Patents by Inventor Avinash R. Manubolu
Avinash R. Manubolu 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).
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Patent number: 9341153Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body forming an actuator portion. An actuator bore is formed in the actuator portion and is at least partially defined by an inner surface and by an end surface. An actuator disposed in the actuator bore and has an outer surface such that a flow channel can be defined between the inner surface of the actuator bore and the outer surface of the actuator. A cooling flow passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore, and is adapted to supply cooling fluid to the actuator bore. A drain passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore. An internal cooling fluid flow path extends from the cooling flow passage, through the flow channel, and from the flow channel through the drain passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Stephen R. Lewis, Avinash R. Manubolu
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Publication number: 20150210156Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of fans associated with a cooling package is provided. The method includes providing a first airflow through a first heat exchanger using a first fan. The method includes regulating a speed of the first fan. The method also includes providing a second airflow through a second heat exchanger using a second fan. The second heat exchanger is spaced apart from the first heat exchanger. The method further includes regulating a speed of the second fan. The regulation of the speed of the second fan is configured to control a recirculation of at least a portion of the first airflow through the second fan.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Vivekanandhan Sundararaj, Rustin G. Metzger
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Publication number: 20130306750Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body forming an actuator portion. An actuator bore is formed in the actuator portion and is at least partially defined by an inner surface and by an end surface. An actuator disposed in the actuator bore and has an outer surface such that a flow channel can be defined between the inner surface of the actuator bore and the outer surface of the actuator. A cooling flow passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore, and is adapted to supply cooling fluid to the actuator bore. A drain passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore. An internal cooling fluid flow path extends from the cooling flow passage, through the flow channel, and from the flow channel through the drain passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Stephen R. Lewis, Avinash R. Manubolu
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Patent number: 8523090Abstract: A housing for an armature of a fuel injector, a fuel injector and a fuel injection system are disclosed. The armature housing includes a first cylindrical portion for slidably accommodating the armature pin. The first cylindrical portion has a minimum inner diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature pin. A second cylindrical portion of the armature housing accommodates the armature. The second cylindrical portion has an inner minimum diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature. The disclosed armature housing provides more reliable and more consistent movement of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Stephen R. Lewis, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan
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Patent number: 8517284Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body forming an actuator portion. An actuator bore is formed in the actuator portion and is at least partially defined by an inner surface and by an end surface. An actuator disposed in the actuator bore and has an outer surface such that a flow channel can be defined between the inner surface of the actuator bore and the outer surface of the actuator. A cooling flow passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore, and is adapted to supply cooling fluid to the actuator bore. A drain passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore. An internal cooling fluid flow path extends from the cooling flow passage, through the flow channel, and from the flow channel through the drain passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Stephen R. Lewis, Avinash R. Manubolu
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Patent number: 8505514Abstract: A common rail single fluid injection system including fuel injectors with the ability to produce multiple injection rate shapes. This is accomplished by including auxiliary filling orifices which selectively provide pressurized fluid to the check needle control chamber during injection events. In so doing, the speed and movement of the check needle is manipulated and differing injection rates may be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Lin Zhang, Stephen Robert Lewis, Zhenlong Xu, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Christopher D. Hanson
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Patent number: 8459577Abstract: A valve assembly including an armature and a valve member that are coupled when the solenoid coil is de-energized but are decoupled after the solenoid coil is energized. A first spring biases the armature and the valve member to a closed valve seat position while a second spring having a smaller preload than the first spring biases the valve member to an open valve seat position. When the solenoid coil is energized, the magnetic force of the coil overcomes the force exerted by the first spring pulling the armature away from the valve member. The valve member moves to the open valve seat position by the force exerted by the second spring. When the coil is de-energized, the magnetic force decays, thereby allowing the armature and the valve member to re-couple.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Stephen Lewis, Christopher D. Hanson
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Patent number: 8322004Abstract: A metallic fuel system component includes an internal surface and an external surface. The metallic fuel system component is made by inducing compressive residual stress in only a portion of the internal surface of the metallic fuel system component by transmitting a laser shock wave through the metallic fuel system component from the external surface to the internal surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Caterpilar Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Alan R. Stockner, Dennis H. Gibson, Marion B. Grant, Jr., Avinash R. Manubolu
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Publication number: 20120103308Abstract: A pressure balancing orifice plate for a fuel injector device may include a cylindrical body having a top surface, a bottom surface, an annular outer surface, and a body longitudinal axis, a balance pressure relief orifice extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and a raised valve seat extending upwardly from the top surface and surrounding the balance pressure relief orifice. The valve seat may have a central seat surface encircling the balance pressure relief orifice and a plurality of leaf portions extending radially outwardly from the central seat surface and defining drainage channels there between. A width WC of the drainage channels may increase as the radial distance from the balance pressure relief orifice increases.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventors: Gregory W. Hefler, Avinash R. Manubolu, Bryan D. Moore
