Patents by Inventor Leon Lapointe
Leon Lapointe 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: 11828252Abstract: An intake air circuit is structured to transmit intake air from a turbocharger compressor to an intake manifold of an engine. A charge air cooler (“CAC”), a bypass line, and a bypass heater are each positioned along the intake air circuit in parallel with each other. A first control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around the CAC. A second control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around at least one of the bypass line and the bypass heater. A controller operatively coupled to each of the engine, and the first and second control valves is structured to control each of the first and second control valves to cause the intake air to flow along a determined desired flow path based on each of measured ambient temperature and measured engine load.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. Mohr, Adrian P. Dale, Samuel C. Geckler, Leon A. LaPointe, David J. Stroh, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Robin J. Bremmer, Ryan Edward Schultz
-
Patent number: 11293339Abstract: An engine system comprising an internal combustion engine and a turbocharger, where a diameter of the at least one intake valve is greater than a diameter of the at least one exhaust valve, the salient angle of the piston bowl is at least 10 degrees, the ratio between the piston bowl opening diameter and the piston bowl depth is approximately 0.5 to 2.0, the intake valve opens before top dead center on an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine and closes before bottom dead center of an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine, and the turbocharger has a combined efficiency of more than 50%.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: CUMMINS INC.Inventors: Philipe F. Saad, Leon A. LaPointe, Premjee Sasidharan, Atsuhiko Watanabe
-
Patent number: 11193432Abstract: An internal combustion engine, a method of operating the internal combustion engine, and a controller are disclosed. The method may be implemented in part by the controller and comprises determining a shaft angle of an engine shaft; supplying, to an ion sensor fluidly coupled to a combustion chamber of the engine a low voltage at a beginning of a combustion cycle to generate an ion sensor current and a high voltage during an ionization voltage window based at least in part on the shaft angle, wherein the low voltage is configured to prevent premature ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber and the high voltage exceeds the low voltage and is configured to increase the ion sensor current above a current threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Ashish S. Gupta, Leon A. LaPointe
-
Publication number: 20210332777Abstract: An intake air circuit is structured to transmit intake air from a turbocharger compressor to an intake manifold of an engine. A charge air cooler (“CAC”), a bypass line, and a bypass heater are each positioned along the intake air circuit in parallel with each other. A first control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around the CAC. A second control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around at least one of the bypass line and the bypass heater. A controller operatively coupled to each of the engine, and the first and second control valves is structured to control each of the first and second control valves to cause the intake air to flow along a determined desired flow path based on each of measured ambient temperature and measured engine load.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: CUMMINS INC.Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. Mohr, Adrian P. Dale, Samuel C. Geckler, Leon A. LaPointe, David J. Stroh, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Robin J. Bremmer, Ryan Edward Schultz
-
Patent number: 11060468Abstract: An intake air circuit is structured to transmit intake air from a turbocharger compressor to an intake manifold of an engine. A charge air cooler (“CAC”), a bypass line, and a bypass heater are each positioned along the intake air circuit in parallel with each other. A first control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around the CAC. A second control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around at least one of the bypass line and the bypass heater. A controller operatively coupled to each of the engine, and the first and second control valves is structured to control each of the first and second control valves to cause the intake air to flow along a determined desired flow path based on each of measured ambient temperature and measured engine load.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. Mohr, Adrian P. Dale, Samuel C. Geckler, Leon A. LaPointe, David J. Stroh, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Robin J. Bremmer, Ryan Edward Schultz
-
Publication number: 20210108580Abstract: An intake air circuit is structured to transmit intake air from a turbocharger compressor to an intake manifold of an engine. A charge air cooler (“CAC”), a bypass line, and a bypass heater are each positioned along the intake air circuit in parallel with each other. A first control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around the CAC. A second control valve is structured to controllably divert the intake air around at least one of the bypass line and the bypass heater. A controller operatively coupled to each of the engine, and the first and second control valves is structured to control each of the first and second control valves to cause the intake air to flow along a determined desired flow path based on each of measured ambient temperature and measured engine load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: CUMMiNS INC.Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. Mohr, Adrian P. Dale, Samuel C. Geckler, Leon A. LaPointe, David J. Stroh, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Robin J. Bremmer, Ryan Edward Schultz
