Rajesh K Nair

US Patent:

8470070, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Jul 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/841308

Inventors:

Vadiraj P. Kulkarni - Dunlap IL, US
Matthew E. Leustek - Metamora IL, US
Sara K. Michels - Metamora IL, US
Rajesh N. Nair - Peoria IL, US
Michael A. Snopko - Washington IL, US
Andrew A. Knitt - Deer Creek IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

B01D 39/06
B01D 39/14
B01D 50/00
B01D 46/46
F01N 3/02
F01N 3/00

US Classification:

95 8, 55522, 55523, 55524, 60277, 60311, 422169, 422170, 422171, 422172, 422177, 422178, 422179, 422180, 422181, 422182

Abstract:

Detecting ash in a diesel particulate filter includes receiving data indicative of signal attenuation for ash-responsive and ash-insensitive RF signals transmitted through a diesel particulate filter containing trapped soot and ash. A difference between the RF signals, such as a difference in signal attenuation, may be leveraged to detect a relative ash loading state or a change in relative ash loading state of the diesel particulate filter, and responsively indicate that filter cleaning is needed.

US Patent:

20120158242, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 16, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/969749

Inventors:

Michael A. Snopko - Washington IL, US
Anthony C. Rodman - Langtoft, GB
Rajesh N. Nair - Peoria IL, US
Frederic Fugere - Chillicothe IL, US
Andrew A. Knitt - Deer Creek IL, US
Malshantha M. Kankanamge - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F01N 3/023
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

701 36, 60277, 60274

Abstract:

A machine includes an internal combustion engine, and an exhaust particulate filter system coupled therewith having an exhaust particulate filter for trapping particulates in exhaust from the internal combustion engine. A control system for the exhaust particulate filter includes a sensing mechanism such as an RF soot sensor and a data processor coupled with the sensing mechanism and configured to output a moisture compensation signal responsive to a pattern of inputs from the sensing mechanism indicative of moisture within the exhaust particulate filter, for controlling regeneration thereof.

US Patent:

20120159929, Jun 28, 2012

Filed:

Dec 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/315375

Inventors:

Michael A. Snopko - Washington IL, US
Anthony C. Rodman - Langtoft, GB
Rajesh N. Nair - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F01N 3/021
F01N 11/00

US Classification:

60274, 60311

Abstract:

A method of operating an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine includes transmitting electromagnetic energy, for example having a frequency above about 2 GHz through an exhaust particulate filter containing trapped soot. The transmitted electromagnetic energy may be attenuated in response to the trapped soot, and a filter soot loading value calculated based at least in part upon a correlation among an attenuation of the electromagnetic energy, a temperature of the filter, and a mass of the trapped soot. An algorithm based upon a partial derivative of an equation representing the correlation may be used in calculating the filter soot loading value, and a resulting soot mass. Responsive to determining the calculated soot mass satisfies regeneration suitability conditions, a regeneration initiation command may be outputted.

US Patent:

20120159930, Jun 28, 2012

Filed:

Dec 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/316914

Inventors:

Michael A. Snopko - Washington IL, US
Rajesh N. Nair - Peoria IL, US
Frederic Fugere - Chillicothe IL, US
Andrew A. Knitt - Deer Creek IL, US
Anthony C. Rodman - Langtoft, GB

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F01N 3/023
F01N 3/02

US Classification:

60274, 60311

Abstract:

A method of operating an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine includes transmitting electromagnetic energy, for example having a frequency above about GHz, through an exhaust particulate filter containing trapped soot. The transmitted electromagnetic energy may be attenuated in response to the trapped soot, and a filter soot loading value calculated based at least in part upon a correlation among an attenuation of the electromagnetic energy, a temperature of the filter, and a mass of the trapped soot. An algorithm based upon a partial derivative of an equation representing the correlation may be used in calculating the filter soot loading value, and a resulting soot mass. The calculated soot mass is used to determine a relative soot loading state of the filter in conjunction with information as to ash loading. Responsive to determining the relative soot loading state satisfies regeneration suitability conditions, a regeneration initiation command may be outputted.

