Patents by Inventor Michael R. Bochart
Michael R. Bochart 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).
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Patent number: 11939904Abstract: Operating a gaseous fuel engine system includes combusting a mixture containing a gaseous hydrogen fuel and air in a cylinder of an engine, varying an operating parameter of the engine to which a crown surface temperature of a piston within the cylinder is responsive, and populating a temperature model based on a value of the varied operating parameter. Operating a gaseous fuel engine system further includes operating an oil spray apparatus to spray oil onto the piston based on the populated temperature model, and maintaining the crown surface temperature of the piston between a high temperature limit and a pre-ignition mitigation temperature limit based on the operating of the oil spray apparatus. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael R Bochart, Jaswinder Singh, Patrick Seiler, Eric Lee Schroeder
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Publication number: 20230265777Abstract: Operating a gaseous fuel engine system includes combusting a mixture containing a gaseous hydrogen fuel and air in a cylinder of an engine, varying an operating parameter of the engine to which a crown surface temperature of a piston within the cylinder is responsive, and populating a temperature model based on a value of the varied operating parameter. Operating a gaseous fuel engine system further includes operating an oil spray apparatus to spray oil onto the piston based on the populated temperature model, and maintaining the crown surface temperature of the piston between a high temperature limit and a pre-ignition mitigation temperature limit based on the operating of the oil spray apparatus. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Bochart, Jaswinder Singh, Patrick Seiler, Eric Lee Schroeder
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Patent number: 11306678Abstract: A piston includes an annular body including a crown portion defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a circumferential direction. The crown portion includes a top squish surface, and a circumferential annular wall extending downwardly axially from the top squish surface as well as a skirt. A first piston ring receiving groove is spaced away from the top squish surface, an upper land and a lower land extend from the first piston ring receiving groove, and a bottom blend connects the lower land to the first piston ring receiving groove.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam Joseph Clute, Scott David Perkins, Thomas Randall McClure, Michael R. Bochart
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Patent number: 11174813Abstract: A liner for a cylinder of an internal combustion engine can comprise a hollow cylindrical wall or body having an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and open top and bottom ends. The outer surface can be without any sealing grooves in at least a bottom portion thereof. A relatively thin portion of the wall or body can be provided below a thick portion of the wall or body, and may reach the bottom end of the wall or body. An angled transition can define a change in thickness from the thick portion to the thin portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Bochart, Shu Zhang, Andrew D. Rockwell, Jonathan R. Chittenden
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Patent number: 10895218Abstract: A cylinder liner for a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine is provided. The cylinder liner including a hollow cylindrical body and a coolant cavity defined between a sidewall of the cylinder bore and an outer surface of the cylinder liner. A plurality of lower seal grooves are provided in the outer surface of the cylinder liner. A lower liner support is arranged between an uppermost one of the lower seal grooves and the coolant cavity. The lower liner support has an asymmetric configuration in a circumferential direction such that a clearance between the sidewall of the cylinder bore and the outer surface of the cylindrical body is relatively less in an area surrounding a thrust/anti-thrust plane and is relatively more in an area surrounding a perpendicular plane.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Michael R. Bochart
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Publication number: 20200248645Abstract: A cylinder liner for a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine is provided. The cylinder liner including a hollow cylindrical body and a coolant cavity defined between a sidewall of the cylinder bore and an outer surface of the cylinder liner. A plurality of lower seal grooves are provided in the outer surface of the cylinder liner. A lower liner support is arranged between an uppermost one of the lower seal grooves and the coolant cavity. The lower liner support has an asymmetric configuration in a circumferential direction such that a clearance between the sidewall of the cylinder bore and the outer surface of the cylindrical body is relatively less in an area surrounding a thrust/anti-thrust plane and is relatively more in an area surrounding a perpendicular plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Michael R. Bochart
