Patents by Inventor Mark C. Sellnau
Mark C. Sellnau 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).
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Patent number: 11078867Abstract: A piston for use in a GDCI engine cooperates with the wall of a cylinder defined in the engine and with a cylinder head to define a combustion chamber. The surface of the piston that faces the cylinder head defines a bowl that is configured to receive fuel that is dispensed from a fuel injector that is located in the cylinder head substantially along the central axis of the cylinder. The bowl is configured such that substantially all of the injected fuel associated with a combustion event reaches a localized equivalence ratio greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 1.2 at a time immediately preceding initiation of the combustion event.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Inventor: Mark C. Sellnau
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Patent number: 11060497Abstract: A method for starting a compression ignition engine having at least one cylinder with a reciprocating piston located therein, an intake valve configured to control the intake of air to an intake port of the cylinder and an exhaust valve configured to control the expulsion of gas from an exhaust port of the cylinder. The method includes the steps of: cranking the engine, conditioning intake air at the intake port of the cylinder to raise the temperature of air in the cylinder, controlling a valve timing the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve to allow the piston to compress the air within the cylinder, thereby increasing the temperature of the air within the cylinder, and injecting fuel into the cylinder when the air within the cylinder has been heated to a temperature sufficient to support compression ignition of a gasoline and air mixture within the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Inventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Gregory T. Roth
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Patent number: 10273888Abstract: A GDCI engine recirculates exhaust gases to a combustion chamber using desired early injection parameters for a steady state engine operation from a controller. An engine control system detects a load increase relative to the steady state engine operation, and insufficient recirculated exhaust gases to the combustion chamber are delivered in response to the detected load increase as a result of transport delays. A last fuel injection into the combustion chamber during an engine cycle with multiple fuel injections is delayed as compared to the steady state engine operation. Combustion phasing within the combustion chamber is retarded in response to the delayed injection.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITEDInventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Wayne R. Moore, James F. Sinnamon
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Patent number: 10012185Abstract: A GDCI engine control system includes a fast electric heater located within a pocket in a cylinder head. The pocket is in fluid communication with multiple intake ports. A heater control system includes a capacitor that is configured to provide a voltage that is greater than battery voltage to more quickly heat the intake air during a cold start. Subsequently a lower voltage can be supplied to the heater.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITEDInventor: Mark C. Sellnau
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Publication number: 20180180013Abstract: A method for starting a compression ignition engine having at least one cylinder with a reciprocating piston located therein, an intake valve configured to control the intake of air to an intake port of the cylinder and an exhaust valve configured to control the expulsion of gas from an exhaust port of the cylinder. The method includes the steps of: cranking the engine, conditioning intake air at the intake port of the cylinder to raise the temperature of air in the cylinder, controlling a valve timing the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve to allow the piston to compress the air within the cylinder, thereby increasing the temperature of the air within the cylinder, and injecting fuel into the cylinder when the air within the cylinder has been heated to a temperature sufficient to support compression ignition of a gasoline and air mixture within the cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Gregory T. Roth
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Patent number: 9863305Abstract: A GDCI engine has a piston arranged within a cylinder to provide a combustion chamber. According to one embodiment, the GDCI engine operates using a method that includes the steps of supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to the combustion chamber with a research octane number in the range of about 30-65. The hydrocarbon fuel is injected in completely stratified, multiple fuel injections before a start of combustion and supplying a naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Christopher P. Kolodziej, Mark C. Sellnau
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Patent number: 9765658Abstract: A valve train system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust valve moveable between an exhaust closed position and an exhaust open position. A camshaft includes a main exhaust lobe for moving the exhaust valve between the exhaust closed position and the exhaust open position for expelling exhaust constituents from the combustion chamber and an exhaust rebreath lobe for moving the exhaust valve between the exhaust closed position and the exhaust open position for allowing exhaust constituents into the combustion chamber. A two-step device is provided for transmitting motion from the camshaft to the exhaust valve and is switchable between a motion transmitting position and a motion preventing position such that the motion transmitting position allows motion to be transmitted from the exhaust rebreath lobe to the exhaust valve and the motion preventing position prevents motion from being transmitted from the exhaust rebreath lobe to the exhaust valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michael B. Knauf, Mark C. Sellnau
