Patents by Inventor James Kerns

James Kerns 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: 7765991
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel vapor purging system and a fuel delivery system including a fuel pump and a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the fuel pressure provided by the fuel pump is disclosed. In one example, the method includes, during a degraded condition of the fuel pressure sensor, adjusting the fuel pump output in response to an operating condition, adjusting at least one of a condition of the fuel vapor purging system and adaptive learning of a characteristic of the fuel delivery system; and further adjusting the fuel pump output in response to an output of an exhaust gas sensor while also adjusting an amount of fuel injected into a cylinder of the engine in response to said output of the exhaust gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas, James Kerns
  • Patent number: 7600375
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conducting exhaust emitted by the engine, and a catalytic device associated with the exhaust system is disclosed, wherein the catalytic device comprises a catalytic conversion portion and a fuel cell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7549283
    Abstract: In one example, a system for a vehicle traveling on the road is described. The system includes a first cylinder; a second cylinder; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said first cylinder; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said second cylinder; and a controller configured to operate in a first mode with both said first and second cylinders carrying out lean combustion, where fuel injection amounts to each of said first and second cylinder are adjusted based on said linear sensor; said controller further configured to operate in a second mode with both said first and second cylinders carrying out combustion about stoichiometry, where fuel injection amounts to at least one of said first and second cylinder are adjusted based on said switching sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, Tobias Pallett, Sukhdev Sekhon, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 7421836
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder group engine system operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode a first and second cylinder group combust air and fuel, and where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder group combusts air and fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder group pumps air without injected fuel, the engine system comprising of a first linear exhaust gas sensor disposed in a first exhaust passage to measure air fuel exhausted from the first cylinder group; a first switching type exhaust gas sensor disposed in a second exhaust passage to measure air-fuel exhausted from the second cylinder group; a second linear exhaust gas sensor disposed downstream of a junction between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; and a controller configured to validate a reading of the first linear exhaust gas sensor during the first mode of engine operation based on a reading of the second linear exhaust gas sensor when a lean air-fuel ratio is co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Kerns, Suzanne Wait
  • Patent number: 7377104
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle traveling on the road is shown. The system includes a first cylinder; a second cylinder; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said first cylinder; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said second cylinder; and a controller configured to perform a decontamination cycle where one of said first cylinder and second cylinder produces a reductant rich exhaust and the other of said first and said second cylinder produces an oxygen rich exhaust, where an air-fuel ratio of one of said first and second cylinder is adjusted in response to said linear sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Makki, James Kerns, Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20080035122
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel vapor purging system and a fuel delivery system including a fuel pump and a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the fuel pressure provided by the fuel pump is disclosed. In one example, the method includes, during a degraded condition of the fuel pressure sensor, adjusting the fuel pump output in response to an operating condition, adjusting at least one of a condition of the fuel vapor purging system and adaptive learning of a characteristic of the fuel delivery system; and further adjusting the fuel pump output in response to an output of an exhaust gas sensor while also adjusting an amount of fuel injected into a cylinder of the engine in response to said output of the exhaust gas sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas, James Kerns
  • Publication number: 20070295307
    Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle traveling on the road, comprising of a first fuel injector coupled to a cylinder of the engine, a second fuel injector coupled to said cylinder of the engine, a compression device for compressing intake air delivered to said cylinder, a fuel tank configured to store a fuel, the fuel tank coupled to the first and second injectors, a fuel vapor purge system for delivering vapors of the fuel to said cylinder of the engine and a controller configured to vary an amount of injection of the fuel from at least one of the first and second fuel injectors as a concentration of said vapors varies, and further to vary said amount of injection based on operation of the compression device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: James Kerns
  • Publication number: 20070186876
    Abstract: An exhaust emission reduction system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with an at least one cylinder coupled to an exhaust system comprises a NOx reduction catalyst disposed in the exhaust system downstream of the engine exhaust system; and a fuel cell disposed in the exhaust system downstream of the NOx reduction catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20070190377
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20070186545
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conducting exhaust emitted by the engine, and a catalytic device associated with the exhaust system is disclosed, wherein the catalytic device comprises a catalytic conversion portion and a fuel cell portion disposed within an interior of the catalytic device, wherein the fuel cell portion comprises a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in contact with exhaust gases in the interior of the catalytic device, the first electrode being disposed downstream of the second electrode in a direction of exhaust flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20070186544
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conducting exhaust emitted by the engine, and a catalytic device associated with the exhaust system is disclosed, wherein the catalytic device comprises a catalytic conversion portion and a fuel cell portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20070186537
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7234455
