Patents by Inventor Steven M. Bellinger

Steven M. Bellinger 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: 20250108807
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain with a prime mover, a transmission with a number of gears, and foundation brakes. The speed of the vehicle along a downhill route segment is automatically controlled toward a target speed by prioritizing the use of engine braking power and gear downshifting in the transmission over application of the vehicle's foundation brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 12152670
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for a clutch assembly for an automated manual transmission. The clutch assembly includes a dual power path. One power path connects a prime mover to the automated manual transmission via a wet clutch, and a second power path connects one of the prime mover and the automated manual transmission to a grounded connection for synchronizing the speed thereof for a gear change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Publication number: 20240288063
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for determining a dynamic shift schedule for a system are provided. A method includes: determining, by a controller, a priority for a system based on data indicative of operation of the system; determining, by the controller, a shift point for the system based on the priority and at least one of a current gear, a current accelerator pedal position (APP), an acceleration vector, or a target gear; and taking, by the controller, an action based on the determined shift point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 12038052
    Abstract: A system comprises a powertrain including an engine configured to output torque to a driveline, and an electronic control system operatively coupled with the powertrain. The electronic control system is configured to determine an engine torque value, and control a component of the driveline in response to the engine torque value. The engine torque value may account for an effect of air-fuel ratio (AFR) on engine torque. The engine torque value may account for an effect of charge transport delay on engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Vasudev S. Karve, Ajinkya A. Gujar
  • Publication number: 20220356914
    Abstract: A system comprises a powertrain including an engine configured to output torque to a driveline, and an electronic control system operatively coupled with the powertrain. The electronic control system is configured to determine an engine torque value, and control a component of the driveline in response to the engine torque value. The engine torque value may account for an effect of air-fuel ratio (AFR) on engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Vasudev S. Karve, Ajinkya A. Gujar
  • Patent number: 11441468
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes an engine, a transmission including a torque converter, a clutch configured to selectably couple and decouple the torque converter, and a gearset, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment system. An electronic control system may be operatively coupled with the engine, the electronically controllable clutch, and the SCR exhaust aftertreatment system. The electronic control system is configured to evaluate whether an SCR catalyst temperature satisfies at least one minimum temperature criterion, in response to the SCR catalyst temperature satisfying the minimum temperature criterion, permit a neutral at stop operation wherein the electronically controllable clutch is controlled to selectably decouple the torque converter and the one or more gears at least in part in response to the vehicle system being in a stopped state, and in response to the SCR catalyst temperature not satisfying the minimum temperature criterion, prevent the neutral at stop operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Benjamin Bailey, Jonathan S. Stichter, Julio E. Munoz, Kalkidan Said
  • Publication number: 20220252154
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for a clutch assembly for an automated manual transmission. The clutch assembly includes a dual power path. One power path connects a prime mover to the automated manual transmission via a wet clutch, and a second power path connects one of the prime mover and the automated manual transmission to a grounded connection for synchronizing the speed thereof for a gear change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 11230969
    Abstract: A coolant diverter system and method of controlling coolant flow are provided. The coolant diverter system includes a coolant diverter body having a coolant inlet opening, a driveline retarder outlet opening and a bypass outlet opening. The coolant diverter system also includes a valve positioned in the coolant diverter body. The valve is configured in a first valve orientation to fluidly couple the coolant inlet opening to the driveline retarder outlet opening in isolation from the bypass outlet opening. The valve is configured in a second valve orientation to fluidly couple the coolant inlet opening to the driveline retarder outlet opening and the bypass outlet opening. The coolant diverter system also includes a valve controller configured to place the valve in the first valve orientation in response to activation of a driveline retarder coupled to the driveline retarder outlet opening for braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Richard D. Mason
  • Patent number: 11225899
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include method of controlling a fan to supplement engine braking, including determining that an engagement condition for the fan exists, interpreting an operating parameter of the fan, determining a modified operating parameter for the fan based on a predefined limit, operating the fan according to the modified operating parameter, and ceasing operation of the fan according to the modified operating parameter when a disengagement condition for the fan exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Rodriguez, Steven M. Bellinger, Gregory E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210355852
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes an engine, a transmission including a torque converter, a clutch configured to selectably couple and decouple the torque converter, and a gearset, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment system. An electronic control system may be operatively coupled with the engine, the electronically controllable clutch, and the SCR exhaust aftertreatment system. The electronic control system is configured to evaluate whether an SCR catalyst temperature satisfies at least one minimum temperature criterion, in response to the SCR catalyst temperature satisfying the minimum temperature criterion, permit a neutral at stop operation wherein the electronically controllable clutch is controlled to selectably decouple the torque converter and the one or more gears at least in part in response to the vehicle system being in a stopped state, and in response to the SCR catalyst temperature not satisfying the minimum temperature criterion, prevent the neutral at stop operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Benjamin Bailey, Jonathan S. Stichter, Julio E. Munoz, Kalkidan Said
