Patents by Inventor Bryan Edward Nelson

Bryan Edward Nelson 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: 10711754
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a pump includes an electrical actuator having a stator and an armature, where the armature includes a top armature surface facing the stator and having an inwardly stepped-up profile that forms a raised surface at a radially inward location, and a lower, gap-forming surface at a radially outward location that forms a gap between the armature and the stator when the electrical actuator is activated to facilitate displacing fluid and avoiding production of high velocity, potentially damaging fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Sana Mahmood, Stephen R Lewis
  • Publication number: 20190170267
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a pump includes an electrical actuator having a stator and an armature, where the armature includes a top armature surface facing the stator and having an inwardly stepped-up profile that forms a raised surface at a radially inward location, and a lower, gap-forming surface at a radially outward location that forms a gap between the armature and the stator when the electrical actuator is activated to facilitate displacing fluid and avoiding production of high velocity, potentially damaging fluid flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Sana Mahmood, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9279236
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator, a pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator. The first accumulator is configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system also includes a motor drivingly connected to the pump and fluidly connected to the first accumulator. The motor is configured to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the pump. The hydraulic system further includes a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator. The first discharge valve is configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Pengfei Ma, Tonglin Shang, Gang Victor Wen, Bryan Edward Nelson, Dayao Chen
  • Patent number: 9239085
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic system having at least an implement pump, a fan-steering-braking (FSB) pump, a valve assembly, a fan drive system and one or more accumulators. The method may determine an operational state of a power source associated with the hydraulic system, actuate one or more valves of the valve assembly such that the FSB pump charges the accumulators and operates at least the fan drive system if the power source is operating at less than maximum power, and actuate one or more valves of the valve assembly such that the accumulators operate at least the fan drive system and such that the FSB pump supplements the implement pump as needed if the power source is operating at maximum power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Jeremy Todd Peterson
  • Publication number: 20150283508
    Abstract: A reductant dosing system for an engine is disclosed. The disclosed reductant dosing system includes a reservoir of reductant fluid that is connected to an inlet of a reductant pump. The pump has an outlet that is fluidly connected to the reservoir, an inlet of a pressure regulator and an inlet of an injector. The pressure regulator includes a reductant pressure control valve that fluidly connects the outlet of the reductant pump to the reservoir when the reductant pressure control valve is in an open position. A compressed gas source is fluidly connected to an air supply control valve that fluidly connects the compressed gas source to the reservoir when the air supply control valve is in an open position. The air supply control valve also has a closed position and is shifted between the open and closed positions by a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
  • Patent number: 9140166
    Abstract: A reductant dosing system for an engine is disclosed. The disclosed reductant dosing system includes a reservoir of reductant fluid that is connected to an inlet of a reductant pump. The pump has an outlet that is fluidly connected to the reservoir, an inlet of a pressure regulator and an inlet of an injector. The pressure regulator includes a reductant pressure control valve that fluidly connects the outlet of the reductant pump to the reservoir when the reductant pressure control valve is in an open position. A compressed gas source is fluidly connected to an air supply control valve that fluidly connects the compressed gas source to the reservoir when the air supply control valve is in an open position. The air supply control valve also has a closed position and is shifted between the open and closed positions by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
  • Publication number: 20140033693
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic system having at least an implement pump, a fan-steering-braking (FSB) pump, a valve assembly, a fan drive system and one or more accumulators. The method may determine an operational state of a power source associated with the hydraulic system, actuate one or more valves of the valve assembly such that the FSB pump charges the accumulators and operates at least the fan drive system if the power source is operating at less than maximum power, and actuate one or more valves of the valve assembly such that the accumulators operate at least the fan drive system and such that the FSB pump supplements the implement pump as needed if the power source is operating at maximum power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Jeremy Todd Peterson
  • Publication number: 20130318955
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator, a pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator. The first accumulator is configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system also includes a motor drivingly connected to the pump and fluidly connected to the first accumulator. The motor is configured to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the pump. The hydraulic system further includes a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator. The first discharge valve is configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Pengfei Ma, Tonglin Shang, Gang Victor Wen, Bryan Edward Nelson, Dayao Chen
  • Publication number: 20120297758
    Abstract: A large displacement hydrostatic variator is disclosed which includes an input shaft coupled to at least first and second hydrostatic pumps. Two hydrostatic pumps are utilized instead of one larger hydrostatic pump because it has been found the two smaller hydrostatic pumps can operate at a faster speed than a larger hydrostatic pump with a displacement equivalent to that of the two smaller hydrostatic pumps. Each hydrostatic pump may include a carrier that includes a plurality of recesses. The recesses may serve as cylinders for slidably accommodating a piston in each piston of each pump may be pivotally coupled to an adjustable swash plate. A hydrostatic motor may be coupled to an output shaft. The motor includes a carrier that also includes a plurality of recesses that may also serve as cylinders for each slidably accommodating a piston. Each piston of the motor may be coupled to a swash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Jeffrey Kuehn
  • Publication number: 20100050627
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit associated with a hydraulic actuator is provided having a reservoir situated to hold a supply of fluid and a pump situated to supply pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic circuit also has a pressure intensifying valve fluidly connected to the reservoir and the hydraulic actuator. The pressure intensifying valve is situated to direct fluid to the reservoir while in a first position and direct fluid to the hydraulic actuator while in a second position. The hydraulic circuit further has a flow divider including a housing with an inlet fluidly connected to the pump, a first outlet fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator, and a second outlet fluidly connected to the pressure intensifying valve. The flow divider also includes a first fluid transporting portion fluidly connected to the inlet and the first outlet and a second fluid transporting portion fluidly connected to the inlet and the second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kirat Shah
  • Publication number: 20090129951
    Abstract: An electrically powered hydraulic actuating system is disclosed. The system includes a pump that has a plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers. The plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers have a common inlet situated to supply the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers with low-pressure fluid. The plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers also have a common outlet situated to receive fluid pressurized by the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Mark Hyde, Bryan Edward Nelson