, and responsive to a second degradation condition of the first EGR valve, adjusts the position of the second EGR valve based on the target amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Dipankar Deb, Manthram Sivasubramaniam, Prashant Srinivasan, Sharath Sridhar Aramanekoppa, Prem Kumar Patchaikani, Sachin Shivajirao Kulkarni, Sebastian Walter Freund, Jassin Marcel Fritz, Georgios Bikas, James Henry Yager, Shashi Kiran
  • Patent number: 10815926
    Abstract: An engine control method for a vehicle is provided. The method includes securing target control values for a plurality of control objects related to an air path in an engine and calculating operation amounts of actuators for the control objects. The operation amounts minimize an objective function including the sum of resultant object components obtained by summing, for a predetermined reference time, squares of a difference between the target control values and prediction model functions for the control objects. The actuators are then driven based on the calculated operation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Buom Sik Shin
  • Patent number: 10704474
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for reducing the combustion instabilities of a combustion engine, this device including: an intake circuit admitting oxidizing air to the engine, a valve positioned on the engine oxidizing air intake circuit and designed to regulate the flow rate of oxidant gas admitted to the engine, an exhaust gas recirculation circuit connected to the intake circuit upstream of the oxidizing air flow rate regulating valve. The device is arranged in such a way that, at least when an injection of fuel to the engine is cut off, a minimum opening of the valve is assured so as to eliminate recirculated gases from the intake circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Florent David, Frederic Cousin, Damien Fournigault
  • Patent number: 10634100
    Abstract: A control device controls an internal combustion engine including: an EGR cooler bypass passage; and a flow-rate-ratio control valve capable of controlling, by adjustment of its opening degree, an EGR cooler ratio R. The control device is configured, during an EGR gas introduction operation, to execute an intake air temperature control for adjusting the opening degree such that an intake air temperature Tb approaches a target intake air temperature Tbt. In this intake air temperature control, the control device is configured, when a designated condition that, even if the adjustment of the opening degree is performed, there is a temperature difference obtained by subtracting the target intake air temperature Tbt from a value of the intake air temperature Tb to be achieved as a result of the adjustment of the opening degree is met, to execute an opening-degree update prohibition processing that prohibits an update of the opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinori Morishima
  • Patent number: 10584653
    Abstract: A system includes a control system configured to monitor operating conditions in at least a first cylinder of a reciprocating engine and to control the reciprocating engine, wherein the control system includes a first sensor configured to monitor a first type of operating condition of the first cylinder, and a controller communicatively coupled with the first sensor. The controller is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a first measurement of the first type of operating condition from the first sensor; analyze the first signal to detect a misfire condition in the first cylinder; derive an amount of residual gas in the first cylinder if the misfire condition is detected; and adjust control of the reciprocating engine based on the amount of residual gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventor: James Richard Zurlo
  • Patent number: 10526986
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of an engine system includes determining a first EGR command according to a first method during a steady state engine condition, determining a second EGR command according to a second method during a transient engine condition, wherein the first method is based at least in part on values from a NOx sensor, and the second method is not based on values from a NOx sensor. The method further includes adjusting an EGR valve of the EGR system based on the first EGR command during the steady state engine condition, and adjusting the EGR valve based on the second EGR command during the transient engine condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Reddy P. S. Sankara, Steven D. Johnson, Liangtao Zhu, Michael B. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 10508578
    Abstract: An engine system includes: an engine including a plurality of combustion chambers generating driving torque by combustion of fuel; an exhaust gas purification apparatus installed at an exhaust line in which exhaust gas exhausted from the combustion chambers flows; a bypass line branched from the exhaust line at an upstream side of the exhaust gas purification apparatus and joining the exhaust line at a downstream side of the exhaust gas purification apparatus so that the exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust line bypasses the exhaust gas purification apparatus; and a bypass valve installed at the bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yeongseop Park, Dong Hee Han, Seungwoo Hong, Hyungbok Lee, Jong Il Park, Joowon Lee
  • Patent number: 10480384
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for feedgas diagnostics in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. An example electronic system may be part of on-board diagnostic (OBD) functionality in a diesel fuel vehicle and may comprise circuits for defining and managing system conditions for hydrocarbon dosing, adjusting the dosing to a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) while the system is in operation, and defining a diagnostic framework based at least on exothermic properties of various components of a DOC such that a DOC may be monitored for failure and/or end of useful life (EUL). The electronic system may include a tuning circuit for calibrating the diagnostic framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Nassim Khaled, Michael Haas, Yinghuan Lei, Richard J. Ancimer
  • Patent number: 10459472
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a model predictive control for power electronics. The model predictive control includes a plurality of switching matrices defining potential states of a plurality of power converter switches of a multi-level power converter and a control. The control is configured to select a current switching matrix from the switching matrices that models the multi-level power converter in a current state. The control determines a targeted switching matrix from the switching matrices that best aligns with a targeted state based on alignment with a multi-objective function and changes with respect to the current state. The control adjusts a switch state of the power converter switches based on the targeted switching matrix. The control sets the current switching matrix to the targeted switching matrix and monitoring for changes with respect to the multi-objective function and the current state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Vladimir Blasko
  • Patent number: 10400695
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control system of an internal combustion engine includes an EGR device, a three-way catalyst, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the three-way catalyst such that the air-fuel ratio when the electronic control unit executes EGR control during execution of fuel cut control and then executes the enrichment processing after the execution of the fuel cut control ends to be a higher air-fuel ratio in a range of the rich air-fuel ratio compared to the air-fuel ratio when the EGR control is not executed during the execution of the fuel cut control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Yamaguchi, Yoshihisa Shinoda
  • Patent number: 10371687
    Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure sensor is provided. It is determined whether a cylinder for which the in-cylinder air-fuel ratio is to be calculated is a rich cylinder or a lean cylinder. A polytropic index in the expansion stroke is calculated from the in-cylinder pressure detected by the in-cylinder pressure sensor. The calculated polytropic index m is corrected based on an operational condition parameter of an internal combustion engine. An in-cylinder air-fuel ratio is calculated based on the corrected polytropic index m in the expansion stroke, the result of the determination of whether the cylinder is a rich cylinder or a lean cylinder, and an m-A/F curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nakasaka
  • Patent number: 10273899
    Abstract: A method and test device for recognizing detecting whether a mass air flow meter of intake air of an internal combustion engine is defective is provided. In the method and device, a test procedure is executed using a pilot controller while a mixture controller that is used in non-test engine operation is deactivated. The pilot controller for the mixture of fuel and air in the respective cylinders outputs control values which, during normal operation of the internal combustion engine via the mixture control, are varied on the basis of a mixture deviation of the current mixture from a stoichiometric mixture. The engine is set to one or more different idling speeds and at each respective idling speed the mixture deviation is detected. If the detected mixture deviation(s) (i'lA.) satisfy a predetermined criteria thresholds, the air flow meter is identified as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Grasreiner
  • Patent number: 10253731
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). In one example, an engine system includes a first EGR valve coupling an exhaust manifold to an engine exhaust system, a second EGR valve coupling the exhaust manifold to an engine intake system, and a control unit. The control unit selectively adjusts a position of the first EGR valve based on a target amount, and adjusts a position of the second EGR valve based on the target amount and a position of the first EGR valve. Responsive to a first degradation condition of the first EGR valve, the control unit adjusts the position of the second EGR valve based on the target amount and based on a pressure of the first exhaust manifold, and responsive to a second degradation condition of the first EGR valve, adjusts the position of the second EGR valve based on the target amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC
    Inventors: Dipankar Deb, Manthram Sivasubramaniam, Prashant Srinivasan, Sharath Sridhar Aramanekoppa, Prem Kumar Patchaikani, Sachin Shivajirao Kulkarni, Sebastian Walter Freund, Jassin Marcel Fritz, Georgios Bikas, James Henry Yager, Shashi Kiran
  • Patent number: 10125718
    Abstract: A cast-aluminum engine block for a compression-ignition internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders that are disposed in an in-line arrangement. The engine block includes a top portion including a top deck and a bottom portion including a plurality of main bearings that are disposed to support journals of a crankshaft. An integrated flow channel is formed between the second end and the last cylinder and proximal to the top deck, and is a continuous channel that passes from the first side to the second side through the portion of the engine block between the second end and the last cylinder and proximal to the top deck. A coolant passageway is disposed in the engine block between the integrated flow channel and the last cylinder, and is oriented parallel to the elevation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Luca Peschini, Aniello Marrone, Silvio Domenico Mosso
  • Patent number: 10060370
