Patents by Inventor Eric K. Bradley
Eric K. Bradley 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).
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Patent number: 6497227Abstract: A system for diagnosing fault conditions associated with an air handling system for an internal combustion engine includes an air handling control mechanism responsive to a mechanism command to control fluid flow through an air handling system of an internal combustion engine. An engine controller is configured to compute predicted responses of a number of engine operating parameters each as a different function of the mechanism command, and to compute a corresponding number of correlation coefficients each as a function of one of the engine operating parameter signals and a corresponding one of the predicted responses. The controller is operable to diagnose a fault associated with the air handling control mechanism if at least some of the correlation coefficients are below a first threshold, and to diagnose a properly functioning air handling control mechanism if at least some of the correlation coefficients are above a second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventors: Yue Yun Wang, Paul R. Miller, Eric K. Bradley, Salim A. Jaliwala, Kevin M. Otto, Philip Dimpelfeld
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Publication number: 20020144674Abstract: A system for diagnosing fault conditions associated with an air handling system for an internal combustion engine includes an air handling control mechanism responsive to a mechanism command to control fluid flow through an air handling system of an internal combustion engine. An engine controller is configured to compute predicted responses of a number of engine operating parameters each as a different function of the mechanism command, and to compute a corresponding number of correlation coefficients each as a function of one of the engine operating parameter signals and a corresponding one of the predicted responses. The controller is operable to diagnose a fault associated with the air handling control mechanism if at least some of the correlation coefficients are below a first threshold, and to diagnose a properly functioning air handling control mechanism if at least some of the correlation coefficients are above a second threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Inventors: Yue Yun Wang, Paul R. Miller, Eric K. Bradley, Salim A. Jaliwala, Kevin M. Otto, Philip Dimpelfeld
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Publication number: 20020103596Abstract: A closed-loop actuator control system includes a single PI controller for controlling one or more actuators to minimize an error between an engine operating parameter value and a reference parameter value. In multiple actuator systems, the control system of the present invention is operable to drive one actuator to its upper limit before transferring control to the next actuator. The proportional gain block of the PI controller preferably includes a bumpless gain feature operable to limit the rate of change of the proportional gain to thereby provide smooth gain scheduling. A feedforward block may optionally be included that preferably includes the bumpless gain feature. The actuator control system further includes anti-windup logic operable to disable the PI integrator if the actuator drive signal is upper or lower limit bounded and the error signal is greater or less than zero respectively, thereby creating dynamic saturation of the PI integrator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Inventors: G. George Zhu, Mark W. Pyclik, Eric K. Bradley, Larry J. Brackney
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Patent number: 6424906Abstract: A closed-loop actuator control system includes a single PI controller for controlling one or more actuators to minimize an error between an engine operating parameter value and a reference parameter value. In multiple actuator systems, the control system of the present invention is operable to drive one actuator to its upper limit before transferring control to the next actuator. The proportional gain block of the PI controller preferably includes a bumpless gain feature operable to limit the rate of change of the proportional gain to thereby provide smooth gain scheduling. A feedforward block may optionally be included that preferably includes the bumpless gain feature. The actuator control system further includes anti-windup logic operable to disable the PI integrator if the actuator drive signal is upper or lower limit bounded and the error signal is greater or less than zero respectively, thereby creating dynamic saturation of the PI integrator.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventors: G. George Zhu, Mark W. Pyclik, Eric K. Bradley, Larry J. Brackney
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Patent number: 6408625Abstract: An electric power generation system is disclosed, which includes a back-up electric power generator driven by a four-cycle internal combustion engine. The engine includes a plurality of reciprocating cylinders each rotatably coupled to a crankshaft, which drives the electric power generator. The engine also includes a compressor along an intake pathway to deliver pressurized air to the cylinders and a turbine along an exhaust pathway to power the compressor when driven by exhaust discharged from the cylinders. The engine is prepared to accept a generator load by increasing boost pressure provided by the compressor. This increase is accomplished by skip-firing the cylinders in a selected pattern, retarding ignition timing for the cylinders, or a combination of these techniques. A unique skip-fueling control pattern is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventors: Peter V. Woon, Axel O. Zur Loye, Larry J. Brackney, Jay F. Leonard, Eric K. Bradley, Terry M. Vandenberghe, Jacqueline M. Yeager, Julie A. Wagner, Greg A. Moore
