Patents by Inventor Michael J. Ruth

Michael J. Ruth 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: 7543446
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling regeneration of exhaust gas aftertreatment components coupled to an internal combustion engine. For example, the particulate load of a particulate filter is monitored and a road speed of the vehicle is determined. If the particulate load is greater than a particulate load threshold and the road speed is greater than a road speed threshold, regeneration of the particulate filter is initiated. As another example, the sulfur oxide load (SOx) of a NOx catalyst is also monitored, and if the SOx load is greater than a SOx threshold while the particulate filter is being regenerated, regeneration of the particulate filter is terminated and SOx regeneration of the NOx catalyst is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Stewart D. Sullivan, Lyle E. Kocher, Michael J. Cunningham, Neal W. Currier, James J. Fier, Samuel C. Geckler
  • Patent number: 7533523
    Abstract: A system, method, and software for triggering regeneration of an adsorber connected with a flow of exhaust from an engine. A sulfur loading estimate module is used to generate an estimated sulfur loading value associated with an adsorber. A desulfation trigger module is used to trigger a desulfation event for the adsorber upon detection of a trigger event comprising either a cost-effective trigger event, a loading trigger event, and a forced trigger event. A combustion manager module is used to control an engine through engine management to regenerate the adsorber during the desulfation event. A interrupt module is used to interrupt the desulfation event upon detection of an interrupt event. An end desulfation module is used to stop or end the desulfation event upon detection of an end desulfation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Samuel C. Geckler, Jer-Sheng J. Chen, Michael J. Cunningham, Sriram Satya Srinivas Popuri, Michael J. Ruth
  • Publication number: 20080302092
    Abstract: A NOx adsorber catalyst may comprise a housing defining an inlet configured to receive exhaust gas produced by an internal combustion engine, an outlet and a chamber between the inlet and the outlet. A NOx adsorber element may be positioned in the chamber adjacent to the inlet. The NOx adsorber element may be configured to trap NOx in the exhaust gas during lean fuel operation of the engine, and to release the trapped NOx and reduce the released NOx to nitrogen during rich fuel operation of the engine. A hydrocarbon trap may be positioned in the chamber between the NOx adsorber element and the outlet. The hydrocarbon trap may be configured to trap hydrocarbons that travel through the NOx adsorber element during the rich fuel operation of the engine. The trapped hydrocarbons may be oxidized by oxygen present in the exhaust gas during lean fuel operation following rich fuel operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Aleksey Yezerets, Neal W. Currier, Lyle E Kocher, Michael J Ruth
  • Publication number: 20080282684
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for utilizing engine-generated heat in a NOx-adsorber system. The apparatus may comprise a combustion device generating a heated exhaust stream. The apparatus may include a catalytic component that initiates at least one exhaust conditioning reaction within the heated exhaust stream. The catalytic component is fluidly coupled to the engine with a downpipe segment configured to preserve a minimum temperature at the catalytic component inlet based on specified operating conditions for the combustion device. The apparatus may also include a NOx-adsorber fluidly coupled to the catalytic component with a second downpipe segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Bradlee J. Stroia
  • Publication number: 20080190099
    Abstract: A NOx adsorber catalyst may comprise a housing defining an inlet configured to receive exhaust gas produced by an internal combustion engine, an outlet and a chamber between the inlet and the outlet. A NOx adsorber element may be positioned in the chamber adjacent to the inlet. The NOx adsorber element may be configured to trap NOx in the exhaust gas during lean fuel operation of the engine, and to release the trapped NOx and reduce the released NOx to nitrogen during rich fuel operation of the engine. A hydrocarbon trap may be positioned in the chamber between the NOx adsorber element and the outlet. The hydrocarbon trap may be configured to trap hydrocarbons that travel through the NOx adsorber element during the rich fuel operation of the engine. The trapped hydrocarbons may be oxidized by oxygen present in the exhaust gas during lean fuel operation following rich fuel operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Aleksey Yezerets, Neal W. Currier, Lyle E. Kocher, Michael J. Ruth
  • Publication number: 20080173011
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling regeneration of exhaust gas aftertreatment components coupled to an internal combustion engine. For example, the particulate load of a particulate filter is monitored and a road speed of the vehicle is determined. If the particulate load is greater than a particulate load threshold and the road speed is greater than a road speed threshold, regeneration of the particulate filter is initiated. As another example, the sulfur oxide load (SOx) of a NOx catalyst is also monitored, and if the SOx load is greater than a SOx threshold while the particulate filter is being regenerated, regeneration of the particulate filter is terminated and SOx regeneration of the NOx catalyst is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Stewart D. Sullivan, Lyle E. Kocher, Michael J. Cunningham, Neal W. Currier, James J. Fier, Samuel C. Geckler
  • Publication number: 20080148811
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for compensating a mass air flow signal produced by a mass air flow sensor in fluid communication with an air intake passageway of an internal combustion engine. A mass air flow signal produced by the mass air flow sensor is monitored and an expected oxygen concentration of exhaust gas produced by the engine is determined. A compensation parameter is determined as a function of the expected oxygen concentration and a measured value of the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas. A compensated mass air flow value is determined as a function of the mass air flow signal and the compensation parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Stewart D. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20080104945
    Abstract: A system, method, and software that rapidly heats a diesel oxidation catalyst unit to an effective operating temperature at engine startup is disclosed. Upon ignition of an engine an electronic control unit is operable to lower a fresh air flow target value to a reduced fresh air flow target value as well as lower a valve opening limit of an exhaust gas recirculation valve to a reduced valve opening limit. The electronic control unit monitors a temperature value of a flow of exhaust entering the diesel oxidation catalyst unit until the temperature value reaches a first predetermined threshold value. After reaching the first predetermined threshold value, the electronic control unit causes the fuel system to set post-injection fueling to a predetermined post-injection fueling value until the temperature value of the flow of exhaust entering the diesel oxidation catalyst unit reaches a second predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Michael J. Cunningham, Joan M. Wills, Lyle E. Kocher
  • Publication number: 20080104947
    Abstract: A system, method, and software for triggering regeneration of an adsorber connected with a flow of exhaust from an engine. An exhaust sulfur flow rate module estimates a sulfur accumulation rate associated with an adsorber as a function of a flow of fuel. A sulfur removal rate module estimates a sulfur removal rate associated with the adsorber. An accumulated sulfur loading module includes a counter the value of which is increased as a function of the sulfur accumulation rate and decreased as a function of the sulfur removal rate. A combustion manager module controls an engine to regenerate the adsorber once the counter reaches an upper threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Yue Yun Wang, Sriram Satya Srinivas Popuri, Michael J. Ruth, Michael J. Cunningham, Joan M. Wills, Jer-Sheng J. Chen, Samuel C. Geckler
  • Publication number: 20080104946
    Abstract: A system, method, and software for triggering regeneration of an adsorber connected with a flow of exhaust from an engine. A sulfur loading estimate module is used to generate an estimated sulfur loading value associated with an adsorber. A desulfation trigger module is used to trigger a desulfation event for the adsorber upon detection of a trigger event comprising either a cost-effective trigger event, a loading trigger event, and a forced trigger event. A combustion manager module is used to control an engine through engine management to regenerate the adsorber during the desulfation event. A interrupt module is used to interrupt the desulfation event upon detection of an interrupt event. An end desulfation module is used to stop or end the desulfation event upon detection of an end desulfation event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Samuel C. Geckler, Jer-Sheng J. Chen, Michael J. Cunningham, Sriram Satya Srinivas Popuri, Michael J. Ruth
  • Patent number: 6168134
    Abstract: A flow control valve having a controllable flow area which varies with the valve displacement. The flow control valve includes a poppet-type valve element mounted to reciprocate between a closed and open position in a valve cavity formed in a valve housing. The valve housing has an inlet and outlet passage to allow fluid to flow therethrough. A removable insert having a flow passage is positioned in the valve cavity adjacent the poppet-valve for controlling the flow rate of gaseous fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage while the poppet valve is in an open position. Movement of the poppet valve from a closed to an open position varies the effective cross-sectional flow area of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Josh S. Shao, Paul R. Miller, Long K. Hwang
  • Patent number: 6062535
    Abstract: A flow control valve having a controllable flow area which varies with the valve displacement. The flow control valve includes a poppet-type valve element mounted to reciprocate between a closed and open position in a valve cavity formed in a valve housing. The valve housing has an inlet and outlet passage to allow fluid to flow therethrough. A removable insert having a flow passage is positioned in the valve cavity adjacent the poppet-valve for controlling the flow rate of gaseous fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage while the poppet valve is in an open position. Movement of the poppet valve from a closed to an open position varies the effective cross-sectional flow area of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Josh S. Shao, Paul R. Miller, Long K. Hwang
  • Patent number: 5771861
    Abstract: A system for controlling fuel flow in an internal combustion engine receives a command specifying a desired fuel flow rate from an electronic control module. The system generates a feedforward estimate of actuator current required to produce the desired flow rate. This estimate is combined with a fueling current offset value generated using a proportional-integral feedback controller. A differential pressure between the fuel rail and cylinder gas is converted, by surface interpolation based on a lookup table, to an estimate of actual fuel flow rate. The difference between this actual fuel flow rate and the desired flow rate is provided to the feedback controller as an error signal. The feedback controller preferably uses different gain values depending on an operating mode of the engine (speed control and torque control modes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith L. Musser, Daniel D. Wilhelm, David A. Olson, James H. Ross, Jeffrey P. Seger, Michael J. Ruth, Prakash Bedapudi, David A. Bolis, Stephen M. Holl, Gregory Weber