Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Todd T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6785011
    Abstract: A laser beam position sensing arrangement using two similar sensors where, instead of the first sensor being aligned normal to the beam scan path, the angle which bisects the two sensors is aligned normal to the beam scan path. The average of times T1 and T2 at which the laser beam is incident the respective sensors is used for the horizontal or start of scan value, and the difference (T2−T1) is proportional to the vertical or process direction value. From the difference between the two determined times, the longitudinal beam position may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc
    Inventor: William Paul Cook
  • Patent number: 6609373
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, particularly suitable for use in a work machine, is provided with an exhaust manifold, a turbocharger, and a bypass venturi assembly. The turbocharger includes a turbine and a compressor, with the turbine having a variable geometry inlet coupled with the exhaust manifold, and the compressor having an outlet. The bypass venturi assembly includes a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet. The combustion air inlet is coupled with the compressor outlet. The exhaust gas inlet is coupled with the exhaust manifold. A center piece is positioned within the housing and is in communication with the combustion air inlet. The center piece defines a combustion air bypass section therein. A combustion air bypass valve is positioned in association with the combustion air bypass section. The exhaust gas valve is positioned in association with the exhaust gas inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, David A. Pierpont, Dennis D. Feucht, Matthew D. Rampenthal, Michael P. Harmon
  • Patent number: 6553763
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine is provided with a compressor having an inlet receiving combustion gas and an outlet; and a turbine drivingly coupled to the compressor. The turbine has a shaft and a turbine wheel disposed on the shaft. The turbine wheel has a plurality of turbine blades and an edge defining a plurality of scallops. Scallop fillers are disposed between the turbine blades. Advantages of a scalloped turbine wheel, resulting from reductions in mass, are achieved without reductions in efficiency normally experienced with scalloped turbine wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James J. Callas, Frank G. Gerke, Delbert L. Kramer, Mark D. Moeckel
  • Patent number: 6543428
    Abstract: A method and system for the intake air separation within an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments of the intake air separation system include an intake air inlet adapted to receive the intake air used in the combustion process for the engine and an intake air separation device in flow communication with the intake air inlet and adapted for separating the intake air into a flow of the oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air. The intake air separation system further includes a first outlet in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and adapted to receive the flow of the oxygen enriched air as well as a second outlet also in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and adapted to provide the flow of nitrogen enriched air to the intake manifold for use in the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Blandino, Gerald N. Coleman, Charles H. Dutart, Eric C. Fluga
  • Patent number: 6463254
    Abstract: A toner cleaning apparatus for a printing device includes a toner separator operating against a component of the printing device, to dislodge toner particles therefrom. A toner receptacle is provided for collecting the dislodged toner particles, and an auger positively conveys the dislodged toner particles into the toner receptacle. A vibration plate is provided for receiving the toner particles dislodged by the toner separator, and for directing the dislodged toner particles to the auger. The vibration plate includes lengths thereof extending into the auger and deflected by the auger to induce vibrations along the plate and distribute-and convey toner particles disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Maul, Alexander Douglas Meade, Liqun Larry Wang
  • Patent number: 6442936
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine has a compressor operable as a single stage or multi-stage compressor. A first compressor stage includes a first compressor wheel carried by a shaft, an axially extending first inlet and a radially extending first outlet. A second compressor stage includes a second compressor wheel carried by the shaft and axially extending second inlet and a radially extending second outlet. An interstage duct fluidly connects in series the first outlet of the first compressor with the second inlet of the second compressor. The interstage duct includes a bypass opening includes in communication with an ambient environment. A valve is positioned within the interstage duct. The valve is moveable to and between a first position to close the interstage duct and a second position to close the bypass opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 6425372
    Abstract: A method of controlling generation of nitrogen oxides in an internal combustion engine is provided with the steps of: combusting a fuel and air mixture within a combustion cylinder; determining a pressure in the combustion cylinder and a position of a piston within the combustion cylinder; calculating an amount of nitrogen oxides generated with the combusting step, dependent upon the determining step; storing a history of the calculated amount of nitrogen oxides in a memory device; and controlling an output action, dependent upon the calculated amount of nitrogen oxides, the stored history of nitrogen oxides and a threshold value of the nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Joel D. Hiltner
  • Patent number: 6422014
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, particularly suitable for use in a work machine, is provided with a two stage turbine including a first turbine stage and a second turbine stage. A wastegate conduit is fluidly coupled with the two stage turbine. The wastegate conduit bypasses only a single one of the first turbine stage or second turbine stage. A valve is positioned in association with the wastegate conduit for controlling flow through the wastegate conduit. A compressor is coupled with and rotatably driven by the two stage turbine. The controllable wastegate conduit provides effective control of the power input to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Gladden
  • Patent number: 6418723
    Abstract: A low pressure fuel system for a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine in which the source of gaseous fuel is at a pressure lower than the intake manifold pressure of the internal combustion engine. The gaseous fuel is inducted into the interstage duct of a multi-compressor combustion air turbocharger associated with the internal combustion engine. The combined flow of air and gaseous fuel is further compressed in the second compressor stage of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Gladden
  • Patent number: 6402299
    Abstract: An ink jet cartridge assembly for use in an ink jet printer has a body with at least one inner ink chamber. A printhead is carried by the body and has a plurality of ink jetting orifices in fluid communication with the ink chamber. A tape automated bonding circuit carried by the body includes a flexible tape and a plurality of electrical traces. The flexible tape includes a chip window with a peripheral edge. The printhead is disposed within the chip window at a distance from the peripheral edge. Each electrical trace has a bottom side adjacent the body, a substrate held portion carried by the flexible tape, a free trace portion extending between the peripheral edge of the chip window and the printhead, and a printhead held portion connected with the printhead. The tape automated bonding circuit further includes a photoimagable coating which covers the bottom side of each electrical trace on all of the substrate held portion and the free trace portion, but does not cover the printhead held portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Richard DeMeerleer, Brian Christopher Hart, James Michael Mrvos, Gary Raymond Williams
  • Patent number: 6386681
    Abstract: The printhead unit is for an imaging apparatus having a guide member. The printhead unit is configured to be positioned in a carrier assembly within the imaging apparatus and is configured for movement within the imaging apparatus via the carrier assembly. The printhead unit includes a housing a printhead and at least one bearing. The housing has at least a first side member. The printhead is attached at least to the first side member of the housing. Further, the at least one bearing has at least one bearing surface, the at least one bearing being coupled to the first side member of the housing and positioned to engage the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Askren, John Edward Borsuk, Larry Steven Foster, Frank Marion Hughes, Darren Wayne Tosh
  • Patent number: 6374612
    Abstract: An interstage cooling system for the turbocharger of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Diffuser vanes, turning vanes and/or deswirling vanes are used as the heat exchangers in the interstage duct. A coolant fluid is supplied to the heat exchangers and flows between the heat exchangers in series through internal coolant links or through internal cavities defined by the turbocharger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Gladden, Phillip J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 6375304
    Abstract: An ink mist controller for a maintenance station including spit louvers and a spit wheel which serve as accumulating surfaces. A flow of air directs ink mist through the louvers and around the spit wheel. Mist that is not attracted to a surface is carried to a manifold which filters, then exhausts, air to the environment, thereby preventing contamination of articles surrounding the printer. Color ink droplets are ejected onto the spit louvers. Low pressure is created between and below the louvers, which increases air and mist velocity over the entire spit zone. An unrestricted air curtain occurs on three sides of the color printhead to further control the location of mist deposit. Black ink is ejected onto the spit wheel which holds the mist deposit during evaporation. At defined intervals, the spit wheel rotates a fraction of a revolution. A scraper removes the non-volatile residue from the wheel during rotation. An air curtain is created on all four sides of the spit wheel to direct mist to this surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Stanley Aldrich, Benjamin Alan Askren, John Edward Borsuk, Donn Duane Bryant, Curtis Ray Droege, Laura Leigh Garcia, Edward Lawrence Kiely, Robert Flynt Strean
  • Patent number: 6377774
