Patents by Inventor Robert Ukropec

Robert Ukropec 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: 10961892
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment system. In one example, a system comprises an air injector positioned to inject air between a first catalyst and a second catalyst in response to an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas falling below a threshold concentration while exhaust gas temperatures are less than a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Mario Balenovic, Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen
  • Patent number: 10865678
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas arrangement. In one example, a system comprises an air supply device arranged between a first LNT and a second LNT. The air supply device positioned to adjust an air/fuel ratio and a temperature of exhaust gas flowing to the second LNT and devices downstream thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Evgeny Smirnov, Robert Ukropec, Dirk Roemer, Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen
  • Patent number: 10837341
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust tract for vehicles having an internal combustion engine, the exhaust tract including a first exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a metering device arranged downstream therefrom. In one example, a region of the first exhaust gas aftertreatment device which is situated downstream is designed as an SCR region. Further, the metering device is designed to spray a reducing agent onto a side of the first exhaust gas aftertreatment device which faces the metering device, counter to a main direction of flow of an exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Balenovic, Felix Goebel, Martina Reichert, Monika Angst, Robert Ukropec, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Patent number: 10746115
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment arrangement. In one example, a system includes a LNT upstream of an SCR with an oxygen storage component arranged therebetween, and where a rich operation of an engine is limited based on an oxygen load of the oxygen storage component when an exhaust gas temperature is higher than a limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Harmsen, Maria Armiento, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Patent number: 10563556
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas arrangement. In one example, a system includes a lean-NOx trap arranged upstream of a selective-catalytic reduction device with an air supply device positioned to inject air therebetween, wherein the air supply device is activated in response to an exhaust gas being rich and an exhaust gas temperature exceeding a limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Publication number: 20190277174
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas arrangement. In one example, a system comprises an air supply device arranged between a first LNT and a second LNT. The air supply device positioned to adjust an air/fuel ratio and a temperature of exhaust gas flowing to the second LNT and devices downstream thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Evgeny Smirnov, Robert Ukropec, Dirk Roemer, Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen
  • Publication number: 20190271251
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment system. In one example, a system comprises an air injector positioned to inject air between a first catalyst and a second catalyst in response to an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas falling below a threshold concentration while exhaust gas temperatures are less than a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Mario Balenovic, Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen
  • Publication number: 20190242285
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas arrangement. In one example, a system includes a lean-NOx trap arranged upstream of a selective-catalytic reduction device with an air supply device positioned to inject air therebetween, wherein the air supply device is activated in response to an exhaust gas being rich and an exhaust gas temperature exceeding a limit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Publication number: 20190242314
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment arrangement. In one example, a system includes a LNT upstream of an SCR with an oxygen storage component arranged therebetween, and where a rich operation of an engine is limited based on an oxygen load of the oxygen storage component when an exhaust gas temperature is higher than a limit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Jan Harmsen, Maria Armiento, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Patent number: 10029671
    Abstract: An operating method for a motor vehicle having a hybrid drivetrain includes, during a demand check, comparing at least one value which characterizes a current state of an exhaust-gas after-treatment device, with a setpoint value of the exhaust-gas after-treatment device. In response to the comparison indicating a deviation of the value characterizing the current state of the exhaust-gas after-treatment device from the setpoint value, a demand for a measure is indicated. The measure includes supplying charge gas, which includes recirculated exhaust gas, to the internal combustion engine during overrun operation. In addition, a capability check is carried out to detect conditions suitable for implementing the operating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Schneider, Frank Linzen, Dirk Roemer, Frederik De Smet, Jan Harmsen, Kim Ford, Javier Castellano, Andres Arevalo, Monika Angst, Mario Balenovic, Evgeny Smirnov, Robert Ukropec, Christian Winge Vigild, Felix Goebel
  • Patent number: 9677522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector (1) for an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector (1) is comprised of an injector body (5) with an injector tip (6). The injector tip (6) is used for the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber (4) of the internal combustion engine. For this reason, the injector tip (6) is designed so as to be at least partially extended into the combustion chamber (4). If the injector tip (6) is designed to be flush with the surface of the combustion chamber (4), the injector tip (6) is arranged so that it directly faces toward the combustion chamber (4). Furthermore, the injector tip (6) is at least partially coated with a first oxide layer (9). According to the invention, a catalytic second oxide coating (10) composed of cerium oxide (CeO2), praseodymium oxide (PrO2), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or any bi-component combination thereof is applied on top of the first oxide coating (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Oliver Berkemeier, Clemens Maria Verpoort
  • Patent number: 9597664
    Abstract: The current invention refers to the LNT and the SCR catalysts designed for combined LNT-SCR applications. LNT catalysts are based on proton-conducting oxides of fluorite structure, namely Ca (Sr)—La—Ce (Zr, Pr) mixed oxides in which up to 40 mol-% of lanthanum is replaced by calcium and/or strontium, and up to 66 mol-% of cerium is replaced by zirconium and/or praseodymium, further combined with Pt—Pd or Pt—Pd—Rh precious metal components. SCR catalysts are Cu/zeolite modified by citrate treatment or Cu—Ce, Mn—Ce or Co—Ce/modified zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Albert N. Chigapov, Robert Ukropec, Brendan Patrick Carberry, Nina Shishkina