-
Publication number: 20210040880Abstract: An engine system comprising an internal combustion engine and a turbocharger, where a diameter of the at least one intake valve is greater than a diameter of the at least one exhaust valve, the salient angle of the piston bowl is at least 10 degrees, the ratio between the piston bowl opening diameter and the piston bowl depth is approximately 0.5 to 2.0, the intake valve opens before top dead center on an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine and closes before bottom dead center of an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine, and the turbocharger has a combined efficiency of more than 50%.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Philipe F. Saad, Leon A. LaPointe, Premjee Sasidharan, Atsuhiko Watanabe
-
Patent number: 10815871Abstract: An engine system comprising an internal combustion engine and a turbocharger, where a diameter of the at least one intake valve is greater than a diameter of the at least one exhaust valve, the salient angle of the piston bowl is at least 10 degrees, the ratio between the piston bowl opening diameter and the piston bowl depth is approximately 0.5 to 2.0, the intake valve opens before top dead center on an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine and closes before bottom dead center of an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine, and the turbocharger has a combined efficiency of more than 50%.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Philipe F. Saad, Leon A. LaPointe, Premjee Sasidharan, Atsuhiko Watanabe
-
Patent number: 10724471Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Prashant P. Patel, Prashaanth Ravindran, Christopher R. Nelson, Leon A. LaPointe
-
Publication number: 20200018223Abstract: An engine system comprising an internal combustion engine and a turbocharger, where a diameter of the at least one intake valve is greater than a diameter of the at least one exhaust valve, the salient angle of the piston bowl is at least 10 degrees, the ratio between the piston bowl opening diameter and the piston bowl depth is approximately 0.5 to 2.0, the intake valve opens before top dead center on an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine and closes before bottom dead center of an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine, and the turbocharger has a combined efficiency of more than 50%.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Philipe F. Saad, Leon A. LaPointe, Premjee Sasidharan, Atsuhiko Watanabe
-
Publication number: 20190331042Abstract: An internal combustion engine, a method of operating the internal combustion engine, and a controller are disclosed. The method may be implemented in part by the controller and comprises determining a shaft angle of an engine shaft; supplying, to an ion sensor fluidly coupled to a combustion chamber of the engine a low voltage at a beginning of a combustion cycle to generate an ion sensor current and a high voltage during an ionization voltage window based at least in part on the shaft angle, wherein the low voltage is configured to prevent premature ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber and the high voltage exceeds the low voltage and is configured to increase the ion sensor current above a current threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Ashish S. Gupta, Leon A. LaPointe
-
Patent number: 10393721Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for determining the composition of gaseous fuel. An initial gaseous fuel stream is provided that includes methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and inert gases. Air is mixed into the initial fuel stream upstream of a first catalyst. The first catalyst oxidizes only the non-methane hydrocarbons of the initial fuel stream to produce a resultant fuel stream comprising methane and inert gases. Air is mixed into the resultant fuel stream downstream of the first catalyst and upstream of a second catalyst. The second catalyst oxidizes only the methane hydrocarbons of the resultant fuel stream to produce an output fuel stream. Mole ratios of the methane, the non-methane hydrocarbons, and the inert gases of the initial fuel stream are each determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventor: Leon A. LaPointe
-
Publication number: 20190003419Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: CUMMINS INC.Inventors: Prashant P. Patel, Prashaanth Ravindran, Christopher R. Nelson, Leon A. Lapointe
-
Patent number: 10138800Abstract: A system and method for condensation management in a low-pressure loop EGR system are provided. The system includes an EGR condensation temperature module configured to determine an EGR condensation temperature of recirculated exhaust gas upstream of an EGR cooler and an EGR coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the EGR condensation temperature module. The EGR coolant temperature controller provides EGR coolant to the EGR cooler at or above the EGR condensation temperature. The system also includes a charge air condensation temperature module configured to determine a charge air condensation temperature of charge air upstream of a charge air cooler and a charge air coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the charge air condensation temperature module. The charge air coolant temperature controller provides charge air coolant to the charge air cooler at or above the charge air condensation temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventors: Leon A. LaPointe, Daniel J. Mohr, Edward J. Lyford-Pike, Ashish Gupta
