Patents by Inventor Robert Wayne McFarland

Robert Wayne McFarland 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: 11253875
    Abstract: A fluid injector for injecting fluid is disclosed, including a body; a fluid passageway defined in the body and extending from an inlet to an outlet of the fluid injector; a valve seat disposed internally of the body and forming part of the passageway; a valve element that is selectively reciprocated relative to the valve seat to close and open the passageway to fluid flow by seating and unseating the valve element on and from the valve seat, respectively; and an orifice disc disposed in the passageway downstream of the valve seat in a direction of the fluid flow through the fluid injector, the orifice disc including a plurality of dimples and a plurality of orifices defined through the orifice disc, each dimple including at least one orifice located thereon and each dimple having an asymmetrical cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Wolfgang Wildgen, Robert Wayne McFarland, Dennis Brian Dezern
  • Patent number: 11162403
    Abstract: A dosing unit having a fluid path defined therethrough and including a fluid injector having an inlet tube; an inlet cup sized and shaped for receiving therein at least part of the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the inlet cup including a fluid inlet; an input tube in fluid communication with the inlet cup via the fluid inlet thereof, the input tube configured to receive fluid from a fluid source; and an insert partly disposed in the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the insert at least partly defining a fluid passage. The fluid passage is in fluid communication with the input tube and the inlet tube of the fluid injector and forms part of the fluid path of the dosing unit. The fluid passage includes a portion extending in a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Techologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Patent number: 10774719
    Abstract: A side feed inlet port for an injector, which makes use of stamped parts to form a compact, high strength three-piece inlet port at a significantly reduced cost. By using an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, injector sealing is accomplished using the interior sleeve, creating a sealing point, while allowing for inlet conduit attachment to the outer sleeve at, above, or below the sealing point of the DEF injector. The construction of the inlet port is such that there is proper sealing between the inner sleeve and one or more seals, while allowing for the connection between the inlet conduit and the outer sleeve to reduce the overall height of the inlet port, and therefore, the injector. The position of the inlet conduit may be altered without affecting the sealing connection between the inner sleeve and the seal(s), such that the desirable overall height may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Patent number: 10677138
    Abstract: A heat shield for a reductant delivery unit (RDU), the RDU including a fluid injector with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a clamp flange for attachment to a mounting boss of a vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield includes a first portion which is attached to the fluid injector so as to at least partly cover the fluid outlet thereof. The first portion serves as a thermal barrier for the fluid injector and a mechanical barrier for preventing particles in the vehicle exhaust pipe from contacting the fluid injector when the RDU is attached to the vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield further includes a second portion which extends radially outwardly from the first portion for sealing the attachment between the clamp flange and the mounting boss of the vehicle exhaust pipe when the RDU is attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Patent number: 10570803
    Abstract: A reductant delivery unit (RDU) for a selective catalytic reduction system, including a housing; a fluid inlet disposed at an upper portion of the housing; a fluid return outlet; a fluid nozzle outlet disposed at a lower portion of the housing; an injector disposed within the housing and configured to receive fluid from the fluid inlet and selectively discharge the fluid from the fluid nozzle outlet; and at least one fluid passageway disposed within or around the housing. The fluid passageway provides fluid communication along a first fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid nozzle outlet and along a second fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid return outlet so that the same fluid discharged by the injector is also used as a coolant for the RDU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Publication number: 20200030823
    Abstract: A fluid injector for injecting fluid is disclosed, including a body; a fluid passageway defined in the body and extending from an inlet to an outlet of the fluid injector; a valve seat disposed internally of the body and forming part of the passageway; a valve element that is selectively reciprocated relative to the valve seat to close and open the passageway to fluid flow by seating and unseating the valve element on and from the valve seat, respectively; and an orifice disc disposed in the passageway downstream of the valve seat in a direction of the fluid flow through the fluid injector, the orifice disc including a plurality of dimples and a plurality of orifices defined through the orifice disc, each dimple including at least one orifice located thereon and each dimple having an asymmetrical cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Continental Powertrain USA, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Wolfgang Wildgen, Robert Wayne McFarland, Dennis Brian Dezern
  • Publication number: 20190292971
    Abstract: A heat shield for a reductant delivery unit (RDU), the RDU including a fluid injector with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a clamp flange for attachment to a mounting boss of a vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield includes a first portion which is attached to the fluid injector so as to at least partly cover the fluid outlet thereof. The first portion serves as a thermal barrier for the fluid injector and a mechanical barrier for preventing particles in the vehicle exhaust pipe from contacting the fluid injector when the RDU is attached to the vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield further includes a second portion which extends radially outwardly from the first portion for sealing the attachment between the clamp flange and the mounting boss of the vehicle exhaust pipe when the RDU is attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Patent number: 10344725
    Abstract: A fluid injector for injecting fluid includes a body with a fluid passageway extending from an inlet to an outlet of the fluid injector; a valve seat; a valve element that is selectively engages with the valve seat; and a disc member disposed in the fluid passageway downstream of the valve seat. The disc member includes a plurality of channels defined along a first surface of the disc member, and a plurality of orifices defined through the disc, with each disc member being fluidly coupled to a plurality of channels. The channels fluidly coupled to each channel are in offset relation to each other at the orifice such that fluid flowing through the orifice forms a swirl pattern when exiting the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Powertrain, USA, LLC.
