Patents by Inventor David M. Milam
David M. Milam 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: 8635853Abstract: An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a first treatment device situated to receive a flow of exhaust and convert a first constituent of the exhaust to a second constituent, and a second treatment device located downstream of the first treatment device to reduce the first and second constituents. The exhaust system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of one of a temperature and an oxygen concentration of the exhaust, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to vary the other of the temperature and the oxygen concentration based on the signal such that a desired amount of the first constituent is converted to the second constituent by the first treatment device prior to reduction by the second treatment device.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll, Michael S. Bond, David M. Milam
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Patent number: 7788070Abstract: A method is provided for developing a product. The method includes obtaining data records from a plurality of stages of development of the product; identifying respective objectives of the plurality of stages and corresponding objective factors of the objectives; and determining common variables associated with the objectives based on the objective factors. The method includes selecting one or more input parameters based on the common variables and one or more output parameters based on the objectives; and updating the data records to generate desired data records indicative characteristics of the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters. The method includes generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records; and providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a design of the product.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Andrea Brazzale-Anderson, Amar Patel, Michael Seskin, Stephan D. Roozenboom, David M. Milam
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Publication number: 20090188235Abstract: An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a first treatment device situated to receive a flow of exhaust and convert a first constituent of the exhaust to a second constituent, and a second treatment device located downstream of the first treatment device to reduce the first and second constituents. The exhaust system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of one of a temperature and an oxygen concentration of the exhaust, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to vary the other of the temperature and the oxygen concentration based on the signal such that a desired amount of the first constituent is converted to the second constituent by the first treatment device prior to reduction by the second treatment device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Wade J. Robel, James J. Driscoll, Michael S. Bond, David M. Milam
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Publication number: 20090037153Abstract: A method is provided for developing a product. The method may include obtaining data records from a plurality of stages of development of the product; identifying respective objectives of the plurality of stages and corresponding objective factors of the objectives; and determining common variables associated with the objectives based on the objective factors. The method may also include selecting one or more input parameters based on the common variables and one or more output parameters based on the objectives; and updating the data records to generate desired data records indicative characteristics of the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters. Further, the method may include generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records; and providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a design of the product.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Andrea Brazzale-Anderson, Amar Patel, Michael Seskin, Stephan D. Roozenboom, David M. Milam
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Patent number: 7485272Abstract: A first aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of controlling nitric oxides emissions. The method may include producing an exhaust gas stream containing NOx and supplying the exhaust gas stream to an exhaust passage. The method may further comprise supplying ammonia to the exhaust passage at a location upstream of a first selective catalytic reduction catalyst, wherein the amount of ammonia supplied at the first location is less than about 90% of the effective amount of ammonia needed for reduction of all NOx at the first location. Further, ammonia may be supplied to the exhaust passage at a second location downstream of the first selective catalytic reduction catalyst and upstream of a second selective catalytic reduction catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James Joshua Driscoll, David M. Milam
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Publication number: 20080022686Abstract: A powertrain including an HCCI engine is disclosed. The HCCI engine is configured to supply mechanical power, and a generator operably coupled to the HCCI engine is configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical power into one of electric energy and hydraulic energy. The powertrain further includes a motor operably coupled to the generator. The powertrain also includes an energy storage device operably coupled to the generator and the motor. The powertrain further includes a controller configured to control the powertrain such that energy stored in the energy storage device is supplied to the motor when the HCCI engine supplies insufficient mechanical power to the generator to supply the motor with sufficient power to meet power requirements of the powertrain, until the HCCI engine supplies sufficient mechanical power to the generator to supply the motor with sufficient power to meet the power requirements of the powertrain.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: John K. Amdall, Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, David M. Milam
