Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Tofsland

Kenneth M. Tofsland 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).

  • Publication number: 20220235682
    Abstract: An axial flow element for use in a liquid separation system for an internal combustion engine includes a hub, a groove, a locking member, and a flat layer. The hub includes a cylindrical outer surface. The groove is disposed in the outer surface. The groove extends in a substantially longitudinal direction along the hub from a first end of the hub to a second end of the hub. The locking member is disposed in the groove. The flat layer is disposed between the hub and the locking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Tofsland, Christopher E. Holm, Chirag D. Parikh, Rajath Martin
  • Patent number: 10544759
    Abstract: Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner. A spring is disposed in the bellows. The spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Kenneth M. Tofsland, Mark A. Terres
  • Publication number: 20180045148
    Abstract: Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner. A spring is disposed in the bellows. The spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Kenneth M. Tofsland, Mark A. Terres
  • Patent number: 9822741
    Abstract: Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Kenneth M. Tofsland, Mark A. Terres
  • Publication number: 20160003201
    Abstract: Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Kenneth M. Tofsland, Mark A. Terres
  • Patent number: 8951337
    Abstract: An inertial separation air precleaner system includes a replaceable insert removably mounted to the precleaner and altering air flow velocity through the precleaner by changing flow area of the flowpath through the precleaner housing. The replaceable insert is replaceable with a different insert for the same precleaner housing, which different insert provides a different flow area through the precleaner housing, enabling a selectable precleaner efficiency vs. restriction trade-off as chosen by a user for a particular application, enabling tuning of precleaner performance by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Tofsland, Stephen L. Fallon
  • Publication number: 20140014597
    Abstract: A dual flow filter element includes inner and outer closed loop filter media and inlet and outlet end caps, and having a given shape-in-shape configuration. A support frame extends axially from one of the end caps toward the other end cap and terminates at a termination position between one-fourth and three-fourths of the axial distance between the inlet and outlet ends. Combinations using pleated filter media include a first group of pleat tip ends which are exposed, and a second group of pleat tip ends which are fully potted. One embodiment includes axially offset inner and outer closed loop filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessie A. Knight, Kenneth M. Tofsland, Mark A. Terres, Scott W. Schwartz, Thomas J. Braun, Andrea L. Kendall
  • Patent number: 8397920
    Abstract: A pleated filter element extends axially between an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet along a plurality of axially extending bend lines forming axial flow channels. The bend lines taper in a transverse direction and define a plurality of axially elongated tetrahedron channels facing oppositely to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald J. Moy, Eric A. Janikowski, Kenneth M. Tofsland
  • Publication number: 20120234168
    Abstract: An inertial separation air precleaner system includes a replaceable insert removably mounted to the precleaner and altering air flow velocity through the precleaner by changing flow area of the flowpath through the precleaner housing. The replaceable insert is replaceable with a different insert for the same precleaner housing, which different insert provides a different flow area through the precleaner housing, enabling a selectable precleaner efficiency vs. restriction trade-off as chosen by a user for a particular application, enabling tuning of precleaner performance by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Tofsland, Stephen L. Fallon
  • Publication number: 20120118814
    Abstract: A pleated filter element extends axially between an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet along a plurality of axially extending bend lines forming axial flow channels. The bend lines taper in a transverse direction and define a plurality of axially elongated tetrahedron channels facing oppositely to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP INC.
    Inventors: Jerald J. Moy, Eric A. Janikowski, Kenneth M. Tofsland
  • Patent number: 5320653
    Abstract: A vortex air precleaner having snap-fit, self-sealing vortex tubes. Each vortex tube includes a flexible lip projecting laterally outward from the tube and spaced from an end of the tube. An annular shoulder is located between the lip and the tube end and spaced from the lip to provide a groove therebetween. The portion of the tube extending from the shoulder to the tube end is tapered inwardly and is formed with a plurality of longitudinal slits to provide the tube end portion with radial flexibility. When the tube end is inserted within an opening in the wall of the precleaner, the end portion will flex inwardly enabling the precleaner wall to be engaged with the groove, and the flexible lip engages the surface of the precleaner wall to provide a tight sealed joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Nelson Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Morgan, James A. Debilzen, Kenneth M. Tofsland
  • Patent number: 4878929
    Abstract: A cartridge-type liquid-gas separator having particular use for separating oil from air. The separator includes an outer casing containing an annular pleated first stage filter element and an annular second stage element located concentrically of the first stage element. The first stage filter element is composed of a coalescer section formed of unwoven fibrous material and a disloader section disposed downstream of the coalescer section and composed of multiple layers of fibrous material impregnated with a resin having low surface energy. The first stage element can also include a pair of screens, one located upstream of the coalescer section and a second located downstream of the disloader section. The second stage which is spaced downstream from the first stage is composed of a fibrous stripper layer followed by a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Nelson Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Tofsland, Jeffrey S. Morgan, Eric G. Gryttenholm, Tadeusz Jaroszczyk