Patents by Inventor Alan Ray Stockner

Alan Ray 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: 10830194
    Abstract: A fuel system is disclosed for use with an engine. The fuel system may have a common rail, a first type of fuel injector fluidly connected to the common rail, and a second type of fuel injector fluidly connected to the common rail. The second type of fuel injector may include a pumping portion having a bore formed therein, and a plunger reciprocatingly disposed in the bore. The second type of fuel injector may also include an accumulator portion fluidly connected to the common rail and configured to receive fuel pushed from the bore of the pumping portion by the plunger, a nozzle portion, and a valve portion fluidly connecting the pumping, nozzle, and accumulator portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Dennis H. Gibson, Zhenyu (Jason) Li, Robert Michael Campion, Alan Ray Stockner, Satya Naga Deepak Pillarisetti, George Kodikulam Joseph, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10393111
    Abstract: A pumping mechanism is disclosed. The pumping mechanism may include a barrel formed of a barrel substrate and including a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and a bore between the first and second end surfaces. Each of the first and second end surfaces and the bore is coated with a metal plating. The pumping mechanism may further include a plunger formed of a plunger substrate and configured to be slidably disposed in the bore in barrel, the plunger substrate having a tribological coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ray Stockner, Aaron M. Brown, Sridhar Thangaswamy, Glenn B. Cox, John Jay Truhan, Jr., Michael J. Pollard, John P. McDonnel
  • Patent number: 10036383
    Abstract: A pump piston is disclosed. The pump piston may include a body having an actuating end, a pressurizing end opposite the actuating end, and an outer diameter that is greater at the pressurizing end than at the actuating end, wherein the outer diameter varies between the pressurizing end and the actuating end without increasing to form an outer diameter profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ray Stockner, Sana Mahmood, Joshua Steffen, Dana Ray Coldren
  • Publication number: 20180100475
    Abstract: A fuel system is disclosed for use with an engine. The fuel system may have a common rail, a first type of fuel injector fluidly connected to the common rail, and a second type of fuel injector fluidly connected to the common rail. The second type of fuel injector may include a pumping portion having a bore formed therein, and a plunger reciprocatingly disposed in the bore. The second type of fuel injector may also include an accumulator portion fluidly connected to the common rail and configured to receive fuel pushed from the bore of the pumping portion by the plunger, a nozzle portion, and a valve portion fluidly connecting the pumping, nozzle, and accumulator portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. SHAFER, Dennis H. GIBSON, Zhenyu (Jason) LI, Robert Michael CAMPION, Alan Ray STOCKNER, Satya Naga Deepak PILLARISETTI, George Kodikulam JOSEPH, Lifeng WANG
  • Patent number: 9909582
    Abstract: A pump is disclosed. The pump may include at least one pumping mechanism. The at least one pumping mechanism may include a barrel formed of a substrate having a bore and a plunger formed of a substrate and slidably disposed within the bore in the barrel. The pump may further include a coating disposed on the plunger. The coating may include a main layer containing a tribological material and a sacrificial break-in layer disposed on the main layer, the break-in layer containing a tribological material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Campion, John Jay Truhan, Jr., Joshua Steffen, Shivangini Singh Hazari, Steven Charles Taylor, Michael James Pollard, Alan Ray Stockner
  • Patent number: 9797342
    Abstract: A port injection system for gaseous fuels may include an injector body defining a hydraulic fluid inlet chamber, a hydraulic fluid exit passageway, a hydraulic fluid actuation passageway, a check valve inlet passageway fluidly connected with the hydraulic fluid actuation passageway, a valve chamber, and a gaseous fuel inlet chamber. An electrical solenoid actuator may be mounted to the injector body, with the electrical solenoid actuator including a movable armature, and a poppet valve connected to the movable armature and disposed within the valve chamber. The poppet valve may be movable between a pressurized hydraulic fluid flow blocking position and a pressurized hydraulic fluid flow passing position. A check valve may be disposed within the check valve inlet passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Dennis Henderson Gibson, Lifeng Wang, Alan Ray Stockner
  • Publication number: 20170096998
    Abstract: A pumping mechanism is disclosed. The pumping mechanism may include a barrel formed of a barrel substrate and including a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and a bore between the first and second end surfaces. Each of the first and second end surfaces and the bore is coated with a metal plating. The pumping mechanism may further include a plunger formed of a plunger substrate and configured to be slidably disposed in the bore in barrel, the plunger substrate having a tribological coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ray STOCKNER, Aaron M. BROWN, Sridhar THANGASWAMY, Glenn B. COX, John Jay TRUHAN, JR., Michael J. POLLARD, John P. MCDONNEL
  • Publication number: 20160348656
    Abstract: A support system for a pump having a plurality of pumping elements is disclosed. The support system may include a first flange, a second flange opposite the first flange, and a support member between and abutting the first and second flanges. The support system may further include a plurality of fasteners, each being coaxially aligned with a respective one of the plurality of pumping elements, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is configured to draw the actuating and pressurizing ends against the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Raymond BALDWIN, Alan Ray STOCKNER