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Publication number: 20170234275Abstract: A GDCI engine control system includes a fast electric heater located within a pocket in a cylinder head. The pocket is in fluid communication with multiple intake ports. A heater control system includes a capacitor that is configured to provide a voltage that is greater than battery voltage to more quickly heat the intake air during a cold start. Subsequently a lower voltage can be supplied to the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventor: Mark C. Sellnau
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Publication number: 20170234257Abstract: A GDCI engine recirculates exhaust gases to a combustion chamber using desired early injection parameters for a steady state engine operation from a controller. An engine control system detects a load increase relative to the steady state engine operation, and insufficient recirculated exhaust gases to the combustion chamber are delivered in response to the detected load increase as a result of transport delays. A last fuel injection into the combustion chamber during an engine cycle with multiple fuel injections is delayed as compared to the steady state engine operation. Combustion phasing within the combustion chamber is retarded in response to the delayed injection.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Wayne R. Moore, James F. Sinnamon
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Publication number: 20170114748Abstract: A method for controlling the combustion behavior of an engine is provided. The engine is equipped with a plurality of actuators that influence combustion in the engine. The method includes receiving a target value for each of a plurality of charge air properties. The method further includes communicating signals operative to control the plurality of actuators so as to urge the actual values of the charge air properties to their target values.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: GREGORY T. ROTH, GARY C. FULKS, ANDREW FEDEWA, XIAOJIAN YANG, MARK C. SELLNAU, JAMES F. SIMMAMON, KEVIN S. HOYER
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Patent number: 9410509Abstract: A system for a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine includes a plurality of heaters, at least one heater per cylinder, with each heater configured to heat air introduced into a cylinder. Independent control of the heaters is provided on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. A combustion parameter is determined for combustion in each cylinder of the engine, and control of the heater for that cylinder is based on the value of the combustion parameter for combustion in that cylinder. A method for influencing combustion in a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine, including determining a combustion parameter for combustion taking place in a cylinder of the engine and controlling a heater configured to heat air introduced into that cylinder, is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory T. Roth, Mark C. Sellnau
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Publication number: 20160053714Abstract: A piston for use in a GDCI engine cooperates with the wall of a cylinder defined in the engine and with a cylinder head to define a combustion chamber. The surface of the piston that faces the cylinder head defines a bowl that is configured to receive fuel that is dispensed from a fuel injector that is located in the cylinder head substantially along the central axis of the cylinder. The bowl is configured such that substantially all of the injected fuel associated with a combustion event reaches a localized equivalence ratio greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 1.2 at a time immediately preceding initiation of the combustion event.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventor: MARK C. SELLNAU
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Patent number: 9097174Abstract: A system for conditioning the intake air to an internal combustion engine includes a means to boost the pressure of the intake air to the engine and a liquid cooled charge air cooler disposed between the output of the boost means and the charge air intake of the engine. Valves in the coolant system can be actuated so as to define a first configuration in which engine cooling is performed by coolant circulating in a first coolant loop at one temperature, and charge air cooling is performed by coolant flowing in a second coolant loop at a lower temperature. The valves can be actuated so as to define a second configuration in which coolant that has flowed through the engine can be routed through the charge air cooler. The temperature of intake air to the engine can be controlled over a wide range of engine operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Mark C. Sellnau
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Publication number: 20150152817Abstract: A system for a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine includes a plurality of heaters, at least one heater per cylinder, with each heater configured to heat air introduced into a cylinder. Independent control of the heaters is provided on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. A combustion parameter is determined for combustion in each cylinder of the engine, and control of the heater for that cylinder is based on the value of the combustion parameter for combustion in that cylinder. A method for influencing combustion in a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine, including determining a combustion parameter for combustion taking place in a cylinder of the engine and controlling a heater configured to heat air introduced into that cylinder, is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: GREGORY T. ROTH, MARK C. SELLNAU
