Patents by Inventor Christopher Kragh

Christopher Kragh 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).

  • Publication number: 20140224225
    Abstract: A purge valve and a fuel vapor management system for use with an engine emission control system are disclosed. The purge valve may include a first inlet for receiving a first flow of air from an air cleaner, a second inlet for receiving a second flow of purge vapors from an evaporative canister, and an outlet directing a controlled mixture of the first and second flows to an engine, upstream of an intake throttle. Relative amounts of the first flow and second flow may be selectively controlled by varying a position of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20140123961
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging a multi-port canister into an engine intake. Air is circulated through the canister and a resulting purge air is directed to an intake passage upstream of a throttle in engine configured with a throttle body. An amount of fresh intake air received at the intake passage is corresponding decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Niels Christopher Kragh, Michael G. Heim
  • Publication number: 20140074385
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a vehicle-off fuel system leak test. A vehicle controller may be woken up after a vehicle has been in a key-off condition for a sufficient amount of time to monitor a fuel tank for pressure and temperature stabilization. If the pressure and temperature of the fuel tank is stable, a fuel pump may be operated to raise a fuel tank vapor pressure, and fuel system leaks are identified based on a rate of pressure decay from the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Scott A. Bohr, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20130298879
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel system is disclosed. The method includes sequentially purging fuel vapors from each of a plurality of regions of a canister. Purging a region includes opening an air inlet valve associated with that region and maintaining air inlet valves associated with each other region closed to direct fuel vapors to at least one purge outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Niels Christopher Kragh, Scott A. Bohr, Mark Bunge, Mark W. Peters
  • Publication number: 20130206115
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for reducing pressure in a fuel tank of a fuel system of an engine. In one example, cooling fluid is routed from an air conditioner of a cooling system to a vapor cooler disposed in a vapor space of the fuel tank such that fuel vapor in the fuel tank may be condensed and routed to a fuel pump for delivery to the engine, thereby reducing a fuel tank pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventor: Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 8447495
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Christopher Kragh, Timothy DeBastos, Patrick Sullivan, James Michael Kerns, Chad Michael Olson
  • Patent number: 8439017
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel vapor control system included in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method may include storing positive pressure or negative pressure in an isolated fuel tank, transferring at least a portion of the positive pressure or the negative pressure to an evaporation canister region, and determining degradation of the evaporation canister based on a pressure response of the evaporation canister region while the evaporation canister region is isolated from the fuel tank. In this way, it is possible to utilize pressure that may be passively generated in one portion of the system, even during shut-down engine operation, to verify the integrity of another portion of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Eric A. Macke, Christopher Kragh, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 8215291
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Patrick Sullivan, Christopher Kragh, Michael Igor Kluzner, Robert Roy Jentz, William Euliss, Aed Dudar, James Michael Kerns, Russ William Ferguson, Daniel Gabor
  • Patent number: 8200411
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, John Michael Kacewicz, Scott Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Christopher Kragh, Patrick Sullivan, William Euliss, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8181631
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon canister purge system includes a hydrocarbon storage canister, a fuel tank disposed in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon storage canister, an engine disposed in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon storage canister, a hydrocarbon sensor provided in the hydrocarbon storage canister and a controller disposed in signal-receiving communication with the hydrocarbon sensor and in signal-transmitting communication with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott A. Bohr, Chris Christopher Kragh, Mark W. Peters, Michael G Heim
  • Publication number: 20120055452
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Patrick Sullivan, Christopher Kragh, Michael Igor Kluzner, Robert Roy Jentz, William Euliss, Aed Dudar, James Michael Kerns, Russ William Ferguson, Daniel Gabor
  • Publication number: 20110295482
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Christopher Kragh, Timothy DeBastos, Patrick Sullivan, James Michael Kerns, Chad Michael Olson
  • Publication number: 20110290000
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, John Michael Kacewicz, Scott Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Christopher Kragh, Patrick Sullivan, William Euliss, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8056540
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Patrick Sullivan, Christopher Kragh, Michael Igor Kluzner, Robert Roy Jentz, William Euliss, Aed Dudar, James Michael Kerns, Russ William Ferguson, Daniel Gabor
  • Patent number: 8019525
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, John Michael Kacewicz, Scott Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Christopher Kragh, Patrick Sullivan, William Euliss, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Publication number: 20110168140
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Patrick Sullivan, Christopher Kragh, Michael Igor Kluzner, Robert Roy Jentz, William Euliss, Aed Dudar, James Michael Kerns, Russ William Ferguson, Daniel Gabor
  • Publication number: 20110166765
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy DeBastos, John Michael Kacewicz, Scott Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Christopher Kragh, Patrick Sullivan, William Euliss, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Publication number: 20110079201
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel vapor control system included in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method may include storing positive pressure or negative pressure in an isolated fuel tank, transferring at least a portion of the positive pressure or the negative pressure to an evaporation canister region, and determining degradation of the evaporation canister based on a pressure response of the evaporation canister region while the evaporation canister region is isolated from the fuel tank. In this way, it is possible to utilize pressure that may be passively generated in one portion of the system, even during shut-down engine operation, to verify the integrity of another portion of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Eric A. Macke, Christopher Kragh, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Publication number: 20110017178
    Abstract: A purge control valve control system is provided for an internal combustion engine system, comprising: a voltage source having a positive potential and a negative potential; a purge control valve having a solenoid, such solenoid comprising an electrically inductive element, such inductive element having a first terminal coupled to the positive potential of the voltage source; a diode having an anode and a cathode. The control unit includes a transistor having: a control electrode fed by a train of pulses; a first electrode coupled to the negative potential of the voltage source; and a second electrode coupled to a second terminal of the inductive element and to the diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: William Keith McDonald, Keith Scott Koller, Eric A. Macke, Kevin Plymale, Niels Christopher Kragh, Scott Bohr, Eric David Bramson, Dennis Harrigan
  • Publication number: 20100307461
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon canister purge system includes a hydrocarbon storage canister, a fuel tank disposed in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon storage canister, an engine disposed in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon storage canister, a hydrocarbon sensor provided in the hydrocarbon storage canister and a controller disposed in signal-receiving communication with the hydrocarbon sensor and in signal-transmitting communication with the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Scott Bohr, Chris Christopher Kragh, Mark Williams Peters, Michael G. Heim