Patents by Inventor David T. Montgomery

David T. Montgomery 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: 20230417206
    Abstract: An inert blanket system includes a reformer that produces hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen gas is separated from the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is ported to a vapor region of a tank to reduce the flammability of the gases in the vapor region of the tank. Excess carbon dioxide is ported to an overflow system designed to store the excess carbon dioxide for future use or to sequester the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Schroeder, Richard Christopher Kulaga, David T. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20230387433
    Abstract: A system for detecting humidity level at a cathode of a fuel cell stack including one or more PEMFCs and determining a flooding probability of the stack based on the humidity level, includes a stack including a plurality of PEMFCs, each PEMFC including an exhaust; voltage detector; humidity detector; and controller. The controller may be configured to: receive a voltage as measured at an anode of one or more of the PEMFCs with the voltage detector; determine a humidity level at the exhaust of the one or more of the PEMFCs; and implement one or more actions based on the voltage and the humidity level, the actions including: reduce a load on the PEMFC; increase an air flow at a cathode of the one or more PEMFCs; decrease an inlet humidity at an inlet to the one or more PEMFCs; or increase a temperature of the one or more PEMFCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David GINTER, David T. MONTGOMERY
  • Patent number: 11814286
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system can store a fuel reagent such as methanol for conversion into hydrogen to power one or more facility systems via a backup power system. A reactor controller can monitor a power demand of the one or more facility systems and determine whether the power demand is met by a primary power system. The fuel reagent can be provided to a fuel reactor in response to the reactor controller determining that the one or more facility systems are operating at a power deficit to generate an amount of hydrogen that, when provided to the backup power system, causes the backup power system to generate an amount of power that meets or exceeds the power deficit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bardell, David T. Montgomery
  • 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: 11732843
    Abstract: A storage tank includes a tank wall, a pressure regulator, a low-pressure coupling, and a fill coupling. The tank wall of the storage tank is configured to contain a stored fluid at an internal pressure within the tank wall, the tank wall including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a regulator mount. The pressure regulator of the storage tank is connected to the regulator mount and is configured to receive a flow rate of the stored fluid and reduce the stored fluid from the internal pressure to an output pressure. The flow rate of the stored fluid is provided, via the low pressure coupling and at the output pressure to an external system. The fill coupling extends through the tank wall and receives the stored fluid from a fluid source to be stored within the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20230246211
    Abstract: Energy generation systems and methods are disclosed. An energy generation system includes a fuel tank configured to store a fuel in liquid form and a power generating device including a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine configured to receive the fuel and generate electrical energy with the fuel. The energy generation system also includes an expander connected between the fuel tank and the power generating device, the expander configured to receive the fuel as a gas and a generator connected to the expander so as to generate electrical energy when fuel passes through the expander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David T. MONTGOMERY, Robert M. MCDAVID
  • Publication number: 20230234845
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system can store a fuel reagent such as methanol for conversion into hydrogen to power one or more facility systems via a backup power system. A reactor controller can monitor a power demand of the one or more facility systems and determine whether the power demand is met by a primary power system. The fuel reagent can be provided to a fuel reactor in response to the reactor controller determining that the one or more facility systems are operating at a power deficit to generate an amount of hydrogen that, when provided to the backup power system, causes the backup power system to generate an amount of power that meets or exceeds the power deficit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bardell, 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: 20230108882
    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, boil-off fluid is produced by the fluid and can be directed to a backup power system that is configured to consume the boil-off fluid. The boil-off fluid being extracted from the cryogenic fluid containment system causes additional boil-off fluid to be generated from the fluid and refrigerate the fluid within the cryogenic fluid containment system. Additionally, the boil-off fluid can be monitored over time such that as the boil-off fluid accumulates within the storage tank, a boil-off controller can determine whether the boil-off fluid is to be extracted from the storage tank. The boil-off controller can enable the fluid to be maintained below a pressure threshold within the storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Montgomery
  • 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: 20230014654
    Abstract: A storage tank includes a tank wall, a pressure regulator, a low-pressure coupling, and a fill coupling. The tank wall of the storage tank is configured to contain a stored fluid at an internal pressure within the tank wall, the tank wall including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a regulator mount. The pressure regulator of the storage tank is connected to the regulator mount and is configured to receive a flow rate of the stored fluid and reduce the stored fluid from the internal pressure to an output pressure. The flow rate of the stored fluid is provided, via the low pressure coupling and at the output pressure to an external system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11549451
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine includes an air compressor, an air cooler connected downstream of the air compressor and the compressed air supply passage, and a bypass passage connected downstream of the air compressor. The fuel supply system also includes a fuel injector secured to the compressed air supply passage or secured to the bypass passage and a valve connected between the air compressor and the air cooler, the valve being configured to block a flow of intake air to the air cooler, causing the intake air to flow to the bypass passage or to permit the flow of intake air to the air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bardell, David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11459992
