Patents by Inventor Daniel Reese
Daniel Reese 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).
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Patent number: 9032788Abstract: A common rail fuel system diagnostic algorithm is executed by an engine control and real time to detect and identify a faulty fuel system component. Rail pressure data is processed through a digital resonating filter having a resonance frequency corresponding to a fault signature. A peak magnitude and phase of the output from the digital resonating filter reveals a degradation level of a fuel injector, and a phase of the output identifies which fuel injector is faulted.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nandagopal Methil-Sudhakaran, Daniel Reese Puckett, Frank Lombardi
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Publication number: 20140333444Abstract: A method of detecting leakage of a fluid from a tank is disclosed. The method may include determining cumulative commanded fluid consumption of the fluid in the tank over a selected time period, determining an actual change of a volume of the fluid in the tank over the selected time period, and comparing the cumulative commanded fluid consumption to the actual change of volume of the fluid. The method may further include producing a leak warning upon the actual change of volume of the fluid over the selected time period exceeding the cumulative commanded fluid consumption over the selected time period plus a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2013Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: STEVEN THOMAS GRANT, FRANK LOMBARDI, DANIEL REESE PUCKETT
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Publication number: 20140241913Abstract: A cryogenic hydraulic reciprocating piston pump includes a casing which defines a piston chamber. The sidewall of the piston chamber includes a retraction spill port as well as a pumping spill port. At the end of a retraction stroke, a retraction spill passageway that extends through the piston becomes aligned with the retraction spill port and fluid is communicated from the pressurized side of the piston to the unpressurized side of the piston to stop the retraction stroke before the piston “bottoms out”. Similarly, at the end of a pumping stroke, a pumping spill passageway that extends through the piston becomes aligned with the pumping spill port which provides communication between the pressurized side of the piston and the unpressurized side of the piston thereby stopping movement of the piston before it “bottoms out”.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventor: Daniel Reese Puckett
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Publication number: 20140238353Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting leakage of a liquid fuel into a gas fuel rail of a dual-fuel system for an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The methods and systems include sending an injection signal from a controller to a fuel injector and subsequently injecting gas fuel and liquid fuel into a cylinder for combustion. A pressure in the gas rail detects the pressure in the gas rail over a pre-determined time period after the injection event. A controller measures pressure fluctuations in the gas rail over a pre-determined time period after the injection event. If the pressure in the gas rail fluctuates by more than the pre-determined amount, the controller is programmed to take at least one mitigating action to prevent or limit damage to the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Michael A. Brown, Steven Thomas Grant, Daniel Reese Puckett, Jr.
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Publication number: 20140202429Abstract: A system, related method and computer program product are disclosed for controlling fuel mass of CNG received by an engine. The system may comprise a heat exchanger configured to receive CLNG and supply coolant and to output CNG and return coolant, an injector configured to inject CNG into the engine, a gas line between the injector and heat exchanger, a control valve configured to receive return coolant from the heat exchanger and to change the amount of return coolant flowing through control valve, and a controller connected to the control valve. The gas line may be configured to carry CNG from the heat exchanger to the injector. The controller may be configured to maintain a Gas Line Temperature within an operating range by adjusting the amount of return coolant flowing through the control valve based, at least in part, on the Gas Line Temperature and a Target Return Coolant Temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Steven Thomas Grant, Frank Lombardi, Daniel Reese Puckett, Cory A. Brown, Joshua Wayne Steffen, Paul Joseph Desiderio
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Patent number: 8565367Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to fuel assembly components and nuclear fuel bundles including the fuel assembly components. Example embodiments of a fuel assembly component may include a cylindrical device having first and second ends and a mounting assembly on the first end of the cylindrical device configured to attach to and detach from a partial length fuel rod. Example embodiments of a nuclear fuel bundle may include an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate, at least one full-length fuel rod, at least one partial length fuel rod, and a fuel assembly component.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLCInventor: Daniel Reese Lutz
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Publication number: 20130275026Abstract: A common rail fuel system diagnostic algorithm is executed by an engine control and real time to detect and identify a faulty fuel system component. Rail pressure data is processed through a digital resonating filter having a resonance frequency corresponding to a fault signature. A peak magnitude and phase of the output from the digital resonating filter reveals a degradation level of a fuel injector, and a phase of the output identifies which fuel injector is faulted.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nandagopal Methil-Sudhakaran, Daniel Reese Puckett, Frank Lombardi
