Patents by Inventor Loran J. Hoffman

Loran J. Hoffman 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: 8097055
    Abstract: A system for treating exhaust gas from an engine is disclosed. The system may include a housing with a first longitudinal axis, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The housing may define a first flow path. A fluid treatment element may be arranged in the flow path. The system may also include a conduit defining a second longitudinal axis and forming a second flow path. The conduit may have first and second tubular portions generally aligned with the second longitudinal axis. The first tubular portion may have a first cross-section, and the second tubular portion may have a second cross-section. An inner diameter of the second cross-section may be less than an inner diameter of the first cross-section. The centerpoint of the first inner diameter may be offset from the centerpoint of the second inner diameter in a direction generally parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas V. Staley, Loran J. Hoffman, Ryan M. Duffek, Richard A. Crandell
  • Patent number: 8092563
    Abstract: A system for treating exhaust gas from an engine is disclosed. The system may include a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and defining a flow path therebetween. A fluid treatment element may be arranged in the flow path and configured to treat exhaust gas. A conduit may be fluidly connected with at least one of the housing ports and may have first and second tubular portions. The first portion may have a first cross-section with an inner diameter, and the second portion may have a generally elongated second cross-section with an inner width and an inner length. The inner length of the second cross-section of the conduit may be smaller than the inner diameter of the first cross-section of the conduit, and the inner width of the second cross-section of the conduit may be greater than the inner diameter of the first cross-section of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Crandell, Ryan M. Duffek, Loran J. Hoffman, Thomas V. Staley
  • Publication number: 20090107115
    Abstract: A system for treating exhaust gas from an engine is disclosed. The system may include a housing with a first longitudinal axis, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The housing may define a first flow path. A fluid treatment element may be arranged in the flow path. The system may also include a conduit defining a second longitudinal axis and forming a second flow path. The conduit may have first and second tubular portions generally aligned with the second longitudinal axis. The first tubular portion may have a first cross-section, and the second tubular portion may have a second cross-section. An inner diameter of the second cross-section may be less than an inner diameter of the first cross-section. The centerpoint of the first inner diameter may be offset from the centerpoint of the second inner diameter in a direction generally parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas V. Staley, Loran J. Hoffman, Ryan M. Duffek, Richard A. Crandell
  • Publication number: 20090107127
    Abstract: A system for treating exhaust gas from an engine is disclosed. The system may include a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and defining a flow path therebetween. A fluid treatment element may be arranged in the flow path and configured to treat exhaust gas. A conduit may be fluidly connected with at least one of the housing ports and may have first and second tubular portions. The first portion may have a first cross-section with an inner diameter, and the second portion may have a generally elongated second cross-section with an inner width and an inner length. The inner length of the second cross-section of the conduit may be smaller than the inner diameter of the first cross-section of the conduit, and the inner width of the second cross-section of the conduit may be greater than the inner diameter of the first cross-section of the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Crandell, Ryan M. Duffek, Loran J. Hoffman, Thomas V. Staley