Patents by Inventor James J. Driscoll

James J. Driscoll 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: 10378408
    Abstract: Described herein are illustrative exhaust systems and methods including ammonia generation and storage. An illustrative system can include a first exhaust conduit to and receive a first exhaust stream from a first engine, and a second exhaust conduit to and receive a second exhaust stream from a second engine. In the illustrative example, an exhaust treatment device coupled to the second exhaust conduit downstream of the second engine can convert nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the second exhaust stream into ammonia. An ammonia storage device coupled to the second exhaust conduit downstream of the exhaust treatment device can be configured to receive and store at least a portion of the converted ammonia as stored ammonia and to release at least a portion of the stored ammonia to a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter can include a selective catalytic reduction catalyst configured to use the ammonia to reduce NOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Driscoll, Eric L. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20190085746
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system for treating a high-volume exhaust flow is provided. The aftertreatment system includes a filter module. The aftertreatment system also includes a conduit in fluid communication with the filter module. The aftertreatment system further includes at least one aftertreatment module in fluid communication with the conduit. The filter module is adapted to selectively receive at least one filter element therein. The at least one filter element is adapted to reduce a backpressure within the aftertreatment system. The filter module is also adapted to provide incremental levels of particulate matter reduction from the exhaust flow based, at least in part, on a number of filter elements therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Guillermo A. H. Malo, James J. Driscoll, Cory A. Smith, Guruprasad Gireesh, Paul W. Park, Anthony Rodman, Colleen J Anderson
  • Publication number: 20160376968
    Abstract: A header unit for a reductant tank is provided. The header unit includes a reductant draw conduit extending into an interior space of the reductant tank. The reductant draw conduit is configured to draw a reductant from the reductant tank. The reductant draw conduit includes at least one expansion opening provided along a length thereof. The header unit also includes a valve element coupled to the reductant draw conduit. The valve element includes a main body member defining a channel therethrough. The main body member circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the reductant draw conduit corresponding to the at least one expansion opening. The main body member is made of an elastomeric material configured to accommodate an expansion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Brian M. Cole, Shawn R. Herold, Kevin L. Dea, Theron Cassidy, Matthew F. Fahrenkrug, Douglas A. Long, James J. Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20160245142
    Abstract: A reductant injector mount is provided. The reductant injector mount includes a mounting region configured to connect to an exhaust conduit. The reductant injector also includes a contoured region formed in the mounting region. The contoured region is configured to increase a velocity of an exhaust gas flow through the contoured region. The contoured region is also configured to reduce a recirculation of the exhaust gas flow through the contoured region. Further, the reductant injector mount includes a cut out portion provided on the contoured region. The cut out portion is configured to receive a reductant injector tip therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jayaraman Venkataraghavan, James J. Driscoll, David A. Akers
  • Patent number: 9249752
    Abstract: A control system for a power unit having a supply of fuel and a supply of reductant is disclosed. The control system may have a first sensor associated with the supply of fuel to generate a signal indicative of a quantity of fuel remaining. The control system may also have a second sensor associated with the supply of reductant to generate a signal indicative of a quantity of the reductant remaining. The control system may further have a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the power unit such that the remaining fuel is consumed before consumption of the remaining reductant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Donaldson, James J. Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20150023843
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system is disclosed. The aftertreatment system includes an exhaust conduit and a selective catalytic reduction module. The aftertreatment system also includes a reductant supply system. The reductant supply system includes a reductant tank, a reductant injector, and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a reversing valve assembly and a pump unit. The pump assembly also includes a plurality of check valves, a pressure sensor, and a filter. Further, the reductant supply system includes a back flow valve assembly. The reductant supply system also includes at least two header units associated with the pump assembly. The at least two header units include a reductant draw conduit and at least one heat exchanger. The at least two header units also include a bag filtration assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Driscoll, Brian M. Cole, Jinhui Sun
  • Patent number: 8635853
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a first treatment device situated to receive a flow of exhaust and convert a first constituent of the exhaust to a second constituent, and a second treatment device located downstream of the first treatment device to reduce the first and second constituents. The exhaust system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of one of a temperature and an oxygen concentration of the exhaust, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to vary the other of the temperature and the oxygen concentration based on the signal such that a desired amount of the first constituent is converted to the second constituent by the first treatment device prior to reduction by the second treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll, Michael S. Bond, David M. Milam
  • Patent number: 8281579
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a passage connected to receive exhaust from the combustion engine, and a cooling device located external to the passage to create a thermal gradient across a flow area of the passage that causes particulates within the exhaust to agglomerate on a wall of the passage. The exhaust system may also have a filtration device located to separate agglomerated particulates from the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Driscoll, Wade J. Robel, Praveen S. Chavannavar