-
Patent number: 9845772Abstract: A system and method for condensation management in a low-pressure loop EGR system are provided. The system includes an EGR condensation temperature module configured to determine an EGR condensation temperature of recirculated exhaust gas upstream of an EGR cooler and an EGR coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the EGR condensation temperature module. The EGR coolant temperature controller provides EGR coolant to the EGR cooler at or above the EGR condensation temperature. The system also includes a charge air condensation temperature module configured to determine a charge air condensation temperature of charge air upstream of a charge air cooler and a charge air coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the charge air condensation temperature module. The charge air coolant temperature controller provides charge air coolant to the charge air cooler at or above the charge air condensation temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventors: Leon A. LaPointe, Daniel J. Mohr, Edward J. Lyford-Pike, Ashish Gupta
-
Patent number: 9797296Abstract: Described herein is a combustion pre-chamber apparatus for a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine that includes a body that defines an internal combustion cavity. The apparatus also includes at least one orifice that extends through the body. The at least one orifice includes a first end open to the internal combustion cavity and a second end open to the main combustion chamber. The first end is bigger than the second end.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Premjee Sasidharan, Leon A. LaPointe
-
Patent number: 9778237Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for determining combustion properties of wellhead gas. A methane concentration of a gas mixture is measured. A non-methane hydrocarbon concentration of the gas mixture is measured. An inert concentration of the gas mixture is calculated. A first surrogate for the non-methane hydrocarbon concentration is selected, where the first surrogate is selected as propane if the methane concentration is greater than a first threshold, and where the first surrogate is selected as pentane if the methane concentration is less than or equal to the first threshold. A methane number of the gas mixture is determined, where the methane number is based on the methane concentration, the first surrogate, and the inert concentration.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventors: Shu Li, Leon A. LaPointe, Aniket Gupta, Matthew L. Schneider
-
Publication number: 20170269051Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for determining the composition of gaseous fuel. An initial gaseous fuel stream is provided that includes methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and inert gases. Air is mixed into the initial fuel stream upstream of a first catalyst. The first catalyst oxidizes only the non-methane hydrocarbons of the initial fuel stream to produce a resultant fuel stream comprising methane and inert gases. Air is mixed into the resultant fuel stream downstream of the first catalyst and upstream of a second catalyst. The second catalyst oxidizes only the methane hydrocarbons of the resultant fuel stream to produce an output fuel stream. Mole ratios of the methane, the non-methane hydrocarbons, and the inert gases of the initial fuel stream are each determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: Cummings, Inc.Inventor: Leon A. LaPointe
-
Publication number: 20170211508Abstract: An engine including a gaseous fuel system; a cylinder including a flat combustion face, the flat combustion face including four valves, each valve positioned in a port, the four valves including two intake valves positioned to selectively meter intake of charge into the cylinder via respective ports and including two exhaust valves positioned to selectively meter output of exhaust from the cylinder via respective ports. Intake valves are larger than exhaust valves and an ignition source is offset from center of a combustion surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Patrick M. Pierz, Leon A. LaPointe
-
Publication number: 20160319779Abstract: A system and method for condensation management in a low-pressure loop EGR system are provided. The system includes an EGR condensation temperature module configured to determine an EGR condensation temperature of recirculated exhaust gas upstream of an EGR cooler and an EGR coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the EGR condensation temperature module. The EGR coolant temperature controller provides EGR coolant to the EGR cooler at or above the EGR condensation temperature. The system also includes a charge air condensation temperature module configured to determine a charge air condensation temperature of charge air upstream of a charge air cooler and a charge air coolant temperature controller communicably coupled to the charge air condensation temperature module. The charge air coolant temperature controller provides charge air coolant to the charge air cooler at or above the charge air condensation temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Leon A. LaPointe, Daniel J. Mohr, Edward J. Lyford-Pike, Ashish Gupta