Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Diana Brehob
  • Patent number: 7267087
    Abstract: A method for selecting compression ratio of a variable compression ratio internal combustion engine when such engine is operating under an idle condition is disclosed. The compression ratio is selected to avoid engine knock, an undesirable phenomenon which is more likely at higher temperatures, higher compression ratios, lower engine speeds, and higher engine torques. The selected compression ratio is based on one or more of engine torque required to drive engine accessories, engine coolant temperature, engine air temperature, and transmission status (neutral idle or drive idle). A normalized airflow parameter is computed or found in a lookup table based on engine coolant temperature and engine air temperature. When actual normalized airflow (that which provides necessary engine torque to drive engine accessories and overcome engine friction) exceeds normalized airflow parameter exceeds, a higher compression ratio is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Glugla
  • Patent number: 7240482
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which mitigates deleterious poisoning of a catalytic converter or exhaust gas oxygen sensor by phosphorus containing species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Gang Guo, Lifeng Xu, Robert Walter McCabe
  • Patent number: 6527947
    Abstract: A fuel control device 220 includes a restriction 294 and a check valve 292 disposed between a fuel return conduit 236 and a fuel injection supply conduit 227. In operation, fuel from tank 202 flows into the control device via conduit 208 is filtered through filter 222 flowing to an injection pump 230 outlet conduit 228. Excess fuel is returned to the control device and is then directed either back to the tank 202 via conduit 234 or is mixed with incoming fuel via conduit 235 and a two-position temperature responsive diverter valve 290. The restriction and check valve provide the benefit of allowing a continuous air bleed to purge any incoming air or vapor from the fuel supply system back to the fuel tank 202, while preventing unfiltered fuel flow from the fuel return outlet port to the filtered fuel outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Albert Channing, Catherine Eileen Fratarcangeli, Richard John Popeck