Jeffrey A Matthews

US Patent:

7624722, Dec 1, 2009

Filed:

Dec 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/967942

Inventors:

Jeffrey A. Matthews - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins, Inc - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02B 47/08
F02M 25/07

US Classification:

12356817

Abstract:

An apparatus and system are disclosed for efficiently recirculating an exhaust gas in a combustion engine. The apparatus includes an intake air conduit that accepts and promotes mixing of an intake air stream and an EGR stream. The intake air stream moves in the direction of the axis of the intake air conduit. The EGR stream enters the intake air conduit within a volute of decreasing area curled about the outside circumference of the intake air stream. The rate at which the volute encourages mixing of an EGR stream with an intake air stream is affected by the rate at which the volute's area decreases as the volute curls about the inside circumference of the intake air conduit, and by the angle of entry for the EGR stream as directed by the volute.

US Patent:

7650218, Jan 19, 2010

Filed:

Sep 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/858728

Inventors:

Morgan Andreae - Columbus IN, US
Adrian Dale - Columbus IN, US
Jeffrey A. Matthews - Columbus IN, US
William A. Rankin - Columbus IN, US
Vivek A. Sujan - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins IP, Inc - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
F02B 33/44

US Classification:

701101, 701100, 606051, 60611

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for preventing turbocharger overspeed in a combustion engine. The method includes determining a turbocharger error term as a difference between a nominal turbocharger maximum speed and a current turbocharger speed. The method further includes determining a turbocharger speed derivative with respect to time. The method includes calculating a turbocharger control response based on the turbocharger error term and the turbocharger speed derivative with respect to time. The turbocharger control response may be a modified turbocharger maximum speed calculated by determining a reference speed multiplier based on the turbocharger error term and the turbocharger speed derivative with respect to time, and multiplying the reference speed multiplier by the nominal turbocharger maximum speed. The method thereby smoothly anticipates turbocharger transient events, and prevents an overspeed condition of the turbocharger.

US Patent:

7757549, Jul 20, 2010

Filed:

Feb 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/034809

Inventors:

Morgan Andreae - Columbus IN, US
Adrian P. Dale - Columbus IN, US
Jeffrey Matthews - Columbus IN, US
William A. Rankin - Columbus IN, US
Vivek A. Sujan - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins IP, Inc - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G01M 15/00

US Classification:

7311477

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for predictive control of a turbocharger. The method includes interpreting a compressor performance model for a turbocharger, and interpreting at least one current operating parameter. The method further includes calculating a performance margin, calculating a performance margin derivative, and calculating a response value. The performance margin comprises a choke margin or a surge margin according to the position of an operating point in the compressor performance model. The performance margin is implemented in a first sigmoid function, and the performance margin derivative is implemented in a second sigmoid function. The response value is determined by applying a MIN function to the output of the product of the sigmoid functions in the choke margin case, and by applying a MAX function to the product of the sigmoid functions in the surge margin case.

US Patent:

7769522, Aug 3, 2010

Filed:

Feb 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/040474

Inventors:

Morgan Andreae - Columbus IN, US
Kirtan Bhandary - Columbus IN, US
Adrian Dale - Columbus IN, US
Jeffrey A. Matthews - Columbus IN, US
Vivek A. Sujan - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins IP, Inc - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
F02D 23/00
F02B 33/44

US Classification:

701102, 60600, 60602, 606051

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for preventing an underspeed event of a turbocharger. The method includes interpreting a turbocharger speed, a compressor differential pressure (CDP) and a turbocharger differential pressure (TDP). The method further includes calculating a thrust load capacity (TLC) based on the turbocharger speed, and calculating a current thrust load (CTL) based on the CDP and the TDP. The method further includes calculating a thrust margin based on the TLC and the CTL, and controlling an actuator in response to the thrust margin. Controlling the actuator includes maintaining the thrust margin to a thrust margin target, which may be a function of the turbocharger speed. The actuator is a turbine bypass valve, a compressor bypass valve, a variable geometry turbocharger position, an exhaust throttle and/or an exhaust gas recirculation valve that controls the turbocharger speed.

US Patent:

7770565, Aug 10, 2010

Filed:

Apr 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/099586

Inventors:

Vivek A. Sujan - Columbus IN, US
Morgan Andreae - Columbus IN, US
Adrian P. Dale - Columbus IN, US
Jeffrey A. Matthews - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02B 47/08
F02B 47/00

US Classification:

12356821

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for controlling recirculation of exhaust gas to an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system comprising an EGR conduit coupled between an exhaust manifold and an intake manifold of the engine. Exhaust gas produced by the engine is trapped within the EGR system in response to detection of a first operating condition that is indicative of a minimum engine fueling rate. The trapped exhaust gas is released from the EGR system into the intake manifold of the engine in response to detection of a second operating condition that is indicative of a subsequent increase in engine fueling rate above the minimum engine fueling rate.

US Patent:

7805235, Sep 28, 2010

Filed:

Apr 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/099582

Inventors:

Vivek A. Sujan - Columbus IN, US
Morgan Andreae - Columbus IN, US
Adrian P. Dale - Columbus IN, US
Jeffrey A. Matthews - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

B60T 7/12
F02M 1/00

US Classification:

701103, 701108, 123434, 12356821

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for controlling a flow of intake air entering an internal combustion engine. At least some of the intake air is diverted away from the engine in response to detection of a first operating condition that is indicative of a minimum engine fueling rate. A second operating condition that is indicative of a flow rate of the intake air entering the engine is monitored, and diverting at least some of the intake air away from the engine is discontinued if the second operating condition indicates that the flow rate of the intake air entering the engine is within a threshold value of a target flow rate.

US Patent:

7861580, Jan 4, 2011

Filed:

Jun 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/144494

Inventors:

Vivek A. Sujan - Columbus IN, US
Adrian P. Dale - Columbus IN, US
Jeffrey Matthews - Columbus IN, US
Kent Krajewski - Columbus IN, US
David Stroh - Columbus IN, US
Ryo Fuchinoue - Greensburg IN, US

Assignee:

Cummins IP, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G01M 15/04

US Classification:

7311477

Abstract:

According to one exemplary embodiment, a virtual turbine speed sensor for a multi-stage turbocharger system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The multi-stage turbocharger system includes at least two sequential turbochargers each having a compressor and a turbine. The virtual turbine speed sensor includes a compressor efficiency module, an inter-stage air temperature module, and a turbine speed module. The compressor efficiency module is configured to estimate an efficiency of a compressor of a first of the at least two turbochargers. The inter-stage air temperature module is configured to estimate an inter-stage temperature of air between the at least two compressors. The inter-stage temperature estimate is based at least partially on the efficiency of the compressor of the first turbocharger. The turbine speed module is configured to estimate a speed of a turbine of a second of the at least two turbochargers. The speed estimate of the turbine of the second turbocharger is based at least partially on the temperature estimate of air between the at least two compressors.

US Patent:

20090165458, Jul 2, 2009

Filed:

Dec 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/967972

Inventors:

Jeffrey Matthews - Columbus IN, US

International Classification:

F02D 23/00

US Classification:

60600

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for preventing overspeed of a turbocharger. The apparatus includes a two-stage turbocharger system with a high pressure and a low pressure turbocharger. A bypass valve that divides an exhaust flow into a primary exhaust flow and a bypass flow. A relief valve vents a portion of the primary exhaust flow around the high pressure turbocharger. The low pressure turbocharger receives the bypass flow, the primary exhaust flow, and the vented portion of the primary exhaust flow. The apparatus includes a controller having a protection condition module that determines a protection indicator, and a relief valve control module that controls the relief valve according to the protection indicator.