With Exhaust Gas Recirculation Patents (Class 60/605.2)
  • Patent number: 9334841
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine includes injecting a first fuel and a second fuel to each of a donor cylinder group and a non-donor cylinder group of the engine. The method also includes injecting a higher fraction of the first fuel into the donor cylinder group in comparison to the first fuel being injected into the non-donor cylinder group. Further, the method includes injecting a lower fraction of the second fuel into the donor cylinder group in comparison to the second fuel being injected into the non-donor cylinder group. Furthermore, the method includes recirculating an exhaust emission from the donor cylinder group to the non-donor cylinder group and the donor cylinder group and combusting a mixture of air, the first fuel, the second fuel and the exhaust emission from the donor cylinder group in both the donor cylinder group and the non-donor cylinder group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Lynn Jackson, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu
  • Patent number: 9322350
    Abstract: A method for controlling differences in cylinder mixtures for a two cylinder bank engine having a turbocharger is presented. In one example, the description includes a method for adjusting valve timing to reduce cylinder mixture variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Storhok, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9303650
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injecting exhaust gases from an exhaust gas recirculation system proximate to a trailing edge of a compressor wheel of a compressor. In one example, a compressor of a turbocharger may include an exhaust gas recirculation inlet volute within a casting of the compressor. The exhaust gas recirculation inlet volute may include an injection port positioned downstream of the trailing edge of the compressor wheel for injecting exhaust gases into intake air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Keith Michael Plagens, Gregory Patrick McConville, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Patent number: 9273640
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus (100) of an internal combustion engine (200) of a vehicle, which is provided with: the internal combustion engine which can use fuel containing methane in exhaust gas; an exhaust gas purifying apparatus (300) disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; an EGR passage (400) which can recirculate the exhaust gas to an intake passage of the internal combustion engine, in a HPL path which does not include the exhaust gas purifying apparatus; and an adjusting device (407) which can adjust an exhaust gas recirculation amount in the EGR passage, is provided with: a first specifying device for specifying a methane concentration in the exhaust gas; and a first controlling device for controlling the adjusting device to increase an exhaust gas recirculation amount in the HPL path if the specified methane concentration is greater than or equal to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Shinoda, Keisuke Sano
  • Patent number: 9261073
    Abstract: A wind energy system comprising a wind turbine comprising a cowling surrounded by a diffuser and a plurality of inner rotor blades located inside of the cowling that rotate about an inner hub, a plurality of outer rotor blades positioned between the diffuser and the cowling that are counter-rotating relative to the plurality of inner rotor blades, a drive mechanism located within the inner rotor hub, a dynamic telescopic tower, and a tower support that connects the wind turbine to the dynamic telescopic tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: LGT Advanced Technology Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Blake, George Harold Ryton, Hassan Mansir, Nicholas James Hemingway
  • Patent number: 9243533
    Abstract: An engine system includes: an exhaust path through which an exhaust gas of an engine passes; an urea injection valve that injects urea into the exhaust path; a catalyst that is provided in the exhaust path on a downstream of the urea injection valve, and that selectively reduces NOx by using ammonia acting as a reducing agent, the ammonia being generated by hydrolyzing injected urea from the urea injection valve; a heating portion that is capable of heating the catalyst and the injected urea; and a control unit that performs first control, in which the urea injection valve injects urea, the heating portion heats the injected urea to generate ammonia, or second control, in which the heating portion increases a temperature of the catalyst to a temperature at which NOx can be reduced, on a basis of an amount of ammonia adsorbed on the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamashita, Koichiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 9239021
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a supercharger comprises an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders; an intake passage that supplies gas to the internal combustion engine; a turbocharger-type supercharger including a turbine portion having a plurality of exhaust gas introduction passages; and an exhaust passage including a plurality of connecting passages that connect the plurality of cylinders and the plurality of exhaust gas introduction passages, wherein exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine flows through the exhaust passage. The internal combustion engine comprises a bridge passage that connects two or more of the plurality of connecting passages to each other; a branch passage connected to the bridge passage; and a first opening and closing device provided into the bridge passage to open and close the bridge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takahiro Moroi, Kenta Akimoto, Manabu Ishikawa, Hisao Kobayashi, Hiroshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 9238983
