Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Nelson

Christopher R. Nelson 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).

  • Patent number: 11920533
    Abstract: A system includes an aftertreatment system heater of an exhaust aftertreatment system coupled to an engine A controller coupled to the aftertreatment system heater is configured to determine a condition of an exhaust gas from an engine and compare the condition to a predefined threshold. If the condition of the exhaust gas does not meet the predefined threshold, the controller is configured to determine whether an engine operating condition is met for activating a cylinder deactivation operating mode for the engine. If the engine operating condition is met, the controller is configured to operate the engine in the cylinder deactivation operating mode by deactivating a cylinder of a plurality of cylinders. If the engine operating condition is not met, the controller is configured to activate the aftertreatment system heater to heat the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Kay Light-Holets, J. Steven Kolhouse, Christopher R. Nelson, Anant Puri, Xiaobo Song, Avra Brahma
  • Publication number: 20240034299
    Abstract: Methods and systems implementing hybrid vehicle with multi-mode functionality are provided. The vehicle includes a steerable front axle coupled with a first motive power source having an integrated axle including an electric motor and a transmission. A rear axle is coupled with a second motive power source and separately operable from the steerable front axle. A sensor measures an additional load applied on the vehicle. A controller coupled with the sensor, the first motive power source, and the second motive power source. The controller receives measurement data from the sensor; selects, based on the measurement data, (a) a first operation mode of activating only the first motive power source or (b) a second operation mode of activating only the second motive power source, to operate the vehicle; and activates, based on the first operation mode or the second operation mode that is selected, the first motive power source or the second motive power source to operate the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20230204000
    Abstract: A system includes an aftertreatment system heater of an exhaust aftertreatment system coupled to an engine A controller coupled to the aftertreatment system heater is configured to determine a condition of an exhaust gas from an engine and compare the condition to a predefined threshold. If the condition of the exhaust gas does not meet the predefined threshold, the controller is configured to determine whether an engine operating condition is met for activating a cylinder deactivation operating mode for the engine. If the engine operating condition is met, the controller is configured to operate the engine in the cylinder deactivation operating mode by deactivating a cylinder of a plurality of cylinders. If the engine operating condition is not met, the controller is configured to activate the aftertreatment system heater to heat the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicants: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Kay Light-Holets, J. Steven Kolhouse, Christopher R. Nelson, Anant Puri, Xiaobo Song, Avra Brahma
  • Patent number: 11414352
    Abstract: Method of making foamed gypsum slurry having 15 to 90 volume percent gas bubbles including: passing first slurry including water and on dry basis 50 to 98 wt. % calcium sulfate hemihydrate, 1 to 50 wt. % calcium carbonate, and 0.1 to 10 wt. % cellulose thickener via a first hose to a Wye connector conduit first inlet opening at Rate C and passing alum solution via a second hose to a second inlet opening of the conduit at Rate D to create combined mixed stream passing from the conduit to a static mixer for mixing for Time 3 to activate at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and alum to generate CO2 and create the foamed gypsum slurry; transferring the slurry from the mixer to a cavity between two wall boards via a third hose. Allowing the slurry in the cavity to expand, harden and dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: David D. Pelot, Samar Emami, Robert H. Negri, Juan Carlos Ruiz Castaneda, Christopher R. Nelson, John J. Roxburgh, Edgar R. De La Rosa Cruz, Jorge A. Garcia Torres, Miguel Gama Goicochea, Antonio Contreras, Juan Huitzil
  • Patent number: 11224990
    Abstract: Continuous method including mixing water and cementitous powder to form slurry; mixing the slurry and reinforcement fibers in a single pass horizontal continuous mixer to form fiber-slurry mixture, the mixer including an elongated mixing chamber having a reinforcement fiber inlet port, and upstream of the fiber inlet port is an inlet port to introduce water and cementitous powder together as one stream or at least two inlet ports to introduce water and dry cementitous powder separately as separate streams into the chamber, a rotating horizontal shaft/s within the chamber, part of the chamber for mixing the fibers and slurry and moving the fiber-slurry mixture to a mixture outlet; discharging the fiber-slurry mixture from the mixer outlet; forming and setting the fiber-slurry mixture on a moving surface; cutting the set mixture into fiber reinforced concrete panels and removing the panels from the moving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashish Dubey, Peter B. Groza, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11173629
    Abstract: A method in which a stream of dry cementitious powder passes through a first conduit and aqueous medium stream passes through a second conduit to feed a slurry mixer to make cementitious slurry. The cementitious slurry passes through a third conduit and a reinforcement fiber stream passes through a fourth conduit to feed a fiber-slurry mixer which mixes the slurry and discrete fibers to make a stream of fiber-slurry mixture. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashish Dubey, Peter B. Groza, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11125139