US Patent:

20120291419, Nov 22, 2012

Filed:

May 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/109550

Inventors:

Michael A. Snopko - Washington IL, US
Rajesh N. Nair - Mossville IL, US
Anthony C. Rodman - Langtoft, GB

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F01N 3/02
G01M 15/10

US Classification:

60274, 60311, 73 2333

Abstract:

A method of detecting ash in an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine includes transmitting electromagnetic energy through an exhaust particulate filter containing soot and ash, and sensing a strength of the transmitted electromagnetic energy after having been attenuated in response to the soot. The method further includes electronically storing a filter monitoring history responsive to a difference between the transmitted strength and the sensed strength of the electromagnetic energy, and detecting an amount of the ash based at least in part upon a pattern of electromagnetic energy attenuation defined by the stored filter monitoring history. An exhaust particulate filter system for implementing related methodology includes a microprocessor configured to determine a value indicative of an amount of ash contained within an exhaust particulate filter responsive to a pattern of electromagnetic energy attenuation defined by a stored filter monitoring history.

US Patent:

20130000274, Jan 3, 2013

Filed:

Jun 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/171588

Inventors:

Rajesh N. Nair - Mossville IL, US
Michael A. Snopko - Washington IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F01N 3/023

US Classification:

60274, 60311

Abstract:

A regeneration control system for an exhaust filter in an internal combustion engine system includes a first sensing mechanism for monitoring an exhaust flow resistance of the exhaust filter, and a second sensing mechanism for monitoring an attenuation of electromagnetic energy transmitted through the exhaust filter. The regeneration control system further includes an electronic controller coupled with the sensing mechanisms and configured to output a filter regeneration command responsive to an amount of particulate matter trapped within the exhaust filter. The electronic controller is further configured to weight data from the first and second sensing mechanisms in determining the amount of particulate matter. Weighting of the data may be responsive to an operating state of the internal combustion engine system. Related methodology is also disclosed.

US Patent:

20210207548, Jul 8, 2021

Filed:

Mar 19, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/206555

Inventors:

- Deerfield IL, US
James MUTTI - Germantown Hills IL, US
Rajesh NAIR - Mossville IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Deerfield IL

International Classification:

F02D 41/00
F01N 5/04
F02B 37/24

Abstract:

An engine control module (ECM) may obtain information concerning a speed of an engine, information concerning an exhaust gas temperature, information concerning an engine airflow rate, information concerning a pressure of an intake manifold associated with the engine, and information concerning a requested amount of engine braking power. The ECM may cause one or more components of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to adjust based on the information concerning the speed of the engine, the information concerning the exhaust gas temperature, and the information concerning the engine airflow rate. Additionally, or alternatively, the ECM may cause the one or more components of the VGT to adjust based on the information concerning the pressure of the intake manifold associated with the engine and the information concerning the requested amount of engine braking power.

US Patent:

20210071600, Mar 11, 2021

Filed:

Sep 5, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/562193

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
James MUTTI - Germantown Hills IL, US
Rajesh NAIR - Mossville IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F02D 41/00
F02B 37/24
F01N 5/04

Abstract:

An engine control module (ECM) may obtain information concerning a speed of an engine, information concerning an exhaust gas temperature, information concerning an engine airflow rate, information concerning a pressure of an intake manifold associated with the engine, and information concerning a requested amount of engine braking power. The ECM may cause one or more components of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to adjust based on the information concerning the speed of the engine, the information concerning the exhaust gas temperature, and the information concerning the engine airflow rate. Additionally, or alternatively, the ECM may cause the one or more components of the VGT to adjust based on the information concerning the pressure of the intake manifold associated with the engine and the information concerning the requested amount of engine braking power.