Patents by Inventor Alan C. Anderson

Alan C. Anderson 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: 11971127
    Abstract: A flow splitter may include an inlet, at least two outlets, and an internal vane comprising a first end corresponding to the inlet and a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees. Methods of dividing fluid flow are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: George Martin Tolhurst, Alan C. Anderson, John Robert Andras, Jonathan Bowen Wickliff
  • Patent number: 11933250
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel-air mixer includes an outer shell, an inner shell, and a fuel chamber rib. The outer shell includes an air intake and a fuel intake. The air intake is configured to receive air. The air intake has an air outlet. The fuel intake has a fuel inlet that is configured to receive fuel. The inner shell includes an inner shell intake that is configured to separately receive the air from the air outlet and the fuel from the fuel intake and to provide a gaseous fuel-air mixture. The inner shell cooperates with the outer shell to define a fuel intake collecting chamber that is configured to receive the fuel from the fuel inlet and a fuel intake concentrating chamber that is configured to receive the fuel from the fuel intake collecting chamber and provide the fuel to the inner shell intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: George Martin Tolhurst, Joshua Bradley Bettis, Alan C. Anderson, Jeremy Aaron Lackey
  • Patent number: 11799271
    Abstract: Spark plugs are disclosed that include electrode arrangements to improve the charge flow into and out of the annular volume around the insulator nose and a pre-chamber volume of a pre-chamber device, thus directing a purge of exhaust gases trapped in the annular volume to a space formed by the exterior of the spark plug body and the interior of the pre-chamber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Andrew Guy Kitchen, Daniel J. O'Connor, Alan C. Anderson, Nicholas James Welch, Jisang Sun
  • Publication number: 20230313760
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel-air mixer includes an outer shell, an inner shell, and a fuel chamber rib. The outer shell includes an air intake and a fuel intake. The air intake is configured to receive air. The air intake has an air outlet. The fuel intake has a fuel inlet that is configured to receive fuel. The inner shell includes an inner shell intake that is configured to separately receive the air from the air outlet and the fuel from the fuel intake and to provide a gaseous fuel-air mixture. The inner shell cooperates with the outer shell to define a fuel intake collecting chamber that is configured to receive the fuel from the fuel inlet and a fuel intake concentrating chamber that is configured to receive the fuel from the fuel intake collecting chamber and provide the fuel to the inner shell intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: George Martin Tolhurst, Joshua Bradley Bettis, Alan C. Anderson, Jeremy Aaron Lackey
  • Patent number: 11614027
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber assembly includes pre-chamber device body defining an annular plenum that is in fluid communication with the at least one bore that extends through the spark plug shell. The annular plenum is also in communication with at least one purging passage that extends from the annular plenum to an end surface of the pre-chamber device body. Residual exhaust gases in the annular volume of the spark plug are purged by fresh charge flow from the main combustion chamber as the piston approaches top dead center. The fresh charge flow that is provided to the annular plenum through the at least one purging passage and into the annular volume of the spark plug through the at least one bore through the spark plug shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Nicholas James Welch, David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, Xiao Qin, Andrew Guy Kitchen, Daniel J. O'Connor, Benjamín L. Olivas
  • Publication number: 20230020882
    Abstract: A flow splitter may include an inlet, at least two outlets, and an internal vane comprising a first end corresponding to the inlet and a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees. Methods of dividing fluid flow are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: George Martin Tolhurst, Alan C. Anderson, John Robert Andras, Jonathan Bowen Wickliff
  • Patent number: 11448350
    Abstract: A flow splitter may include an inlet, at least two outlets, and an internal vane comprising a first end corresponding to the inlet and a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees. Methods of dividing fluid flow are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: George Martin Tolhurst, Alan C. Anderson, John Robert Andras, Jonathan Bowen Wickliff
  • Patent number: 11434811
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber device for a spark ignition internal combustion engine is configured to engage a spark plug and be mounted to a cylinder head in communication with a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine. The combustion pre-chamber device includes any one or combination of a number of features to improve operating effectiveness, including extending the combustion operating range by improving cooling and optimizing the flow field inside the combustion pre-chamber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Xu Han, Xiao Qin, Alan C. Anderson, Nicholas James Welch
  • Patent number: 11174822
    Abstract: A compressor bypass reintroduction system includes a compressor intake manifold and a bypass conduit. The compressor intake manifold defines a fluid plenum. The compressor intake manifold is engageable with a compressor. The bypass conduit extends into the fluid plenum and includes an ejector line. The ejector line is configured to be substantially collinear with the compressor and to discharge flow toward the compressor. In some embodiments, an outlet of the ejector is disposed proximate to an outlet of the fluid plenum that discharges flow into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Lackey, Alan C. Anderson, Joshua Bradley Bettis, Steven L. Leffler, Dilip Ramachandran, John A. Rennekamp, Axel O. Zur Loye, Andrew Guy Kitchen, George Martin Tolhurst
  • Publication number: 20210184437
    Abstract: Spark plugs are disclosed that include electrode arrangements to improve the charge flow into and out of the annular volume around the insulator nose and a pre-chamber volume of a pre-chamber device, thus directing a purge of exhaust gases trapped in the annular volume to a space formed by the exterior of the spark plug body and the interior of the pre-chamber device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Andrew Guy Kitchen, Daniel J. O'Connor, Alan C. Anderson, Nicholas James Welch, Jisang Sun
  • Patent number: 10975759
    Abstract: A spark plug is disclosed that includes at least one bore extending through a shell of the spark plug in order to form a passageway between an annular volume around the spark plug insulator nose and a pre-chamber volume of a pre-chamber device, thus directing a purge of exhaust gases trapped in the annular volume to a space formed by the exterior of the spark plug body and the interior of the pre-chamber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Benjamin L. Olivas, Daniel J. O'Connor, Daniel Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, Xiao Qin, Nicholas James Welch, Andrew Guy Kitchen
  • Patent number: 10961900
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for introducing a compressor bypass flow that is returned from location that is downstream of a pressure source of an internal combustion engine to an air filter housing that is located upstream of the pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, Alan C. Anderson, Matthew Keith Sease, David P. Richter, Rahul Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 10883413
    Abstract: A pre-chamber assembly of an internal combustion engine comprises a pre-chamber housing and a plurality of nozzles extending through a portion of the pre-chamber housing. The plurality of nozzles are directed to one location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, John R. Andras
  • Publication number: 20200332705
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber device for a spark ignition internal combustion engine is configured to engage a spark plug and be mounted to a cylinder head in communication with a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine. The combustion pre-chamber device includes any one or combination of a number of features to improve operating effectiveness, including extending the combustion operating range by improving cooling and optimizing the flow field inside the combustion pre-chamber device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Xu Han, Xiao Qin, Alan C. Anderson, Nicholas James Welch
  • Publication number: 20200173593
    Abstract: A flow splitter may include an inlet, at least two outlets, and an internal vane comprising a first end corresponding to the inlet and a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees. Methods of dividing fluid flow are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: George Martin Tolhurst, Alan C. Anderson, John Robert Andras, Jonathan Bowen Wickliff
  • Patent number: 10648445
    Abstract: A shielded ignition configuration is provided comprising a non-shield spark plug having an electrode, a spark plug extender having first end configured to mount to the spark plug such that a conductor of the extender makes electrical contact with the spark plug electrode, a second end having a cup configured for connection to a secondary lead such that the conductor makes electrical contact with the secondary lead, and a flange, and at least one retainer configured to engage the flange and cause a lower surface of the flange to engage an upper surface of a valve cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, Irvin P. Rutan
  • Publication number: 20200123963
    Abstract: A pre-chamber assembly of an internal combustion engine comprises a pre-chamber housing and a plurality of nozzles extending through a portion of the pre-chamber housing. The plurality of nozzles are directed to one location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, John R. Andras
  • Patent number: 10598079
    Abstract: A method for combustion in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes mixing fuel and air to form a charge, flowing a first portion of the charge to the main chamber of an engine and a second portion of the charge to the pre-chamber volume of an engine, igniting the second portion of the charge in the pre-chamber volume, and delivering the ignited second portion of the charge to the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Alan C. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20200080466
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber assembly includes pre-chamber device body defining an annular plenum that is in fluid communication with the at least one bore that extends through the spark plug shell. The annular plenum is also in communication with at least one purging passage that extends from the annular plenum to an end surface of the pre-chamber device body. Residual exhaust gases in the annular volume of the spark plug are purged by fresh charge flow from the main combustion chamber as the piston approaches top dead center. The fresh charge flow that is provided to the annular plenum through the at least one purging passage and into the annular volume of the spark plug through the at least one bore through the spark plug shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Alan C. Anderson, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Nicholas James Welch, David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, Xiao Qin, Andrew Guy Kitchen, Daniel J. O'Connor, Benjamin L. Olivas
  • Publication number: 20190360390
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for introducing a compressor bypass flow that is returned from location that is downstream of a pressure source of an internal combustion engine to an air filter housing that is located upstream of the pressure source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, Alan C. Anderson, Matthew Keith Sease, David P. Richter, Rahul Bhardwaj