    Inventors: Keith Aaron Shaw, Robert Wayne McFarland, Joshua Lee Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20190186319
    Abstract: A dosing unit having a fluid path defined therethrough and including a fluid injector having an inlet tube; an inlet cup sized and shaped for receiving therein at least part of the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the inlet cup including a fluid inlet; an input tube in fluid communication with the inlet cup via the fluid inlet thereof, the input tube configured to receive fluid from a fluid source; and an insert partly disposed in the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the insert at least partly defining a fluid passage. The fluid passage is in fluid communication with the input tube and the inlet tube of the fluid injector and forms part of the fluid path of the dosing unit. The fluid passage includes a portion extending in a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Publication number: 20190170104
    Abstract: An attachment assembly for a fluid injector includes a housing having a first end and a second end; a seat disposed within the housing; and a needle in the housing having a first end, the needle movable between a first position in which the first end of the needle provides a sealing engagement with the seat so as to prevent fluid from exiting the second end of the housing, and a second position in which the first end of the needle extends outwardly from the second end of the housing spaced apart from the seat for allowing fluid in the housing to exit through the second end; and a spring member biasing the needle towards the first position to prevent fluid in the housing from exiting the second end. The first end of the housing attaches to the fluid outlet of a fuel injector for providing an integrated injector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Caulkins, Keith Aaron Shaw, Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Publication number: 20190170037
    Abstract: A diesel dosing unit (DDU) is disclosed, having a fluid injector assembly. The fluid injector assembly includes a fluid injector and an attachment assembly attached to a downstream end of the fluid injector, the attachment assembly at least partly defining a fluid path in fluid communication with a fluid path of the fluid injector. The DDU further includes a DDU housing in which the injector assembly is disposed, the DDU housing being configured to directly attach to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle. The fluid injector assembly is dimensioned to largely match the dimensions of an existing injector of a reductant delivery unit (RDU) such that the DDU housing utilizes the housing of the existing RDU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Caulkins, Keith Aaron Shaw, Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Patent number: 10227906
    Abstract: An injector which incorporates the use of an insert to compensate for the change in volume of diesel exhaust fluid as the diesel exhaust fluid freezes, reducing or eliminating the effects on the calibration of the injector. The calibration freeze protection insert is located adjacent a calibration sleeve in the injector, where the insert is welded to an inlet tube. Any axial forces applied to the calibration sleeve from the blocking force of the freezing diesel exhaust fluid are transmitted to the insert, and the position of the insert is maintained by the welds. The insert and the calibration sleeve are configured to only allow small amounts of diesel exhaust fluid to migrate around the injector components, which is able to be compensated for by the elastic modulus of the various injector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Powertrain USA, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Publication number: 20180363611
    Abstract: A fluid injector for injecting fluid includes a body with a fluid passageway extending from an inlet to an outlet of the fluid injector; a valve seat; a valve element that is selectively engages with the valve seat; and a disc member disposed in the fluid passageway downstream of the valve seat. The disc member includes a plurality of channels defined along a first surface of the disc member, and a plurality of orifices defined through the disc, with each disc member being fluidly coupled to a plurality of channels. The channels fluidly coupled to each channel are in offset relation to each other at the orifice such that fluid flowing through the orifice forms a swirl pattern when exiting the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Aaron Shaw, Robert Wayne McFarland, Joshua Lee Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20180106180
    Abstract: A reductant delivery unit (RDU) for a selective catalytic reduction system, including a housing; a fluid inlet disposed at an upper portion of the housing; a fluid return outlet; a fluid nozzle outlet disposed at a lower portion of the housing; an injector disposed within the housing and configured to receive fluid from the fluid inlet and selectively discharge the fluid from the fluid nozzle outlet; and at least one fluid passageway disposed within or around the housing. The fluid passageway provides fluid communication along a first fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid nozzle outlet and along a second fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid return outlet so that the same fluid discharged by the injector is also used as a coolant for the RDU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Publication number: 20180051613
