Patents by Inventor Christopher Ronald Gehrke

Christopher Ronald Gehrke 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: 11773795
    Abstract: Operating a gaseous fuel engine system includes spark-igniting a gaseous hydrogen fuel and air in a prechamber sparkplug to ignite a main charge containing gaseous hydrogen fuel and air in a cylinder. Operating the gaseous fuel engine system also includes determining a preignition condition and conveying cooling air to the prechamber sparkplug based on the preignition condition to limit preignition of gaseous hydrogen fuel and air in the prechamber sparkplug. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jaswinder Singh, Eric Lee Schroeder, Andrew Joseph Loetz, Ryan Mchael Snodgrass, Adam Joseph Clute, Patrick John Seiler, Christopher Ronald Gehrke
  • Patent number: 7908858
    Abstract: A turbocharger control system is disclosed. The control system may have an engine and a fuel system configured to regulate fuel flow into the engine. The control system may further have an air induction system configured to regulate air flow into the engine and a sensor situated to sense a speed value of the air induction system. The controller may also have a controller configured to receive the speed value and regulate fuel flow into the engine as a function of the speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Ronald Gehrke, James Harris Mutti, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7802427
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed that monitors for boost leak. The system has an engine, a compressor located upstream of the engine, at least one auxiliary flow device located downstream of the engine, and a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor. The estimated value takes into account a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device distinct from a flow from the compressor toward the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Michael Paul Withrow, James Harris Mutti, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7721540
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed. The engine system has an engine block having at least one combustion chamber and at least partially defining a crankcase. The engine system also has an inlet conduit connecting a compressor of a turbocharger with the at least one combustion chamber. The engine system further has an exhaust conduit connecting a turbine of the turbocharger with the combustion chamber and a ventilation conduit connecting the crankcase with the exhaust conduit. The engine system also has a controller in communication with the turbocharger, the controller being configured to adjust the geometry of the turbocharger to maintain a pressure of the crankcase lower than a pressure of the inlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William Lyle Schell, Paul Frederick Olsen, Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Joshua David Keyes
  • Patent number: 7644584
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes compressing intake air using a compressor, supplying the compressed intake air to at least one combustion chamber of the engine, operating the at least one combustion chamber to output exhaust gas, and directing the exhaust gas to an inlet of a turbine configured to drive the compressor. The method also includes directing the exhaust gas from an outlet of the turbine to an exhaust system, bypassing at least a portion of the compressed intake air around the at least one combustion chamber, and adjusting a geometry of the turbine from a first configuration to a second configuration. The turbine is in the second configuration when the at least the portion of the compressed intake air is bypassed around the at least one combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Leustek, Christopher Ronald Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20090071451
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed. The engine system has an engine block having at least one combustion chamber and at least partially defining a crankcase. The engine system also has an inlet conduit connecting a compressor of a turbocharger with the at least one combustion chamber. The engine system further has an exhaust conduit connecting a turbine of the turbocharger with the combustion chamber and a ventilation conduit connecting the crankcase with the exhaust conduit. The engine system also has a controller in communication with the turbocharger, the controller being configured to adjust the geometry of the turbocharger to maintain a pressure of the crankcase lower than a pressure of the inlet conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: William Lyle Schell, Paul Frederick Olsen, Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Joshua David Keyes
  • Publication number: 20090031723
    Abstract: A turbocharger control system is disclosed. The control system may have an engine and a fuel system configured to regulate fuel flow into the engine. The control system may further have an air induction system configured to regulate air flow into the engine and a sensor situated to sense a speed value of the air induction system. The controller may also have a controller configured to receive the speed value and regulate fuel flow into the engine as a function of the speed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Ronald Gehrke, James Harris Mutti, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080295486
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system associated with a power source is disclosed. The exhaust treatment system may have a filter located to remove particulate matter from a flow of exhaust, and a regeneration device located proximal the filter. The exhaust treatment system may also have a fluid handling component located upstream of the power source to vary an amount of oxygen in the flow of exhaust, and a controller in communication with the regeneration device and the fluid handling component. The controller may determine a need for filter regeneration, and determine an adjustment to the fluid handling component required to provide sufficient oxygen in the exhaust flow for filter regeneration. The controller may further determine an effect the adjustment will have on operation of the power source, and determine an correction for the power source to account for the effect. The controller may substantially simultaneously implement the adjustment and the correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Matthew Robert Roth
  • Publication number: 20080127643
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes compressing intake air using a compressor, supplying the compressed intake air to at least one combustion chamber of the engine, operating the at least one combustion chamber to output exhaust gas, and directing the exhaust gas to an inlet of a turbine configured to drive the compressor. The method also includes directing the exhaust gas from an outlet of the turbine to an exhaust system, bypassing at least a portion of the compressed intake air around the at least one combustion chamber, and adjusting a geometry of the turbine from a first configuration to a second configuration. The turbine is in the second configuration when the at least the portion of the compressed intake air is bypassed around the at least one combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Leustek, Christopher Ronald Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20070266706
    Abstract: An engine system is disclosed that monitors for boost leak. The system has an engine, a compressor located upstream of the engine, at least one auxiliary flow device located downstream of the engine, and a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor. The estimated value takes into account a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device distinct from a flow from the compressor toward the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Michael Paul Withrow, James Harris Mutti