Patents by Inventor Mark E. Dunn

Mark E. Dunn 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: 11441509
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine comprises determining direct fuel injector temperature as a function of engine operating parameters; and advancing intake valve timing when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Ning Wu, Mark E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 10371069
    Abstract: In previous control systems for engines that fuelled with a conventional fuel and an alternative fuel, a conventional fuel controller controlled fuelling for both fuels. This required extensive modifications to both the conventional fuel controller and an alternative fuel controller. A control system for an engine comprises a first control unit programmed to generate a first pulse width to actuate a first fuel injector to introduce a first fuel; a second control unit programmed to generate a second pulse width to actuate a second fuel injector to introduce a second fuel; and a communication line between the first and second control units. The first control unit determines a total fuel energy amount to be introduced by the first and second fuel injectors. The second control unit determines a first fraction of the total fuel energy amount to be from the first fuel and a second fraction of the total fuel energy amount to be from the second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Bzymek, Brian Chambers, Mark E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 9909513
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine includes introducing a directly injected fuel into a combustion chamber through a direct fuel injector, introducing a fumigated fuel upstream of an intake valve, selectively operating the internal combustion engine with at least one of the directly injected fuel and the fumigated fuel, determining a temperature of the direct fuel injector as a first function of engine operating parameters, and performing a temperature mitigation technique when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: WESTPORT POWER INC., GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Bzymek, Mark E. Dunn, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Craig D. Marriott, Joshua D. Cowgill, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Patent number: 9856837
    Abstract: A flexible-fuel internal combustion engine apparatus comprises a combustion chamber, an intake valve, a first fuel injector, a second fuel injector, and a computer. The intake valve is operable to admit an intake charge into the combustion chamber. The first fuel injector injects a gaseous fuel directly into the combustion chamber. The second fuel injector injects a liquid fuel into the intake charge upstream of the intake valve. The computer is operatively connected with the first fuel injector and the second fuel injector to actuate injection of fuel respectively therefrom. The computer is programmed to command a gaseous-to-liquid fuel ratio as a function of at least one operating parameter from a group comprising gaseous fuel pressure, gaseous fuel mass, engine speed, engine torque, inlet air temperature, inlet air humidity, knock detection, operating history, torque command, and emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, John M. Lapetz, Alan B. Welch
  • Patent number: 9624864
    Abstract: A method of protecting a direct injection fuel injector in a multi-fuel engine, the method includes selectively operating the multi-fuel engine with a directly injected fuel introduced through the direct injection fuel injector and a second fuel; when fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel, selectively commanding a fuel system protection technique when determining that the direct injection fuel injector requires cooling, an age of directly injected fuel is above a predetermined value, transmission status has changed, an engine shutdown event has occurred and a global positioning system signal indicates an engine shutdown event will occur; wherein the fuel system protection technique includes commanding that the directly injected fuel be a portion of total fuel consumed and reducing quantities of the second fuel that is injected so that total fuel consumed equals a desired amount of fuel measured on an energy basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Hamed Karimi-Sharif, Raymond Bzymek
  • Patent number: 9482168
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for introducing a gaseous fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The method includes dividing the engine map into three distinct operating regions, with different operating modes in each region. When the engine is operating in a low load region, gaseous fuel is introduced to the combustion chamber during an intake stroke before an intake valve associated with the combustion chamber closes. When the engine is operating in a high load low-speed region, gaseous fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke after the intake valve is closed. When the engine is operating in a high load high-speed region, a split injection strategy is employed with a first portion of the gaseous fuel introduced into the charge before the intake valve closes and a second portion being injected after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Mark E Dunn, Alan B. Welch
  • Patent number: 9476367
    Abstract: A method that protects a direct injection fuel injector in a multi-fuel engine comprises selectively operating the engine with at least one of a directly injected fuel introduced through the direct injection fuel injector and a second fuel. When fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel, a fuel system protection technique is selectively commanded when one or more adverse conditions, such as the direct injection fuel injector requiring cooling, is determined to exist. The fuel system protection technique comprises (a) suspending fuelling with the second fuel and injecting the directly injected fuel for a first predetermined number of engine cycles, and (b) switching back to fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel for a second predetermined number of engine cycles. The first and second predetermined number of engine cycles are selected to keep torque disturbances below a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: WESTPORT POWER INC., GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Craig Marriott, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Raymond Bzymek, Joshua Cowgill, Ben Moscherosch
  • Publication number: 20160290257
    Abstract: Abstract In previous control systems for engines that fuelled with a conventional fuel and an alternative fuel, a conventional fuel controller controlled fuelling for both fuels. This required extensive modifications to both the conventional fuel controller and an alternative fuel controller. A control system for an engine comprises a first control unit programmed to generate a first pulse width to actuate a first fuel injector to introduce a first fuel; a second control unit programmed to generate a second pulse width to actuate a second fuel injector to introduce a second fuel; and a communication line between the first and second control units. The first control unit determines a total fuel energy amount to be introduced by the first and second fuel injectors. The second control unit determines a first fraction of the total fuel energy amount to be from the first fuel and a second fraction of the total fuel energy amount to be from the second fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond BZYMEK, Brian CHAMBERS, Mark E. DUNN
  • Publication number: 20160032857
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine comprises determining direct fuel injector temperature as a function of engine operating parameters; and advancing intake valve timing when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Ning WU, Mark E. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20160010569
    Abstract: A method that protects a direct injection fuel injector in a multi-fuel engine comprises selectively operating the engine with at least one of a directly injected fuel introduced through the direct injection fuel injector and a second fuel. When fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel, a fuel system protection technique is selectively commanded when one or more adverse conditions, such as the direct injection fuel injector requiring cooling, is determined to exist. The fuel system protection technique comprises (a) suspending fuelling with the second fuel and injecting the directly injected fuel for a first predetermined number of engine cycles, and (b) switching back to fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel for a second predetermined number of engine cycles. The first and second predetermined number of engine cycles are selected to keep torque disturbances below a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Craig Marriott, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Raymond Bzymek, Joshua Cowgill, Ben Moscherosch
  • Publication number: 20150308362
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for introducing a gaseous fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The method includes dividing the engine map into three distinct operating regions, with different operating modes in each region. When the engine is operating in a low load region, gaseous fuel is introduced to the combustion chamber during an intake stroke before an intake valve associated with the combustion chamber closes. When the engine is operating in a high load low-speed region, gaseous fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke after the intake valve is closed. When the engine is operating in a high load high-speed region, a split injection strategy is employed with a first portion of the gaseous fuel introduced into the charge before the intake valve closes and a second portion being injected after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Alan B. Welch
  • Publication number: 20150275813
    Abstract: A method of protecting a direct injection fuel injector in a multi-fuel engine, the method includes selectively operating the multi-fuel engine with a directly injected fuel introduced through the direct injection fuel injector and a second fuel; when fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel, selectively commanding a fuel system protection technique when determining that the direct injection fuel injector requires cooling, an age of directly injected fuel is above a predetermined value, transmission status has changed, an engine shutdown event has occurred and a global positioning system signal indicates an engine shutdown event will occur; wherein the fuel system protection technique includes commanding that the directly injected fuel be a portion of total fuel consumed and reducing quantities of the second fuel that is injected so that total fuel consumed equals a desired amount of fuel measured on an energy basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Hamed Karimi-Sharif, Raymond Bzymek
  • Publication number: 20150096530
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine includes introducing a directly injected fuel into a combustion chamber through a direct fuel injector, introducing a fumigated fuel upstream of an intake valve, selectively operating the internal combustion engine with at least one of the directly injected fuel and the fumigated fuel, determining a temperature of the direct fuel injector as a first function of engine operating parameters, and performing a temperature mitigation technique when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond Bzymek, Mark E. Dunn, Ning Wu, Dehong Zhang, Craig D. Marriott, Joshua D. Cowgill, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Publication number: 20140238340
