Patents by Inventor Chris Hoops

Chris Hoops 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: 11035334
    Abstract: An ignition system for an engine includes a sparkplug, ignition circuitry electrically connected to the sparkplug, and an ignition control unit structured to energize the ignition circuitry to fire the sparkplug at an ignition timing, detect a fault condition caused by an abnormal response of the sparkplug to the energizing, and to energize the ignition circuitry to dry fire the sparkplug at an offset timing such as during an exhaust, stroke based on the detection of the fault condition. Dry firing the sparkplug reduces a break down voltage required to subsequently fire the sparkplug and extends sparkplug service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Jay Cress, Chris Hoops
  • Patent number: 9429101
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The piston includes an upper surface configured to at least partly face a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The upper surface includes a combustion bowl surface, and a squish face having an internal edge disposed a first distance from the longitudinal axis along a radial direction. The combustion bowl surface includes a planar surface extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the piston, a first concave surface disposed outside the planar surface in the radial direction, the first concave surface having a first radius of curvature, and a second concave surface disposed outside the first concave surface in the radial direction, the second concave surface having a second radius of curvature, the second radius of curvature being smaller than the first radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nacke, Stuart Niese, Aaron Ness, Fabio Menotti, Chris Hoops, Andrew Gaarder
  • Publication number: 20150053167
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The piston includes an upper surface configured to at least partly face a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The upper surface includes a combustion bowl surface, and a squish face having an internal edge disposed a first distance from the longitudinal axis along a radial direction. The combustion bowl surface includes a planar surface extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the piston, a first concave surface disposed outside the planar surface in the radial direction, the first concave surface having a first radius of curvature, and a second concave surface disposed outside the first concave surface in the radial direction, the second concave surface having a second radius of curvature, the second radius of curvature being smaller than the first radius of curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nacke, Stuart Niese, Aaron Ness, Fabio Menotti, Chris Hoops, Andrew Gaarder