Patents by Inventor Don Kees

Don Kees 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).

  • System and method for facilitating homogeneous charge compression ignition
    Patent number: 7703438
    Abstract: A method of maintaining homogeneous charge compression ignition when a temperature within a combustion chamber decreases below an autoignition temperature in an engine that is configured for homogeneous charge compression ignition under at least some engine operating conditions and for spark ignition under at least some engine operating conditions, the method comprising selectively heating contents of the combustion chamber with a glow plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Themi Petridis, Don Kees, Lucien Koopmans, Jonas Elfstrand
  • Drive belt slip detection
    Patent number: 7573219
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for detecting whether belt slip is occurring between an electric machine and a machine drivingly connected together by a drive belt using only measurements of rotor speed, voltage and current derived from the electric machine, thereby improving the sensitivity of slip detection and eliminating the need for a comparison of rotor speed with a measurement of the rotational speed of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventors: Don Kees, Themi Petridis
  • System and Method for Facilitating Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition
    Publication number: 20070289572
    Abstract: A method of maintaining homogeneous charge compression ignition when a temperature within a combustion chamber decreases below an autoignition temperature in an engine that is configured for homogeneous charge compression ignition under at least some engine operating conditions and for spark ignition under at least some engine operating conditions, the method comprising selectively heating contents of the combustion chamber with a glow plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Themi Petridis, Don Kees, Lucien Koopmans, Jonas Elfstrand
  • DRIVE BELT SLIP DETECTION
    Publication number: 20070200522
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for detecting whether belt slip is occurring between an electric machine and a machine drivingly connected together by a drive belt using only measurements of rotor speed, voltage and current derived from the electric machine, thereby improving the sensitivity of slip detection and eliminating the need for a comparison of rotor speed with a measurement of the rotational speed of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Don Kees, Themi Petridis
  • Locking mechanism for the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine
    Publication number: 20050113211
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (6) is provided to block the internal combustion engine (1) at prepositioned cranking angle after shutting down. Preferably, the crankshaft of the engine is positioned at a crankshaft angle that is favorable for cranking. Prepositioning of the crankshaft angle results in a lower first compression torque and therefore increases kinetic energy stored in the crankshaft lumped inertia. The required maximum torque of the cranking aid (2a, 2b, 2c) can therefore be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Erik Surewaard, Don Kees, Daniel Kok, Engbert Spijker, Mark Eifert