Patents by Inventor J. Steven Kolhouse

J. Steven Kolhouse 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).

  • Publication number: 20210025298
    Abstract: A system includes a valve actuation system, a pre-lubrication pump coupled to a lubrication circuit and configured to provide oil to the valve actuation system, a catalyst for receiving and treating exhaust gasses, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify an engine start request and determine whether the catalyst temperature is below a first threshold value. In response to determining that the catalyst temperature is below the first threshold value, the controller actuates the pre-lubrication pump to direct lubricant to the valve actuation system, controls the valve actuation system to deactivate at least one cylinder of an engine, and, subsequent to deactivating the at least one cylinder of the engine, cranks the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Lyle E. Kocher
  • Publication number: 20210017918
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling operation of dual fuel engines are disclosed that regulate the fueling amounts provided by a first fuel and a second fuel during operation of the engine. The first fuel can be a liquid fuel and the second fuel can be a gaseous fuel. The fueling amounts are controlled to improve operational outcomes of the duel fuel engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: C. Larry Bruner, Phanindra V. Garimella, Geomy George, Timothy P. Lutz, J. Steven Kolhouse, Edmund P. Hodzen, Robert Charles Borregard, Mark A. Rosswurm, Axel Otto zur Loye
  • Publication number: 20210001703
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes an engine, a transmission, a differential, and a waste heat recovery (WHR) drive that converts thermal energy into mechanical and electrical energy. The WHR drive can include a WHR power unit structured to convert thermal energy into rotation of a WHR drive shaft. A motor/generator having a motor/generator shaft can selectively operate as a motor or a generator. A mechanical linkage is structured to selectively link an output shaft to one of the WHR drive shaft and the motor/generator drive shaft independently of the other of the WHR drive shaft and the motor/generator drive shaft. The output shaft is selectively coupled to one of the engine, the transmission, or the differential. The vehicle system may also include a traction motor to provide drive to the vehicle. The output shaft can be selectively coupled to the traction motor or the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Manik Narula, Timothy C. Ernst, Michael J. Ruth, Jonathan A. Dickson, J. Steven Kolhouse, Nimish Bagayatkar
  • Publication number: 20200378324
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed that include a divided exhaust engine with at least one primary exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder and a plurality of non-primary EGR cylinders. The systems, apparatus and methods control the EGR fraction by deactivation of one or more of the cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Jennifer Kay Light-Holets, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, J. Steven Kolhouse, Vivek Anand Sujan
  • Publication number: 20200361444
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving fuel economy and reducing emissions of a vehicle with an electric motor, an engine, an energy storage device, and a controller are disclosed. The method includes obtaining current state information including a current hybrid control surface, and determining a target hybrid control surface for the vehicle based on the current state information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Jeffrey A. Green, Thomas M. Yonushonis, Timothy J. Proctor, Daniel R. Dempsey, David W. Ochs, Thomas R. Marsh, James R. Nebergall, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 10815913
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling operation of dual fuel engines are disclosed that regulate the fuelling amounts provided by a first fuel and a second fuel during operation of the engine. The first fuel can be a liquid fuel and the second fuel can be a gaseous fuel. The fuelling amounts are controlled to improve operational outcomes of the duel fuel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: C. Larry Bruner, Phanindra V. Garimella, Geomy George, Timothy P. Lutz, J. Steven Kolhouse, Edmund P. Hodzen, Robert Charles Borregard, Mark A. Rosswurm, Axel Otto zur Loye
  • Patent number: 10815919
    Abstract: A system for controlling combustion misfire in an engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, at least a portion of the plurality of cylinders receiving recirculated exhaust gas, comprises a controller structured to detect a combustion misfire in at least one of the cylinders of the plurality of cylinders. The controller is configured to retard a spark timing of at least the portion of the plurality of cylinders after a time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, David J. Stroh
  • Patent number: 10808670
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and techniques relating to engine start/stop functionality are disclosed. Automatic engine start/stop controls can be disabled during engine operating conditions in which one or more combustion parameters indicate a lack of combustion stability in one or more cylinders of the engine. Engine start/stop controls are enabled when the one or more combustion parameters satisfy combustion parameter conditions indicating combustion stability in the one or more cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Vivek A. Sujan, J. Steven Kolhouse, Robert E. Cochran, Eric A. Pyers
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10731259
    Abstract: A method of making a piston for an opposed-piston engine comprises providing a piston. The piston comprises a substantially cylindrical portion including a sidewall and a piston crown located at an end of the piston. The piston crown comprises an end surface structured to form a combustion chamber when disposed within a cylinder bore in cooperation with an end surface of a cooperating opposing piston. A bonding layer including a bonding material is deposited on the end surface of the piston crown using a high velocity oxy-fuel spray process. At least one thermal barrier layer comprising ceramic material is deposited above the bonding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Koeberlein, J. Steven Kolhouse, Michael Hays
