Patents by Inventor Thomas LaRose, Jr.
Thomas LaRose, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 8505284Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided and includes an exhaust gas conduit, a hydrocarbon supply, a particulate filter (“PF”), at least one sensor, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control module. The PF is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and has a filter structure for removal of particulates in the exhaust gas. The filter structure has an innermost region and an outermost region. The PF is selectively regenerated during operation of the internal combustion engine. The PF has a stratified temperature structure that causes the particulates trapped at the innermost region of the PF burn off before the particulates trapped in the outermost region of the PF during regeneration. The control module has a memory with an infinite stage temperature control curve stored thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jianwen Li, Rahul Mital, Michael V. Taylor, Thomas Larose, Jr., Thomas J. Sobtzak, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Rebecca J. Darr
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Publication number: 20130192213Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided, and includes an exhaust gas conduit, an oxidization catalyst (“OC”) device, a temperature sensor, an intake mass air flow sensor, an engine air intake mechanism, and a control module. The exhaust gas conduit is in fluid communication with, and is configured to receive an exhaust gas. The OC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The OC device has an OC light-off temperature. The OC device is selectively activated to the light-off temperature to induce oxidization of the exhaust gas. The temperature sensor is situated in the exhaust stream upstream of the OC device. The temperature sensor monitors an exhaust gas temperature. The intake mass air flow sensor measures an air mass entering the internal combustion engine. The engine air intake mechanism is selectively activated to modulate the air mass entering the internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas LAROSE, JR., John A. CATALOGNA, Paul JASINKIEWICZ
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Patent number: 8495864Abstract: A method of operating an engine having an after-treatment system that treats exhaust gas from the engine with an oxidation catalyst includes adjusting the operation of the engine to increase the temperature of the exhaust gas, continuously sensing a cylinder pressure with a pressure sensor disposed at at least one cylinder of the engine to identify a unstable combustion event, i.e., an engine misfire, and adjusting the operation of the engine to prevent a future unstable combustion event when the unstable combustion event is detected.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Michael V. Taylor
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Patent number: 8479495Abstract: A control module for a vehicle includes a correction module that generates a correction signal based on a regeneration state of an exhaust system of the vehicle and based on a received environmental signal. The environmental signal includes at least one of an altitude value, an ambient temperature, and an air flow value. The air flow value corresponds to air flow across an external area of the exhaust system. A first post injection module generates a first post injection signal. A second post injection module adjusts the first post injection signal based on the correction signal to generate a second post injection signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Inventors: Sarah Funk, Thomas Larose, Jr., Eric R Snyder, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Jason Daniel Mullins, James M Perrin
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Patent number: 8443591Abstract: An engine control system comprises an oxygen comparison module and a regeneration control module. The oxygen comparison module compares an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas of an engine to an oxygen threshold. A regeneration control module initiates regeneration of a particulate filter and controls regeneration based on the oxygen comparison and at least one of a particulate filter load, a particulate filter temperature, and a speed of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Jason Daniel Mullins, Eric R. Snyder, Matthew King, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Nicasio Gomez, III
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Publication number: 20130111877Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of regenerating a particulate filter includes flowing an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into a particulate filter and determining a particulate level in the particulate filter. The method also includes performing a primary regeneration when the particulate level is below a first value, the primary regeneration including flowing exhaust gas with a selected amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas into the particulate filter, and performing a secondary regeneration when the particulate level is above the first value, the secondary regeneration including flowing exhaust gas with an increased amount of nitrogen oxide into the particulate filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas Larose, JR., David Michael Vanburen, John A. Catalogna, Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr
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Publication number: 20130025266Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided and includes an exhaust gas conduit, a hydrocarbon supply, a particulate filter (“PF”), at least one sensor, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control module. The PF is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and has a filter structure for removal of particulates in the exhaust gas. The filter structure has an innermost region and an outermost region. The PF is selectively regenerated during operation of the internal combustion engine. The PF has a stratified temperature structure that causes the particulates trapped at the innermost region of the PF burn off before the particulates trapped in the outermost region of the PF during regeneration. The control module has a memory with an infinite stage temperature control curve stored thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jianwen LI, Rahul Mital, Michael V. Taylor, Thomas Larose, JR., Thomas J. Sobtzak, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Rebecca J. Darr
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Patent number: 8359828Abstract: A method and system of controlling an engine includes a control system includes an exhaust gas flow rate module generating an exhaust gas flow rate signal corresponding to a flow rate of exhaust gases. The control system further includes a temperature adjustment module that determines a temperature correction factor based on the exhaust gas flow rate and that determines a corrected temperature particulate sensor signal in response to a measured particulate temperature signal and the temperature correction factor.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Inventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., Rebecca J Darr
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Patent number: 8327621Abstract: A temperature control system comprises a temperature determination module, a temperature correction module, a temperature control module, and an updating module. The temperature determination module determines a desired outlet temperature for an oxidation catalyst (OC) that is located upstream of a particulate filter (PF) in an exhaust system. The temperature correction module determines a temperature correction from a plurality of temperature corrections. The temperature control module controls an outlet temperature of the OC based on the desired outlet temperature and the temperature correction. The updating module selectively updates at least one of the plurality of temperature corrections when an engine speed and an engine load are within respective predetermined ranges.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Jason Daniel Mullins, Eric R. Snyder, Paul Jasinkiewicz, James M. Perrin, Sarah Funk
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Publication number: 20120240553Abstract: A temperature of exhaust gas downstream of an oxidation catalyst is compared to a temperature of the exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst to determine if the downstream temperature is increasing over time or decreasing over time as hydrocarbons are injected into the flow of exhaust gas to regenerate a particulate filter. The oxidation catalyst is determined to be quenched when the temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst remains constant or decreases over time as the rate at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas increases. The oxidation catalyst is determined to not be quenched when the temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst increases over time as the rate at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas increases.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas LaRose, JR., David Michael VanBuren, Kari Jackson, Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor
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Publication number: 20120240552Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle includes detecting a request to regenerate a particulate filter, and injecting hydrocarbons at an injection rate into a flow of exhaust gas upstream of an oxidation catalyst to heat the oxidation catalyst. The injection rate is increased at a current acceleration rate, and the current acceleration rate is reduced to define a reduced acceleration rate when the oxidation catalyst is quenched.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: THOMAS LAROSE, JR., DAVID MICHAEL VANBUREN, PATRICK BARASA, MICHAEL V. TAYLOR, KARI JACKSON
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Publication number: 20120222399Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system for an engine includes relating the usage of an oxidation catalyst to a temperature offset value, and increasing a current burn threshold temperature by the temperature offset value to define an adjusted burn threshold temperature. Hydrocarbons may be injected into a flow of exhaust gas when the temperature of the oxidation catalyst is equal to or greater than the adjusted burn threshold temperature. The temperature at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas is thereby increased to accommodate performance degradation in the oxidation catalyst, which extends the life of the oxidation catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David Michael VanBuren, Thomas LaRose, JR., Kari Jackson, Michael V. Taylor
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Publication number: 20120151900Abstract: A method unloads hydrocarbon emissions deposited by an exhaust gas on an after-treatment device that is employed in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining whether the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The method also includes increasing the preset idle speed by a predetermined value if the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The increasing of the engine idle speed increases a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the after-treatment device and unloads the deposited hydrocarbon emissions. A system for unloading hydrocarbon emissions deposited on an after-treatment device and a vehicle employing such a system are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr, Thomas Larose, JR., Sarah Funk
