Patents by Inventor Daniel J. O'Connor

Daniel J. O'Connor 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: 11840996
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of controlling an ignitor are disclosed. A method includes: receiving, by a controller, fuel quality data regarding a fuel for a spark-ignition engine; determining, by the controller, a fuel quality metric based on the fuel quality data; and controlling, by the controller, an ignition energy characteristic of an ignitor in response to the fuel quality metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. O'Connor, Philipe F. Saad
  • 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: 20230129719
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of controlling an ignitor are disclosed. A method includes: receiving, by a controller, fuel quality data regarding a fuel for a spark-ignition engine; determining, by the controller, a fuel quality metric based on the fuel quality data; and controlling, by the controller, an ignition energy characteristic of an ignitor in response to the fuel quality metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. O'Connor, Philipe F. Saad
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11536239
    Abstract: A method of controlling an ignitor for a spark-ignition engine includes receiving, by a controller, at least one of fuel quality data regarding a fuel for the spark-ignition engine or a characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine. The method additionally includes controlling, by the controller, an ignition energy characteristic of the ignitor in response to the at least one of the fuel quality data regarding the fuel or the characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. O'Connor, Philipe F. Saad
  • Patent number: 11519348
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an internal combustion engine having one or more non-dedicated cylinders and one or more dedicated EGR cylinders configured to provide EGR to the engine via an EGR loop, a first spark plug coupled to each of the one or more non-dedicated cylinders, and a second spark plug coupled to each of the one or more dedicated EGR cylinders, wherein the second spark plug has a physical or dimensional characteristic that is different from the first spark plug. In certain forms each of the non-dedicated cylinders has only one of a first type of spark plug and each of the dedicated EGR cylinders has only one of a second type of spark plug. One or more of the characteristics that may vary between the first and second types of spark plugs include spark gap, electrode diameter, heat range, and ion sensing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, David J. Stroh, Daniel J. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20220209541
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to self-synchronizing devices that can connect and self-synchronizes voltage, frequency and phase of two or more power sources. The disclosed embodiments enable a modular power system to serve as the primary or secondary source of power for applications requiring loads from a few kilowatts (kW) to the scale of megawatts (MW). The modular system is generalized to use either a single or multiple power generation sources at once, with the ability to connect and self-synchronize voltage, frequency, and phase of a variety of different types of power sources. Power control systems designed to function with self-synchronizing technology enable a modular power system to satisfy a wide variety of needs, simplifying the existing method of achieving synchronization and enabling new features of resiliency and expandability. The self-synchronization can be implemented into a wide variety of electronics including but not limited to inverters and generator controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory S. Mowry, Zachary J. Emond, Daniel J. O'Connor, Victoria D. Farias, Carol D. Mikhael
  • Publication number: 20220074379
    Abstract: A method of controlling an ignitor for a spark-ignition engine includes receiving, by a controller, at least one of fuel quality data regarding a fuel for the spark-ignition engine or a characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine. The method additionally includes controlling, by the controller, an ignition energy characteristic of the ignitor in response to the at least one of the fuel quality data regarding the fuel or the characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Daniel J. O'Connor, Philipe F. Saad
  • Patent number: 11228183
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to self-synchronizing devices that can connect and self-synchronizes voltage, frequency and phase of two or more power sources. The disclosed embodiments enable a modular power system to serve as the primary or secondary source of power for applications requiring loads from a few kilowatts (kW) to the scale of megawatts (MW). The modular system is generalized to use either a single or multiple power generation sources at once, with the ability to connect and self-synchronize voltage, frequency, and phase of a variety of different types of power sources. Power control systems designed to function with self-synchronizing technology enable a modular power system to satisfy a wide variety of needs, simplifying the existing method of achieving synchronization and enabling new features of resiliency and expandability. The self-synchronization can be implemented into a wide variety of electronics including but not limited to inverters and generator controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Renew Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Mowry, Zachary J. Emond, Daniel J. O'Connor, Victoria D. Farias, Carol D. Mikhael
  • Publication number: 20210328437
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to self-synchronizing devices that can connect and self-synchronizes voltage, frequency and phase of two or more power sources. The disclosed embodiments enable a modular power system to serve as the primary or secondary source of power for applications requiring loads from a few kilowatts (kW) to the scale of megawatts (MW). The modular system is generalized to use either a single or multiple power generation sources at once, with the ability to connect and self-synchronize voltage, frequency, and phase of a variety of different types of power sources. Power control systems designed to function with self-synchronizing technology enable a modular power system to satisfy a wide variety of needs, simplifying the existing method of achieving synchronization and enabling new features of resiliency and expandability. The self-synchronization can be implemented into a wide variety of electronics including but not limited to inverters and generator controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory S. Mowry, Zachary J. Emond, Daniel J. O'Connor, Victoria D. Farias, Carol D. Mikhael
  • Patent number: 11118555
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for igniting fuel for an internal combustion engine, an ignition system include a first ignition device associated with a pre-combustion chamber of a cylinder and a second ignition device associated with a main combustion chamber of the cylinder. An engine control unit is operably connected to both the engine and the ignition system to ignite fuel for the cylinder with the first ignition device independently of igniting fuel with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines an occurrence of a combustion condition and in response thereto (i) ignites fuel for combustion with both the first and the second ignition devices or (ii) ignites fuel for combustion only with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines a second combustion condition and in response thereto ignites fuel only with the first ignition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. O'Connor, Robin J. Bremmer, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200323377
    Abstract: This application relates to a system and methods for the securing of material objects. The system can include a locking device. The material object can be attached to the locking device. The system can further include a cable for the ventilation device and material object. The system can be attached and detached to a door without the need for tools and can be compatible with preexisting delivery boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventor: Daniel J O'CONNOR
  • Publication number: 20200309083
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for igniting fuel for an internal combustion engine, an ignition system include a first ignition device associated with a pre-combustion chamber of a cylinder and a second ignition device associated with a main combustion chamber of the cylinder. An engine control unit is operably connected to both the engine and the ignition system to ignite fuel for the cylinder with the first ignition device independently of igniting fuel with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines an occurrence of a combustion condition and in response thereto (i) ignites fuel for combustion with both the first and the second ignition devices or (ii) ignites fuel for combustion only with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines a second combustion condition and in response thereto ignites fuel only with the first ignition device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel J. O'Connor, Robin J. Bremmer, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • 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: 20200072142
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an internal combustion engine having one or more non-dedicated cylinders and one or more dedicated EGR cylinders configured to provide EGR to the engine via an EGR loop, a first spark plug coupled to each of the one or more non-dedicated cylinders, and a second spark plug coupled to each of the one or more dedicated EGR cylinders, wherein the second spark plug has a physical or dimensional characteristic that is different from the first spark plug. In certain forms each of the non-dedicated cylinders has only one of a first type of spark plug and each of the dedicated EGR cylinders has only one of a second type of spark plug. One or more of the characteristics that may vary between the first and second types of spark plugs include spark gap, electrode diameter, heat range, and ion sensing capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, David J. Stroh, Daniel J. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20190381160
    Abstract: This invention provides a system of providing and creating personalized immunotherapeutic compositions for a subject having a disease or condition, including therapeutic immunotherapy delivery vectors and methods of making the same comprising gene expression constructs expressing peptides associated with one or more neo-epitopes or peptides containing mutations that are specific to a subject's cancer or unhealthy tissue. A delivery vector of this invention includes bacterial vectors including Listeria bacterial vectors; or viral vectors, peptide immunotherapy vectors; or DNA immunotherapy vectors, comprising one or more fusion proteins comprising one or more peptides comprising one or more neo-epitopes present in disease-bearing biological samples obtained from the subject. This invention also provides methods of using the same for inducing an immune response against a disease or condition, including a tumor or cancer, or an infection, or an autoimmune disease or an organ transplant rejection in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Advaxis, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert PETIT, Kyle PERRY, Michael F. PRINCIOTTA, Daniel J O'CONNOR
  • Publication number: 20190284988
    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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    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: 9225151
    Abstract: A spark plug, and associated systems, for an internal combustion engine includes a central electrode that terminates at a first distal end surface defined about a central axis. The spark plug also includes at least one outer electrode that terminates at a second distal end surface. The at least one outer electrode at least partially laterally surrounds the central electrode such that the second distal end surface is radially offset relative to the central electrode and a lateral gap is defined between the central electrode and the at least one outer electrode. The spark plug include features that force or redirect movement of the flow of the fresh air-fuel mixture through the lateral gap to help to purge or move the residual exhaust gases left over from a previous combustion event out of the lateral gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: CUMMINS IP, INC.
    Inventors: Keith J. Douglas, Xiao Qin, Daniel J. O'Connor, Premjee Sasidharan