    Abstract: Method and system are provided for vehicle route planning based on adaptive model predictive control. In one example, a method may include real-time online identification of the vehicle model base on the vehicle inputs and outputs; compression of the input space to increase the optimization efficiency; and optimization of the route planning based on the model parameter of the vehicle and the known road grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Dimitar Petrov Filev, John Ottavio Michelini, Jonathan Thomas Mullen
  • Patent number: 9982624
    Abstract: Disclosed are multi-pulse fuel delivery control systems, methods for using such systems, and motor vehicles with engines employing multi-pulse fuel injection schemes. A fuel delivery control system is disclosed with fuel injectors that selectively inject multiple pulses of fuel per working cycle into cylinders of an engine. An engine sensor detects an operating condition of the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sensor detects a state of an EGR system coupled to the engine. An engine control unit is programmed to: determine, from the detected EGR state, a current intake burned gas fraction; determine, from the detected engine operating condition, a desired intake burned gas fraction; determine a secondary fuel mass injection adjustment based on the desired and current intake burned gas fractions; and command the fuel injectors to inject two fuel pulses into each cylinder per working cycle, with the second pulse modified based on the determined adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Hanho Yun
  • Patent number: 9879598
    Abstract: A diagnosis device diagnoses a cooler adapted to cool a fluid flowing through intake and exhaust systems of an engine, and includes: a downstream temperature sensor for detecting a fluid temperature downstream of the cooler; a fluid temperature calculation unit for calculating a fluid temperature upstream of the cooler based on a fluid state quantity; a sensor output value calculation unit for assuming an upstream temperature sensor configured to detect a fluid temperature upstream of the cooler, reflecting a sensor response delay in the calculated fluid temperature, and calculating an estimated sensor output value of the upstream temperature sensor; and a cooler diagnosis unit for diagnosing the cooling efficiency of the cooler based on an actual sensor input value entered from the downstream temperature sensor and the calculated estimated sensor output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Hanawa, Tadashi Uchiyama, Hidekazu Fujie, Naoto Murasawa
  • Patent number: 9878621
    Abstract: A system for improved ABS performance during parallel regenerative braking of a vehicle includes an ABS system adapted to transmit an ABS active signal; a drive shaft position sensor adapted to transmit a drive shaft position sensor signal; and a regenerative braking system adapted to inhibit parallel regenerative braking in a primary mode using the ABS signal and in a default mode using the drive shaft position sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Phillip McCormick, Dale Scott Crombez
  • Patent number: 9869247
    Abstract: A system includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas turbine system which includes a combustor configured to receive and combust a fuel with an oxidant and a turbine driven by combustion products from the combustor and a turbine driven by combustion products from the combustor. The EGR gas turbine system further includes an exhaust gas recirculation section fluidly coupled to the turbine and to the combustor, wherein the exhaust gas recirculation section is configured to intake an exhaust gas from the turbine and to recirculate at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the combustor as a diluent. The EGR gas turbine system additionally includes a control system, comprising one or more processors configured to receive a first signal representative of an exhaust flow composition of the exhaust gas and to receive a second signal representative of a diluent flow composition of the diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Aaron Lavene Vorel, Jonathan Carl Thatcher
  • Patent number: 9863345
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a model predictive control (MPC) module and an actuator module. The MPC module generates a set of possible target values for an actuator of an engine and predicts an operating parameter of the engine for each of the possible target values. The MPC module determines a weighting value associated with each of the target values based on a corresponding iteration number and determines a cost for the set of possible target values based on the predicted operating parameters and the weighting values. The MPC module selects the set of possible target values from multiple sets of possible target values based on the cost and sets target values to the possible target values of the selected set. The actuator module controls an actuator of an engine based on at least one of the target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin C. Wong, Ruixing Long
  • Patent number: 9856829
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine operation in a hybrid vehicle, where the vehicle engine comprises one or more cylinders dedicated to recirculating exhaust to the intake manifold. In one example, if an engine load decreases below a level where dedicated exhaust gas recirculation may lead to combustion stability issues, engine load may be increased above the demanded load and the excess power used to charge a system battery, or if the battery state of charge is above a threshold, the engine may be shut down and the vehicle propelled via battery power. In this way, fuel economy and combustion stability issues may be improved, NOx emissions reduced, and costs for implementation of dedicated exhaust gas recirculation decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 9739227
    Abstract: A system for controlling condensation of water within an intake manifold of an engine is disclosed. The system may have a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor may be configured to generate a signal indicative of a humidity of intake air. The system may also have a controller communicably coupled to the humidity sensor. The controller may be configured to receive the signal indicative of the humidity of the intake air. The controller may be also configured to control an operational parameter of at least one of the engine and an engine component to maintain the humidity of the intake air within the intake manifold below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Stellwagen
