Patents by Inventor Göran Almkvist
Göran Almkvist 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: 11724686Abstract: A method of reducing cold start emissions in a series mode hybrid electric vehicle, including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust duct having a catalyst and a downstream oxygen sensor, an output of the combustion engine being connected to an electric generator with a power output of at least 10 kW that is connected to an electric motor which is coupled to a drive shaft of two or more wheels. The method includes detecting a cold start condition, injecting fuel into the engine such that combustion at a lambda value, ?, is achieved for which ?>1, running the engine at a speed of 1000 rpm or higher, determining if the efficiency of the catalyst reaches a first level, setting ? to about 1 after the predetermined efficiency level of the catalyst has been reached, and reducing the speed to working conditions when the catalyst efficiency reaches a second level.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Göran Almkvist, Markus Ekström
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Patent number: 11701945Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal control system for an electric vehicle comprising: a high voltage battery; a first heat exchanger adapted to be in contact with the ambient for circulating a heat exchange medium in thermal contact with the ambient; a second heat exchanger in thermal contact with the battery; a heat transport system for transporting the heat exchange medium from the first heat exchanger to an evaporator/condenser assembly that is in thermal contact with the second heat exchanger for transfer of heat to the battery and for transporting the heat exchange medium back to the first heat exchanger. At least one of the first and second heat exchangers is provided with a vibration device, such as an ultrasonic transducer, for releasing of ice formed on the at least one heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventors: Göran Almkvist, Jonas Björkholtz
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Publication number: 20220396165Abstract: A method of charging an electric vehicle, including: providing an external charging unit and an external cooling unit; connecting a battery power inlet on the vehicle to the charging unit via a power cable; connecting a heat exchange connector of a heat exchanger of the vehicle to the external cooling unit via a heat exchange duct; supplying a cooling medium from a coolant tank of the external cooling unit to the vehicle while providing a high level power input via the power cable during a peak charging time interval tpc; and supplying a cooling medium via a heat pump to the heat exchange connector while providing a second level power input via the power cable that is lower than the first level during a subsequent charging time interval tsc following on the peak charging time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Jonas Björkholtz
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Publication number: 20220348186Abstract: A method of reducing cold start emissions in a series mode hybrid electric vehicle, including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust duct having a catalyst and a downstream oxygen sensor, an output of the combustion engine being connected to an electric generator with a power output of at least 10 kW that is connected to an electric motor which is coupled to a drive shaft of two or more wheels. The method includes detecting a cold start condition, injecting fuel into the engine such that combustion at a lambda value, ?, is achieved for which ?>1, running the engine at a speed of 1000 rpm or higher, determining if the efficiency of the catalyst reaches a first level, setting ? to about 1 after the predetermined efficiency level of the catalyst has been reached, and reducing the speed to working conditions when the catalyst efficiency reaches a second level.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Markus Ekström
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Publication number: 20220194380Abstract: A method for braking a hybrid electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle and a computer program element. The method includes actuating braking with a brake energy, starting to regenerate the brake energy and charging a battery system with the regenerated brake energy, receiving a state of charge of the battery system, redirecting the regenerated brake energy into an integrated starter generator in case of a full or limited charging of the battery system, and activating the integrated starter generator to rotate an internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Göran ALMKVIST, Jonas BJÖRKHOLTZ, Markus EKSTRÖM, Andreas ERIKSSON
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Publication number: 20220118817Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal control system for an electric vehicle comprising: a high voltage battery; a first heat exchanger adapted to be in contact with the ambient for circulating a heat exchange medium in thermal contact with the ambient; a second heat exchanger in thermal contact with the battery; a heat transport system for transporting the heat exchange medium from the first heat exchanger to an evaporator/condenser assembly that is in thermal contact with the second heat exchanger for transfer of heat to the battery and for transporting the heat exchange medium back to the first heat exchanger. At least one of the first and second heat exchangers is provided with a vibration device, such as an ultrasonic transducer, for releasing of ice formed on the at least one heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Jonas Björkholtz
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Publication number: 20220032902Abstract: A system for controlling an operating point of a power source for a propulsive e-machine in a hybrid electric vehicle, including: a power train including a power source and at least one propulsive e-machine, wherein the power source includes an integrated starter generator and an internal combustion engine; at least one desired operating point for the power source including at least one characteristic parameter; an operating point component configured to query the at least one desired operating point and to selectively distribute the control of the at least one desired operating point to a control of the internal combustion engine or to a control of the integrated starter generator control.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Andreas ERIKSSON, Markus EKSTRÖM, Göran ALMKVIST, Jonas BJÖRKHOLTZ
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Patent number: 6681562Abstract: A method of reducing emissions in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine includes at least one cylinder supplied with an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, control members for controlling the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, and a piston reciprocating between a top dead-center position and a bottom dead-center position in the cylinder. The method includes supplying an air/fuel mixture with a lambda value greater than 1 to the cylinder, controlling the intake valve so that it opens after the piston has passed the top dead-center position, controlling the exhaust valve so that it opens before the piston has passed the bottom dead-center position, and controlling the exhaust valve so that it closes before the intake valve opens.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2001Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Lars Allevåg, Göran Almkvist, Ingemar Bredström, Karin Thorn
