Patents by Inventor Christopher Whitt
Christopher Whitt 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).
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Patent number: 9080483Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling regeneration for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a particulate filter is provided, where the method includes determining a mass flow rate of oxygen received from the internal combustion engine, determining a particulate mass within the particulate filter, determining a desired particulate burn rate based on the mass flow rate of oxygen and the particulate mass and determining a current particulate burn rate. The method also includes determining a correction value based on the desired particulate burn rate and the current particulate burn rate, determining a temperature set point for exhaust gas entering the particulate filter based on the correction value, an engine speed and an engine load and communicating a signal, from a controller, to control a parameter for a regeneration system based on the determined temperature set point.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen
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Patent number: 9051889Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an intake air compressor system and is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system having a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining a total engine-out soot generation based upon a summation of a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate and an engine-out soot generation rate correction. The engine-out soot generation rate correction is either zero when the intake air compressor system is closed-loop controlled or a rate based upon a deviation between an actual boost pressure and an expected boost pressure from the intake air compressor system. The particulate filter is regenerated when the total engine-out soot generation exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, Jr.
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Patent number: 9046019Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of regenerating a particulate filter includes flowing an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into a particulate filter and determining a particulate level in the particulate filter. The method also includes performing a primary regeneration when the particulate level is below a first value, the primary regeneration including flowing exhaust gas with a selected amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas into the particulate filter, and performing a secondary regeneration when the particulate level is above the first value, the secondary regeneration including flowing exhaust gas with an increased amount of nitrogen oxide into the particulate filter.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., David Michael Van Buren, John A. Catalogna, Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr
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Publication number: 20150118112Abstract: An exhaust treatment system includes an SCRF device, a reductant delivery system, and an SCR storage module. The SCRF device includes a filter portion having a washcoat formed thereon that defines a washcoat thickness (WCT). The reductant delivery system is configured to inject a reductant that reacts with the washcoat based on a reductant storage model. The SCR storage module is in electrical communication with the reductant delivery system to provide the reductant storage model the amount of reductant to be injected based on the reductant storage model. The exhaust treatment system further includes a WCT compensation module configured to electrically communicate a WCT compensation value to the SCR storage module. The SCR storage module modifies the reductant storage model according to the WCT compensation value such that the amount of ammonia that slips from the SCRF device is reduced thereby increasing a storage efficiency of the SCRF device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, JR., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Justin Adam Shetney
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Publication number: 20150113951Abstract: An exhaust treatment system includes a selective catalyst reduction filter (SCRF) device, a reductant delivery system, and a reductant storage module. The SCRF device includes a filter portion having a washcoat disposed thereon that defines a washcoat thickness (WCT). The reductant delivery system is configured to inject a reductant that reacts with the washcoat. The reductant storage module is in electrical communication with the reductant delivery system to determine a reductant setpoint that controls the amount of reductant injected from the reductant delivery system. The exhaust treatment system further includes a WCT compensation module configured to electrically communicate a WCT compensation value to the reductant storage module. The reductant storage module adjusts the setpoint according to the WCT compensation value such that the amount of ammonia that slips from the SCRF device is reduced as compared to the first setpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Justin Adam Shetney
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Patent number: 9003773Abstract: A vehicle and method of updating aging of a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) of an exhaust treatment system of the vehicle are disclosed. The method includes determining a desorption rate estimate of a catalyst of the SCRF and determining an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash collected inside the SCRF. The method also includes determining an ash correction factor from the ash volume estimate and calculating, via a controller, a corrected desorption rate value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the desorption rate estimate to update the aging of the SCRF.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Patent number: 8991155Abstract: A vehicle and a method of determining a reductant storage capacity set point of a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) of an exhaust treatment system of a vehicle are disclosed. The method includes determining a storage estimate of a reductant inside the SCRF and determining a particulate estimate in the SCRF representative of an amount of particulate matter collected inside the SCRF. The method also includes determining a particulate correction factor from the particulate estimate and calculating, via a controller, a set point value of the reductant in the SCRF by computing together the particulate correction factor and the storage estimate to determine the reductant storage capacity set point of the SCRF.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Publication number: 20150068192Abstract: An exhaust treatment system to treat exhaust gas includes a particulate filter and a pressure sensor. The particulate filter is configured to trap soot contained in exhaust gas. The pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure signal indicative of a pressure differential of the particulate filter. The exhaust treatment system further includes a soot mass module configured to determine a soot mass. The soot mass is indicative of an amount of soot stored in the particulate filter based on the pressure differential and a soot model stored in a memory device. The exhaust treatment system further includes a continuously regenerating trap (CRT) compensation module configured to generate a variable CRT threshold. The CRT compensation module selectively outputs a CRT compensation value that modifies the soot model based on comparison between the NOx flow rate and the soot mass-based variable CRT threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, JR.
