Patents by Inventor Timothy R. Frazier

Timothy R. Frazier 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).

  • Publication number: 20140230413
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion ignition engine with an exhaust gas flow, a particulate filter in the exhaust gas flow, a NOx reduction catalyst in the exhaust gas flow downstream of the particulate filter, a first oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust gas flow downstream of the NOx reduction catalyst, and a second oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust gas flow between the particulate filter and the NOx reduction catalyst. A controller includes an exhaust conditions module that interprets a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor and a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor and a combustion control module that commands a high engine-out air-fuel ratio when the first oxygen signal indicates a low oxygen content and commands a low engine-out air-fuel ratio when the first oxygen signal indicates a high oxygen content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksey Yezerets, Timothy R. Frazier, Marten H. Dane, Samuel C. Geckler, Govindarajan Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 8783030
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine and a compressor having a fresh air inlet fluidly coupled to ambient and to an air outlet of an electric air pump. An air pump enable value as determined a function of target engine speed and total fuel target values and an air flow target is determined as a function of a target fresh air flow value. Operation of the electric air pump is activated to supply supplemental air flow to the fresh air inlet of the compressor if the air pump enable value is greater than a threshold air pump enable value and the air flow target does not exceed a maximum flow value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: John N Chi, John M Mulloy, Sriram S Popuri, Timothy R Frazier, Martin T Books, Divakar Rajamohan, Indranil Brahma
  • Patent number: 8752364
    Abstract: A system is described for producing an elevated exhaust temperature and reduced NOx output for an engine. The system includes an internal combustion engine having a common rail fuel system, an exhaust pressure modulation device for the internal combustion engine, and a controller structured to functionally execute operations for elevating the exhaust temperature and reducing the NOx output. The controller determines a desired engine outlet exhaust temperature, an engine speed, and an engine load. In response to the desired engine outlet exhaust gas temperature, the engine speed, and the engine load, the controller determines an exhaust pressure increase command and a fuel injection command including at least one post-injection event. The common rail fuel system is responsive to the fuel injection command, and the exhaust pressure modulation device is responsive to the exhaust pressure increase command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Linsong Guo, Ryan Edgecomb, Robert Kern, Lk Hwang, Timothy R. Frazier, Neal W. Currier
  • Patent number: 8745971
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion ignition engine with an exhaust gas flow, a particulate filter in the exhaust gas flow, a NOx reduction catalyst in the exhaust gas flow downstream of the particulate filter, a first oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust gas flow downstream of the NOx reduction catalyst, and a second oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust gas flow between the particulate filter and the NOx reduction catalyst. A controller includes an exhaust conditions module that interprets a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor and a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor and a combustion control module that commands a high engine-out air-fuel ratio when the first oxygen signal indicates a low oxygen content and commands a low engine-out air-fuel ratio when the first oxygen signal indicates a high oxygen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksey Yezerets, Timothy R. Frazier, Marten H. Dane, Samuel C. Geckler, Govindarajan Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 8567192
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine. A dual-stage turbocharger includes a high-pressure compressor and variable geometry turbine combination fluidly coupled to a low-pressure compressor and variable geometry turbine combination. A control circuit includes a memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by the control circuit to determine a target low-pressure compressor ratio, a target high-pressure compressor ratio, a target high-pressure compressor inlet temperature and a target high-pressure compressor inlet pressure as a function of a target outlet pressure of the high-pressure compressor and a temperature, a pressure and a target flow rate of air entering the air inlet of the low-pressure compressor, and to control the geometries of the low-pressure and high-pressure turbines as a function of the target low-pressure compressor ratio the target high-pressure compressor ratio respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri, Timothy R. Frazier, Martin T. Books, Divakar Rajamohan, Indranil Brahma, Xi Wei
  • Patent number: 8505281
    Abstract: A system is provided for enhancing aftertreatment regeneration capability. The system includes an internal combustion engine producing an exhaust gas stream and an aftertreatment component that treats the exhaust gas stream, where the aftertreatment component includes a desired inlet exhaust gas temperature. The system includes an exhaust gas pressure device that modulates an exhaust pressure value, and a fuel injection system that provides a post-injection event. The system includes a controller that provides an exhaust pressure command and a fuel injection command in response to determining that a temperature of the exhaust gas stream is lower than the desired inlet exhaust gas temperature. The exhaust gas pressure device is responsive to the exhaust pressure command and the fuel injection system is responsive to the fuel injection command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Linsong Guo, Ryan Edgecomb, Robert Kern, Lk Hwang, Timothy R. Frazier, Neal W. Currier
  • Patent number: 8505278
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for manipulating the properties of engine exhaust at least partially through the engine's control system to increase the efficiency and performance of the exhaust aftertreatment system. According to one representative embodiment, an engine system properties controller includes an exhaust aftertreatment system module, a powertrain module, and a combustion module. The exhaust aftertreatment system module is configured to generate an exhaust conditions vector request. The powertrain module is configured to receive the exhaust conditions vector request from the exhaust aftertreatment system module and generate at least one engine operating condition target based on the exhaust conditions vector request. The combustion module is configured to receive the at least one engine operating condition target and generate at least one engine controls command based on the at least one engine operating condition target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa A. Farrell, Timothy R. Frazier, Hasan Mohammed
  • Publication number: 20130074496
