Patents by Inventor Dianqi Fang

Dianqi Fang 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).

  • Patent number: 11098685
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and an annular filter coupled with the fuel injector, the annular filter being snap-fitted with one of a nozzle case or an injector body of the fuel injector and slip-fitted with the other of the nozzle case or the injector body. The annular filter has a perforated wall forming a filtration screen covering an actuation fluid inlet formed in the nozzle case and positioned upstream of the actuation fluid inlet to trap particulates in incoming actuation fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Daniel Bumpus, Diego Caceres, David Martin, Sudhindra Ayanji
  • Publication number: 20200263648
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and an annular filter coupled with the fuel injector, the annular filter being snap-fitted with one of a nozzle case or an injector body of the fuel injector and slip-fitted with the other of the nozzle case or the injector body. The annular filter has a perforated wall forming a filtration screen covering an actuation fluid inlet formed in the nozzle case and positioned upstream of the actuation fluid inlet to trap particulates in incoming actuation fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Daniel Bumpus, Diego Caceres, David Martin, Sudhindra Ayanji
  • Patent number: 9879645
    Abstract: A fuel injector control valve assembly is provided that comprises a valve actuating mechanism, a cage member that is operatively connected to the valve actuating mechanism, a poppet valve member that is operatively connected to the cage member and that defines a perimeter and a longitudinal axis, a valve sleeve member that is disposed about the poppet valve member, a shim that includes an upper surface that at least partially makes uninterrupted contact with the cage member and a lower surface that at least partially makes uninterrupted contact with the sleeve member, thereby providing a fluid seal about the perimeter of the poppet valve member, and a bounce limiting mechanism that is adjacent the shim and that is interposed between the cage member and at least one of either the poppet valve member and the valve sleeve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Norman D. Knapp, David E. Martin, Dianqi Fang
  • Publication number: 20180019577
    Abstract: A remanufactured sparkplug includes a housing, an insulator within the housing, and first and second electrodes. The first electrode and the second electrode form a plurality of spark gaps at a plurality of new spark gap locations, and a plurality of spark-induced erosions are formed in the second electrode at a plurality of former spark gap locations that are circumferentially offset from the new spark gap locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gerstner, Timothy Graham, Dianqi Fang
  • Patent number: 9859688
    Abstract: A remanufactured sparkplug includes a housing, an insulator within the housing, and first and second electrodes. The first electrode and the second electrode form a plurality of spark gaps at a plurality of new spark gap locations, and a plurality of spark-induced erosions are formed in the second electrode at a plurality of former spark gap locations that are circumferentially offset from the new spark gap locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gerstner, Timothy Graham, Dianqi Fang
  • Publication number: 20170241392
    Abstract: A fuel injector control valve assembly is provided that comprises a valve actuating mechanism, a cage member that is operatively connected to the valve actuating mechanism, a poppet valve member that is operatively connected to the cage member and that defines a perimeter and a longitudinal axis, a valve sleeve member that is disposed about the poppet valve member, a shim that includes an upper surface that at least partially makes uninterrupted contact with the cage member and a lower surface that at least partially makes uninterrupted contact with the sleeve member, thereby providing a fluid seal about the perimeter of the poppet valve member, and a bounce limiting mechanism that is adjacent the shim and that is interposed between the cage member and at least one of either the poppet valve member and the valve sleeve member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Norman D. Knapp, David E. Martin, Dianqi Fang
  • Patent number: 9279391
    Abstract: A dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a gaseous fuel subsystem and a liquid fuel subsystem. A plurality of fuel injectors each define a gaseous fuel passage fluidly connected to a gaseous fuel manifold of the gaseous fuel subsystem, a liquid fuel passage fluidly connected to a liquid fuel manifold of the liquid fuel subsystem, and a liquid fuel leak path from the liquid fuel passage to the gaseous fuel passage. A liquid fuel purging mechanism includes a drain conduit and at least one valve positioned fluidly between the drain conduit and the gaseous fuel manifold, and being adjustable to fluidly connect the drain conduit to the gaseous fuel manifold, to drain leaked liquid fuel to a low pressure outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Daniel Puckett
