Patents by Inventor Sudhindra K. Ayanji
Sudhindra K. Ayanji 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: 10024311Abstract: A cryogenic pump for pumping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a cryogenic tank storing LNG includes a drive assembly and a pump assembly disposed along a pump axis. The drive assembly includes a spool housing having a plurality of spool valves arranged around the pump axis, a tappet housing having a plurality of tappet bores with slidable tappets arranged around the pump axis, and spring housing including a plurality of movably disposed pushrods urged upward by a plurality of associated pushrod springs. Hydraulic fluid received by a hydraulic fluid inlet in the drive assembly is directed by the spool valves to the tappet bores to move the tappets downward against the pushrods. To collect the hydraulic fluid, the lowermost spring housing also includes a collection cavity formed therein that can return the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Adrienne M. Brasche, Daniel R. Baldwin, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Joshua W. Steffen
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Publication number: 20170037836Abstract: A cryogenic pump for pumping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a cryogenic tank storing LNG includes a drive assembly and a pump assembly disposed along a pump axis. The drive assembly includes a spool housing having a plurality of spool valves arranged around the pump axis, a tappet housing having a plurality of tappet bores with slidable tappets arranged around the pump axis, and spring housing including a plurality of movably disposed pushrods urged upward by a plurality of associated pushrod springs. Hydraulic fluid received by a hydraulic fluid inlet in the drive assembly is directed by the spool valves to the tappet bores to move the tappets downward against the pushrods. To collect the hydraulic fluid, the lowermost spring housing also includes a collection cavity formed therein that can return the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic fluid outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2015Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Adrienne M. Brasche, Daniel R. Baldwin, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Joshua W. Steffen
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Patent number: 8943906Abstract: A solenoid force measurement system includes: a first plate having an opening for receiving a solenoid; a second plate separated from the first plate by an air-gap; a force detection unit located within the second plate for measuring a force exerted by the solenoid; a height control device coupled to the second plate the height control device configured to adjust the size of the air-gap.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Greg Weyeneth, Jay Venkataraghavan
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Publication number: 20130248612Abstract: Starting and ending an injection event are accomplished by respectively energizing and de-energizing a solenoid actuator to move an armature assembly with respect to a stator. The stator is protected from impact damage by maintaining the armature assembly out of contact with the stator. The inducement of residual magnetism in the armature assembly is reduced by stopping the armature assembly at a large radius outside of the magnetic flux circuit through the stator and soft magnetic armature of the armature assembly, when the solenoid actuator is energized.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Gregory Alan Weyeneth, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Nadeem Bunni
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Patent number: 6945508Abstract: An electromagnetic control valve is provided. The control valve includes a housing defining a bore and a fluid passageway having a seat. A valve element is slidably disposed in the bore and is moveable between a first position where a flow of fluid passes by the seat and a second position where a flow of fluid relative to the seat is blocked. A solenoid having an armature is operatively connected with the valve element. The solenoid is operable to move the valve element from the first position to the second position. A biasing assembly is operatively engaged with the valve element and is adapted to move the valve element from the second position towards the first position. The biasing assembly exerts a first force on the valve element during a first predetermined travel distance from the second position and a second force on the valve element during a second predetermined travel distance. The first force is greater than the second force.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Dana R. Coldren, Harish K. Krishnaswamy, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Jeremy T. Claus
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Publication number: 20040238774Abstract: An electromagnetic control valve is provided. The control valve includes a housing defining a bore and a fluid passageway having a seat. A valve element is slidably disposed in the bore and is moveable between a first position where a flow of fluid passes by the seat and a second position where a flow of fluid relative to the seat is blocked. A solenoid having an armature is operatively connected with the valve element. The solenoid is operable to move the valve element from the first position to the second position. A biasing assembly is operatively engaged with the valve element and is adapted to move the valve element from the second position towards the first position. The biasing assembly exerts a first force on the valve element during a first predetermined travel distance from the second position and a second force on the valve element during a second predetermined travel distance. The first force is greater than the second force.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2003Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Dana R. Coldren, Harish K. Krishnaswamy, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Jeremy T. Claus
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Patent number: 6749129Abstract: A fuel injector with a direct control needle valve has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to a control fluid, and an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fuel. The control fluid is different from the fuel. A vented annulus is positioned around the needle valve member between the control fluid chamber and the fuel chamber. An o-ring is positioned in a lower pressure region between the annulus and the control fluid chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Gregory W. Hefler, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Ye Tian, Scott F. Shafer
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Publication number: 20040021003Abstract: A fuel injector with a direct control needle valve has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to a control fluid, and an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fuel. The control fluid is different from the fuel. A vented annulus is positioned around the needle valve member between the control fluid chamber and the fuel chamber. An o-ring is positioned in a lower pressure region between the annulus and the control fluid chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Gregory W. Hefler, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Ye Tian, Scott F. Shafer
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Patent number: 6655603Abstract: A reverse flow valve member is positioned within an injector body of a fuel injector and is movable between a closed position and an open position. When the reverse flow valve member is in its closed position, an upper portion of a nozzle supply passage is blocked from fluid communication with a lower portion of the nozzle supply passage. A compressed spring biases the reverse flow valve member to its closed position. When the reverse flow valve member is in its open position, the fuel pressurization chamber is fluidly connected to the lower portion of the nozzle supply passage. The present invention limits gas ingestion due to tip leakage, and allows an injector with trapped gas to prime itself.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Michael C. Long, Xinshuang Nan, Hrishikesh D. Thaker, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Victor I. Yacoub, Goudarz Haji
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Publication number: 20030116639Abstract: A reverse flow valve member is positioned within an injector body of a fuel injector and is movable between a closed position and an open position. When the reverse flow valve member is in its closed position, an upper portion of a nozzle supply passage is blocked from fluid communication with a lower portion of the nozzle supply passage. A compressed spring biases the reverse flow valve member to its closed position. When the reverse flow valve member is in its open position, the fuel pressurization chamber is fluidly connected to the lower portion of the nozzle supply passage. The present invention limits gas ingestion due to tip leakage, and allows an injector with trapped gas to prime itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Michael C. Long, Xinshuang Nan, Hrishikesh D. Thaker, Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Victor I. Yacoub, Gourdarz Haji
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Patent number: 6517011Abstract: A fuel injector pressurizes fuel in a pressurization chamber and ejects the fuel from an orifice. A reverse flow check valve allows fluid communication between the pressurization chamber and the orifice during fuel injection, but blocks fluid communication between the pressurization chamber and the orifice when fuel pressure in the pressurization chamber decreases.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Ye Tian