Patents by Inventor Timothy P. Lutz

Timothy P. Lutz 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: 20240084747
    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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    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: 11840971
    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: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    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
  • Publication number: 20220412276
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    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: 11448148
    Abstract: A method and system of power generating is provided to reduce a startup time of a genset for providing requested power to a utility grid or a load. The genset includes a generator, a turbocharger, and an energy storage. The generator includes an engine. The genset responds to a genset start signal by accelerating an engine speed of the generator to reach a synchronous speed. The engine speed is accelerated more rapidly by activating the energy storage device to supply power to at least one of the generator and the turbocharger. The generator then supplies power to the utility grid or load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Axel O. zur Loye, Mark A. Bargent, Andrew G. Kitchen, Robin J. Bremmer, Philipe F. Saad, Milan K. Visaria, Timothy P. Lutz
  • Patent number: 11441495
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    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
  • Publication number: 20220074356
    Abstract: A system includes a controller coupled to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system coupled to a plurality of combustion cylinders of an engine. The controller is structured to: determine that the engine is operating in a low load operating condition; deactivate a combustion cylinder based on the determination that the engine is operating in the low load operating condition such that an exhaust gas temperature threshold corresponds with when the combustion cylinder is deactivated; increase an engine exhaust gas temperature while the combustion cylinder is deactivated via at least one thermal management command; and reactivate the deactivated combustion cylinder in response to the engine operating with a load greater than a preset threshold for a certain period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Mehrotra, Ward R. Edwards, Timothy P. Lutz, Colin L. Norris, David Joseph Reynolds, Gregory E. Bentley, Amit Goje, Balakrishnan Ramamoorthy, Jagdeep I. Singh, Olusola Afolabi
  • Patent number: 11136932
    Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling operation of a dual fuel engine are provided, comprising determining a target exhaust temperature, sensing an actual exhaust temperature, determining an exhaust temperature deviation by comparing the actual exhaust temperature to the target exhaust temperature, comparing the exhaust temperature deviation to a threshold, adjusting at least one of an intake throttle, a wastegate, a compressor bypass valve, an exhaust throttle, a VGT and engine valve timing when the exhaust temperature deviation exceeds the threshold to control charge-flow to the engine, and continuing the adjusting until the exhaust temperature deviation is less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Axel O. zur Loye, Christopher Pollitt, Timothy P. Lutz
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200271066
    Abstract: A method and system of power generating is provided to reduce a startup time of a genset for providing requested power to a utility grid or a load. The genset includes a generator, a turbocharger, and an energy storage. The generator includes an engine. The genset responds to a genset start signal by accelerating an engine speed of the generator to reach a synchronous speed. The engine speed is accelerated more rapidly by activating the energy storage device to supply power to at least one of the generator and the turbocharger. The generator then supplies power to the utility grid or load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Axel O. zur Loye, Mark A. Bargent, Andrew G. Kitchen, Robin J. Bremmer, Philipe F. Saad, Milan K. Visaria, Timothy P. Lutz
  • Patent number: 10724424
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine apparatuses, systems and methods. The internal combustion engine system includes a cylinder block including a cylinder bore and a piston movably positioned in the cylinder bore. The piston is configured to slide in an axial direction within the cylinder bore. The piston includes a piston crown and a turbulence induction protuberance extending in an axial direction from the piston crown. The turbulence induction protuberance is positioned radially intermediate an axial center of the piston and a circumferential portion of the piston. The turbulence induction protuberance is configured to cause turbulence in a propagating flame propagating from a central region of the cylinder bore to cause the propagating flame to extend to a circumferential portion of the cylinder bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Tao, Timothy P. Lutz
  • Patent number: 10605213
    Abstract: An injector combustion shield assembly comprising a bore configured to receive a fuel injector, the bore including a fluid opening in fluid communication with a fluid jacket and a fluid outlet positioned within an annular wall of the bore; and a valve positioned between the fluid jacket and the fluid opening and configured to selectively permit a fluid from the fluid jacket to enter the bore, the valve being movable between an open configuration to permit fluid flow from the fluid jacket into the bore via the fluid opening and a closed configuration to prevent fluid flow from the fluid jacket into the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Lester L. Peters, David L. Buchanan, Timothy P. Lutz, David B. Snyder, Derek G. Weiler, Clayton R. Westerfeld, Julie Anne Colin, Akintomide K. Akinola, Joseph Eric Parlow, Steven J. Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 10465643
