Patents by Inventor Niels Christopher Kragh

Niels Christopher Kragh 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: 10221784
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the efficiency of canister purge completion. Based on engine operating conditions, a canister is purged to a compressor inlet or a throttle outlet. During purging conditions, as canister loads change, a purge flow through the canister is varied so that a fixed preselected portion of total engine fueling is delivered as fuel vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 10060393
    Abstract: A purge valve and a fuel vapor management system for use with an engine emission control system are disclosed. The purge valve may include a first inlet for receiving a first flow of air from an air cleaner, a second inlet for receiving a second flow of purge vapors from an evaporative canister, and an outlet directing a controlled mixture of the first and second flows to an engine, upstream of an intake throttle. Relative amounts of the first flow and second flow may be selectively controlled by varying a position of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 10001088
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an engine off natural vacuum test in a vehicle in order to indicate the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions. In one example, a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions system are sealed from atmosphere, and responsive to a pressure increase below an expected threshold, the fuel system and evaporative emissions system are actively pressurized via circulating hot engine coolant to a heater core and blowing hot air through the vehicle cabin to the fuel system via a three way ventilation valve in the rear of the vehicle. In this way, false failures of EONV test procedures due to environmental factors and vehicle operator drive habits may be reduced, and unnecessary engine service may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20180045128
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the efficiency of canister purge completion. Based on engine operating conditions, a canister is purged to a compressor inlet or a throttle outlet. During purging conditions, as canister loads change, a purge flow through the canister is varied so that a fixed preselected portion of total engine fueling is delivered as fuel vapors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 9822719
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the purging of a fuel vapor canister coupled to a vehicle fuel tank, configured for capturing and storing vapors emanating from the tank. In one example, two canister purge valves are coupled in series in a fuel vapor conduit between the fuel vapor canister and engine intake, one at the intake manifold and one at the fuel vapor canister, such that fine control over the introduction of fuel vapors into the engine is maintained via the purge valve at the intake manifold, while thorough purging of the fuel vapor canister may be regulated via the purge valve at the fuel vapor canister. In this way, fuel vapors in the fuel vapor canister may be effectively purged to intake, thus reducing the potential for undesired evaporative emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Donald Ignasiak, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Mark W. Peters, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 9797322
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the efficiency of canister purge completion. Based on engine operating conditions, a canister is purged to a compressor inlet or a throttle outlet. During purging conditions, as canister loads change, a purge flow through the canister is varied so that a fixed preselected portion of total engine fueling is delivered as fuel vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20170260918
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the purging of a fuel vapor canister coupled to a vehicle fuel tank, configured for capturing and storing vapors emanating from the tank. In one example, two canister purge valves are coupled in series in a fuel vapor conduit between the fuel vapor canister and engine intake, one at the intake manifold and one at the fuel vapor canister, such that fine control over the introduction of fuel vapors into the engine is maintained via the purge valve at the intake manifold, while thorough purging of the fuel vapor canister may be regulated via the purge valve at the fuel vapor canister. In this way, fuel vapors in the fuel vapor canister may be effectively purged to intake, thus reducing the potential for undesired evaporative emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Donald Ignasiak, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce, Mark W. Peters, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 9739243
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for reducing pressure in a fuel tank of a fuel system of an engine. In one example, cooling fluid is routed from an air conditioner of a cooling system to a vapor cooler disposed in a vapor space of the fuel tank such that fuel vapor in the fuel tank may be condensed and routed to a fuel pump for delivery to the engine, thereby reducing a fuel tank pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Gloabl Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20170226967
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an engine off natural vacuum test in a vehicle in order to indicate the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions. In one example, a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions system are sealed from atmosphere, and responsive to a pressure increase below an expected threshold, the fuel system and evaporative emissions system are actively pressurized via circulating hot engine coolant to a heater core and blowing hot air through the vehicle cabin to the fuel system via a three way ventilation valve in the rear of the vehicle. In this way, false failures of EONV test procedures due to environmental factors and vehicle operator drive habits may be reduced, and unnecessary engine service may be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 9518539
