Patents by Inventor Alan R. Stockner

Alan R. Stockner 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: 10851753
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided which has a valve member, a valve member guide and a spring chamber. Discharge of fuel out of a fuel injector outlet is controlled by movement of the valve member within a bore of the valve member guide. The spring chamber contains a biasing member, which is a compression spring, and which biases the valve member into contact with a valve seat when in a closed configuration. The fuel supply passage is provided, which by-passes the spring chamber, to direct a flow of the fuel to an outlet chamber of the fuel injector, and the cleaning fluid supply passage is provided to supply a pressurized cleaning fluid to a second end of the bore to restrict leakage of the fuel from the outlet chamber towards the second end of the bore along a clearance extending between the valve member and the valve member guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Graeme Mawhinney, Alan R. Stockner, Paul Stark, David Mack
  • Patent number: 10851893
    Abstract: A piston arrangement comprises a circumferential piston groove that can accommodate a seal for sealing between the piston and the cylinder bore when the piston moves in a reciprocal movement. The piston arrangement comprises a first fluid flow passage, defined at least in part by the piston body that fluidly connects the forward side of the cylinder bore with a space within the piston groove underneath the seal and a second fluid flow passage, defined in part by the piston body, which fluidly connects the rear side of the cylinder bore with the space within the piston groove underneath the seal. The two fluid flow passages allow a controlled fluid flow around the piston seal and comprise a channel provided in a lateral wall of the piston groove or an orifice provided in the piston body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Coleman, Alan R. Stockner, Dana R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 10626856
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid pump includes an outlet tube extending along the pump centerline, the outlet tube having an outlet passage that is fluidly in communication with the combined outlet and with a pump outlet opening, and a shroud that extends concentrically along the outlet tube and has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the outlet tube such that a gap is formed in a radial direction between an inner surface of the shroud and an outer surface of the outlet tube, the gap extending along at least a portion of the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Dennis H. Gibson, Ankababu Kandlagunta, Sridhar Thangaswamy, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 10544769
    Abstract: A fuel system is disclosed for use with an engine, including a fuel injector assembly fluidly coupled with a low-pressure fuel conduit, an accumulator, and a cap within an opening in the accumulator. The fuel injector assembly may be structured to draw in low-pressure fuel, pressurize the fuel, and store the pressurized fuel in the accumulator for injection to a combustion chamber. The cap has a pressure sensor and a pressure relief valve therein, and drains fuel leaked past fluid seals between the cap and each of the pressure sensor, the pressure relief valve, and the accumulator by way of a common drain line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Brown, Cory A. Brown, Sridhar Thangaswamy, Alan R. Stockner, Victor I. Yacoub, Zhenyu Li, Lifeng Wang, Satya Naga Deepak Pillarisetti, Scott Shafer, Robert Michael Campion, George Kodikulam Joseph
  • Patent number: 10519877
    Abstract: A control system for a dual fuel engine having a liquid fuel supply and a gaseous fuel supply is disclosed. The control system may include at least one sensor operably coupled to a cylinder of the dual fuel engine and configured to monitor cylinder condition and transmit a cylinder condition signal. Additionally, a controller may be communicably coupled with the at least one sensor and the controller may be configured to receive the cylinder condition signal and determine whether the cylinder is operating in an abnormal operating condition. Whereas the controller determines the cylinder is operating in the abnormal operating condition, the controller sends a control signal for the liquid fuel supply to provide an amount of liquid fuel which is greater than an amount of liquid fuel supplied to the cylinder during a normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Thomas J. Crowell, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 10519940
    Abstract: A linearly actuated hydraulic piston pump is provided. The pump includes a piston disposed between a first section and a second section of a piston chamber. The pump also includes a control valve having a valve body defining a valve chamber therein. The control valve also includes an inlet port, a first port, a regeneration port, a second port, and a spool. The spool in a first spool position fluidly couples a pressurized fluid source to the first section via the inlet port and the first port, and fluidly couples an accumulator to the second section via the regeneration port and the second port. The spool in the second spool position fluidly couples the first section to a drain via the first port and a drain port, and fluidly couples the second section to the pressurized fluid source via the inlet port and the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Brown, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 10316839
    Abstract: A pump plunger is disclosed. The plunger may include a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The plunger may also include a body portion extending between the proximal end and a second transition datum, and additionally include a transition section extending between a first transition datum and the second transition datum. The transition section may have a non-linear geometric profile. A first shoulder portion may be positioned adjacent to the transition section that may extend between the second transition datum and a third datum. The third datum may be positioned radially inward of the second transition datum. The plunger may also include a tip portion positioned adjacent to the first shoulder portion that may extend between the third datum and a fourth datum positioned at the distal end. The fourth datum may be positioned radially inward of the third datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Brown, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 10184462
    Abstract: A cryogenic pump for pumping cryogenic fluid is provided. The pump includes a pump assembly adapted for exposure to cryogenic fluid that includes a plurality of pumping elements disposed about a pump axis. A drive assembly drives the pumping elements to pump cryogenic fluid. A plurality of actuating elements are arranged circumferentially about the pump axis, each actuating element operatively interconnecting the drive assembly with a respective one of the pumping elements. Each actuating element includes a first portion disposed a first radial distance from the pump axis and a second portion disposed a second radial distance from the pump axis with the first radial distance being less than the second radial distance at ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20180306173
    Abstract: A linearly actuated hydraulic piston pump is provided. The pump includes a piston disposed between a first section and a second section of a piston chamber. The pump also includes a control valve having a valve body defining a valve chamber therein. The control valve also includes an inlet port, a first port, a regeneration port, a second port, and a spool. The spool in a first spool position fluidly couples a pressurized fluid source to the first section via the inlet port and the first port, and fluidly couples an accumulator to the second section via the regeneration port and the second port. The spool in the second spool position fluidly couples the first section to a drain via the first port and a drain port, and fluidly couples the second section to the pressurized fluid source via the inlet port and the second port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Brown, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 10060421
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid pump includes a plurality of pumping elements, each of the plurality of pumping elements having an actuator portion that is associated with and configured to selectively activate one end of a pushrod in response to a command by an electronic controller, an activation portion associated with an opposite end of the pushrod, and a pumping portion associated with the activation portion. For each of the plurality of pumping elements, the pumping portion is activated for pumping a fluid by the activation portion, which activation portion is activated by the actuator portion. The electronic controller is configured to selectively activate each of the plurality of pumping elements such that a flow of fluid from the cryogenic fluid pump results from continuous activations of the plurality of pumping elements at selected dwell times between activations of successive pumping elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Adrienne M. Brasche, Sunil J. Bean, Shivangini S. Hazari, Sana Mahmood, Nikhil M. Arya, Joshua W. Steffen, Daniel R. Baldwin, Dana R. Coldren, Robert M. Campion, Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20180195500
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid pump includes an outlet tube extending along the pump centerline, the outlet tube having an outlet passage that is fluidly in communication with the combined outlet and with a pump outlet opening, and a shroud that extends concentrically along the outlet tube and has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the outlet tube such that a gap is formed in a radial direction between an inner surface of the shroud and an outer surface of the outlet tube, the gap extending along at least a portion of the outlet tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Dennis H. Gibson, Ankababu Kandlagunta, Sridhar Thangaswamy, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 10006449
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a wobble plate piston pump includes first, second, third, and fourth bearing assemblies. The first and second bearing assemblies support the drive shaft portion for rotation within the housing about the central longitudinal axis, while the third and fourth bearing assemblies support the load plate for rotation relative to the offset shaft portion of the shaft. The second bearing assembly is distally disposed from the first, the third disposed distally to second, and the fourth disposed distally to third. The fourth bearing assembly is the most distally disposed bearing assembly along the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan E. Nelson, Daniel R. Baldwin, Alan R. Stockner, Robert M. Campion, Cory A. Brown, Joshua W. Steffen, Dana R. Coldren, Sana Mahmood
  • Publication number: 20180163718
    Abstract: A pump plunger is disclosed. The plunger may include a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The plunger may also include a body portion extending between the proximal end and a second transition datum, and additionally include a transition section extending between a first transition datum and the second transition datum. The transition section may have a non-linear geometric profile. A first shoulder portion may be positioned adjacent to the transition section that may extend between the second transition datum and a third datum. The third datum may be positioned radially inward of the second transition datum. The plunger may also include a tip portion positioned adjacent to the first shoulder portion that may extend between the third datum and a fourth datum positioned at the distal end. The fourth datum may be positioned radially inward of the third datum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Brown, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 9995290
    Abstract: A cryogenic pump configured for pressurizing a cryogenic fluid is provided. The cryogenic pump includes a warm end portion adapted to not contact cryogenic fluid during operation of the pump and including one or more driving components. The cryogenic pump includes a cold end portion adapted to contact cryogenic fluid during operation of the pump and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet. An insulating arrangement including an insulator plate is arranged between the warm end portion and the cold end portion and defines a first air gap between the cold end portion and the insulator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Pollard, Cory A. Brown, Alan R. Stockner, Adrienne M. Brasche
  • Patent number: 9989048
    Abstract: A method for controlling a stroke velocity in a pump includes using a sensor to detect a start of a pump stroke and an end of the pump stroke. A stroke time is calculated, the stroke time being a time period between the start of the pump stroke and the end of the pump stroke. The stroke velocity is calculated based on a stroke length and the stroke time. The stroke velocity is compared to a reference stroke velocity. A hydraulic supply pressure to the pump is increased if the calculated stroke velocity is less than the reference stroke velocity, and the hydraulic supply pressure is decreased if the calculated stroke velocity is more than the reference stroke velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil J. Bean, Alan R. Stockner, Joshua W. Steffen, Cory A. Brown
  • Publication number: 20180142629
    Abstract: A control system for a dual fuel engine having a liquid fuel supply and a gaseous fuel supply is disclosed. The control system may include at least one sensor operably coupled to a cylinder of the dual fuel engine and configured to monitor cylinder condition and transmit a cylinder condition signal. Additionally, a controller may be communicably coupled with the at least one sensor and the controller may be configured to receive the cylinder condition signal and determine whether the cylinder is operating in an abnormal operating condition. Whereas the controller determines the cylinder is operating in the abnormal operating condition, the controller sends a control signal for the liquid fuel supply to provide an amount of liquid fuel which is greater than an amount of liquid fuel supplied to the cylinder during a normal operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Thomas J. Crowell, Scott F. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20180100476
    Abstract: A fuel system is disclosed for use with an engine, including a fuel injector assembly fluidly coupled with a low-pressure fuel conduit, an accumulator, and a cap within an opening in the accumulator. The fuel injector assembly may be structured to draw in low-pressure fuel, pressurize the fuel, and store the pressurized fuel in the accumulator for injection to a combustion chamber. The cap has a pressure sensor and a pressure relief valve therein, and drains fuel leaked past fluid seals between the cap and each of the pressure sensor, the pressure relief valve, and the accumulator by way of a common drain line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Brown, Cory A. Brown, Sridhar Thangaswamy, Alan R. Stockner, Victor I. Yacoub, Zhenyu Li, Lifeng Wang, Satya Naga Deepak Pillarisetti, Scott Shafer, Robert Michael Campion, George Kodikulam Joseph
  • Publication number: 20180058218
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid pump includes a drive assembly and a pumping assembly. The drive assembly includes a cylinder. The cylinder includes an annular dump channel formed in and extending about an interior wall of the cylinder. A piston is reciprocatable within the cylinder between a first and second position. A hydraulic pressure chamber is defined by the cylinder and the piston. The piston includes an axial spill passage in communication with the pressure chamber and a transverse spill passage in communication with the axial spill passage. The transverse spill passage includes a piston dump port which is sealed to the cylinder in the first position and in the second position unsealed to the cylinder to permit fluid exit from the pressure chamber. The second position includes an over travel state and the dump area of the piston dump port when unsealed to the cylinder increases as the piston advances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil J. Bean, Alan R. Stockner, Mingchun Dong
  • Publication number: 20170254417
    Abstract: A piston arrangement comprises a circumferential piston groove that can accommodate a seal for sealing between the piston and the cylinder bore when the piston moves in a reciprocal movement. The piston arrangement comprises a first fluid flow passage, defined at least in part by the piston body that fluidly connects the forward side of the cylinder bore with a space within the piston groove underneath the seal and a second fluid flow passage, defined in part by the piston body, which fluidly connects the rear side of the cylinder bore with the space within the piston groove underneath the seal. The two fluid flow passages allow a controlled fluid flow around the piston seal and comprise a channel provided in a lateral wall of the piston groove or an orifice provided in the piston body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy S. Coleman, Alan R. Stockner, Dana R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 9689364
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fuel pump is disclosed. In certain aspect, the valve assembly includes a housing defining a valve chamber, a valve inlet in fluid communication with the valve chamber, a valve outlet in fluid communication with the valve chamber, a valve seat; a valve body movably disposed within the valve chamber, a retainer sealingly engaging the housing and defining a cavity between the base portion of the valve body and the retainer, wherein the retainer comprises one or more control orifices formed therein and configured to provide fluid communication to the cavity to regulate a position of the valve body based on at least a pressure difference between the valve chamber and the cavity, and a spring member disposed between the retainer and the valve body, wherein the spring member is configured to bias the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Mack, Alan R. Stockner, John Unes