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Publication number: 20120102946Abstract: A method of operating an engine having a turbo charger includes sensing a temperature of a flow of exhaust gas from the engine, determining if the temperature of the exhaust gas is greater than an upper temperature threshold, sensing a cylinder pressure within the cylinders of the engine with a pressure sensor, determining if the cylinder pressure is greater than an upper pressure limit, sensing a boost provided by the turbo charger, determining if the boost is greater than a maximum boost limit, and adjusting the operation of the engine when the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the turbo charger is greater than an upper temperature threshold and the cylinder pressure is less than the upper pressure limit to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the turbo charger to a temperature below the upper temperature threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: THOMAS LAROSE, JR., MICHAEL V. TAYLOR
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Publication number: 20120102923Abstract: A method of operating an engine having an after-treatment system that treats exhaust gas from the engine with an oxidation catalyst includes adjusting the operation of the engine to increase the temperature of the exhaust gas, continuously sensing a cylinder pressure with a pressure sensor disposed at at least one cylinder of the engine to identify a unstable combustion event, i.e., an engine misfire, and adjusting the operation of the engine to prevent a future unstable combustion event when the unstable combustion event is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Thomas Larose, JR., Michael V. Taylor
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Patent number: 8156736Abstract: A system comprises an injection control module and a fuel film module. The injection control module controls a flow rate of fuel injected into an exhaust system to adjust a temperature of exhaust gas. The fuel film module determines an accumulation rate of fuel on a surface of the exhaust system based on the flow rate of the fuel. The fuel film module determines a release rate of fuel from the surface of the exhaust system based on a flow rate of the exhaust gas. The injection control module adjusts the flow rate of the fuel based on the accumulation rate and the release rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Thomas Larose, Jr., James M. Perrin, Paul Jasinkiewicz
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Publication number: 20120065866Abstract: A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle having a particulate filter and operable in an air restriction mode wherein air inflow to an air intake throttle is restricted includes determining if the engine is operating in the air restriction mode, sensing a position of an accelerator pedal, and sensing a speed of the vehicle. The method further includes removing the restriction to the air intake throttle when the engine is operating in the air restriction mode, one of a change in position of the accelerator pedal over a period of time is greater than a pre-defined pedal acceleration rate or the position of the accelerator pedal is equal to a pre-defined pedal limit, and the speed of the vehicle is less than a pre-defined speed limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Michael V. Taylor, Thomas Larose, JR.
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Publication number: 20110225969Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine having an intake air compressor includes an exhaust gas conduit in fluid communication with, and configured to receive exhaust gas from the engine. A particulate filter assembly is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and periodically receives heated exhaust gas for combustion of carbon and particulates trapped therein. An air conduit extends between and fluidly couples the intake air compressor to the exhaust gas conduit and is configured to inject air from the compressor into the exhaust gas conduit when the particulate filter is receiving heated exhaust gas to assist the combustion of the carbon and particulates.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Thomas Larose, JR., Stephen England
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Patent number: 8020372Abstract: A method controls an exhaust gas temperature from a vehicle engine during regeneration of particulate filter (PF) in a vehicle having an oxidation catalyst (OC) and a selective catalytic reduction catalyst (SCR). The method ensures that a final OC temperature does not exceed a maximum of the target OC outlet temperature and a calibrated maximum OC outlet temperature. An apparatus for controlling a temperature of the exhaust gas includes sensors for measuring a temperature within the exhaust system and a controller having an algorithm, an OC temperature lookup table, and a PF temperature lookup table. The algorithm calculates a target OC outlet temperature using the lookup tables and a delayed error value that compensates for a thermal mass of the SCR. Actual OC outlet temperature is limited during regeneration of the PF to the lesser of the target OC outlet temperature and a calibrated maximum OC outlet temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Thomas LaRose, Jr., James M. Perrin, Paul Jasinkiewicz
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Publication number: 20110167803Abstract: An engine control system includes an injection determination module, a correction factor determination module, and a regeneration control module. The injection determination module determines a desired amount of hydrocarbons (HC) to inject into exhaust gas produced by an engine based a flow rate of the exhaust gas. The correction factor determination module determines a correction factor for the desired amount of HC based on engine speed and engine load. The regeneration control module controls injection of an adjusted amount of HC into the exhaust gas during regeneration of a particulate matter filter, wherein the adjusted amount of HC is based on the desired amount of HC and the correction factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Sarah Funk, Thomas Larose, JR., Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor