Patents by Inventor Gerald N. Coleman

Gerald N. Coleman 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: 7811527
    Abstract: A method of ammonia production for a selective catalytic reduction system is provided. The method includes producing an exhaust gas stream within a cylinder group, wherein the first exhaust gas stream includes NOx. The exhaust gas stream may be supplied to an exhaust passage and cooled to a predetermined temperature range, and at least a portion of the NOx within the exhaust gas stream my be converted into ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James Joshua Driscoll, Gerald N. Coleman
  • Patent number: 7661263
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine includes operating the engine in a first combustion mode. The method also includes switching operation of the engine to a second combustion mode. The method includes directing an exhaust stream of the engine into contact with a NOx adsorber substantially only during the operation in the second combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, James J Driscoll, Kevin Duffy, Dennis L Endicott, Stephen A Faulkner, Jonathan Kilkenny, Maarten Verkiel
  • Patent number: 7645305
    Abstract: Improved highly stable formulation for aqueous fuel emulsion compositions with a water continuous phase, having reduced NOx emissions. The fuel emulsion formulation includes diesel fuel, purified water, and an additive package that includes one or more surfactants, lubricity additive, cetane improver, anti-corrosion additive, and an alcohol or other suitable antifreeze, the emulsion having an average droplet size of less than 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Clean Fuels Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Dennis L. Endicott, Edward A. Jakush
  • Patent number: 7552583
    Abstract: A power source is provided for use with selective catalytic reduction systems for exhaust-gas purification. The power source includes a first cylinder group with a first air-intake passage and a first exhaust passage, and a second cylinder group with a second air-intake passage and a second exhaust passage. The second air-intake passage is fluidly isolated from the first air-intake passage. A fuel-supply device may be configured to supply fuel into the first exhaust passage, and a catalyst may be disposed downstream of the fuel-supply device to convert at least a portion of the exhaust stream in the first exhaust passage into ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll, Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin J. Knox
  • Patent number: 7523606
    Abstract: A parasitic load control system is provided. The system may include an exhaust producing engine and a fuel pumping mechanism configured to pressurize fuel in a pressure chamber. The system may also include an injection valve configured to cause fuel pressure to build within the pressure chamber when in a first position and allow injection of fuel from the pressure chamber into one or more combustion chambers of the engine when in a second position. The system may further include a controller configured to independently regulate the pressure in the pressure chamber and the injection of fuel into the one or more combustion chambers, to increase a load on the fuel pumping mechanism, increasing parasitic load on the engine, thereby increasing a temperature of the exhaust produced by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Strauser, Gerald N. Coleman, Dana R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 7491247
    Abstract: Oil continuous fuel emulsion composition having high stability and reduced nitrogen oxide emissions. The fuel emulsion formulation includes diesel fuel, purified water, and an additive package that includes, among other additives, a combination of surfactants, including a primary surfactant, such as a fatty acid diethanolamide, a block copolymer, and a polymeric dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventors: Edward A. Jakush, Gerald N. Coleman, Dennis L. Endicott
  • Publication number: 20080187478
    Abstract: A method of ammonia production for a selective catalytic reduction system is provided. The method includes producing an exhaust gas stream within a cylinder group, wherein the first exhaust gas stream includes NOx. The exhaust gas stream may be supplied to an exhaust passage and cooled to a predetermined temperature range, and at least a portion of the NOx within the exhaust gas stream my be converted into ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James Joshua Driscoll, Gerald N. Coleman
  • Patent number: 7407522
    Abstract: The present method for producing a high stability, low emission, invert fuel emulsion composition comprises blending additives having a surfactant package with a hydrocarbon petroleum distillate fuel in an in-line blending station to create a composition. The surfactant package includes a primary surfactant, a block copolymer, and a polymeric dispersant, and the hydrocarbon petroleum distillate fuel is a continuous phase of the emulsion. The method also comprises blending purified water with the composition in a second in-line blending station to produce a second composition and aging the second composition in a reservoir to produce an aged composition and passing the aged composition through a shear pump to a storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Clean Fuels Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Jakush, Gerald N. Coleman, Dennis L. Endicott, Alex Nikolov
  • Patent number: 7371353
    Abstract: A system of ammonia production for a selective catalytic reduction system is provided. The system includes producing an exhaust gas stream within a cylinder group, wherein the first exhaust gas stream includes NOx. The exhaust gas stream may be supplied to an exhaust passage and cooled to a predetermined temperature range, and at least a portion of the NOx within the exhaust gas stream may be converted into ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James Joshua Driscoll, Gerald N. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20080022686
    Abstract: A powertrain including an HCCI engine is disclosed. The HCCI engine is configured to supply mechanical power, and a generator operably coupled to the HCCI engine is configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical power into one of electric energy and hydraulic energy. The powertrain further includes a motor operably coupled to the generator. The powertrain also includes an energy storage device operably coupled to the generator and the motor. The powertrain further includes a controller configured to control the powertrain such that energy stored in the energy storage device is supplied to the motor when the HCCI engine supplies insufficient mechanical power to the generator to supply the motor with sufficient power to meet power requirements of the powertrain, until the HCCI engine supplies sufficient mechanical power to the generator to supply the motor with sufficient power to meet the power requirements of the powertrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: John K. Amdall, Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, David M. Milam
  • Patent number: 7287372
