Patents by Inventor Adam C. Cecil

Adam C. Cecil 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: 12234753
    Abstract: A valve train assembly is provided for modifying a lift of at least one intake valve and/or exhaust valve. The valve train assembly includes at least one tappet that is housed in a rocker housing with at least one rocker lever. The at least one tappet is engaged to an actuator that is operable to change the tappet from a first configuration in which all cam lobe motion is imparted to the rocker lever for opening and closing the intake and/or exhaust valve, to a second configuration in which less than all motion of the cam lobe is transferred to the rocker lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20250052220
    Abstract: Low-cost fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines, including vapor fuel engines are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Anthony K. Perfetto, Samuel C. Geckler, Adam C. Cecil
  • Patent number: 12218393
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a fuel cell product assembly comprising a foundational frame assembly comprising a frame rail, a hot box cover removably supported by the foundational frame assembly to define a hot box area, one or more fuel cell assemblies housed in the hot box area and configured to produce electricity, and plumbing configured to supply a fuel or an oxidant to the one or more fuel cell assemblies, wherein at least a portion of the plumbing routes through and is protected by a longitudinal section of the frame rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventors: Darren B. Hickey, Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20240401506
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an engine with a plurality of pistons housed in respective ones of a plurality of cylinders. A valve train is provided for opening and closing intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders during nominal engine operations. The valve train is also configured for cylinder deactivation and to provide one or more selected lift profiles for opening and closing of the intake and/or exhaust valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Gregory J. MITCHUM, Adam C. Cecil, David M. BARNES, Scott R. BARDAKJY, Nathaniel P. HASSALL
  • Patent number: 12158131
    Abstract: Low-cost fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines, including vapor fuel engines are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony K. Perfetto, Samuel C. Geckler, Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20240360777
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an engine with a plurality of pistons housed in respective ones of a plurality of cylinders. A valve train is provided for opening and closing intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders during nominal engine operations. The valve train is also configured for cylinder deactivation and to provide one or more selected lift profiles for opening and closing of the intake and/or exhaust valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Gregory J. MITCHUM, Adam C. Cecil, David M. BARNES, Scott R. BARDAKJY, Nathaniel P. HASSALL
  • Patent number: 12025034
    Abstract: A camshaft assembly for attachment to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the camshaft assembly includes a one-piece camshaft bearing cap having an internal bearing surface sized to receive a portion of a camshaft therein, the internal bearing surface configured to support the portion of the camshaft between 180 degrees and 360 degrees circumferentially. The one-piece camshaft bearing cap is removable from the camshaft to enable line of sight access by an operator to the cylinder head. The internal bearing surface has oil supply grooves fluidly coupled to drillings for operation of a cam phaser assembled with a drive member and the camshaft. Head bolts are used to attach the cylinder head to the engine and are accessible upon removal of the camshaft bearing cap and camshaft. Standard camshaft bearing caps can be assembled with the camshaft and the cylinder head at various attachment points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20240125253
    Abstract: A valve actuation system comprises a first arm having a first arm contact surface and operatively connected to a valve actuation motion. A second arm having a second arm contact surface is operatively connected to the at least one engine valve. A discrete lost motion device is provided that is controllable between a first, motion conveying state and a second, motion absorbing state. The discrete lost motion devices comprises a plunger contact surface and a housing contact surface. The housing contact surface is configured to engage one of the first or second arm contact surfaces, and the plunger contact surface is configured to engage another of the first and the second arm contact surfaces. The first and second arm contact surfaces, the housing contact surface and the first plunger contact surface are configured to support the discrete lost motion device between the first arm and the second arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Bruce A. SWANBON, Justin D. BALTRUCKI, Robb JANAK, G. Michael GRON, JR., John MANDELL, Marc B. SILVA, Tyler HINES, Matei ALEXANDRU, Austen P. METSACK, Gabriel S. ROBERTS, P. Douglas AUBIN, Nathaniel P. HASSALL, John Jerl PURCELL, III, Adam C. CECIL, David M. BARNES
  • Patent number: 11959412
    Abstract: Pistons and piston assemblies for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston assembly includes a piston coupled to a connecting rod with a piston pin. The piston pin includes a non-circular outer cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20240084771
    Abstract: Low-cost fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines, including vapor fuel engines are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Anthony K. Perfetto, Samuel C. Geckler, Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20230272726
    Abstract: A valve train assembly is provided for modifying a lift of at least one intake valve and/or exhaust valve. The valve train assembly includes at least one tappet that is housed in a rocker housing with at least one rocker lever. The at least one tappet is engaged to an actuator that is operable to change the tappet from a first configuration in which all cam lobe motion is imparted to the rocker lever for opening and closing the intake and/or exhaust valve, to a second configuration in which less than all motion of the cam lobe is transferred to the rocker lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20230264672
    Abstract: In a system having a hybrid powertrain having a piston internal combustion engine, and a motor/generator, and the motor generator being coupleable to a clutch and thereby to a gearbox, the engine further being equipped with a valvetrain control system operable to change the engine valve operation between a first mode in which the engine can operate in a conventional internal combustion mode and a second mode in which pumping losses are reduced when the engine is not operating in a conventional internal combustion mode. This allows it to be rotated without generating power, in a hybrid mode, with minimal losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Chunyi Xia, Andrew W. Osburn, David B. Snyder, Adam C. Cecil, Anant Puri, Ming-Feng Hsieh, Timothy Shipp
  • Patent number: 11698033
    Abstract: A variable valve timing assembly is provided for extending a duration of an intake valve opening. The variable valve timing assembly includes an intake rocker mounted on a pedestal and operable by a cam lobe to open and close the intake valve. The intake rocker includes a lever extension, and a holding member in the pedestal is lockable in position by a hydraulic circuit in the pedestal to contact the lever extension of the intake rocker and hold the intake valve in the open position. A reset pin in the pedestal is actuatable by the cam lobe to release the holding member to allow the intake valve to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Ins.
    Inventors: Adam C. Cecil, Richard J. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20230170512
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a fuel cell product assembly comprising a foundational frame assembly comprising a frame rail, a hot box cover removably supported by the foundational frame assembly to define a hot box area, one or more fuel cell assemblies housed in the hot box area and configured to produce electricity, and plumbing configured to supply a fuel or an oxidant to the one or more fuel cell assemblies, wherein at least a portion of the plumbing routes through and is protected by a longitudinal section of the frame rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Darren B. Hickey, Adam C. Cecil
  • Patent number: 11649757
    Abstract: Systems and devices are disclosed for controlling fluid flow to piston cooling nozzles with a fluid flow control device configured to open when an internal combustion engine requires piston cooling at high speed but remains open for a period of time after the engine speed drops below a threshold to prevent heat soak damage to the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Dods, Nathaniel P. Hassall, Adam C. Cecil, Aaron S. Quinton
  • Patent number: 11512653
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an engine with a plurality of pistons housed in respective ones of a plurality of cylinders, an air intake system to provide air to the plurality of cylinders through respective ones of a plurality of intake valves, an exhaust system to release exhaust gas from the plurality of cylinders through respective one of a plurality of exhaust valves. A valve train is provided for cylinder deactivation of a first part of the plurality of cylinders and compression release braking on a second part of the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Anshul Shambhav, Adam C. Cecil, Ryan Edward Schultz
  • Publication number: 20220356834
    Abstract: Pistons and piston assemblies for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston assembly includes a piston coupled to a connecting rod with a piston pin. The piston pin includes a non-circular outer cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventor: Adam C. Cecil
  • Patent number: 11396284
    Abstract: A system for diagnosing engine braking performance of an engine comprising a plurality of cylinders comprises an exhaust manifold pressure sensor configured to detect an exhaust manifold pressure corresponding to exhaust gas emitted from a plurality of cylinders. A controller is configured to determine an exhaust manifold pressure value corresponding to at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders that is being used for engine braking, from an exhaust manifold pressure sensor signal received from the exhaust manifold pressure sensor. The controller is also configured to determine an engine braking value based on the exhaust manifold pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Cecil, Adrian P. Dale, Anshul Shambav, Anthony K. Perfetto, David J. Stroh, J. Steven Kolhouse, Ryan E. Schultz, Samuel C. Geckler, Thomas M. Yonushonis
  • Patent number: 11377985
    Abstract: A system includes an engine with a plurality of pistons housed in respective ones of a plurality of cylinders, an air intake system provides air to the plurality of cylinders through respective ones of a plurality of intake valves, an exhaust system to release exhaust gas from the plurality of cylinders through one of a plurality of exhaust valves, and a controller coupled to a sensor to control a switching tappet for compression release braking. Alternatively to a tappet, the system includes a roller finger follower controlling an opening and closing timing of exhaust valves, the roller finger follower has an inner roller follower arm adjacent an outer sliding follower, and a controller that in response to an engine braking request locks the inner roller follower arm with the outer sliding follower to contact a second cam lobe and open the exhaust valve during a compression stroke of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Cecil, Anshul Shambhav, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Publication number: 20220145791
    Abstract: Systems and devices are disclosed for controlling fluid flow to piston cooling nozzles with a fluid flow control device configured to open when an internal combustion engine requires piston cooling at high speed but remains open for a period of time after the engine speed drops below a threshold to prevent heat soak damage to the pistons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: James A. Dods, Nathaniel P. Hassall, Adam C. Cecil, Aaron S. Quinton