Patents by Inventor Douglas Allen Dobson

Douglas Allen Dobson 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: 11499457
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment device includes a catalyst assembly having an electrically conductive carrier matrix and first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes have terminals attached on opposing sides of the catalyst assembly to be electrically connected to each other through the carrier matrix and configured to generate heat. A first elongate heat sink extends axially along the first electrode and is configured to absorb a portion of the heat to mitigate formation of hotspots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xin Liu, Paul M Laing, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 11203961
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for emissions control of a vehicle. In one example, an emissions treatment device includes a porous substrate and a catalytic washcoat disposed thereon, the catalytic washcoat having nickel and no other metal. The porous substrate may be configured to filter particulate matter (PM) exiting the vehicle and the catalytic washcoat may be configured to oxidize at least a portion of the PM. The nickel in the catalytic washcoat may provide additional oxygen storage capacity and increased tolerance to sulfur poisoning of catalytic activity of the catalytic washcoat, further promoting PM oxidation. Moreover, because the catalytic washcoat may increase PM oxidation during passive regeneration events, a total number of active regeneration events may be decreased and fuel economy may be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Chanko, Xin Liu, Douglas Allen Dobson, Giovanni Cavataio, Eva Thanasiu
  • Patent number: 11143073
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a diesel oxidation catalyst. In one example, the diesel oxidation catalyst comprises a washcoat with different catalytically active portions for reacting with one or more of carbon containing compounds and NOx. The diesel oxidation catalyst is located upstream of a particulate filter in an exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Allen Dobson, Timothy Brian Chanko, Christine Kay Lambert
  • Publication number: 20210285354
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for emissions control of a vehicle. In one example, an emissions treatment device includes a porous substrate and a catalytic washcoat disposed thereon, the catalytic washcoat having nickel and no other metal. The porous substrate may be configured to filter particulate matter (PM) exiting the vehicle and the catalytic washcoat may be configured to oxidize at least a portion of the PM. The nickel in the catalytic washcoat may provide additional oxygen storage capacity and increased tolerance to sulfur poisoning of catalytic activity of the catalytic washcoat, further promoting PM oxidation. Moreover, because the catalytic washcoat may increase PM oxidation during passive regeneration events, a total number of active regeneration events may be decreased and fuel economy may be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Chanko, Xin Liu, Douglas Allen Dobson, Giovanni Cavataio, Eva Thanasiu
  • Patent number: 11073056
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a low temperature NOx adsorber (LTNA). In one example, a method includes operating in a first mode, the first mode including storing exhaust NOx in an LTNA, heating the LTNA until an LTNA outlet temperature reaches a first threshold temperature, and then converting released NOx in a downstream selective catalyst reduction (SCR) device; and operating in a second mode, the second mode including heating the LTNA until the LTNA outlet temperature reaches a second threshold temperature, higher than the first threshold temperature, and converting exhaust NOx in the SCR device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christine Lambert, Mira Bumbaroska, Jeong Kim, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 11002210
    Abstract: An engine system and method for operating an engine that includes a particulate filter is described. In one example, soot loading of a green particulate filter is increased to improve efficiency of the green particulate filter. The soot loading of the green particulate filter may be expedited so that by the time a vehicle reaches a customer or testing facility, the green particulate filter may be operating at a desired efficiency level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Chanko, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Publication number: 20210108586
    Abstract: An engine system and method for operating an engine that includes a particulate filter is described. In one example, soot loading of a green particulate filter is increased to improve efficiency of the green particulate filter. The soot loading of the green particulate filter may be expedited so that by the time a vehicle reaches a customer or testing facility, the green particulate filter may be operating at a desired efficiency level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Chanko, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 10954835
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a low temperature NOx adsorber (LTNA). In one example, a method includes initiating a desulfation of an LTNA responsive to an estimated sulfur exposure exceeding a threshold, the desulfation including heating the LTNA to a first threshold temperature while maintaining an exhaust oxygen level above a threshold level throughout the entire desulfation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christine Lambert, Douglas Allen Dobson, Joseph Robert Theis
  • Patent number: 10920645
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a NOx storage capacity of a passive NOx adsorption catalyst (PNA) included in an exhaust gas after-treatment system of an engine. In one example, a method may include, after an engine cold start and prior to an exhaust gas temperature reaching an upper threshold temperature, indicating degradation of the PNA based on an amount of NOx measured downstream of the PNA during a fuel cut event and while the exhaust gas temperature is between a lower threshold temperature and the upper threshold temperature. In this way, degradation of the NOx storage capacity may be inferred based on an amount of NOx released from the PNA and independent of a NOx storage measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: In Kwang Yoo, Michiel Van Nieuwstadt, Douglas Allen Dobson, Christine Lambert
  • Publication number: 20200291838
