Patents by Inventor Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Ross Dykstra Pursifull 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).

  • Methods and system for operating a vehicle
    Patent number: 10086840
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing perception of transitions from shifting a transmission from neutral to drive are described. In one example, the transmission is shifted from neutral to drive in response to brake pedal motion before the brake pedal is fully released so that timing of pressurizing clutches and engaging a forward gear is advanced to occur while the brake pedal is still applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Zhengyu Dai, Yang Xu, Sathish Atluri, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • System and method for lubricating a fuel pump
    Patent number: 10082118
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing and operating an engine with a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a fuel injector that may be temporarily deactivated are described. In one example, injection of fuel may commence in response to a level of lubrication of a fuel pump. The system and methods may extend fuel pump life in systems where fuel injection may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Basmaji, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Larry Dean Elie, Richard E. Soltis, David Karl Bidner
  • Systems and methods for operating a lift pump
    Patent number: 10077733
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a lift pump of an engine fuel system. In one example, a method may comprise predicting when a fuel rail pressure will decrease below a threshold assuming that a lift pump remains off. The method may further comprise powering on the lift pump before the fuel rail pressure decreases below to the threshold to prevent fuel rail pressure from decreasing below the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Trzeciak, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method for cooling a direct injection pump
    Patent number: 10077749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling a high pressure fuel pump. One method includes, when a spill valve is in a pass-through state, circulating fuel from a compression chamber of the high pressure fuel pump to a step room of the high pressure fuel pump. The fuel circulation through the step room may provide for a reduction in fuel temperature in the step room, and thus, the high pressure fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PORT FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180258875
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injection via a port fuel injector. At low load conditions, a lift pump coupled to a port injector may be deactivated, allowing fuel rail pressure to drop to fuel vapor pressure. Fuel may be delivered to engine cylinders while fuel rail pressure remains at fuel vapor pressure, with the lift pump still deactivated, for a duration until the accumulated amount of fuel delivered via port injection exceeds a threshold. Thereafter, the lift pump may be reactivated, allowing the fuel pump to be maintained disabled for longer periods of time, and providing fuel economy benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael James Uhrich
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ENGINE DURING A RESTART
    Publication number: 20180258896
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission and adjusting engine torque control actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method and system for port fuel injection
    Patent number: 10072600
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injection via a port fuel injector. At low load conditions, a lift pump coupled to a port injector may be deactivated, allowing fuel rail pressure to drop to fuel vapor pressure. Fuel may be delivered to engine cylinders while fuel rail pressure remains at fuel vapor pressure, with the lift pump still deactivated, for a duration until the accumulated amount of fuel delivered via port injection exceeds a threshold. Thereafter, the lift pump may be reactivated, allowing the fuel pump to be maintained disabled for longer periods of time, and providing fuel economy benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael James Uhrich
  • Vehicle braking system and method
    Patent number: 10065618
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing brake line pressure after brake booster vacuum has been exhausted is presented. In one example, brake line pressure is increased at a same rate after brake booster vacuum is exhausted as before brake booster vacuum is exhausted so that a driver experiences a continuous braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONTROL STEERING OF A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180244310
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control steering of a vehicle are disclosed. An example system includes a first sensor to measure a tilt angle associated with a vehicle positioned on a road surface. The example system also includes a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor to receive the tilt angle. In addition, the example system includes steering system communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller provides feedforward control data to the steering system based on the tilt angle. The steering system generates a first steering torque based on the feedforward control data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Method and system for high fuel vapor canister purge flow
    Patent number: 10060367
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing fuel vapors in a vehicle fuel system. In one example, a method includes commanding or maintaining closed a vapor blocking valve during a purging operation such that vapor flow is directed from a fuel tank to a fresh air side of a vapor canister via a first restricted vapor line, thereby enabling high purge flow rates and deep vapor canister vacuum while avoiding fuel tank vacuum. In this way, canister purge operation may be made more efficient, thereby reducing hydrocarbon bleed emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENGINE FUEL AND TORQUE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20180223760
