Daniel J Shepard

US Patent:

20200263783, Aug 20, 2020

Filed:

Feb 19, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/279225

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
John W. Myers - Brighton MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Milford MI, US
Richard J. Lopez - Bloomfield MI, US

International Classification:

F16H 57/04
F01P 3/20
F01P 7/14
F01P 5/02

Abstract:

A vehicle thermal management system includes a radiator receiving a liquid coolant in a coolant supply line and discharging the coolant into a coolant pump supply line. A coolant pump receives the coolant from the coolant pump supply line and discharges the coolant into multiple engine components. A transmission oil heat exchanger defining a first transmission oil heat exchanger receives the coolant after being discharged from the multiple engine components. An air-to-coolant sub-cooling heat exchanger defines a second transmission oil heat exchanger. The sub-cooling heat exchanger receives a portion of the coolant bypassing the multiple engine components.

US Patent:

20190284986, Sep 19, 2019

Filed:

Mar 15, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/922190

Inventors:

- DETROIT MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Ann Arbor MI, US
Lawrence P. Ziehr - Clarkston, US

International Classification:

F01P 7/16
F01P 3/02
F01P 11/18

Abstract:

A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, a coolant pump having an outlet in communication with the engine coolant inlet, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the engine coolant outlet and that generates a pressure signal indicative of a pressure in the engine coolant outlet, and a controller in communication with the pressure sensor and the coolant pump. The controller is programmed to control a flow of coolant through the engine from the coolant pump based upon the pressure signal.

US Patent:

20190271260, Sep 5, 2019

Filed:

Mar 5, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/911725

Inventors:

- DETROIT MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

F01P 11/18
F01P 5/14

Abstract:

A method for coolant pump flow rationalization using coolant pump parameters includes calculating a first pump coolant flow based on a coolant input pressure sensor signal and the coolant pump speed. Further, the method includes calculating a second pump coolant flow based on coolant pump current and coolant pump speed when the first pump coolant flow is greater than a predetermined threshold; and comparing the first pump coolant flow with the second pump coolant flow to rationalize the coolant pressure sensor signal.

US Patent:

20190234292, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Jan 30, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/883257

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

F01P 7/16
F01N 3/04
F01P 5/10

Abstract:

A vehicle thermal management system includes an engine, a coolant pump, a first heat exchanger, a first valve in communication with the first heat exchanger, a second valve having a plurality of outlets, a second heat exchanger in communication with a first of the plurality of outlets, a third heat exchanger in communication with a second of the plurality of outlets, a bypass fluid conduit in communication with a third of the plurality of outlets, and a controller that determines a first potential benefit based upon a loss function of the second heat exchanger, determines a second potential benefit based upon a loss function of the third heat exchanger, compares the first potential to the second potential, and proportionally distributes flow between the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the bypass fluid conduit based upon the comparison.

US Patent:

20180363760, Dec 20, 2018

Filed:

Aug 29, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/116062

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Lawrence P. Ziehr - Clarkston MI, US
James R. Salvador - Royal Oak MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

F16H 57/04
F01N 5/02
B60H 1/22
F01N 9/00
F01P 5/10

Abstract:

A method of using a thermoelectric generator for warming a transmission on a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes starting the internal combustion engine, thereby generating a hot exhaust gas; circulating coolant through a heating loop in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and the thermoelectric generator; passing the hot exhaust gas through a hot-side of the thermoelectric generator and circulating the coolant through the cold-side of the thermoelectric generator, thereby transferring heat from the hot exhaust gas to the coolant and generating an electric current; and selectively powering an electric heating element with the electric current. The electric heating element is in thermal communication with a transmission fluid of the transmission. The coolant is circulated through the thermoelectric generator, by an auxiliary coolant pump powered by the electrical current, for a predetermined length of time after shutdown of the internal combustion engine.

US Patent:

20180320617, Nov 8, 2018

Filed:

May 3, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/585589

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Michael A. Smith - Clarkston MI, US
Michelangelo Ardanese - Royal Oak MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

F02D 41/02
F01P 3/02
F01N 3/20
F01N 3/035
F01N 11/00

Abstract:

An automotive vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that outputs exhaust gas from a cylinder, and an active thermal management system. The active thermal management system flows coolant around the cylinder thereby varying an exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas. An electronic engine controller controls the internal combustion engine and the active thermal management system. The engine controller generates a control signal to selectively operate the active thermal management system in a normal mode, a thermal increase mode, and a thermal decrease mode. The normal mode flows the coolant at a first coolant temperature. The thermal increase mode flows the coolant at a second coolant temperature greater than the first coolant temperature thereby increasing the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas. The thermal decrease mode flows the coolant at a third coolant temperature less than the first coolant temperature thereby decreasing the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas.

US Patent:

20180038473, Feb 8, 2018

Filed:

Aug 4, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/228944

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Lawrence P. Ziehr - Clarkston MI, US
James R. Salvador - Royal Oak MI, US
Daniel J. Shepard - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

F16H 57/04
B60H 1/22
F01P 5/10
F01N 5/02
F01N 9/00

Abstract:

A vehicle, system, and method of warming the transmission fluid with a thermoelectric generator is also provided. Disclosed is vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a transmission containing a transmission fluid, a coolant circuit configured to remove heat from the engine, and a thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator is in non-contact thermal communication with the hot exhaust gas produced by the engine and the relatively cooler coolant circulating through the coolant circuit. The thermoelectric generator produces a current from the temperature gradient between the exhaust gas relative and coolant and transfers heat from the exhaust gas to the coolant. The heat coolant is conveyed to a transmission heat exchanger to heat the transmission fluid. A heating element is disposed in thermal contact with the transmission fluid and the heating element is powered by the electric current produced by the thermoelectric generator.