Patents Represented by Attorney James M. Durlacher
  • Patent number: 5429086
    Abstract: A pushrod-operated-valve-in-head six cylinder engine has two intake valves per cylinder. Five of the seven air intake runners in the cylinder head are arranged so that at least one intake valve port of each cylinder adjacent to another cylinder shares an intake runner with an intake valve port of the adjacent cylinder. Each of the shared runners feeds one valve port of each of two adjacent cylinders. The firing order of the engine is such that intake strokes for the adjacent cylinders are separated in time. Therefore, only one of the sharing cylinders at a time is supplied with air by the shared runner. In addition, because each runner is supplying only one valve per cylinder, there are two runners feeding each cylinder. For each cylinder, one port is the tangential type, and the other is the helical type. In one embodiment, the valve port connections to the shared runners are arranged for variable swirl production, by pairing the same style intake ports on each runner e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Glackin
  • Patent number: 5402643
    Abstract: An oil drain tube disposed and connected between a turbocharger and an engine block for providing a fluid communication conduit includes a hollow tubular member having a first insertion end which is receivable within an engine block bore, and a second opposite mounting end having a flange for attaching the oil drain tube to the turbocharger. The insertion end of the oil drain tube having a sealing portion which includes two annular grooves with O-rings circumferentially mounted therein, and a stop portion defined by an annular protuberance formed adjacent to the annular grooves of the tubular member. A leak proof connection is provided at the engine block. The protuberance formed on the drain tube abuts the engine block when the drain tube is connected thereto and limits the axial insertion of the drain tube into the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry C. Buchanan, Donna M. Virnig
  • Patent number: 5401223
    Abstract: A control system for controlling automatic shifting of a manual/automatic transmission is disclosed including a cruise control system and an auto-shift mode for controlling automatic upshift and downshift operations between the top two gears of a heavy duty truck transmission. Certain failures of equipment or incorrect driving habits of operators are corrected for with algorithms which prevent undesirable operating conditions which compromise the acceptability of an electronically controlled heavy duty truck transmission equipped vehicle. The mechanism by which auto-shift operation of the transmission is requested is also compared with parameters such as vehicle speed and engine speed in order to determine whether gears should be engaged or disengaged, the gears being those subject to auto-shift control of the system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. White, Larry R. Webber, Richard E. Kleine, Edwin A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5393277
    Abstract: An engine-transmission control system is disclosed which provides for variable shift points of a manual/automatic transmission during cruise control and non-cruise control operation of the vehicle. Vehicle speed, engine speed, and engine loading are variables used individually or in combination in order to determine when shifting of the automatically controllable gear ratio operation states of the manual/automatic transmission will occur. In addition, the system includes modes of operation which include algorithms for determining varying gear shift points so that gear shifting of the top two gears occurs at various vehicle speeds dependent upon input parameters to the cruise control system and additionally in response to which cruise control mode of operation is currently selected by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. White, Larry R. Webber, Dean S. Anderson, Lloyd E. Flory, Jon A. Steeby
  • Patent number: 5393276
    Abstract: An engine compression brake control device is disclosed. The control device is electronic and prevents activation of the engine compression brakes during operating states wherein undesirable conditions will result if the engine brakes are active. The electronic control device monitors various conditions and activates the engine brakes only if all of the following conditions are simultaneously detected: a valid gear ratio is detected; the driver has requested or enabled engine compression brake operation; the clutch pedal is out; the throttle is at a minimum engine speed position; and the electronic controller is not presently attempting to execute an electronically controlled final drive gear shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. White, Larry R. Webber, Dean S. Anderson, Jon A. Steeby
  • Patent number: 5386698
    Abstract: A control system and method for governing turbocharged internal combustion engines is disclosed including an electronic control unit, a fuel flow control valve, an engine speed sensor, and a bypass valve to control exhaust gas flow through an exhaust bypass conduit. When engine speed is above a first predetermined engine speed, the electronic control unit controls the bypass valve to regulate exhaust gas flow through the bypass conduit, thereby limiting exhaust gas flow through the turbocharger. When the engine speed reaches a second, predetermined engine speed value that is higher than the first predetermined engine speed value, the electronic control unit completely opens the bypass valve allowing virtually total bypass of the turbocharger, and limits fuel flow to the engine by controlling the fuel flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Mostafa M. Kamel
  • Patent number: 5385373
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, self-locking cover for mechanical and electrical connections includes a unitary, molded plastic member including two generally semi-cylindrical pockets connected by a first living hinge and including snap-fit, self-locking, tamper-evident means of connection. Integrally therewith and extending from one pocket half are a pair of generally cylindrical receptacles arranged so as to provide three gripping fingers. Integrally therewith and extending from the other enclosing portion are a pair of stem members which are initially oriented in a non-engaging orientation and which are connected by means of a second living hinge. As the enclosing portions are flexed and closed around the object to be encased and protected, the stem members are flexed into a controlled engaging orientation so as to be brought into alignment with the female receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Vaughn R. Love
  • Patent number: 5379913
    Abstract: A flange fitting for attaching to the lid of a drum includes a seal tube having a generally cylindrical main body with a relatively thin wall arid an outwardly radiating frustoconical lip extension. Also included as part of the flange fitting is a standard drum plug flange having a generally cylindrical main body and an outwardly radiating, frustoconical lip. The drum plug flange is sized and shaped so as to fit within the seal tube such that the lip extension and the lip are generally coextensive with each other. These two components are then able to be anchored into the lid of the drum through a punch press operation which simultaneously clamps and crimps both the lip and lip extension into a raised boss recess thereby precluding any preassembly, such as by welding, of the seal tube and drum flange prior to assembly to the drum lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Rieke, David S. Rieke