    Abstract: An engine cooling system comprises an engine cooling circuit, comprising a first pump structured to circulate engine coolant fluid therethrough. A remote coolant radiator positioned along the engine cooling circuit downstream of the engine and outside of a vehicle cooling package area is structured to transfer heat from the engine coolant fluid to air. A coolant heat exchanger is positioned along the engine cooling circuit in parallel to the remote coolant radiator. A waste heat recovery system comprises a working fluid circuit comprising a second pump. The coolant heat exchanger is positioned along the working fluid circuit and is structured to transfer heat from the engine coolant fluid to the working fluid. An expander is structured to convert energy from the heat transferred to the working fluid from the engine cooling fluid to mechanical energy. A condenser positioned downstream of the expander is structured to cool the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson, Jared Carpenter Delahanty
  • Patent number: 11092069
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooling is described. More particularly, a Rankine cycle WHR system and method is described, including an arrangement to improve the precision of EGR cooling for engine efficiency improvement and thermal management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Nelson, Timothy C. Ernst
  • Patent number: 10981294
    Abstract: A slurry feed apparatus for depositing a slurry upon a moving forming web having a direction of travel, including: a headbox mounted transverse to the direction of travel of the moving web, having a back wall, sidewalls, a concave transverse front wall, an open top, and an open bottom for directing slurry onto the forming web; a moveable dam releasably attached to the back wall, a seal attached to a bottom wall of the dam; and a headbox support system extending from opposed the sidewalls. Also disclosed is a continuous process for depositing a uniform layer of a cementitious slurry containing reinforcing fibers from the headbox onto a traveling web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashish Dubey, Peter B. Groza, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10914201
    Abstract: An example system includes an engine and an exhaust passage fluidly coupled to the engine. A waste heat recovery system includes a boiler operatively coupled to the exhaust passage, and a condenser fluidly coupled to the boiler. An integrated cooling system includes an engine cooling circuit, a waste heat recovery cooling circuit, a waste heat recovery bypass valve, and a controller. The waste heat recovery bypass valve is operatively coupled to the exhaust passage upstream of the boiler, and is selectively controllable so as to direct at least a portion of the exhaust gas through an exhaust bypass passage so as to bypass the boiler. The controller is in operative communication with the waste heat recovery bypass valve. The controller is structured to determine a cooling demand of the engine, and to control a valve position of the waste heat recovery bypass valve based on the cooling demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant P. Patel, Christopher R. Nelson, Prashaanth Ravindran
  • Patent number: 10900383
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and an expander. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid from a first portion of a first loop and provides the working fluid to a second portion of the first loop. The second heat exchanger receives the working fluid from a first portion of a second loop and provides the working fluid to a second portion of the second loop. The expander provides the working fluid to a first portion of a common line. The expander includes a stator. The stator includes a first inlet and a second inlet. The common line provides the working fluid to both the first loop and the second loop upstream of the first portion of the first loop and upstream of the first portion of the second loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10863267
    Abstract: Example techniques are provided for controlling volume of A/V devices using an improved volume control. The volume control may be implemented as a slider, where the sliding element is temporarily slid in response to user input (e.g., touched and dragged by the user), but then automatically “snaps” back to the center of the slider's range when the user input ends (e.g., is released by the user). Movement of the element from the center is interpreted as a relative volume adjustment, with the rate of volume change being proportional to the distance between the center of the range and the temporary position of the element. An indicator is provided indicating the rate, to provide user feedback. The volume control may be utilized as a master volume control in a home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Savant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Silva, George T. Katsiris, Andrew R. Hamm, Christopher R. Nelson, II
  • Patent number: 10815931
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to recover waste heat from an engine fluid with a heat exchanger subsystem that includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger subsystem is thermally coupled to a working fluid and the engine fluid, so the waste heat from the engine fluid is transferred to the working fluid. The engine fluid is bypassed from the heat exchanger in response to a heat exchanger bypass condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200263601