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle comprising of an engine including a first cylinder group and a second cylinder group; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the first cylinder group; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the second cylinder group; and a controller configured to operate the engine in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode the first and second cylinder groups combust air and fuel, where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder groups combusts air and injected fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder groups pumps air without injecting fuel, and where the controller is further configured to estimate torque of the engine in each of the first and second modes of operation based on the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder group and the air-fuel ratio of the second cylinder group independent of the switching sensor and dependent on the linear sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Kerns
  • Publication number: 20070125070
    Abstract: An emissions control system for a vehicle configured to travel on a road is provided. The system typically includes a catalyst coupled to the exhaust gas path, a linear universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor coupled to the exhaust gas path upstream of the catalyst and configured to measure oxygen content in exhaust gas from the engine upstream of the catalyst, and a heated exhaust gas oxygen (HEGO) sensor positioned adjacent the catalyst and configured to measure oxygen content in exhaust gas from the engine. The system further typically includes a controller coupled to the engine and configured to, during a warm up period of the catalyst during which input from the HEGO sensor is unavailable, adjust an engine air-fuel ratio of the engine in response to the input from the linear exhaust gas oxygen sensor, and further configured to provide modulation of said air-fuel ratio during the warm up period so that the air-fuel ratio of the engine oscillates about a selected target ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Eric Storhok, James Kerns, Imad Makki, Ed Schoenberg
  • Publication number: 20070125069
    Abstract: An emissions control system for a vehicle configured to travel on a road is provided. The system typically includes a catalyst coupled to the exhaust gas path; a linear universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor coupled to the exhaust gas path upstream of the catalyst and configured to measure oxygen content in exhaust gas from the engine upstream of the catalyst; a heated exhaust gas oxygen (HEGO) sensor positioned adjacent the catalyst and configured to measure oxygen content in exhaust gas from the engine; a temperature sensor coupled to the engine; and a controller coupled to the engine and configured to receive an input signal from the HEGO sensor that is indicative of oxygen content in the exhaust gas, to receive an input signal from the temperature sensor that is indicative of engine temperature, to adjust the HEGO sensor input signal based on the input signal from the temperature sensor, and to control the air-fuel ratio based on the adjusted HEGO sensor input during engine warm up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Eric Storhok, James Kerns, Imad Makki, Ed Schoenberg
  • Patent number: 7225782
    Abstract: A vehicle system is disclosed. The system include a engine capable of disabling and enabling at least one cylinder; a motor coupled to said engine capable of absorbing torque and providing torque; and a controller for disabling and enabling said at least one cylinder, and during at least one of disabling and enabling, varying torque of said motor to compensate for transient changes in engine output torque caused by said one of disabling and enabling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20070119411
    Abstract: A method for controlling engine operation of an engine having a cylinder receiving fuel from a first and a second fuel injector, the first injector having a first relationship between a first input signal and a first amount of injected fuel, and the second injector having a second relationship between a second input signal and a second amount of injected fuel; the method comprising of varying injection from the first injector into the cylinder, varying injection from the second injector into the cylinder, purging fuel vapors from a fuel system into the cylinder, and adaptively learning said first and second relationships based on sensed operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventor: James Kerns
  • Publication number: 20070074933
    Abstract: A towable elevatable stand includes a platform that is always elevated above a trailer bed to at least a minimum elevation, but can be easily raised to selected elevations up to almost double the minimum elevation. This allows for carrying ATV, supplies, etc. on the trailer bed under the platform. Telescoping corner posts with latch pins for securing the platform at selected elevations can be combined with a simple winch, pulleys and cables for raising/lowering the platform. Commercially available parts, light weight materials, and a simple elevating apparatus produce a light weight, cost effective stand that is easy to use, tow and maintain, and which minimizes wind resistance. The platform is perforated for drainage and light weight, and the blind is a pop-up tent that is stowed for towing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventor: James KERNS
  • Publication number: 20070051351
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle comprising of an engine including a first cylinder group and a second cylinder group; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the first cylinder group; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the second cylinder group; and a controller configured to operate the engine in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode the first and second cylinder groups combust air and fuel, where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder groups combusts air and injected fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder groups pumps air without injecting fuel, and where the controller is further configured to estimate torque of the engine in each of the first and second modes of operation based on the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder group and the air-fuel ratio of the second cylinder group independent of the switching sensor and dependent on the linear sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Kerns
  • Publication number: 20070051092
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder group engine system operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode a first and second cylinder group combust air and fuel, and where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder group combusts air and fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder group pumps air without injected fuel, the engine system comprising of a first linear exhaust gas sensor disposed in a first exhaust passage to measure air fuel exhausted from the first cylinder group; a first switching type exhaust gas sensor disposed in a second exhaust passage to measure air-fuel exhausted from the second cylinder group; a second linear exhaust gas sensor disposed downstream of a junction between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; and a controller configured to validate a reading of the first linear exhaust gas sensor during the first mode of engine operation based on a reading of the second linear exhaust gas sensor when a lean air-fuel ratio is co
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Kerns, Suzanne Wait