    Abstract: A method of reducing carbonaceous deposits on a fuel injector is provided in which a first fuel composition is supplied to the fuel injector in a dual fuel engine, the first fuel composition comprising natural gas fuel and a first percentage of diesel fuel; and a second fuel composition is supplied to the fuel injector in a dual fuel engine, the second fuel composition comprising a second percentage of diesel fuel that is greater than the first percentage of diesel fuel to cause cavitation to occur within the fuel injector, thereby reducing carbonaceous deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Norman C. Blizard, Timothy P. Lutz, David B. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10260407
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling operation of an engine structured to combust gaseous fuel such as a dual fuel engine, including an estimation of key parameters dependent on natural gas quality, are disclosed. The natural gas quality parameters are estimated from natural gas properties obtained from various sensed parameters associated with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghua Zhong, C. Larry Bruner, Timothy P. Lutz
  • Patent number: 10227934
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling operation of dual fuel engines are disclosed. One embodiment is a method for controlling operation of a dual fuel engine based upon a combustion index value. The combustion index may be empirically determined to provide desired engine operation at a plurality of ratios of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The desired engine operation may include a number of criteria including, for examiner an engine knock criterion and/or an exhaust emissions criterion. The combustion index value may be determined during operation of the engine based upon measured, estimated or predicted engine operating parameters. The combustion index value may be utilized to interpolate between a first engine operating map for a first ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel and a second engine operating map for a second ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Axel Otto Zur Loye, Timothy P. Lutz, Christopher Pollitt, Phanindra V. Garimella
  • Patent number: 10161325
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for managing combustion in an internal combustion engine that includes an operating condition module configured to determine an operating load of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine can includes multiple banks of cylinders. The apparatus further includes a cylinder bank control module configured to select at least one bank of cylinders of the multiple banks of cylinders to be operational based on the determined operating load of the engine. The apparatus also includes a cylinder bank command module configured to generate a cylinder bank command based on a cylinder bank control instruction received from the cylinder bank control module, the cylinder bank control instruction comprising the selection of the at least one operational bank of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Axel O. Zur Loye, Colin L. Norris, Timothy P. Lutz, Richard J. Ancimer, Abhishek Mehrotra
  • Patent number: 10132250
    Abstract: The system comprises a fuel description module structured to provide a first signal, and a control circuit operable to receive the first signal. The fuel description module comprises a fuel consumption detection package. The fuel consumption detection package an intake manifold temperature sensor and an exhaust temperature sensor, wherein the first signal corresponds to a difference between the exhaust manifold temperature (EMT) and the intake manifold temperature (IMT). The control circuit is responsive to the first signal to produce a second signal indicating a total energy content (Efuel) of fuel supplied to the dual-fuel engine. The Efuel value indicating the total energy content provided to the engine from a first fuel and a second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghua Zhong, C. Larry Bruner, John F. Wright, Timothy P. Lutz, Phanindra Garimella, Jacob A. Brown
  • Patent number: 10105650
    Abstract: A method includes supplying a first quantity of a first fuel to an engine and supplying a charge including a second fuel and air to the engine. The first fuel is different from the second fuel. The method further includes mixing the first fuel with the charge, supplying a second quantity of the first fuel to the engine, and igniting at least a portion of the first and second fuels in response to supplying the second quantity of the first fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Lutz
  • Patent number: 10100723
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dual fuel internal combustion engines with multiple cylinder banks and/or cylinder subsets, and exhaust aftertreatment systems associated therewith. Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to engine operations involving fuelling control for fuel cutout of one or more of the cylinder banks and/or cylinder subsets in response to a fuel cutout event to increase gaseous fuel substitution on the other cylinder banks and/or cylinder subsets to satisfy the torque request and thermal management conditions of the aftertreatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Timothy P. Lutz, C. Larry Bruner, Christopher Pollitt
  • Patent number: 10100689
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for desulfating an oxidation catalyst in an aftertreatment system of a multifuel internal combustion engine. The oxidation catalyst can be desulfated in response to one or more desulfation triggering events. The desulfation process includes providing hydrocarbons from one or all of the multiple fuel sources to an upstream oxidation catalyst. The hydrocarbons react with the exhaust gas within the upstream oxidation catalyst to deplete oxygen in the exhaust flow to thereby reduce the desulfation temperature of the oxidation catalyst while elevating a temperature of the exhaust gas to a desulfation temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Prachetas A. Kale, Timothy P. Lutz, Junhui Li, Ashok Kumar, Krishna Kamasamudram, C. Larry Bruner