Patents by Inventor Curtis John Graham

Curtis John Graham 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: 20250187123
    Abstract: Typically, fluids used in fracking operations erode valve seats in the fluid end of the reciprocating pump. Thus, these valve seats must frequently be replaced by new valve seats. Accordingly, a remanufacturing process is disclosed that successively cleans and/or grinds manually or mechanically at least the carbide inserts from used valve seats until the inserts are reusable. This reduces material costs and promotes efficiency and sustainability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2025
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Abel NORIEGA, II, Curtis John GRAHAM, Christopher Anthony KINNEY, Connor J. DOCHERTY, Blake MESSER
  • Patent number: 12263549
    Abstract: Typically, fluids used in fracking operations erode valve seats in the fluid end of the reciprocating pump. Thus, these valve seats must frequently be replaced by new valve seats. Accordingly, a remanufacturing process is disclosed that successively cleans and/or grinds manually or mechanically at least the carbide inserts from used valve seats until the inserts are reusable. This reduces material costs and promotes efficiency and sustainability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Abel Noriega, II, Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney, Connor J Docherty, Blake Messer
  • Publication number: 20250065452
    Abstract: Typically, fluids used in fracking operations erode valve seats in the fluid end of the reciprocating pump. Thus, these valve seats must frequently be replaced by new valve seats. Accordingly, a remanufacturing process is disclosed that successively cleans and/or grinds manually or mechanically at least the carbide inserts from used valve seats until the inserts are reusable. This reduces material costs and promotes efficiency and sustainability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Abel NORIEGA, II, Curtis John GRAHAM, Christopher Anthony KINNEY, Connor J DOCHERTY, Blake MESSER
  • Patent number: 12163606
    Abstract: A fitting has a first housing including a first body and a second body. The first body defines a first channel and a second channel, and second body defines a third channel that is co-planar with the first channel and a fourth channel that is co-planar with the first channel. First bearings are disposed within the first channel and the third channel, where the first bearings rotatably coupled the first housing to the second housing. Additionally, second bearings are disposed within the second channel and the fourth channel, the second bearings rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing. A plug couples to the first housing, a gasket is disposed between the plug and the first housing, and a passage is defined at least in part by the first housing, the second housing, and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney, Robert E. Sharp, Ryan Dean Macy
  • Patent number: 12158143
    Abstract: A power end frame includes a housing and a face plate secured to the housing. During use, components of the power end frame, including the housing and the face plate, are subjected to large tensile stresses. This disclosure describes a method of imparting compressive stresses in the power end frame to resist these large tensile stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney
  • Publication number: 20230143692
    Abstract: A fitting has a first housing including a first body and a second body. The first body defines a first channel and a second channel, and second body defines a third channel that is co-planar with the first channel and a fourth channel that is co-planar with the first channel. First bearings are disposed within the first channel and the third channel, where the first bearings rotatably coupled the first housing to the second housing. Additionally, second bearings are disposed within the second channel and the fourth channel, the second bearings rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing. A plug couples to the first housing, a gasket is disposed between the plug and the first housing, and a passage is defined at least in part by the first housing, the second housing, and the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney, Robert E. Sharp, Ryan Dean Macy
  • Patent number: 11618112
    Abstract: A remanufactured pinion shaft includes a salvage member secured to a replacement member. The salvage member may be formed from a damaged pinion shaft and includes first gear teeth proximate a first axial end and a first alignment member proximate a second axial end. The replacement member includes second gear teeth proximate a first axial end and a second alignment member proximate a second axial end. The first alignment member and the second alignment member cooperate to transmit rotational motion between the first salvage member and the replacement member and/or align the salvage member relative to the replacement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney
  • Patent number: 11585288
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head having a top deck, a fire deck, and an igniter post extending upward from the fire deck. An igniter sleeve is within an igniter bore in the cylinder head and includes a locating surface clamped against an upward facing stop surface of the cylinder head. A tip coolant clearance is defined axially between a sleeve tip and the fire deck, and a body coolant clearance is defined peripherally between the igniter sleeve and the cylinder head and is continuously circumferential of the igniter sleeve axially between the sleeve tip and a coolant cavity formed in the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R Chittenden, Viorel Petrariu, Curtis John Graham
  • Publication number: 20210340978
    Abstract: A power end frame includes a housing and a face plate secured to the housing. During use, components of the power end frame, including the housing and the face plate, are subjected to large tensile stresses. This disclosure describes a method of imparting compressive stresses in the power end frame to resist these large tensile stresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney
  • Publication number: 20210332876
    Abstract: A remanufactured pinion shaft includes a salvage member secured to a replacement member. The salvage member may be formed from a damaged pinion shaft and includes first gear teeth proximate a first axial end and a first alignment member proximate a second axial end. The replacement member includes second gear teeth proximate a first axial end and a second alignment member proximate a second axial end. The first alignment member and the second alignment member cooperate to transmit rotational motion between the first salvage member and the replacement member and/or align the salvage member relative to the replacement member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney
  • Patent number: 10471554
    Abstract: A method for remanufacturing or repairing a cylinder head having a bore configured to receive a fuel injector comprises machining a portion of a surface forming the bore to remove imperfections, inserting a repair component into the bore proximate the machined portion of the bore, and spraying material into the bore proximate the machined portion and the repair component, thereby holding the component into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Robert E. Sharp, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Robert Louis Brockman
