Patents by Inventor Noel R. Lepp

Noel R. Lepp 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: 6520164
    Abstract: An oil drain tube is provided for an internal combustion engine, which prevents oil draining from an oil separator from encountering blowby gases. The oil drain tube includes a first non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with the oil separator, a second non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with an oil sump and a tube portion connecting the first non-horizontal tube portion and the second non-horizontal tube portion in fluid communication with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Noel R. Lepp, Maurice E. Moushon
  • Publication number: 20030019484
    Abstract: An oil drain tube is provided for an internal combustion engine, which prevents oil draining from an oil separator from encountering blowby gases. The oil drain tube includes a first non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with the oil separator, a second non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with an oil sump and a tube portion connecting the first non-horizontal tube portion and the second non-horizontal tube portion in fluid communication with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Noel R. Lepp, Maurice E. Moushon
  • Patent number: 6422220
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system, particularly suitable for a motor vehicle, is provided with an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an exhaust gas recirculation rate control system fluidly connected to the exhaust manifold and to the intake manifold. The exhaust gas recirculation rate control system includes at least two critical-flow nozzles, each critical-flow nozzle having an intake end and output end, the intake ends being fluidly coupled to the exhaust manifold; at least one valve, each valve being fluidly coupled with at least one output end; and a control module operatively connected to each valve for controlling exhaust gas flow therethrough. Some advantages of such a system is that the exhaust gas recirculation is accurately provided with an “open-loop” control system, thereby avoiding the use of a feedback system; the flow can be accurately determined under a choked-flow operating conditions; and the system can readily handle different exhaust gas flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Noel R. Lepp, Cho Y. Liang, Steven R. McCoy
  • Publication number: 20020073979
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system, particularly suitable for a motor vehicle, is provided with an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an exhaust gas recirculation rate control system fluidly connected to the exhaust manifold and to the intake manifold. The exhaust gas recirculation rate control system includes at least two critical-flow nozzles, each critical-flow nozzle having an intake end and output end, the intake ends being fluidly coupled to the exhaust manifold; at least one valve, each valve being fluidly coupled with at least one output end; and a control module operatively connected to each valve for controlling exhaust gas flow therethrough. Some advantages of such a system is that the exhaust gas recirculation is accurately provided with an “open-loop” control system, thereby avoiding the use of a feedback system; the flow can be accurately determined under a choked-flow operating conditions; and the system can readily handle different exhaust gas flow rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Noel R. Lepp, Cho Y. Liang, Steven R. Mccoy