Patents by Inventor Michael A. Snopko

Michael A. Snopko 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).

  • Publication number: 20120159929
    Abstract: A method of operating an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine includes transmitting electromagnetic energy, for example having a frequency above about 2 GHz through an exhaust particulate filter containing trapped soot. The transmitted electromagnetic energy may be attenuated in response to the trapped soot, and a filter soot loading value calculated based at least in part upon a correlation among an attenuation of the electromagnetic energy, a temperature of the filter, and a mass of the trapped soot. An algorithm based upon a partial derivative of an equation representing the correlation may be used in calculating the filter soot loading value, and a resulting soot mass. Responsive to determining the calculated soot mass satisfies regeneration suitability conditions, a regeneration initiation command may be outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Snopko, Anthony C. Rodman, Rajesh N. Nair
  • Publication number: 20120159930
    Abstract: A method of operating an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine includes transmitting electromagnetic energy, for example having a frequency above about 2 GHz, through an exhaust particulate filter containing trapped soot. The transmitted electromagnetic energy may be attenuated in response to the trapped soot, and a filter soot loading value calculated based at least in part upon a correlation among an attenuation of the electromagnetic energy, a temperature of the filter, and a mass of the trapped soot. An algorithm based upon a partial derivative of an equation representing the correlation may be used in calculating the filter soot loading value, and a resulting soot mass. The calculated soot mass is used to determine a relative soot loading state of the filter in conjunction with information as to ash loading. Responsive to determining the relative soot loading state satisfies regeneration suitability conditions, a regeneration initiation command may be outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Snopko, Rajesh N. Nair, Frederic Fugere, Andrew A. Knitt, Anthony C. Rodman
  • Publication number: 20120158242
    Abstract: A machine includes an internal combustion engine, and an exhaust particulate filter system coupled therewith having an exhaust particulate filter for trapping particulates in exhaust from the internal combustion engine. A control system for the exhaust particulate filter includes a sensing mechanism such as an RF soot sensor and a data processor coupled with the sensing mechanism and configured to output a moisture compensation signal responsive to a pattern of inputs from the sensing mechanism indicative of moisture within the exhaust particulate filter, for controlling regeneration thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Snopko, Anthony C. Rodman, Rajesh N. Nair, Frederic Fugere, Andrew A. Knitt, Malshantha M. Kankanamge
  • Publication number: 20120017570
    Abstract: Detecting ash in a diesel particulate filter includes receiving data indicative of signal attenuation for ash-responsive and ash-insensitive RF signals transmitted through a diesel particulate filter containing trapped soot and ash. A difference between the RF signals, such as a difference in signal attenuation, may be leveraged to detect a relative ash loading state or a change in relative ash loading state of the diesel particulate filter, and responsively indicate that filter cleaning is needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Vadiraj P. Kulkarni, Matthew E. Leustek, Sara K. Michels, Rajesh N. Nair, Michael A. Snopko, Andrew A. Knitt
  • Publication number: 20080295803
    Abstract: A machine having an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft wheel rotatably driven by a crankshaft of the engine. The camshaft wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth. A first engine angle indicator is positioned among the circumferentially spaced of the camshaft wheel and is one of a missing tooth and an additional tooth. A second engine angle indicator is positioned among the circumferentially spaced teeth of the camshaft wheel less than about 90 degrees from the first engine angle indicator. The second engine angle indicator is also one of a missing tooth and an additional tooth. A camshaft wheel sensor produces a pulsetrain in response to detection of the plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth and additional teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Snopko, Robert Weber
  • Patent number: 7370635
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a device, the device having at least two functional elements, each functional element being controlled by a control signal, is disclosed in the present disclosure. The control system may include detecting means operatively connected to the device and configured to monitor the operation of the device, and to generate a signal indicative of an operating condition of the device. The control system may also include a control module operatively connected to the at least two functional elements and the detecting means, and configured to switch the two control signals applied to the respective functional elements in response to the signal generated by the detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Snopko, Jack A. Merchant, Scott F. Shafer, Daniel R. Puckett
  • Publication number: 20070169752
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a device, the device having at least two functional elements, each functional element being controlled by a control signal, is disclosed in the present disclosure. The control system may include detecting means operatively connected to the device and configured to monitor the operation of the device, and to generate a signal indicative of an operating condition of the device. The control system may also include a control module operatively connected to the at least two functional elements and the detecting means, and configured to switch the two control signals applied to the respective functional elements in response to the signal generated by the detecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Snopko, Jack Merchant, Scott Shafer, Daniel Puckett