Patents by Inventor Derek A. Tanis
Derek A. Tanis 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: 11939908Abstract: A controller may identify a plurality of sets of potential parameters associated with operation of an engine, wherein each set of potential parameters includes a potential setting of a turbine of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) of the engine and a potential setting of an intake throttle valve (ITV) of the engine. The controller may determine, based on the plurality of sets of potential parameters, a plurality of sets of predicted values, wherein each set of predicted values includes a predicted outlet pressure of a compressor of the VGT and a predicted temperature of an exhaust gas of the engine. The controller may determine respective scores of the plurality of sets of predicted values, and may select, based on the respective scores, a particular set of predicted values of the plurality of sets of predicted values. The controller may thereby control the turbine of the VGT and the ITV.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin Weiss, Timothy Adam Bazyn, Derek Tanis, Sylvain J. Charbonnel
-
Publication number: 20240093636Abstract: A controller may identify a plurality of sets of potential parameters associated with operation of an engine, wherein each set of potential parameters includes a potential setting of a turbine of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) of the engine and a potential setting of an intake throttle valve (ITV) of the engine. The controller may determine, based on the plurality of sets of potential parameters, a plurality of sets of predicted values, wherein each set of predicted values includes a predicted outlet pressure of a compressor of the VGT and a predicted temperature of an exhaust gas of the engine. The controller may determine respective scores of the plurality of sets of predicted values, and may select, based on the respective scores, a particular set of predicted values of the plurality of sets of predicted values. The controller may thereby control the turbine of the VGT and the ITV.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin WEISS, Timothy Adam BAZYN, Derek TANIS, Sylvain J. CHARBONNEL
-
Patent number: 11790126Abstract: A method for generating data for an internal combustion engine control unit includes receiving at least one constraint by a simulated internal combustion engine, receiving a first value of an air condition by the simulated internal combustion engine, and determining at least one simulated engine parameter associated with a maximum expected output of the simulated internal combustion engine, wherein the maximum expected output is determined based on the first value and the at least one constraint. The method also includes supplementing existing engine information by storing the at least one simulated engine parameter in a memory associated with the internal combustion engine control unit together with the existing engine information.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Derek A. Tanis
-
Patent number: 11773798Abstract: A machine includes an engine, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) element fixedly connected to an output of the engine, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the engine and a sensor at an output of the SCR element. The controller is configured to calculate an estimated amount of emissions at a location of the SCR element, calculate an estimated amount of emissions from an output of the SCR element, measure, using the sensor, an actual amount of emissions from the output of the SCR element, and perform a comparison of the estimated amount of emissions and the actual amount of emissions. The controller is further configured to adjust, based on the comparison, the estimated amount of emissions at the location of the SCR element, and control operation of the engine based on the adjusted amount of emissions.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Sylvain J. Charbonnel, Gavin Williams, Derek A. Tanis
-
Patent number: 11401884Abstract: A method for controlling fuel injection aspects of a fuel system of an internal combustion engine includes determining a fuel injection strategy for each engine cycle including a pilot fuel injection, a main fuel injection, and a dwell time between the pilot and main fuel injections. The method also includes automatically adjusting the dwell time for each engine cycle based on a sensed ambient temperature and ambient pressure associated with the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Joseph G. Chambers, Derek A. Tanis
-
Patent number: 11225926Abstract: A method for programming an internal combustion engine control unit includes operating a test internal combustion engine at a first speed and a first torque while simulating a condition of the test internal combustion engine by restricting a flow of air to the test internal combustion engine to simulate altitude variations of the test internal combustion engine or elevating a temperature of the flow of air to simulate ambient temperature variations of the test internal combustion engine. The method also includes measuring engine performance information while operating the test internal combustion engine at the first speed and first torque and while simulating the condition of the test internal combustion engine, and programming the internal combustion engine control unit by storing the measured engine performance information in a memory associated with the internal combustion engine control unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Derek A. Tanis
-
Patent number: 11193434Abstract: Control of a turbocharger of a power system is disclosed. A controller may receive a desired value for a parameter of an engine. The controller may receive an operating value of the parameter. The controller may set, based on the desired value and the operating value, a position of an intake throttle valve of the engine to control air flow through a turbocharger of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Derek Tanis, Sylvain J. Charbonnel
-
Publication number: 20210293199Abstract: A method for controlling fuel injection aspects of a fuel system of an internal combustion engine includes determining a fuel injection strategy for each engine cycle including a pilot fuel injection, a main fuel injection, and a dwell time between the pilot and main fuel injections. The method also includes automatically adjusting the dwell time for each engine cycle based on a sensed ambient temperature and ambient pressure associated with the internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Joseph G. CHAMBERS, Derek A. TANIS
-
Publication number: 20210192104Abstract: A method for generating data for an internal combustion engine control unit includes receiving at least one constraint by a simulated internal combustion engine, receiving a first value of an air condition by the simulated internal combustion engine, and determining at least one simulated engine parameter associated with a maximum expected output of the simulated internal combustion engine, wherein the maximum expected output is determined based on the first value and the at least one constraint. The method also includes supplementing existing engine information by storing the at least one simulated engine parameter in a memory associated with the internal combustion engine control unit together with the existing engine information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Derek A. Tanis
