Patents by Inventor Eric Matthew Kurtz

Eric Matthew Kurtz 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: 11840969
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for re-combustion of exhaust in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine in order to increase the temperature of the exhaust for enhancing catalytic conversion within the multi-cylinder engine. In one example, a method may include expelling combusted gases from the cylinder into an intake manifold via an intake valve during an exhaust stroke, in order to rebreathe in the combusted gases from the intake manifold via the intake valve in a subsequent intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Jason Brian Martz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Joshua Zachary Fried
  • Patent number: 11808195
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving NOx conversion efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst are described. In one example, an amount of NH3 stored in a SCR is adjusted after stopping an engine so that a desired amount of NH3 may be stored within the SCR when the engine is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Paul Joseph Tennison, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 11746716
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a catalyst temperature. In one example, a method includes throttling in response to the catalyst temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. The throttling includes adjusting an intake throttle position to a more closed position. The throttling further includes increasing a turbine work extraction via adjusting a position of a plurality of turbine vanes to decrease a turbine outlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Waheed Alashe, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison
  • Patent number: 11674461
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an EGR valve and VGT vanes during engine braking. In one example, a method may include during an engine braking event in an engine, coordinating adjustments of both of a cross-sectional area of an inlet of a turbine and an opening of a valve of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to achieve a desired braking power and to maintain an exhaust system temperature above a threshold temperature during the engine braking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Shawn Spannbauer, Kyle Pohlkamp, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Curtis Michael Bauer
  • Publication number: 20230139973
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an EGR valve and VGT vanes during engine braking. In one example, a method may include during an engine braking event in an engine, coordinating adjustments of both of a cross-sectional area of an inlet of a turbine and an opening of a valve of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to achieve a desired braking power and to maintain an exhaust system temperature above a threshold temperature during the engine braking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Shawn Spannbauer, Kyle Pohlkamp, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Curtis Michael Bauer
  • Publication number: 20230124649
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for re-combustion of exhaust in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine in order to increase the temperature of the exhaust for enhancing catalytic conversion within the multi-cylinder engine. In one example, a method may include expelling combusted gases from the cylinder into an intake manifold via an intake valve during an exhaust stroke, in order to rebreathe in the combusted gases from the intake manifold via the intake valve in a subsequent intake stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Jason Brian Martz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Joshua Zachary Fried
  • Patent number: 11591946
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for maintaining a temperature of exhaust gases of an engine within a temperature range at which catalytic conversion is most efficient. In one example, a method for controlling a temperature of exhaust gases entering a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system for an engine comprises delivering pressurized air into the exhaust gases upstream of the SCR system, the pressurized air cooled by an air cooler; and adjusting a degree of pressurization by adjusting operation of a turbocharger pressurizing the pressurized air. In one embodiment, the air cooler may be a charge air cooler of a primary turbocharger of the engine, which may flow pressurized air both to the engine and to the SCR system. In other embodiments, the air may be pressurized by an air pump or a secondary dilution turbocharger, and cooled by a secondary charge air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Spannbauer, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Stephen George Russ
  • Patent number: 11585284
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for re-combustion of exhaust in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine in order to increase the temperature of the exhaust for enhancing catalytic conversion within the multi-cylinder engine. In one example, a method may include expelling combusted gases from the cylinder into an intake manifold via an intake valve during an exhaust stroke, in order to rebreathe in the combusted gases from the intake manifold via the intake valve in a subsequent intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Jason Brian Martz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Joshua Zachary Fried
  • Patent number: 11572815
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger. In one example, a method may include bypassing exhaust gases flowing to the turbocharger in response to a catalyst temperature being less than a threshold temperature. The bypassing includes opening a bypass valve and adjusting a position of one or more turbine nozzle vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Paul Joseph Tennison, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20230033813
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for re-combustion of exhaust in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine in order to increase the temperature of the exhaust for enhancing catalytic conversion within the multi-cylinder engine. In one example, a method may include expelling combusted gases from the cylinder into an intake manifold via an intake valve during an exhaust stroke, in order to rebreathe in the combusted gases from the intake manifold via the intake valve in a subsequent intake stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Jason Brian Martz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Joshua Zachary Fried
  • Publication number: 20220397048
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger. In one example, a method may include bypassing exhaust gases flowing to the turbocharger in response to a catalyst temperature being less than a threshold temperature. The bypassing includes opening a bypass valve and adjusting a position of one or more turbine nozzle vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Paul Joseph Tennison, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 11519313
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting exhaust catalyst light-off prior to an anticipated engine cold-start event. In one example, a method may include, in anticipation of an engine cold-start, preemptively operating an electric booster and routing compressed air to the catalyst to increase a temperature of the exhaust catalyst while maintaining the engine inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Brian Martz, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 11506153
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an engine includes a conduit, and a U-shaped exhaust gas mixer. The conduit is configured to direct an exhaust gas away from an exhaust manifold. The U-shaped exhaust gas mixer is configured to direct exhaust gas from the conduit and into an engine air intake system. The U-shaped exhaust gas mixer is arranged with a pre-mixing cavity configured to disperse the exhaust gas and entraining the exhaust gas into an intake air flow prior to distribution into an intake manifold of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Liangjun Hu, Daniel William Kantrow, Darrell Sparks
  • Patent number: 11506098
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger. In one example, a method may include flowing bleed air to control a catalyst temperature. The bleed air is directed from a bleed port of a compressor of an engine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Brian Martz, Liangjun Hu, Paul Joseph Tennison, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Gregory McConville
  • Patent number: 11499489
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an engine includes a conduit, and a mixer. The conduit is configured to direct to direct exhaust gas away from an exhaust manifold. The mixer is configured to direct exhaust gas from the conduit, into an engine air intake system. The mixer is arranged with an exhaust gas mixing volute chamber having a plurality of mixing vanes configured to direct the exhaust gas into a central intake airflow upstream of an intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Liangjun Hu, Daniel Joseph Styles, Daniel William Kantrow, Darrell Sparks
  • Patent number: 11480139
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine having an intake manifold, a turbocharger having a compressor, and an exhaust gas recovery (EGR) mixer coupled between the compressor and the intake manifold. The EGR mixer includes a central air duct having a central axis, an annular ring circumscribing the central duct and having an inlet connectable to an EGR system and an outlet in fluid communication with the central air duct, and a vane assembly disposed in the central air duct upstream of the annular ring and having a plurality of vanes configured to swirl air passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Liangjun Hu, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Darrell Sparks, Daniel William Kantrow
  • Patent number: 11480122
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cylinder deactivation to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase exhaust temperature. In one example, a method may include operating a first set of cylinders in a first combustion cycle over modified eight strokes and a second set of cylinders in a second combustion cycle over modified four strokes. Each cylinder in the first set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via a variable displacement engine (VDE) mechanism while each cylinder in the second set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via an active decompression technology (ADT) mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Brian Martz, Christopher Cundy, Daniel William Kantrow, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Sathish Atluri, Clayton Mikush, Joshua Zachary Fried
  • Patent number: 11466633
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst via a catalyst heater are presented. In one example, the catalyst may be heated to provide a minimum amount of time for the catalyst to reach a threshold temperature. In another example, the catalyst heater may be heated to minimize an amount of power that is used to heat the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20220307436
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an engine includes a conduit, and a mixer. The conduit is configured to direct to direct exhaust gas away from an exhaust manifold. The mixer is configured to direct exhaust gas from the conduit, into an engine air intake system. The mixer is arranged with an exhaust gas mixing volute chamber having a plurality of mixing vanes configured to direct the exhaust gas into a central intake airflow upstream of an intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Liangjun Hu, Daniel Joseph Styles, Daniel William Kantrow, Darrell Sparks
  • Publication number: 20220307451
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an engine includes a conduit, and a U-shaped exhaust gas mixer. The conduit is configured to direct an exhaust gas away from an exhaust manifold. The U-shaped exhaust gas mixer is configured to direct exhaust gas from the conduit and into an engine air intake system. The U-shaped exhaust gas mixer is arranged with a pre-mixing cavity configured to disperse the exhaust gas and entraining the exhaust gas into an intake air flow prior to distribution into an intake manifold of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Liangjun Hu, Daniel William Kantrow, Darrell Sparks