Patents by Inventor Ronald C. DeHart

Ronald C. DeHart 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: 8897958
    Abstract: A method for determining ambient air temperature outside of a vehicle with a sensor mounted on the vehicle, includes the steps of determining a road speed of the vehicle, comparing the determined road speed to a reference road speed value, if the determined road speed is below the reference road speed value, activating a device to move ambient air across the sensor, the ambient air being drawn from a location outside the vehicle, taking a temperature reading with the sensor, and, if the temperature reading is lower than a stored temperature value, storing the lower temperature reading as the ambient air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Group North America, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald C. Dehart, Jason Stone, Mark Mittelstaedt
  • Publication number: 20120323440
    Abstract: A method for determining ambient air temperature outside of a vehicle with a sensor mounted on the vehicle, includes the steps of determining a road speed of the vehicle, comparing the determined road speed to a reference road speed value, if the determined road speed is below the reference road speed value, activating a device to move ambient air across the sensor, the ambient air being drawn from a location outside the vehicle, taking a temperature reading with the sensor, and, if the temperature reading is lower than a stored temperature value, storing the lower temperature reading as the ambient air temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: VOLVO GROUP NORTH AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald C. Dehart, Jason Stone, Mark Mittelstaedt
  • Patent number: 8160804
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle during an automatic shutdown process, in particular to cool the engine to a predetermined safe shutdown temperature, includes the steps of determining that vehicle-idle conditions exist and whether an engine-associated temperature exceeds a predetermined first threshold temperature value, for which a cooling fan is operated to cool the engine, or higher second threshold temperature, for which at least one of the cooling fan and a coolant pump is operated above idle levels and the engine speed may be increased above idle to cool the engine. Cooling fan and/or coolant pump operation is reduced when the engine temperature is determined to have decreased to below the first threshold temperature value. Finally, engine shutdown is completed when predetermined shutdown conditions are fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Group North America, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Chominsky, Ronald C. Dehart
  • Patent number: 8099953
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine of a truck or other vehicle includes a conduit connected to an air source, for example, a turbo driven compressor to deliver air to the exhaust stack or tail pipe. The conduit is controlled by a valve, which is opened and closed by a controller responsive to a measured exhaust gas temperature above a threshold and a vehicle speed below a threshold. The invention is particularly advantageous for engine exhausts having aftertreatment devices that require high temperature regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Group North America, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald C. DeHart
  • Publication number: 20100043430
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine of a truck or other vehicle includes a conduit connected to an air source, for example, a turbo driven compressor to deliver air to the exhaust stack or tail pipe. The conduit is controlled by a valve, which is opened and closed by a controller responsive to a measured exhaust gas temperature above a threshold and a vehicle speed below a threshold. The invention is particularly advantageous for engine exhausts having aftertreatment devices that require high temperature regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Volvo Group North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald C. DeHart
  • Publication number: 20100030456
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle during an automatic shutdown process, in particular to cool the engine to a predetermined safe shutdown temperature, includes the steps of determining that vehicle-idle conditions exist and whether an engine-associated temperature exceeds a predetermined first threshold temperature value, for which a cooling fan is operated to cool the engine, or higher second threshold temperature, for which at least one of the cooling fan and a coolant pump is operated above idle levels and the engine speed may be increased above idle to cool the engine. Cooling fan and/or coolant pump operation is reduced when the engine temperature is determined to have decreased to below the first threshold temperature value. Finally, engine shutdown is completed when predetermined shutdown conditions are fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Volvo Group North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley Chominsky, Ronald C. Dehart