Patents by Inventor Jay Venkataraghavan

Jay Venkataraghavan 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: 11945401
    Abstract: A systems for detecting level sensor malfunction or tampering based on reductant consumption and determining when to initiate a quality check of reductant used in an aftertreatment system are disclosed. The system comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor executing the instructions to perform a process including: receiving dosing data associated with an amount of DEF supplied to the aftertreatment system; receiving tank level data from a level sensor in a DEF tank; comparing the dosing data with the tank level data; and based on the comparison: initiating, by the one or more processors, a quality check; and/or determining, by the one or more processors, a possible error requiring further diagnostics; and causing to present, by the one or more processors, an indication that the quality check is being initiated and/or that a possible error requires further diagnostics on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Baoyong Liu, Urvish Joshi, Kevin Lloyd Dea
  • Patent number: 11781464
    Abstract: A method for estimating a quality of reductant in an engine aftertreatment system for an engine using a virtual sensor, the method comprising: determining whether an enablement condition is met, wherein the enablement condition is one or more of: a reductant fill condition determined based on data received from one or more float sensors associated with the engine; a machine start condition determined based on machine speed data obtained from a speed sensor associated with the engine; and/or a rationality check condition determined based on data associated with a fault of one or more sensors associated with the engine; upon determining that the enablement condition is met, receiving NOx measurement data obtained from at least one NOx sensor; generating a reductant quality value based on the NOx measurement data; and outputting a reductant quality determination based on the reductant quality value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Lombardi, Baoyong Liu, Urvish Joshi, Austin Bierle, Jay Venkataraghavan, Kent Anthony Schonert
  • Publication number: 20230313724
    Abstract: A method for estimating a quality of reductant in an engine aftertreatment system for an engine using a virtual sensor, the method comprising: determining whether an enablement condition is met, wherein the enablement condition is one or more of: a reductant fill condition determined based on data received from one or more float sensors associated with the engine; a machine start condition determined based on machine speed data obtained from a speed sensor associated with the engine; and/or a rationality check condition determined based on data associated with a fault of one or more sensors associated with the engine; upon determining that the enablement condition is met, receiving NOx measurement data obtained from at least one NOx sensor; generating a reductant quality value based on the NOx measurement data; and outputting a reductant quality determination based on the reductant quality value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Frank LOMBARDI, Baoyong LIU, Urvish JOSHI, Austin BIERLE, Jay VENKATARAGHAVAN, Kent Anthony SCHONERT
  • Publication number: 20230311808
    Abstract: A systems for detecting level sensor malfunction or tampering based on reductant consumption and determining when to initiate a quality check of reductant used in an aftertreatment system are disclosed. The system comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor executing the instructions to perform a process including: receiving dosing data associated with an amount of DEF supplied to the aftertreatment system; receiving tank level data from a level sensor in a DEF tank; comparing the dosing data with the tank level data; and based on the comparison: initiating, by the one or more processors, a quality check; and/or determining, by the one or more processors, a possible error requiring further diagnostics; and causing to present, by the one or more processors, an indication that the quality check is being initiated and/or that a possible error requires further diagnostics on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay VENKATARAGHAVAN, Baoyong LIU, Urvish JOSHI, Kevin Lloyd DEA
  • Patent number: 10787945
    Abstract: A dosing control unit (DCU) may receive operational information associated with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system. The DCU may generate a deposit prediction, associated with the SCR aftertreatment system, based on the operational information. The deposit prediction may include information that identifies a predicted size of a deposit in a dosing zone of a plurality of dosing zones associated with the SCR aftertreatment system. The deposit prediction may be generated using a deposit growth model associated with predicting sizes of deposits in the plurality of dosing zones. The DCU may select a dosing scheme, of a plurality of dosing schemes, based on the deposit prediction. The DCU may implement the selected dosing scheme in order to cause diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to be dosed in the plurality of dosing zones in accordance with the selected dosing scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin I. Landwehr, Jay Venkataraghavan
  • Publication number: 20190368400