    Abstract: Embodiments for heating an emission control device are provided. In one example, a method for a turbocharged engine comprises during an engine cold-start, delivering boosted air from downstream of a compressor into a wastegate duct coupled across a turbine and exothermically reacting a reductant with the boosted air upstream of an exhaust emission control device. In this way, boosted air may be used to initiate an exothermic reaction to heat the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Wen Dai, Paul M. Laing, John Hedges
  • Patent number: 9228538
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine control apparatus that can restrain an EGR amount from becoming excessive, and restrain destabilization of combustion . . . . First, in response to a change of an operation condition, operation amounts of a plurality of actuators that influence the EGR amount are set. When the operation amounts of the plurality of actuators are set, operation of an actuator that decreases the EGR amount (referring to an external EGR amount, an internal EGR amount or both, the same applying to the following) is started (S140), and thereafter, operation of another actuator that increases the EGR amount is started (S150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 9228508
    Abstract: In a method for determining a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}Opt in the air system of an internal combustion engine (10) with low pressure exhaust gas recirculation, the determination of the low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}Opt involves a preliminary low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}EGRLPDs which is determined from a function involving, in particular, the pressure p42 upstream and the pressure p12 downstream of a low pressure side exhaust gas recirculation valve EGRVIvLP (29), the temperature TEGRVIvPUs downstream of the low pressure side exhaust gas recirculation valve (29), and the geometry arEGRVIvLP of the low pressure side exhaust gas recirculation valve (29). According to the invention, at least one mass balance based variable is also considered in the determination of the low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}Opt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Blumendeller, Thomas Bleile, Arvid Sievert, Martin Hoerner, Rene Huck
  • Patent number: 9217396
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a turbine housing includes a turbine inlet in fluid communication with a turbine volute configured to house a turbine wheel, the turbine inlet configured to direct an exhaust gas flow from an engine to the turbine wheel. The turbine housing also includes a turbine outlet in fluid communication with the turbine volute, the turbine outlet configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas conduit and a first exhaust gas recirculation supply port located on and in fluid communication with the turbine outlet, the first exhaust gas recirculation supply port being configured to direct a portion of the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas recirculation supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ko-Jen Wu
  • Patent number: 9217345
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter in an engine exhaust, where burning of soot is initiated by introducing additional oxygen into the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter where an exhaust temperature exceeds a threshold, a soot burn rate controlled by adjusting pulsing of the additional oxygen. Further, the pulsing of the additional oxygen is introduced via a high-pressure EGR passage during boosted engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Alexey A. Dubkov, Christoph Boerensen, Elmar Riesmeier, Mario Balenovic, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Patent number: 9212630
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for regeneration of an exhaust gas recirculation cooler. One example method includes adjusting cooling of exhaust gas by an exhaust gas recirculation cooler to maintain a manifold air temperature during an idle condition of an engine. The method further includes initiating regeneration of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler during the idle condition when an effectivity of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler falls below a threshold effectivity prior to or during the idle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric David Peters, Adam Klingbeil, Michael Easter
  • Patent number: 9194307
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fuelling a plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The system includes a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system for recirculating exhaust gas flow from at least one dedicated cylinder of an engine into an intake system prior to combustion. The system further includes a fueling system to provide a first flow of fuel to each of the plurality of cylinders and a second flow of fuel to each of the dedicated cylinders that is in addition to the first flow of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Geckler, Marten H. Dane, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Patent number: 9181905
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    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: 9181854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbocharger (1) for an internal combustion engine (2) having at least one exhaust-gas recirculation line (3) which enters via an exhaust-gas mixing-in opening (12) into an intake line (10) of the internal combustion engine (2); having a turbine (4); and having a compressor (5); which is drive-connected to the turbine (4) and which has a compressor wheel (6) which is arranged in a compressor housing (7) into which the intake line (10) opens via a compressor inlet (11), having a mixing device (18) for mixing recirculated exhaust gas and fresh air, with the mixing device (18) having at least two guide plates (21, 22) in the shape of truncated cone shell segments which are arranged radially offset with respect to one another and which delimit in each case one inflow gap (23, 24) at their longitudinal edges arranged offset with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Lischer
  • Patent number: 9175644
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an intake assembly, an internal combustion engine defining a plurality of cylinders and configured to combust a fuel and produce exhaust gas, and an exhaust assembly in fluid communication with a first subset of the plurality of cylinders. Each of the plurality of cylinders are provided in fluid communication with the intake assembly. The exhaust assembly is provided in fluid communication with a first subset of the plurality of cylinders, and a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system in fluid communication with both a second subset of the plurality of cylinders and with the intake assembly. The dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system is configured to route all of the exhaust gas from the second subset of the plurality of cylinders to the intake assembly. Finally, the engine assembly includes a turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine in fluid communication with the exhaust assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Edward J. Keating
  • Patent number: 9169797
    Abstract: A piston engine may include a piston and cylinder assembly. A piston assembly may be configured to translate in a cylinder liner, which may form a bore in the cylinder. The cylinder liner may be deformable, and deformations of the cylinder liner may affect the clearance gap between the piston assembly and the cylinder. A liner fluid may be supplied to the cylinder liner to create a pressure differential across the liner, and a resulting deformation. The liner fluid may be used to provide cooling as well as liner deformation to control the clearance gap. A cylinder may include one or more fluid passages configured to provide heating, cooling, or both. A cylinder may include one or more localized heat sources such as, for example, electric resistance heaters or heating fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: EtaGen, Inc.
    Inventors: John Lawler, Matt Svrcek
  • Patent number: 9145851
    Abstract: A method and device for diagnosing a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (LPEGRS) of an internal combustion engine having an intake area for supplying fresh air which includes in succession in the flow direction a first section having a low pressure in which an air mass flow sensor is situated, a compressor and a second section having a high pressure, the engine exhaust area including a second section having a low exhaust gas pressure, and the LPEGRS which has an adjustable LPEGR valve recirculating at least a portion of the exhaust gas in the second section of the exhaust area to the first section of the intake area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Bossmeyer, Stefan Motz, Jens Pawlak
  • Patent number: 9140168
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an engine comprises an exhaust heat recovery apparatus configured to receive exhaust gas from the engine and comprises a first flow passage in fluid communication with the exhaust gas and a second flow passage in fluid communication with the exhaust gas. A heat exchanger/energy recovery unit is disposed in the second flow passage and has a working fluid circulating therethrough for exchange of heat from the exhaust gas to the working fluid. A control valve is disposed downstream of the first and the second flow passages in a low temperature region of the exhaust heat recovery apparatus to direct exhaust gas through the first flow passage or the second flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Michael G. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9140216
    Abstract: The present invention is relative to a control method of a turbo-compound engine apparatus wherein said apparatus comprises a low pressure compressor connected to the high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine connected to a high pressure compressor by means of a coupling unit. The apparatus also comprises first bypassing means of said high pressure compressor. The method according to the invention comprises the step of deactivating said first bypassing means when at least a specific condition occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FPT Motorenforschung AG
    Inventor: Christian Maier
  • Patent number: 9133793
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a compressor housing includes a compressor inlet in fluid communication with a compressor volute configured to house a compressor wheel, the compressor inlet configured to provide a first air flow to the compressor wheel and a compressor outlet in fluid communication with the compressor volute, the compressor outlet configured to direct a compressed gas to an intake manifold. The compressor housing further includes an exhaust gas recirculation inlet port in fluid communication with the compressor volute, the exhaust gas recirculation inlet port being configured to combine an exhaust gas flow with the air flow to the compressor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ko-Jen Wu
  • Patent number: 9121330
    Abstract: A porting system for a turbo-charged loop scavenged two-stroke engine includes a cylinder including a cylinder wall and a cylinder head. At least one inlet port is provided in the cylinder wall. The at least one inlet port is arranged a first distance from the cylinder head and fluidically connected to a compressor portion of a turbo-charger. A first exhaust port is provided in the cylinder wall. The first exhaust port is arranged a second distance from the cylinder head and is fluidically connected to a turbine portion of the turbo-charger through first exhaust passage. A second exhaust port is provided in the cylinder wall. The second exhaust port is arranged a third distance from the cylinder head that is greater than the second distance and the second exhaust passage is fluidically connected to a second exhaust passage bypassing the turbine portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 9080536
    Abstract: An engine system includes a first cylinder group, a second cylinder group, an inlet manifold coupled to the first cylinder group and the second cylinder group, an inlet passage coupled to the inlet manifold to provide inlet air to the inlet manifold, a first exhaust manifold coupled to the first cylinder group, a second exhaust manifold coupled to the second cylinder group, and a mixer pipe positioned within the second exhaust manifold and/or the intake passage to mix exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gases exhausted by the second cylinder group that are delivered through the second exhaust manifold with inlet air. The mixer pipe forms an inlet end that is coupled to the second exhaust manifold and an outlet end that is located upstream of the cylinders in the first cylinder group and the cylinders in the second cylinder group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Lloyd Flynn, Eric David Peters, Michael Allen Easter
  • Patent number: 9080523
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a boosted engine having a split exhaust system. One method includes reducing knock by flowing a combination of exhaust from towards the end of an exhaust stroke and blowthrough air to the intake of a compressor via a compressor inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 9074560
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation control apparatus includes: an EGR valve adjusting a flow rate of EGR gas recirculated from an exhaust manifold to an intake manifold; a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor measuring pressure inside the intake manifold; a throttle valve controlling the amount of inflow air; an igniter spraying fuel; an acceleration pedal angular position sensor; a crank position sensor measuring engine RPM; a vehicle speed sensor measuring a speed of a vehicle; and a control portion receiving a pressure signal from the MAP sensor, calculating a ratio of the EGR gas for a total volume of the intake manifold by using pressure variance inside the intake manifold, calculating pressure of the EGR gas by multiplying the pressure of the intake manifold and the ratio of the EGR gas, and converting the pressure of the EGR gas to a flow rate of the EGR gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seungbum Kim, Jeong Nam Park
  • Patent number: 9062635
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for estimating an operating parameter of an exhaust manifold of an engine. In the system, a flow value is determined that corresponds to a flow rate of exhaust gas through an EGR conduit fluidly coupled between the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold. The EGR conduit includes an exhaust gas cooler disposed in-line with the EGR conduit and a property of the exhaust gas exiting an exhaust gas outlet of the cooler is measured. The operating parameter of the exhaust manifold is estimated as a function of at least the flow value and the property of the exhaust gas exiting the exhaust gas outlet of the cooler. Illustratively, the operating parameter of the exhaust manifold may be exhaust manifold pressure and/or temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Chi, Indranil Brahma
  • Patent number: 9057331
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine is mounted on a vehicle, and includes an engine, a catalyst and a control unit. The engine is a bifuel engine using gas fuel and liquid fuel as its fuel source. The control unit makes an air fuel ratio rich and increases a proportion of the gas fuel if a temperature of the catalyst is higher than a predetermined upper limit value at a time when the liquid fuel is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Hoshi, Takashi Watanabe, Yoshihisa Shinoda
  • Patent number: 9052259
