Patents by Inventor Shawn M. Gallagher

Shawn M. Gallagher 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: 8527183
    Abstract: A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors to detect a pressure within the air manifold and to detect the pressure within the fuel accumulator. The controller is programmed to calculate an in-cylinder gas pressure. When the engine is operating at a maximum engine load and the in-cylinder gas pressure reaches or exceeds a maximum pressure limit, the controller transmits one or more signals to adjust the fuel injection timing and/or adjust the pressure in the fuel accumulator to maintain NOx and fuel consumption within acceptable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn M. Gallagher, Roy Primus, Bhaskar Tamma, Jennifer Topinka, Robert Mischler, Rajani Boddu
  • Publication number: 20100043753
    Abstract: A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors to detect a pressure within the air manifold and to detect the pressure within the fuel accumulator. The controller is programmed to calculate an in-cylinder gas pressure. When the engine is operating at a maximum engine load and the in-cylinder gas pressure reaches or exceeds a maximum pressure limit, the controller transmits one or more signals to adjust the fuel injection timing and/or adjust the pressure in the fuel accumulator to maintain NOx and fuel consumption within acceptable limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Shawn M. Gallagher, Roy Primus, Bhaskar Tamma, Jennifer Topinka, Robert Mischler, Rajani Boddu
  • Patent number: 7155330
    Abstract: A method for controlling start of a compression ignition engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided without a cam sensor is provided. Each cylinder includes a respective piston reciprocally movable between respective top and bottom positions along a cylinder longitudinal axis. The method comprises providing a respective fuel delivery assembly for each cylinder. In one embodiment the method further comprises retrieving from memory a set of fuel delivery assembly firing rules and then processing the firing rules so that a firing signal is delivered to each fuel delivery assembly on every crank revolution during a cranking mode of operation. The fuel delivery assembly is arranged to be responsive to any firing signal received during an injection window leading to the top position along the longitudinal axis so as to supply fuel to each cylinder during that injection window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent F. Dunsworth, Shawn M. Gallagher, James Robert Mischler
  • Patent number: 6892701
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the smoke emissions of a railroad locomotive during throttle notch changes. For certain throttle notch increases the present invention advances the engine timing angle and controls application of the load at the new throttle notch position, according to certain predetermined parameters. These strategies, when used together or separately, minimize visible smoke during transient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Dillen, Shawn M. Gallagher, Vincent F. Dunsworth, Joseph T. Orinko
  • Patent number: 6889663
    Abstract: A method for controlling start of a compression ignition engine having a plurality of cylinders without a cam sensor is provided. Each cylinder includes a respective piston reciprocally movable between respective top and bottom positions along a cylinder longitudinal axis. The method comprises providing a respective fuel delivery assembly for each cylinder. In one embodiment the method further comprises retrieving from memory a set of fuel delivery assembly firing rules and then processing the firing rules so that a firing signal is delivered to each fuel delivery assembly on every crank revolution during a cranking mode of operation. The fuel delivery assembly is arranged to be responsive to any firing signal received during an injection window leading to the top position along the longitudinal axis so as to supply fuel to each cylinder during that injection window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent F. Dunsworth, Shawn M. Gallagher, James Robert Mischler
  • Publication number: 20040145187
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the smoke emissions of a railroad locomotive during throttle notch changes. For certain throttle notch increases the present invention advances the engine timing angle and controls application of the load at the new throttle notch position, according to certain predetermined parameters. These strategies, when used together or separately, minimize visible smoke during transient operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Eric R. Dillen, Shawn M. Gallagher, Vincent F. Dunsworth, Joseph T. Orinko
  • Patent number: 6493627
    Abstract: A diesel engine including a technique for limiting the fuel value injected into each cylinder so that overfueling does not occur. A fuel value limit is calculated based on ambient temperature and pressure, fuel temperature, fuel heating value and the conditions of the fuel pump and injector. This fuel value limit is compared to the actual fuel value commanded and if the limit is greater than the fuel value commanded, then the engine operation is derated. Alternatively, if the fuel value is below the calculated limit, then the engine can accept the fuel value without affecting its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn M. Gallagher, Eric R. Dillen, Vincent F. Dunsworth
  • Patent number: 6405705
    Abstract: A diesel engine, having a plurality of individually controllable fuel injected cylinders, is operated in a skip firing mode to reduce smoke emissions during low power operation. The system senses certain identified engine operating parameters and when these parameters exceed predetermined thresholds for a predetermined time, then the skip firing is implemented. In another embodiment, it is possible to implement several different skip firing patterns dependent upon engine performance. Upon implementation of skip firing, the engine timing angle is reset by a fixed angle and a multiplication factor is included in the speed loop integrator to ensure that the appropriate fuel volume value is injected into each cylinder immediately upon initiation of skip firing. Skip firing is then disabled when another set of predetermined conditions is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent F. Dunsworth, Eric R. Dillen, Shawn M. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6341596
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing visible smoke in a railroad locomotive during throttle position changes. For key throttle position changes, the present invention introduces a temporary advance in injection timing and a delay in the application of additional current to the traction motors, thereby delaying the generation of additional horsepower requested by the new throttle position. These strategies of timing advance and load application delay are used together or separately to minimize transient visible smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Dillen, Shawn M. Gallagher, Vincent F. Dunsworth, Joseph T. Orinko