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).

  • Publication number: 20170130708
    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: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20170122280
    Abstract: A fuel injector (1) is provided which comprises a valve member (11), a valve member guide (12) and a spring chamber (40). Discharge of fuel out of a fuel injector outlet (21) is controlled by movement of the valve member (11) within a bore (23) of the valve member guide (12). The spring chamber (40) contains a biasing member (50), for example a compression spring, which biases the valve member (11) into contact with a valve seat (20) when in a closed configuration. A fuel supply passage (80) is provided, which by-passes the spring chamber (40), to direct a flow of the fuel to an outlet chamber (22) of the fuel injector (1) and a cleaning fluid supply passage (90) is provided to supply a pressurised cleaning fluid to a second end (25) of the bore (23) to restrict leakage of the fuel from the outlet chamber (22) towards the second end (25) of the bore (23) along a clearance (29) extending between the valve member (11) and the valve member guide (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Graeme Mawhinney, Alan R. Stockner, Paul Stark, David Mack
  • Publication number: 20170037824
    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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Mack, Alan R. Stockner, John Unes
  • Publication number: 20170030344
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil J. Bean, Alan R. Stockner, Joshua W. Steffen, Cory A. Brown
  • Publication number: 20160377068
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: 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: 20160348628
    Abstract: The disclosure describes valve assemblies including a valve body movably disposed within a valve chamber and defining at least a portion of a cavity, wherein the cavity is used to regulate a position of the valve body between a first end and a second end of the valve chamber based on at least a pressure in the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: SUNIL BEAN, ALAN R. STOCKNER, SANA MAHMOOD
  • Patent number: 9482165
    Abstract: A machine includes a compression ignition engine fueled from common rail fuel injectors that predominately inject natural gas fuel that is compression ignited with a small pilot injection of liquid diesel fuel. When an engine shutdown command is communicated to an electronic controller, the supply of gaseous fuel to the gas rail is stopped and the gaseous fuel common rail is depressurized by continuing to run the engine and inject gaseous and liquid fuels while commanding a liquid pressure greater than the gas pressure. After the gas rail pressure has achieved an acceptable shutdown pressure, the engine is stopped. The gas rail pressure is then reduced to atmospheric pressure followed by the liquid fuel common rail being reduced to atmosphere pressure after stopping the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Nandagopal Methil, Daniel Puckett
  • Patent number: 9447740
    Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed for use in an engine system. The fuel injector may have a body defining a gas inlet, an oil inlet, and an oil outlet. The fuel injector may also have a nozzle connected to the body and having a base end in fluid communication with the gas inlet, and an injection tip located opposite the base end. The fuel injector may also have a valve check disposed in the nozzle and movable to selectively block and unblock the injection tip of the nozzle, and a plunger disposed in the body between the oil inlet and the oil outlet. The plunger may be movable between a flow-passing position and a flow-blocking position to cause movement of the valve check through the injection tip. The injector may further have a solenoid actuator configured to selectively move the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Brown, David E. Hackett, Lifeng Wang, Scott F. Shafer, Alan R. Stockner, Martin A. Lehman
  • Publication number: 20160201659
    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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: 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: 20160146199
    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: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Pollard, Cory A. Brown, Alan R. Stockner, Adrienne M. Brasche
  • Publication number: 20160131132
    Abstract: A seal for a piston of a positive displacement pump includes an annular seal element, a radially outer surface of the annular seal element defining a longitudinal axis, and an annular energizer disposed between the annular seal element and the longitudinal axis along a radial direction. The annular energizer has a resilience along the radial direction to bias the annular seal element away from the longitudinal axis along the radial direction, the radial direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Dana R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 9234452
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an engine system having liquid and gaseous fuel systems, each of which injects fuel directly into an engine cylinder. A controller monitors and controls engine operation in a normal mode, during which the engine produces rated power, and in a limp-home mode, which is used when an abnormal operating condition of the gaseous fuel system is present. During limp-home mode operation, the engine uses more liquid fuel and less or no gaseous fuel relative to the normal mode, and produces power that is less than rated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Frank J. Lombardi
  • Patent number: 9234472
    Abstract: A dual fuel compression ignition engine operates by injecting gaseous fuel and liquid diesel fuel from a common fuel injector directly into each engine cylinder. The gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a small pilot injection quantity of the liquid diesel fuel. Evaporated natural gas from a cryogenic tank and/or a fuel conditioning module is dosed into an intake manifold of the engine with an electronically controlled supply valve. The electronically controlled supply valve may open to supply evaporated gas to the intake manifold contingent upon combustion conditions in the engine cylinder demonstrating a low risk of methane slip, and the dosing quantities are limited to reduce risk of ignition of an air/gas mixture in the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark F. Sommars, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 9228507
