Patents by Inventor J. Thomas Vachon

J. Thomas Vachon 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: 5705892
    Abstract: A spark ignition system and spark plug for utilization in an internal combustion engine combusting an ultra lean fuel/air mixture has capacitors and rectifiers built within the spark plug and the system is constructed to be compact and capable of delivering a controlled spark that has the physical properties of providing a very fast, high power pulse or train of pulses greater than conventional spark plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Codina, James M. Schultz, J. Thomas Vachon
  • Patent number: 5590629
    Abstract: A spark ignition system of an internal combustion engine has a plurality of electrodes operating at high voltages to produce a plurality of sparks across the combustion zone. The construction of the system permits the formation of long length sparks while substantially maintain the utilization of customary electrical wiring sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Codina, Donald R. Krull, J. Thomas Vachon
  • Patent number: 5564403
    Abstract: A spark ignition system and spark plug for utilization in an internal combustion engine combusting an ultra lean fuel/air mixture has capacitors and rectifiers built within the spark plug and the system is constructed to be compact and capable of delivering a controlled spark that has the physical properties of providing a very fast, high power pulse or train of pulses greater than conventional spark plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Codina, James M. Schultz, J. Thomas Vachon
  • Patent number: 5438261
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for determining an extended length of a hydraulic cylinder is disclosed. A piston and rod are contained within a cylindrical housing of the hydraulic cylinder. A coil is wound about the rod and is attached to the piston and an end of the cylindrical housing. The coil extends and retracts with the reciprocating movement of the piston. An oscillator is coupled to the coil and produces a position signal in response to the inductance of the coil. A circuit receives the position signal, and determines the incremental linear position and velocity of the piston and rod relative to the housing in response to the frequency of the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Codina, Thomas M. Baker, Lisa A. Creger, J. Thomas Vachon