    Abstract: Embodiments of a particle sensor are provided. In one example, a particle sensor for an exhaust system comprises at least two inlet openings for an exhaust-gas flow of the exhaust system, wherein the inlet openings are of different sizes, and at least two sensor elements, wherein in each case one sensor element is arranged downstream of one inlet opening. In this way, the relative proportion of different-sized particles within the exhaust-gas flow may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yasser Mohamed Sayed Yacoub, Matthew Allen Schneider
  • Patent number: 9038611
    Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in an engine is provided. The method comprises under a first condition, adjusting an EGR amount of a total cylinder charge in response to engine out NOx levels being below a first threshold. In this way, NOx levels may be used as feedback to control combustion stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Mitchell Lyon, Chris Riffle, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Frank M. Korpics, Jeff Reich, Dean Pennala
  • Publication number: 20150128587
    Abstract: A method includes operating a spark ignition engine and flowing low pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) from an exhaust to an inlet of the spark ignition engine. The method includes interpreting a parameter affecting an operation of the spark ignition engine, and determining a knock index value in response to the parameter. The method further includes reducing a likelihood of engine knock in response to the knock index value exceeding a knock threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Marten H. Dane, Steven J. Kolhouse, Thomas M. Yonushonis, J. Stephen Wills, Samuel C. Geckler
  • Publication number: 20150121864
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) flow based on outputs of an intake manifold oxygen sensor. For example, during engine operation when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and fuel canister purge are disabled, PCV flow may be estimated based on a difference between a first output of the sensor with boost enabled and a second output of the sensor with boost disabled. Then, during subsequent operation wherein EGR is enabled, PCV flow is enabled, and purge is disabled, a third output of the sensor may be adjusted based on the estimated PCV flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Matthew John Gerhart, Lynn Aimee Chesney, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9021805
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an engine by determining errors in exhaust backpressure estimates and adapting EGR flow estimations based on these errors to meet target EGR dilutions in the engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting valve position based on desired EGR flow and estimated EGR flow, where the estimated flow is based on estimated exhaust backpressure, and the estimated exhaust backpressure is updated based on errors between actual and desired intake oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Patent number: 9021808
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system associated with an internal combustion engine is in a configuration that enables handling of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas by using the energy recovered from a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system. The system includes a control module for regulating various function of the internal combustion engine and its associated systems along with the Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Nelson, Timothy C. Ernst
  • Patent number: 9021804
    Abstract: An exhaust system, comprising a LP-EGR system that couples an exhaust system to an intake system and an exhaust pipe within the exhaust system with a turn greater 90 degrees and less than 270 degrees between front and rear tires and upstream of a LP-EGR exhaust inlet; and a muffler positioned in the exhaust system downstream of the LP-EGR exhaust inlet and forward of the front tires. By shortening the LP-EGR path, back pressure to sustain EGR flow can be maintained without the use of a back pressure valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150114366
    Abstract: Systems and method for extracting energy from a gas are disclosed herein. In particular, systems and methods for implementing a series of thermodynamic transformations by means of which it is possible to extract useful work from a gas carrying thermal energy due its thermodynamic state are disclosed. An example system for extracting energy from a cycle gas can include an expander for expanding the cycle gas, a heat exchanger in fluid connection with the expander for cooling the expanded cycle gas while maintaining the expanded cycle gas at an approximately constant pressure, and a compressor in fluid connection with the heat exchanger for compressing the cooled cycle gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Codrin-Gruie Cantemir, Fabio Chiara, Marcello Canova
  • Publication number: 20150113985
