Patents by Inventor Cynthia Chaffin Webb

Cynthia Chaffin Webb 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: 20220364489
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine that generates an exhaust gas flow and an exhaust after-treatment system for treatment of the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust after-treatment system includes at least one temperature sensor at an underbody SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system and a DEF injector upstream of a close-coupled SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system. The DEF injector is operated to inject DEF into the exhaust gas flow at a rate that varies as a function of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Patent number: 11499463
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for evaluating quality of DEF dosed to an EAS including a close coupled SCR unit a downstream SCR unit. A NOx conversion efficiency of the close coupled SCR unit and a NOx conversion efficiency of the downstream SCR unit are used to evaluate quality of DEF. In some embodiments, the NOx conversion efficiency of close coupled SCR unit is used to evaluate quality of DEF. Operation of an EAS using the results of the evaluation of quality of DEF are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20220341355
    Abstract: A modular exhaust subsystem for purifying an exhaust gas feedstream of a compression-ignition internal combustion engine upstream of a base exhaust aftertreatment system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, and a first exhaust gas sensor and a first temperature sensor that are arranged to monitor the SCR catalyst. A reductant delivery system is arranged to inject a reductant upstream of the SCR catalyst. A controller is in communication with an engine-out exhaust gas sensor, a second exhaust gas sensor and a second temperature sensor that are arranged to monitor the base exhaust aftertreatment system. The controller controls the reductant delivery system to inject the reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the SCR catalyst based upon inputs from the first and second exhaust gas sensors, the engine-out exhaust gas sensor, and the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Maarten Meijer, Phillip William Stephenson, Trevor Joseph Ott
  • Patent number: 11473470
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for operating an EAS including a close coupled SCR unit, a downstream SCR unit, a diesel oxidation catalyst unit (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The methods utilize the close coupled SCR unit to manage NOx emissions from the EAS during regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh
  • Patent number: 11473478
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system and associated method for purifying an exhaust gas feedstream of a lean-burn or other compression-ignition internal combustion engine is described. An instruction set is executable to determine an engine-out NO2 concentration upstream of an oxidation catalyst and determine a first parameter associated with O2 concentration. A consumption of oxygen in the oxidation catalyst due to oxidation reactions is determined, and a concentration of NO2 generated by the oxidation catalyst is determined based upon the consumption of oxygen in the oxidation catalyst. A concentration of NO2 downstream of the oxidation catalyst is determined. A NO2/NOx ratio in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the oxidation catalyst is determined based upon the concentration of NO2 downstream of the oxidation catalyst and the NOx concentration measured by the downstream NOx sensor. The oxidation catalyst is evaluated based upon the NO2/NOx ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Joseph Ott, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Publication number: 20220316376
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for evaluating ammonia storage capacity of a close-coupled SCR unit while remaining compliant with prescribed emissions limits, methods of controlling an emission aftertreatment system including multiple SCR units and emission management systems for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an emission aftertreatment system that includes two or more SCR units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt SWART, Cynthia Chaffin WEBB, Maarten MEIJER, Varun RAMESH
  • Patent number: 11434800
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards controlling uncontrolled release of ammonia from an engine of a vehicle. An estimated status of the engine is determined prior to an event, such as an estimated load on the engine prior to the vehicle going up a hill. A predictive model of uncontrolled ammonia release is generated for the estimated status. At least one engine-related countermeasure is selected based on the predictive model. If the predictive model of uncontrolled ammonia release with the selected countermeasures satisfies a threshold condition, then the selected engine-related countermeasure is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Jorge Rafael Lozada Ramirez, Carl Anders Hergart, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Christopher S. Balton
  • Patent number: 11428136
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine, an exhaust after-treatment system, and an engine control unit. The exhaust after-treatment system may include one or more selective catalytic reduction systems, each with a respective heater, and each heater with a respective pair of temperature sensors, one upstream and the other downstream of the heater. Such systems may be used to perform diagnostic methods including populating a lookup table having heat energy supplied to an exhaust gas stream by the diesel engine as a first independent variable, heat energy supplied to the exhaust gas stream by a heater as a second independent variable, and a resulting temperature as an output. Such a lookup table can be used to maintain a temperature of the exhaust gas flow at a constant target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20220213823
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards controlling uncontrolled release of ammonia from an engine of a vehicle. An estimated status of the engine is determined prior to an event, such as an estimated load on the engine prior to the vehicle going up a hill. A predictive model of uncontrolled ammonia release is generated for the estimated status. At least one engine-related countermeasure is selected based on the predictive model. If the predictive model of uncontrolled ammonia release with the selected countermeasures satisfies a threshold condition, then the selected engine-related countermeasure is employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Jorge Rafael Lozada Ramirez, Carl Anders Hergart, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Christopher S. Balton
  • Patent number: 11352927
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine that generates an exhaust gas flow and an exhaust after-treatment system for treatment of the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust after-treatment system includes at least one temperature sensor at an underbody SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system and a DEF injector upstream of a close-coupled SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system. The DEF injector is operated to inject DEF into the exhaust gas flow at a rate that varies as a function of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Patent number: 11326493
