Patents by Inventor Michael J. Paratore, Jr.

Michael J. Paratore, Jr. 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: 20170321594
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain thermal management system for distributing thermal energy to vehicle powertrain components, including an engine and a transmission. The system for managing heat energy includes a coolant pump, a first control valve, a second control valve, a radiator, a heater core, and a transmission oil heat exchanger. The first control valve has an inlet that is in fluid communication with the engine coolant outlet. The first control valve also has a first control valve outlet. The second control valve has a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet and a third outlet. Heat energy produced by the engine is transferred to the radiator through control of the first control valve and to at least one of the heater core, and the transmission oil heat exchanger through the control of the second control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Irina N. Dmitrieva, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170321590
    Abstract: An engine exhaust system includes an exhaust pipe assembly having an engine exhaust system inlet configured to receive engine exhaust and an engine exhaust system outlet. The system includes a first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst device positioned downstream in exhaust flow from the engine exhaust system inlet. The first SCR catalyst device includes a substrate with a metallic catalyst coated on the substrate. An electric heater is configured to heat the metallic catalyst. A second SCR catalyst device is positioned downstream in engine exhaust flow from the first SCR catalyst device and upstream of the engine exhaust system outlet. The first SCR catalyst device and the exhaust pipe assembly define an empty chamber between the substrate and the second SCR catalyst device. Engine exhaust flows directly from the substrate to the second SCR catalyst device through the empty chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Luciano Nunziato Di Perna, Raffaello Ardanese, Michael J. Paratore, JR., Rahul Mital, Jianwen Li
  • Publication number: 20170159546
    Abstract: A control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an estimated coolant flow module and at least one of a valve control module and a pump control module. The estimated coolant flow module estimates a rate of coolant flow through a cooling system for an engine based on a pressure of coolant in the cooling system and a speed of a coolant pump that circulates coolant through the cooling system. The valve control module controls the position of a coolant valve based on the estimated coolant flow rate. The pump control module controls the coolant pump speed based on the estimated coolant flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Sergio Quelhas, Vijay A. Ramappan, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Patent number: 9611780
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a fraction module, and a coolant valve control module. The fraction module determines an oil fuel fraction based on an amount of fuel in an amount of engine oil. The coolant valve control module, based on the oil fuel fraction, selectively actuates a coolant valve to enable coolant flow from an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM) of an engine to an engine oil heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9562452
    Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine comprises receiving a signal indicative of whether the engine is in an operating state or a non-operating state and detecting, based on the signal, when the engine has departed an operating state and entered a non-operating state. When the engine has departed an operating state and entered a non-operating state, a regeneration event is initiated. The regeneration event comprises causing a stream of air to flow through the after-treatment component and initiating a flow of fuel into the stream of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Charles E. Solbrig
  • Publication number: 20170022879
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a fraction module, and a coolant valve control module. The fraction module determines an oil fuel fraction based on an amount of fuel in an amount of engine oil. The coolant valve control module, based on the oil fuel fraction, selectively actuates a coolant valve to enable coolant flow from an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM) of an engine to an engine oil heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Michael J. PARATORE, JR., Yue-Ming CHEN
  • Patent number: 9482125
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a first comparison module that at least one of (i) compares a first temperature of an adsorber to an adsorber release temperature and (ii) compares a second temperature of an engine to a predetermined temperature, and generates a first comparison signal. A second comparison module that compares a particulate matter output of the engine with a predetermined output and generates a second comparison signal. A mode selection module that selects a mode and generates a mode signal based on the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal. A bypass valve control module that adjusts position of a bypass valve to bypass at least one of a particulate matter (PM) filter and the adsorber based on the mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9388722
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit, a generator, a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device, and a control module. The EHC device includes an electric heater and an EHC catalyst that is heated to an EHC light-off temperature. The generator is selectively operable in a target voltage mode to supply a target voltage to the electric heater. The target voltage represents a voltage required by the electric heater in order to maintain the EHC catalyst at a catalyst temperature. The SCR device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The SCR device is located downstream of the EHC device and includes an SCR catalyst that is selectively heated by the EHC device to a SCR light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 9376948
    Abstract: A method of treating an exhaust gas produced by a vehicle internal combustion engine includes conveying the gas through a first reactor including a non-thermal plasma. The gas includes nitric oxide and is transitionable between a first condition in which the gas has a cold-start temperature that is less than or equal to about 150° C., and a second condition in which the gas has an operating temperature that is greater than about 150° C. During the first condition, the method includes contacting the gas and plasma to oxidize the nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide and form an effluent that includes nitrogen dioxide. The method includes concurrently conveying the effluent through a second reactor including a diesel oxidation catalyst, and storing the nitrogen dioxide within the second reactor during only the first condition. The method includes, after storing, releasing nitrogen dioxide from the second reactor during only the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chang H. Kim, Steven J. Schmieg, Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9284870
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter with an upstream end for receiving exhaust gas and a downstream end. A control module determines a current soot loading level of the PM filter and compares the current soot loading level to a predetermined soot loading level. The control module permits regeneration of the PM filter when the current soot loading level is less than the predetermined soot loading level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Publication number: 20160053646
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for optimizing fuel economy during an engine warm up phase of operation of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust manifold may have a coolant jacket through which a coolant may flow. A temperature of the coolant in the exhaust manifold may be determined to detect when it is at a predetermined maximum threshold, which represents a temperature threshold just below a temperature at which the coolant will begin to boil. When this threshold is reached, then a determination may be made as to a minimum rate of flow of the coolant through the exhaust manifold which maintains the coolant at about the predetermined maximum threshold, and the coolant may be flowed through the exhaust manifold at the determined minimum rate of flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: EUGENE V. GONZE, VIJAY RAMAPPAN, MICHAEL J. PARATORE, JR., YUE-MING CHEN
