Patents by Inventor Michael C. Bradford
Michael C. Bradford 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: 10618002Abstract: A system for treating ambient air is provided. The system includes a flow control structure disposed on a vehicle. The flow control structure is adapted to control flow of ambient air received during movement of the vehicle. The system further includes an actuator operatively coupled to the flow control structure. The actuator is adapted to movably adjust the flow control structure. The system further includes a controller disposed on the vehicle and communicably coupled to the actuator. The controller is configured to control the actuator based on at least a quality of ambient air. The system further includes an air treatment component for selectively receiving ambient air from the flow control structure. The air treatment component is adapted to treat at least one pollutant present in ambient air.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Bradley Fingland, Michael C. Bradford
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Publication number: 20200078737Abstract: A system includes an engine and an exhaust conduit in communication with the engine. A water separation device has exhaust gas passageways in communication with the exhaust conduit. The water separation device has a substrate and a membrane on the substrate. The substrate has inner walls surrounding the exhaust gas passageways with at least one of the inner walls being common to at least two of the exhaust gas passageways. The membrane is between the exhaust gas passageways and the substrate and has capillary condensation pores extending from the exhaust gas passageways to the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2018Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Michael C. Bradford, Melanie Moses DeBusk, Brian L. Bischoff
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Patent number: 10561989Abstract: A system includes an engine and an exhaust conduit in communication with the engine. A water separation device has exhaust gas passageways in communication with the exhaust conduit. The water separation device has a substrate and a membrane on the substrate. The substrate has inner walls surrounding the exhaust gas passageways with at least one of the inner walls being common to at least two of the exhaust gas passageways. The membrane is between the exhaust gas passageways and the substrate and has capillary condensation pores extending from the exhaust gas passageways to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Bradford, Melanie Moses DeBusk, Brian L. Bischoff
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Patent number: 10501337Abstract: A water neutralization system that includes a first source of water that is acidic and a second source of water that is basic. A storage reservoir communicates with each of the first source and the second source, and includes a pH sensor that is configured to transmit a signal indicative of a pH of the water stored in the storage reservoir. At least one valve controls fluid communication between the storage reservoir and at least one of the first source and the second source, and a controller communicates with each of the pH sensor and the valve. Based on the signal indicative of the pH of the water stored in the storage reservoir, the controller instructs the valve to adjust an amount of water received from at least one of the first source and the second source to neutralize a pH of the water stored in the storage reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Sun Yong, Michael C. Bradford, Adam J. Kotrba
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Patent number: 10458302Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a reductant tank, a gaseous ammonia source, an injector, first conduit and a second conduit. The injector may receive the liquid reductant from the reductant tank and the gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source and inject the liquid reductant into a stream of exhaust gas in a first mode, inject the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a second mode, and both the liquid reductant and the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a third mode. The first conduit may communicate liquid reductant from the reductant tank to the injector. The second conduit may communicate gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source to the injector.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Tenneco GmbHInventors: Mark Devito, Ryan A. Floyd, Adam J. Kotrba, Padmanabha R. Ettireddy, Michael C. Bradford, Bradley Fingland, John W. Degeorge, Philipp Kreutziger, Manuel Kluck, Michael Flockert, Mathias Hund, Eric A. Hein
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Patent number: 10458373Abstract: An oxygen separation device includes a substrate and an oxygen ion transport membrane supported on the substrate. The substrate has an air inlet end and a retentate outlet end. An intake air passageway extends through the substrate from the air inlet end to the retentate outlet end. The oxygen ion transport membrane is between the substrate and the intake air passageway and is adapted to separate oxygen atoms from the air in the intake air passageway and to transport the oxygen atoms to the substrate. The oxygen separation device collects the oxygen from the substrate for supply to an internal combustion engine for use as the gas of the gas-fuel mixture.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