    Abstract: A dosing control unit (DCU) may receive operational information associated with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system. The DCU may generate a deposit prediction, associated with the SCR aftertreatment system, based on the operational information. The deposit prediction may include information that identifies a predicted size of a deposit in a dosing zone of a plurality of dosing zones associated with the SCR aftertreatment system. The deposit prediction may be generated using a deposit growth model associated with predicting sizes of deposits in the plurality of dosing zones. The DCU may select a dosing scheme, of a plurality of dosing schemes, based on the deposit prediction. The DCU may implement the selected dosing scheme in order to cause diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to be dosed in the plurality of dosing zones in accordance with the selected dosing scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin I. Landwehr, Jay Venkataraghavan
  • Patent number: 9664082
    Abstract: A mixer is disclosed for use in a reductant dosing system. The mixer may have an impingement floor located within an intended fluid injection path and generally parallel with a flow direction through the mixer. The mixer may also have a first side wall connected along a lengthwise edge of the impingement floor, a second side wall connected along an opposing lengthwise edge of the impingement floor, and a plurality of shelves extending between the first and second side walls. The plurality of shelves each may include a plurality of vanes that promote mixing of an injected fluid. One or more of the plurality of shelves may extend different distances upstream opposite the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Yi, Jay Venkataraghavan, Arvind Jujare, Steven Ray Lewis, Muheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9587545
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a flow agitator connected to a gas conduit and disposed within an internal cavity of the conduit at an upstream location with respect to a fluid injector. The flow agitator operates to separate the gas flow passing through the conduit during operation into a bypass flow, a control flow, and a main flow, such that a recombination of the bypass flow, the control flow, and the main flow downstream of the flow agitator creates an oscillation in the gas flow that also encompasses the fluid delivered into the internal cavity by the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Venkataraghavan
  • Publication number: 20160215672
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a flow agitator connected to a gas conduit and disposed within an internal cavity of the conduit at an upstream location with respect to a fluid injector. The flow agitator operates to separate the gas flow passing through the conduit during operation into a bypass flow, a control flow, and a main flow, such that a recombination of the bypass flow, the control flow, and the main flow downstream of the flow agitator creates an oscillation in the gas flow that also encompasses the fluid delivered into the internal cavity by the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Jay Venkataraghavan
  • Publication number: 20150345356
    Abstract: A mixer is disclosed for use in a reductant dosing system. The mixer may have an impingement floor located within an intended fluid injection path and generally parallel with a flow direction through the mixer. The mixer may also have a first side wall connected along a lengthwise edge of the impingement floor, a second side wall connected along an opposing lengthwise edge of the impingement floor, and a plurality of shelves extending between the first and second side walls. The plurality of shelves each may include a plurality of vanes that promote mixing of an injected fluid. One or more of the plurality of shelves may extend different distances upstream opposite the flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yong YI, Jay VENKATARAGHAVAN, Arvind JUJARE, Steven Ray LEWIS, Muheng ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8943906
    Abstract: A solenoid force measurement system includes: a first plate having an opening for receiving a solenoid; a second plate separated from the first plate by an air-gap; a force detection unit located within the second plate for measuring a force exerted by the solenoid; a height control device coupled to the second plate the height control device configured to adjust the size of the air-gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Greg Weyeneth, Jay Venkataraghavan
  • Patent number: 8500036
    Abstract: A component includes a transmission arrangement for transmitting a force between an actuator and a control valve. The transmission arrangement includes a post that is associated with the actuator. The control valve is displaceable to an open position from a closed position when an opening force is applied to the control valve that is greater than a closing force provided to the control valve. The transmission arrangement is disposed in the component between the post and the control valve actuator and arranged to mechanically transmit by physical contact an actuator force from the post to the control valve when the post begins to travel towards the extended stroke position, and hydraulically amplify the actuator stroke between the post and the control valve when the post travels from the retracted stroke position to the extended stroke position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20130152555
    Abstract: An injector configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector includes: a body including a conduit with a first diameter, a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed at a distal end of the body, and an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension extending from the distal end of the body by at least a distance equal to the first diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yung T. Bui, Arvind Jujare, Jay Venkataraghavan
  • Patent number: 8297532
