Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Dollmeyer

Thomas A. Dollmeyer 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: 11952930
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a vehicle system comprising an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system including a heating element, an electric machine configured to selectably operate as a motor or a generator, an inverter module including a plurality of inverter phase legs and an auxiliary leg, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the inverter module and the exhaust aftertreatment system. The electronic control system is configured to evaluate whether the electric machine is operating as a generator, selectably operate the plurality of inverter phase legs to rectify AC power received from the electric machine, evaluate whether to heat one or more components of the exhaust aftertreatment system, and selectably operate the auxiliary leg to provide rectified power from the inverter legs to one or more electrical heating elements thermally coupled with the one or more components exhaust aftertreatment system effective to heat the one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Subbarao Dakshina Murthy Bellur, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Jennifer Rumsey, Bradford K. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11926236
    Abstract: A system is provided for performing an automated power charging process for one or more electric vehicles using a processor. Included in the processor is a charge controller that calculates a capacity of a power grid system by communicating with the power grid system via a network, and a power demand level of the one or more electric vehicles to satisfy one or more mission requirements of each electric vehicle. The power demand level of the one or more electric vehicles is compared with the capacity of the power grid system. In response to the comparison, at least one charging mode is selected from an override mode and an internal combustion engine mode for performing the automated power charging process. The charge controller automatically charges the one or more electric vehicles based on the selected at least one charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer K. Light-Holets, Julie Furber, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Vivek A. Sujan, Vinoo Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210164372
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a vehicle system comprising an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system including a heating element, an electric machine configured to selectably operate as a motor or a generator, an inverter module including a plurality of inverter phase legs and an auxiliary leg, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the inverter module and the exhaust aftertreatment system. The electronic control system is configured to evaluate whether the electric machine is operating as a generator, selectably operate the plurality of inverter phase legs to rectify AC power received from the electric machine, evaluate whether to heat one or more components of the exhaust aftertreatment system, and selectably operate the auxiliary leg to provide rectified power from the inverter legs to one or more electrical heating elements thermally coupled with the one or more components exhaust aftertreatment system effective to heat the one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Subbarao Dakshina Murthy Bellur, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Jennifer Rumsey, Bradford K. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20210061121
    Abstract: A system is provided for performing an automated power charging process for one or more electric vehicles using a processor. Included in the processor is a charge controller that calculates a capacity of a power grid system by communicating with the power grid system via a network, and a power demand level of the one or more electric vehicles to satisfy one or more mission requirements of each electric vehicle. The power demand level of the one or more electric vehicles is compared with the capacity of the power grid system. In response to the comparison, at least one charging mode is selected from an override mode and an internal combustion engine mode for performing the automated power charging process. The charge controller automatically charges the one or more electric vehicles based on the selected at least one charging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jennifer K. Light-Holets, Julie Furber, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Vivek A. Sujan, Vinoo Thomas
  • Patent number: 9187100
    Abstract: A system includes a hybrid power train having an internal combustion engine and an electrical torque provider that combine to provide a total machine torque. The system includes a controller that functionally executes operations to control the hybrid power train. The controller interprets a total machine torque target value and determines a torque contribution for each of the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response. The controller interprets a supplemental torque contribution value, and controls the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response to the torque contributions and the supplemental torque contribution value. The supplemental torque contribution value is applied as a limiting value, a target value, or a prescribed ratio for one or both of the torque contributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Thomas Dollmeyer, Jean Patrick Rich
  • Patent number: 8322129
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an exhaust temperature for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method and system include determining a range of acceptable charge flows within the internal combustion engine to meet a desired exhaust temperature. The method and system further include controlling the charge flows to fall within the range. Control strategies to utilize the charge flow as a lever to control turbine outlet temperature are disclosed. These strategies utilize the inversion of the cylinder outlet temperature virtual sensor as well as a new turbine outlet temperature virtual sensor to determine the charge flow required to achieve the desired turbine outlet temperature given the current turbine inlet and outlet pressure, SOI, charge pressure, charge temperature, fueling, and engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Jennifer W. Rumsey, Larry J. Brackney, B. Jerry Song, J. Steve Wills, John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy
  • Publication number: 20120158225