  • Patent number: 9228507
    Abstract: A dual fuel common rail system may be operated in a regular mode in which a relatively large charge of gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a relatively small injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel. The dual fuel system may be operated in a single fuel limp home mode in which liquid diesel fuel is injected at higher pressures. Over pressurization of the gaseous fuel side of the fuel system due to leaked liquid fuel is avoided by regularly injecting leaked liquid fuel, but not gaseous fuel, from the gaseous nozzle outlet set during the limp home mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Joshua W. Steffen, Dana R. Coldren, Alan R. Stockner, Hoisan Kim, Dianqi Fang
  • Publication number: 20140311451
    Abstract: A dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a gaseous fuel subsystem and a liquid fuel subsystem. A plurality of fuel injectors each define a gaseous fuel passage fluidly connected to a gaseous fuel manifold of the gaseous fuel subsystem, a liquid fuel passage fluidly connected to a liquid fuel manifold of the liquid fuel subsystem, and a liquid fuel leak path from the liquid fuel passage to the gaseous fuel passage. A liquid fuel purging mechanism includes a drain conduit and at least one valve positioned fluidly between the drain conduit and the gaseous fuel manifold, and being adjustable to fluidly connect the drain conduit to the gaseous fuel manifold, to drain leaked liquid fuel to a low pressure outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Daniel Puckett
  • Publication number: 20140182552
    Abstract: A dual fuel common rail system may be operated in a regular mode in which a relatively large charge of gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a relatively small injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel. The dual fuel system may be operated in a single fuel limp home mode in which liquid diesel fuel is injected at higher pressures. Over pressurization of the gaseous fuel side of the fuel system due to leaked liquid fuel is avoided by regularly injecting leaked liquid fuel, but not gaseous fuel, from the gaseous nozzle outlet set during the limp home mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Joshua W. Steffen, Dana R. Coldren, Alan R. Stockner, Hoisan Kim, Dianqi Fang
  • Patent number: 8505514
    Abstract: A common rail single fluid injection system including fuel injectors with the ability to produce multiple injection rate shapes. This is accomplished by including auxiliary filling orifices which selectively provide pressurized fluid to the check needle control chamber during injection events. In so doing, the speed and movement of the check needle is manipulated and differing injection rates may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Lin Zhang, Stephen Robert Lewis, Zhenlong Xu, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Christopher D. Hanson
  • Publication number: 20110220064
    Abstract: A common rail single fluid injection system including fuel injectors with the ability to produce multiple injection rate shapes. This is accomplished by including auxiliary filling orifices which selectively provide pressurized fluid to the check needle control chamber during injection events. In so doing, the speed and movement of the check needle is manipulated and differing injection rates may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Lin Zhang, Stephen Robert Lewis, Zhenlong Xu, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Christopher D. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7980224
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Bradley E. Bartley, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Dianqi Fang, Michael Gerstner, Christopher D. Hanson, Jeffrey M. Mullinix
  • Publication number: 20090194072
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Bradley E. Bartley, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Dianqi Fang, Michael Gerstner, Christopher D. Hanson, Jeffrey M. Mullinix
  • Publication number: 20090165749
    Abstract: A control valve assembly includes a one-piece valve movable between a first position at which the valve closes a seat defined by a housing and positioned fluidly between a fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, and a second position at which the valve is out of contact with the seat. The valve includes an outer diameter having an annular seating shoulder located thereon which is configured to contact a frustoconical surface of the seat when the valve is at the first position, and the annular seating shoulder is further configured to deform in response to contacting the frustonical surface without changing a seating diameter associated therewith. Closing the seat with the annular seating shoulder reduces performance variability of the valve over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Stephen R. Lewis, Dianqi Fang