Patents by Inventor Aaron Conrad Luft

Aaron Conrad Luft 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: 8849548
    Abstract: An engine system includes an exhaust system fluidly connected to an electronically controlled engine. Exhaust from the engine may travel a first pathway through a turbine of a turbocharger, or a second pathway that bypasses the turbine. An electronically controlled wastegate vale is biased to close the second pathway. An electronic controller is in communication with the electronically controlled engine and the electronically controlled wastegate valve. The electronic controller is configured to execute a wastegate diagnostic algorithm to detect a stuck closed default condition of the electronically controlled wastegate valve, and derate the engine in response to detection of a stuck closed fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Conrad Luft, Daniel Streutker, Rammohan Sankar, Travis Eugene Barnes, Gregory L. Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20130131953
    Abstract: An engine system includes an exhaust system fluidly connected to an electronically controlled engine. Exhaust from the engine may travel a first pathway through a turbine of a turbocharger, or a second pathway that bypasses the turbine. An electronically controlled wastegate vale is biased to close the second pathway. An electronic controller is in communication with the electronically controlled engine and the electronically controlled wastegate valve. The electronic controller is configured to execute a wastegate diagnostic algorithm to detect a stuck closed default condition of the electronically controlled wastegate valve, and derate the engine in response to detection of a stuck closed fault condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Conrad Luft, Daniel Streutker, Rammohan Sankar, Travis Eugene Barnes, Gregory L. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7658179
    Abstract: A fluid leak limiter for a high-pressure fuel injection system is disclosed. The fluid leak limiter may have a body at least partially defining a central bore with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a sleeve piston. The fluid leak limiter may also have a spring located to bias the sleeve piston toward a first flow-blocking position. The sleeve piston may be movable by a first pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a flow-passing position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is allowed to flow to the fluid outlet. The sleeve piston may also be movable by a second pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a second flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allyn P. Bock, Aaron Conrad Luft, Benjamin Ray Tower
  • Publication number: 20090295100
    Abstract: A fluid leak limiter for a high-pressure fuel injection system is disclosed. The fluid leak limiter may have a body at least partially defining a central bore with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a sleeve piston. The fluid leak limiter may also have a spring located to bias the sleeve piston toward a first flow-blocking position. The sleeve piston may be movable by a first pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a flow-passing position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is allowed to flow to the fluid outlet. The sleeve piston may also be movable by a second pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a second flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Allyn P. Bock, Aaron Conrad Luft, Benjamin Ray Tower
  • Publication number: 20090000592
    Abstract: A system for pre-lubricating an engine is disclosed. The system has an engine, a first pump driven by the engine to lubricate the engine, and a second pump configured to lubricate the engine. The system also has at least one component driven by the engine and fluidly connected downstream of the second pump and upstream of the engine. The system further has a sensor located at the engine to generate a signal indicative of an engine lubrication status. Starting of the engine is inhibited based on the engine lubrication status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Aaron Conrad Luft, Allen Ross Bowman, Joseph Ralph Brinker, Donald James Lockridge, Colin Anthony Hawkins