Patents by Inventor Dongming Tan

Dongming Tan 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: 12234758
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an exhaust assembly that includes an exhaust tube and a coolant passage. The exhaust tube is oriented about an axis and an exhaust gas is configured to flow through the exhaust tube in a direction away from an end of the exhaust tube. The coolant passage is oriented about the axis radially outward of the exhaust tube, the coolant passage having an inner shell and an outer shell. The exhaust assembly further includes an expansion reservoir positioned vertically (relative to a gravitational reference) above the coolant passage. The expansion reservoir and coolant passage are fluidly coupled by a conduit having a first diameter. The expansion reservoir is coupled with a coolant reservoir by a second conduit having a diameter less than the first diameter. Vapor after a hot shutdown travels up the first conduit and is replaced by coolant flowing down the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Bradley Hodges, Albert Yueh-Chang Lee, Joseph Lee Kennedy, Zheng Zhang, Scott A Snoble
  • Publication number: 20240352885
    Abstract: A method of controlling cooling fluid flow through a radiator system having multiple radiator cores comprises flowing cooling fluid through the radiator system, the radiator system comprising a first radiator core and a second radiator core, sensing a first temperature of ambient air, comparing the first temperature to a first threshold temperature and reducing flow through the first radiator core if the first temperature is below the first threshold temperature. The first radiator core has a first valve, and the second radiator core can have a second valve. The first valve can be opened to allow for parallel flow of cooling fluid through the first radiator core and the second radiator core between an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold and closed to interrupt flow of cooing fluid through the first radiator core between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kennedy, Bradley Paul Wrage, Dongming Tan
  • Patent number: 11873832
    Abstract: A hub assembly for construction of a fan includes a hub plate having a front face, a rear face, and an annular surface extending between the front face and the rear face. The hub plate defines a hub assembly axis extending through the front face and the rear face which is configured to coincide with the fan axis. The hub assembly further includes a plurality of elongated root sections that are circumferentially spaced apart and extend radially from the annular surface. The elongated root sections have a substantially circular cross-section. The hub plate and the plurality of elongated spokes are unitarily formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley P. Wrage, Dongming Tan, Adam C. Grove, Neil A. Terry
  • Patent number: 11656037
    Abstract: A support assembly for attaching a heat exchanger to a frame of a machine. The support assembly includes a clip configured to at least partially surround a perimeter of a tube member of the heat exchanger. The clip includes a first end portion and a second end portion configured to engage the first end portion to hold the support assembly around the tube member in a closed position. The first end portion includes a laterally-extending projection and a laterally facing surface spaced apart from the projection by a recessed area. The second end portion defines a recess configured to receive a portion of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Dongming Tan
  • Publication number: 20220268295
    Abstract: A hub assembly for construction of a fan includes a hub plate having a front face, a rear face, and an annular surface extending between the front face and the rear face. The hub plate defines a hub assembly axis extending through the front face and the rear face which is configured to coincide with the fan axis. The hub assembly further includes a plurality of elongated root sections that are circumferentially spaced apart and extend radially from the annular surface. The elongated root sections have a substantially circular cross-section. The hub plate and the plurality of elongated spokes are unitarily formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley P. Wrage, Dongming Tan, Adam C. Grove, Neil A. Terry
  • Patent number: 11346361
    Abstract: A hub assembly for construction of a fan includes a hub plate having a front face, a rear face, and an annular surface extending between the front face and the rear face. The hub plate defines a hub assembly axis extending through the front face and the rear face which is configured to coincide with the fan axis. The hub assembly further includes a plurality of elongated root sections that are circumferentially spaced apart and extend radially from the annular surface. The elongated root sections have a substantially circular cross-section. The hub plate and the plurality of elongated spokes are unitarily formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley P. Wrage, Dongming Tan, Adam C. Grove, Neil A. Terry
  • Publication number: 20220042519
    Abstract: A hub assembly for construction of a fan includes a hub plate having a front face, a rear face, and an annular surface extending between the front face and the rear face. The hub plate defines a hub assembly axis extending through the front face and the rear face which is configured to coincide with the fan axis. The hub assembly further includes a plurality of elongated root sections that are circumferentially spaced apart and extend radially from the annular surface. The elongated root sections have a substantially circular cross-section. The hub plate and the plurality of elongated spokes are unitarily formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley P. Wrage, Dongming Tan, Adam C. Grove, Neil A. Terry
  • Patent number: 11230964
    Abstract: A machine system includes a compressor, and a cooler having an inlet tank to receive compressed air from the compressor, and a header assembly attached to the inlet tank and including a plurality of cooling tubes supported in the header and each having an external heat exchange surface exposed to a flow of cooling air. The cooler further includes a plurality of graphite pack seals each extending peripherally around one of the cooling tubes, and a clamping assembly clamping the pack seals against the header to squeeze the pack seals into sealing contact with the cooling tubes and the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, James McCoy Voelker, Sharath Kumar Reddy Challa, Jianlong Xu
  • Publication number: 20210324786
    Abstract: A machine system includes a compressor, and a cooler having an inlet tank to receive compressed air from the compressor, and a header assembly attached to the inlet tank and including a plurality of cooling tubes supported in the header and each having an external heat exchange surface exposed to a flow of cooling air. The cooler further includes a plurality of graphite pack seals each extending peripherally around one of the cooling tubes, and a clamping assembly clamping the pack seals against the header to squeeze the pack seals into sealing contact with the cooling tubes and the header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, James McCoy Voelker, Sharath Kumar Reddy Challa, Jianlong Xu
