Patents by Inventor David Edward Prout

David Edward Prout 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: 9316166
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine speed module and a valve control module. The engine speed module determines a speed of an engine based on a position of a crankshaft. The valve control module selectively adjusts an operating frequency of a purge valve based on the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jon C. Miller, Scott Jeffrey, David Edward Prout
  • Patent number: 8935081
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first pressure module and a blockage indication module. The first pressure module receives a signal from a pressure sensor that measures pressure within a fuel vapor purge system. The first pressure module generates a first pressure based on the signal at a first time and generates a second pressure based on the signal at a second time. The second time is after the first time. The blockage indication module indicates whether a blockage is present in the fuel vapor purge system between the pressure sensor and a fuel tank based on a difference between the first and second pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Jackson, William R. Cadman, David Edward Prout
  • Publication number: 20140278001
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine speed module and a valve control module. The engine speed module determines a speed of an engine based on a position of a crankshaft. The valve control module selectively adjusts an operating frequency of a purge valve based on the engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jon C. Miller, Scott Jeffrey, David Edward Prout
  • Patent number: 8630786
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a sealed fuel system having a fuel tank, a canister for storing fuel vapor, a vapor circuit external to the fuel tank, and a control valve. The vapor circuit includes an absolute pressure sensor and a switching valve connecting the fuel tank to the control valve. A controller evaluates or diagnoses a vapor purge function of the sealed fuel system using vacuum measurements from the absolute pressure sensor, executing or diagnosing only when the engine is running, purge is enabled, and the pump is off. The controller diagnoses the vapor purge function by comparing the vacuum measurements to a threshold vacuum. An apparatus includes the vapor circuit and controller. A method for diagnosing the vapor purge function includes actuating the switching valve, measuring a vacuum in the system using the absolute pressure sensor, and comparing the measured vacuum to a threshold vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jackson, William R. Cadman, Kurt D. McLain, David Edward Prout
  • Publication number: 20130184963
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first pressure module and a blockage indication module. The first pressure module receives a signal from a pressure sensor that measures pressure within a fuel vapor purge system. The first pressure module generates a first pressure based on the signal at a first time and generates a second pressure based on the signal at a second time. The second time is after the first time. The blockage indication module indicates whether a blockage is present in the fuel vapor purge system between the pressure sensor and a fuel tank based on a difference between the first and second pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jackson, William R. Cadman, David Edward Prout
  • Patent number: 8353273
    Abstract: A control module and method for operating the same includes a diurnal control valve module that opens a diurnal control valve (DCV) and an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) diverter valve control module that switches on an ELCM diverter valve. The control module includes a correlation module performs a correlation of a ELCM pressure signal and a fuel tank pressure signal and that generates a fault signal in response to the correlation when the DCV valve is open and the ELCM diverter valve is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventors: Kurt D. Mc Lain, William R. Cadman, David Edward Prout, Miles K. Maxey, Robert Jackson, Kenneth J. Kalvelage
  • Patent number: 8136347
    Abstract: A control module and method for an exhaust system of an engine can include a secondary air intake (SAI) pressure module that monitors SAI pressure. An accumulation module can accumulate an SAI string length based on the monitored SAI pressure. A calculation module can determine an average SAI string length based on the accumulated SAI string length. A determination module can determine an operating characteristic of the vehicle exhaust based on the average SAI string length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Ian J. Mac Ewen, Martin L. Hall, Lawrence O Murray, Julia C. Grow, Richard A. Van Camp, David Edward Prout, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 8122758
    Abstract: A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a tank pressure module and a leak diagnostic module. The tank pressure module selectively outputs first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively. The leak diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve based on the second fuel tank pressure when the first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: Zhong Wang, Miles K. Maxey, James D. Ethington, Eric M. Hall, Brian Spohn, David Edward Prout
  • Publication number: 20110315127
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a sealed fuel system having a fuel tank, a canister for storing fuel vapor, a vapor circuit external to the fuel tank, and a control valve. The vapor circuit includes an absolute pressure sensor and a switching valve connecting the fuel tank to the control valve. A controller evaluates or diagnoses a vapor purge function of the sealed fuel system using vacuum measurements from the absolute pressure sensor, executing or diagnosing only when the engine is running, purge is enabled, and the pump is off. The controller diagnoses the vapor purge function by comparing the vacuum measurements to a threshold vacuum. An apparatus includes the vapor circuit and controller. A method for diagnosing the vapor purge function includes actuating the switching valve, measuring a vacuum in the system using the absolute pressure sensor, and comparing the measured vacuum to a threshold vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Jackson, William R. Cadman, Kurt D. McLain, David Edward Prout
  • Publication number: 20110011472
    Abstract: A control module and method for operating the same includes a diurnal control valve module that opens a diurnal control valve (DCV) and an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) diverter valve control module that switches on an ELCM diverter valve. The control module includes a correlation module performs a correlation of a ELCM pressure signal and a fuel tank pressure signal and that generates a fault signal in response to the correlation when the DCV valve is open and the ELCM diverter valve is on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt D. Mc Lain, William R. Cadman, David Edward Prout, Miles K. Maxey, Robert Jackson, Kenneth J. Kalvelage
  • Publication number: 20090211340
    Abstract: A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a tank pressure module and a leak diagnostic module. The tank pressure module selectively outputs first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively. The leak diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve based on the second fuel tank pressure when the first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhong Wang, Miles K. Maxey, James D. Ethington, Eric M. Hall, Brian Spohn, David Edward Prout
  • Publication number: 20090198457
    Abstract: A control module and method for an exhaust system of an engine can include a secondary air intake (SAI) pressure module that monitors SAI pressure. An accumulation module can accumulate an SAI string length based on the monitored SAI pressure. A calculation module can determine an average SAI string length based on the accumulated SAI string length. A determination module can determine an operating characteristic of the vehicle exhaust based on the average SAI string length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ian J. Mac Ewen, Martin L. Hall, Lawrence O. Murray, Julia C. Grow, Richard A. Van Camp, David Edward Prout, Igor Anilovich