    Abstract: A method, comprising: purging fuel vapors from a fuel vapor canister and/or a fuel vapor bleed element to an engine intake with air routed through a transmission bellhousing. In this way, purge air may be warmed by heat generated in the transmission bellhousing during engine operation, thereby increasing desorption efficiency and reducing bleed emissions. Further, purge air may be pressurized in the transmission bellhousing to allow purging operations irrespective of intake manifold vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Niels Christopher Kragh, Mark W. Peters, Donald Ignasiak, Mike Dong, Dhaval P. Vaishnav
  • Patent number: 9359966
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel system is disclosed. The method includes sequentially purging fuel vapors from each of a plurality of regions of a canister. Purging a region includes opening an air inlet valve associated with that region and maintaining air inlet valves associated with each other region closed to direct fuel vapors to at least one purge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Niels Christopher Kragh, Scott A. Bohr, Mark Bunge, Mark W. Peters
  • Patent number: 9261057
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging a multi-port canister into an engine intake. Air is circulated through the canister and a resulting purge air is directed to an intake passage upstream of a throttle in engine configured with a throttle body. An amount of fresh intake air received at the intake passage is corresponding decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Niels Christopher Kragh, Michael G. Heim
  • Publication number: 20150322901
    Abstract: A method, comprising: purging fuel vapors from a fuel vapor canister and/or a fuel vapor bleed element to an engine intake with air routed through a transmission bellhousing. In this way, purge air may be warmed by heat generated in the transmission bellhousing during engine operation, thereby increasing desorption efficiency and reducing bleed emissions. Further, purge air may be pressurized in the transmission bellhousing to allow purging operations irrespective of intake manifold vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Niels Christopher Kragh, Mark W. Peters, Donald Ignasiak, Mike Dong, Dhaval P. Vaishnav
  • Patent number: 9168829
    Abstract: A vapor storage device is provided. The vapor storage device includes a diffuser plate positioned on an axis of an inlet port and comprising one or more openings extending through the plate from a leading edge to a trailing edge and a dome coupled to the inlet port of the device and the diffuser plate, where the dome includes side walls spaced away from the diffuser plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Dong, Niels Christopher Kragh, Michael G. Heim, Dhaval P. Vaishnav, Mohammad Usman
  • Publication number: 20150292421
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the efficiency of canister purge completion. Based on engine operating conditions, a canister is purged to a compressor inlet or a throttle outlet. During purging conditions, as canister loads change, a purge flow through the canister is varied so that a fixed preselected portion of total engine fueling is delivered as fuel vapors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Patent number: 9026345
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a vehicle-off fuel system leak test. A vehicle controller may be woken up after a vehicle has been in a key-off condition for a sufficient amount of time to monitor a fuel tank for pressure and temperature stabilization. If the pressure and temperature of the fuel tank is stable, a fuel pump may be operated to raise a fuel tank vapor pressure, and fuel system leaks are identified based on a rate of pressure decay from the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Scott A. Bohr, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20150107562
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel system is disclosed. The method includes sequentially purging fuel vapors from each of a plurality of regions of a canister. Purging a region includes opening an air inlet valve associated with that region and maintaining air inlet valves associated with each other region closed to direct fuel vapors to at least one purge outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Niels Christopher Kragh, Scott A. Bohr, Mark Bunge, Mark W. Peters
  • Publication number: 20150021407
    Abstract: A vapor storage device is provided. The vapor storage device includes a diffuser plate positioned on an axis of an inlet port and comprising one or more openings extending through the plate from a leading edge to a trailing edge and a dome coupled to the inlet port of the device and the diffuser plate, where the dome includes side walls spaced away from the diffuser plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Dong, Niels Christopher Kragh, Michael G. Heim, Dhaval P. Vaishnav, Mohammad Usman
  • Patent number: 8919327
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel system is disclosed. The method includes sequentially purging fuel vapors from each of a plurality of regions of a canister. Purging a region includes opening an air inlet valve associated with that region and maintaining air inlet valves associated with each other region closed to direct fuel vapors to at least one purge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Niels Christopher Kragh, Scott A. Bohr, Mark Bunge, Mark W. Peters
  • Publication number: 20140297163
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine system is provided. The method includes maintaining an intake volume positioned upstream of a throttle and downstream of air cleaner within a selected operating pressure range through adjustment of a balance purge valve positioned upstream of the intake volume and a gas discharge source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Niels Christopher Kragh