    Abstract: A side feed inlet port for an injector, which makes use of stamped parts to form a compact, high strength three-piece inlet port at a significantly reduced cost. By using an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, injector sealing is accomplished using the interior sleeve, creating a sealing point, while allowing for inlet conduit attachment to the outer sleeve at, above, or below the sealing point of the DEF injector. The construction of the inlet port is such that there is proper sealing between the inner sleeve and one or more seals, while allowing for the connection between the inlet conduit and the outer sleeve to reduce the overall height of the inlet port, and therefore, the injector. The position of the inlet conduit may be altered without affecting the sealing connection between the inner sleeve and the seal(s), such that the desirable overall height may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Patent number: 9890680
    Abstract: A dosing unit for a diesel exhaust treatment system eliminates heat from the exhaust stream using an electrically operated fluid injector inside a cavity, sized and shaped to receive the electrically operated injector therein and surround the fluid injector in the cavity with engine coolant flowing through the cavity. Continuous welds aid heat transfer between the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Randolph W Carnell, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180023438
    Abstract: An injector which incorporates the use of an insert to compensate for the change in volume of diesel exhaust fluid as the diesel exhaust fluid freezes, reducing or eliminating the effects on the calibration of the injector. The calibration freeze protection insert is located adjacent a calibration sleeve in the injector, where the insert is welded to an inlet tube. Any axial forces applied to the calibration sleeve from the blocking force of the freezing diesel exhaust fluid are transmitted to the insert, and the position of the insert is maintained by the welds. The insert and the calibration sleeve are configured to only allow small amounts of diesel exhaust fluid to migrate around the injector components, which is able to be compensated for by the elastic modulus of the various injector components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Patent number: 9702476
    Abstract: An injector having a tube attached to an armature. The injector includes a solenoid portion and a valve portion controlled by the solenoid portion. The armature includes a small diameter portion. Also included is a tube having a cavity, a first end of the tube is connected to the small diameter portion, and a ball is connected to a second end of the tube, such that the ball is selectively in contact with a valve seat. A hermetic weld connects the ball to the second end, and at least one heat affected zone is located in proximity to the hermetic weld. A coating substantially surrounds the heat affected zone and at least a portion of the ball, such that the coating prevents the heat affected zone from being exposed to diesel exhaust fluid and thus subsequent corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Patent number: 9617884
    Abstract: A liquid cooled reduction unit includes a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injection valve. The valve includes an end portion extending to a distal end. The valve is configured to receive a DEF and force the DEF to exit at the distal end such that the DEF is then directed and applied to an exhaust stream of a vehicle engine. A coolant jacket is selectively filled with a coolant and has an outer side and an inner side. The inner side of the jacket faces a length of the end portion and is separated from the length of the end portion by an air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Michael J. Hornby, James A. Wynn, Joshua Lee Hatfield, Christopher Caulkins, Stephen C. Bugos
  • Publication number: 20160208950
    Abstract: An injector having a tube attached to an armature. The injector includes a solenoid portion and a valve portion controlled by the solenoid portion. The armature includes a small diameter portion. Also included is a tube having a cavity, a first end of the tube is connected to the small diameter portion, and a ball is connected to a second end of the tube, such that the ball is selectively in contact with a valve seat. A hermetic weld connects the ball to the second end, and at least one heat affected zone is located in proximity to the hermetic weld. A coating substantially surrounds the heat affected zone and at least a portion of the ball, such that the coating prevents the heat affected zone from being exposed to diesel exhaust fluid and thus subsequent corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne McFarland