  • Patent number: 9721400
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting motor vehicle damage is described which includes a sensor to detect damage to a motor vehicle component from a plurality of motor vehicle components. A network interface is provided to transmit an indication of the detected damage, the indication including an identifier associated with the damaged motor vehicle component. Also provided is a data store to store the indication of the detected damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Charles L. Oakes, III, Rickey D. Burks, Michael P. Bueche, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9719467
    Abstract: An engine pressure sensor monitoring system uses the position of a wastegate in a turbo-charged engine when known and calibrated engine operating conditions occur to provide diagnostic information for various engine pressure sensors and for the operation of the wastegate itself. Discrete measurement windows are defined for engine conditions with specific values for parameters that may include rpm, torque, injection timing and fuel consumption. Other sensor readings for intake manifold pressure, turbocharger compressor output pressure, peak cylinder pressure, and wastegate valve position during these measurement windows should match predicted values. If measured and predicted values do not match, one or more sensors may be bad and an alarm may be raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Xinyu Ge
  • Patent number: 9657635
    Abstract: Various methods for controlling a wastegate actuator are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting one or more wastegate controller gains responsive to limiting current supplied to a wastegate actuator, the current limited in response to a temperature of the wastegate actuator exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Patent number: 9657670
    Abstract: A control system for an engine of a vehicle includes an adder module that determines a temperature sum based on a sum of a plurality of temperatures determined based on (i) a plurality of operating parameters of the vehicle and (ii) a plurality of predetermined values calibrated for determining an estimated temperature at a location within an exhaust system of the vehicle. A temperature difference module determines a temperature difference based on the temperature sum and a previous value of the temperature difference. An estimating module determines the estimated temperature at the location within the exhaust system based on the temperature difference and a reference temperature. An actuator control module selectively adjusts at least one engine actuator based on the estimated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhijian James Wu, Sanjeev M. Naik, Joshua D. Cowgill, Martino Casetti
  • Patent number: 9644573
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine, an EGR flow path having an EGR cooler path and an EGR cooler bypass path, a turbocharger, a compressed intake flow path, an EGR bypass valve that selectively divides the EGR flow between the EGR cooler path and the EGR cooler bypass path, a charge air cooler bypass valve that reduces an amount of cooling of compressed intake air out of the compression side of the turbocharger, and an aftertreatment component that receives the exhaust stream from the turbine side of the turbocharger. The aftertreatment component requires at least intermittent exhaust stream temperature elevation. The system includes a controller that determines that an exhaust stream temperature elevation request is present, and provides a charge air cooler bypass valve command and an EGR bypass valve command in response to the exhaust stream temperature elevation request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian P. Dale
  • Patent number: 9644548
    Abstract: A control system for an engine of a vehicle includes an adder module that determines a pressure sum based on a sum of a plurality of pressures determined based on (i) a plurality of operating parameters of the vehicle and (ii) a plurality of predetermined values calibrated for determining an estimated pressure at a location within an exhaust system of the vehicle. An estimating module determines the estimated pressure at the location within the exhaust system based on the pressure sum and a reference pressure. An actuator control module selectively adjusts at least one engine actuator based on the estimated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhijian James Wu, Sanjeev M. Naik, Joshua D. Cowgill, Martino Casetti
  • Patent number: 9581080
    Abstract: A rate based model predictive controller for air path control for a diesel engine regulates turbine lift and EGR valve flow rate to specified set points by coordinated control of intake manifold air pressure and EGR valve flow rate. The controller utilizes a rate-based reduced order linear model for model predictive control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mike Huang, Ilya V Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 9562484
    Abstract: A rate based model predictive controller and method for air path control for a diesel engine regulates intake manifold pressure (MAP) and EGR valve flow rate to specified set points by coordinated control of a variable geometry turbine (VGT) and EGR valve position. A decay and a flexible Lyapunov function is enforced on the rate based model predictive controller for a single step prediction and control arisen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mike Huang, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 9523331