    Abstract: A system includes a hybrid power train having an internal combustion engine and an electrical torque provider that combine to provide a total machine torque. The system includes a controller that functionally executes operations to control the hybrid power train. The controller interprets a total machine torque target value and determines a torque contribution for each of the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response. The controller interprets a supplemental torque contribution value, and controls the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response to the torque contributions and the supplemental torque contribution value. The supplemental torque contribution value is applied as a limiting value, a target value, or a prescribed ratio for one or both of the torque contributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Thomas Dollmeyer, Jean Patrick Rich
  • Patent number: 7484357
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining the reliability of an estimate such as particulate accumulation on a diesel particulate filter, weighing the estimate according to a function of its reliability, weighing a prediction of particulate accumulation on the filter according to a function of the estimate's reliability, and combining the weighted estimate and weighted prediction to determine a combined particulate load estimate. The degree of reliability can be expressed as a trust factor, and a function of the trust factor can be used in a low-pass filter of the estimate. The trust factor value depends on filter air flow and particulate distribution in one embodiment. Regeneration of the particulate filter may be initiated depending on the value of the combined particulate load estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Patrick J. Shook, J. Steve Wills, Joan Wills
  • Publication number: 20070186539
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an exhaust temperature for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method and system comprise determining a range of acceptable charge flows within the internal combustion engine to meet a desired exhaust temperature. The method and system further comprise controlling the charge flows to fall within the range. Control strategies to utilize the charge flow as a lever to control turbine outlet temperature are disclosed. These strategies utilize the inversion of the cylinder outlet temperature virtual sensor as well as a new turbine outlet temperature virtual sensor to determine the charge flow required to achieve the desired turbine outlet temperature given the current turbine inlet and outlet pressure, SOI, charge pressure, charge temperature, fueling, and engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Dollmeyer, Jennifer Rumsey, Larry Brackney, B. Song, J. Wills, John Chi, John Mulloy
  • Publication number: 20070186538
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an exhaust temperature for an internal combustion engine at idle and light load conditions is disclosed. The method and system comprise determining a desired range of fuel consumption within the internal combustion engine to meet a desired exhaust temperature. The method and system further comprise controlling the fuel consumption to fall within the range. Control strategies to elevate exhaust temperature at idle or light load conditions are disclosed. These strategies allow for exhaust temperatures for aftertreatment regeneration to be reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Dollmeyer, Jennifer Rumsey, Larry Brackney, Leon Lapointe
  • Patent number: 7231291
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing system feedback from combined input values in a sensor-based control system wherein the reliability of a sensor response is questionable under defined conditions. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to determine an output value. The apparatus may include an input module for receiving input from a sensor configured to provide a sensor response, an estimated expected response value, and a control module for determining an output value based on input from the sensor response and from the expected response value. To determine an output value, the sensor response and the expected response value may be weighted according to a predicted reliability of the sensor response or the model. The system may be embodied in an exhaust gas after-treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Patrick J. Shook, J. Steve Wills, Joan Wills
  • Publication number: 20070061064
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing system feedback from combined input values in a sensor-based control system wherein the reliability of a sensor response is questionable under defined conditions. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to determine an output value. The apparatus may include an input module for receiving input from a sensor configured to provide a sensor response, an estimated expected response value, and a control module for determining an output value based on input from the sensor response and from the expected response value. To determine an output value, the sensor response and the expected response value may be weighted according to a predicted reliability of the sensor response or the model. The system may be embodied in an exhaust gas after-treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Dollmeyer, Patrick Shook, J. Wills, Joan Wills
  • Publication number: 20070056272
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining the reliability of an estimate such as particulate accumulation on a diesel particulate filter, weighing the estimate according to a function of its reliability, weighing a prediction of particulate accumulation on the filter according to a function of the estimate's reliability, and combining the weighted estimate and weighted prediction to determine a combined particulate load estimate. The degree of reliability can be expressed as a trust factor, and a function of the trust factor can be used in a low-pass filter of the estimate. The trust factor value depends on filter air flow and particulate distribution in one embodiment. Regeneration of the particulate filter may be initiated depending on the value of the combined particulate load estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Dollmeyer, Patrick Shook, J. Wills, Joan Wills
  • Patent number: 7069171