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Publication number: 20150114339Abstract: A method for starting a compression ignition engine having at least one cylinder with a reciprocating piston located therein, an intake valve configured to control the intake of air to an intake port of the cylinder and an exhaust valve configured to control the expulsion of gas from an exhaust port of the cylinder. The method includes the steps of: cranking the engine, conditioning intake air at the intake port of the cylinder to raise the temperature of air in the cylinder, controlling a valve timing the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve to allow the piston to compress the air within the cylinder, thereby increasing the temperature of the air within the cylinder, and injecting fuel into the cylinder when the air within the cylinder has been heated to a temperature sufficient to support compression ignition of a gasoline and air mixture within the cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: MARK C. SELLNAU, GREGORY THOMAS ROTH
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Patent number: 8997698Abstract: A system for a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine includes a plurality of nozzles, at least one nozzle per cylinder, with each nozzle configured to spray oil onto the bottom side of a piston of the engine to cool that piston. Independent control of the oil spray from the nozzles is provided on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. A combustion parameter is determined for combustion in each cylinder of the engine, and control of the oil spray onto the piston in that cylinder is based on the value of the combustion parameter for combustion in that cylinder. A method for influencing combustion in a multi-cylinder engine, including determining a combustion parameter for combustion taking place in in a cylinder of the engine and controlling an oil spray targeted onto the bottom of a piston disposed in that cylinder is also presented.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory T. Roth, Harry L Husted, Mark C. Sellnau
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Publication number: 20130298554Abstract: A system for conditioning the intake air to an internal combustion engine includes a means to boost the pressure of the intake air to the engine and a liquid cooled charge air cooler disposed between the output of the boost means and the charge air intake of the engine. Valves in the coolant system can be actuated so as to define a first configuration in which engine cooling is performed by coolant circulating in a first coolant loop at one temperature, and charge air cooling is performed by coolant flowing in a second coolant loop at a lower temperature. The valves can be actuated so as to define a second configuration in which coolant that has flowed through the engine can be routed through the charge air cooler. The temperature of intake air to the engine can be controlled over a wide range of engine operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Mark C. SELLNAU
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Publication number: 20130213349Abstract: An engine system and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The combustion process is based on compression ignition of a stratified air-fuel mixture using a high octane fuel such as gasoline. Multiple fuel injections may be used in a given combustion cycle. Fuel injection timing, EGR, exhaust rebreathing, late intake valve closing, and intake boost are controlled to enable autoignition over essentially the entire speed and load operating range of the engine, while providing reduced emissions, low noise, and low fuel consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INCInventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Kevin S. Hoyer, James F. Sinnamon
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Patent number: 8408191Abstract: An engine control system, a controller for the engine control system, and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine operating at an engine operating condition. The engine control is based on closed-loop control of ignition dwell. Ignition dwell is defined as time or crank angle difference between an end of fuel injection (EOI), or some other aspect of an injection control signal, and a start of combustion (SOC), or some other aspect of an internal combustion event. One or more engine control devices, such as a fuel injector or an exhaust gas recirculation valve may be varied to control ignition dwell. By providing such a closed-loop engine control based on ignition dwell, the air/fuel charge mixture, and/or stratification present in the combustion chamber at the moment combustion starts may be controlled.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Chol-Bum Kweon
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Publication number: 20120222639Abstract: A valve train system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust valve moveable between an exhaust closed position and an exhaust open position. A camshaft includes a main exhaust lobe for moving the exhaust valve between the exhaust closed position and the exhaust open position for expelling exhaust constituents from the combustion chamber and an exhaust rebreath lobe for moving the exhaust valve between the exhaust closed position and the exhaust open position for allowing exhaust constituents into the combustion chamber. A two-step device is provided for transmitting motion from the camshaft to the exhaust valve and is switchable between a motion transmitting position and a motion preventing position such that the motion transmitting position allows motion to be transmitted from the exhaust rebreath lobe to the exhaust valve and the motion preventing position prevents motion from being transmitted from the exhaust rebreath lobe to the exhaust valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: MICHAEL B. KNAUF, MARK C. SELLNAU