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).

  • Publication number: 20190376461
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting heating of an engine and an emissions device upon cold startup of the engine. In one example, a method may include prior to cold startup of an engine, operating an e-compressor and opening a recirculation valve of a recirculation passage coupled across the e-compressor to flow compressed intake air from an outlet of the e-compressor through the recirculation passage to an inlet of the e-compressor and starting the engine upon a temperature at the outlet of the e-compressor reaching a threshold and continuing to operate the e-compressor while the engine is on. The heated intake air resulting from the flow of compressed intake air through the recirculation passage raises a temperature of combustion and a temperature of exhaust gas, which may decrease catalyst light-off time of the emissions device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Jason Martz, Eric Matthew Kurtz, David Hanna, Daniel Joseph Styles, Eric Curtis
  • Patent number: 10502152
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine during and after regeneration of a particulate filter are described. In one example, exhaust flow is increased and exhaust temperature is decreased in response to ceasing regeneration of a particulate filter so that SCR efficiency may be improved in a short amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Eric James Kastanis
  • Patent number: 10487760
    Abstract: A method may comprise: positioning a pressure control valve (PCV) at an outlet of a fuel rail; positioning a volume control valve (VCV) at an inlet of a high pressure pump; and in response to an exhaust particulate matter (PM) level deviating from a target PM level, adjusting a fuel ratio of a first fuel and a second fuel delivered to an engine, and opening one of the PCV and the VCV. In this way, the fuel oxygen content may be adjusted to maintain a PM at or below a target level without a DPF over a broad range of engine designs and operating conditions, while maintaining fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Christopher Polonowski, James Eric Anderson, Werner Willems, Nan Robarge
  • Patent number: 10473011
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during a non-engine operating condition, regenerating a particulate filter coupled in an exhaust system downstream of an engine by activating an electric heater of the particulate filter and directing intake air through the particulate filter, the intake air bypassing the engine, and adjusting an electrical load of the electric heater responsive to one or more of exhaust temperature and intake airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison
  • Patent number: 10408142
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting and stopping a diesel engine are presented. In one example, a cetane enhancer is selectively mixed with diesel fuel to provide a cetane enhanced diesel fuel. A diesel engine may be supplied the cetane enhanced diesel fuel after an engine cold start to improve catalyst light off time and engine emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10393058
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with different fuels having different cetane levels are described. In one example, start of fuel injection timing for engine cylinders may be adjusted responsive to engine deceleration or combustion phase during engine cranking. The start of fuel injection timing may be retarded for higher cetane fuels and advanced for lower cetane fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Daniel Joseph Rinkevich
  • Publication number: 20190234325
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting and stopping a diesel engine are presented. In one example, a cetane enhancer is selectively mixed with diesel fuel to provide a cetane enhanced diesel fuel. A diesel engine may be supplied the cetane enhanced diesel fuel after an engine cold start to improve catalyst light off time and engine emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10352266
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting fuel injections provided to a cylinder when a fuel rail pressure deviation from a threshold pressure is detected. In one example, a method may include reducing a total number of pilot and/or main fuel injections provided to a cylinder in a given cylinder cycle in response to a reduction of pressure in a fuel rail. In this way, the threshold rail pressure may be maintained, reducing the likelihood the engine will be derated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Kyle Pohlkamp
  • Publication number: 20190203654
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing exhaust gas recirculation to a two stroke opposed piston diesel engine are described. In one example, high and low pressure exhaust gas recirculation systems may be activated or deactivated in response to exhaust gas hydrocarbon concentration and particulate matter flow rate from the engine. In addition, operation of the low and high pressure exhaust gas recirculation systems may be responsive to an operating state of a supercharger compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Styles, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10329997
    Abstract: Methods and systems for supplying fuel to a diesel engine during a cycle of a cylinder are described. In one example, a cylinder is supplied fuel via two fuel injectors having different fuel flow rates. The two fuel injectors may be arranged opposed to each other or in a way that fuel spray from one injector intersects and collides with fuel spray from the other injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10302030
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting and stopping a diesel engine are presented. In one example, a cetane enhancer is selectively mixed with diesel fuel to provide a cetane enhanced diesel fuel. A diesel engine may be supplied the cetane enhanced diesel fuel after an engine cold start to improve catalyst light off time and engine emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20190136745
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a ducted fuel injector. In one example, a method may include adjusting a temperature of combustion chamber gases in a combustion chamber and/or adjusting a fuel rail pressure in response to an amount of light sensed by a photodiode of the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20190136791
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with different fuels having different cetane levels are described. In one example, start of fuel injection timing for engine cylinders may be adjusted responsive to engine deceleration or combustion phase during engine cranking. The start of fuel injection timing may be retarded for higher cetane fuels and advanced for lower cetane fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Daniel Joseph Rinkevich
  • Publication number: 20190128212
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for actively heating pistons in combustion chambers to decrease a torque imbalance in an engine. In one example, a method for operation of an engine includes determining a variation between compression ratios in a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber and operating a piston heating system to apply a targeted amount of heat to a first piston assembly based on the variation between the compression ratios, the first piston assembly including a first piston positioned within the first combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Polonowski, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Daniel William Kantrow
  • Publication number: 20190107066
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine during and after regeneration of a particulate filter are described. In one example, exhaust flow is increased and exhaust temperature is decreased in response to ceasing regeneration of a particulate filter so that SCR efficiency may be improved in a short amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Eric James Kastanis
  • Patent number: 10239518
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operation based on wirelessly received weather data in conjunction with engine sensor outputs. In one example, a method may comprise receiving a first measurement of a weather parameter from one or more engine sensors and a second measurement of the weather parameter from weather data, the weather data provided by a wireless weather service. The method may further comprise determining accuracies for the first and second measurements, generating an estimate of the weather parameter based on the accuracies of the first and second measurements, and adjusting at least one engine operating parameter based on the generated estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Eric Matthew Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Publication number: 20190085778
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating an amount of residual or retained fuel that remains in a cylinder from a first cycle of the cylinder to a second cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, the amount of residual fuel is estimated in response to a temperature of an oxidation catalyst. The retained fuel amount may then be the basis for adjusting fuel injection amounts during the second cycle of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Eric James Kastanis
  • Publication number: 20190085758
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing engine braking for a two stroke diesel engine are described. In one example, a flow through a mechanically driven supercharger is adjusted to provide engine braking for a two stroke diesel engine when engine braking is requested. The level or amount of engine braking may be adjusted via increasing or decreasing flow through the mechanically driven supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20190085759
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing engine braking for a two stroke diesel engine are described. In one example, a flow through a mechanically driven supercharger is adjusted to provide engine braking for a two stroke diesel engine when engine braking is requested. The level or amount of engine braking may be adjusted via increasing or decreasing flow through the mechanically driven supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20190080530
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle wirelessly communicating with a central server. In one example, a method may include monitoring faults and sending engine conditions along with driver inputs to the central server for processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Daniel Joseph Styles, Daniel A. Makled, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Lauren Newton