Patents by Inventor Senthilkumar Rajagopalan

Senthilkumar Rajagopalan 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).

  • Publication number: 20130340861
    Abstract: A spring guide configured to axially align a spring within a bore provided by a body of a check valve is provided. The spring guide comprises a base portion, a guide portion, and a stud. The base portion is configured to abut a closed end of the bore. The guide portion extends from the base portion. The guide portion is configured to abut an internal wall of the bore. The stud protrudes from the guide portion. The stud is configured to contact an inner spiral surface of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Senthilkumar Rajagopalan, Prashanth Sastry, Stephen R. Lewis, Tejas Vijaykamar Mayavanshi
  • Publication number: 20110146600
    Abstract: A pumping element for pressurizing a fluid within a fluid pump includes a plunger reciprocally disposed within a bore defined in a pump housing. The plunger and housing at least partially define a pressurization chamber into which fluid is pressurized. A flow path is defined between the plunger and the bore, the flow path permitting fluid to pass from the pressurization chamber during pressurization of fluid disposed therein. A weep annulus is formed between the plunger and the bore, the weep annulus being disposed adjacent to the bore and being part of a cooling circuit for the pumping element. The housing further defines cooling and drain passages which are in fluid communication with one another via the weep annulus. The plunger an bore are convectively cooled when cooling fluid is supplied to the weep annulus via the cooling passage and drained away via the drain passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Senthilkumar Rajagopalan, Alan R. Stockner, Tejas Mayavanshi, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7950373
    Abstract: A check valve for use with a pump is disclosed. The check valve may have a body at least partially defining a central bore with an open end and a closed end, and a spring guide separate from the body and disposed within the closed end of the central bore. The check valve may also have a spring located within the central bore and having a first end operatively engaged with the spring guide, and a valve element operatively engaged with a second end of the spring and being movable by a pressure differential to compress the spring. The spring guide may be moveable relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Hefler, Michael C. Long, Senthilkumar Rajagopalan, Donald A. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20100037965
    Abstract: A check valve for use with a pump is disclosed. The check valve may have a body at least partially defining a central bore with an open end and a closed end, and a spring guide separate from the body and disposed within the closed end of the central bore. The check valve may also have a spring located within the central bore and having a first end operatively engaged with the spring guide, and a valve element operatively engaged with a second end of the spring and being movable by a pressure differential to compress the spring. The spring guide may be moveable relative to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory W. Hefler, Michael C. Long, Senthilkumar Rajagopalan, Donald A. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6412704
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is mounted in the injector body and moveable a lift distance between an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. A piezoelectric actuator is mounted in the injector body and is moveable a piezo distance between an off position and an on position. A coupling linkage interconnects the needle valve member to the piezoelectric actuator such that a movement of the piezoelectric actuator is multiplied into a larger movement of the needle valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, Senthilkumar Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20010035465
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is mounted in the injector body and moveable a lift distance between an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. A piezoelectric actuator is mounted in the injector body and is moveable a piezo distance between an off position and an on position. A coupling linkage interconnects the needle valve member to the piezoelectric actuator such that a movement of the piezoelectric actuator is multiplied into a larger movement of the needle valve member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, Senthilkumar Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 6079641
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is mounted in the injector body and moveable a lift distance between an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. A piezoelectric actuator is mounted in the injector body and is moveable a piezo distance between an off position and an on position. A coupling linkage interconnects the needle valve member to the piezoelectric actuator such that a movement of the piezoelectric actuator is multiplied into a larger movement of the needle valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, Senthilkumar Rajagopalan