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine and a compressor having a fresh air inlet fluidly coupled to ambient and to an air outlet of an electric air pump. An air pump enable value as determined a function of target engine speed and total fuel target values and an air flow target is determined as a function of a target fresh air flow value. Operation of the electric air pump is activated to supply supplemental air flow to the fresh air inlet of the compressor if the air pump enable value is greater than a threshold air pump enable value and the air flow target does not exceed a maximum flow value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri, Timothy R. Frazier, Martin T. Books, Divakar Rajamohan, Indranil Brahma
  • Publication number: 20130074492
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine. A dual-stage turbocharger includes a high-pressure compressor and variable geometry turbine combination fluidly coupled to a low-pressure compressor and variable geometry turbine combination. A control circuit includes a memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by the control circuit to determine a target low-pressure compressor ratio, a target high-pressure compressor ratio, a target high-pressure compressor inlet temperature and a target high-pressure compressor inlet pressure as a function of a target outlet pressure of the high-pressure compressor and a temperature, a pressure and a target flow rate of air entering the air inlet of the low-pressure compressor, and to control the geometries of the low-pressure and high-pressure turbines as a function of the target low-pressure compressor ratio the target high-pressure compressor ratio respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri, Timothy R. Frazier, Martin T. Books, Divakar Rajamohan, Indranil Brahma, Xi Wei
  • Publication number: 20130080034
    Abstract: A system controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine. An EGR valve in-line with an EGR passageway fluidly coupled between exhaust and intake manifolds of the engine is controllable between fully closed open positions to control a flow rate of exhaust gas through the EGR passageway. A control circuit determines a pump enable value as a function of at least one of a target engine speed and a total fueling target, determines a maximum achievable flow rate of recirculated exhaust gas through the EGR passageway with the EGR valve in the fully open position, and activates an electric gas pump to increase the flow rate of exhaust gas through the EGR passageway if the pump enable value exceeds a threshold pump enable value and a target flow rate of recirculated exhaust gas through the EGR passageway is less than the maximum achievable flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri, Timothy R. Frazier, Martin T. Books, Divakar Rajamohan, Indranil Brahma
  • Publication number: 20130074495
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine fluidly coupled to an exhaust manifold of the engine and a compressor fluidly coupled to an intake manifold of the engine, and an electric motor coupled to a rotatable shaft connected between the compressor and the variable geometry turbine. A target torque required to drive the compressor to achieve target compressor operating parameters is determined, a maximum available torque that can be supplied by the variable geometry turbine in response to a target exhaust gas flow through the variable geometry turbine is determined, and the electric motor is enabled to supply supplemental torque to the rotatable shaft if the target torque is greater than the maximum available torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy, Sriram S. Popuri, Timothy R. Frazier, Martin T. Books, Divakar Rajamohan, Indranil Brahma
  • Patent number: 8281572
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling NOx conversion in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes a duty cycle factor module and a NOx conversion mode selection module. The duty cycle factor module is configured to determine a duty cycle factor of an internal combustion engine where the duty cycle factor represents predicted driving conditions of a vehicle in which the internal combustion engine is housed. The NOx conversion mode selection module is configured to command NOx conversion in the SCR system according to a first NOx conversion mode if the duty cycle factor is within a duty cycle factor range and according to a second NOx conversion mode if the duty cycle factor is not within the duty cycle factor range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Chi, Joe V. Hill, Joan M. Wills, Lisa A. Farrell, Timothy R. Frazier, Hasan Mohammed
  • Patent number: 8256208
    Abstract: According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for reducing NOx emissions in an engine exhaust gas stream of an engine system having a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system with an SCR catalyst positioned downstream of a reductant injector includes a NOx reduction target module and a reductant module. The NOx reduction target module is configured to determine a NOx reduction requirement, which includes an amount of NOx in the exhaust gas stream to be reduced on the SCR catalyst. The reductant module is configured to determine the amount of reductant added to the exhaust gas stream to achieve the NOx reduction requirement. The amount of reductant added to the exhaust gas stream is a function of at least one ammonia storage characteristic of the SCR catalyst, at least one reductant-to-ammonia conversion characteristic, and a conversion capability of an AMOX catalyst in exhaust receiving communication with the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan M. Wills, John N. Chi, Weiwen Wang, Phanindra Garimella, Timothy R. Frazier, Abdul R. Ofoli, Joe V. Hill, Lisa A. Farrell, Neal W. Currier, Aleksey Yezerets, Andy Osburn
  • Publication number: 20120216529
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a two-stage turbocharger configuration is described. Located between the turbines of the two-stage turbocharger may be an oxidation catalyst and a passive NOx adsorber or an oxidation catalyst and an SCR device. An exhaust path extending from an engine body of the internal combustion engine to the second turbine of the two-stage turbocharger configuration may also include one or more hydrocarbon sources or one or more ammonia sources. A bypass valve arrangement may permit decreased flow through the first stage of the two-stage turbocharger arrangement as well as one or more of the elements positioned between the turbines of the two-stage turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Alok A. Joshi, Sriram S. Popuri, Timothy R. Frazier, Neal W. Currier, Aleksey Yezerets
  • Publication number: 20120221217
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a system and method for determining cylinder deactivation in a vehicle engine to optimize fuel consumption while providing the desired or demanded power. In one aspect, data indicative of terrain variation is utilized in determining a vehicle target operating state. An optimal active cylinder distribution and corresponding fueling is determined from a recommendation from a supervisory agent monitoring the operating state of the vehicle of a subset of the total number of cylinders, and a determination as to which number of cylinders provides the optimal fuel consumption. Once the optimal cylinder number is determined, a transmission gear shift recommendation is provided in view of the determined active cylinder distribution and target operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicants: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC., EATON CORPORATION, PACCAR, INC.
