Patents by Inventor Melanie K. Corrigan

Melanie K. Corrigan 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: 9605573
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for an internal combustion engine having improved mixing of an injected fluid comprises an exhaust gas conduit configured to receive exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and to deliver the exhaust gas to the exhaust treatment system. A fluid injector in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit configured delivers a fluid into the exhaust gas and an evaporation volume disposed in the exhaust conduit downstream of the fluid injector is configured to slow the bulk velocity of the fluid and exhaust gas mixture to thereby increase the residence time of the exhaust gas mixture therein. An exhaust treatment device is configured to receive the fluid and exhaust gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Melanie K. Corrigan, Ognyan N. Yanakiev
  • Publication number: 20160024985
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for an internal combustion engine having improved mixing of an injected fluid comprises an exhaust gas conduit configured to receive exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and to deliver the exhaust gas to the exhaust treatment system. A fluid injector in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit configured delivers a fluid into the exhaust gas and an evaporation volume disposed in the exhaust conduit downstream of the fluid injector is configured to slow the bulk velocity of the fluid and exhaust gas mixture to thereby increase the residence time of the exhaust gas mixture therein. An exhaust treatment device is configured to receive the fluid and exhaust gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Melanie K. Corrigan, Ognyan N. Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 9238991
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust treatment system with a fluid injection system and a swirl can plenum mixer for mixing injected fluid with exhaust gas exhausted from the engine. The mixer comprises a canister having an inner plenum. A bulkhead separates the inner plenum into an exhaust gas collector and a diffuser chamber. A flow port opens through the bulkhead to a tangential flow director on the downstream side of the bulkhead to collect the exhaust gas. A fluid injector port receives a fluid injector for dispensing a fluid into the exhaust gas for mixing with the exhaust gas in the swirl can plenum mixer. A tangential flow director nozzle is configured to dispense the exhaust gas and fluid into the downstream plenum in a tangential flow trajectory, wherein mixing and vaporization of the exhaust gas and fluid mixture with the exhaust gas is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Ognyan N. Yanakiev, Melanie K. Corrigan
  • Publication number: 20140318112
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust treatment system with a fluid injection system and a swirl can plenum mixer for mixing injected fluid with exhaust gas exhausted from the engine. The mixer comprises a canister having an inner plenum. A bulkhead separates the inner plenum into an exhaust gas collector and a diffuser chamber. A flow port opens through the bulkhead to a tangential flow director on the downstream side of the bulkhead to collect the exhaust gas. A fluid injector port receives a fluid injector for dispensing a fluid into the exhaust gas for mixing with the exhaust gas in the swirl can plenum mixer. A tangential flow director nozzle is configured to dispense the exhaust gas and fluid into the downstream plenum in a tangential flow trajectory, wherein mixing and vaporization of the exhaust gas and fluid mixture with the exhaust gas is accomplished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Ognyan N. Yanakiev, Melanie K. Corrigan