  • Publication number: 20190061072
    Abstract: A method for remanufacturing or repairing a cylinder head having a bore configured to receive a fuel injector comprises machining a portion of a surface forming the bore to remove imperfections, inserting a repair component into the bore proximate the machined portion of the bore, and spraying material into the bore proximate the machined portion and the repair component, thereby holding the component into place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Robert E. Sharp, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Robert Louis Brockman
  • Patent number: 10166629
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an engine block is disclosed. In embodiments, the method includes forming an expansion hole in a block body of the engine block that encircles an engine block bore at a head face of the engine block. The method also includes placing an insert into the expansion hole, the insert including an insert body. The method further includes placing a reaction material between the insert and the block body. The method yet further includes forming an insert bond layer between the insert and block body using the reaction material. The method still further includes forming an insert bore through the insert body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Douglas Young, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Curtis John Graham, Luis A Vazquez
  • Patent number: 10082137
    Abstract: A relief valve assembly includes a housing assembly defining a chamber therein. The relief valve assembly includes a piston. The piston may be at least partially disposed within the chamber. The relief valve assembly includes a pilot inlet. The pilot inlet may be configured to provide a pilot pressure proximate a second end of the chamber. The relief valve assembly includes an overpressure inlet sealed from a first end of the chamber by the piston. The overpressure inlet may be configured to provide an inlet pressure which may actuate the piston when the inlet pressure exceeds the pilot pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Samuel Jaroslav Stafl
  • Publication number: 20170204850
    Abstract: A relief valve assembly includes a housing assembly defining a chamber therein. The relief valve assembly includes a piston. The piston may be at least partially disposed within the chamber. The relief valve assembly includes a pilot inlet. The pilot inlet may be configured to provide a pilot pressure proximate a second end of the chamber. The relief valve assembly includes an overpressure inlet sealed from a first end of the chamber by the piston. The overpressure inlet may be configured to provide an inlet pressure which may actuate the piston when the inlet pressure exceeds the pilot pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Samuel Jaroslav Stafl
  • Patent number: 9657682
    Abstract: A cylinder liner assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The cylinder liner assembly may include a liner having a hollow generally cylindrical body extending from a top end to a bottom end along a longitudinal axis, and an internal annular cuff ring groove formed at the top end of the liner. An internal surface of the internal cuff ring groove may include a metal spray coating having a thermal conductivity that is less than a thermal conductivity of a base material of the liner to act as a thermal insulating layer. A cuff ring may be disposed within the internal cuff ring groove at the top end of the liner in contact with the metal spray coating. A seal may be disposed around an outer circumferential surface of the liner approximately in axial alignment with an internal axial end of the internal cuff ring groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Taylor Douglas Young
  • Publication number: 20170107941
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an engine block is disclosed. In embodiments, the method includes forming an expansion hole in a block body of the engine block that encircles an engine block bore at a head face of the engine block. The method also includes placing an insert into the expansion hole, the insert including an insert body. The method further includes placing a reaction material between the insert and the block body. The method yet further includes forming an insert bond layer between the insert and block body using the reaction material. The method still further includes forming an insert bore through the insert body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Taylor Douglas Young, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Curtis John Graham, Luis A Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20160356239
    Abstract: A cylinder liner assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The cylinder liner assembly may include a liner having a hollow generally cylindrical body extending from a top end to a bottom end along a longitudinal axis, and an internal annular cuff ring groove formed at the top end of the liner. An internal surface of the internal cuff ring groove may include a metal spray coating having a thermal conductivity that is less than a thermal conductivity of a base material of the liner to act as a thermal insulating layer. A cuff ring may be disposed within the internal cuff ring groove at the top end of the liner in contact with the metal spray coating. A seal may be disposed around an outer circumferential surface of the liner approximately in axial alignment with an internal axial end of the internal cuff ring groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Curtis John GRAHAM, Daniel Thomas CAVANAUGH, Taylor Douglas YOUNG
  • Patent number: 9353702
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an engine block is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an engine block including a cylinder bore and a top deck with a head face including a predetermined surface roughness. The method also includes masking the cylinder bore with a masking plug, the masking plug being located at a predetermined insertion distance measured from a masking plug outer surface to the head face. The method further includes applying a corrosion resistant coating to the top deck over the head face and machine finishing the engine block including the coating to the engine block specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Sharp, Adam William Ostein, Curtis John Graham, Jarrod David Moss, Bharat Kumar Meduru
  • Publication number: 20160061143
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an engine block is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an engine block including a cylinder bore and a top deck with a head face including a predetermined surface roughness. The method also includes masking the cylinder bore with a masking plug, the masking plug being located at a predetermined insertion distance measured from a masking plug outer surface to the head face. The method further includes applying a corrosion resistant coating to the top deck over the head face and machine finishing the engine block including the coating to the engine block specifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Robert E. Sharp, Adam William Ostein, Curtis John Graham, Jarrod David Moss, Bharat Kumar Meduru