    Abstract: A turbocharger speed controller includes a rising rate limiter having an input receiving a turbocharger speed signal and an output producing a rate limited turbocharger speed signal, a high envelope filter having an input receiving the rate limited turbocharger speed signal and an output producing a filtered and rate limited turbocharger speed signal, a turbocharger speed control signal generator having an input receiving the filtered and rate limited turbocharger speed signal and an output producing a turbocharger speed control signal based on comparison of the filtered and rate limited turbocharger speed signal with a desired turbocharger speed, and a swallowing capacity control mechanism responsive to the turbocharger speed control signal to vary a swallowing capacity of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Yun Wang, Charles Wu, Thomas A. Dollmeyer
  • Patent number: 6954693
    Abstract: A system for controlling exhaust emissions produced by an internal combustion engine includes an engine controller having an emission manager configured to produce a base emission level cap command, corresponding to a maximum allowable emission level of the engine, as a function of at least altitude and ambient temperature. The emission manager may also include one or more auxiliary emission control devices (AECDs), and the emission manager is further operable in such cases to determine a maximum allowable emission level associated with each active AECD. A final emission level cap command is determined as a function of the base emission level cap command and the maximum allowable emission level associated with each active AECD. The emission manager is further operable to produce a protection state data structure that includes information relating to the operational status of each AECD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Brackney, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, George A. Brunemann
  • Publication number: 20050050878
    Abstract: A turbocharger speed controller includes a rising rate limiter having an input receiving a turbocharger speed signal and an output producing a rate limited turbocharger speed signal, a high envelope filter having an input receiving the rate limited turbocharger speed signal and an output producing a filtered and rate limited turbocharger speed signal, a turbocharger speed control signal generator having an input receiving the filtered and rate limited turbocharger speed signal and an output producing a turbocharger speed control signal based on comparison of the filtered and rate limited turbocharger speed signal with a desired turbocharger speed, and a swallowing capacity control mechanism responsive to the turbocharger speed control signal to vary a swallowing capacity of the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Yue Wang, Charles Wu, Thomas Dollmeyer
  • Patent number: 6837227
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for estimating the mass flow of recirculated exhaust gas (EGR) from an exhaust manifold to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine via an EGR conduit disposed therebetween and a fraction of EGR attributable to a mass of charge flow entering the intake manifold. An engine controller is responsive to current values of various combinations of the engine exhaust temperature (ETE), intake manifold pressure (IMP), differential pressure (?P) across an EGR valve, and EGR valve position (EGRP) to determine an estimate of EGR mass flow. The controller is further operable to estimate EGR fraction as a function of the estimated EGR mass flow value, mass flow of charge entering the intake manifold, and engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Salim A. Jaliwala, Paul R. Miller, Larry J. Brackney, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Chuan He, George Brunemann, John F. Wright, Stephen J. Charlton
  • Publication number: 20040186655
    Abstract: A system for controlling exhaust emissions produced by an internal combustion engine includes an engine controller having an emission manager configured to produce a base emission level cap command, corresponding to a maximum allowable emission level of the engine, as a function of at least altitude and ambient temperature. The emission manager may also include one or more auxiliary emission control devices (AECDs), and the emission manager is further operable in such cases to determine a maximum allowable emission level associated with each active AECD. A final emission level cap command is determined as a function of the base emission level cap command and the maximum allowable emission level associated with each active AECD. The emission manager is further operable to produce a protection state data structure that includes information relating to the operational status of each AECD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Larry J. Brackney, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, George A. Brunemann
  • Patent number: 6725847
    Abstract: A system for protecting an internal combustion engine employing cooled recirculated exhaust gas (EGR) from excessive condensation includes an auxiliary emission control device (AECD) operable to determine when engine operating conditions correspond to a condensing condition resulting in condensation of water at the outlet of the EGR cooler and/or within the intake manifold or intake conduit of the engine. When such conditions occur, the AECD is operable to close the EGR valve and monitor engine operating conditions. When engine operating conditions no longer correspond to the condensing condition, control of the EGR valve is restored to an air handling system associated with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: George Brunemann, Larry J. Brackney, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, B. Jerry Song, Michael G. Barbieri, Matthew M. Lipinski, Wayne Eberhard
  • Patent number: 6718251
    Abstract: A system for controlling exhaust emissions produced by an internal combustion engine includes an engine controller having an emission manager configured to produce a base emission level cap command, corresponding to a maximum allowable emission level of the engine, as a function of at least altitude and ambient temperature. The emission manager may also include one or more auxiliary emission control devices (AECDs), and the emission manager is further operable in such cases to determine a maximum allowable emission level associated with each active AECD. A final emission level cap command is determined as a function of the base emission level cap command and the maximum allowable emission level associated with each active AECD. The emission manager is further operable to produce a protection state data structure that includes information relating to the operational status of each AECD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Brackney, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, George A. Brunemann