Patents by Inventor Jay Robert Steffen

Jay Robert Steffen 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).

  • Vortex diffuser for rotating/stationary interfaces
    Patent number: 9836066
    Abstract: In hydraulic systems having rotating-stationary component interfaces, a bore pressure regulating mechanism is provided to interact with the hydraulic fluid in a control volume to maintain a hydraulic fluid pressure in a longitudinal shaft bore at or approximately equal to a supply pressure when a gear shaft rotates within the control volume. In one aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism minimizes vortex flow of the hydraulic fluid induced by the rotation of the gear shaft. In another aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism provides a direct feed of pressurized hydraulic fluid proximate an opening of the longitudinal shaft bore through an end surface of the gear shaft, and thereby minimizes the opportunity for the hydraulic fluid to be forced into vortex flow by the gear shaft in the area of the longitudinal shaft bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Williams, Mark Allen Batdorff, Timothy Lorentz, Jay Robert Steffen
  • Vortex Diffuser for Rotating/Stationary Interfaces
    Publication number: 20160018825
    Abstract: In hydraulic systems having rotating-stationary component interfaces, a bore pressure regulating mechanism is provided to interact with the hydraulic fluid in a control volume to maintain a hydraulic fluid pressure in a longitudinal shaft bore at or approximately equal to a supply pressure when a gear shaft rotates within the control volume. In one aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism minimizes vortex flow of the hydraulic fluid induced by the rotation of the gear shaft. In another aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism provides a direct feed of pressurized hydraulic fluid proximate an opening of the longitudinal shaft bore through an end surface of the gear shaft, and thereby minimizes the opportunity for the hydraulic fluid to be forced into vortex flow by the gear shaft in the area of the longitudinal shaft bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Williams, Mark Allen Batdorff, Timothy Lorentz, Jay Robert Steffen