  • Publication number: 20160298622
    Abstract: A pump piston is disclosed. The pump piston may include a body having an actuating end, a pressurizing end opposite the actuating end, and an outer diameter that is greater at the pressurizing end than at the actuating end, wherein the outer diameter varies between the pressurizing end and the actuating end without increasing to form an outer diameter profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ray STOCKNER, Sana MAHMOOD, Joshua STEFFEN, Dane Ray COLDREN
  • Publication number: 20160222949
    Abstract: A pumping mechanism includes a barrel assembly having a plunger bore. The plunger bore has a longitudinal axis. The pumping mechanism also includes a plunger configured to slide within the plunger bore parallel to the longitudinal axis. The pumping mechanism further includes a push rod separate from the plunger. The push rod is configured to move away from the plunger to be spaced from the plunger, and the push rod is further configured to move within the plunger bore to push the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Wayne STEFFEN, Dana Ray COLDREN, Alan Ray STOCKNER, Sana MAHMOOD, Robert Michael CAMPION, Sunil Jefferey BEAN
  • Publication number: 20160222959
    Abstract: A pump is disclosed. The pump may include at least one pumping mechanism. The at least one pumping mechanism may include a barrel formed of a substrate having a bore and a plunger formed of a substrate and slidably disposed within the bore in the barrel. The pump may further include a coating disposed on the plunger. The coating may include a main layer containing a tribological material and a sacrificial break-in layer disposed on the main layer, the break-in layer containing a tribological material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael CAMPION, John Jay TRUHAN, JR., Joshua STEFFEN, Shivangini Singh HAZARI, Steven Charles TAYLOR, Michael James POLLARD, Alan Ray STOCKNER
  • Publication number: 20160115922
    Abstract: A port injection system for gaseous fuels may include an injector body defining a hydraulic fluid inlet chamber, a hydraulic fluid exit passageway, a hydraulic fluid actuation passageway, a check valve inlet passageway fluidly connected with the hydraulic fluid actuation passageway, a valve chamber, and a gaseous fuel inlet chamber. An electrical solenoid actuator may be mounted to the injector body, with the electrical solenoid actuator including a movable armature, and a poppet valve connected to the movable armature and disposed within the valve chamber. The poppet valve may be movable between a pressurized hydraulic fluid flow blocking position and a pressurized hydraulic fluid flow passing position. A check valve may be disposed within the check valve inlet passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Scott F. SHAFER, Dennis Henderson GIBSON, Lifeng WANG, Alan Ray STOCKNER
  • Patent number: 9016264
    Abstract: A cryogenic fuel system having a priming circuit for a machine is disclosed. The fuel system may have a tank, configured to hold a cryogenic fluid, and a pump. A first passage may connect the tank and the pump, and a second passage may be configured to hold a cooling fluid and be located to cool the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Ray Stockner
  • Publication number: 20140116396
    Abstract: A cryogenic fuel system having a priming circuit for a machine is disclosed. The fuel system may have a tank, configured to hold a cryogenic fluid, and a pump. A first passage may connect the tank and the pump, and a second passage may be configured to hold a cooling fluid and be located to cool the first passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Alan Ray Stockner
  • Patent number: 7912687
    Abstract: A method is provided for predicting the likelihood of cavitation damage occurring on a surface of a hydrodynamic component. The method may include creating a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the hydrodynamic component, wherein creating the CFD simulation includes simulating fluid flowing relative to the hydrodynamic component. The method may also include selecting a location on the surface of the hydrodynamic component, wherein the selected location is exposed to the simulated fluid flow. The method may also include determining and analyzing at least one of a mean pressure and standard deviation, a standard deviation of the rate of change in pressure, a mean void percentage and standard deviation, and a standard deviation of the rate of change in void percentage for the flowing fluid at the selected surface location to predict the likelihood of cavitation damage occurring at the selected surface location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ray Stockner, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Manolis Gavaises, Andreas Theodorakakos
  • Publication number: 20100037863
    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 and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a piston reciprocatingly disposed within the central bore, and a spring located to bias the piston toward a first flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet. The fluid leak limiter may also have a pin configured to selectively lock the piston in a second flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: David L. Fuelberth, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Alan Ray Stockner
  • Patent number: 7661410
    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 and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a piston reciprocatingly disposed within the central bore, and a spring located to bias the piston toward a first flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet. The fluid leak limiter may also have a pin configured to selectively lock the piston in a second flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Fuelberth, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Alan Ray Stockner