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, which is provided with: a low pressure EGR mechanism that is equipped with a low pressure EGR passage and a low pressure EGR valve; a selective reduction type catalyst that is arranged in a portion of the exhaust passage downstream; a supply device which serves to supply an ammonia derived compound to said selective reduction type catalyst; and a control unit that causes said supply device to supply the ammonia derived compound when said low pressure EGR valve is in a valve open state, makes the amount of the ammonia derived compound supplied from said supply device larger in cases where an amount of the low pressure EGR gas flowing through said low pressure EGR passage is large, in comparison with the case where it is small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Bungo KAWAGUCHI, Tomihisa ODA, Tomomi ONISHI, Masaaki SATO, Satoshi KOBAYAKAWA, Takeru SHIRASAWA
  • Patent number: 9010112
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a charge air cooler coupled to an engine. One example method comprises collecting condensate discharged from the cooler in a condensation trap coupled to an outside surface of a bend in an outlet duct of the cooler; during a first condition, temporarily storing the condensate in a reservoir of the condensation trap; and, during first and second conditions, releasing the condensate to the outlet duct in a direction of airflow via a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Raymond Palm
  • Patent number: 9010113
    Abstract: A control apparatus judges an abnormality of an internal combustion engine. The engine has an external EGR apparatus, including an exhaust gas recirculation passage that connects an exhaust passage with an intake passage, and an EGR valve that can increase and decrease an outside EGR flow quantity that flows back into the intake passage from said exhaust passage through the exhaust gas recirculation passage by being adjusted in its opening angle. The control apparatus acquires an output value of the engine and determines occurrence of abnormality in the external EGR apparatus according to a predetermined criterion based on a difference between an output of the engine in which a first EGR flow quantity is flown back and an output of the engine in which a second EGR flow quantity is flown back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Harima
  • Publication number: 20150101328
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor in varying ambient humidity conditions. The learned zero point is corrected based on an estimated ambient humidity to calibrate the reading for dry air conditions or standard humidity conditions. EGR control is performed by comparing the output of an intake oxygen sensor during EGR conditions relative to the humidity-corrected zero point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Timothy Joseph Clark, Richard E. Soltis, Jacobus Hendrik Visser, Christopher House
  • Publication number: 20150101326
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected idling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during an idle adaptation relative to a zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, James Alfred Hilditch, Timothy Joseph Clark, Matthew John Gerhart, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Publication number: 20150101327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected engine no-fueling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation relative to a zero point learned during an idle adaptation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Matthew John Gerhart, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Patent number: 9008951
    Abstract: A fuel admission control unit controls a diesel engine and ensures compatibility between exhaust gas performance and engine speed response performance by considering residual oxygen in EGR gas. The control unit includes an estimation excess air ratio ?s computing unit that is an arithmetic section to compute an estimation excess air ratio ?s, from the quantity of the fuel injected by a fuel injection valve into a cylinder, the intake air flow rate, and the flow rate of the residual oxygen in the EGR gas that returns back into the intake air system. The control unit also includes a fuel admission control unit that controls the fuel flow rate under hard acceleration, based on the estimation excess air ratio ?s that is computed by the estimation excess air ratio ?s computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Ide, Satoshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9003792
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an internal combustion engine includes an oxidation catalyst configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine, a urea injector positioned downstream of the oxidation catalyst to inject a urea flow into the exhaust gas flow and a mixer positioned downstream of the urea injector to mix the exhaust gas flow and the urea flow to form a mixed exhaust gas and urea flow. The engine also includes a particulate filter and catalytic reduction assembly positioned downstream of the mixer to receive the mixed exhaust and urea flow from the mixer to form a treated exhaust gas flow and an exhaust gas recirculation system coupled to the particulate filter to receive a portion of the treated exhaust gas flow and recirculate the portion of the exhaust gas flow to be mixed with a fresh air flow for the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Manuel Angel Gonzalez Delgado, Julian C. Tan, Joshua Clifford Bedford, Yong Miao, Naser I. Hineiti, Steven M. Yocum
  • Publication number: 20150089941