    Abstract: A flexible-fuel internal combustion engine apparatus comprises a combustion chamber, an intake valve, a first fuel injector, a second fuel injector, and a computer. The intake valve is operable to admit an intake charge into the combustion chamber. The first fuel injector injects a gaseous fuel directly into the combustion chamber. The second fuel injector injects a liquid fuel into the intake charge upstream of the intake valve. The computer is operatively connected with the first fuel injector and the second fuel injector to actuate injection of fuel respectively therefrom. The computer is programmed to command a gaseous-to-liquid fuel ratio as a function of at least one operating parameter from a group comprising gaseous fuel pressure, gaseous fuel mass, engine speed, engine torque, inlet air temperature, inlet air humidity, knock detection, operating history, torque command, and emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, John M. Lapetz, Alan B. Welch
  • Patent number: 8763565
    Abstract: A gaseous fuelled two-engine system comprises a high pressure direct injection engine as the main power source and an auxiliary fumigated engine that can be fuelled with vapor removed from a storage tank that stores the gaseous fuel in liquefied form at cryogenic temperatures. The fuel supply system comprises a cryogenic pump for raising the pressure of the fuel to the injection pressure needed for the high pressure direct injection engine, and the cryogenic pump is powered by the auxiliary fumigated engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Valerie N. LeBlanc
  • Publication number: 20130228151
    Abstract: A gaseous fuelled two-engine system comprises a high pressure direct injection engine as the main power source and an auxiliary fumigated engine that can be fuelled with vapor removed from a storage tank that stores the gaseous fuel in liquefied form at cryogenic temperatures. The fuel supply system comprises a cryogenic pump for raising the pressure of the fuel to the injection pressure needed for the high pressure direct injection engine, and the cryogenic pump is powered by the auxiliary fumigated engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Mark E. Dunn, Valerie N. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 7542842
    Abstract: This disclosure teaches a method of controlling a direct injection internal combustion engine and predicting the behavior of a direct injection internal combustion engine. An estimation of initial cylinder pressure, air flow and EGR flow (if applicable) is used to establish a system that provides engine behavior by integrating an injection module, combustion module and engine control module to provide data indicative of engine behavior such as brake torque and power, air flow, EGR flow, cylinder pressure, brake specific fuel consumption, start of combustion, heat release rate, turbo-charger speed and other variables. These values can then be used to adjust commanded variables such as start of injection, commanded pulse width, rail pressure to meet operator demand. Also the output data can be used as a tool to determine how a conceptualized engine design will behave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Philip G. Hill, Mark E. Dunn, Guowei Li, Dehong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080306674
    Abstract: This disclosure teaches a method of controlling a direct injection internal combustion engine and predicting the behavior of a direct injection internal combustion engine. An estimation of initial cylinder pressure, air flow and EGR flow (if applicable) is used to establish a system that provides engine behavior by integrating an injection module, combustion module and engine control module to provide data indicative of engine behavior such as brake torque and power, air flow, EGR flow, cylinder pressure, brake specific fuel consumption, start of combustion, heat release rate, turbo-charger speed and other variables. These values can then be used to adjust commanded variables such as start of injection, commanded pulse width, rail pressure to meet operator demand. Also the output data can be used as a tool to determine how a conceptualized engine design will behave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Philip G. Hill, Mark E. Dunn, Guowei Li, Dehong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080149078
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine employs exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in combination with directly injected gaseous fuels that are burned within the engine in a stratified combustion mode. An engine that employs EGR includes an injector adapted to provide a high pressure quantity of fuel into a combustion chamber within a given pressure range, at a given angle and through a nozzle hole size to help provide for EGR tolerance and, consequently, reduce emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Philip G. Hill, Mark E. Dunn, Sandeep Munshi
  • Patent number: 7392129
    Abstract: This disclosure teaches a method of controlling a direct injection internal combustion engine and predicting the behaviour of a direct injection internal combustion engine. An estimation of initial cylinder pressure, air flow and EGR flow (if applicable) is used to establish a system that provides engine behaviour by integrating an injection module, combustion module and engine control module to provide data indicative of engine behaviour such as brake torque and power, air flow, EGR flow, cylinder pressure, brake specific fuel consumption, start of combustion, heat release rate, turbo-charger speed and other variables. These values can then be used to adjust commanded variables such as start of injection, commanded pulse width, rail pressure to meet operator demand. Also the output data can be used as a tool to determine how a conceptualised engine design will behave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Philip G. Hill, Mark E. Dunn, Guowei Li, Dehong Zhang