  • Patent number: 10724467
    Abstract: A piston for an opposed-piston engine has a thermal barrier coating on at least the piston crown. The piston, at least the piston crown, is made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The thermal barrier coating includes a bonding material and a ceramic material. The bonding material can be present in the thermal barrier coating at an interface of the thermal barrier coating and the bulk of the piston material. The ceramic material can be a high R-Value material. In particular, the piston with a thermal barrier coating can be an exhaust piston for an opposed-piston engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Koeberlein, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Publication number: 20200191020
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system (100) is provided. At least one heat exchanger (104) is fluidically coupled to a waste heat source (102) and is configured for selectively recovering heat from the waste heat source (102) to heat a working fluid (108). An energy conversion device (112) is fluidically coupled to the at least one heat exchanger (104) and is configured to receive the working fluid (108) and to generate an energy for performing work or transferring the energy to another device using the heat recovered from the waste heat source (102). A condenser (122) is fluidically coupled to the energy conversion device (112) and configured to receive the working fluid (108) from the energy conversion device (112) and to condense the working fluid (108) into a liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Jared C. Delahanty, Timothy C. Ernst, J. Steven Kolhouse, Brett A. Boas
  • Publication number: 20200156613
    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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    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
  • Publication number: 20200149487
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed that include an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders operable to be deactivated while controlling a variable geometry turbocharger in response to the reduced number of active cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron William Beinborn, Adrian P. Dale, Lyle E. Kocher, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Publication number: 20200102900
    Abstract: A system for controlling combustion misfire in an engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, at least a portion of the plurality of cylinders receiving recirculated exhaust gas, comprises a controller structured to detect a combustion misfire in at least one of the cylinders of the plurality of cylinders. The controller is configured to retard a spark timing of at least the portion of the plurality of cylinders after a time delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, David J. Stroh
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10570841
    Abstract: A internal combustion engine system includes a gasoline internal combustion engine having a set of donor cylinders and a set of non-donor cylinders. The donor cylinders provide a proportion of the exhaust gas to an exhaust gas recirculation system and the remainder of the exhaust gas to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including a particulate filter. The non-donor cylinders also provide exhaust gas to exhaust gas aftertreatment system. An engine controller can determine whether the particulate filter needs regeneration, and in response, retard a spark timing of the non-donor cylinders by an amount that is different from an amount or retardation of the donor cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Samuel C. Geckler, David J. Stroh, Ying Yuan
  • Patent number: 10539086
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for starting an internal combustion engine under cold start conditions are disclosed. A combustible mixture is supplied to a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, where a number of ignition devices are operably connected with less than all of the plurality of cylinders so that at least one of the plurality of cylinders does not include an ignition device. In one form, only one ignition device is included in a bank of cylinders. In response to a cold start condition, a spark by the plurality of ignition devices is generated to cause ignition of the combustible mixture and start the internal combustion engine. In response to a normal or non-cold starting condition, the internal combustion engine is started by compression ignition where none of the ignition devices generate a spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Shankar Gupta, J. Steven Kolhouse
  • Publication number: 20200018244
    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. The internal combustion engine uses vacuum braking and/or compression release braking in response to one or more braking conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Anshul Shambhav, Thomas M. Yonushonis, Adrian P. Dale, Samuel C. Geckler, David J. Stroh, Adam C. Cecil, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Ryan Edward Schultz
  • Publication number: 20190338730
    Abstract: A fueling system is provided, comprising: a pressurized air source; a liquid fuel source; a dual injector coupled to the pressurized air source and the liquid fuel source, the dual injector being mounted to inject pressurized air from the pressurized air source and liquid fuel from the liquid fuel source into a combustion chamber of an engine cylinder; and a controller in communication with the dual injector, the controller being configured to cause the dual injector to inject pressurized air directly into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Anthony Kyle Perfetto