Patents by Inventor Nate Trask

Nate Trask 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: 7201140
    Abstract: A system and method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, during said period where said at least one valve is in said closed position, the method may also include opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve, then closing the other of the intake and exhaust valve, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask
  • Patent number: 7194993
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to during the start of an internal combustion engine. Valves that may be deactivated are controlled in a manner to reduce hydrocarbon emissions during the start of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell, Nate Trask, Thomas W. Megli
  • Publication number: 20070056546
    Abstract: A method for improving engine starting for an engine having a variable event valvetrain is described. According to one aspect of the description, valve timing during a start can be set so that combustion stability and emissions may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Nate Trask, Gang Song
  • Publication number: 20070056560
    Abstract: A method for improving engine intake manifold pressure control of an internal combustion engine is described. According to one aspect of the description, the manifold pressure may be controlled to reduce fuel consumption and engine emissions during at least some operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Nate Trask, Thomas Megli
  • Publication number: 20060254564
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine during a start, the method comprising before rotation of the engine: opening an intake valve of at least one cylinder and starting injection of fuel from a port injector coupled to the cylinder so that at least some fuel enters the cylinder, closing the intake valve, and performing a spark in the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, Nate Trask, Vince Winstead
  • Publication number: 20060249108
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled to improve engine fuel economy. Further, the method can adjust valve operation to provide air-fuel charge motion and increase combustion stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, John Michelini, Nate Trask, Gang Song
  • Patent number: 7079935
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled to improve engine fuel economy. Further, the method can adjust valve operation to provide air-fuel charge motion and increase combustion stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask, Gang Song
  • Patent number: 7055483
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing so that an internal combustion engine may be quickly started. Electromechanical valves are controlled to allow an engine to start with reduced cranking time. The method controls intake and exhaust valves without an explicit four-stroke engine cycle during a start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20060032479
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of cylinder with at least an intake and exhaust valve and a piston are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, closing the other of the intake and exhaust valves with the piston at a first position from, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valves at a second position of the piston closer to bottom center than said first position, during said period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John Michelini, Nate Trask, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Davor Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20060005807
    Abstract: A system and method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, during said period where said at least one valve is in said closed position, the method may also include opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve, then closing the other of the intake and exhaust valve, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John Michelini, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050279323
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine in a vehicle, the engine having at least a cylinder, is described. The method comprises decreasing rotational speed of the engine; and when said engine speed falls in a specified region, adjusting a valve timing of the cylinder to generate one of expansion or compression braking torque to stop rotation of said engine in a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, Dennis Reed, Nate Trask
  • Patent number: 6959689
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of cylinder with at least an intake and exhaust valve and a piston are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, closing the other of the intake and exhaust valves with the piston at a first position from, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valves at a second position of the piston closer to bottom center than said first position, during said period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Davor Hrovat
  • Patent number: 6951198
    Abstract: A system and method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least the exhaust valve in a closed position during a period of net engine torque less than zero. Further, during said period of net engine torque less than zero, operating with at least the intake valve open, then closing the intake valve, and then opening the intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050205054
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled to improve engine fuel economy. Further, the method can adjust valve operation to provide air-fuel charge motion and increase combustion stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, John Michelini, Nate Trask, Gang Song
  • Publication number: 20050205038
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing so that an internal combustion engine may be quickly started. Electromechanical valves are controlled to allow an engine to start with reduced cranking time. The method controls intake and exhaust valves without an explicit four-stroke engine cycle during a start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, John Russell, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050205036
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to during the start of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled in a manner to reduce engine vibration and hydrocarbon emissions during the start of an internal combustion engine. The method controls valves without an explicit four-stroke engine cycle during a start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, John Russell, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050205037
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to during the start of an internal combustion engine. Valves that may be deactivated are controlled in a manner to reduce hydrocarbon emissions during the start of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, John Russell, Nate Trask, Thomas Megli
  • Patent number: 6938598
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to during the start of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled in a manner to reduce engine vibration and hydrocarbon emissions during the start of an internal combustion engine. The method controls valves without an explicit four-stroke engine cycle during a start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050131618
    Abstract: A system and method are described for reducing engine vibration during cylinder deactivation in selected operating conditions. The method utilizes open valve deactivation to better match the cylinder pressure of deactivated cylinders to combusting cylinders. This mode is utilized, along with cylinder closed valve cylinder deactivation, to improve overall fuel economy, while at the same time reducing vibration felt by the vehicle driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Nate Trask
  • Patent number: 6871617
    Abstract: A method to compute, store, and inject adaptive valve timing corrections in a camless valvetrain architecture where a measurable (based on the resolution of the measuring methodology) error exists between the requested and delivered valve timing. This method is based on a measurement of the delivered valve timing, such as from a direct position sensor, (hall effect, LVDT, optical, etc.) or inferred position sensing based on valve actuator current (electronic actuation) or pressure (hydraulic actuation) feedback. This measured delivered valve timing information is used to compute offsets which, when applied to the desired timing, provide more accurate correlation between the delivered timing and the desired timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Winstead, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Nate Trask