Patents by Inventor Derek Tanis

Derek 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: 12540571
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller of a machine may identify an expansion ratio associated with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) of the machine. The controller may determine, based on the expansion ratio, wear-reduction information that indicates a force-reduction threshold position of the VGT. The controller may select, based on the wear-reduction information and performance information indicating a desired position of the VGT, an optimized position of the VGT. The controller may cause the VGT to be adjusted to the optimized position. In this way, the controller causes the VGT to operate within a force-related wear-reduction operating range (e.g., that causes the VGT to avoid excessive force being exerted on one or more components of the VGT 214), which improves a durability of the VGT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Tanis, Matthew E. Layne, Matthew T. Wolk, James Mutti, Kevin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20250198326
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller of a machine may identify an expansion ratio associated with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) of the machine. The controller may determine, based on the expansion ratio, wear-reduction information that indicates a force-reduction threshold position of the VGT. The controller may select, based on the wear-reduction information and performance information indicating a desired position of the VGT, an optimized position of the VGT. The controller may cause the VGT to be adjusted to the optimized position. In this way, the controller causes the VGT to operate within a force-related wear-reduction operating range (e.g., that causes the VGT to avoid excessive force being exerted on one or more components of the VGT 214), which improves a durability of the VGT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Derek TANIS, Matthew E. LAYNE, Matthew T. WOLK, James MUTTI, Kevin WEISS
  • Patent number: 11939908
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Weiss, Timothy Adam Bazyn, Derek Tanis, Sylvain J. Charbonnel
  • Publication number: 20240093636
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin WEISS, Timothy Adam BAZYN, Derek TANIS, Sylvain J. CHARBONNEL
  • Patent number: 11193434
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Tanis, Sylvain J. Charbonnel
  • Publication number: 20210164409
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Derek TANIS, Sylvain J. CHARBONNEL
  • Patent number: 10400700
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Moore, Derek Tanis, Sylvain Charbonnel, Ry Colwell, Richard Breitzman
  • Publication number: 20180347497
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Moore, Derek Tanis, Sylvain Charbonnel, Ry Colwell, Richard Breitzman
  • Publication number: 20170058803
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan, Derek Tanis, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, Frank J. Lombardi
  • Patent number: 9562485
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Derek E. Nieman, Ramamurthy Vaidyanathan, Derek Tanis, Jeffrey J. Ribordy, Frank J. Lombardi