Patents by Inventor Rhett Hedrick

Rhett Hedrick 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: 6871499
    Abstract: Turbocharger control systems used with electric assist turbochargers include an electric motor for controlling turbocharger operation. The system comprises an oil pressure sensor attached to the turbocharger for sensing oil pressure for lubricating a shaft bearing assembly. The pressure sensor provides oil pressure information to a control system that controls the operation of the electric motor and/or other operating parameters of the turbocharger and/or the vehicle. The control system regulates operation of the electric motor during operating conditions where a low oil pressure condition is detected when compared to a predetermined minimum. The control system reactivates the electric motor once a desired minimum oil pressure has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell Interntional, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Allen, Gerhard E. Delf, Rhett Hedrick, Daniel Black, Kevin Birch
  • Patent number: 6871498
    Abstract: Systems for preventing/controlling compressor surge in an electrically assisted turbocharger comprise a turbocharger having an electric motor disposed around a turbocharger shaft. The electric motor controller is electrically coupled to the electric motor for controlling the rotational movement provided by the electric motor to the turbocharger shaft. A memory is electrically coupled to the electric motor controller and comprises a multi-dimensional map of compressor surge conditions stored therein. Sensors are used to provide desired engine and/or turbocharger operating information for comparing against the stored map data. The sensors are electrically coupled to the electric motor controller. The controller plots the actual operating information provided by the sensors on the stored map to evaluate whether the turbocharger is operating in different operating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Allen, Rhett Hedrick, Gerhard E. Delf, Daniel Black, Kevin Birch
  • Patent number: 6705084
    Abstract: System for controlling an electric assisted turbocharger comprise an electric motor disposed within turbocharger, and an electric motor controller electrically coupled thereto for purposes of controlling the same. A memory is electrically coupled to the electric motor controller and is configured with a condition map that correlates electric motor instructions with engine and turbocharger conditions. The system includes sensors that are electrically coupled to the electric motor controller, and that are configured to sense conditions of at least one of the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine that is coupled thereto. The electric motor controller is configured to control the electric motor based upon the input received from the plurality of sensors as compared to the data contained multi-dimensional condition map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Allen, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman, Gerhard Delf, Daniel Black, Kevin Birch
  • Patent number: 6609375
    Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of an electric motor in an electric assisted turbocharger that is coupled to an internal combustion engine has a turbocharger with an electric motor disposed within a motor housing. The motor housing has a motor housing inlet and a motor housing outlet. The turbocharger has a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet. The turbocharger also has a turbine. A first cooling hose is coupled to the compressor outlet and coupled to the motor housing inlet. A second cooling hose is coupled to the motor housing outlet and coupled to the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Allen, Gerhard Delf, Kevin Birch, Daniel Black, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman
  • Publication number: 20030051475
    Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of an electric motor in an electric assisted turbocharger that is coupled to an internal combustion engine has a turbocharger with an electric motor disposed within a motor housing. The motor housing has a motor housing inlet and a motor housing outlet. The turbocharger has a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet. The turbocharger also has a turbine. A first cooling hose is coupled to the compressor outlet and coupled to the motor housing inlet. A second cooling hose is coupled to the motor housing outlet and coupled to the compressor inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: John Allen, Gerhard Delf, Kevin Birch, Daniel Black, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman
  • Publication number: 20030005695
    Abstract: System for controlling an electric assisted turbocharger comprise an electric motor disposed within turbocharger, and an electric motor controller electrically coupled thereto for purposes of controlling the same. A memory is electrically coupled to the electric motor controller and is configured with a condition map that correlates electric motor instructions with engine and turbocharger conditions. The system includes sensors that are electrically coupled to the electric motor controller, and that are configured to sense conditions of at least one of the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine that is coupled thereto. The electric motor controller is configured to control the electric motor based upon the input received from the plurality of sensors as compared to the data contained multi-dimensional condition map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: John Allen, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman, Gerhard Delf, Daniel Black, Kevin Birch