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for evaluating ammonia storage capacity of a close-coupled SCR unit while remaining compliant with prescribed emissions limits, methods of controlling an emission aftertreatment system including multiple SCR units and emission management systems for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an emission aftertreatment system that includes two or more SCR units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh
  • Patent number: 11319849
    Abstract: Technologies for producing an exhaust gas stream with controlled hydrocarbon species are disclosed. In some embodiments the technologies include an apparatus for producing an exhaust gas stream. The apparatus may include a burner for combusting primary fuel and produce an exhaust gas stream, and an exhaust pipe coupled to the burner to receive the exhaust gas stream. One or more supplemental fuel inlets may be coupled to the exhaust gas pipe for the addition of supplemental fuel to the exhaust gas stream. In embodiments, the speciation and total concentration of hydrocarbon compounds in the exhaust gas stream may be adjusted by controlling the relative amount of supplemental fuel added to the exhaust gas stream. Methods for producing an exhaust gas stream are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Cary A. Henry, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Scott T. Eakle
  • Patent number: 11313301
    Abstract: Methods of improving SCR performance in heavy duty vehicles may use multiple interdependent control techniques to increase engine exhaust temperatures in a fuel efficient manner. One method combines cylinder deactivation and mechanical loading of an engine by an electrical generator used to input energy into an exhaust stream to manipulate the exhaust temperature through the combined effect of modified air-to-fuel ratio and supplemental energy input. In particular, cylinder deactivation may be used to modify the engine air flowrate and the electric generator may be used to apply mechanical load on the engine to manipulate the engine fuel flow rate to control the engine air-to-fuel ratio and thereby increase exhaust temperatures. The exhaust temperatures may be further increased by using the electrical generator to add the energy generated as input energy to the exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Michael Douglas Gerty, Uday Vadlamani, Kimberly Denise McKinnon, Constantin Emil Nedelcu, Maarten Meijer, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Publication number: 20220042439
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for operating an EAS including a close coupled SCR unit, a downstream SCR unit, a diesel oxidation catalyst unit (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The methods utilize the close coupled SCR unit to manage NOx emissions from the EAS during regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin WEBB, Charles Wayne Reinhardt SWART, Maarten MEIJER, Varun RAMESH
  • Publication number: 20220025798
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for evaluating NOx conversion efficiency of a close coupled SCR unit of an EAS including the close coupled SCR unit and a downstream SCR unit. The determined NOx conversion efficiency of the close coupled SCR unit is used to diagnose the close coupled SCR unit and or EAS and to control operation parameters of the EAS and/or internal combustion engine operably connected to the EAS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt SWART, Cynthia Chaffin WEBB, Maarten MEIJER, Varun RAMESH
  • Publication number: 20220025802
    Abstract: A heavy-duty truck has a diesel engine, an exhaust after-treatment system, and an engine control unit. The exhaust after-treatment system includes a close-coupled selective catalytic reduction system and an underbody selective catalytic reduction system, a first NOx sensor upstream of the close-coupled selective catalytic reduction system, a second NOx sensor between the two selective catalytic reduction systems, and a third NOx sensor downstream of the underbody selective catalytic reduction system. The engine control unit may perform methods allowing intrusive diagnostics to be performed on exhaust gas NOx sensors using the selective catalytic reduction systems during normal operation of the heavy-duty truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20220025800
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for evaluating quality of DEF dosed to an EAS including a close coupled SCR unit a downstream SCR unit. A NOx conversion efficiency of the close coupled SCR unit and a NOx conversion efficiency of the downstream SCR unit are used to evaluate quality of DEF. In some embodiments, the NOx conversion efficiency of close coupled SCR unit is used to evaluate quality of DEF. Operation of an EAS using the results of the evaluation of quality of DEF are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt SWART, Cynthia Chaffin WEBB, Maarten MEIJER, Varun RAMESH
  • Publication number: 20220025805
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine that generates an exhaust gas flow and an exhaust after-treatment system for treatment of the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust after-treatment system includes at least one heater and at least one selective catalytic reduction system downstream of the heater. The heater is operated to inject supplemental heat energy into the exhaust gas flow at a rate based on a difference between a target rate of heat energy in the exhaust gas flow at an inlet to the selective catalytic reduction system and a rate of heat energy supplied to the exhaust gas flow from the diesel engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh, John Lahti
  • Publication number: 20220025799
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for evaluating ammonia storage capacity of a close-coupled SCR unit while remaining compliant with prescribed emissions limits, methods of controlling an emission aftertreatment system including multiple SCR units and emission management systems for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an emission aftertreatment system that includes two or more SCR units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt SWART, Cynthia Chaffin WEBB, Maarten MEIJER, Varun RAMESH
  • Publication number: 20220025803
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine that generates an exhaust gas flow and an exhaust after-treatment system for treatment of the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust after-treatment system includes at least one temperature sensor at an underbody SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system and a DEF injector upstream of a close-coupled SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system. The DEF injector is operated to inject DEF into the exhaust gas flow at a rate that varies as a function of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart