Patents by Inventor Steven J. Small

Steven J. Small 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).

  • Dynamic cylinder deactivation life factor to modify cylinder deactivation strategy
    Patent number: 12209515
    Abstract: Systems and methods to extend a life of a component of a cylinder deactivation system are provided. A method includes initiating, by a controller, a CDA mode for an engine; determining, by the controller, a first cycle count for a first oil control solenoid of the CDA system; determining, by the controller, a second cycle count for a second oil control solenoid of the CDA system; comparing, by the controller, the first cycle count and the second cycle count; and modifying, by the controller, operation of the CDA mode for the engine based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Frazier, J. Steven Kolhouse, Steven J. Small, Louis Joseph Serrano
  • DYNAMIC CYLINDER DEACTIVATION LIFE FACTOR TO MODIFY CYLINDER DEACTIVATION STRATEGY
    Publication number: 20240183290
    Abstract: Systems and methods to extend a life of a component of a cylinder deactivation system are provided. A method includes initiating, by a controller, a CDA mode for an engine; determining, by the controller, a first cycle count for a first oil control solenoid of the CDA system; determining, by the controller, a second cycle count for a second oil control solenoid of the CDA system; comparing, by the controller, the first cycle count and the second cycle count; and modifying, by the controller, operation of the CDA mode for the engine based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicants: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Frazier, J. Steven Kolhouse, Steven J. Small, Louis Joseph Serrano
  • Dynamic cylinder deactivation life factor to modify cylinder deactivation strategy
    Patent number: 11933202
    Abstract: Systems and methods to extend a life of a component of a cylinder deactivation system are provided. A method includes generating, by a controller, an initial life factor for the component; initiating, by the controller, a CDA mode for an engine; determining, by the controller, an actual life factor for the component, the actual life factor determined by comparing a number of switching events of a cylinder in the CDA mode to a number of cycles of the cylinder in the CDA mode; comparing, by the controller, the actual life factor to the initial life factor; and modifying, by the controller based on the comparison, operation of the engine in the CDA mode to adjust the actual life factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Frazier, J. Steven Kolhouse, Steven J. Small, Louis Joseph Serrano
  • DYNAMIC CYLINDER DEACTIVATION LIFE FACTOR TO MODIFY CYLINDER DEACTIVATION STRATEGY
    Publication number: 20220364486
    Abstract: Systems and methods to extend a life of a component of a cylinder deactivation system are provided. A method includes generating, by a controller, an initial life factor for the component; initiating, by the controller, a CDA mode for an engine; determining, by the controller, an actual life factor for the component, the actual life factor determined by comparing a number of switching events of a cylinder in the CDA mode to a number of cycles of the cylinder in the CDA mode; comparing, by the controller, the actual life factor to the initial life factor; and modifying, by the controller based on the comparison, operation of the engine in the CDA mode to adjust the actual life factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicants: Cummins Inc., Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Frazier, J. Steven Kolhouse, Steven J. Small, Louis Joseph Serrano