-
Publication number: 20210189989Abstract: A method for programming an internal combustion engine control unit includes operating a test internal combustion engine at a first speed and a first torque while simulating a condition of the test internal combustion engine by restricting a flow of air to the test internal combustion engine to simulate altitude variations of the test internal combustion engine or elevating a temperature of the flow of air to simulate ambient temperature variations of the test internal combustion engine. The method also includes measuring engine performance information while operating the test internal combustion engine at the first speed and first torque and while simulating the condition of the test internal combustion engine, and programming the internal combustion engine control unit by storing the measured engine performance information in a memory associated with the internal combustion engine control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Derek A. Tanis
-
Publication number: 20210164409Abstract: Control of a turbocharger of a power system is disclosed. A controller may receive a desired value for a parameter of an engine. The controller may receive an operating value of the parameter. The controller may set, based on the desired value and the operating value, a position of an intake throttle valve of the engine to control air flow through a turbocharger of the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Derek TANIS, Sylvain J. CHARBONNEL
-
Patent number: 10400700Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes a control system with a monitoring mechanism producing data of engine operating state within a BMEP/speed envelope, and an electronic control unit structured to output a control command to vary at least one of a fuel delivery property or an air delivery property in the engine based on the data. Outputting the control command switches the engine between or among combustion modes that each satisfy different calibration criteria for optimizing aftertreatment function.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Paul Moore, Derek Tanis, Sylvain Charbonnel, Ry Colwell, Richard Breitzman
-
Publication number: 20180347497Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes a control system with a monitoring mechanism producing data of engine operating state within a BMEP/speed envelope, and an electronic control unit structured to output a control command to vary at least one of a fuel delivery property or an air delivery property in the engine based on the data. Outputting the control command switches the engine between or among combustion modes that each satisfy different calibration criteria for optimizing aftertreatment function.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Paul Moore, Derek Tanis, Sylvain Charbonnel, Ry Colwell, Richard Breitzman
-
Publication number: 20170058803Abstract: The disclosure describes an internal combustion engine and a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which an electronic controller is programmed to determine whether the internal combustion engine is operating within a cylinder cutout enabling region and, when the engine operates in the cylinder cutout enabling region, to cutout one or more of the engine cylinders by causing the cutout cylinder's fuel injector to cease injecting fuel into cutout cylinder, and to also cause the still-active engine cylinders to operate with an additional amount of fuel such that a steady state engine torque output remains unchanged before and after the second cylinder is cutout.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan, Derek Tanis, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, Frank J. Lombardi
-
Patent number: 9562485Abstract: The disclosure describes an internal combustion engine and a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which an electronic controller is programmed to determine whether the internal combustion engine is operating within a cylinder cutout enabling region and, when the engine operates in the cylinder cutout enabling region, to cutout one or more of the engine cylinders by causing the cutout cylinder's fuel injector to cease injecting fuel into cutout cylinder, and to also cause the still-active engine cylinders to operate with an additional amount of fuel such that a steady state engine torque output remains unchanged before and after the second cylinder is cutout.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan, Derek Tanis, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, Frank J. Lombardi
-
Publication number: 20150369160Abstract: A method to control an injection pressure level of fuel within a unit injector is provided. The method includes provision of a second spill valve in the unit injector, which is connected in parallel to a first spill valve. The fuel is delivered to the unit injector with the first spill valve maintained in a passive state. This facilitates return of the first portion of the fuel to the low-pressure fuel manifold. The first spill valve is actuated to an active state to block the flow of fuel to the low-pressure fuel manifold, to maintain the unit injector at the injection pressure level. The second spill valve is actuated concurrently or prior to the actuation of the first spill valve. This facilitates return of a second portion of the fuel to the low-pressure fuel manifold. This is done to limit the injection pressure level within the unit injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Derek A. Tanis, Christopher J. Hurley, Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan
-
Patent number: 8967103Abstract: A variable valve timing arrangement for an engine system is disclosed. The variable valve timing arrangement includes a cam follower configured to follow a cam lobe. A pushrod is operably connected with the cam follower and a pushrod rotation mechanism is configured to selectively rotate the pushrod. Further, a cam follower adjustment mechanism is configured to reposition the cam follower based on the rotation of the pushrod.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Derek A. Tanis, Joseph E. Roth, Aaron G. Foege
-
Publication number: 20140245979Abstract: A variable valve timing arrangement for an engine system is disclosed. The variable valve timing arrangement includes a cam follower configured to follow a cam lobe. A pushrod is operably connected with the cam follower and a pushrod rotation mechanism is configured to selectively rotate the pushrod. Further, a cam follower adjustment mechanism is configured to reposition the cam follower based on the rotation of the pushrod.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Derek A. Tanis, Joseph E. Roth, Aaron G. Foege