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a low temperature NOx adsorber (LTNA). In one example, a method includes operating in a first mode, the first mode including storing exhaust NOx in an LTNA, heating the LTNA until an LTNA outlet temperature reaches a first threshold temperature, and then converting released NOx in a downstream selective catalyst reduction (SCR) device; and operating in a second mode, the second mode including heating the LTNA until the LTNA outlet temperature reaches a second threshold temperature, higher than the first threshold temperature, and converting exhaust NOx in the SCR device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Christine Lambert, Mira Bumbaroska, Jeong Kim, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Publication number: 20200291839
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a low temperature NOx adsorber (LTNA). In one example, a method includes initiating a desulfation of an LTNA responsive to an estimated sulfur exposure exceeding a threshold, the desulfation including heating the LTNA to a first threshold temperature while maintaining an exhaust oxygen level above a threshold level throughout the entire desulfation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Christine Lambert, Douglas Allen Dobson, Joseph Robert Theis
  • Publication number: 20200173324
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a diesel oxidation catalyst. In one example, the diesel oxidation catalyst comprises a washcoat with different catalytically active portions for reacting with one or more of carbon containing compounds and NOx. The diesel oxidation catalyst is located upstream of a particulate filter in an exhaust passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Douglas Allen Dobson, Timothy Brian Chanko, Christine Kay Lambert
  • Patent number: 10598061
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a diesel oxidation catalyst. In one example, the diesel oxidation catalyst comprises a washcoat with different catalytically active portions for reacting with one or more of carbon containing compounds and NOx. The diesel oxidation catalyst is located upstream of a particulate filter in an exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Allen Dobson, Timothy Brian Chanko, Christine Kay Lambert
  • Publication number: 20200040796
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a NOx storage capacity of a passive NOx adsorption catalyst (PNA) included in an exhaust gas after-treatment system of an engine. In one example, a method may include, after an engine cold start and prior to an exhaust gas temperature reaching an upper threshold temperature, indicating degradation of the PNA based on an amount of NOx measured downstream of the PNA during a fuel cut event and while the exhaust gas temperature is between a lower threshold temperature and the upper threshold temperature. In this way, degradation of the NOx storage capacity may be inferred based on an amount of NOx released from the PNA and independent of a NOx storage measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: In Kwang Yoo, Michiel Van Nieuwstadt, Douglas Allen Dobson, Christine Lambert
  • Patent number: 10428727
    Abstract: A system for increasing temperature in an exhaust aftertreatment system upstream of an exhaust aftertreatment device, such as a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) device, is provided. In one form, the system includes a component within an exhaust stream being exposed to exhaust flow and temperatures of at least 200° C. At least one surface of the component includes an adhered ceramic coating that functions as a catalyst to accelerate heating of the exhaust flow. In another form, a secondary catalyst is adhered to the ceramic coating. The component may be a part or parts of a turbocharger, such as nozzles, vanes, runners, and blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Deren Wang, Harold Huimin Sun, Xin Liu, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 10392980
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a diesel oxidation catalyst. In one example, the diesel oxidation catalyst comprises a washcoat with different catalytically active portions for reacting with one or more of carbon containing compounds and NOx. The diesel oxidation catalyst is located upstream of a particulate filter in an exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 10335770
    Abstract: A layered emission control device for an engine system is provided, including a plurality of catalytic layers, the catalytic layers optionally or additionally comprising sublayers, each sublayer having a distinct composition. Advantages of such a device include providing increased treatment rates of one or more engine exhaust gas species over a wide range of engine exhaust operating conditions, while reducing exhaust emissions, and reducing a size of the emissions control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 10287938
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle comprises responsive to installation of a new exhaust particulate filter, doping fuel with an ash-producing additive, and combusting the doped fuel to produce ash, wherein the ash deposits as an ash coating on the new exhaust particulate filter. In this way, a filtration efficiency of an exhaust particulate filter can be increased quickly as compared to a filter with no deposited ash coating, inexpensively as compared to conventional methods using membranes, and with a lower back pressure drop as compared to conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Robert Warner, Timothy Brian Chanko, William Charles Ruona, Giovanni Cavataio, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Publication number: 20180361358
    Abstract: A layered emission control device for an engine system is provided, including a plurality of catalytic layers, the catalytic layers optionally or additionally comprising sublayers, each sublayer having a distinct composition. Advantages of such a device include providing increased treatment rates of one or more engine exhaust gas species over a wide range of engine exhaust operating conditions, while reducing exhaust emissions, and reducing a size of the emissions control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Publication number: 20180298804
    Abstract: A system for increasing temperature in an exhaust aftertreatment system upstream of an exhaust aftertreatment device, such as a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) device, is provided. In one form, the system includes a component within an exhaust stream being exposed to exhaust flow and temperatures of at least 200° C. At least one surface of the component includes an adhered ceramic coating that functions as a catalyst to accelerate heating of the exhaust flow. In another form, a secondary catalyst is adhered to the ceramic coating. The component may be a part or parts of a turbocharger, such as nozzles, vanes, runners, and blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Deren Wang, Harold Huimin Sun, Xin Liu, Douglas Allen Dobson