Patents by Inventor Derek R. Robson

Derek R. Robson 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).

  • Techniques for creating purge vapor using waste heat recovery
    Patent number: 10161322
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions (EVAP) system for a vehicle includes a waste heat control valve configured to direct an exhaust gas from an exhaust treatment system, the waste heat control valve being positioned at a point downstream from a catalyst of the exhaust treatment system, a vapor canister configured to store a fuel vapor evaporated from a liquid fuel housed in a fuel tank of the vehicle, and a heat exchanger connected to (i) the fuel tank, (ii) the waste heat control valve, and (iii) the vapor canister, the heat exchanger being configured to (a) utilize the exhaust waste heat to evaporate the fuel vapor from the liquid fuel and (b) provide the evaporated fuel vapor to the vapor canister. A method of operating the EVAP system includes controlling the waste heat control valve and a fuel pump to provide the vapor canister with a desired amount of fuel vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Roger C Sager, James Daley, Joseph Dekar, Brian L Terwedo, Derek R Robson, Daniel E Hornback
  • TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING PURGE VAPOR USING WASTE HEAT RECOVERY
    Publication number: 20180142634
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions (EVAP) system for a vehicle includes a waste heat control valve configured to direct an exhaust gas from an exhaust treatment system, the waste heat control valve being positioned at a point downstream from a catalyst of the exhaust treatment system, a vapor canister configured to store a fuel vapor evaporated from a liquid fuel housed in a fuel tank of the vehicle, and a heat exchanger connected to (i) the fuel tank, (ii) the waste heat control valve, and (iii) the vapor canister, the heat exchanger being configured to (a) utilize the exhaust waste heat to evaporate the fuel vapor from the liquid fuel and (b) provide the evaporated fuel vapor to the vapor canister. A method of operating the EVAP system includes controlling the waste heat control valve and a fuel pump to provide the vapor canister with a desired amount of fuel vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Roger C. Sager, James Daley, Joseph Dekar, Brian L. Terwedo, Derek R. Robson, Daniel E. Hornback