    Abstract: A fuel injector including a nozzle portion, a solenoid operated valve assembly configured to control a flow of fuel to the nozzle portion, a housing, at least a portion of the solenoid operated valve assembly disposed in the housing, the housing formed of a first material having a first thermal conductivity value, and a heat transfer element associated with the solenoid operated valve assembly, the heat transfer element attached to the housing, the heat transfer element formed of a second material having a second thermal conductivity value, the second thermal conductivity value being greater than the first thermal conductivity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8214132
    Abstract: An efficient control wave form is utilized to actuate the solenoids of a fuel system to reduce boost power/energy consumption. The solenoid is initially energized by applying a boost voltage from an electronic controller across a solenoid coil circuit. The electronic controller monitors the current level in the solenoid coil circuit, and changes to a reduced battery voltage when the current level in the solenoid coil circuit reaches a predetermined trigger current. The controller then maintains a pull-in current based upon battery voltage for a pull-in duration that initiates movement of the solenoid armature from an initial air gap position toward a final air gap position. After the pull-in duration, the current level is dropped to a hold in level for the remaining duration of the actuation event. The solenoid may be used for fuel injector control and/or pump control, such as to control fuel injection and pumping events respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nadeem Bunni, Daniel R. Puckett, Jay Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Angela L. Moore
  • Publication number: 20120067329
    Abstract: An efficient control wave form is utilized to actuate the solenoids of a fuel system to reduce boost power/energy consumption. The solenoid is initially energized by applying a boost voltage from an electronic controller across a solenoid coil circuit. The electronic controller monitors the current level in the solenoid coil circuit, and changes to a reduced battery voltage when the current level in the solenoid coil circuit reaches a predetermined trigger current. The controller then maintains a pull-in current based upon battery voltage for a pull-in duration that initiates movement of the solenoid armature from an initial air gap position toward a final air gap position. After the pull-in duration, the current level is dropped to a hold in level for the remaining duration of the actuation event. The solenoid may be used for fuel injector control and/or pump control, such as to control fuel injection and pumping events respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Nadeem Bunni, Daniel R. Puckett, Jay Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Angela L. Moore
  • Publication number: 20110272499
    Abstract: A component includes a transmission arrangement for transmitting a force between an actuator and a control valve. The transmission arrangement includes a post that is associated with the actuator. The control valve is displaceable to an open position from a closed position when an opening force is applied to the control valve that is greater than a closing force provided to the control valve. The transmission arrangement is disposed in the component between the post and the control valve actuator and arranged to mechanically transmit by physical contact an actuator force from the post to the control valve when the post begins to travel towards the extended stroke position, and hydraulically amplify the actuator stroke between the post and the control valve when the post travels from the retracted stroke position to the extended stroke position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 7950596
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a fuel injector body defining a fuel inlet and at least one fuel outlet, a valve having a first valve state and a second valve state and an actuator for the valve. The fuel injector includes a biasing spring including a cylindrical rolled sheet having a first spring end, a second spring end and defining a longitudinal center axis. The cylindrical rolled sheet is configured to change in length to bias the actuator toward the first actuator position and includes a helical seam located between the first spring end and a second spring end which has a shape adapted to reduce non-uniformity in a spring constant via distributing stiffness about the longitudinal center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Michael Long, Zhenlong Xu, Stephen Lewis
  • Publication number: 20100001094
    Abstract: A fuel injector including a nozzle portion and an electrically actuated valve assembly configured to control a flow of fuel to the nozzle portion. The electrically actuated valve assembly may include a piezoelectric element and a biasing member. The fuel injector also may include a housing with at least a portion of the electrically actuated valve assembly disposed in the housing. The housing may define a cavity between the piezoelectric element and the housing. A thermally conductive material may be disposed at least partially within the cavity and may be configured to transfer heat from the piezoelectric element to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Amy M. Hess
  • Publication number: 20090321668
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a fuel injector body defining a fuel inlet and at least one fuel outlet, a valve having a first valve state and a second valve state and an actuator for the valve. The fuel injector includes a biasing spring including a cylindrical rolled sheet having a first spring end, a second spring end and defining a longitudinal center axis. The cylindrical rolled sheet is configured to change in length to bias the actuator toward the first actuator position and includes a helical seam located between the first spring end and a second spring end which has a shape adapted to reduce non-uniformity in a spring constant via distributing stiffness about the longitudinal center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Michael Long, Zhenlong Xu, Stephen Lewis