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Publication number: 20120067981Abstract: A solenoid actuator includes a hard guide piece and a soft flux piece. The hard guide piece has a stop surface ground to create a final air gap distance between the soft flux piece and a stator assembly when the stop surface on the guide piece is in contact with the stator assembly. The final air gap is set by grinding the stop surface on the guide piece so that the distance between the stop surface on the guide piece and a top surface on the soft flux piece along an axis of the guide bore is equal to the final air gap. The step of grinding the armature assembly may be done after attaching the guide piece and the flux piece together. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of grinding the stop surface and associated guide surface(s) are performed in a single chucking.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Stephen R. Lewis, Daniel R. Ibrahim
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Publication number: 20120061491Abstract: A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Avinash R. Manubolu, Nadeem N. Bunni
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Patent number: 8083206Abstract: A solenoid actuator includes a hard guide piece and a soft flux piece. The hard guide piece has a stop surface ground to create a final air gap distance between the soft flux piece and a stator assembly when the stop surface on the guide piece is in contact with the stator assembly. The final air gap is set by grinding the stop surface on the guide piece so that the distance between the stop surface on the guide piece and a top surface on the soft flux piece along an axis of the guide bore is equal to the final air gap. The step of grinding the armature assembly may be done after attaching the guide piece and the flux piece together. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of grinding the stop surface and associated guide surface(s) are performed in a single chucking.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Stephen R. Lewis, Daniel R. Ibrahim
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Patent number: 8074903Abstract: A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jayaramanaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Avinash R. Manubolu, Nadeem N. Bunni
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Publication number: 20110220064Abstract: A common rail single fluid injection system including fuel injectors with the ability to produce multiple injection rate shapes. This is accomplished by including auxiliary filling orifices which selectively provide pressurized fluid to the check needle control chamber during injection events. In so doing, the speed and movement of the check needle is manipulated and differing injection rates may be achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Lin Zhang, Stephen Robert Lewis, Zhenlong Xu, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Christopher D. Hanson
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Patent number: 7980224Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Bradley E. Bartley, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Dianqi Fang, Michael Gerstner, Christopher D. Hanson, Jeffrey M. Mullinix
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Publication number: 20110147495Abstract: A housing for an armature of a fuel injector, a fuel injector and a fuel injection system are disclosed. The armature housing includes a first cylindrical portion for slidably accommodating the armature pin. The first cylindrical portion has a minimum inner diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature pin. A second cylindrical portion of the armature housing accommodates the armature. The second cylindrical portion has an inner minimum diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature. The disclosed armature housing provides more reliable and more consistent movement of the armature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Stephen R. Lewis, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan
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Patent number: 7886718Abstract: A fuel injector includes a body piece that defines a nozzle supply passage and a chamber in fluid communication therewith and configured to contain a fluid pressure within the fuel injector. The body piece has a threaded segment and a second, unthreaded segment that includes an outer surface of the fuel injector. A tip piece is clamped via a clamping piece to the body piece to form a fluid seal therewith, and a needle check extends within the body piece and the tip piece. The body piece is configured to contain fluid pressures, for example up to and exceeding 200 MPa, and has a wall thickness between the chamber and the unthreaded segment that is linked to a fluid pressure of fuel passing through the chamber. The fuel injector is configured via integrating portions of a nozzle case and a body guide to contain the extremely high fuel pressures.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Stephen R. Lewis, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Zhenlong Xu
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Publication number: 20100288850Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body forming an actuator portion. An actuator bore is formed in the actuator portion and is at least partially defined by an inner surface and by an end surface. An actuator disposed in the actuator bore and has an outer surface such that a flow channel can be defined between the inner surface of the actuator bore and the outer surface of the actuator. A cooling flow passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore, and is adapted to supply cooling fluid to the actuator bore. A drain passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore. An internal cooling fluid flow path extends from the cooling flow passage, through the flow channel, and from the flow channel through the drain passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Stephan R. Lewis, Avinash R. Manubolu
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Publication number: 20100276520Abstract: A metallic fuel system component includes an internal surface and an external surface. The metallic fuel system component is made by inducing compressive residual stress in only a portion of the internal surface of the metallic fuel system component by transmitting a laser shock wave through the metallic fuel system component from the external surface to the internal surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Alan R. Stockner, Dennis H. Gibson, Marion B. Grant, JR., Avinash R. Manubolu
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Publication number: 20100176223Abstract: A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Avinash R. Manubolu, Nadeem N. Bunni