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Patent number: 9938925Abstract: A cylinder liner assembly for inclusion in the cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine includes a sleeve-like cylinder liner and an anti-polishing ring to scrape combustion deposits from a piston reciprocally movable along an axis line of the cylinder liner. A fire dam may axially protrude from a first liner end of the cylinder liner and may have an obliquely angled chamfer disposed therein circumscribing the axis line. To locate the anti-polishing ring proximate to the top land of the piston when at the top dead center position, the anti-polishing ring can include a cuff header disposed at the first cuff end that is generally triangular and has an angled undercut corresponding to the obliquely angled chamfer. When mated, the chamfer and angled undercut abut against each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brad Morgan, Shu Zhang, Thomas R. McClure, Michael R. Bochart
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Publication number: 20170328298Abstract: A cylinder liner assembly for inclusion in the cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine includes a sleeve-like cylinder liner and an anti-polishing ring to scrape combustion deposits from a piston reciprocally movable along an axis line of the cylinder liner. A fire dam may axially protrude from a first liner end of the cylinder liner and may have an obliquely angled chamfer disposed therein circumscribing the axis line. To locate the anti-polishing ring proximate to the top land of the piston when at the top dead center position, the anti-polishing ring can include a cuff header disposed at the first cuff end that is generally triangular and has an angled undercut corresponding to the obliquely angled chamfer. When mated, the chamfer and angled undercut abut against each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2016Publication date: November 16, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brad Morgan, Shu Zhang, Thomas R. McClure, Michael R. Bochart
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Patent number: 8511274Abstract: A pressure regulator for a power source may include a housing in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid line and a reservoir, and a pressure relief valve having an open position that creates a flow path between the pressurized fluid line and the reservoir, and a closed position. The pressure relief valve may open when an opening force exerted by pressurized fluid entering the housing overcomes a closing force acting on the pressure relief valve, allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the pressurized fluid line to the reservoir. The pressure regulator may also include a governor coupled to the pressure relief valve, wherein the governor is configured to regulate the pressure in the pressurized fluid line by selectively adjusting the closing force exerted on the pressure relief valve based on engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Michael R. Bochart
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Publication number: 20090107451Abstract: A pressure regulator for a power source may include a housing in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid line and a reservoir, and a pressure relief valve having an open position that creates a flow path between the pressurized fluid line and the reservoir, and a closed position. The pressure relief valve may open when an opening force exerted by pressurized fluid entering the housing overcomes a closing force acting on the pressure relief valve, allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the pressurized fluid line to the reservoir. The pressure regulator may also include a governor coupled to the pressure relief valve, wherein the governor is configured to regulate the pressure in the pressurized fluid line by selectively adjusting the closing force exerted on the pressure relief valve based on engine speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventor: Michael R. Bochart
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Patent number: 6634278Abstract: Pistons for internal combustion engines often need additional cooling to attain better performance. One method of cooling involves adding oil to an oil gallery opposite a combustion zone. Adding a standpipe prevents a preestablished quantity of oil from exiting the oil gallery. Installing the standpipe intermediate a first baffle plate and a second baffle plate improves reliability of the piston and ease of manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Michael R. Bochart
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Patent number: 6401595Abstract: Pistons for internal combustion engines often need additional cooling to attain better performance. One method of cooling involves adding oil to an oil gallery on bowl portion opposite a combustion zone. Adding a standpipe prevents oil from exiting immediately exiting the oil gallery. Installing the standpipe intermediate a first baffle plate and a second baffle plate improves reliability of the piston and ease of manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Michael R. Bochart
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Publication number: 20020056367Abstract: Pistons for internal combustion engines often need additional cooling to attain better performance. One method of cooling involves adding oil to an oil gallery opposite a combustion zone. Adding a standpipe prevents a preestablished quantity of oil from exiting the oil gallery. Installing the standpipe intermediate a first baffle plate and a second baffle plate improves reliability of the piston and ease of manufacturing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventor: Michael R. Bochart