  • Publication number: 20120144802
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have an exhaust passage configured to receive a flow of exhaust from the combustion engine, and an oxidation catalyst disposed within the exhaust passage. The exhaust system may also have a fuel injector configured to selectively inject fuel into the exhaust at a location upstream of the oxidation catalyst, a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of exhaust flowing through the exhaust passage, and a controller in communication with the fuel injector and the temperature sensor. The controller may be configured to make a determination based on the signal that an oxide layer has formed on the oxidation catalyst, and to regulate operation of the fuel injector to inject fuel and reduce the oxide layer based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: James J. DRISCOLL, Duncan J. Arrowsmith
  • Patent number: 8151558
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have an exhaust passageway, a reduction catalyst located within the exhaust passageway, and a particulate filter located within the exhaust passageway upstream of the reduction catalyst. The exhaust system may also have an oxidation catalyst located within the exhaust passageway upstream of the reduction catalyst to provide a desired ratio of NO:NO2 to the reduction catalyst, and an exhaust gas recirculation loop. The exhaust gas recirculation loop may be situated to receive exhaust from the exhaust passageway at a location upstream of the oxidation catalyst and downstream of the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20100229539
    Abstract: An engine exhaust aftertreatment system including a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device. The system contains no significant amount of catalyzed material upstream of the SCR device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: JOHN P. TIMMONS, JAMES J. DRISCOLL, ZHIYONG WEI
  • Publication number: 20100212300
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine system comprising operating a first cylinder group at a first number of strokes per combustion cycle, operating a second cylinder group at a second number of strokes per combustion cycle, the second number of strokes per cycle being different than the first number of strokes per cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Fiveland, James J. Driscoll, Kevin L. Bruch
  • Patent number: 7770386
    Abstract: A method of removing sulfur from a filter system of an engine includes continuously passing an exhaust flow through a desulfation leg of the filter system during desulfation. The method also includes sensing at least one characteristic of the exhaust flow and modifying a flow rate of the exhaust flow during desulfation in response to the sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Michael D. Lowe, Wade J. Robel, Maarten Verkiel, James J. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 7765795
    Abstract: A method of controlling engine NOx production is provided. The method may include determining a desired amount of NOx production for at least one engine cylinder at a first time and determining at least one engine operating parameter to produce the desired amount of NOx using a feed-forward neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James J. Driscoll, Mary L. Kesse, Wade J. Robel, Amit Jayachandran
  • Patent number: 7762060
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system is provided. The system may include a particulate trap configured to remove one or more types of particulate matter from an exhaust flow of an engine. The system may also include a catalyst configured to chemically alter at least one component of the exhaust flow. Further, the system may include an exhaust conduit configured to direct the exhaust flow from the engine to the particulate trap and the catalyst. In addition, the exhaust treatment system may include a heating system configured to maintain the temperature of the catalyst above a first predetermined temperature. The heating system may also be configured to periodically raise the temperature of the particulate trap above a higher, second predetermined temperature to thereby effectuate a regeneration of the particulate trap by oxidizing particulate matter accumulated in the particulate trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Easley, Jr., Maarten Verkiel, Aaron D. Strauser, James J. Driscoll, Wade J. Robel
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090293463
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a passage connected to receive exhaust from the combustion engine, and a cooling device located external to the passage to create a thermal gradient across a flow area of the passage that causes particulates within the exhaust to agglomerate on a wall of the passage. The exhaust system may also have a filtration device located to separate agglomerated particulates from the exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: James J. Driscoll, Wade J. Robel, Praveen S. Chavannavar
  • Publication number: 20090193794
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have an exhaust passageway, a reduction catalyst located within the exhaust passageway, and a particulate filter located within the exhaust passageway upstream of the reduction catalyst. The exhaust system may also have an oxidation catalyst located within the exhaust passageway upstream of the reduction catalyst to provide a desired ratio of NO:NO2 to the reduction catalyst, and an exhaust gas recirculation loop. The exhaust gas recirculation loop may be situated to receive exhaust from the exhaust passageway at a location upstream of the oxidation catalyst and downstream of the particulate filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20090188235
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a first treatment device situated to receive a flow of exhaust and convert a first constituent of the exhaust to a second constituent, and a second treatment device located downstream of the first treatment device to reduce the first and second constituents. The exhaust system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of one of a temperature and an oxygen concentration of the exhaust, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to vary the other of the temperature and the oxygen concentration based on the signal such that a desired amount of the first constituent is converted to the second constituent by the first treatment device prior to reduction by the second treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll, Michael S. Bond, David M. Milam
  • 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