Patents by Inventor Larry Castleberry

Larry Castleberry 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: 10549627
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Larry Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20190210454
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Larry Castleberry
  • Patent number: 10272771
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Larry Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20170355260
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Larry Castleberry
  • Patent number: 9212627
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for draining water separated from diesel fuel into an EGR system. In response to the water volume in the fuel system and EGR flow at pre-determined levels, water may be introduced into the EGR system. EGR flow may also be controlled in response to introducing water into the EGR system and engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Carlos Armesto, Larry Castleberry, Brad Allen Brown, Armando Chacon
  • Patent number: 9157393
    Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the fuel system includes a fuel supply coupled to a low pressure fuel pump, the low pressure fuel pump coupled to a high pressure fuel pump to provide fuel to a fuel rail. Further, the fuel system includes a plurality of injectors coupled to the fuel rail to provide fuel to a plurality of engine cylinders. Further still, the fuel system includes a first fuel return line coupling the fuel rail to the fuel supply and a thermal recirculation valve, the thermal recirculation valve further coupled to a low pressure pump intake line; a second fuel return line coupling the high pressure fuel pump to the first fuel return line; and a third fuel return line coupling the plurality of injectors to a high pressure pump intake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Brad Allen Brown, Carlos Armesto, Larry Castleberry, Scott J. Szymusiak
  • Patent number: 9140680
    Abstract: A method, comprising generating a water-in-fuel indication responsive to a water-in-fuel content increasing more than a threshold amount within a threshold time of a refueling event is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Castleberry, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Carlos Armesto
  • Publication number: 20150006059
    Abstract: A method, comprising generating a water-in-fuel indication responsive to a water-in-fuel content increasing more than a threshold amount within a threshold time of a refueling event is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Larry Castleberry, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Carlos Armesto
  • Publication number: 20140081558
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for draining water separated from diesel fuel into an EGR system. In response to the water volume in the fuel system and EGR flow at pre-determined levels, water may be introduced into the EGR system. EGR flow may also be controlled in response to introducing water into the EGR system and engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Carlos Armesto, Larry Castleberry, Brad Allen Brown, Armando Chacon
  • Patent number: 8621848
    Abstract: A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8479709
    Abstract: A system of alternate hose line bundling allows for exclusion of a higher pressure hose line from fasteners directly attached to a vehicle body. Alternatively to mounting to the vehicle body, the higher pressure hose line is coupled to a lower pressure hose line via fasteners which lack mounting features. Eliminating attachment of higher pressure hose lines to the vehicle body reduces noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) experienced by passengers in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dequan Yu, Ram Alluri, Larry Castleberry, Carlos Armesto
  • Publication number: 20120216778
    Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the fuel system includes a fuel supply coupled to a low pressure fuel pump, the low pressure fuel pump coupled to a high pressure fuel pump to provide fuel to a fuel rail. Further, the fuel system includes a plurality of injectors coupled to the fuel rail to provide fuel to a plurality of engine cylinders. Further still, the fuel system includes a first fuel return line coupling the fuel rail to the fuel supply and a thermal recirculation valve, the thermal recirculation valve further coupled to a low pressure pump intake line; a second fuel return line coupling the high pressure fuel pump to the first fuel return line; and a third fuel return line coupling the plurality of injectors to a high pressure pump intake line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Brad Allen Brown, Carlos Armesto, Larry Castleberry, Scott J. Szymusiak
  • Patent number: 8251046
    Abstract: A fuel system for a diesel engine has both a low pressure pump, which extracts fuel from the fuel tank, and a high pressure pump, which is fed by the low pressure pump and supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injectors supply fuel to the engine cylinders, with a small portion of fuel routed back into the fuel system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the injector return fuel is routed into a low pressure fuel line between the low and high pressure fuel pumps, with return fuel from the fuel rails returned through a fuel cooler to the fuel tank. The low pressure fuel line has a filter disposed therein and the injector return fuel is returned to the low pressure fuel line upstream of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Allen Brown, Larry Castleberry, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Scott James Szymusiak
  • Publication number: 20110260011
    Abstract: A system of alternate hose line bundling allows for exclusion of a higher pressure hose line from fasteners directly attached to a vehicle body. Alternatively to mounting to the vehicle body, the higher pressure hose line is coupled to a lower pressure hose line via fasteners which lack mounting features. Eliminating attachment of higher pressure hose lines to the vehicle body reduces noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) experienced by passengers in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dequan Yu, Ram Alluri, Larry Castleberry, Carlos Armesto
  • Publication number: 20110232611
    Abstract: A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry, JR.
  • Patent number: 7954311
    Abstract: A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110023832
    Abstract: A fuel system for a diesel engine has both a low pressure pump, which extracts fuel from the fuel tank, and a high pressure pump, which is fed by the low pressure pump and supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injectors supply fuel to the engine cylinders, with a small portion of fuel routed back into the fuel system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the injector return fuel is routed into a low pressure fuel line between the low and high pressure fuel pumps, with return fuel from the fuel rails returned through a fuel cooler to the fuel tank. The low pressure fuel line has a filter disposed therein and the injector return fuel is returned to the low pressure fuel line upstream of the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Allen Brown, Larry Castleberry, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Scott James Szymusiak
  • Publication number: 20080223021
    Abstract: A method of managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system for an engine, comprising of storing an ammonia-containing fluid in a first storage device; generating ammonia vapors in the first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device; and purging said stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry