Patents by Inventor Colm M. Flannery

Colm M. Flannery 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).

  • Valve assembly for fuel system and method
    Patent number: 9051910
    Abstract: A valve assembly in an internal combustion engine fuel system includes a valve member movable within a valve body to contact a valve seat and block fluid communication between first and second passages. The valve seat and valve member each include a multi-layered coating having a harder metal nitride base layer and a softer metal nitride outer layer. The base layer is relatively incompliant to impacts between the valve member and the valve seat, and the outer layer is relatively compliant to the impacts and thereby deformable. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bao Feng, Steven C. Taylor, Lucy V. Berg, Colm M. Flannery
  • Valve Assembly For Fuel System And Method
    Publication number: 20140209063
    Abstract: A valve assembly in an internal combustion engine fuel system includes a valve member movable within a valve body to contact a valve seat and block fluid communication between first and second passages. The valve seat and valve member each include a multi-layered coating having a harder metal nitride base layer and a softer metal nitride outer layer. The base layer is relatively incompliant to impacts between the valve member and the valve seat, and the outer layer is relatively compliant to the impacts and thereby deformable. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Bao Feng, Steven C. Taylor, Lucy V. Berg, Colm M. Flannery