  • Patent number: 9200553
    Abstract: A power system and a method for energizing an electrically heated catalyst are provided. The system includes a battery outputting a first voltage, and a generator outputting a second voltage greater than the first voltage in response to a first signal. The system further includes a controller that generates a second signal to set a first switching device to a first operational state to apply the second voltage to the electrically heated catalyst to increase a temperature of the catalyst, if a first temperature level of the catalyst is less than a first threshold temperature level. The controller generates a third signal to induce the generator to output a third voltage, and generates a fourth signal to set a second switching device to a second operational state to apply the first voltage to the catalyst, if the first temperature level is greater than the first threshold temperature level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Christopher J. Kalebjian
  • Patent number: 9140159
    Abstract: A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter, an electric heater, and a control circuit. The electric heater includes multiple zones, which each correspond to longitudinal zones along a length of the PM filter. A first zone includes multiple discontinuous sub-zones. The control circuit determines whether regeneration is needed based on an estimated level of loading of the PM filter and an exhaust flow rate. In response to a determination that regeneration is needed, the control circuit: controls an operating parameter of an engine to increase an exhaust temperature to a first temperature during a first period; after the first period, activates the first zone; deactivates the first zone in response to a minimum filter face temperature being reached; subsequent to deactivating the first zone, activates a second zone; and deactivates the second zone in response to the minimum filter face temperature being reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Patent number: 9114344
    Abstract: A method for implementing particulate filter regeneration management is provided. The method includes determining a presumptive deviation between a particulate model and actual particulate level conditions of the particulate filter. The presumptive deviation is determined from identification of an occurrence of extended parking, a passive regeneration, residual particulates, and a pressure signal. Each of the extended parking, passive regeneration, residual particulate, and pressure signal is specified by a respective particulate model deviation type. The method also includes selectively controlling current to at least one zone of a plurality of zones of an electric heater to initiate a regeneration event based on the presumptive deviation, and estimating the particulate level in the particulate filter once the regeneration event is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michelangelo Ardanese, Raffaello Ardanese, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Eugene V. Gonze
  • Patent number: 9016047
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas received by an exhaust system, the exhaust system including a first selective catalytic reduction device, an exhaust gas heat recovery device and a second selective catalytic reduction device is provided. The method includes flowing the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into the first selective catalytic reduction device, receiving the exhaust gas from the first selective catalytic reduction device into the exhaust gas heat recovery device and directing the exhaust gas to a heat exchanger in the exhaust gas heat recovery device based on a temperature of the internal combustion engine proximate moving engine components. The method includes adsorbing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas via a nitrogen oxide adsorbing catalyst disposed in the heat exchanger and flowing the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas heat recovery device into the second selective catalytic reduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Chang H. Kim, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., George M. Claypole
  • Patent number: 9016045
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided and includes an exhaust gas conduit, a generator, an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device, and a control module. The exhaust gas conduit is in fluid communication with, and is configured to receive an exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The generator operates at a generator speed to produce electrical power. The EHC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The EHC device includes a monolith structure that is divided into a plurality of segments that define discrete resistive paths. The resistive paths are selectively connected to the generator for receiving electrical power. The control module is in communication with the EHC device, the generator, and the internal combustion engine. The control module includes control logic for determining the generator speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chang H. Kim, Charles E. Solbrig
  • Patent number: 8978370
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine has an engine off condition. The exhaust gas treatment system includes particulate filter (“PF”) device in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit, an electric heater, a primary energy storage device, a single secondary energy storage device, and a control module. The PF device has a filter structure for removal of particulates in the exhaust gas, and is selectively regenerated based on an amount of particulates trapped within the filter structure of the PF device. The electric heater is disposed upstream of the filter structure and is selectively energized to provide heat for regeneration of the PF device. The single secondary energy storage device is selectively connected to the primary energy storage device. The single secondary energy storage device selectively energizes the electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Michael G. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8973349
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system is provided, having an internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas conduit, an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device, an oxidization catalyst (“OC”) device, an OC temperature sensor, a hydrocarbon (“HC”) adsorber, and a control module. The hydrocarbon supply is selectively activated for delivery of a hydrocarbon and formation of an exhaust gas and hydrocarbon mixture therein. The EHC device is selectively activated to produce heat and induce oxidization. The OC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and located downstream of the EHC device. The OC temperature sensor is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and located downstream of the OC device. The HC adsorber is located downstream of the EHC device. The control module is in communication with the hydrocarbon supply, the EHC device, the OC device, the OC temperature sensor, and the HC adsorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Christopher J. Kalebjian
  • Patent number: 8950177
    Abstract: A control system includes a heater control module and a particulate matter (PM) load module. The heater control module selectively activates an electric heater to initiate regeneration in a zone of a particulate filter and deactivates the electric heater after the regeneration is initiated. The regeneration continues along a length of the particulate filter after the electric heater is deactivated. The PM load module determines a PM load based on an outlet temperature of the particulate filter after the regeneration is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Stuart R. Smith, Garima Bhatia
  • Patent number: 8945495
    Abstract: An exemplary method and associated architecture for reducing NOx and particulate matter emissions in an exhaust stream may include passing the exhaust stream through a catalytic oxidation reactor; passing the exhaust stream through a two-way selective reduction catalyst particulate filter located downstream of the catalytic oxidation reactor, wherein the two-way selective reduction catalyst particulate filter may include a wall flow filter substrate having internal walls coated with a first selective catalytic reduction catalyst; and passing the exhaust stream through a catalytic reduction reactor located downstream of the two-way selective reduction catalyst particulate filter, wherein the catalytic reduction reactor may include a second selective catalytic reduction catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jong H. Lee, David B. Brown, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Yongsheng He