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Publication number: 20020019244Abstract: ? train The present invention relates to a system whereby a vehicle, such as a truck in a fleet, can communicate via a widely distributed, low-cost network to the fleet operator, who is located at a distant, fixed location. The network system is relatively low cost, easily accessed by a multitude of vehicles and fleet operators, and is robust in communicating the data. The system comprises one or more fixed nodes which have the ability to communicate at any time with a routing host server. The routing host is in turn connected to one or more mobile hosts via a communications link which also may be accessed at any time. Mobile nodes, such as vehicles moving about, are able to communicate with each of the mobile hosts whenever the mobile node is in the geographic vicinity of the mobile host, such as by two-way radio communication. When a mobile node makes communication contact with a mobile host, this information is relayed to the routing host.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Inventors: Eric K. Bradley, William A. Gatliff, William A. Monette
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Patent number: 6185996Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing output power of an internal combustion engine includes means for diagnosing potential causes of low engine output power or torque and means for estimating actual engine output power or torque. In a preferred embodiment of the diagnosis of engine output power, low engine output power is first investigated for authenticity to verify whether a low engine output power condition exists. If one exists, a zero fueling engine cranking test is conducted to determine whether relative compression values for each of the cylinders are within specification, and any problems associated therewith are corrected by service personnel. If the low engine output power problem is not corrected in accordance with the engine cranking test, a snap-throttle cylinder balancing test is conducted to balance the relative power contribution from each cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1997Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventors: Chuan He, G. George Zhu, Dennis O. Taylor, Leslie A. Roettgen, Mark F. Bares, Steven G. Smith, Richard D. Johnston, Yue Y. Wang, Emma Sweetland, James A. Rupp, Eric K. Bradley
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Patent number: 6002980Abstract: A system and method for measuring individual cylinder power contribution by cutting out individual cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine and performing a snap-throttle test on the engine. Engine speed versus time data is collected and stored during each snap-throttle test. This data is then used to calculate the power contribution provided by each cylinder using various methods, such as a least squares analysis of the speed data or by an analysis of the kinetic energy of the test engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventors: Dennis O. Taylor, Chuan He, Emma Sweetland, Albert E. Sisson, Yue Y. Wang, Eric K. Bradley, G. George Zhu, Steven G. Smith
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Patent number: 5561755Abstract: A method for visually multiplexing video information presentation system permits obscured windows to be continuously updated, which, when revealed, will present the new contents within the window without requiring a host system to redraw all obscured window areas. The system operates by holding the contents of each windows pixels in separate areas of memory. The displayed screen is a mosaic of pixels chosen based on a pixel position ownership table that is maintained by the system as screen commands are sent by the host.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1994Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand CompanyInventor: Eric K. Bradley
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Patent number: 5533489Abstract: A control system for controlling exhaust gas recirculation in an internal combustion engine. The output of a throttle position sensor is used as an input to two parallel filters. The first filter is a lag-lead compensated filter which functions as a differentiator, producing an output proportional to the instantaneous rate of change of the throttle position.. The second filter is a fixed-rate tracking filter which generates a tracking signal that tracks the input signal. The tracking signal, however, cannot vary by more than a maximum predetermined rate. The output of the second filter is the difference between the input signal and the tracking signal. The outputs of the two filters are summed and applied to a hysteretic comparator, which turns the EGR valve off when the sum exceeds an upper threshold and turns the EGR valve back on when the sum has decayed below a lower threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1995Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Cummins Electronics Co.Inventors: Vincent P. Socci, Ross C. Berryhill, Eric K. Bradley, Charles R. Schenk
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Patent number: D365554Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1994Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand CompanyInventors: Alvin J. Fisher, John M. Olszewski, Eric K. Bradley, Daniel W. Clark
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Patent number: D385871Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1995Date of Patent: November 4, 1997Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand CompanyInventors: Alvin Joel Fisher, John M. Olszewski, Daniel W. Clark, Eric K. Bradley