    Abstract: A delay circuit for providing natural gas to an engine and systems, components, and methods thereof can comprise a first valve to selectively pass the natural gas from a starter motor configured to start the engine; a delay volume to receive the natural gas from the first valve; and a second valve to selectively pass the natural gas from the delay volume to an inlet of the engine. The natural gas is provided to the inlet of the engine via the delay system according to a predetermined delay by controlling the first valve and the second valve to selectively pass the natural gas to the inlet of the engine according to the predetermined delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11028772
    Abstract: A method for estimating damage of a component of an internal combustion engine includes receiving a fuel rate signal indicative of a fuel rate of the internal combustion engine and estimating a temperature value of the component of the internal combustion engine based on at least the received fuel rate signal. The method also includes estimating an incremental amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine based on the estimated temperature value of the component of the internal combustion engine, updating a cumulative amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine based on the estimated incremental amount of damage, and outputting a notification based on at least the cumulative amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lin, Ashwin A. Hattiangadi, David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 10788026
    Abstract: A cryogenic pump includes a pressurization assembly configured to be submerged in a cryogenic liquid; a hydraulic actuation assembly; and a transmission assembly in communication between the pressurization assembly and the hydraulic actuation assembly. The transmission assembly including a conduit having a first end adjacent the hydraulic actuation assembly and a second end adjacent the pressurization assembly. The conduit is configured to contain a material having a first state at the first end and a different second state at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R Coldren, David T Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20180187626
    Abstract: A piston for an engine may include a body. The body may extend between a first and second axial region. A piston crown may be disposed at the first axial region symmetrically about a central longitudinal axis of the piston. A first bowl may be recessed into the body and may include a first curved wall transitioning into the piston crown at a bowl lip. The bowl lip may include a bowl lip diameter. The first curved wall may include a first wall diameter greater than the bowl lip diameter. A second bowl may be recessed into the body and disposed axially inwardly from the first bowl. The second bowl may include a second curved wall transitioning into the first bowl at a peak. The peak may include a peak diameter. The second curved wall may include a second wall diameter greater than the peak diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20180142679
    Abstract: A cryogenic pump includes a pressurization assembly configured to be submerged in a cryogenic liquid; a hydraulic actuation assembly; and a transmission assembly in communication between the pressurization assembly and the hydraulic actuation assembly. The transmission assembly including a conduit having a first end adjacent the hydraulic actuation assembly and a second end adjacent the pressurization assembly. The conduit is configured to contain a material having a first state at the first end and a different second state at the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, David T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 9782717
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon separation system for an engine fuel supply system is disclosed. The hydrocarbon separation system may include an untreated gas conduit configured to transport a raw gas stream including methane, ethane and higher carbon chainlength hydrocarbon molecules. The system may also include a separator downstream of and fluidly coupled to the untreated gas conduit configured to segregate methane or ethane of the raw gas stream from the higher carbon chainlength hydrocarbon molecules of the raw gas stream. A treated gas conduit may be located downstream of and fluidly coupled to the separator and be configured to transport the methane or ethane of the raw gas stream away from the separator. Lastly, the system may include an electronic controller configured to receive a breakthrough signal and transmit a regeneration signal in response to the breakthrough signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Montgomery, Victor L. Sheldon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9732713
    Abstract: A fuel system for an engine has a cylinder with an inlet air port, an air box surrounding the inlet air port, and a gaseous fuel injector positioned in the air box and having a nozzle located at the inlet air port. The fuel system also has a gaseous fuel control valve, a fuel supply line fluidly extending from the gaseous fuel control valve to the gaseous fuel injector, a purge valve, and a purge fluid supply line fluidly extending from the purge valve to at least one of the fuel supply line and the gaseous fuel injector. The fuel system also has a return valve and a return line fluidly extending from at least one of the fuel supply line and the gaseous fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Deep Bandyopadhyay, Farhan F. Devani, John P. Timmons, David T. Montgomery, Aaron G. Foege
  • Publication number: 20170106328
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon separation system for an engine fuel supply system is disclosed. The hydrocarbon separation system may include an untreated gas conduit configured to transport a raw gas stream including methane, ethane and higher carbon chainlength hydrocarbon molecules. The system may also include a separator downstream of and fluidly coupled to the untreated gas conduit configured to segregate methane or ethane of the raw gas stream from the higher carbon chainlength hydrocarbon molecules of the raw gas stream. A treated gas conduit may be located downstream of and fluidly coupled to the separator and be configured to transport the methane or ethane of the raw gas stream away from the separator. Lastly, the system may include an electronic controller configured to receive a breakthrough signal and transmit a regeneration signal in response to the breakthrough signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Montgomery, Victor L. Sheldon, JR.