Patents by Inventor Mihai Chiruta

Mihai Chiruta 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: 11946404
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to a system that includes a nozzle. A dosing line is connected to the nozzle and a fuel dosing module. The fuel dosing module is in fluid communication with the dosing line and includes an outlet in fluid communication with the dosing line. An air inlet is positioned upstream of the outlet and is configured to receive air. A fuel inlet is positioned upstream of the outlet and is configured to receive fuel. A fuel valve is positioned upstream of the outlet and downstream of the fuel inlet and is configured to control the flow of fuel. The fuel dosing module is configured to combine the fuel and the air upstream of the outlet and downstream of the fuel valve to generate an air-fuel fluid, wherein the air-fuel fluid removes particles from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Barry Mark Verdegan, Wassem Abdalla, Z. Gerald Liu
  • Publication number: 20240093624
    Abstract: An exhaust gas aftertreatment system includes an exhaust gas conduit a mixer, and a plurality of flow disrupters. The exhaust gas conduit is centered on a conduit center axis and includes an inner surface. The mixer includes a mixer body and an upstream vane plate. The upstream vane plate has a plurality of upstream vanes. At least one of the upstream vanes is coupled to the mixer body. The flow disrupters are disposed downstream of the mixer and circumferentially around the conduit center axis. Each of the flow disrupters is coupled to the exhaust gas conduit or integrally formed with the exhaust gas conduit. Each of the flow disrupters extends inwardly from the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, David Dunnuck, Matthew Henry, Akshat Gattani, Reeed Tracy Gardner
  • Patent number: 11753979
    Abstract: An ammonia generating apparatus comprises a housing comprising a first end wall on which a reductant injector configured to insert a reductant into the housing is mountable. A heating coil assembly is disposed within the housing. A first end of the heating coil assembly is located proximate to a location of the first end wall where a reductant injector tip of the reductant injector is located when the reductant injector is mounted on the first end wall. The heating coil assembly is configured to generate heat sufficient to thermolyze the reductant to generate ammonia and reaction byproducts, in response to an electric current being passed therethrough. A hydrolysis catalyst can be disposed downstream of the heating coil assembly for catalyzing hydrolysis of the reaction byproducts into ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Samuel Johnson, Tiffany D. Morgan, George Eugene Mavroudis, Luis N. Moreno
  • Publication number: 20230151755
    Abstract: A decomposition chamber for an exhaust gas aftertreatment system includes an inlet tube, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst member, a mixing collector wall, a distribution cap, and a dividing tube. The inlet tube is configured to receive exhaust gas. The mixing collector wall includes a mixing assembly flow aperture. The distribution cap is coupled to the inlet tube and configured to receive the exhaust gas from the inlet tube. The dividing tube is coupled to the mixing collector wall. The dividing tube separates the distribution cap from the mixing assembly flow aperture. The dividing tube includes a first dividing tube inlet aperture that is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the distribution cap. The dividing tube outlet aperture is configured to provide the exhaust gas to the mixing assembly flow aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Johnson, Paul T. Frisch, Peter Te-Cheng Jang, Randolph G. Zoran, Ryan M. Johnson, John G. Buechler, Jim L. Alonzo, Enoch Nanduru, Pradnya C. Joshi, Mihai Chiruta, Isabel Valborg Montgomery, Guilherme Daldegan
  • Publication number: 20230108543
    Abstract: A multi-stage mixer includes a multi-stage mixer inlet, a multi-stage mixer outlet, a first flow device, and a second flow device. The multi-stage mixer inlet is configured to receive exhaust gas. The multi-stage mixer outlet is configured to provide the exhaust gas to a catalyst. The first flow device is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the multi-stage mixer inlet and to receive reductant such that the reductant is partially mixed with the exhaust gas within the first flow device. The first flow device includes a plurality of main vanes and a plurality of main vane apertures. The plurality of main vane apertures is interspaced between the plurality of main vanes. The plurality of main vane apertures is configured to receive the exhaust gas and to cooperate with the plurality of main vanes to provide the exhaust gas from the first flow device with a swirl flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Z. Gerald Liu, Apoorv Kalyankar, Achuth Munnannur, Niklas M. Schmidt, Roy W. Detra, Mihai Chiruta