  • Patent number: 11028737
    Abstract: A retention member is configured to be supported within a cylinder head of an engine and includes a body portion and a plurality of arms. The body portion has an opening configured to receive a fuel injector of the engine. Additionally, the plurality of arms extends from the body portion and is configured to be positioned over a portion of a cross-head of the engine. The plurality of arms is spaced apart from the cross-head during routine operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Mitchum, Steven M. Bellinger, Richard Gonzalez, Glen T. Haegele, Troy Boggs
  • Publication number: 20210003083
    Abstract: System, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for improving vehicle acceleration performance. One or more devices of the internal combustion engine system are controlled in response to a torque transition event indicator and/or one or more vehicle acceleration event indicators indicating a vehicle acceleration event is imminent to improve vehicle response during acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Publication number: 20200355094
    Abstract: A retention member is configured to be supported within a cylinder head of an engine and includes a body portion and a plurality of arms. The body portion has an opening configured to receive a fuel injector of the engine. Additionally, the plurality of arms extends from the body portion and is configured to be positioned over a portion of a cross-head of the engine. The plurality of arms is spaced apart from the cross-head during routine operation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory J. Mitchum, Steven M. Bellinger, Richard Gonzalez, Glen T. Haegele, Troy Boggs
  • Publication number: 20200277886
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include method of controlling a fan to supplement engine braking, including determining that an engagement condition for the fan exists, interpreting an operating parameter of the fan, determining a modified operating parameter for the fan based on a predefined limit, operating the fan according to the modified operating parameter, and ceasing operation of the fan according to the modified operating parameter when a disengagement condition for the fan exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Rodriguez, Steven M. Bellinger, Gregory E. Smith
  • Patent number: 9694826
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising vehicle gear shifting controls are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising operating a vehicle system comprising an engine structured to output torque, a transmission structured to receive torque from the engine and output torque to one or more ground contacting wheels, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the engine and the transmission. The electronic control system is structured to estimate an engine load parameter using one or more dynamically determined vehicle operating parameters, set an engine load threshold using the engine load parameter, evaluate a current engine load relative to the engine load threshold, and selectably perform an operation to control or influence a shifting event in response to the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anant Puri, Steven M. Bellinger, Vivek A. Sujan, Kenneth Follen
  • Publication number: 20170174220
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising vehicle gear shifting controls are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising operating a vehicle system comprising an engine structured to output torque, a transmission structured to receive torque from the engine and output torque to one or more ground contacting wheels, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the engine and the transmission. The electronic control system is structured to estimate an engine load parameter using one or more dynamically determined vehicle operating parameters, set an engine load threshold using the engine load parameter, evaluate a current engine load relative to the engine load threshold, and selectably perform an operation to control or influence a shifting event in response to the evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Anant Puri, Steven M. Bellinger, Vivek A. Sujan, Kenneth Follen
  • Publication number: 20170037777
    Abstract: A coolant diverter system and method of controlling coolant flow are provided. The coolant diverter system includes a coolant diverter body having a coolant inlet opening, a driveline retarder outlet opening and a bypass outlet opening. The coolant diverter system also includes a valve positioned in the coolant diverter body. The valve is configured in a first valve orientation to fluidly couple the coolant inlet opening to the driveline retarder outlet opening in isolation from the bypass outlet opening. The valve is configured in a second valve orientation to fluidly couple the coolant inlet opening to the driveline retarder outlet opening and the bypass outlet opening. The coolant diverter system also includes a valve controller configured to place the valve in the first valve orientation in response to activation of a driveline retarder coupled to the driveline retarder outlet opening for braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. BELLINGER, Richard D. MASON
  • Patent number: 8967091
    Abstract: A thermostat housing is disclosed. The thermostat housing comprises a housing member. The housing member includes an inlet and an outlet to allow coolant to flow therethrough. The thermostat housing also includes least two thermostats within the housing member. The at least two thermostats have staggered opening temperatures. One of the at least two thermostats opens and controls a flow rate of coolant through the housing when the coolant is within a first predetermined temperature range. A single loop of coolant is being controlled within the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Douglas A. Pulskamp
  • Patent number: D704740
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Jae Hee Lee, Richard D. Mason, Mathew A. Clark, Nathaniel P. Hassall
  • Patent number: D736261
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Jae Hee Lee, Richard D. Mason, Mathew A. Clark, Nathaniel P. Hassall