Patents by Inventor Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan
Jayaraman K. 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).
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Patent number: 9718037Abstract: A mixing system for an aftertreatment system is disclosed. The mixing system includes a mixing tube. The mixing tube is provided in fluid communication with an exhaust conduit. The mixing system also includes a reductant injector positioned at an injection location on the mixing tube. The mixing system further includes a mixer assembly positioned downstream of the injection location. The mixer assembly includes a plurality of mixing elements provided in a series arrangement, such that each of the plurality of mixing elements is provided downstream of one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Aaron Harmon, Andrew M. Denis, Anthony C. Rodman, Eric P. Spaeth, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Raymond U. Isada, Yong Yi
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Publication number: 20160175784Abstract: A mixing system for an aftertreatment system is disclosed. The mixing system includes a mixing tube. The mixing tube is provided in fluid communication with an exhaust conduit. The mixing system also includes a reductant injector positioned at an injection location on the mixing tube. The mixing system further includes a mixer assembly positioned downstream of the injection location. The mixer assembly includes a plurality of mixing elements provided in a series arrangement, such that each of the plurality of mixing elements is provided downstream of one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Aaron Harmon, Andrew M. Denis, Anthony C. Rodman, Eric P. Spaeth, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Raymond U. Isada, Yong Yi
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Patent number: 9217353Abstract: A mixer is disclosed for use in a fluid injection system. The mixer may have an impingement floor oriented generally perpendicular to an intended fluid injection direction and generally parallel with a flow direction. The mixer may also have a first side wall connected along a lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction, and a second side wall connected along an opposing lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction. The mixer may further have at least one shelf extending between the first and second side walls and generally parallel with the flow direction. The at least one shelf may have a plurality of vanes protruding toward and away from the impingement floor that promotes mixing of an injected fluid.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Satya Ramakrishna Manda Venkata Naga, Abhinash Reddy Konatham, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Yongxiang Li
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Publication number: 20140298781Abstract: A mixer is disclosed for use in a fluid injection system. The mixer may have an impingement floor oriented generally perpendicular to an intended fluid injection direction and generally parallel with a flow direction. The mixer may also have a first side wall connected along a lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction, and a second side wall connected along an opposing lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction. The mixer may further have at least one shelf extending between the first and second side walls and generally parallel with the flow direction. The at least one shelf may have a plurality of vanes protruding toward and away from the impingement floor that promotes mixing of an injected fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2013Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Satya Ramakrishna Manda Venkata NAGA, Abhinash Reddy KONATHAM, Jayaraman K. VENKATARAGHAVAN, Yongxiang LI
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Patent number: 8690118Abstract: A solenoid actuated device such as a fuel injector includes an actuator body having a plurality of body pieces, and a single-pole solenoid actuator assembly positioned at least partially within the actuator body. The single-pole solenoid actuator assembly includes a one-piece compound armature housing having a load carrying component clamped between the first body piece and the second body piece, and a flux carrying component. The load carrying component includes a high structural strength and a low flux permeability, and the flux carrying component includes a low structural strength and a high flux permeability. A method of making a solenoid actuated device includes placing an armature at a sliding radial air gap with a flux carrying component of a one-piece compound armature housing, and establishing a structural load path by placing a load carrying component of the compound armature housing between a first actuator body piece and a second actuator body piece.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nadeem N. Bunni, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis
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Publication number: 20130248612Abstract: Starting and ending an injection event are accomplished by respectively energizing and de-energizing a solenoid actuator to move an armature assembly with respect to a stator. The stator is protected from impact damage by maintaining the armature assembly out of contact with the stator. The inducement of residual magnetism in the armature assembly is reduced by stopping the armature assembly at a large radius outside of the magnetic flux circuit through the stator and soft magnetic armature of the armature assembly, when the solenoid actuator is energized.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Gregory Alan Weyeneth, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Nadeem Bunni
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Patent number: 8523090Abstract: A housing for an armature of a fuel injector, a fuel injector and a fuel injection system are disclosed. The armature housing includes a first cylindrical portion for slidably accommodating the armature pin. The first cylindrical portion has a minimum inner diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature pin. A second cylindrical portion of the armature housing accommodates the armature. The second cylindrical portion has an inner minimum diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature. The disclosed armature housing provides more reliable and more consistent movement of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Stephen R. Lewis, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan
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Publication number: 20130113583Abstract: A solenoid actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator core of formed powder metal received in a stator housing. A ferromagnetic protective sleeve is in contact with and covers a majority of an inner end face and a cylindrical wall of the stator core, while a flux ring is in contact with and covers an outer end face of the stator core. An armature assembly includes an armature attached to a stem that is movable in an air gap relative to the ferromagnetic protective sleeve. A spring is operably positioned in the ferromagnetic protective sleeve but electrically isolated from the stator housing. The stator core is encapsulated to protect against erosion and fragmentation. A magnetic flux line around a solenoid coil passes through the stator core, the ferromagnetic protective sleeve, the armature, the flux ring and back to the stator core.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Saboor Sheikh, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Michael C. Long, Nadeem N. Bunni