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Patent number: 10450937Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of producing an insulation preform having graded porosity for an exhaust treatment component of a vehicle. The method includes obtaining a first granular insulating material having a first diameter, a second granular insulating material having a second diameter less than the first diameter, an inorganic binder, and water. The method further includes producing a slurry comprising the first granular insulating material, the second granular insulating material, the inorganic binder, and water. The slurry is introduced into a mold having at least one surface adapted for vacuum extraction. A liquid phase of the slurry is evacuated from the mold using vacuum extraction to produce a moist preform. The moist preform has graded porosity such that a greater concentration of the second insulation material is adjacent to the at least one surface than the first insulating material. The moist preform is heated to produce the insulation preform.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Harris, Bradley Fingland, Michael C. Bradford, Adam J. Kotrba
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Publication number: 20190308886Abstract: A water neutralization system that includes a first source of water that is acidic and a second source of water that is basic. A storage reservoir communicates with each of the first source and the second source, and includes a pH sensor that is configured to transmit a signal indicative of a pH of the water stored in the storage reservoir. At least one valve controls fluid communication between the storage reservoir and at least one of the first source and the second source, and a controller communicates with each of the pH sensor and the valve. Based on the signal indicative of the pH of the water stored in the storage reservoir, the controller instructs the valve to adjust an amount of water received from at least one of the first source and the second source to neutralize a pH of the water stored in the storage reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Sun YONG, Michael C. BRADFORD, Adam J. KOTRBA
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Patent number: 10400647Abstract: A method and system for characterizing a chemical reaction in an exhaust after-treatment system that includes providing a first molecule that includes a chemical element that is isotopically labelled. The isotopically labelled first molecule is injected into an exhaust stream of the exhaust after-treatment system to supply the isotopically labelled first molecule to an exhaust treatment component, and second molecules including the chemical element that is isotopically labelled that are produced through a chemical reaction of the first molecule with other constituents of the exhaust stream are quantified.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
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Patent number: 10337370Abstract: A system includes an engine and an exhaust conduit in communication with the engine. A water separation device has exhaust gas passageways in communication with the exhaust conduit. The water separation device has a substrate and a membrane on the substrate. The substrate is monolithic and extends around the exhaust gas passageways. The membrane is between the exhaust gas passageways and the substrate and has capillary condensation pores extending from the exhaust gas passageways to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
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Publication number: 20190186436Abstract: An oxygen separation device includes a substrate and an oxygen ion transport membrane supported on the substrate. The substrate has an air inlet end and a retentate outlet end. An intake air passageway extends through the substrate from the air inlet end to the retentate outlet end. The oxygen ion transport membrane is between the substrate and the intake air passageway and is adapted to separate oxygen atoms from the air in the intake air passageway and to transport the oxygen atoms to the substrate. The oxygen separation device collects the oxygen from the substrate for supply to an internal combustion engine for use as the gas of the gas-fuel mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
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Publication number: 20190118140Abstract: A system for treating ambient air is provided. The system includes a flow control structure disposed on a vehicle. The flow control structure is adapted to control flow of ambient air received during movement of the vehicle. The system further includes an actuator operatively coupled to the flow control structure. The actuator is adapted to movably adjust the flow control structure. The system further includes a controller disposed on the vehicle and communicably coupled to the actuator. The controller is configured to control the actuator based on at least a quality of ambient air. The system further includes an air treatment component for selectively receiving ambient air from the flow control structure. The air treatment component is adapted to treat at least one pollutant present in ambient air.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Bradley Fingland, Michael C. Bradford
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Patent number: 10258917Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a water separator and a particulate filter. The vehicle includes an engine that emits exhaust, and the water separator and the particulate filter are disposed downstream of the engine and receives at least a portion of the exhaust. The water separator separates water from the exhaust, and the particulate filter filters particulates of the exhaust such that the water may be subsequently used, e.g., for potable uses, operation of the engine, etc.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Bradford, Yong Sun
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Publication number: 20190091604Abstract: A urea reagent exhaust treatment fluid configured for use in treating an exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine comprising water, an amount of urea that is about 32.5 wt %, and an amount of biuret that is at most 0.09 wt %, and a method for manufacturing an aqueous urea reagent exhaust treatment fluid that includes feeding an aqueous urea exhaust treatment fluid including biuret to a filter including a filter element including an adsorbent material having a biuret conversion catalyst. The aqueous urea exhaust treatment fluid is filtered using the filter element by adsorbing the biuret from the aqueous urea exhaust treatment fluid with the adsorbent material, and converting the biuret into a material useful for exhaust after-treatment or into a material that is innocuous, wherein an amount of the biuret remaining in the aqueous urea exhaust treatment fluid after the filtering is at most 0.09 wt %.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventor: Michael C. BRADFORD
