Patents by Inventor Andrew Wade

Andrew Wade 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: 9279374
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recirculating compressed air across a compressor through a high flow and a low flow compressor recirculation path. Flow through the recirculation paths is controlled via respective valves and valve opening is adjusted based on a throttle mass flow so as to maintain a compressor flow rate at or above a surge constrained flow rate. By maintaining a sufficiently high compressor flow rate during steady state and transient conditions, the compressor state can be maintained outside a surge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Robert Andrew Wade, Gregory Patrick McConville, Kevin Payne, Joseph Ulrey
  • Publication number: 20160047297
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises during a first mode, decreasing a volume of a charge air cooler in response to a compressor operation upstream of the charge air cooler. In this way, compressor surge may be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Andrew Wade, Jason Eugene Devries, Charles A. Cockerill, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Patent number: 9169809
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises during a first mode, decreasing a volume of a charge air cooler in response to a compressor operation upstream of the charge air cooler. In this way, compressor surge may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Andrew Wade, Jason Eugene Devries, Charles A. Cockerill, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Patent number: 9157363
    Abstract: An engine receiving boost from a supercharger and/or a turbocharger compressor is provided, along with methods for its operation. The engine may include inline cylinders arranged on an engine block and an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM), where exhaust flow from inner cylinders is kept separate from exhaust flow from outer cylinders within the IEM and where exhaust flow from the inner cylinders but not the outer cylinders flows through a turbine of the turbocharger. The supercharger and turbocharger compressor may be arranged in parallel upstream of an intake manifold of the engine, and throttles upstream of each of the supercharger and compressor may be controlled to direct intake air through one or both of the supercharger and the compressor based on engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, John Christopher Riegger
  • Patent number: 9151217
    Abstract: An engine system comprises a first turbocharger including a first wastegate, first wastegate actuator, and first turbocharger sensor, a second turbocharger including a second wastegate, second wastegate actuator, and second turbocharger sensor, and a controller configured to adjust the first wastegate actuator so that a parameter of the first turbocharger matches a parameter of the second turbocharger, based on output from the first and second turbocharger sensors. In this way, turbocharger output between the two turbochargers may be balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Alfred Hilditch, Julia Helen Buckland, Robert Andrew Wade
  • Patent number: 9080496
    Abstract: A cast exhaust manifold for an engine is disclosed that is fastened to the engine by a number of independent flanges between each pair of which a spacer is positioned to produce an interference fit when the exhaust manifold is at ambient temperature. The use of independent flanges allow the exhaust manifold to expand when heated without creating high levels of internal stress and the spacers prevent undue distortion of the exhaust manifold when the exhaust manifold cools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Demots, Robert Andrew Wade, Steven Johnson, Michael John Cade
  • Publication number: 20150121862
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a volume control valve attached to a branch of a split exhaust manifold in a boosted engine system. Volume control valve adjustments are used at different engine operating conditions to improve engine performance and boost response. One example method includes closing the volume in response to a tip-in when increased boost is needed for exhaust turbine spool-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, David Currie
  • Patent number: 8978378
    Abstract: An approach for controlling a turbocharger bypass valve is disclosed. In one example, the turbocharger bypass valve is opened during engine cold start conditions to reduce turbocharger speed. The approach may reduce noise produced by the turbocharger during engine start and warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, Fadi Maroun Naddaf, Joseph P. Whitehead, Jason Eugene Devries
  • Publication number: 20150060108
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fence standard. The fence standard includes a shaft, and a wire support including an open ended loop. The wire support is moulded onto the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Henry McKinley, Robert Andrew Wade
  • Publication number: 20150047605
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recirculating compressed air across a compressor through a high flow and a low flow compressor recirculation path. Flow through the recirculation paths is controlled via respective valves and valve opening is adjusted based on a throttle mass flow so as to maintain a compressor flow rate at or above a surge constrained flow rate. By maintaining a sufficiently high compressor flow rate during steady state and transient conditions, the compressor state can be maintained outside a surge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Robert Andrew Wade, Gregory Patrick McConville, Kevin Payne, Joseph Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8931273
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for raising an exhaust temperature to spin a turbocharger turbine and reduce turbo-lag. Pressurized air is discharged from a boost reservoir into an intake manifold while spark retard is increased to expedite exhaust heating while also increasing a net combustion torque. By expediting turbine spin-up in response to a tip-in, turbo-lag is reduced and engine performance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Julia Helen Buckland, Robert Andrew Wade