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Patent number: 8436704Abstract: A solenoid actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator core of formed powder metal received in a stator housing. A ferromagnetic protective sleeve is in contact with and covers a majority of an inner end face and a cylindrical wall of the stator core, while a flux ring is in contact with and covers an outer end face of the stator core. An armature assembly includes an armature attached to a stem that is movable in an air gap relative to the ferromagnetic protective sleeve. A spring is operably positioned in the ferromagnetic protective sleeve but electrically isolated from the stator housing. The stator core is encapsulated to protect against erosion and fragmentation. A magnetic flux line around a solenoid coil passes through the stator core, the ferromagnetic protective sleeve, the armature, the flux ring and back to the stator core.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Saboor Sheikh, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Michael C. Long, Nadeem N. Bunni
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Publication number: 20120061491Abstract: A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Avinash R. Manubolu, Nadeem N. Bunni
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Patent number: 8056537Abstract: An internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection compression ignition diesel engine, includes an engine housing having a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of fuel injectors associated one with each of the cylinders. The fuel injectors each include a first fuel inlet and a second fuel inlet, and an actuator subassembly which is configured to actuate a control valve assembly positioned within the fuel injector. The engine further includes a fuel system having a fuel supply circuit, and a cooling system for the actuator subassembly having a cooling circuit with a segment in common with a segment of the fuel system. The cooling system is configured to pass cooling fuel across a heat exchange interface of the actuator subassembly to exchange heat therewith. The actuator subassembly may include a piezoelectric actuator and a preloading spring, which are each fluidly sealed within a casing of the actuator subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Michael C. Long, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Stephen R. Lewis, Amy M. Hess
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Publication number: 20110168813Abstract: A solenoid actuated device such as a fuel injector includes an actuator body having a plurality of body pieces, and a single-pole solenoid actuator assembly positioned at least partially within the actuator body. The single-pole solenoid actuator assembly includes a one-piece compound armature housing having a load carrying component clamped between the first body piece and the second body piece, and a flux carrying component. The load carrying component includes a high structural strength and a low flux permeability, and the flux carrying component includes a low structural strength and a high flux permeability. A method of making a solenoid actuated device includes placing an armature at a sliding radial air gap with a flux carrying component of a one-piece compound armature housing, and establishing a structural load path by placing a load carrying component of the compound armature housing between a first actuator body piece and a second actuator body piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Nadeem N. Bunni, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis
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Publication number: 20110147495Abstract: A housing for an armature of a fuel injector, a fuel injector and a fuel injection system are disclosed. The armature housing includes a first cylindrical portion for slidably accommodating the armature pin. The first cylindrical portion has a minimum inner diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature pin. A second cylindrical portion of the armature housing accommodates the armature. The second cylindrical portion has an inner minimum diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature. The disclosed armature housing provides more reliable and more consistent movement of the armature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Stephen R. Lewis, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan
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Patent number: 7866301Abstract: A self-guided armature assembly for a single pole solenoid assembly includes an armature stem and an armature. The solenoid assembly includes a flux ring component and an actuator body. The armature is movable inside the flux ring. An axial air gap is defined between the top armature surface of the armature and a bottom stator surface of a stator assembly. A sliding air gap is defined between an inner diameter surface of the flux ring and an outer diameter surface of the armature. The self-guided armature is guided along the flux ring via a guiding interaction between the armature and the flux ring. The sliding air gap is smaller than the axial air gap. A stem clearance gap is defined between the armature stem and the actuator body. The sliding air gap is also smaller than the stem clearance gap.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Nadeem N. Bunni, Shriprasad Lakhapati
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Publication number: 20100186719Abstract: A self-guided armature assembly for a single pole solenoid assembly includes an armature stem and an armature. The solenoid assembly includes a flux ring component and an actuator body. The armature is movable inside the flux ring. An axial air gap is defined between the top armature surface of the armature and a bottom stator surface of a stator assembly. A sliding air gap is defined between an inner diameter surface of the flux ring and an outer diameter surface of the armature. The self-guided armature is guided along the flux ring via a guiding interaction between the armature and the flux ring. The sliding air gap is smaller than the axial air gap. A stem clearance gap is defined between the armature stem and the actuator body. The sliding air gap is also smaller than the stem clearance gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Nadeem N. Bunni, Shriprasad Lakhapati
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Publication number: 20100176223Abstract: A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Avinash R. Manubolu, Nadeem N. Bunni
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Publication number: 20100077971Abstract: An internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection compression ignition diesel engine, includes an engine housing having a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of fuel injectors associated one with each of the cylinders. The fuel injectors each include a first fuel inlet and a second fuel inlet, and an actuator subassembly which is configured to actuate a control valve assembly positioned within the fuel injector. The engine further includes a fuel system having a fuel supply circuit, and a cooling system for the actuator subassembly having a cooling circuit with a segment in common with a segment of the fuel system. The cooling system is configured to pass cooling fuel across a heat exchange interface of the actuator subassembly to exchange heat therewith. The actuator subassembly may include a piezoelectric actuator and a preloading spring, which are each fluidly sealed within a casing of the actuator subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Michael C. Long, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Stephen R. Lewis, Amy M. Hess
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Publication number: 20100007224Abstract: A method to set a small air gap by improving the parallelism between the armature and the stator assembly includes attaching a guide sleeve to a pole piece and grinding the surfaces on the guide sleeve and the pole piece after the attaching step to improve parallelism. By decoupling the armature assembly from a valve member in a fuel injector assembly, an improved parallel orientation between the armature assembly and the stator assembly can be achieved by grinding the outer surface of the guide sleeve perpendicular to the planar bottom surface of the stator assembly in a single chucking. When the solenoid is energized, the armature is at a final air gap with the flux piece parallel to the bottom surface of the armature and the armature not in contact with the valve member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2008Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Vladimir Theodorof, Stephen Lewis