Patents by Inventor Timothy C. Ernst

Timothy C. Ernst 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: 7958873
    Abstract: A system for reducing the temperature of waste heat from a waste heat source of a vehicle engine, including an open loop Brayton cycle having a cooler, a compressor, a turbine, and a shaft coupling the compressor to the turbine. Waste heat and compressed air from the compressor flow through the cooler, thereby transferring heat from the waste heat to the compressed air and lowering the temperature of the waste heat. The heated and compressed air is expanded across the turbine, to cause rotation of the shaft, thereby powering rotation of the compressor. Excess power beyond that necessary to drive the compressor may be drawn off through a generator which has its rotor mounted on the same shaft as the compressor and turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C Ernst, Christopher R Nelson
  • Publication number: 20110072816
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for use with an engine. The waste heat recovery system receives heat input from both an exhaust gas recovery system and exhaust gas streams. The system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is configured to receive heat from both the exhaust gas recovery system and the exhaust system as necessary. The second loop receives heat from the first loop and the exhaust gas recovery system. The second loop converts the heat energy into electrical energy through the use of a turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy C. ERNST, Christopher R. NELSON
  • Publication number: 20110048012
    Abstract: An energy recovery system and method using an organic rankine cycle is provided for recovering waste heat from an internal combustion engine, which effectively controls condenser pressure to prevent unwanted cavitation within the fluid circulation pump. A coolant system may be provided with a bypass conduit around the condenser and a bypass valve selectively and variably controlling the flow of coolant to the condenser and the bypass. A subcooler may be provided integral with the receiver for immersion in the accumulated fluid or downstream of the receiver to effectively subcool the fluid near the inlet to the fluid pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson, James A. Zigan
  • Publication number: 20110016863
    Abstract: A thermodynamic system for waste heat recovery, using an organic rankine cycle is provided which employs a single organic heat transferring fluid to recover heat energy from two waste heat streams having differing waste heat temperatures. Separate high and low temperature boilers provide high and low pressure vapor streams that are routed into an integrated turbine assembly having dual turbines mounted on a common shaft. Each turbine is appropriately sized for the pressure ratio of each stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy C. ERNST
  • Patent number: 7866157
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for use with an engine. The waste heat recovery system receives heat input from both an exhaust gas recovery system and exhaust gas streams. The system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is configured to receive heat from both the exhaust gas recovery system and the exhaust system as necessary. The second loop receives heat from the first loop and the exhaust gas recovery system. The second loop converts the heat energy into electrical energy through the use of a turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090277430
    Abstract: A system for reducing the temperature of waste heat from a waste heat source of a vehicle engine, including an open loop Brayton cycle having a cooler, a compressor, a turbine, and a shaft coupling the compressor to the turbine. Waste heat and compressed air from the compressor flow through the cooler, thereby transferring heat from the waste heat to the compressed air and lowering the temperature of the waste heat. The heated and compressed air is expanded across the turbine, to cause rotation of the shaft, thereby powering rotation of the compressor. Excess power beyond that necessary to drive the compressor may be drawn off through a generator which has its rotor mounted on the same shaft as the compressor and turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090277173
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for use with an engine. The waste heat recovery system receives heat input from both an exhaust gas recovery system and exhaust gas streams. The system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is configured to receive heat from both the exhaust gas recovery system and the exhaust system as necessary. The second loop receives heat from the first loop and the exhaust gas recovery system. The second loop converts the heat energy into electrical energy through the use of a turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090241543
    Abstract: A system for converting heat from an engine into work includes a boiler coupled to a heat source for transferring heat to a working fluid, a turbine that transforms the heat into work, a condenser that transforms the working fluid into liquid, a recuperator with one flow path that routes working fluid from the turbine to the condenser, and another flow path that routes liquid working fluid from the condenser to the boiler, the recuperator being configured to transfer heat to the liquid working fluid, and a bypass valve in parallel with the second flow path. The bypass valve is movable between a closed position, permitting flow through the second flow path and an opened position, under high engine load conditions, bypassing the second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: CUMMINS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy C. Ernst