Patents by Inventor Kirk Heywood

Kirk Heywood 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: 8831858
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for operating an internal combustion engine, the engine having a plurality of cylinders including one or more donor cylinders and one or more non-donor cylinders. In one example, a method includes, during an exhaust gas recirculation cooler heating mode, operating at least one of the donor cylinders at a cylinder load sufficient to increase an exhaust temperature for regenerating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler, and operating at least one of the non-donor cylinders in a low- or no-fuel mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Stephen Roth, Kyle Craig Stott, James Robert Mischler, Paul Flynn, Kirk Heywood, Daniel Allan Moser
  • Patent number: 8206078
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a compressor and a turbine coupled to opposing ends of the shaft. The system includes a thrust collar including a cylindrical portion and a flange configured to radially extend from one end of the cylindrical portion. The thrust collar is configured to rotate with the shaft. A sensor is positioned within a separation of an outer surface of the thrust collar flange, and the sensor is configured to monitor the separation as indicative of the radial motion of the shaft. Additionally, a method is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kendall Roger Swenson, Daniel Edward Loringer, Larry Gene Anderson, James Robert Mischler, Kirk Heywood
  • Publication number: 20110253113
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for operating an internal combustion engine, the engine having a plurality of cylinders including one or more donor cylinders and one or more non-donor cylinders. In one example, a method includes, during an exhaust gas recirculation cooler heating mode, operating at least one of the donor cylinders at a cylinder load sufficient to increase an exhaust temperature for regenerating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler, and operating at least one of the non-donor cylinders in a low- or no-fuel mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Stephen Roth, Kyle Craig Stott, James Robert Mischler, Paul Flynn, Kirk Heywood, Daniel Allan Moser
  • Patent number: 7953541
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system and a plurality of cylinders that utilize fuel and/or oil for combustion and engine lubrication purposes. In one example, a method comprises, while the engine is operating in a low-load mode or an idle mode, successively operating distinct subsets of said cylinders at a cylinder load sufficient to increase an exhaust temperature for burning unburned fuel and/or oil deposited in the cylinders or engine exhaust system. Herein, each successively operated subset comprises at least one but fewer than all of the plurality of cylinders, and the cylinders that are not currently being operated in a subset are operated in a low- or no-fuel mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Stephen Roth, Kyle Craig Stott, James Robert Mischler, Paul Flynn, Kirk Heywood, Daniel Allan Moser
  • Publication number: 20100030448
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system and a plurality of cylinders that utilize fuel and/or oil for combustion and engine lubrication purposes. In one example, a method comprises, while the engine is operating in a low-load mode or an idle mode, successively operating distinct subsets of said cylinders at a cylinder load sufficient to increase an exhaust temperature for burning unburned fuel and/or oil deposited in the cylinders or engine exhaust system. Herein, each successively operated subset comprises at least one but fewer than all of the plurality of cylinders, and the cylinders that are not currently being operated in a subset are operated in a low- or no-fuel mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Stephen Roth, Kyle Craig Stott, James Robert Mischler, Paul Flynn, Kirk Heywood, Daniel Allan Moser
  • Patent number: 7350405
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of generating a virtual crankshaft positioning stream of signal pulses that is derived from one or more series of actual crank signals. The virtual stream is useful for monitoring crankshaft positioning and is able to persist despite electromagnetic disturbances in the series of actual crank signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Esa Sheikh, Bo Nilson Almstedt, Larry G. Anderson, Kirk Heywood, Ajith K. Kumar
  • Publication number: 20070256482
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of generating a virtual crankshaft positioning stream of signal pulses that is derived from one or more series of actual crank signals. The virtual stream is useful for monitoring crankshaft positioning and is able to persist despite electromagnetic disturbances in the series of actual crank signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Ahmed Sheikh, Bo Almstedt, Larry Anderson, Kirk Heywood, Ajith Kumar