Patents by Inventor Thomas Jeffrey Crowell

Thomas Jeffrey Crowell 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: 11705676
    Abstract: A plug configured to be at least partially inserted into a central housing of a turbocharger. The plug includes a body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a threaded portion extending from the second end to a location on the body between the first end and the second end. The plug further includes a heat sink coupled to the second end, and a microchip mounted to a substrate that is coupled to the heat sink, the microchip configured to store information related to the turbocharger, wherein the microchip is at least partially submerged in coolant in the central housing when the plug is inserted into the central housing of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Hogan, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Jon Ashley Johnson, Anurag Menon Kunnath, Martin A. Lehman, Marian Elizabeth L. Neal, Vincent John Neyens, Joseph Brock Oelze, Tryg Carl Tow, Ross Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20220186659
    Abstract: A plug configured to be at least partially inserted into a central housing of a turbocharger. The plug includes a body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a threaded portion extending from the second end to a location on the body between the first end and the second end. The plug further includes a heat sink coupled to the second end, and a microchip mounted to a substrate that is coupled to the heat sink, the microchip configured to store information related to the turbocharger, wherein the microchip is at least partially submerged in coolant in the central housing when the plug is inserted into the central housing of the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Hogan, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Jon Ashley Johnson, Anurag Menon Kunnath, Martin A. Lehman, Marian Elizabeth L. Neal, Vincent John Neyens, Joseph Brock Oelze, Tryg Carl Tow, Ross Wetzel
  • Patent number: 10975815
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system, a valve train, and a fuel injector including a cam actuated plunger. The fuel injector has a noise suppressor fluidly connecting a plunger cavity to each of a spill passage and a nozzle supply passage in the fuel injector. The noise suppressor has an inlet configuration forming a fuel admission flow area to the plunger cavity, and an outlet configuration forming a fuel discharge flow area. The fuel discharge flow area is smaller than the fuel admission flow area, and the noise suppressor adjusts to the outlet configuration to throttle discharging of fuel from the plunger cavity to limit valve train noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade James Robel, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Lifeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20200088146
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body, and a plunger movable within a plunger cavity in the injector body. The fuel injector also includes a spill valve positioned at least partially within a main fuel passage, a fill passage forming a fluid connection between the plunger cavity and the main fuel passage, and a cross passage forming a second fluid connection between the plunger cavity and the main fuel passage. The fuel injector also includes a metering edge within the plunger cavity and positioned such that the plunger passes the metering edge during pumping to the plunger for valvetrain noise suppression. A metering slot may be formed in the injector body or the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Robel, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10570863
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body, and a plunger movable within a plunger cavity in the injector body. The fuel injector also includes a spill valve positioned at least partially within a main fuel passage, a fill passage forming a fluid connection between the plunger cavity and the main fuel passage, and a cross passage forming a second fluid connection between the plunger cavity and the main fuel passage. The fuel injector also includes a metering edge within the plunger cavity and positioned such that the plunger passes the metering edge during pumping to the plunger for valvetrain noise suppression. A metering slot may be formed in the injector body or the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Robel, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Lifeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20190353125
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system, a valve train, and a fuel injector including a cam actuated plunger. The fuel injector has a noise suppressor fluidly connecting a plunger cavity to each of a spill passage and a nozzle supply passage in the fuel injector. The noise suppressor has an inlet configuration forming a fuel admission flow area to the plunger cavity, and an outlet configuration forming a fuel discharge flow area. The fuel discharge flow area is smaller than the fuel admission flow area, and the noise suppressor adjusts to the outlet configuration to throttle discharging of fuel from the plunger cavity to limit valve train noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wade James Robel, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 8333065
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system for reacting with sulfuric acid. The system may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet and may also include a component disposed downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet. The component may be configured to restrict a flow of fluid through the housing as a function of sulfuric acid present within the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Weber, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Hind Malaeb Abi-Akar
  • Publication number: 20090241518
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system for reacting with sulfuric acid. The system may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet and may also include a component disposed downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet. The component may be configured to restrict a flow of fluid through the housing as a function of sulfuric acid present within the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: James Richard Weber, Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Hind Malaeb Abi-Akar
  • Publication number: 20080295486
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system associated with a power source is disclosed. The exhaust treatment system may have a filter located to remove particulate matter from a flow of exhaust, and a regeneration device located proximal the filter. The exhaust treatment system may also have a fluid handling component located upstream of the power source to vary an amount of oxygen in the flow of exhaust, and a controller in communication with the regeneration device and the fluid handling component. The controller may determine a need for filter regeneration, and determine an adjustment to the fluid handling component required to provide sufficient oxygen in the exhaust flow for filter regeneration. The controller may further determine an effect the adjustment will have on operation of the power source, and determine an correction for the power source to account for the effect. The controller may substantially simultaneously implement the adjustment and the correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Jeffrey Crowell, Christopher Ronald Gehrke, Matthew Robert Roth