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Publication number: 20190091615Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system and a method for treating an engine exhaust that each utilize a filter for removing biuret from an aqueous urea exhaust treatment fluid. The filter includes a filter element that includes an adsorbent material configured to adsorb the biuret from the aqueous urea exhaust treatment fluid, and includes a biuret conversion catalyst impregnated in the adsorbent material that is configured to convert the biuret into a material useful for exhaust after-treatment or into a material that is innocuous to an exhaust after-treatment system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Michael C. BRADFORD, Alan C. BROCKMAN, Ryan A. FLOYD
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Publication number: 20190017422Abstract: A system includes an engine and an exhaust conduit in communication with the engine. A water separation device has exhaust gas passageways in communication with the exhaust conduit. The water separation device has a substrate and a membrane on the substrate. The substrate is monolithic and extends around the exhaust gas passageways. The membrane is between the exhaust gas passageways and the substrate and has capillary condensation pores extending from the exhaust gas passageways to the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
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Publication number: 20180238217Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a reductant tank, a gaseous ammonia source, an injector, first conduit and a second conduit. The injector may receive the liquid reductant from the reductant tank and the gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source and inject the liquid reductant into a stream of exhaust gas in a first mode, inject the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a second mode, and both the liquid reductant and the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a third mode. The first conduit may communicate liquid reductant from the reductant tank to the injector. The second conduit may communicate gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source to the injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicants: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Tenneco GmbHInventors: Mark DEVITO, Ryan A. FLOYD, Adam J. KOTRBA, Padmanabha R. ETTIREDDY, Michael C. BRADFORD, Bradley FINGLAND, John W. DEGEORGE, Philipp KREUTZIGER, Manuel KLUCK, Michael FLOCKERT, Mathias HUND, Eric A. HEIN
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Patent number: 10054022Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system for treating an exhaust produced by an engine. The exhaust after-treatment system includes an exhaust passage, at least one catalytic exhaust after-treatment component in communication with the exhaust passage for treating the exhaust, and a water-removal device in communication with the exhaust passage that receives a portion of the exhaust therein at a location positioned upstream from the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component. The water-removal device is defined by a housing that includes a water-removal membrane that separates water from the portion of the exhaust to provide a permeate that is enriched with water, and to produce a retentate that is water depleted that facilitates the treating of the exhaust by the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Bradford
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Patent number: 10036291Abstract: An after-treatment system including an exhaust treatment component provided in an exhaust passage, a tank carrying an aqueous reagent, and an electrochemical cell in communication with the tank and configured to receive the aqueous reagent therefrom. The electrochemical cell is configured to convert the aqueous reagent into a first exhaust treatment fluid and a second exhaust treatment fluid. A controller is in communication with the electrochemical cell. The controller is configured to vary amounts and/or composition of each of the first exhaust treatment fluid and the second exhaust treatment fluid produced by the electrochemical cell. An injector is in communication with the electrochemical cell and the exhaust passage, and is configured to receive one of the first exhaust treatment fluid or the second exhaust treatment fluid from the electrochemical cell, and dose the one exhaust treatment fluid into the exhaust passage at a location upstream from the exhaust treatment component.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Adam J. Kotrba, Padmanabha Reddy Ettireddy, Michael Golin, Michael C. Bradford, Bradley Fingland
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Publication number: 20180209319Abstract: A method and system for characterizing a chemical reaction in an exhaust after-treatment system that includes providing a first molecule that includes a chemical element that is isotopically labelled. The isotopically labelled first molecule is injected into an exhaust stream of the exhaust after-treatment system to supply the isotopically labelled first molecule to an exhaust treatment component, and second molecules including the chemical element that is isotopically labelled that are produced through a chemical reaction of the first molecule with other constituents of the exhaust stream are quantified.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventor: Michael C. BRADFORD