Patents by Inventor David Bidner

David Bidner 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: 20220305876
    Abstract: Methods and system for providing heat to a vehicle are presented, whereby a refrigerant loop is operated to heat a cabin of the vehicle via heat generated by a compressor and heat generated by a resistive heating element. The heat generated by the compressor and the heat generated by the resistive heating element are transferred to a refrigerant before it is transferred to the cabin. In one example, in a first mode, an evaporator bypass valve on an evaporator bypass conduit of the A/C system is opened to route the refrigerant around an evaporator of the A/C system to increase a temperature of the refrigerant in the refrigerant loop; and in a second mode, the evaporator bypass valve is closed to route the refrigerant through the evaporator, where heat is released to a flow of air across the evaporator that is directed to the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: David Bidner, Ross Pursifull, Debasish Dhar
  • Patent number: 11060443
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing an amount of oxygen in a pre-chamber of a cylinder prior to combustion. In one example, a method may include purging residual gases from a pre-chamber to a cylinder via a pre-chamber air injection, and reducing a flow of the oxygen from the pre-chamber to the cylinder via a cylinder fuel injection directed toward an orifice fluidically connecting the pre-chamber with the cylinder. In this way, a composition of pre-chamber gases may be adjusted during a combustion cycle of a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ross Pursifull, Adam Nathan Banker, Mark Meinhart, David Bidner, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Patent number: 9670802
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods related to controlling oil injection for piston cooling in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes during an engine cold start event, enabling oil injection onto a piston of an engine, disabling oil injection after the engine cold start event, and re-enabling oil injection after the engine cold start event based on a first operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Yihua (Eva) Barber, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20150184561
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods related to controlling oil injection for piston cooling in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes during an engine cold start event, enabling oil injection onto a piston of an engine, disabling oil injection after the engine cold start event, and re-enabling oil injection after the engine cold start event based on a first operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Yihua (Eva) Barber, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8977477
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods related to controlling oil injection for piston cooling in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes during an engine cold start event, enabling oil injection onto a piston of an engine, disabling oil injection after the engine cold start event, and re-enabling oil injection after the engine cold start event based on a first operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Yihua (Eva) Barber, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8733082
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20140100765
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods related to controlling oil injection for piston cooling in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes during an engine cold start event, enabling oil injection onto a piston of an engine, disabling oil injection after the engine cold start event, and re-enabling oil injection after the engine cold start event based on a first operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Yihua (Eva) Barber, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8394542
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8192877
    Abstract: An exhaust emission reduction system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with an at least one cylinder coupled to an exhaust system comprises a NOx reduction catalyst disposed in the exhaust system downstream of the engine exhaust system; and a fuel cell disposed in the exhaust system downstream of the NOx reduction catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8133157
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprising of deactivating a fuel injector of the engine during a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and reactivating the fuel injector when a rate of change of a powertrain shaft deceleration is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, David Bidner, Shane Elwart
  • Publication number: 20110287894
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprising of deactivating a fuel injector of the engine during a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and reactivating the fuel injector when a rate of change of a powertrain shaft deceleration is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, David Bidner, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 7998027
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprising of deactivating a fuel injector of the engine during a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and reactivating the fuel injector when a rate of change of a powertrain shaft deceleration is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jef Doering, David Bidner, Shane Elwart
  • Publication number: 20110077839
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7870723
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7846595
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7832204
    Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle includes a first heat pipe in contact with the exhaust and a first fluid of the engine system; a second heat pipe in contact with the exhaust and a second fluid of the engine system. In one example, the first heat pipe provides increased heat transfer during a first temperature condition and the second heat pipe provides increased heat transfer during a second temperature condition different than the first temperature condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Bidner, Shane Elwart, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 7810319
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conducting exhaust emitted by the engine, and a catalytic device associated with the exhaust system is disclosed, wherein the catalytic device comprises a catalytic conversion portion and a fuel cell portion disposed within an interior of the catalytic device, wherein the fuel cell portion comprises a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in contact with exhaust gases in the interior of the catalytic device, the first electrode being disposed downstream of the second electrode in a direction of exhaust flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7600375
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conducting exhaust emitted by the engine, and a catalytic device associated with the exhaust system is disclosed, wherein the catalytic device comprises a catalytic conversion portion and a fuel cell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20090253553
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprising of deactivating a fuel injector of the engine during a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and reactivating the fuel injector when a rate of change of a powertrain shaft deceleration is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, David Bidner, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 7591758
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle having an all wheel drive or 4×4 system comprises restricting deactivation of the fuel injection during some deceleration conditions when the vehicle is in an all wheel drive, or 4×4, low gear. According to another aspect, a method comprises restricting deactivation of fuel injection during deceleration operations under all wheel drive, or 4×4 low gear operation; and disabling the fuel injection during at least some deceleration operation under other conditions. Disabling deactivation in an all wheel drive or 4×4 low gear allows a more controlled drivability at a time when any torque disturbance may be magnified and more easily felt by the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Bidner, Rodney Lopez, Jeff Doering, Scott Manning