Patents by Inventor Peter C. Moilanen
Peter C. Moilanen 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).
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Patent number: 11725562Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, injecting heated air into an exhaust runner of each cylinder of the engine during an exhaust stroke of the corresponding cylinder, after a blowdown exhaust pulse. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Leone, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang
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Patent number: 11473518Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing exhaust gas emissions during a cold-start of an engine. In one example, a method may include generating a flame front in an exhaust port of an exhaust system, heating exhaust gas flowing into an emission control device of the exhaust system and thereby expediting the approach to a light-off temperature of the emission control device, and directing the flame front back to the cylinder as part of a combustion stroke of the four-stroke engine cycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Steven Wooldridge, Peter C. Moilanen, Brad VanDerWege, Gary Alan Coulson, Jennifer Fischer
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Publication number: 20220145790Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, injecting heated air into an exhaust runner of each cylinder of the engine during an exhaust stroke of the corresponding cylinder, after a blowdown exhaust pulse. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Thomas Leone, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang
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Patent number: 11300063Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing a temperature of a catalyst of an engine by operating the engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode. In one example, a method may include, while operating an engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode, adjusting a magnitude of a lambda split between a rich set of combustion events and a lean set of combustion events based on soot formation in the rich set of combustion events. In this way, catalyst temperature may be increased while maintaining engine efficiency and preventing soot formation in the cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Schwochert
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Publication number: 20220018298Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing a temperature of a catalyst of an engine by operating the engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode. In one example, a method may include, while operating an engine in a split lambda catalyst heating mode, adjusting a magnitude of a lambda split between a rich set of combustion events and a lean set of combustion events based on soot formation in the rich set of combustion events. In this way, catalyst temperature may be increased while maintaining engine efficiency and preventing soot formation in the cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen, Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Schwochert
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Patent number: 10167806Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for reduction of NOx emissions. In one example, immediately after a fuel shut-off event, in response to an oxygen content of an exhaust catalyst being higher than a threshold, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection. By increasing manifold cooling, NOx production may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2017Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Calvin Trescott, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Peter C. Moilanen
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Publication number: 20180320626Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for reduction of NOx emissions. In one example, immediately after a fuel shut-off event, in response to an oxygen content of an exhaust catalyst being higher than a threshold, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection. By increasing manifold cooling, NOx production may be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Calvin Trescott, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Peter C. Moilanen
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Patent number: 9708999Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
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Patent number: 9624855Abstract: Embodiments for controlling an exhaust back-pressure valve are provided. In one example, a method for operating an engine comprises closing an exhaust back-pressure valve in response to a component temperature, adjusting intake and/or exhaust valve operation in response to closing the exhaust back-pressure valve to reduce cylinder internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and while the exhaust back-pressure valve is closing, indicating degradation of an exhaust back-pressure system if a designated engine operating parameter remains constant. In this way, degradation of the exhaust back-pressure system may be diagnosed while maintaining combustion stability.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen
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Publication number: 20160131060Abstract: Embodiments for controlling an exhaust back-pressure valve are provided. In one example, a method for operating an engine comprises closing an exhaust back-pressure valve in response to a component temperature, adjusting intake and/or exhaust valve operation in response to closing the exhaust back-pressure valve to reduce cylinder internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and while the exhaust back-pressure valve is closing, indicating degradation of an exhaust back-pressure system if a designated engine operating parameter remains constant. In this way, degradation of the exhaust back-pressure system may be diagnosed while maintaining combustion stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen
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Publication number: 20160131073Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
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Patent number: 9303577Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
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Patent number: 9297329Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved. The injections are adjusted based on the alcohol content of the injected fuel to take advantage of the charge cooling properties of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
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Patent number: 9255541Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
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Patent number: 9239016Abstract: Embodiments for controlling an exhaust back-pressure valve are provided. In one example, a method for operating an engine comprises closing an exhaust back-pressure valve in response to a component temperature, adjusting intake and/or exhaust valve operation in response to closing the exhaust back-pressure valve to reduce cylinder internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and while the exhaust back-pressure valve is closing, indicating degradation of an exhaust back-pressure system if a designated engine operating parameter remains constant. In this way, degradation of the exhaust back-pressure system may be diagnosed while maintaining combustion stability.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen
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Patent number: 8997457Abstract: Embodiments for controlling an exhaust back-pressure valve are provided. In one example, a method for operating an engine comprises closing an exhaust back-pressure valve in response to a component temperature, and adjusting intake and/or exhaust valve operation in response to closing the exhaust back-pressure valve to reduce cylinder internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). In this way, combustion stability may be maintained while the exhaust back-pressure valve is closed.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen
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Publication number: 20140297159Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for different fuels injected into an engine cylinder from different fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting fuel injection during start and cranking so that fuel of lower alcohol content is port injected and fuel of higher alcohol content is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
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Publication number: 20140297162Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved. The injections are adjusted based on the alcohol content of the injected fuel to take advantage of the charge cooling properties of the fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
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Publication number: 20140172275Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
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Patent number: 8712669Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an engine with a varying fuel composition. In one example, a split injection is performed during engine cranking with at least some fuel injected in the intake stroke and some fuel injected in the compression stroke. Further, a split ratio of the injection is adjusted based on the alcohol content of the injected fuel.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric Krengel, Peter C. Moilanen, Gopichandra Surnilla