Patents by Inventor Dwayne E. Tharp

Dwayne E. Tharp 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: 6156193
    Abstract: A centrifugal oil filter includes a housing having a rotatable bowl disposed in a first fluid chamber and rotatably disposed about a shaft extending through the first fluid chamber. The rotatable bowl has a partition dividing the rotatable bowl into upper and lower portions. A port is formed in the partition so that the fluid flow within the rotatable bowl is directed to a pair of nozzles which act to rotate the rotatable bowl responsive to fluid flow therethrough. The port draws fluid from near the top of the rotatable bowl. Foreign particles are held along the inner wall of the bowl and the top of the partition protecting the particles from the fluid flow within the rotatable bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Meinhold, Dwayne E. Tharp
  • Patent number: 5752308
    Abstract: A solenoid actuator, adapted for use in a fuel injector, has a pole member, an armature associated therewith, and an energizable winding associated with the pole member. The solenoid actuator is latchable by residual magnetism between the pole member and the armature without the aid of a permanent magnet. The pole member and the armature are composed of steel having a carbon content of between 0.8% and 1.2% and an RC hardness of between 40 and 60. The armature is reciprocable between a first position in which the armature makes physical contact with the pole member and a second position in which the armature is spaced from the pole member. The armature occupies the first position when the winding is energized and the second position when the winding is deenergized. The armature is held in the first position by residual magnetism between the pole member and the armature when the winding is deenergized after being initially energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Maley, Dwayne E. Tharp
  • Patent number: 5488340
    Abstract: A solenoid actuator, adapted for use in a fuel injector, has a pole member, an armature associated therewith, and an energizable winding associated with the pole member. The solenoid actuator is latchable by residual magnetism between the pole member and the armature without the aid of a permanent magnet. The pole member and the armature are composed of steel having a carbon content of between 0.8% and 1.2% and an RC hardness of between 40 and 60. The armature is reciprocable between a first position in which the armature makes physical contact with the pole member and a second position in which the armature is spaced from the pole member. The armature occupies the first position when the winding is energized and the second position when the winding is deenergized. The armature is held in the first position by residual magnetism between the pole member and the armature when the winding is deenergized after being initially energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Maley, Dwayne E. Tharp