Patents by Inventor Jeffrey M. Mullinix

Jeffrey M. Mullinix 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).

  • Two wire intensified common rail fuel system
    Patent number: 7980224
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Bradley E. Bartley, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Dianqi Fang, Michael Gerstner, Christopher D. Hanson, Jeffrey M. Mullinix
  • Two wire intensified common rail fuel system
    Publication number: 20090194072
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Bradley E. Bartley, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Dianqi Fang, Michael Gerstner, Christopher D. Hanson, Jeffrey M. Mullinix