Patents by Inventor Thomas A. McCarthy

Thomas A. McCarthy 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: 9175616
    Abstract: Various embodiments related to controlling EGR in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first EGR amount is supplied to a cylinder at a first temperature and a first engine speed and load. Further, at the first engine speed and load, as engine temperature increases from the first temperature to a second temperature, a first fuel amount is injected after exhaust valve closing and before intake valve opening while a second EGR amount is supplied to the cylinder that is greater than the first EGR amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Shiyou Yang, Thomas A. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8820052
    Abstract: A liquid reductant injection system is provided. The liquid reductant injection system includes a storage tank housing a reductant solution, a return conduit extending into the storage tank, the return conduit including an outlet positioned in the storage tank, and a thermosyphon comprising an evaporator coupled to an exhaust conduit and in fluidic communication with a condenser coupled to a portion of the return conduit inside the storage tank, the condenser positioned vertically above the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Thomas A. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140100760
    Abstract: Various embodiments related to controlling EGR in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first EGR amount is supplied to a cylinder at a first temperature and a first engine speed and load. Further, at the first engine speed and load, as engine temperature increases from the first temperature to a second temperature, a first fuel amount is injected after exhaust valve closing and before intake valve opening while a second EGR amount is supplied to the cylinder that is greater than the first EGR amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Shiyou Yang, Thomas A. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8661785
    Abstract: A method for operating a liquid reductant injection system is provided. The method includes storing a reductant mixture of ethanol, water, and urea; drawing the stored mixture into an electrically heated pick-up tube for delivery via a delivery line to the exhaust by operating a pump in a first direction; and, clearing a return line that returns the stored mixture or the delivery line by operating the pump in a second, reverse, direction. In this way, by including ethanol in the reductant solution, a freezing point temperature of the liquid reductant may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Thomas A. McCarthy, Bret Alan Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140026869
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided herein. The fuel delivery system may include a fuel tank storing a liquid fuel, a return fuel line including an outlet opening into the fuel tank, and a heat pipe assembly including a first end positioned in a surrounding atmosphere, and a second end positioned at and coupled to the return fuel line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shiguang Zhou, Thomas A. McCarthy, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Carlos Armesto, Syed K. Ali, Lawrence Marshall, Peter Kanefsky, Michael Levin, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Scott Donald Cooper
  • Publication number: 20130205756
    Abstract: A liquid reductant injection system is provided. The liquid reductant injection system includes a storage tank housing a reductant solution, a return conduit extending into the storage tank, the return conduit including an outlet positioned in the storage tank, and a thermosyphon comprising an evaporator coupled to an exhaust conduit and in fluidic communication with a condenser coupled to a portion of the return conduit inside the storage tank, the condenser positioned vertically above the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Thomas A. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8430074
    Abstract: A spark ignition direct injection fuel cylinder for an engine includes a rotatable valve at a curved wall of an intake duct. The rotatable valve provides a variable step in to adjust the degree of tumble airflow while reducing flow restriction to improve engine performance across operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCarthy, Jianwen James Yi
  • Publication number: 20120260629
    Abstract: A method for operating a liquid reductant injection system is provided. The method includes storing a reductant mixture of ethanol, water, and urea; drawing the stored mixture into an electrically heated pick-up tube for delivery via a delivery line to the exhaust by operating a pump in a first direction; and, clearing a return line that returns the stored mixture or the delivery line by operating the pump in a second, reverse, direction. In this way, by including ethanol in the reductant solution, a freezing point temperature of the liquid reductant may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Thomas A. McCarthy, Bret Alan Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20120145121
    Abstract: A spark ignition direct injection fuel cylinder for an engine includes a rotatable valve at a curved wall of an intake duct. The rotatable valve provides a variable step in to adjust the degree of tumble airflow while reducing flow restriction to improve engine performance across operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCarthy, Jianwen James Yi
  • Patent number: 8176888
    Abstract: A method for improving starting of an engine that may be operated with fuels having varying alcohol concentrations is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a compression ratio of an engine in response to a number of combustion events after an engine stop and a concentration of alcohol in a fuel supplied to the engine. The method may make engine starting more repeatable at lower engine temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Bruce Reiche, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Foo Chern Ting, Thomas A. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20110265764
    Abstract: A method for improving starting of an engine that may be operated with fuels having varying alcohol concentrations is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a compression ratio of an engine in response to a number of combustion events after an engine stop and a concentration of alcohol in a fuel supplied to the engine. The method may make engine starting more repeatable at lower engine temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Bruce Reiche, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Foo Chern Ting, Thomas A. McCarthy