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Patent number: 6640785Abstract: In a method and device for fuel injection intended for an internal combustion engine with a wide range of speeds of revolution and with high requirements for rapid response such as, for example, the engine in a motor cycle, the fuel injection to the internal combustion engine comprising an intake pipe (1) with at least one intake valve (2) and one or more injectors is controlled in such a manner that a first fuel injection in order to obtain a well prepared air/fuel mixture occurs early in the working cycle of the engine following the closure of the intake valve and a second fuel injection in order to obtain an optimal amount of fuel for the cycle, a process known as “transient compensation”, occurs late in the working cycle before closure of the intake valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: SEM ABInventor: Göran Almkvist
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Patent number: 6609365Abstract: A method of reducing emissions in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine that has at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated, at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, and a piston reciprocating between a top dead-center position and a bottom dead-center position in the cylinder. The method comprises the following steps: an air/fuel mixture with a lambda value greater than 1 is supplied to the cylinder, an electric motor/generator connected to the crankshaft maintains an essentially constant predetermined speed of the crankshaft, and the exhaust valve is controlled so that it opens before the piston has passed the bottom dead-center position is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Göran Almkvist, Karin Thorn
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Patent number: 6575129Abstract: The invention discloses a method of reducing emissions in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, at least one inlet valve, at least one exhaust valve, control members for controlling the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves, and a piston reciprocating between a top dead-center position and a bottom dead-center position in the cylinder. The method includes the steps of supplying an air/fuel mixture with lambda value greater than 1 to the cylinder, controlling the internal combustion engine so that it works at high load, and controlling the inlet valve so that it opens after the piston has passed the top dead-center position. According to an embodiment of the invention, the internal combustion engine is controlled so that the crankshaft rotates at an essentially constant speed within a range of about 1000 to about 2000 rpm.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Göran Almkvist, Karin Thorn, Sten Sjöström
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Patent number: 6561170Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reducing emissions in the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine that has at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated, at least one inlet valve, at least one inlet duct connecting to the inlet valve, at least one exhaust valve, at least one exhaust duct connecting to the exhaust valve, control members for controlling the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves, and a piston reciprocating between a top dead-center position and a bottom dead-center position in the cylinder. The method comprises the steps of supplying a lean air/fuel mixture to the cylinder, controlling the internal combustion engine so that it works at high load, and controlling the exhaust valve so that it opens when the piston is located in the bottom dead-center position. The exhaust valve is preferably controlled so that it closes after the induction stroke has started.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Volvo Personvagner ABInventors: Göran Almkvist, Jan Knutsson, Jan-Erik Larsson, Henrik Magné, Lars Allervåg
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Patent number: 6550239Abstract: A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The engine includes at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated. The method includes supplying an air/fuel mixture with a lambda value greater than one to the cylinder, and controlling the pressure in the intake channel by an electric motor/generator coupled to the crankshaft. When the pressure in the intake channel exceeds a predetermined pressure, the electric motor/generator is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the intake channel can decrease, and when the pressure in the intake channel falls below a predetermined pressure, the electric motor/generator is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the intake channel can increase.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Göran Almkvist, Krister Fredriksson
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Patent number: 6536850Abstract: A method for controlling vacuum in an intake conduit of a combustion engine in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is provided with a brake booster and an actuator for actuating the brake booster. Actuation of the brake booster causes a throttle valve in the intake conduit to close creating a vacuum to the brake booster.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar ABInventors: Göran Almkvist, Marcus Maxvall, Henrik Green, Olle Fast
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Patent number: 6390065Abstract: Method of reducing noxious or toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine (10) having a plurality of cylinders (12) cooperating with a crankshaft (13) to cause the crankshaft to rotate at a rotational speed when the cylinders (12) are provided with an air/fuel mixture having a lambda value and the mixture is ignited to generate pressure in the cylinders. The method includes measuring a parameter reflecting the pressure in a first cylinder during at least a part of a working stroke of the first cylinder when supplied with an air/fuel mixture having a first lambda value to thereby obtain a first parametric value. An air/fuel mixture is provided to a second cylinder, which air/fuel mixture has a second lambda value which is different to the first lambda value, to cause the second cylinder to perform a working stroke. A parameter is measured reflecting the pressure in the second cylinder during at least a part of the working stroke of the second cylinder to obtain a second parametric value.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2001Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventor: Göran Almkvist