  • Patent number: 11542847
    Abstract: A multi-stage mixer includes a multi-stage mixer inlet, a multi-stage mixer outlet, a first flow device, and a second flow device. The multi-stage mixer inlet is configured to receive exhaust gas. The multi-stage mixer outlet is configured to provide the exhaust gas to a catalyst. The first flow device is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the multi-stage mixer inlet and to receive reductant such that the reductant is partially mixed with the exhaust gas within the first flow device. The first flow device includes a plurality of main vanes and a plurality of main vane apertures. The plurality of main vane apertures is interspaced between the plurality of main vanes. The plurality of main vane apertures is configured to receive the exhaust gas and to cooperate with the plurality of main vanes to provide the exhaust gas from the first flow device with a swirl flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Z. Gerald Liu, Apoorv Kalyankar, Achuth Munnannur, Niklas M. Schmidt, Roy W. Detra, Mihai Chiruta
  • Publication number: 20220356830
    Abstract: An ammonia generating apparatus comprises a housing comprising a first end wall on which a reductant injector configured to insert a reductant into the housing is mountable. A heating coil assembly is disposed within the housing. A first end of the heating coil assembly is located proximate to a location of the first end wall where a reductant injector tip of the reductant injector is located when the reductant injector is mounted on the first end wall. The heating coil assembly is configured to generate heat sufficient to thermolyze the reductant to generate ammonia and reaction byproducts, in response to an electric current being passed therethrough. A hydrolysis catalyst can be disposed downstream of the heating coil assembly for catalyzing hydrolysis of the reaction byproducts into ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Samuel Johnson, Tiffany D. Morgan, George Eugene Mavroudis, Luis N. Moreno
  • Publication number: 20220298949
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system includes an exhaust gas conduit, a mixer, and a mixing flange. The exhaust gas conduit includes an inner surface. The exhaust gas conduit has a conduit diameter dc. The mixer includes a mixer body and an upstream vane plate. The upstream vane plate has a plurality of upstream vanes. At least one of the plurality of upstream vanes is coupled to the mixer body. The mixing flange is disposed downstream of the mixer. The mixing flange includes a mixing flange opening having a mixing flange opening diameter dmf. 0.30*dc?dmf?0.95*dc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Isabel Valborg Montgomery, Lindsey R. Henry
  • Publication number: 20220042432
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to a system that includes a nozzle. A dosing line is connected to the nozzle and a fuel dosing module. The fuel dosing module is in fluid communication with the dosing line and includes an outlet in fluid communication with the dosing line. An air inlet is positioned upstream of the outlet and is configured to receive air. A fuel inlet is positioned upstream of the outlet and is configured to receive fuel. A fuel valve is positioned upstream of the outlet and downstream of the fuel inlet and is configured to control the flow of fuel. The fuel dosing module is configured to combine the fuel and the air upstream of the outlet and downstream of the fuel valve to generate an air-fuel fluid, wherein the air-fuel fluid removes particles from the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Barry Mark Verdegan, Wassem Abdalla, Z. Gerald Liu
  • Publication number: 20210372313
    Abstract: A multi-stage mixer includes a multi-stage mixer inlet, a multi-stage mixer outlet, a first flow device, and a second flow device. The multi-stage mixer inlet is configured to receive exhaust gas. The multi-stage mixer outlet is configured to provide the exhaust gas to a catalyst. The first flow device is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the multi-stage mixer inlet and to receive reductant such that the reductant is partially mixed with the exhaust gas within the first flow device. The first flow device includes a plurality of main vanes and a plurality of main vane apertures. The plurality of main vane apertures is interspaced between the plurality of main vanes. The plurality or main vane apertures is configured to receive the exhaust gas and to cooperate with the plurality of main vanes to provide the exhaust gas from the first flow device with a swirl flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Z. Gerald Liu, Apoorv Kalyankar, Achuth Munnannur, Niklas M. Schmidt, Roy W. Detra, Mihai Chiruta
  • Patent number: 11136910
    Abstract: A multi-stage mixer includes a multi-stage mixer inlet, a multi-stage mixer outlet, a first flow device, and a second flow device. The multi-stage mixer inlet is configured to receive exhaust gas. The multi-stage mixer outlet is configured to provide the exhaust gas to a catalyst. The first flow device is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the multi-stage mixer inlet and to receive reductant such that the reductant is partially mixed with the exhaust gas within the first flow device. The first flow device includes a plurality of main vanes and a plurality of main vane apertures. The plurality of main vane apertures is interspaced between the plurality of main vanes. The plurality of main vane apertures is configured to receive the exhaust gas and to cooperate with the plurality of main vanes to provide the exhaust gas from the first flow device with a swirl flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Z. Gerald Liu, Apoorv Kalyankar, Achuth Munnannur, Niklas M. Schmidt, Roy W. Detra, Mihai Chiruta
  • Publication number: 20200123955
    Abstract: A multi-stage mixer includes a multi-stage mixer inlet, a multi-stage mixer outlet, a first flow device, and a second flow device. The multi-stage mixer inlet is configured to receive exhaust gas. The multi-stage mixer outlet is configured to provide the exhaust gas to a catalyst. The first flow device is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the multi-stage mixer inlet and to receive reductant such that the reductant is partially mixed with the exhaust gas within the first flow device. The first flow device includes a plurality of main vanes and a plurality of main vane apertures. The plurality of main vane apertures is interspaced between the plurality of main vanes. The plurality of main vane apertures is configured to receive the exhaust gas and to cooperate with the plurality of main vanes to provide the exhaust gas from the first flow device with a swirl flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Z. Gerald Liu, Apoorv Kalyankar, Achuth Munnannur, Niklas M. Schmidt, Roy W. Detra, Mihai Chiruta
  • Patent number: 10024213
    Abstract: One form of the present application is an apparatus including an internal combustion engine structured to produce an exhaust flow, an exhaust system structured to receive the exhaust flow, and a reductant injector structured to inject reductant into a primary passage of the exhaust system upstream of a catalyst. The apparatus further includes an injector passage structured to receive a portion of exhaust upstream of the injector and further structured to flow the exhaust into the primary passage around the injector in a manner such that deposit formation is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Mitchell, Mihai Chiruta, Lindsey R. Henry, Jim Alonzo
  • Patent number: 9932871
    Abstract: A method for reducing reductant deposits in an exhaust conduit fluidly coupled to an engine comprises operating the engine to produce an exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is communicated into the exhaust conduit which has an initial cross-sectional area. An initial flow rate corresponding to an initial flow velocity of the exhaust gas entering the exhaust conduit is determined. The initial flow rate and, thereby the initial flow velocity of the exhaust gas, increases or decreases based on an operating condition of the engine. The initial flow rate of the exhaust gas is compared with a predetermined threshold. If the initial flow rate of the exhaust gas is lower than the predetermined threshold, a cross-sectional area of the exhaust conduit is reduced. The reducing of the cross-sectional area causes the exhaust gas to have an adjusted flow velocity greater than the initial flow velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Johnson, Mihai Chiruta, John G. Buechler, Matthew K. Volmerding, Andrew J. Albers
  • Patent number: 9816421
    Abstract: An exhaust elbow includes an upstream sidewall defining an upstream portion of the exhaust elbow, a downstream sidewall defining a downstream portion of the exhaust elbow, and a deflector. The upstream portion is configured to receive an upstream exhaust gas. The deflector is coupled to the upstream sidewall of the exhaust elbow upstream and is configured to deflect a portion of the upstream exhaust gas received by the upstream portion of the exhaust elbow away from a region of an interior of the exhaust elbow into which an injected reductant from a dosing module is injected. The deflector may reduce and/or prevent formation of reductant deposits on a downstream sidewall. In some implementations, an exhaust assisted flow separator may also be included to direct a portion of the upstream exhaust gas received by the upstream portion of the exhaust elbow through a dosing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler K. Lorenz, Mihai Chiruta, James Klingbeil, Jeremy D. Harris
  • Patent number: 9650933
    Abstract: An exhaust assisted pipe assembly including an outer portion having an opening for receiving dosed reductant from a dosing module and an inner portion disposed within the outer portion. The inner portion defines a main flow path for receiving a first portion of a fluid from an upstream source, and the inner portion and the outer portion cooperatively define a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path is configured to direct a second portion of the fluid from the upstream source past the opening for receiving dosed reductant and into the main flow path to increase momentum of the dosed reductant into the main flow path. The second flow path is configured to direct a third portion of the fluid from the upstream source toward the dosed reductant to decrease the momentum of the dosed reductant in the main flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Lindsey R. Henry, Douglas A. Mitchell, Randy G. Zoran, George E. Mavroudis, Lauren A. Lynch
  • Patent number: 9644516
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system comprises a SCR system including at least one catalyst for decomposing constituents of an exhaust gas produced by an engine. An exhaust conduit is fluidly coupled to the SCR system and is structured to deliver the exhaust gas to the SCR system and defines an exhaust conduit opening on a sidewall thereof. A mounting plate is positioned within the opening and includes a plurality of fluid channels. At least one mounting plate opening is defined through the mounting plate downstream of an inlet of the plurality of fluid channels and in fluid communication therewith. The fluid channels are structured to receive and direct at least a pair of exhaust gas streams to a respective opening so that they arrive at the respective opening from different directions. The pair of exhaust gas streams combine with a reductant inserted into the opening before flowing into the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Z. Gerald Liu, Varjavan Dastoor
  • Patent number: 9638631
    Abstract: A system for species concentration spatial reconstruction for an exhaust system includes an emitter, a detector, and a controller. The emitter is coupled to a first portion of the exhaust system and tuned to a specific wavelength of a species to be measured. The detector is coupled to a second portion of the exhaust system opposite to the first portion such that the detector is positioned to detect a beam attenuation of a beam from the emitter. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of beam attenuation measurements from the detector and to generate a cross-sectional species concentration map based on the plurality of beam attenuation measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Mitchell, Mihai Chiruta
  • Publication number: 20170107877
    Abstract: A method for reducing reductant deposits in an exhaust conduit fluidly coupled to an engine comprises operating the engine to produce an exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is communicated into the exhaust conduit which has an initial cross-sectional area. An initial flow rate corresponding to an initial flow velocity of the exhaust gas entering the exhaust conduit is determined. The initial flow rate and, thereby the initial flow velocity of the exhaust gas, increases or decreases based on an operating condition of the engine. The initial flow rate of the exhaust gas is compared with a predetermined threshold. If the initial flow rate of the exhaust gas is lower than the predetermined threshold, a cross-sectional area of the exhaust conduit is reduced. The reducing of the cross-sectional area causes the exhaust gas to have an adjusted flow velocity greater than the initial flow velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Johnson, Mihai Chiruta, John G. Buechler, Matthew K. Volmerding, Andrew J. Albers
  • Publication number: 20170107882
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system comprises a SCR system including at least one catalyst for decomposing constituents of an exhaust gas produced by an engine. An exhaust conduit is fluidly coupled to the SCR system and is structured to deliver the exhaust gas to the SCR system and defines an exhaust conduit opening on a sidewall thereof. A mounting plate is positioned within the opening and includes a plurality of fluid channels. At least one mounting plate opening is defined through the mounting plate downstream of an inlet of the plurality of fluid channels and in fluid communication therewith. The fluid channels are structured to receive and direct at least a pair of exhaust gas streams to a respective opening so that they arrive at the respective opening from different directions. The pair of exhaust gas streams combine with a reductant inserted into the opening before flowing into the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Chiruta, Z. Gerald Liu, Varjavan Dastoor