Patents by Inventor John M. TANNER

John M. TANNER 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: 11787387
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an energy storage container includes an enclosed compartment containing an energy storage unit, an air temperature control unit configured to cool an interior of the enclosed compartment, and at least one inverter connected to a coolant circuit, which is separate from the air temperature control unit, and configured to be cooled by a coolant in the coolant circuit. The thermal management system also includes a radiator located outside of the enclosed compartment, the radiator being connected to the coolant circuit, wherein the coolant in the coolant circuit flows through the radiator, and at least one fan located alongside the radiator, outside of the enclosed compartment, the at least one fan being configured to blow air across the radiator to cool the coolant flowing through the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Umakanth Sakaray, John M. Tanner, Marvin Baer, Nirag Sheth, Christopher Derham, Jeremiah Raveling
  • Patent number: 11618429
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an energy storage container includes an enclosed compartment containing an energy storage unit, an air temperature control unit configured to cool an interior of the enclosed compartment, and at least one inverter connected to a coolant circuit, which is separate from the air temperature control unit, and configured to be cooled by a coolant in the coolant circuit. The thermal management system also includes a radiator located outside of the enclosed compartment, the radiator being connected to the coolant circuit, wherein the coolant in the coolant circuit flows through the radiator, and at least one fan located alongside the radiator, outside of the enclosed compartment, the at least one fan being configured to blow air across the radiator to cool the coolant flowing through the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Umakanth Sakaray, John M. Tanner, Marvin Baer, Nirag Sheth, Christopher Derham, Jeremiah Raveling
  • Patent number: 11605846
    Abstract: In one aspect, a thermal management system includes a first coolant circuit, through which a first coolant circulates, and including at least a radiator for cooling the first coolant, a storage containing one or more power electronics, a heat exchanger, and a thermostatic valve that outputs the first coolant to at least one of the storage containing the one or more power electronics and the heat exchanger. A second coolant circuit, through which a second coolant circulates, includes the heat exchanger configured to cool the second coolant using the first coolant, an energy storage unit cooled by the second coolant, and a refrigeration unit configured to cool the second coolant. A coolant temperature sensor outputs a temperature of the coolant in the second coolant circuit, and a controller controls at least the refrigeration unit based on the temperature of the coolant output by the coolant temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Umakanth Sakaray, Nirag Sheth, Adam C. Grove, John M. Tanner, Jeremy Byrd, Gregory S. Hasler
  • Publication number: 20220255173
    Abstract: A housing includes a plurality of subassemblies. At least one subassembly of the plurality of subassemblies includes a lower structure extending in a first direction and configured to support one or more batteries, an upper structure extending in the first direction and spaced apart from the lower structure by a vertical distance, and one or more vertical posts attached to the lower structure, the one or more vertical posts connecting the lower structure with the upper structure. The housing further includes a plurality of intermediate panels located between the one or more vertical posts, the plurality of intermediate panels extending in a vertical direction between the lower structure and the upper structure, wherein a battery of the one or more batteries is attached to the lower structure and at least two intermediate panels of the plurality of intermediate panels. The housing also includes a lateral brace attached to and connecting the multiple subassemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Tanner, Craig P. Hittle, Christopher David Derham, Bradley R. Sparks
  • Patent number: 11391269
    Abstract: A hybrid hydraulic fracturing system having a driveline that includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, a motor operatively coupled to a forward end of the crankshaft, a transmission operatively coupled to a rearward end of the crankshaft, a driveshaft operatively coupled to the transmission, and a fracturing pump operatively coupled to the driveshaft. The system also includes a power source electrically coupled to the motor for supplying power to the motor and a controller configured to power condition the driveline by operating the driveline in a first mode in response to a load change resulting in an increased power demand on the driveline, where the first mode includes providing torque from the internal combustion engine to drive the fracturing pump and selectively providing torque from the motor to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to assist the internal combustion engine in driving the fracturing pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Tanner
  • Publication number: 20220041153
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an energy storage container includes an enclosed compartment containing an energy storage unit, an air temperature control unit configured to cool an interior of the enclosed compartment, and at least one inverter connected to a coolant circuit, which is separate from the air temperature control unit, and configured to be cooled by a coolant in the coolant circuit. The thermal management system also includes a radiator located outside of the enclosed compartment, the radiator being connected to the coolant circuit, wherein the coolant in the coolant circuit flows through the radiator, and at least one fan located alongside the radiator, outside of the enclosed compartment, the at least one fan being configured to blow air across the radiator to cool the coolant flowing through the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Umakanth SAKARAY, John M. TANNER, Marvin BAER, Nirag SHETH, Christopher DERHAM, Jeremiah RAVELING
  • Publication number: 20210230987
    Abstract: A hybrid hydraulic fracturing system having a driveline that includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, a motor operatively coupled to a forward end of the crankshaft, a transmission operatively coupled to a rearward end of the crankshaft, a driveshaft operatively coupled to the transmission, and a fracturing pump operatively coupled to the driveshaft. The system also includes a power source electrically coupled to the motor for supplying power to the motor and a controller configured to power condition the driveline by operating the driveline in a first mode in response to a load change resulting in an increased power demand on the driveline, where the first mode includes providing torque from the internal combustion engine to drive the fracturing pump and selectively providing torque from the motor to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to assist the internal combustion engine in driving the fracturing pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Tanner
  • Patent number: 10797279
    Abstract: A battery module may include a housing having a length, a width, and a height. The housing may include four sidewalls, a first open end, and a second open end opposite the first open end. The four sidewalls may extend the length of the housing. The four sidewalls may form a seamless closed channel member. A plurality of battery cells may be stacked lengthwise within the housing. A first endplate may be coupled to the first open end of the housing, and a second endplate may be coupled to the second open end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Tanner, Jeffrey T. Michielutti
  • Publication number: 20200006722
    Abstract: A battery module may include a housing having a length, a width, and a height. The housing may include four sidewalls, a first open end, and a second open end opposite the first open end. The four sidewalls may extend the length of the housing. The four sidewalls may form a seamless closed channel member. A plurality of battery cells may be stacked lengthwise within the housing. A first endplate may be coupled to the first open end of the housing, and a second endplate may be coupled to the second open end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John M. TANNER, Jeffrey T. MICHIELUTTI