    Abstract: A dual fuel common rail system may be operated in a regular mode in which a relatively large charge of gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a relatively small injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel. The dual fuel system may be operated in a single fuel limp home mode in which liquid diesel fuel is injected at higher pressures. Over pressurization of the gaseous fuel side of the fuel system due to leaked liquid fuel is avoided by regularly injecting leaked liquid fuel, but not gaseous fuel, from the gaseous nozzle outlet set during the limp home mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Joshua W. Steffen, Dana R. Coldren, Alan R. Stockner, Hoisan Kim, Dianqi Fang
  • Publication number: 20150369143
    Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed for use in an engine system. The fuel injector may have a body defining a gas inlet, an oil inlet, and an oil outlet. The fuel injector may also have a nozzle connected to the body and having a base end in fluid communication with the gas inlet, and an injection tip located opposite the base end. The fuel injector may also have a valve check disposed in the nozzle and movable to selectively block and unblock the injection tip of the nozzle, and a plunger disposed in the body between the oil inlet and the oil outlet. The plunger may be movable between a flow-passing position and a flow-blocking position to cause movement of the valve check through the injection tip. The injector may further have a solenoid actuator configured to selectively move the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Aaron Michael BROWN, David E. HACKETT, Lifeng WANG, Scott F. SHAFER, Alan R. STOCKNER, Martin A. LEHMAN
  • Patent number: 8991363
    Abstract: A machine includes a machine body and a dual fuel compression ignition engine attached to the machine body. A dual fuel system is operably coupled to supply the engine with liquid diesel fuel and natural gas fuel directly into respective cylinders of the engine. The fuel system includes an insulated tank for storing the natural gas fuel, a pressure sensor positioned to measure fluid pressure within the tank, and a pump for drawing the natural gas fuel from the tank. An electronic controller is in communication with the pressure sensor and has a cryogenic system diagnostics algorithm executable thereon that is configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, detect a cryogenic system fault based on the signal, and generate a notification signal based on the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua W. Steffen, Dana R. Coldren, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 8944033
    Abstract: A dual fuel engine powers a machine by burning natural gas and liquid diesel fuel. When operating in a low load mode, some of the engine cylinders are fueled with a high ratio of diesel/gas, and the remaining cylinders are unfueled. When operating in a high load mode, all of the engine cylinders are fueled with a low ratio of diesel/gas. When operating in a limp home mode, the fuel injectors are configured to inject only diesel fuel into all of the plurality of engine cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Joshua W. Steffen, Gregg W. Uhland, Brian K. Garman, Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20140346254
    Abstract: A fuel injector comprises a liquid fuel cavity and a gas fuel cavity disposed within an injector cavity housing a liquid needle valve stem and a gas needle valve stem, respectively. The gas needle valve stem includes a guide stem portion distal to the injector tip and a check proximal to the injector tip. A drain passage terminates in a drain annulus groove disposed in a guide cavity wall of a gas valve guide cavity. The gas valve guide cavity houses the guide stem portion defining a clearance between the guide cavity wall below the drain annulus groove and the guide stem portion. The liquid fuel from the drain passage flows to the gas needle valve stem and an inner surface of the gas fuel cavity, through the clearance. The liquid fuel drained through the clearance collects in a plurality of grooves on the check.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Alan R. Stockner, David T. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20140331964
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine is fueled from common rail fuel injectors that predominately inject natural gas fuel that is compression ignited with a small pilot injection of liquid diesel fuel. Prior to servicing the engine, a service tool may establish a communication link with an electronic controller that controls operation of the engine. Pressure information for a gaseous fuel common rail and a liquid fuel common rail are displayed with the service tool, when the engine is stopped, in order to determine whether the rails are completely depressurized indicating that it is then o.k. to perform servicing tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Grant, Frank Lombardi, Daniel R. Puckett, Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20140316677
    Abstract: A machine includes a compression ignition engine fueled from common rail fuel injectors that predominately inject natural gas fuel that is compression ignited with a small pilot injection of liquid diesel fuel. When an engine shutdown command is communicated to an electronic controller, the supply of gaseous fuel to the gas rail is stopped and the gaseous fuel common rail is depressurized by continuing to run the engine and inject gaseous and liquid fuels while commanding a liquid pressure greater than the gas pressure. After the gas rail pressure has achieved an acceptable shutdown pressure, the engine is stopped. The gas rail pressure is then reduced to atmospheric pressure followed by the liquid fuel common rail being reduced to atmosphere pressure after stopping the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Nandagopal Methil, Daniel Puckett