Patents by Inventor Christopher Michael Caulkins

Christopher Michael Caulkins 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: 11162403
    Abstract: A dosing unit having a fluid path defined therethrough and including a fluid injector having an inlet tube; an inlet cup sized and shaped for receiving therein at least part of the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the inlet cup including a fluid inlet; an input tube in fluid communication with the inlet cup via the fluid inlet thereof, the input tube configured to receive fluid from a fluid source; and an insert partly disposed in the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the insert at least partly defining a fluid passage. The fluid passage is in fluid communication with the input tube and the inlet tube of the fluid injector and forms part of the fluid path of the dosing unit. The fluid passage includes a portion extending in a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Techologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Patent number: 10753252
    Abstract: A reductant dosing unit is disclosed, including a fluid injector having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A flange is disposed proximal to the fluid outlet of the fluid injector and configured to secure to a boss associated with an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine. The flange has a largely flat body portion with a through-bore in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid injector. The flange further includes an extension which extends from the body portion toward the fluid injector and which is connected to thereto. A thermal isolator is disposed between the fluid outlet of the fluid injector and the flange. The connection between the extension of the flange and the fluid injector includes a hermetic seal, preventing exhaust gases in the exhaust path from passing between the flange extension and the fluid injector. The thermal isolator is only used as a support and thermal isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Caulkins, Keith Aaron Shaw
  • Patent number: 10677138
    Abstract: A heat shield for a reductant delivery unit (RDU), the RDU including a fluid injector with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a clamp flange for attachment to a mounting boss of a vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield includes a first portion which is attached to the fluid injector so as to at least partly cover the fluid outlet thereof. The first portion serves as a thermal barrier for the fluid injector and a mechanical barrier for preventing particles in the vehicle exhaust pipe from contacting the fluid injector when the RDU is attached to the vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield further includes a second portion which extends radially outwardly from the first portion for sealing the attachment between the clamp flange and the mounting boss of the vehicle exhaust pipe when the RDU is attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Patent number: 10570803
    Abstract: A reductant delivery unit (RDU) for a selective catalytic reduction system, including a housing; a fluid inlet disposed at an upper portion of the housing; a fluid return outlet; a fluid nozzle outlet disposed at a lower portion of the housing; an injector disposed within the housing and configured to receive fluid from the fluid inlet and selectively discharge the fluid from the fluid nozzle outlet; and at least one fluid passageway disposed within or around the housing. The fluid passageway provides fluid communication along a first fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid nozzle outlet and along a second fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid return outlet so that the same fluid discharged by the injector is also used as a coolant for the RDU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Publication number: 20190292971
    Abstract: A heat shield for a reductant delivery unit (RDU), the RDU including a fluid injector with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a clamp flange for attachment to a mounting boss of a vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield includes a first portion which is attached to the fluid injector so as to at least partly cover the fluid outlet thereof. The first portion serves as a thermal barrier for the fluid injector and a mechanical barrier for preventing particles in the vehicle exhaust pipe from contacting the fluid injector when the RDU is attached to the vehicle exhaust pipe. The heat shield further includes a second portion which extends radially outwardly from the first portion for sealing the attachment between the clamp flange and the mounting boss of the vehicle exhaust pipe when the RDU is attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Publication number: 20190186319
    Abstract: A dosing unit having a fluid path defined therethrough and including a fluid injector having an inlet tube; an inlet cup sized and shaped for receiving therein at least part of the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the inlet cup including a fluid inlet; an input tube in fluid communication with the inlet cup via the fluid inlet thereof, the input tube configured to receive fluid from a fluid source; and an insert partly disposed in the inlet tube of the fluid injector, the insert at least partly defining a fluid passage. The fluid passage is in fluid communication with the input tube and the inlet tube of the fluid injector and forms part of the fluid path of the dosing unit. The fluid passage includes a portion extending in a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins
  • Publication number: 20190170104
    Abstract: An attachment assembly for a fluid injector includes a housing having a first end and a second end; a seat disposed within the housing; and a needle in the housing having a first end, the needle movable between a first position in which the first end of the needle provides a sealing engagement with the seat so as to prevent fluid from exiting the second end of the housing, and a second position in which the first end of the needle extends outwardly from the second end of the housing spaced apart from the seat for allowing fluid in the housing to exit through the second end; and a spring member biasing the needle towards the first position to prevent fluid in the housing from exiting the second end. The first end of the housing attaches to the fluid outlet of a fuel injector for providing an integrated injector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Caulkins, Keith Aaron Shaw, Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Publication number: 20190170037
    Abstract: A diesel dosing unit (DDU) is disclosed, having a fluid injector assembly. The fluid injector assembly includes a fluid injector and an attachment assembly attached to a downstream end of the fluid injector, the attachment assembly at least partly defining a fluid path in fluid communication with a fluid path of the fluid injector. The DDU further includes a DDU housing in which the injector assembly is disposed, the DDU housing being configured to directly attach to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle. The fluid injector assembly is dimensioned to largely match the dimensions of an existing injector of a reductant delivery unit (RDU) such that the DDU housing utilizes the housing of the existing RDU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Caulkins, Keith Aaron Shaw, Robert Wayne McFarland
  • Publication number: 20180363530
    Abstract: A reductant dosing unit is disclosed, including a fluid injector having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A flange is disposed proximal to the fluid outlet of the fluid injector and configured to secure to a boss associated with an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine. The flange has a largely flat body portion with a through-bore in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid injector. The flange further includes an extension which extends from the body portion toward the fluid injector and which is connected to thereto. A thermal isolator is disposed between the fluid outlet of the fluid injector and the flange. The connection between the extension of the flange and the fluid injector includes a hermetic seal, preventing exhaust gases in the exhaust path from passing between the flange extension and the fluid injector. The thermal isolator is only used as a support and thermal isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Caulkins, Keith Aaron Shaw
  • Publication number: 20180106180
    Abstract: A reductant delivery unit (RDU) for a selective catalytic reduction system, including a housing; a fluid inlet disposed at an upper portion of the housing; a fluid return outlet; a fluid nozzle outlet disposed at a lower portion of the housing; an injector disposed within the housing and configured to receive fluid from the fluid inlet and selectively discharge the fluid from the fluid nozzle outlet; and at least one fluid passageway disposed within or around the housing. The fluid passageway provides fluid communication along a first fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid nozzle outlet and along a second fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid return outlet so that the same fluid discharged by the injector is also used as a coolant for the RDU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne McFarland, Keith Aaron Shaw, Christopher Michael Caulkins