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Patent number: 8116422Abstract: A zirconium alloy suitable for forming reactor components that exhibit reduced irradiation growth and improved corrosion resistance during operation of a light water reactor (LWR), for example, a boiling water reactor (BWR). During operation of the reactor, the reactor components will be exposed to a strong, and frequently asymmetrical, radiation fields sufficient to induce or accelerate corrosion of the irradiated alloy surfaces within the reactor core. Reactor components fabricated from the disclosed zirconium alloy will also tend to exhibit an improved tolerance for cold-working during fabrication of the component, thereby simplifying the fabrication of such components by reducing or eliminating subsequent thermal processing, for example, anneals, without unduly degrading the performance of the finished component.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Reese Lutz, Gerald Allen Potts, Yang-Pi Lin, Sheikh Tahir Mahmood, Mark Andrew Dubecky, David William White, John Schardt
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Publication number: 20120033779Abstract: A method of determining in-reactor susceptibility of a zirconium-based alloy to shadow corrosion according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include immersing a first electrode and a second electrode in an electrolytic solution. The first electrode may be formed of the zirconium-based alloy, while the second electrode may be formed of a metallic material suitable for use in a nuclear reactor and having a higher electrochemical corrosion potential than the zirconium-based alloy. The method may additionally include irradiating the immersed first and second electrodes with electromagnetic radiation. A galvanic current may then be measured between the first electrode and the second electrode to ascertain the relative in-reactor susceptibility of the zirconium-based alloy to shadow corrosion. The present invention allows a simplified and more rapid method of developing solutions that mitigate shadow corrosion, thereby potentially saving years of expensive in-reactor testing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLCInventors: Daniel Reese Lutz, Young Jin Kim, Yang-Pi Lin
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Publication number: 20110180184Abstract: A method for treating a Zr-alloy fuel bundle material in a nuclear reactor includes treating a surface of the Zr-alloy fuel bundle material with a laser beam generated by a solid-state laser, and a nuclear reactor including a treated Zr-alloy fuel bundle material. This may reduce the generation of shadow corrosion and/or reduce the propensity for interference between control blade and fuel channel during operation of the nuclear reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: Daniel Reese Lutz, Yang-Pi Lin, Gerald Potts, William H. Jackson
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Patent number: 7650778Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing a fuel pump in a fuel supply system on a IC fuel injected engine, the pump having a pumping element for supplying fuel injectors via a fuel rail. The method includes providing a pump element pumping event; disabling overlapping injectors during a test-period that includes the pumping event; measuring pressure in the rail at least two engine crank angles surrounding the pumping event during the test period; and determining a fuel delivery rate value for the pump based on the measured rail pressures. Methods and apparatus also are provided for determining quantitative leakage rate in the fuel supply system of a fuel injected IC engine, the fuel system including a fuel pump with one or more pumping elements supplying injectors via a fuel rail.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel Reese Puckett, Faith Juliet McKenzie
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Patent number: 7650779Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting whether a gear-driven fuel pump has been installed correctly in a fuel injected IC engine, the pump gear being driven by an engine gear to provide fuel to injectors via a fuel rail. The method may include providing a pump element pumping event. The method may also include disabling overlapping fuel injectors and overlapping pumping events during the test period surrounding the selected pumping event, and measuring the pressure in the rail during the pumping event with the overlapping injectors disabled, the at least two different engine crank angles surrounding the pumping event. The method also may further include determining from the measured rail pressures whether the pumping event occurred at a desired engine crank angle. Apparatus to carry out the methods may include a computer programmed for controlling the sequence of the providing, disabling, measuring, and determining functions, as well as software for carrying out the respective functions.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel Reese Puckett, Yanli Yang
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Publication number: 20090252280Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to fuel assembly components and nuclear fuel bundles including the fuel assembly components. Example embodiments of a fuel assembly component may include a cylindrical device having first and second ends and a mounting assembly on the first end of the cylindrical device configured to attach to and detach from a partial length fuel rod. Example embodiments of a nuclear fuel bundle may include an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate, at least one full-length fuel rod, at least one partial length fuel rod, and a fuel assembly component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Inventor: Daniel Reese Lutz
