Patents by Inventor David M. Ginter

David M. Ginter 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: 20240136547
    Abstract: A fuel cell electrical power generation system is described herein. The system uses a combustor to increase the pressure and temperature of exhaust gases from a fuel cell stack of the system. The combustor uses hydrogen from a hydrogen supply to provide fuel to the combustor. The increased temperature/pressure of the exhaust gases post combustion are used to rotate a turbine, which in turn rotates a compressor of a turbocharger. The compressor compresses incoming air to increase the power output and/or the efficiency of the system. An ebooster can be used in low load conditions, such as during a startup or during at time in which the electrical loading on the fuel cells is relatively low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Andrew Pierpont, David M. Ginter
  • Publication number: 20230330595
    Abstract: A carbon capture system includes a hydrogen production module. The hydrogen production module is used to control the amount of hydrogen entering an internal combustion engine to reduce an amount of water vapor generated by the internal combustion engine, thereby increasing the efficiency of the carbon capture device. If too much water vapor is detected in an exhaust of the engine, the amount of hydrogen produced by a hydrogen production module can be increased, thereby reducing the amount of hydrogen entering the engine and reducing the amount of water vapor generated by the engine. A reformer catalyst can be used by the hydrogen production module to remove at least a portion of hydrogen in a fuel stream of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Nikolas Karl Landin, David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11643987
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel tank and a dehydration reactor that are configured to provide a primary fuel and a pilot fuel to a power system. The fuel tank is configured to store the primary fuel and is fluidly connected to a reactor feed line and a primary fuel line provide the primary fuel. The dehydration reactor is configured to receive the primary fuel via the reactor feed line and convert a portion of the primary fuel to the pilot fuel and a byproduct. The power system is configured to receive the pilot fuel from the dehydration reactor to initiate combustion of the primary fuel. The power system also includes a cylinder with an internal piston that receives the pilot fuel and the primary fuel, contains the combustion reaction, and generates power from the combustion reaction; and contains the combustion reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Montgomery, David M. Ginter, Michael Bardell, Arnold Kim, Kenth Svensson
  • Publication number: 20230070006
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel tank and a dehydration reactor that are configured to provide a primary fuel and a pilot fuel to a power system. The fuel tank is configured to store the primary fuel and is fluidly connected to a reactor feed line and a primary fuel line provide the primary fuel. The dehydration reactor is configured to receive the primary fuel via the reactor feed line and convert a portion of the primary fuel to the pilot fuel and a byproduct. The power system is configured to receive the pilot fuel from the dehydration reactor to initiate combustion of the primary fuel. The power system also includes a cylinder with an internal piston that receives the pilot fuel and the primary fuel, contains the combustion reaction, and generates power from the combustion reaction; and contains the combustion reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Montgomery, David M. Ginter, Michael Bardell, Arnold Kim, Kenth Svensson
  • Publication number: 20220196323
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid containment system is disclosed. The system can store a fluid such as hydrogen at a cryogenic temperature and pressure. As the fluid naturally warms, the fluid can be directed to a portion of a liquefaction system that is configured to perform a cooling technique on the fluid. The cooling techniques may be Joule-Thomson cooling techniques. The liquefaction system may be equipped to perform both non-Joule-Thomson cooling techniques and Joule-Thomson cooling techniques. The system is configured to direct fluid to an appropriate portion of the liquefaction system, which may be based at least in part upon a Joule-Thomson coefficient of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Montgomery, David M. Ginter
  • Patent number: 11261830
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to exhaust treatment systems and engine systems. In one implementation, an engine system comprises an engine comprising an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, the engine configured to combust a fuel-air mixture received via the intake manifold and produce a flow of exhaust gases via the exhaust manifold. The engine system also comprises a turbocharger comprising a turbine, an exhaust passageway fluidly connecting the exhaust manifold of the engine to the turbine and an intake passageway fluidly connected to the intake manifold of the engine for supplying the fuel-air mixture, a catalyzed member positioned along the exhaust passageway between the engine and the turbine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop fluidly connected downstream of the catalyzed member and fluidly connected to the exhaust passageway and the intake passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Silver, Jaswinder Singh, David M. Ginter, Paul Wang, Michael Bardell
  • Patent number: 11174800
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine of a generator set operates the engine at a first, low load condition at a lean air/fuel ratio using hydrogen fuel, and at a second, high load condition at a richer air/fuel ratio using gaseous fuel. The controller transitions from the first condition to the second condition by adding gaseous fuel to achieve the richer air/fuel ratio during a transient event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wang, Robert J. Maxson, David M. Ginter, Michael Bardell
  • Patent number: 11125188
    Abstract: A system and method for co-production of hydrogen and electrical power includes operating an engine having an electrical power generator connected thereto, and a hydrogen gas production plant, from a single source of gaseous fuel such that hydrogen extracted from a heated reformate provided by a partial oxidation catalyst is removed and collected for storage or sale while a tail gas is recirculated to an engine inlet to reduce NOx emissions during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Mark W. Scaife, Ronald G. Silver, Jaswinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20210087981
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine of a generator set operates the engine at a first, low load condition at a lean air/fuel ratio using hydrogen fuel, and at a second, high load condition at a richer air/fuel ratio using gaseous fuel. The controller transitions from the first condition to the second condition by adding gaseous fuel to achieve the richer air/fuel ratio during a transient event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wang, Robert J. Maxson, David M. Ginter, Michael Bardell
  • Publication number: 20210040916
    Abstract: A system and method for co-production of hydrogen and electrical power includes operating an engine having an electrical power generator connected thereto, and a hydrogen gas production plant, from a single source of gaseous fuel such that hydrogen extracted from a heated reformate provided by a partial oxidation catalyst is removed and collected for storage or sale while a tail gas is recirculated to an engine inlet to reduce NOx emissions during engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Mark W. Scaife, Ronald G. Silver, Jaswinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20210040922
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to exhaust treatment systems and engine systems. In one implementation, an engine system comprises an engine comprising an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, the engine configured to combust a fuel-air mixture received via the intake manifold and produce a flow of exhaust gases via the exhaust manifold. The engine system also comprises a turbocharger comprising a turbine, an exhaust passageway fluidly connecting the exhaust manifold of the engine to the turbine and an intake passageway fluidly connected to the intake manifold of the engine for supplying the fuel-air mixture, a catalyzed member positioned along the exhaust passageway between the engine and the turbine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop fluidly connected downstream of the catalyzed member and fluidly connected to the exhaust passageway and the intake passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Silver, Jaswinder Singh, David M. Ginter, Paul Wang, Michael Bardell
  • Patent number: 9920714
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block having at least one cylinder. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head engaged with the engine block. The internal combustion engine includes a pre-chamber assembly associated with the cylinder head. The pre-chamber assembly includes a pre-chamber in fluid communication with a main combustion chamber. The pre-chamber assembly includes a fuel supply unit in fluid communication with the pre-chamber to selectively supply fuel to the pre-chamber. The pre-chamber assembly includes an auxiliary unit configured to produce oxygen and hydrogen. The auxiliary unit is in fluid communication with the pre-chamber to supply oxygen to the pre-chamber and in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber to supply hydrogen to the main combustion chamber. The pre-chamber assembly includes an ignition unit associated with the pre-chamber to selectively ignite a mixture of fuel and oxygen in the pre-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Sai Keat Paul Wang, Charlie C. Kim, Arnold M. Kim, Daniel G. Van Alstine
  • Publication number: 20180073481
    Abstract: An ignition device and strategies are provided for extending spark plug life and air-fuel mixture lean limits in natural gas engines while maintaining or improving the engine thermal efficiency. The ignition device may include a plug body extending between a terminal end and an electrode end, a plurality of electrode pairs radially disposed on the electrode end each having an inner electrode and an outer electrode and an insulating body electrically isolating each of the electrode pairs from one another and each of the inner electrodes from the outer electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jaswinder Singh, David M. Ginter
  • Publication number: 20180003132
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block having at least one cylinder. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head engaged with the engine block. The internal combustion engine includes a pre-chamber assembly associated with the cylinder head. The pre-chamber assembly includes a pre-chamber in fluid communication with a main combustion chamber. The pre-chamber assembly includes a fuel supply unit in fluid communication with the pre-chamber to selectively supply fuel to the pre-chamber. The pre-chamber assembly includes an auxiliary unit configured to produce oxygen and hydrogen. The auxiliary unit is in fluid communication with the pre-chamber to supply oxygen to the pre-chamber and in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber to supply hydrogen to the main combustion chamber. The pre-chamber assembly includes an ignition unit associated with the pre-chamber to selectively ignite a mixture of fuel and oxygen in the pre-chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Sai Keat Paul Wang, Charlie C. Kim, Arnold M. Kim, Daniel G. Van Alstine
  • Publication number: 20160195057
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel-powered engine includes a fuel injector configured to selectively inject a plurality of gas plumes into the combustion chamber, and a laser ignition system configured to selectively ignite the gas plumes within the combustion chamber. The laser ignition system includes a laser source configured to generate at least one laser beam, and a beam splitter for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of partial laser beams. A focusing unit is provided to direct each partial laser beam to corresponding focal points in the gas plumes within the combustion chamber. A controller is configured to determine an operating state of the gaseous fuel-powered engine, regulate an intensity of each partial laser beam, and operate the focusing unit for directing the partial laser beams within the combustion chamber to ignite the gas plumes at the focal points during injection of the gas plumes within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Arnold M. Kim, Jaswinder Singh, Kenth I. Svensson
  • Patent number: 4823511
    Abstract: A movable window assembly includes a transparent sheet having a retention shield formed of a plastic material. An edge support is formed about at least a predetermined periphery of the transparent sheet and is adapted to cooperate with a channel formed in a vehicle window opening frame to retain the window assembly in the frame when pressure is applied to the window assembly tending to force it out of the frame. The edge support can have a reinforcing core and can be molded in situ on the transparent sheet. In an alternate embodiment, the edge support and the retention shield can be molded on a transparent glass sheet at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens Ford Co.
    Inventors: Siegfried H. Herliczek, David M. Ginter