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooling is described. More particularly, a Rankine cycle WHR system and method is described, including an arrangement to improve the precision of EGR cooling for engine efficiency improvement and thermal management.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Nelson, Timothy C. Ernst
  • Patent number: 10737981
    Abstract: A gypsum-based composition of calcium sulfate hemihydrate with (a) alum and calcium carbonate and/or (b) zeolite and sodium percarbonate for making foamed gypsum slurry. A method to make foamed gypsum slurry from the composition. A method to make foamed gypsum product from the composition. A cavity wall having a cavity filled with the foamed gypsum product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: Samar Emami, Salvatore C. Immordino, Robert H. Negri, David D. Pelot, Jeffrey F. Grussing, Juan Carlos Ruiz Castañeda, Christopher R. Nelson, John Jason Roxburgh, Srinivas Veeramasuneni
  • Patent number: 10724471
    Abstract: An engine waste heat recovery (WHR) system includes a turbocharger WHR portion, an exhaust WHR portion, an expander in the exhaust WHR portion, a condenser, valves, and a controller. The expander receives a working fluid in a superheated form and converts thermal energy in the working fluid into mechanical energy or electrical energy. The condenser condenses the working fluid for recirculation through the engine WHR system. The recuperator is fluidly coupled between the expander and the condenser to allow the working fluid to flow from the expander to the condenser. The recuperator transfers thermal energy to a flow of the working fluid from the turbocharger WHR portion. Each valve is fluidly coupled to one of the turbocharger WHR portion and the exhaust WHR portion. The controller is electrically coupled to the valves, and the controller selectively controls the valves to selectively circulate the working fluid through the engine WHR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant P. Patel, Prashaanth Ravindran, Christopher R. Nelson, Leon A. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 10646837
    Abstract: A method in which a stream of dry cementitious powder from a dry powder feeder passes through a dry cementitious powder inlet conduit to feed a first feed section of a fiber-slurry mixer. An aqueous medium stream passes through at least one aqueous medium stream conduit to feed a first mixing section the fiber-slurry mixer. A stream of reinforcing fibers passes from a fiber feeder through a reinforcing fibers stream conduit to feed a second mixing section of the fiber-slurry mixer. The stream of dry cementitious powder, aqueous medium stream, and stream of reinforcing fibers combine in the fiber-slurry mixer to make a stream of fiber-cement mixture which discharges through a discharge conduit at a downstream end of the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashish Dubey, Peter B. Groza, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200088068
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and an expander. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid from a first portion of a first loop and provides the working fluid to a second portion of the first loop. The second heat exchanger receives the working fluid from a first portion of a second loop and provides the working fluid to a second portion of the second loop. The expander provides the working fluid to a first portion of a common line. The expander includes a stator. The stator includes a first inlet and a second inlet. The common line provides the working fluid to both the first loop and the second loop upstream of the first portion of the first loop and upstream of the first portion of the second loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20190315659
    Abstract: Method of making foamed gypsum slurry having 15 to 90 volume percent gas bubbles including: passing first slurry including water and on dry basis 50 to 98 wt. % calcium sulfate hemihydrate, 1 to 50 wt. % calcium carbonate, and 0.1 to 10 wt. % cellulose thickener via a first hose to a Wye connector conduit first inlet opening at Rate C and passing alum solution via a second hose to a second inlet opening of the conduit at Rate D to create combined mixed stream passing from the conduit to a static mixer for mixing for Time 3 to activate at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and alum to generate CO2 and create the foamed gypsum slurry; transferring the slurry from the mixer to a cavity between two wall boards via a third hose. Allowing the slurry in the cavity to expand, harden and dry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: David D. PELOT, Samar EMAMI, Robert H. NEGRI, Juan Carlos Ruiz Castaneda, Christopher R. NELSON, John J. ROXBURGH, Edgar R. DE LA ROSA CRUZ, Jorge A. GARCIA TORRES, Miguel Gama Goicochea, Antonio CONTRERAS, Juan HUITZIL
  • Publication number: 20190249589
    Abstract: An engine cooling system comprises an engine cooling circuit, comprising a first pump structured to circulate engine coolant fluid therethrough. A remote coolant radiator positioned along the engine cooling circuit downstream of the engine and outside of a vehicle cooling package area is structured to transfer heat from the engine coolant fluid to air. A coolant heat exchanger is positioned along the engine cooling circuit in parallel to the remote coolant radiator. A waste heat recovery system comprises a working fluid circuit comprising a second pump. The coolant heat exchanger is positioned along the working fluid circuit and is structured to transfer heat from the engine coolant fluid to the working fluid. An expander is structured to convert energy from the heat transferred to the working fluid from the engine cooling fluid to mechanical energy. A condenser positioned downstream of the expander is structured cool the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson, Jared Carpenter Delahanty