Patents by Inventor Frank Ament

Frank Ament 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: 8783016
    Abstract: A system may include a hydrocarbon (HC) absorber positioned in an exhaust flow path and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) positioned in the exhaust flow path downstream of the HC absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G Santoso, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8615988
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that is disposed downstream of the engine and that filters particulates from the exhaust. An electrical heater is disposed upstream of the DPF and selectively heats the exhaust to initiate combustion of the particulates within the exhaust as it passes therethrough. Heat generated by combustion of the particulates induces combustion of particulates within the DPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8549846
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system includes: a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine; and a grid of electrically resistive material that is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF and that selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8539759
    Abstract: A regeneration control system for a particulate filter (PF) includes a condition module and an oxygen-level module. The condition module determines whether an oxygen limiting event is required for the PF during a regeneration event. The oxygen-level control module communicates with the condition module and selectively limits an oxygen level in the PF during the regeneration event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Ament, David B. Brown
  • Patent number: 8484953
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system generally includes a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine. A grid of electrically resistive material is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF and selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF. A catalyst coating is applied to the PF that increases a temperature of the combustion of the particulates within the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8464518
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine with a secondary air source, a fuel system that communicates with the engine, and a controller that communicates with the fuel system. The controller controls a first quantity of liquid fuel to the engine at a first A/F ratio and a second quantity of vapor fuel to the engine at a second A/F ratio. The liquid and vapor fuel mixture has a third A/F ratio. A secondary air source provides additional air to the third A/F ratio. The controller determines an available A/F ratio of vapor fuel within the fuel tank and performs a comparison with a target A/F ratio range. The second quantity is set to zero if the A/F ratio of the vapor fuel is outside of the target A/F ratio range. The controller adjusts the first and second quantities based on a comparison between an exhaust A/F ratio and a target exhaust A/F ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Ament, Mary Beth Furness
  • Patent number: 8209970
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine control system includes generating an engine start signal, determining whether a cold start condition exists, energizing an electrically heated catalyst based on the cold start condition, determining the temperature of the electrically heated catalyst and selectively starting an engine based on the engine start signal and the electrically heated catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament, Halim G Santoso
  • Patent number: 8205441
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system includes: a particulate filter (PF) that is disposed downstream of the engine and that filters particulates from the exhaust; and a grid that includes electrically resistive material that is segmented by non-conductive material into a plurality of zones and wherein the grid is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8151557
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine has a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that is disposed downstream of the engine and that filters particulates in the exhaust. An electrical heater is disposed upstream of the DPF and selectively heats the exhaust to initiate combustion of the particulates. Heat generated by combustion of particulates in the heater induces combustion of particulates within the DPF. A control module selectively enables current flow to the electrical heater for an initial period of a DPF regeneration cycle, and limits exhaust flow while the electrical heater is heating to a predetermined soot combustion temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8118908
    Abstract: A particulate matter (PM) filter includes filter walls having inlet ends and outlet ends. First adjacent pairs of the filter walls define inlet channels. Second adjacent pairs of the filter walls define outlet channels. Outlet end plugs are arranged in the inlet channels adjacent to the output ends. Inlet end plugs arranged in the outlet channels spaced from the inlet ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7975469
    Abstract: A control system that controls regeneration of a particulate filter is provided. The system generally includes a propagation module that estimates a propagation status of combustion of particulate matter in the particulate filter. A regeneration module controls current to the particulate filter to re-initiate regeneration based on the propagation status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7958723
    Abstract: A control system that controls regeneration of a particulate filter is provided. The system generally includes a regeneration module that controls current to the particulate filter to initiate combustion of particulate matter in the particulate filter. A propagation module estimates a propagation status of the combustion of the particulate matter based on a combustion temperature. A temperature adjustment module controls the combustion temperature by selectively increasing a temperature of exhaust that passes through the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7931715
    Abstract: An exhaust filter system includes a particulate filter (PF) that is disposed downstream from an engine. The PF filters particulates within an exhaust from the engine. A heating element heats particulate matter in the PF. A fastener limits expansion movement of the heating element relative to the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7877987
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system generally includes a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine. A grid of electrically resistive material selectively heats exhaust passing through the upstream end to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF. A hydrocarbon adsorbent coating applied to the PF releases hydrocarbons into the exhaust to increase a temperature of the combustion of the particulates within the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7862635
    Abstract: An exhaust system includes a particulate filter (PF) that is disposed downstream from an engine. The PF filters particulates within an exhaust from the engine. A heating element heats particulate matter in the PF. A catalyst substrate or a flow converter is disposed upstream from said heating element. The catalyst substrate oxidizes the exhaust prior to reception by the heating element. The flow converter converts turbulent exhaust flow to laminar exhaust flow prior to reception by the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7858052
    Abstract: A catalytic converter includes an inlet. A first sub-section of substrate is located a first distance from the inlet that includes a first catalyst coating having a first density. A second sub-section of substrate is located a second distance from the inlet that includes a second catalyst coating having a second density. The second distance is greater than the first distance and the second density is greater than the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7818960
    Abstract: An exhaust system includes a heating element that is disposed downstream from an engine and that introduces thermal energy into an exhaust of the engine. A selective catalyst reduction (SCR) unit is disposed downstream from the heating element and filters nitrogen oxides (NOx) within the exhaust. A control module is in communication with and energizes the heating element based on temperature of the SCR unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7778767
    Abstract: An engine control module includes an engine starting module that communicates with an electric motor to operate an internal combustion engine including M fuel injectors and that determines whether manifold pressure is below a manifold pressure threshold. A warming module communicates with the M fuel injectors to inject fuel into N of M the fuel injectors when the manifold pressure is less than the manifold pressure threshold. N and M are integers and N is less than M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Halim G Santoso, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7691339
    Abstract: A particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine including a particulate trap, microwave-absorbing materials located in the particulate trap, and a NOx catalyst located in said particulate trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Ament, Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090229467
    Abstract: A particulate matter (PM) filter includes filter walls having inlet ends and outlet ends. First adjacent pairs of the filter walls define inlet channels. Second adjacent pairs of the filter walls define outlet channels. Outlet end plugs are arranged in the inlet channels adjacent to the output ends. Inlet end plugs arranged in the outlet channels spaced from the inlet ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament