Patents by Inventor Nicholas J. Birkby

Nicholas J. Birkby 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: 9506385
    Abstract: A fuel fired burner defines an axially extending flow path. An airless fuel nozzle sprays fuel droplets within the fuel fired burner in a direction generally along the axially extending flow path. An exhaust gas inlet directs exhaust gases from a vehicle exhaust system toward the airless nozzle in a direction that is transverse to the axially extending flow path. The exhaust gas mixes with the fuel droplets resulting in an exhaust gas/fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Navin Khadiya, Nicholas J. Birkby, Steven Beesley, Mark Ramsbottom, Philip M. Dimpelfeld
  • Publication number: 20120073268
    Abstract: A fuel-fired burner in a vehicle exhaust system is selectively activated to increase exhaust gas temperature to a desired reference temperature. The fuel-fired burner can be either a partial range burner or a full range burner. A control strategy activates the fuel-fired burner only when needed to provide NO2 based passive regeneration of a diesel particulate filter in a fuel efficient manner. The control strategy includes at least one of a look-up table which outputs the desired reference temperature as a function of engine operating conditions, a comparison of pressure characteristics to predetermined thresholds, and a steady-state model or a transient model that outputs the desired reference temperature as a function of exhaust back-pressure and estimated exhaust oxygen flowrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Navin Khadiya, Nicholas J. Birkby, Steven Beesley, Mark Ramsbottom
  • Publication number: 20120011835
    Abstract: A fuel fired burner defines an axially extending flow path. An airless fuel nozzle sprays fuel droplets within the fuel fired burner in a direction generally along the axially extending flow path. An exhaust gas inlet directs exhaust gases from a vehicle exhaust system toward the airless nozzle in a direction that is transverse to the axially extending flow path. The exhaust gas mixes with the fuel droplets resulting in an exhaust gas/fuel mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Navin Khadiya, Nicholas J. Birkby, Steven Beesley, Mark Ramsbottom, Philip M. Dimpelfeld
  • Patent number: 7762061
    Abstract: A method of operating an emission abatement system includes advancing a liquid agent to an atomizing nozzle and advancing pressurized air to the atomizing nozzle. The method further includes impinging the pressurized air on the liquid agent at a tip of the atomizing nozzle to shear liquid agent particles from the liquid agent. The method further includes advancing the liquid agent particles through the atomizing nozzle to an emission abatement device. An emission abatement system and atomizer apparatus are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: EMCON Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Birkby, Clive D. Telford, Graham K. Hargrave
  • Publication number: 20080245055
    Abstract: A method of operating an emission abatement system includes advancing a liquid agent to an atomizing nozzle and advancing pressurized air to the atomizing nozzle. The method further includes impinging the pressurized air on the liquid agent at a tip of the atomizing nozzle to shear liquid agent particles from the liquid agent. The method further includes advancing the liquid agent particles through the atomizing nozzle to an emission abatement device. An emission abatement system and atomizer apparatus are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Birkby, Clive D. Telford, Graham K. Hargrave