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Timothy R. FRAZIER, Kenneth Follen, Suk-Min Moon
  • Publication number: 20120216509
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and system for determining recommendations for vehicle operation that reduce soot production in view of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) of an exhaust aftertreatment system. Recommendations generated can reduce excessive particulate matter (PM) production during transient engine events and provide for operating conditions favorable for passive regeneration. In this way, less frequent active regeneration of the DPF is needed and/or more opportunities are provided for passive regeneration. The system and method can utilize location and terrain information to anticipate and project a window of operation in view of reducing soot production and soot loading of the DPF, or provide the operator with instruction when such opportunities are present or will soon be encountered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Timothy R. Frazier
  • Patent number: 8230679
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes: an engine with a plurality of pistons; a variable load driven by rotary power from the engine, the load including one or more of a pump, an air conditioner; and a fan; aftertreatment equipment to control exhaust emission from the engine; a sensor to provide a sensor signal corresponding to temperature of exhaust from the engine; and a controller coupled to the sensor and operable to regulate a regeneration operation of one or more components of the aftertreatment equipment. The controller responds to the sensor signal to generate one or more control signals to adjust the variable load to increase loading of the engine and correspondingly raise the temperature of the exhaust for the regeneration operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Frazier, Todd Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20120167555
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes an electronic controller (15) for an internal combustion engine (12) of a motor vehicle. The electronic controller includes a location detection module (32) configured to identify a location of the motor vehicle by a global positioning system (GPS) device (18). Also, the electronic controller includes a driving condition prediction module (34) configured to determine a direction of travel and access geographic information data for a path to be traveled by the motor vehicle. The electronic controller also has a simulation module (36) configured to simulate engine performance including effects from parasitic loads. Still further, the electronic controller includes a parasitic load control module (38) configured to adjust the timing for one or more of a regeneration process for an exhaust filter and at least one other parasitic load in order to maintain engine performance at or above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: CUMMINS IP, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Frazier
  • Patent number: 8181450
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reducing NOx emissions using ammonia storage on an SCR catalyst. For example, according to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for reducing NOx emissions in an engine exhaust includes a NOx reduction target module that is configured to determine a NOx reduction requirement. The apparatus also includes an ammonia storage module that is configured to determine an ammonia storage modifier. An ammonia target module of the apparatus is configured to determine an ammonia addition requirement. The ammonia target module is communicable in data receiving communication with the ammonia storage module to receive the ammonia storage modifier, which is added to the ammonia addition requirement. The apparatus also includes a reductant target module that is configured to determine a reductant injection requirement that includes an amount of reductant added to the exhaust gas stream to achieve the ammonia addition requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins IP. Inc.
    Inventors: Phanindra Garimella, Abdul R. Ofoli, Timothy R. Frazier, Joan M. Wills, John N. Chi, Weiwen Wang, Andrew Osburn
  • Patent number: 8156730
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing regeneration event characteristics. For example, according to one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling the temperature of the output exhaust of an internal combustion engine for a regeneration event on a particulate matter filter includes a regeneration module, a turbocharger thermal management module, a fuel injection thermal management module, and an air intake thermal management module. The regeneration module determines a desired particulate matter filter inlet exhaust gas temperature for a regeneration event. The turbocharger thermal management module determines a variable geometry turbine (VGT) device position strategy. The fuel injection thermal management module determines a fuel injection strategy. The air intake thermal management module determines an intake throttle position strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Linsong Guo, Timothy R. Frazier