Patents by Inventor Eric Krengel

Eric Krengel 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: 10760520
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling fuel injection in an engine equipped with a dual injector system including a port injector and a direct injector. A ratio of port injected fuel to direct injected fuel is adjusted based at least on intake valve temperature. The proportion of fuel port injected into a cylinder is increased as the intake valve temperature for the given cylinder increases to improve fuel vaporization in the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Krengel, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Patent number: 10294883
    Abstract: Methods and system for controlling air-fuel ratios in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One embodiment comprises, adjusting a sensor calibration correction value of an exhaust sensor upstream of a catalyst based on an exhaust sensor downstream of the catalyst. The adjustment of the sensor calibration correction value takes advantage of the fact that certain aromatic hydrocarbons causing errors in the reading of the upstream sensor are not present at the downstream sensor due to sufficient catalytic activity of a catalyst positioned between the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20170292465
    Abstract: Methods and system for controlling air-fuel ratios in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One embodiment comprises, adjusting a sensor calibration correction value of an exhaust sensor upstream of a catalyst based on an exhaust sensor downstream of the catalyst. The adjustment of the sensor calibration correction value takes advantage of the fact that certain aromatic hydrocarbons causing errors in the reading of the upstream sensor are not present at the downstream sensor due to sufficient catalytic activity of a catalyst positioned between the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
  • Patent number: 9726067
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a grille shutter opening based on an estimated amount of fuel in oil dilution. In one example, a method may include adjusting a grille shutter opening to a closed position in response to an oil dilution amount above a threshold, the position determined based on the oil dilution amount in addition to each of engine coolant temperature and acceleration/deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Shuya Shark Yamada, Patrick Shearer, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Eric Krengel, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9708999
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9695731
    Abstract: Methods and system for controlling air-fuel ratios in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One embodiment comprises, adjusting a sensor calibration correction value of an exhaust sensor upstream of a catalyst based on an exhaust sensor downstream of the catalyst. The adjustment of the sensor calibration correction value takes advantage of the fact that certain aromatic hydrocarbons causing errors in the reading of the upstream sensor are not present at the downstream sensor due to sufficient catalytic activity of a catalyst positioned between the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Steven Schwochert
  • Publication number: 20160356236
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling fuel injection in an engine equipped with a dual injector system including a port injector and a direct injector. A ratio of port injected fuel to direct injected fuel is adjusted based at least on intake valve temperature. The proportion of fuel port injected into a cylinder is increased as the intake valve temperature for the given cylinder increases to improve fuel vaporization in the intake port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Krengel, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Patent number: 9435287
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling fuel injection in an engine equipped with a dual injector system including a port injector and a direct injector. A ratio of port injected fuel to direct injected fuel is adjusted based at least on intake valve temperature. The proportion of fuel port injected into a cylinder is increased as the intake valve temperature for the given cylinder increases to improve fuel vaporization in the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Krengel, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Publication number: 20160194999
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a grille shutter opening based on an estimated amount of fuel in oil dilution. In one example, a method may include adjusting a grille shutter opening to a closed position in response to an oil dilution amount above a threshold, the position determined based on the oil dilution amount in addition to each of engine coolant temperature and acceleration/deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Shuya Shark Yamada, Patrick Shearer, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Eric Krengel, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20160131073
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9303577
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 9297329
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved. The injections are adjusted based on the alcohol content of the injected fuel to take advantage of the charge cooling properties of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 9255541
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9222423
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine having direct fuel injection, comprising of adjusting a number of direct injections per combustion cycle based on a cylinder event number from a first cylinder event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Storhok, Eric Curtis, Zheng Xu, Jianwen Yi, Eric Krengel
  • Publication number: 20150240737
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling fuel injection in an engine equipped with a dual injector system including a port injector and a direct injector. A ratio of port injected fuel to direct injected fuel is adjusted based at least on intake valve temperature. The proportion of fuel port injected into a cylinder is increased as the intake valve temperature for the given cylinder increases to improve fuel vaporization in the intake port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Krengel, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Publication number: 20140318498
    Abstract: A system and method for compensating for, or alleviating accumulation of, coking residues on fuel injectors is disclosed. The method includes adjusting an engine operating parameter based on a shift in a fuel injector current profile during an initial current rise of injector activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Eric Krengel
  • Publication number: 20140297159
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Publication number: 20140297162
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved. The injections are adjusted based on the alcohol content of the injected fuel to take advantage of the charge cooling properties of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Publication number: 20140172275
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Publication number: 20140137837
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine having direct fuel injection, comprising of adjusting a number of direct injections per combustion cycle based on a cylinder event number from a first cylinder event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Storhok, Eric Curtis, Zheng Xu, Jianwen Yi, Eric Krengel