  • Patent number: 11098965
    Abstract: A radiator includes a radiator frame, an array of tube assemblies each including a coolant tube and a tube clip supported in the radiator frame, and a lateral bump stop fitted between the array of tube assemblies and the radiator frame. The lateral bump stop includes cushions arranged in a staggered cushion pattern complementary to a staggered packing pattern of the tube assemblies with each of the cushions in contact with the tube clip of one of the tube assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hussien A Albakhit, Virender Kumar, Jeffrey Joseph Speichinger, James McCoy Voelker, Fei Wang, Sudhakar Lakshminarayanan, Dongming Tan, Neil Alan Terry
  • Patent number: 11047632
    Abstract: A support assembly for attaching a heat exchanger to a frame of a machine. The support assembly including a clip having one or more attachment features for attaching to the frame and a support member disposed between a first fin portion and a second fin portion of the heat exchanger. The support member disposed between the clip and the tube member to at least partially surrounds a perimeter of the tube member and form a seal therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Virender Kumar
  • Patent number: 11035615
    Abstract: A clip includes a body defining an exterior profile, and an adjustably sized aperture. The exterior profile defines at least one attachment feature and the body includes a surface defining the adjustably sized aperture and at least one stop member disposed in the adjustably sized aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Susan Jill Toher
  • Patent number: 11022077
    Abstract: An EGR cooler includes an elongated, stainless steel cooler housing with a first end having a stainless steel end plate and a second end opposite the first end, and an Inconel diffuser having an inlet end defining a gas inlet and an outlet end welded to the stainless steel end plate. The stainless steel end plate having a first thickness and the outlet end of the Inconel diffuser including a sidewall having a second thickness that is 50% or less of the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Michael Pollard
  • Publication number: 20210047989
    Abstract: An EGR cooler includes an elongated, stainless steel cooler housing with a first end having a stainless steel end plate and a second end opposite the first end, and an Inconel diffuser having an inlet end defining a gas inlet and an outlet end welded to the stainless steel end plate. The stainless steel end plate having a first thickness and the outlet end of the Inconel diffuser including a sidewall having a second thickness that is 50% or less of the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Michael Pollard
  • Publication number: 20200326143
    Abstract: A radiator includes a radiator frame, an array of tube assemblies each including a coolant tube and a tube clip supported in the radiator frame, and a lateral bump stop fitted between the array of tube assemblies and the radiator frame. The lateral bump stop includes cushions arranged in a staggered cushion pattern complementary to a staggered packing pattern of the tube assemblies with each of the cushions in contact with the tube clip of one of the tube assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hussien A Albakhit, Virender Kumar, Jeffrey Joseph Speichinger, James McCoy Voelker, Fei Wang, Sudhakar Lakshminarayanan, Dongming Tan, Neil Alan Terry
  • Publication number: 20200240722
    Abstract: A support assembly for attaching a heat exchanger to a frame of a machine. The support assembly including a clip having one or more attachment features for attaching to the frame and a support member disposed between a first fin portion and a second fin portion of the heat exchanger. The support member disposed between the clip and the tube member to at least partially surrounds a perimeter of the tube member and form a seal therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Virender Kumar
  • Publication number: 20200240723
    Abstract: A support assembly for attaching a heat exchanger to a frame of a machine. The support assembly includes a clip configured to at least partially surround a perimeter of a tube member of the heat exchanger. The clip includes a first end portion and a second end portion configured to engage the first end portion to hold the support assembly around the tube member in a closed position. The first end portion includes a laterally-extending projection and a laterally facing surface spaced apart from the projection by a recessed area. The second end portion defines a recess configured to receive a portion of the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Dongming Tan
  • Publication number: 20200064073
    Abstract: A clip includes a body defining an exterior profile, and an adjustably sized aperture. The exterior profile defines at least one attachment feature and the body includes a surface defining the adjustably sized aperture and at least one stop member disposed in the adjustably sized aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Susan Jill Toher
  • Patent number: 10378426
    Abstract: A system for determining a remaining useful life of a cooling component operatively connected to a prime mover. A controller performs a thermal strain analysis that includes determining the power output of the prime mover based upon sensor signals, determining a temperature output of the prime mover based upon the power output, determining a temperature at each of the plurality of analysis locations based upon the temperature output, determining a temperature difference based upon the temperature at each respective one of the plurality of analysis locations, and determining a thermal strain based upon the temperature difference. The controller repeats the thermal strain analysis at time intervals over a period of time, determines an accumulated damage for the cooling component based upon the thermal strain from each thermal strain analysis, and determines a remaining useful life of the cooling component based upon the material characteristics and the accumulated damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Doug A. Long, Neil Terry, Anthony L. Deluca, Jianlong Xu, Rohit K. Paramatmuni, Joseph L. Kennedy, Michael J. Campagna
  • Patent number: 10222130
    Abstract: A work machine heat exchanger is provided. The work machine heat exchanger includes an upstream tank having an inlet and a downstream tank having an outlet. The work machine heat exchanger also includes a first core and a second core, both coupled between the upstream and the downstream tank, and including a first inner side sheet and a second inner side sheet, respectively. The first and the second inner side sheet define an air gap between the first and the second core. A pair of supporting bars are stacked between the first and the second inner side sheet, and configured to retain the first and the second inner side sheet parallel to each other. A first supporting bar of the pair of supporting bars is attached to the upstream tank and a second supporting bar of the pair of supporting bars is attached to the downstream tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kennedy, Dongming Tan