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation control device of an engine is provided. The device includes: an exhaust turbocharger having a turbine disposed in an exhaust passage and a compressor disposed in an intake passage; an intercooler disposed in the intake passage downstream of the compressor; a low-pressure EGR passage connecting the exhaust passage downstream of the turbine to the intake passage upstream of the compressor; a low-pressure EGR valve disposed in the low-pressure EGR passage and for changing a cross-sectional area thereof; a high-pressure EGR passage connecting the exhaust passage upstream of the turbine to the intake passage downstream of the intercooler; a high-pressure EGR valve disposed in the high-pressure EGR passage and for changing a cross-sectional area thereof; a valve control device for controlling openings of the low-pressure and high-pressure EGR valves; and a gear range detector for detecting a gear range of a transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kota Maekawa, Kenji Tanimura, Eiji Nakai, Motoshi Kataoka, Masanobu Kanno
  • Publication number: 20150089942
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation control device of an engine includes an exhaust turbocharger having a turbine disposed in an exhaust passage and a compressor disposed in an intake passage, low-pressure and high-pressure EGR passages connecting the exhaust passage downstream of the turbine to the intake passage upstream of the compressor and connecting the exhaust passage upstream of the turbine with the intake passage downstream of the compressor, respectively, low-pressure and high-pressure EGR valves disposed in the low-pressure and high-pressure EGR passages and for changing cross-sectional areas thereof, respectively, a valve control device for controlling openings of the low-pressure and high-pressure EGR valves, a total intake gas amount detector for detecting a total intake gas amount, a fresh air amount detector for detecting a fresh air amount, and a pressure difference detector for detecting a pressure difference between the exhaust and intake passage sides of the high-pressure EGR valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kihara, Daishi Ikeda, Yosuke Honda, Takashi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20150082790
    Abstract: A low-pressure-loop EGR apparatus of an engine includes an EGR passage to allow part of exhaust gas discharged from a combustion chamber to return as EGR gas to the combustion chamber, and an EGR valve to regulate a flow of EGR gas in the EGR passage. This passage has an inlet connected to an exhaust passage downstream of a turbine and an outlet connected to an intake passage upstream of a compressor. In the intake passage, an intake bypass passage is provided to connect an upstream portion and a downstream part from the compressor. An ABV is provided in the passage. To remove EGR gas remaining in the ABV, one end of a residual gas removal passage is connected to the intake passage downstream of a throttle valve and the other end of the same passage is connected to the ABV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Mamoru YOSHIOKA, Takehide NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8985088
    Abstract: Various systems and method for controlling exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes injecting fuel to a subset of cylinders that includes less than all cylinders of a first cylinder group to obtain a target EGR rate. The first cylinder group provides exhaust gas through an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage structure fluidly coupled between the first cylinder group and an intake passage structure. The method further includes injecting fuel to at least one cylinder of a second cylinder group. The second cylinder group provides substantially no exhaust gas through the EGR passage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Shawn Michael Gallagher, James Robert Mischler, Luke Henry
  • Patent number: 8984878
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder head having at least one cylinder. A cover is connected to the cylinder head and covers the cylinder and related valve train components. An exhaust gas turbocharger powered by the engine's exhaust system delivers compressed gasses to the intake system. An exhaust gas recirculation system branches off from the exhaust system downstream of the turbocharger and feeds into the intake system upstream of the turbocharger. A coolant-fed charge air cooler is disposed between the cylinder head and the cover, and at a point that is a geodetically highest point in the intake system when the internal combustion engine is in an installed position. This configuration prevents any liquid that has condensed out of the charge air during cooling from collecting in the cooler and/or in the intake system between the cooler and the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans-Guenter Grosch, Andreas Kuske, Christian Winge Vigild
  • Publication number: 20150075162
    Abstract: In an engine provided with a supercharger and a low pressure loop EGR apparatus, an ECU controls an EGR valve to fully close when a detected operating condition is a predetermined operating condition. An outlet of an EGR passage is located at a higher position than an inlet in a vertical direction to allow condensed water to flow downward from downstream to upstream of the EGR valve and flow downward through the EGR passage to an exhaust passage. When the EGR valve has to be controlled to fully close, the ECU forcibly opens the EGR valve when a predetermined discharge condition is established to discharge the condensed water from a downstream side of the EGR valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mamoru YOSHIOKA, Takehide NAKAMURA