Patents by Inventor Avtar S. Sandhu

Avtar S. Sandhu 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: 7472844
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle assembly is disclosed. The assembly may include a nozzle casing, a first tip member, and a second tip member. The first tip member may extend longitudinally within the nozzle casing and may define first and second shoulders on the first tip member. The second tip member may extend longitudinally within the nozzle casing and may be arranged in predetermined rotational alignment with the first tip member. The second tip member may define a third shoulder on the second tip member configured to interact with the first shoulder to oppose rotation of the first tip member relative the second tip member in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the first tip member. The second tip member may further define a fourth shoulder on the second tip member configured to interact with the second shoulder to oppose rotation of the first tip member relative the second tip member in a second direction about a longitudinal axis of the first tip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Avtar S. Sandhu, Christopher A. Greer, Venu G. Garimidi
  • Patent number: 7370854
    Abstract: A compression spring assembly is disclosed herein. The compression spring assembly may be used in a fuel injection device and may include a compression spring having first and second adjacent turns spaced apart by a distance. The compression spring assembly may further include a damping element arranged between the first and second turns and having first and second spaced apart support regions separated by an arched third support region. The first and second support regions may be configured to exert force on a surface of the first turn, and the third support region may be configured to exert force on a surface of the second turn to at least inhibit movement of the first turn toward the second turn during operation of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Avtar S Sandhu, Sami I. El-Sayed
  • Patent number: 6908040
    Abstract: A unit injector assembly is provided that helps to ensure maximum injection flow while minimizing the harmful affects of pressure waves within the unit injector assembly. The unit injector assembly has a first fuel passageway extending from the plunger piston pumping chamber to the tip check stem injection chamber and valve seat. The unit injector assembly has a second fuel passageway extending from the tip check stem injection chamber to a fuel control valve assembly. A flow restricting fuel passageway connects one of the pumping chamber and the first fuel passageway with the second fuel passageway and acts to minimize cavitation at the valve seat and effectively eliminates pressure waves within the unit injector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mingchun Dong, Avtar S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20040217206
    Abstract: A unit injector assembly is provided that helps to ensure maximum injection flow while minimizing the harmful affects of pressure waves within the unit injector assembly. The unit injector assembly has a first fuel passageway extending from the plunger piston pumping chamber to the tip check stem injection chamber and valve seat. The unit injector assembly has a second fuel passageway extending from the tip check stem injection chamber to a fuel control valve assembly. A flow restricting fuel passageway connects one of the pumping chamber and the first fuel passageway with the second fuel passageway and acts to minimize cavitation at the valve seat and effectively eliminates pressure waves within the unit injector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Mingchun Dong, Avtar S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 6349920
    Abstract: A spool slides in a bore to open and close a valve. The spool moves in a first direction until the spool forcibly engages a seat in the bore, closing the valve. The spool moves in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the spool disengages with the seat, opening the valve. Proper configuration of the spool and bore geometries in the vicinity of the seat keeps static pressure from developing that could otherwise retard spool valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Charles B. Looney, Wade J. Robel, Larry R. Mitzelfelt, Jr., David E. Martin, James D. Griffith, J. Duwayne Manahan, Avtar S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 6029682
    Abstract: A spool slides in a bore to open and close a valve. An armature moveable relative to the spool is biased in a first direction. A coupling biasing member biases the armature and the spool toward each other. When a solenoid is actuated the armature and the spool move in a second direction opposite the first direction until the spool forcibly engages a seat in the bore, closing the valve and stopping the spool movement. The armature continues to move in the second direction, causing the coupling to apply additional force to keep the spool engaged against the seat, until the armature reaches a second position where it forcibly engages with the spool. This stops the armature from moving further in the second direction, but allows the stationary armature to continue applying force to keep the spool engaged against the seat. When the solenoid is de-energized the armature bias sends the armature back in the first direction until it strikes the spool, causing the spool to rapidly unseat, thus opening the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Charles B. Looney, Larry R. Mitzelfelt, Jr., David E. Martin, James D. Griffith, Kenneth A. Caron, William T. Groff, J. Duwayne Manahan, Avtar S. Sandhu, Wade J. Robel
  • Patent number: 5494220
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly having a valve with a valve seat and at least one pressure-equalizing fuel cavity to reduce pressure variations at the valve seat when the valve is in a closed position. The fuel injector assembly has a fuel injector body and a fuel inlet formed in the fuel injector body. A nozzle with a nozzle fuel cavity is formed in the fuel injector body, and a nozzle check is disposed for reciprocating movement in the nozzle. A valve having a valve element and a valve seat is disposed in the fuel injector body. The valve element has a first position relative to the valve seat in which the fuel inlet is fluidly isolated from the nozzle fuel cavity and a second position relative to the valve seat in which the fuel inlet is fluidly coupled to the nozzle fuel cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, Avtar S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 4348206
    Abstract: Method for simulating the effect upon liquid properties after the passage of a slurry composed of a mixture of solid particulates and liquid through a length of pipeline uses for simulation an apparatus including an outer cylinder closed at both ends. The outer cylinder is horizontally mounted for rotation about its axis and includes a removable cap. Mounted coaxially within the outer cylinder is a relatively small diameter cylindrical pipe. The outer cylinder is made of a material which is substantially inert with respect to a slurry. The outer surface of the cylindrical pipe corresponds to the material for which the actual pipeline is designed. The outer cylinder and the cylindrical pipe are sized so that by rotating the outer cylinder, with a test slurry located between the cylindrical pipe and outer cylinder, for a predetermined time at a chosen speed, the properties of the water in the slurry after passage through the pipeline is simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: Bechtel International Corporation
    Inventor: Avtar S. Sandhu