Cummins honors seven inventors with the company’s highest recognition for technology and innovation | Cummins Inc.

Columbus, Ind. – Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) has announced Richard Ancimer, Howard Bishop, Phanindra Garimella, Timothy Lutz, Abhishek Mehrotra, Colin Norris and Axel zur Loye as the recipients of the 20th Annual Julius Perr Innovation Award.

The Julius Perr Innovation Award is given to employees for their contributions that have made proven, significant technological developments advancing Cummins’ brand promise of innovation and dependability.

Axel zur Loye, Colin Norris, Timothy Lutz, Richard Ancimer, and Abhishek Mehrotra developed a method of thermal management control for engines. With the addition of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), used to reduce NOx emissions, a need arose for an Exhaust System Cleaning (ESC) to manage the SCR system. Their invention applies a Single Bank Cut-Out (SBCO), modifies the combustion calibration and creates a reliable, low-cost exhaust throttle.
By implementing this ESC method, the frequency of warranty issues and service events related to the formation of SCR deposits is greatly reduced, successfully removing this type of issue from the company’s top warranty issues list.

Most see the innovation as the breakthrough moment, however, these innovators think differently. “The breakthrough moment is not the invention. It’s identifying the problem,” said Zur Loye. “As engineers, once we know the problem, we are confident we’ll find a solution. It’s identifying the exact problem that is the real challenge.” 

Today, most Cummins Tier 4 Final HHP V-engines have incorporated this invention. 

Phanindra Garimella and Howard Bishop developed a system for monitoring and detecting faults in a closed-loop system. Previously, the diagnostic method for detecting off-nominal and in-range behaviors was completed on an individual basis, decreasing accuracy and increasing time involved. By developing a common algorithm, this patent enables utilization of a common diagnostic method which can then be tuned and calibrated in a repeatable manner, rather than individually. This allows the method to be used across a broad spectrum of diagnostic needs, significantly increasing accuracy and decreasing the creation time over the previous method.

Each electronically controlled Cummins engine introduced in 2010 or later leverages this work approximately 60 – 80 times per engine. The diagnostic method derived from this system is now being created as a library block for use in future products.

“These projects have created significant value for our customers, the industry and the environment,” explained Vice President and Chief Technical Officer Jim Fier. “This important work exemplifies the spirit of the late Dr. Perr, who was responsible for many of the innovations that have made Cummins a leader in our industry.” 

Cummins created the Julius Perr Innovation Awards to honor the memory of Dr. Julius Perr, who retired from Cummins in 1997 as Vice President of Fuel Systems. After revolting against a Soviet-led Communist regime, Dr. Julius Perr left his home country of Hungary and sought refuge in the United States. He made Columbus, Indiana (U.S.) home and began a 41-year career as a Cummins engineer and leader. During this time, Dr. Perr became an instrumental part of the company’s success and was named the inventor or co-inventor of 80 U.S. patents, many of which are still used to this day.