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Patent number: 6907851Abstract: An engine valve actuation system is provided. The engine valve actuation system includes an intake valve that is moveable between a first position to prevent a flow of fluid and a second position to allow a flow of fluid. A cam assembly is configured to move the intake valve between the first position and the second position. A fluid actuator is configured to selectively prevent the intake valve from moving to the first position. A source of fluid is in fluid communication with the fluid actuator. A directional control valve is configured to control a flow of fluid between the source of fluid and the fluid actuator. A check valve is disposed between the directional control valve and the source of fluid, only allowing fluid flow from the fluid source to the directional control valve. A bleed orifice may be disposed between the directional control valve and the source of fluid, in parallel with the check valve.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Travis E. Barnes, Judson R. Bruce, Sean O. Cornell, Douglas E. Handly, Scott A. Leman, David M. Milam, Wade J. Robel, Di Wu
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Publication number: 20030221644Abstract: An engine valve actuation system is provided. The engine valve actuation system includes an intake valve that is moveable between a first position to prevent a flow of fluid and a second position to allow a flow of fluid. A cam assembly is configured to move the intake valve between the first position and the second position. A fluid actuator is configured to selectively prevent the intake valve from moving to the first position. A source of fluid is in fluid communication with the fluid actuator. A directional control valve is configured to control a flow of fluid between the source of fluid and the fluid actuator. A check valve is disposed between the directional control valve and the source of fluid, only allowing fluid flow from the fluid source to the directional control valve. A bleed orifice may be disposed between the directional control valve and the source of fluid, in parallel with the check valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Judson R. Bruce, Sean O. Cornell, Douglas E. Handly, Scott A. Leman, David M. Milam, Wade J. Robel, Di Wu
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Patent number: 6474295Abstract: Each cylinder of an internal combustion engine includes a combined gas exchange valve and fuel injector with a port control valve. The port control valve operates to open either an intake passage or an exhaust passage. The operation of the combined device is controlled by a pair of electrical actuators. The device is hydraulically actuated.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: David M. Milam
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Patent number: 6363913Abstract: A fuel injector performs main fuel injection by raising fuel pressure in a nozzle chamber to lift a check valve member to a fully open position, and performs preinjection or microinjection by operating a solid state motor to lift the check valve member a much smaller distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: David M. Milam, Thomas S. Carroll, Chien-Chang Lee, Charles R. Miller
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Publication number: 20010054410Abstract: An engine includes an engine casing that defines a hollow piston cavity separated from an exhaust passage and an intake passage by a valve seat. A gas exchange valve member is positioned adjacent the valve seat and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The gas exchange valve member also defines an opening that opens into the hollow piston cavity. A needle valve member is positioned in the gas exchange valve member adjacent a nozzle outlet and is moveable between an inject position and a blocked position. A port control valve member, which has a hydraulic surface, is mounted around the gas I exchange valve member and moveable between an intake position and an exhaust position. A pilot valve is moveable between a first position at which the port control hydraulic surface is exposed to a source of high pressure fluid, and a second position at which the port control hydraulic surface is exposed to a source of low pressure fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2001Publication date: December 27, 2001Inventor: David M. Milam
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Patent number: 6311668Abstract: An engine includes an engine casing that defines a hollow piston cavity separated from an exhaust passage and an intake passage by a valve seat. A gas exchange valve member is positioned adjacent the valve seat and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The gas exchange valve member also defines an opening that opens into the hollow piston cavity. A needle valve member is positioned in the gas exchange valve member adjacent a nozzle outlet and is moveable between an inject position and a blocked position. A port control valve member, which has a hydraulic surface, is mounted around the gas exchange valve member and moveable between an intake position and an exhaust position. A pilot valve is moveable between a first position at which the port control hydraulic surface is exposed to a source of high pressure fluid, and a second position at which the port control hydraulic surface is exposed to a source of low pressure fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: David M. Milam
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Patent number: 5975139Abstract: A servo control valve includes a valve body that defines a high pressure passage, a low pressure passage and a flow passage. A valve member has a first pressure surface in opposition to a control pressure surface. The valve member is positioned in the valve body and moveable between a first position in which the high pressure passage is open to the flow passage, and a second position in which the low pressure passage is open to the flow passage. A pilot member is positioned in the valve body and is moveable between an up position in which the control pressure surface is exposed to pressure in the high pressure passage, and a down position in which the control pressure surface is exposed to pressure in the low pressure passage. A spring is operably positioned to bias a valve member toward one of its first position and its second position.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Thomas S. Carroll, Chien Chang Lee, David M. Milam