    Abstract: A control device for calculating a steady target value that is a target value of a supercharging pressure during steady operation on the basis of an engine rotation speed and a fuel injection amount in a turbocharged diesel engine. The control device operates the actuator through feedback control such that an actual supercharging pressure calculated from a signal of a supercharging pressure sensor follows the steady target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taku Ibuki
  • Patent number: 9486740
    Abstract: In an engine, an exhaust purification catalyst (13) and a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) are arranged in an engine exhaust passage, and, a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (LPL) which makes exhaust gas downstream of the exhaust purification catalyst (13) recirculate is provided. If hydrocarbons are injected from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15), a carbon dioxide which is generated at the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is recirculated, and the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas which flows into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) temporarily drops. Hydrocarbons are injected from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15) in synchronization with this temporary drop in the air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Uenishi, Kohei Yoshida, Mikio Inoue
  • Patent number: 9458760
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a compressor recirculation valve in response to condensate forming conditions in a charge air cooler (CAC). In one example, a compressor recirculation valve may be opened in response to an induction pressure greater than a threshold pressure when the induction pressure is greater than required to produce a manifold pressure required for a torque demand. Further, a wastegate may be opened to further reduce the induction pressure during certain driving conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Morelli, Patrick Matthews, Shuya Shark Yamada, David Bell, Erik Thomas Andersen, Jason Eugene DeVries
  • Patent number: 9440102
    Abstract: An automatic fire suppressing system is preferably provided onboard a vehicle and is supplied with one or more fire suppressing agents that are discharged in response to detecting a fire threat. Preferred embodiments include high-speed valves for discharging the fire suppressing agent(s), optical detectors for detecting and evaluating fire threat conditions, and modules for monitoring and controlling the automatic fire suppressing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Marvin B. Fernstrum, Joshua L. Ehlers, Brian L. Counts, Richard J. Biehl, Richard J. Hackl, Anthony J. Kreft, Marvin D. Thorell, Paul J. Beyerl
  • Patent number: 9376965
    Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a first torque request for a spark ignition engine based on driver input. A torque conversion module converts the first torque request into a second torque request. A setpoint control module, based on the second torque request, generates a mass of air per cylinder (APC) setpoint, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) setpoint, an intake valve phasing setpoint, and an exhaust valve phasing setpoint. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the APC, EGR, intake valve phasing, and exhaust valve phasing setpoints; generates predicted parameters based on a model of the spark ignition engine and the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the predicted parameters; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Sharon L. Storch
  • Patent number: 9347401
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for reducing the variability of particulate emissions in an exhaust stream from an internal combustion engine using a lambda error and/or a NOx error to control an exhaust gas recirculation fraction and/or a mass charge flow control. The methods include operating a controller to adjust the engine gas recirculation fraction and/or the mass charge flow control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjie Zhu, Vivek Anand Sujan, Govindarajan Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 9341144
    Abstract: An apparatus controls an internal combustion engine provided with an EGR device having an EGR passage and an EGR valve that is provided in the EGR passage and can adjust an EGR amount. This apparatus includes a controller that estimates state parameters of the internal combustion engine that affect the behavior of the EGR gas within a predetermined period of time; sets constraints on the EGR amount within the predetermined period on the basis of an approximated dynamics obtained by approximating a true dynamics, which is a transition of the EGR amount within the predetermined period, so that approximated values do not exceed the true dynamics; determines a target value of the EGR amount according to the estimated state parameters within a range of the EGR amount on which the constraints that have been set; and controls the EGR valve so that the EGR amount becomes the determined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Tanaka, Kota Sata, Masaaki Ishibuchi, Tomohiko Jimbo, Ryoichi Hibino
  • Patent number: 9312723
    Abstract: A secondary-battery monitoring device capable of realizing highly reliable overcurrent detection and a battery pack having it are provided. When an overcurrent flowing to a secondary battery is to be detected by utilizing a current detection voltage generated via on-resistance of a discharge-control switch and a charge-control switch, a voltage correction circuit that generates a correction voltage having a characteristic varied by positive slope or negative slope along with increase in a power supply voltage is provided, and the correction voltage is added to the detection voltage or a reference power supply voltage with the polarity that cancels out the slope of voltage variation caused in the detection voltage, and then the voltage is input to a comparator circuit. In this manner, variation in the overcurrent determination current is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shogo Nagata, Yasuaki So, Takeshi Yamaguchi, Norihito Kawaguchi