    Abstract: Certain exhaust after-treatment devices, at least periodically, require the addition of unburnt hydrocarbons in order to create reductant-rich exhaust conditions. The present disclosure adds unburnt hydrocarbons to exhaust from at least one combustion chamber by positioning, at least partially within a combustion chamber, a mixed-mode fuel injector operable to inject fuel into the combustion chamber in a first spray pattern with a small average angle relative to a centerline of the combustion chamber and a second spray pattern with a large average angle relative to the centerline of the combustion chamber. An amount of fuel is injected in the first spray pattern into a non-combustible environment within the at least one combustion chamber during at least one of an expansion stroke and exhaust stroke. The exhaust with the unburnt amount of fuel is moved into an exhaust passage via an exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Mary L. Kesse
  • Patent number: 7252054
    Abstract: Engines and methods of controlling an engine may involve one or more cams associated with engine intake and/or exhaust valves. In some examples, shifting the rotational phase of one or more cams advances and/or delays timing of the opening and/or closing of valves. Timing of valve closing/opening and possible use of an air supply system may enable engine operation according to a Miller cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James R. Weber, Scott A. Leman, Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, Eric C. Fluga, Jonathan P. Kilkenny
  • Patent number: 7201121
    Abstract: Engines and methods of controlling an engine may involve one or more fluidically driven actuators associated with engine intake and/or exhaust valves. In some examples, the actuators may be placed in flow communication with high pressure fluid from one source and/or low pressure fluid from another. Timing of valve closing/opening and use of an air supply system may enable engine operation according to a Miller cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James R. Weber, Scott A. Leman, Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, Eric C. Fluga, Jonathan P. Kilkenny, David A. Pierpoint
  • Patent number: 7198024
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a compression ignition engine having a cylinder wall, a piston, and a head defining a combustion chamber. The method and apparatus includes delivering fuel substantially uniformly into the combustion chamber, the fuel being dispersed throughout the combustion chamber and spaced from the cylinder wall, delivering an oxidant into the combustion chamber sufficient to support combustion at a first predetermined combustion duration, and delivering a diluent into the combustion chamber sufficient to change the first predetermined combustion duration to a second predetermined combustion duration different from the first predetermined combustion duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Jonathan P. Kilkenny, Eric C. Fluga, Kevin P. Duffy
  • Patent number: 7191743
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an internal combustion engine having an engine block defining at least one cylinder and a head connected with said engine block. The head has an air intake port and an exhaust port. The internal combustion engine also has a piston and a combustion chamber. The internal combustion engine further has an air intake valve movable to open and close the air intake port and an air supply system having at least one turbocharger fluidly connected to the air intake port. The internal combustion engine additionally has a fuel supply system operable to inject fuel into the combustion chamber, a cam assembly selectively mechanically linked to the air intake valve to move the air intake valve, and an electromagnetic actuator configured to decouple the cam assembly from the air intake valve and control movement of the air intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James R. Weber, Scott A. Leman, Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, Eric C. Fluga, Jonathan P. Kilkenny, Homa Afjeh
  • Patent number: 7178492
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, Stephen A. Faulkner, Eric C. Fluga, Jonathan P. Kilkenny, Scott A. Leman, Cornelius N. Opris, Maarten Verkiel, James R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20060042233
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine includes operating the engine in a first combustion mode. The method also includes switching operation of the engine to a second combustion mode. The method includes directing an exhaust stream of the engine into contact with a NOx adsorber substantially only during the operation in the second combustion mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, James Driscoll, Kevin Duffy, Dennis Endicott, Stephen A. Faulkner, Jonathan Kilkenny, Maarten Verkiel
  • Patent number: 6883314
    Abstract: Combustion air for use in an engine is normally compressed by a compressor which adds heat during the process of increasing the density of the combustion air. To decrease the heat content of the combustion air, an aftercooler is used. When compressing combustion air to a higher density, the combustion air is compressed by a first compressor section to a first preestablished pressure and temperature and by a second compressor section to a second preestablished pressure and temperature. To decrease the heat content of the highly compressed dense combustion air, a first aftercooler having an air to liquid configuration is used and a second aftercooler having an air to air configuration is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Callas, Gerald N. Coleman, James J. Faletti, David A. Pierpont, James R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20040255509
    Abstract: The present method for producing a high stability, low emission, invert fuel emulsion composition comprises blending additives having a surfactant package with a hydrocarbon petroleum distillate fuel in an in-line blending station to create a composition. The surfactant package includes a primary surfactant, a block copolymer, and a polymeric dispersant, and the hydrocarbon petroleum distillate fuel is a continuous phase of the emulsion. The method also comprises blending purified water with the composition in a second in-line blending station to produce a second composition and aging the second composition in a reservoir to produce an aged composition and passing the aged composition through a shear pump to a storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Clean Fuels Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Jakush, Gerald N. Coleman, Dennis L. Endicott, Alex Nikolov
  • Patent number: RE39937
    Abstract: Past exhaust emission control systems have failed to cool the exhaust gas prior to mixing with the intake air. The present exhaust gas recirculation system cools a flow of exhaust gas with a common coolant being used to cool an engine prior to mixing the flow of exhaust gas with a flow of intake air. The present exhaust gas recirculation system includes a control system for monitoring an operating parameter of an engine. The control system interprets a signal sensing the operating parameter within a controller and the controller causes an exhaust valve regulator to move between an open position and a closed position. Additionally, a plurality of paths or maps, for example, one being a normal coolant temperature strategy and another being a high coolant temperature strategy is used. In the normal coolant temperature strategy, with the exhaust valve regulator in the open position the supply of fuel to the engine would be advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald N. Coleman