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Patent number: 7469679Abstract: A method for detecting and controlling the position of a valve actuator is provided. The method includes applying a plurality of signals of different duration and/or magnitude to the valve actuator and measuring a signal from the valve actuator. This signal from the valve actuator is indicative of valve movement for each of the plurality of applied signals. The method further includes adjusting an injection signal to the valve actuator based at least from the measured signals from the valve actuator. This disclosure also applies this method to a solenoid actuator of a fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2004Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel Reese Puckett, David John Schuh
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Publication number: 20080302175Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting whether a gear-driven fuel pump has been installed correctly in a fuel injected IC engine, the pump gear being driven by an engine gear to provide fuel to injectors via a fuel rail. The method may include providing a pump element pumping event. The method may also include disabling overlapping fuel injectors and overlapping pumping events during the test period surrounding the selected pumping event, and measuring the pressure in the rail during the pumping event with the overlapping injectors disabled, the at least two different engine crank angles surrounding the pumping event. The method also may further include determining from the measured rail pressures whether the pumping event occurred at a desired engine crank angle. Apparatus to carry out the methods may include a computer programmed for controlling the sequence of the providing, disabling, measuring, and determining functions, as well as software for carrying out the respective functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Daniel Reese Puckett, Yanli Yang
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Publication number: 20080302174Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing a fuel pump in a fuel supply system on a IC fuel injected engine, the pump having a pumping element for supplying fuel injectors via a fuel rail. The method includes providing a pump element pumping event; disabling overlapping injectors during a test-period that includes the pumping event; measuring pressure in the rail at at least two engine crank angles surrounding the pumping event during the test period; and determining a fuel delivery rate value for the pump based on the measured rail pressures. Methods and apparatus also are provided for determining quantitative leakage rate in the fuel supply system of a fuel injected IC engine, the fuel system including a fuel pump with one or more pumping elements supplying injectors via a fuel rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Daniel Reese Puckett, Faith Juliet McKenzie
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Patent number: 7406949Abstract: A pump for a combustion engine is disclosed. The pump may have at least one pumping member movable through a plurality of displacement strokes during a single engine cycle. The pump may also have a controller in communication with the at least one pumping member. The controller may have stored in a memory thereof a map relating a speed of the combustion engine and fuel demand to a contribution factor associated with each of the plurality of displacement strokes and a total fuel delivery amount.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Daniel Reese Puckett
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Patent number: 7392792Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine is disclosed. The fuel control system may have a source of pressurized fuel and at least one injector configured to receive and inject the pressurized fuel. The fuel system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an actual fuel pressure at the at least one injector, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a desired fuel pressure at the at least one injector, and compare the signal to the desired fuel pressure. The controller may also be configured to initiate a leak detection sequence in response to the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Daniel Reese Puckett
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Publication number: 20080109152Abstract: A pump for a combustion engine is disclosed. The pump may have at least one pumping member movable through a plurality of displacement strokes during a single engine cycle. The pump may also have a controller in communication with the at least one pumping member. The controller may have stored in a memory thereof a map relating a speed of the combustion engine and fuel demand to a contribution factor associated with each of the plurality of displacement strokes and a total fuel delivery amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2006Publication date: May 8, 2008Inventor: Daniel Reese Puckett
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Publication number: 20080041331Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine is disclosed. The fuel control system may have a source of pressurized fuel and at least one injector configured to receive and inject the pressurized fuel. The fuel system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an actual fuel pressure at the at least one injector, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a desired fuel pressure at the at least one injector, and compare the signal to the desired fuel pressure. The controller may also be configured to initiate a leak detection sequence in response to the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2006Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventor: Daniel Reese Puckett