Patents by Inventor Benjamin C. Shade

Benjamin C. Shade 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: 11692517
    Abstract: A system for testing an evaporative emissions (EVAP) canister of a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an evaporator configured to contain liquid fuel, a fuel vapor supply line configured to deliver a mixture of fuel vapor and carrier gas from the evaporator to the EVAP canister, and a fuel vapor supply valve disposed in the fuel vapor supply line. The test system further includes a gas density meter configured to measure a density of the fuel vapor mixture flowing through the fuel vapor supply line, and a valve control module configured to control a position of the fuel vapor supply valve to adjust a flow of fuel vapor from the evaporator to the EVAP canister based on the fuel vapor mixture density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AVL Test Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Shade, Jonathan Bushkuhl
  • Patent number: 11300487
    Abstract: An example of an emissions test system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a dilution tunnel and a flow control module. Exhaust gas is mixed with dilution gas in the dilution tunnel. The dilution tunnel is configured to receive dilution gas flowing in an axial direction relative to the dilution tunnel and dilution gas flowing in a radial direction relative to the dilution tunnel. The flow control module is configured to adjust the rate of the dilution gas flow in the radial direction based on at least one of a concentration of pollutant particles in the exhaust gas, a size of pollutant particles in the exhaust gas, a concentration of a gaseous emission in the exhaust gas, a type of fuel combusted by an engine producing the exhaust gas, and a rate of fuel flow to cylinders of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AVL TEST SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Shade, James P. Williamson, Jonathan D. Bushkuhl
  • Patent number: 11143644
    Abstract: An emissions test system includes an emissions analyzer, a contamination index module, and a diagnostic module. The emissions analyzer is configured to determine a concentration of an emission in a sample of exhaust gas from an engine. The contamination index module is configured to determine a contamination index based on at least two of a flow rate of the exhaust gas sample, the concentration of the emission in the exhaust gas sample, an operating duration of the emissions test system, a pressure of the exhaust gas, and a temperature of the exhaust gas. The diagnostic module is configured to identify potential contamination of at least one of the emissions test system and a component in the emissions test system based on the contamination index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: AVL TEST SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Patrick Williamson, Benjamin C. Shade
  • Publication number: 20210102514
    Abstract: A system for testing an evaporative emissions (EVAP) canister of a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an evaporator configured to contain liquid fuel, a fuel vapor supply line configured to deliver a mixture of fuel vapor and carrier gas from the evaporator to the EVAP canister, and a fuel vapor supply valve disposed in the fuel vapor supply line. The test system further includes a gas density meter configured to measure a density of the fuel vapor mixture flowing through the fuel vapor supply line, and a valve control module configured to control a position of the fuel vapor supply valve to adjust a flow of fuel vapor from the evaporator to the EVAP canister based on the fuel vapor mixture density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Shade, Jonathan Bushkuhl
  • Patent number: 10865743
    Abstract: A system for testing an evaporative emissions (EVAP) canister of a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an evaporator configured to contain liquid fuel, a fuel vapor supply line configured to deliver a mixture of fuel vapor and carrier gas from the evaporator to the EVAP canister, and a fuel vapor supply valve disposed in the fuel vapor supply line. The test system further includes a gas density meter configured to measure a density of the fuel vapor mixture flowing through the fuel vapor supply line, and a valve control module configured to control a position of the fuel vapor supply valve to adjust a flow of fuel vapor from the evaporator to the EVAP canister based on the fuel vapor mixture density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AVL TEST SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Shade, Jonathan Bushkuhl
  • Publication number: 20200141844
    Abstract: An example of an emissions test system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a dilution tunnel and a flow control module. Exhaust gas is mixed with dilution gas in the dilution tunnel. The dilution tunnel is configured to receive dilution gas flowing in an axial direction relative to the dilution tunnel and dilution gas flowing in a radial direction relative to the dilution tunnel. The flow control module is configured to adjust the rate of the dilution gas flow in the radial direction based on at least one of a concentration of pollutant particles in the exhaust gas, a size of pollutant particles in the exhaust gas, a concentration of a gaseous emission in the exhaust gas, a type of fuel combusted by an engine producing the exhaust gas, and a rate of fuel flow to cylinders of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin C. SHADE, James P. WILLIAMSON, Jonathan D. BUSHKUHL
  • Publication number: 20190391121
    Abstract: An emissions test system includes an emissions analyzer, a contamination index module, and a diagnostic module. The emissions analyzer is configured to determine a concentration of an emission in a sample of exhaust gas from an engine. The contamination index module is configured to determine a contamination index based on at least two of a flow rate of the exhaust gas sample, the concentration of the emission in the exhaust gas sample, an operating duration of the emissions test system, a pressure of the exhaust gas, and a temperature of the exhaust gas. The diagnostic module is configured to identify potential contamination of at least one of the emissions test system and a component in the emissions test system based on the contamination index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: James Patrick WILLIAMSON, Benjamin C. SHADE
  • Publication number: 20190145355
    Abstract: A system for testing an evaporative emissions (EVAP) canister of a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an evaporator configured to contain liquid fuel, a fuel vapor supply line configured to deliver a mixture of fuel vapor and carrier gas from the evaporator to the EVAP canister, and a fuel vapor supply valve disposed in the fuel vapor supply line. The test system further includes a gas density meter configured to measure a density of the fuel vapor mixture flowing through the fuel vapor supply line, and a valve control module configured to control a position of the fuel vapor supply valve to adjust a flow of fuel vapor from the evaporator to the EVAP canister based on the fuel vapor mixture density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin C. SHADE, Jonathan BUSHKUHL
  • Patent number: 10125658
    Abstract: A particulate sensor assembly may include a particulate sensor and a sensor housing. The particulate sensor may be configured to measure a quantity of particulate matter in a stream of exhaust gas from a combustion engine. The sensor housing may receive the particulate sensor and may include a cavity in which the particulate sensor is exposed to the exhaust gas. The cavity may be defined by a porous structure through which the exhaust gas may flow. The porous structure may filter a predetermined amount of particulate matter from the exhaust gas as the exhaust gas enters the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Shade, Adam J. Kotrba
  • Publication number: 20170037754
    Abstract: A particulate sensor assembly may include a particulate sensor and a sensor housing. The particulate sensor may be configured to measure a quantity of particulate matter in a stream of exhaust gas from a combustion engine. The sensor housing may receive the particulate sensor and may include a cavity in which the particulate sensor is exposed to the exhaust gas. The cavity may be defined by a porous structure through which the exhaust gas may flow. The porous structure may filter a predetermined amount of particulate matter from the exhaust gas as the exhaust gas enters the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin C. SHADE, Adam J. KOTRBA
  • Patent number: 7007644
    Abstract: A valve actuation system and method for use in an internal combustion engine including at least one combustion cylinder having a piston and an engine valve. The valve actuation system includes a hydraulic pump, a high-pressure reservoir, and an electro-hydraulic valve actuator. The hydraulic pump is configured to produce a hydraulic output based on a valve-piston clearance profile of at least one cylinder of the combustion engine. The high-pressure reservoir is coupled with the hydraulic pump. The electro-hydraulic valve actuator is coupled with the high-pressure reservoir via a first control valve and configured to actuate at least one engine valve of the combustion engine according to an output of the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun Tai, Timothy A. Suder, Walter Curtis Jacques, Benjamin C. Shade
  • Patent number: 6848413
    Abstract: An internal combustion cylinder assembly includes a cylinder having a combustion chamber and a piston. An intake valve provides a working fluid to the combustion chamber while the piston moves from a top dead center position to a bottom dead center position. A pre-combustion chamber is connected communicably to the combustion chamber via a Suder valve and conveys a portion of the working fluid to the pre-combustion chamber while the Suder valve is substantially open. The Suder valve may open substantially simultaneously with the intake valve, remain substantially open while the piston moves from the top dead center position to the bottom dead center position during an intake stroke, and close substantially while the piston is returning to the top dead center position during a compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Suder, Steven Stuart Trevitz, Benjamin C. Shade, Chun Tai