Patents by Inventor Eric D. Hardin

Eric D. Hardin 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: 6408831
    Abstract: A vehicle operates under various ambient conditions and various operating parameters. To compensate for the ambient condition and the operating parameters an engine, an intake air temperature is controlled. One of an ambient air flow restriction system or an intake air flow restriction system is used to vary the flow of a recipient ambient air flow through an air to air or the flow of a donor intake air flow through the aftercooler respectively. A plurality of louvers are operatively moved between a closed position and an open position with the ambient air flow restriction system. And, a flapper valve is operatively moved between a closed position and an open position with the intake air flow restriction system. A controller interprets a respective signal from a plurality of sensors to define the position of the plurality of louvers or to define the position of the flapper valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Craig, Eric D. Hardin, Tony G. Kertz
  • Publication number: 20020073977
    Abstract: A vehicle operates under various ambient conditions and various operating parameters. To compensate for the ambient condition and the operating parameters an engine, an intake air temperature is controlled. One of an ambient air flow restriction system or an intake air flow restriction system is used to vary the flow of a recipient ambient air flow through an air to air or the flow of a donor intake air flow through the aftercooler respectively. A plurality of louvers are operatively moved between a closed position and an open position with the ambient air flow restriction system. And, a flapper valve is operatively moved between a closed position and an open position with the intake air flow restriction system. A controller interprets a respective signal from a plurality of sensors to define the position of the plurality of louvers or to define the position of the flapper valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Mark W. Craig, Eric D. Hardin, Tony G. Kertz
  • Patent number: 6314950
    Abstract: A vehicle operates under various ambient conditions and various operating parameters. To compensate for the ambient conditions and the operating parameters of an engine, a donor intake air temperature is controlled. An ambient air flow restriction system is used to vary the flow of a recipient ambient air through an air to air aftercooler. A plurality of louvers are operatively moved between a closed position and an open position. A controller interprets a respective signals from a plurality of sensors to define the position of the plurality of louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Burbank, Eric D. Hardin
  • Patent number: 6065757
    Abstract: A flywheel housing adapted for use with an engine. The engine has a cylinder block and the cylinder block defines a mating portion. The flywheel housing has a groove with an elastomeric seal disposed therein. The groove has an arcuate portion and a pair of leg portions and is in sealing engagement with the mating portion. The principle use is for flywheel housing made of aluminum, however any flywheel housing that has thermal stresses or encounters vibrational loads will benefit from this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin P. Schneider, Eric D. Hardin, David L. Oedewaldt