    Abstract: An oil web system for an imaging apparatus fuser is disclosed, together with its associated method of operation. The oil web system includes an oil web, an applicator roll in contact with a fuser roll, and a transfer station for transferring release oil from the web to the applicator roll. The oil web is advanced along a web path from a supply spool to a take-up spool. The applicator roll rotates against the fuser roll and receives oil from the oil web, and transfers the oil to the fuser roll. The applicator roll may be in direct contact with the web, and receive the oil directly from the web; or a transfer roll may be operated to receive the oil from the web and transfer the oil to the applicator roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Maul, Edward Alan Rush
  • Patent number: 6363913
    Abstract: A fuel injector performs main fuel injection by raising fuel pressure in a nozzle chamber to lift a check valve member to a fully open position, and performs preinjection or microinjection by operating a solid state motor to lift the check valve member a much smaller distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Milam, Thomas S. Carroll, Chien-Chang Lee, Charles R. Miller
  • Patent number: 6357234
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of turbochargers. Each turbocharger includes a rotatable shaft; a turbine having turbine wheel carried by the shaft, an inlet and a variable nozzle at the inlet; and a multi-stage compressor. The multi-stage compressor includes a first compressor wheel carried by the shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a radially extending first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by the shaft, an axially extending second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel, a radially extending second outlet associated with the second compressor wheel, and a interstage duct fluidly interconnecting in series the first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel with the second inlet associated with second compressor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Gladden
  • Patent number: 6357853
    Abstract: A process of, and apparatus for controlling waste ink from an ink jet printer printhead, transfers waste ink to an absorptive diaper, and at least intermittently forces air across the absorptive diaper to promote evaporation of certain volatile ink components from the transferred ink. Waste ink may be received and temporarily retained on a plurality of spaced apart inclined louvers located above the absorptive diaper, and air conveyed across and between the louvers to promote evaporation of certain volatile components from the received ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Askren, John Edward Borsuk, Donn Duane Bryant, Curtis Ray Droege, Laura Leigh Garcia, Edward Lawrence Kiely, Robert Flynt Strean
  • Patent number: 6356726
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum and a transfer roll-positioned adjacent to and defining a nip with the drum. An image substrate travels through the nip in an advance direction. A toner cartridge assembly is positioned in association with the drum and above the image substrate. A pre-transfer erase assembly having a light emitting outlet is positioned between the toner cartridge assembly and the image substrate. The light emitting outlet is directed toward the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Stirling Campbell, Gary Allen Denton, Gregory Lawrence Ream
  • Patent number: 6345503
    Abstract: A method of configuring a compressor in a turbocharger for use in an internal combustion engine is provided with the steps of: providing a multi-stage compressor including a first compressor wheel carried by a shaft, an axially extending first inlet and a radially extending first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by the shaft, an axially extending second inlet and a radially extending second outlet associated with the second compressor wheel; fluidly interconnecting in series the first outlet with the second inlet using an interstage duct; selecting a total pressure ratio to be provided by the multi-stage compressor; ascertaining a first pressure ratio provided by the first compressor wheel at an operating speed; sizing the second compressor wheel to provide a second pressure ratio, dependent upon the total pressure ratio and the first pressure ratio; determining a stress on the second compressor wheel at the operating speed; determining a temperature within
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Gladden
  • Patent number: 6324848
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine is provided with at least one rotatable shaft and a multi-stage compressor. The multi-stage compressor includes a first compressor wheel carried by a corresponding shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a radially extending first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by a corresponding shaft, an axially extending second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel, and a radially extending second outlet associated with the second compressor wheel. An interstage duct fluidly interconnects in series the first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel with the second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel. At least one bypass duct is provided, with each bypass duct fluidly interconnecting the first outlet with the first inlet; the first outlet with an ambient environment; and/or the second outlet with the first outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Gladden, Min Wu