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael McQuillen, Martin Brown, Imtiaz Ali, Naginder Gogna
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING VACUUM VIA AN ENGINE
    Publication number: 20180222485
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving vacuum generation for an engine that may be operated at higher altitudes are presented. In one non-limiting example, a transmission that is mechanically coupled to the engine may be shifted from a gear to neutral in response to an actual total number of times a vehicle brake pedal is applied and partially released while the vehicle is stopped and the brake pedal is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Russ William Ferguson, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle air conditioner using a pressure sensor located within a compressor
    Patent number: 10041552
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting operation of an automotive air conditioning system including a pressure sensor positioned within a compression chamber. In one example, a method may include adjusting operation of the air conditioning system based on one or more parameters of a compressor operation including a compressor inlet pressure, a compressor outlet pressure, and a compressor speed, that are determined based on output from the pressure sensor positioned within the compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method for controlling an engine during a restart
    Patent number: 10024290
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission and adjusting engine torque control actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method for crankcase ventilation in a boosted engine
    Patent number: 10024251
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for ventilating a crankcase in a boosted engine. An example method may include selectively enabling one of crankcase ventilation and aspirator motive flow via an electrically controlled valve, the aspirator motive flow being enabled in response to a demand for vacuum from a vacuum consumer. In this way, the crankcase of the boosted engine may be ventilated until the vacuum consumer demands vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Nicholas Dashwood Crisp
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXHAUST HEAT EXCHANGER DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20180195470
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for carrying out on-board diagnostics of a plurality of components of an exhaust heat exchange system. In one example, degradation of one or more of a heat exchanger and a coolant system fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger may be detected based on a first temperature estimated upstream of the heat exchanger, a second temperature sensor estimated downstream of the heat exchanger, a coolant temperature, and a pressure estimated upstream of the heat exchanger. Also, degradation of a diverter valve of the heat exchange system may be detected based on inputs of a position sensor coupled to the diverter valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Karen Evelyn Bevan, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael James Uhrich, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • System and method for controlling a torque converter clutch
    Patent number: 10017182
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a torque converter clutch of an automatic transmission are presented. In one non-limiting example, the torque converter clutch is closed to provide a threshold torque capacity during a vehicle launch. If an engine torque request is less than the threshold torque capacity, the torque converter clutch remains closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Donald J. Lewis
  • System and method for driving vehicle accessories
    Patent number: 10011283
    Abstract: Methods and systems for driving vehicle accessories of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission are presented. In one non-limiting example, the vehicle accessories are driven via a vehicle's kinetic energy while an engine of the vehicle has stopped rotating. Vehicle accessories are driven from a location of a driveline downstream of a torque converter impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Michael E. Reibling, Steven Michael Cyr, Ray C. Siciak
  • Identifying in-range fuel pressure sensor error
    Patent number: 10011269
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an in-range error of a pressure sensor arranged downstream of a lift pump in a fuel system of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include performing feedback control of the lift pump based on output of the pressure sensor, monitoring the pressure sensor output for flattening during the application of the voltage pulses, and adjusting operation of the fuel system depending on whether the pressure sensor output flattens for at least a threshold duration, which is indicative of an in-range error. The method may further include dynamically learning a setpoint pressure of a pressure relief valve of the fuel system and a fuel vapor pressure within the fuel system by monitoring pressure sensor output while adjusting the duty cycle of voltage pulses applied to the lift pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Christopher Arnold Woodring
  • System and method for generating vacuum via an engine
    Patent number: 10005463
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving vacuum generation for an engine that may be operated at higher altitudes are presented. In one non-limiting example, a transmission that is mechanically coupled to the engine may be shifted from a gear to neutral in response to an actual total number of times a vehicle brake pedal is applied and partially released while the vehicle is stopped and the brake pedal is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Russ William Ferguson, Ralph Wayne Cunningham