Patents by Inventor Kevin W. Redinbo

Kevin W. Redinbo 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: 10006317
    Abstract: A valve actuation system is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The valve actuation system may have a rocker shaft, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft, at least one cam follower and a pushrod connecting the at least one cam follower to the rocker arm. The valve actuation system may also have a plurality of gas exchange valves, and a bridge connecting the rocker arm to the valves. The valve actuation system may further have at least one spring disposed around each of the valves and configured to bias each of the valves toward closed positions, and a rotocoil configured to rotatably connect the at least one spring to each of the valves. The rotocoil may have an internal chamfer at a bridge end with an angle of about 26-28°. The at least one spring may have an assembled load of about 750-850 N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Indrajith Kizhakkethara, Gopinath Baskaran, Ashwin A. Hattiangadi, Rong Qu, Kevin W. Redinbo
  • Patent number: 9803516
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a valve lifter assembly is disclosed. The internal combustion engine comprising an engine head having at least two wells adapted to receive at least one valve lifter, the at least one valve lifter includes a flat surface, at least one spacer installed within the engine head having a first surface, a hollow portion, and a second surface, the first surface is tapered with respect to a vertical axis of the at least one spacer, and a tie-bar plate for coupling the at least one spacer using head bolts. The at least one spacer and the at least one valve lifter are operatively arranged during operation in such a way that the flat surface of the at least one valve lifter faces the first surface of the at least one spacer to prevent rotation of the at least one valve lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Byrd, Kevin W. Redinbo, Bryce L. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20170254231
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a valve lifter assembly is disclosed. The internal combustion engine comprising an engine head having at least two wells adapted to receive at least one valve lifter, the at least one valve lifter includes a flat surface, at least one spacer installed within the engine head having a first surface, a hollow portion, and a second surface, the first surface is tapered with respect to a vertical axis of the at least one spacer, and a tie-bar plate for coupling the at least one spacer using head bolts. The at least one spacer and the at least one valve lifter are operatively arranged during operation in such a way that the flat surface of the at least one valve lifter faces the first surface of the at least one spacer to prevent rotation of the at least one valve lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Byrd, Kevin W. Redinbo, Bryce L. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20170089223
    Abstract: A valve actuation system is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The valve actuation system may have a rocker shaft, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft, at least one cam follower and a pushrod connecting the at least one cam follower to the rocker arm. The valve actuation system may also have a plurality of gas exchange valves, and a bridge connecting the rocker arm to the valves. The valve actuation system may further have at least one spring disposed around each of the valves and configured to bias each of the valves toward closed positions, and a rotocoil configured to rotatably connect the at least one spring to each of the valves. The rotocoil may have an internal chamfer at a bridge end with an angle of about 26-28°. The at least one spring may have an assembled load of about 750-850 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Indrajith KIZHAKKETHARA, Gopinath BASKARAN, Ashwin A. HATTIANGADI, Rong Qu, Kevin W. REDINBO
  • Publication number: 20160312664
    Abstract: A valve lifter of a valve train of an engine is provided. The valve lifter includes a first end adapted to engage with a cam of the engine. The valve lifter also includes a second end distal to the first end. The second end is adapted to engage with a pushrod of the valve train. The valve lifter further includes a flat surface provided on an outer surface of the valve lifter. The flat surface is adapted to engage with a protrusion provided in a cylinder head of the engine. The fiat surface of the valve lifter is arranged and adapted to mate with the protrusion of the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Eric Shreve, Jakub Marcin Walczak, Kevin W. Redinbo, Jeremy Byrd