  • Publication number: 20170002713
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust tract for vehicles having an internal combustion engine, the exhaust tract including a first exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a metering device arranged downstream therefrom. In one example, a region of the first exhaust gas aftertreatment device which is situated downstream is designed as an SCR region. Further, the metering device is designed to spray a reducing agent onto a side of the first exhaust gas aftertreatment device which faces the metering device, counter to a main direction of flow of an exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Mario Balenovic, Felix Goebel, Martina Reichert, Monika Angst, Robert Ukropec, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Publication number: 20160251012
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an operating method for a motor vehicle having a hybrid drivetrain where in a demand check, at least one exhaust-gas after-treatment actual value, which characterizes a current exhaust-gas after-treatment actual state, is compared with an exhaust-gas after-treatment setpoint value, and if, in the event of a deviation of the exhaust-gas after-treatment actual value from the exhaust-gas after-treatment setpoint value, a demand for a measure is detected. The measure comprises supplying charge gas, which has recirculated exhaust gas, to the internal combustion engine during overrun operation. Also a capability check is carried out to detect conditions suitable for implementing the operating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Schneider, Frank Linzen, Dirk Roemer, Frederik De Smet, Jan Harmsen, Kim Ford, Javier Castellano, Andres Arevalo, Monika Angst, Mario Balenovic, Evgeny Smirnov, Robert Ukropec, Christian Winge Vigild, Felix Goebel
  • Patent number: 9217345
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter in an engine exhaust, where burning of soot is initiated by introducing additional oxygen into the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter where an exhaust temperature exceeds a threshold, a soot burn rate controlled by adjusting pulsing of the additional oxygen. Further, the pulsing of the additional oxygen is introduced via a high-pressure EGR passage during boosted engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Alexey A. Dubkov, Christoph Boerensen, Elmar Riesmeier, Mario Balenovic, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Publication number: 20150021417
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector (1) for an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector (1) is comprised of an injector body (5) with an injector tip (6). The injector tip (6) is used for the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber (4) of the internal combustion engine. For this reason, the injector tip (6) is designed so as to be at least partially extended into the combustion chamber (4). If the injector tip (6) is designed to be flush with the surface of the combustion chamber (4), the injector tip (6) is arranged so that it directly faces toward the combustion chamber (4). Furthermore, the injector tip (6) is at least partially coated with a first oxide layer (9). According to the invention, a catalytic second oxide coating (10) composed of cerium oxide (CeO2), praseodymium oxide (PrO2), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or any bi-component combination thereof is applied on top of the first oxide coating (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Oliver Berkemeier, Clemens Maria Verpoort
  • Patent number: 8820050
    Abstract: Embodiments for reducing ammonia slip are provided. In one example, a method for reduction of ammonia emissions from an engine exhaust gas aftertreatment device with an SCR catalyst comprises determining a concentration of NOx and/or ammonia in the exhaust gas aftertreatment device, comparing a determined value of NOx and/or ammonia concentration with a nominal value for NOx and ammonia, respectively, and if an actual or shortly forecasted ammonia concentration is above the respective nominal value, triggering engine conditions with higher exhaust NOx concentration. In this way, ammonia slip may be reduced without degrading fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexey A. Dubkov, Mario Balenovic, Jan Harmsen, Robert Ukropec, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Patent number: 8783012
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating an efficiency of a catalyst placed in an exhaust path of a combustion engine are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises: ageing the catalyst consecutively at different temperatures for definite time periods; measuring the catalyst conversion efficiency after each ageing step; calculating the ageing factor for each step of the ageing procedure and the accumulative value of the ageing factors for all steps of the ageing procedure; estimating catalyst efficiency correlation factors related to the measured catalyst conversion efficiency for each temperature point and for all ageing conditions; determining a correlation between the catalyst efficiency correlation factors and the accumulative value of the ageing factors; and calculating the conversion efficiency of the aged catalyst based on a predetermined correlation between the accumulative ageing factor and the catalyst efficiency correlation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Alexey A. Dubkov, Yasser Mohamed Sayed Yacoub, Brendan Patrick Carberry, Nina Shishkina
  • Publication number: 20140013741
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter in an engine exhaust, where burning of soot is initiated by introducing additional oxygen into the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter where an exhaust temperature exceeds a threshold, a soot burn rate controlled by adjusting pulsing of the additional oxygen. Further, the pulsing of the additional oxygen is introduced via a high-pressure EGR passage during boosted engine conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Alexey A. Dubkov, Christoph Boerensen, Elmar Riesmeier, Mario Balenovic, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Publication number: 20130008149
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating an efficiency of a catalyst placed in an exhaust path of a combustion engine are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises: ageing the catalyst consecutively at different temperatures for definite time periods; measuring the catalyst conversion efficiency after each ageing step; calculating the ageing factor for each step of the ageing procedure and the accumulative value of the ageing factors for all steps of the ageing procedure; estimating catalyst efficiency correlation factors related to the measured catalyst conversion efficiency for each temperature point and for all ageing conditions; determining a correlation between the catalyst efficiency correlation factors and the accumulative value of the ageing factors; and calculating the conversion efficiency of the aged catalyst based on a predetermined correlation between the accumulative ageing factor and the catalyst efficiency correlation factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Alexey A. Dubkov, Yasser Mohamed Sayed Yacoub, Albert N. Chigapov, Nina Shishkina, Brendan Patrick Carberry