  • Publication number: 20150007800
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a turbocharged engine are described. In one example, a system comprises a cylinder head having a first and second exhaust duct separately coupled to first and second groups of cylinders, each of the first and second exhaust ducts leading to an exhaust driven turbine mounted inside the cylinder head on a bearing, the bearing located within a bearing housing supported by the cylinder head. In this way, exhaust pulses remain separate up to the turbine mounted inside the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, John Christopher Riegger
  • Publication number: 20150007563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a turbocharged engine are described. In one example, a turbocharger system, comprising: a bearing housing including a turbine and at least one compressor coupled to the turbine via a shaft; and wherein the turbine comprises a stator stage and a rotor stage mounted to the cylinder head by the bearing housing and positioned in an exhaust passage of a cylinder head. In this way, a more compact design is achieved which eliminates the cost and complexity of a turbine housing and improves turbine efficiency by positioning the turbine closer to the exhaust pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Robert Andrew Wade
  • Patent number: 8925528
    Abstract: An engine is provided. The engine includes a piston operable to reciprocate in a cylinder, a crankshaft rotatably coupled to the piston, and a supercharger rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The supercharger has an unequal distribution of mass along a longitudinal plane of the supercharger to provide a rotational counterbalance to reduce engine imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Alan Kach, Michael Bruno Magnan, Robert Andrew Wade, Vince Paul Solferino, David E. Masser, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner
  • Patent number: 8887496
    Abstract: A heat recovery system for an engine is provided herein. According to one approach, the heat recovery system includes an upstream portion that circumferentially wraps around an outlet of an exhaust manifold. Further, the heat recovery system includes a downstream portion in direct surface contact with a top exterior surface and a bottom exterior surface of a plurality of runners of the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce Ann Jarzombek, James M. Emery, Philip Damian Cierpial, Ray Host, Eric Garner Ladner, Robert Andrew Wade, Emad Khalil
  • Publication number: 20140174074
    Abstract: An engine system comprises a first turbocharger including a first wastegate, first wastegate actuator, and first turbocharger sensor, a second turbocharger including a second wastegate, second wastegate actuator, and second turbocharger sensor, and a controller configured to adjust the first wastegate actuator so that a parameter of the first turbocharger matches a parameter of the second turbocharger, based on output from the first and second turbocharger sensors. In this way, turbocharger output between the two turbochargers may be balanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Alfred Hilditch, Julia Helen Buckland, Robert Andrew Wade
  • Publication number: 20140157773
    Abstract: A system including a turbocharger, comprising a turbocharger bearing housing supporting a turbocharger drive shaft; an oil drain including an inlet in fluidic communication with the turbocharger bearing housing and an outlet in fluidic communication with an oil sump; and a coolant jacket enveloping the oil drain. The coolant jacket envelopes the oil drain and is positioned to provide coolant to the turbocharger bearing housing and draw heat from the oil draining through the oil drain to prevent coking of hot oil within the oil drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Matthews, Robert Andrew Wade
  • Patent number: 8666641
    Abstract: A system or method for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine operable in a reduced displacement mode with at least one valve or cylinder selectively deactivated include monitoring valve operation by analyzing camshaft position to detect valve operation inconsistent with a current cylinder state (activated or deactivated) and controlling the engine in response to detecting the inconsistent operation. The camshaft position may be used to produce a surrogate signal indicative of intake/exhaust valve lift generated using camshaft sensor tooth deviation relative to an expected or reference tooth position for a corresponding crankshaft position and compared to a corresponding threshold. The surrogate signal indicative of valve lift may also be generated by pattern matching or correlation of one or more reference tooth position patterns to a measured or inferred tooth position pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Andrew Wade, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steven Joseph Szwabowski
  • Publication number: 20140053547
    Abstract: An engine receiving boost from a supercharger and/or a turbocharger compressor is provided, along with methods for its operation. The engine may include inline cylinders arranged on an engine block and an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM), where exhaust flow from inner cylinders is kept separate from exhaust flow from outer cylinders within the IEM and where exhaust flow from the inner cylinders but not the outer cylinders flows through a turbine of the turbocharger. The supercharger and turbocharger compressor may be arranged in parallel upstream of an intake manifold of the engine, and throttles upstream of each of the supercharger and compressor may be controlled to direct intake air through one or both of the supercharger and the compressor based on engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, John Christopher Riegger
  • Patent number: D734505
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GALLAGHER GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew Henry Mckinley, Robert Andrew Wade