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Publication number: 20150068197Abstract: A urea injection controller for a motorized system includes a passive regeneration model configured and disposed to calculate an amount of NOx conversion resulting from an interaction between exhaust gases and soot entrained in a selective catalyst reduction filter (SCRF) device, a replenishment mode trigger module configured to set an ammonia replenishment request based on the passive regeneration model, and a replenishment control module configured to selectively activate a urea injector to discharge a particular amount of urea based on the regeneration model.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Thomas Larose, JR., Christopher Whitt, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Publication number: 20150047328Abstract: A vehicle and a method of updating efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) of an exhaust treatment system of the vehicle are disclosed. The method includes obtaining an initial calculated efficiency of the SCRF, via a controller, regarding one of a NOx conversion, a reductant absorption, a reductant desorption and a reductant oxidation. The method also includes determining a soot mass estimate in the SCRF representative of an amount of soot collected inside the SCRF and determining a soot correction factor from the soot mass estimate. The method further includes calculating, via the controller, an updated efficiency value of the SCRF by multiplying the soot correction factor and the initial calculated efficiency to update efficiency of the SCRF.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, JR., Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Publication number: 20150047320Abstract: A vehicle and method of updating aging of a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) of an exhaust treatment system of the vehicle are disclosed. The method includes determining a desorption rate estimate of a catalyst of the SCRF and determining an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash collected inside the SCRF. The method also includes determining an ash correction factor from the ash volume estimate and calculating, via a controller, a corrected desorption rate value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the desorption rate estimate to update the aging of the SCRF.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Publication number: 20150047319Abstract: A vehicle and a method of determining a reductant storage capacity set point of a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) of an exhaust treatment system of a vehicle are disclosed. The method includes determining a storage estimate of a reductant inside the SCRF and determining a particulate estimate in the SCRF representative of an amount of particulate matter collected inside the SCRF. The method also includes determining a particulate correction factor from the particulate estimate and calculating, via a controller, a set point value of the reductant in the SCRF by computing together the particulate correction factor and the storage estimate to determine the reductant storage capacity set point of the SCRF.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, JR., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Publication number: 20140371054Abstract: A system and method for adapting the clean filter correction map for a selective catalyst reduction filter SCRF of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system are provided. The system may be in fluid communication with an engine of a vehicle. The system may include a first pressure sensor and a second pressure. A differential pressure module is in communication with the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor and configured to generate a delta pressure signal corresponding to a pressure drop between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor. The system may also include a controller configured to determine a number of completed regeneration events of the SCRF; compare the number of completed regeneration events to an evaluation element; and enable an adaptation module by executing one of a first control action, a second control action, and a third control action.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, JR., Christopher C. Swoish, Joshua Clifford Bedford
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Patent number: 8904757Abstract: Method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine comprises receiving an upstream temperature signal, receiving a downstream temperature signal, and calculating a temperature difference based on a difference between the upstream temperature signal and the downstream temperature signal. The temperature difference is compared to a predetermined temperature change limit to determine whether the temperature difference is less than or greater than the predetermined temperature change limit. If the temperature difference is less than the predetermined temperature change limit, an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is calculated using a primary soot accumulation model. If the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature change limit, an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is calculated using a secondary soot accumulation model.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt
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Publication number: 20140352281Abstract: A particulate filter device monitoring system for an internal combustion engine includes a particulate accumulation register configured to store an amount of particulate in a particulate filter. The particulate accumulation register includes a particulate accumulation trigger zone having a power limiting mode trigger. A power limiting mode trigger module is configured to limit output power of the internal combustion engine when the amount of particulate accumulation reaches the power limiting mode trigger. A particulate accumulation model module includes a particulate accumulation model configured to calculate changes in particulate accumulation in the particulate accumulation register at a first sampling rate when particulate accumulation is outside the particulate accumulation trigger zone, and at a second sampling rate when particulate accumulation is within the particulate accumulation trigger zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher C. Swoish
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Publication number: 20140331654Abstract: A particulate filter device monitoring system for an engine includes a regeneration mode trigger module configured to set a regeneration request based on soot accumulation in the particulate filter device, a regeneration control module configured to control regeneration of the particulate filter device, and a soot out model module including a soot out model configured to calculate changes in soot out rate during prolonged engine idling periods.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2013Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt
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Patent number: 8857152Abstract: A method unloads hydrocarbon emissions deposited by an exhaust gas on an after-treatment device that is employed in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining whether the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The method also includes increasing the preset idle speed by a predetermined value if the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The increasing of the engine idle speed increases a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the after-treatment device and unloads the deposited hydrocarbon emissions. A system for unloading hydrocarbon emissions deposited on an after-treatment device and a vehicle employing such a system are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr, Thomas Larose, Jr., Sarah Funk
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Patent number: 8806852Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of a compression-ignition engine includes receiving a value of a parameter associated with an exhaust stream passing through the after-treatment component and determining a rate of change of the parameter. A filtered parameter value is calculated based on the value of the parameter, the rate of change of the parameter, and a predetermined filtering relationship for the parameter. Accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is estimated based, at least, on a soot accumulation model and the filtered parameter value. The estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is compared to a predetermined threshold associated with the after-treatment component, and a remedial action is initiated when the estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component exceeds the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen
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Publication number: 20140123628Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling regeneration for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a particulate filter is provided, where the method includes determining a mass flow rate of oxygen received from the internal combustion engine, determining a particulate mass within the particulate filter, determining a desired particulate burn rate based on the mass flow rate of oxygen and the particulate mass and determining a current particulate burn rate. The method also includes determining a correction value based on the desired particulate burn rate and the current particulate burn rate, determining a temperature set point for exhaust gas entering the particulate filter based on the correction value, an engine speed and an engine load and communicating a signal, from a controller, to control a parameter for a regeneration system based on the determined temperature set point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2012Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: THOMAS LAROSE, JR., CHRISTOPHER WHITT, CHRISTOPHER C. SWOISH, DOUGLAS CHRISTOPHER SARSEN
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Publication number: 20140033679Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device. Following the detection of a pressure drop, a controller may determine a soot mass estimate from the monitored pressure drop; determine an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash within the particulate filter; determine an ash correction factor from the soot mass estimate and the ash volume estimate; and calculate a corrected soot mass value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the soot mass estimate. If the corrected soot mass value exceeds a threshold, the controller may generate a corresponding particulate filter regeneration request.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, CHRISTOPHER WHITT, CHRISTOPHER C. SWOISH, REBECCA J. DARR