Patents by Inventor Benjamin Ray Tower

Benjamin Ray Tower 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: 20220282692
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a pressurized fuel supply, and a fuel injector fluidly connected to the pressurized fuel supply. The fuel injector includes a valve seat plate forming a valve seat, an injection control valve, and a nozzle cavity. A filter, which can include a 2-dimensional filter, is positioned partially within the valve seat plate and partially within an injector body to filter an incoming flow of high-pressure fuel. The valve seat plate and filter are integrated in a valve seat plate and filter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Manjunath Bannur Nagaraja, Benjamin Ray Tower, Venkata R. Tatikonda, Adam Charles Hill
  • Patent number: 8596247
    Abstract: A fuel delivery assembly for delivering a flow of fuel to a fuel injector includes a securing member including a securing member opening extending through the securing member such that the securing member is generally cylindrical. The securing member opening includes an inner surface that includes a securing member projection. The fuel delivery assembly also includes a quill tube including a quill tube opening extending through the quill tube such that the quill tube is generally cylindrical. The quill tube opening is configured to receive the flow of fuel and direct the flow of fuel to the fuel injector. The quill tube includes an outer surface that includes a quill tube projection. The securing member opening is configured to receive at least a portion of the quill tube, and the securing member projection and the quill tube projection are configured to engage in an interference fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Ray Tower, Craig Phillip Hittle, Michael Patrick Harmon
  • Publication number: 20120012083
    Abstract: A fuel delivery assembly for delivering a flow of fuel to a fuel injector includes a securing member including a securing member opening extending through the securing member such that the securing member is generally cylindrical. The securing member opening includes an inner surface that includes a securing member projection. The fuel delivery assembly also includes a quill tube including a quill tube opening extending through the quill tube such that the quill tube is generally cylindrical. The quill tube opening is configured to receive the flow of fuel and direct the flow of fuel to the fuel injector. The quill tube includes an outer surface that includes a quill tube projection. The securing member opening is configured to receive at least a portion of the quill tube, and the securing member projection and the quill tube projection are configured to engage in an interference fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin Ray Tower, Craig Phillip Hittle, Michael Patrick Harmon
  • Publication number: 20110297125
    Abstract: A common rail fuel system includes a reverse flow check valve fluidly positioned between each of a plurality of common rail fuel injectors and an outlet of a high pressure pump. The reverse flow check valves divide the overall system fluid volume into an upstream common volume and a plurality of separate downstream volumes. The upstream common volume is greater than the sum of the separate downstream volumes. The reverse flow check valve is movable between a first configuration with a large flow area and a second configuration with a small flow area. The reverse flow check valve associated with each of the individual fuel injectors may be housed in a quill that fluidly connects the fuel injectors to the high pressure common rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Michael David Gerstner, Kenneth C. Adams, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Zhenyu Li, Benjamin Ray Tower
  • Patent number: 7658179
    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 with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a sleeve piston. The fluid leak limiter may also have a spring located to bias the sleeve piston toward a first flow-blocking position. The sleeve piston may be movable by a first pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a flow-passing position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is allowed to flow to the fluid outlet. The sleeve piston may also be movable by a second pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a second flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allyn P. Bock, Aaron Conrad Luft, Benjamin Ray Tower
  • Publication number: 20090295100
    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 with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a sleeve piston. The fluid leak limiter may also have a spring located to bias the sleeve piston toward a first flow-blocking position. The sleeve piston may be movable by a first pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a flow-passing position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is allowed to flow to the fluid outlet. The sleeve piston may also be movable by a second pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet against the bias of the spring toward a second flow-blocking position at which fluid from the fluid inlet is inhibited from flowing to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Allyn P. Bock, Aaron Conrad Luft, Benjamin Ray Tower
  • Publication number: 20080022974
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve is provided for a common rail fuel system. The pressure relief valve has a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and a central bore fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet. The pressure relief valve also has a single valve seat and a first valve element movable to selectively block a flow of fluid through the single valve seat. The pressure relief valve further has a second valve element disposed within the central bore of the housing and movable to selectively block a flow of fluid through the central bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Mandi Rae Ferleyko, Benjamin Ray Tower, Bryan D. Moore, Koti Ratnam Padarthy, Fergal Michael O'Shea, Todd Alan Johnson, James Dl