Patents by Inventor John Stephen Pipis, Jr.

John Stephen Pipis, Jr. 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: 11852048
    Abstract: A valve bridge to operatively interface with a rocker arm and a valve, and systems, assemblies, and methods thereof can comprise: a body, of the valve bridge, having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, a second leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, and a third leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body. A first pin can extend from an end of the first leg opposite the body, and a second pin can extend from an end of the second leg opposite the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Selvakumar Selvaraj, Eric Lee Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20230332519
    Abstract: A valve bridge to operatively interface with a rocker arm and a valve, and systems, assemblies, and methods thereof can comprise: a body, of the valve bridge, having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, a second leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, and a third leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body. A first pin can extend from an end of the first leg opposite the body, and a second pin can extend from an end of the second leg opposite the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen PIPIS, JR., Selvakumar SELVARAJ, Eric Lee SCHROEDER
  • Patent number: 11306624
    Abstract: A valve actuation system for an engine includes a rotatable camshaft, an injector actuation linkage, and a valve actuation linkage. The valve actuation linkage includes a valve lifter, a valve pushrod, and a rocker arm. At least one of a rocker arm center plane defined by the valve rocker arm or a lifter roller center plane defined by the valve lifter is spaced an offset distance from a pushrod axis, providing an increased contact width between an injector roller in the injector actuation linkage and one of a plurality of cam lobes of the camshaft. The valve lifter includes a fork defining a center plane spaced an offset distance from a center axis of the valve lifter. A rocker arm includes a screw bore offset relative to a rocker arm center plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Selvaganpathi Ganesan
  • Publication number: 20220018266
    Abstract: A valve actuation system for an engine includes a rotatable camshaft, an injector actuation linkage, and a valve actuation linkage. The valve actuation linkage includes a valve lifter, a valve pushrod, and a rocker arm. At least one of a rocker arm center plane defined by the valve rocker arm or a lifter roller center plane defined by the valve lifter is spaced an offset distance from a pushrod axis, providing an increased contact width between an injector roller in the injector actuation linkage and one of a plurality of cam lobes of the camshaft. The valve lifter includes a fork defining a center plane spaced an offset distance from a center axis of the valve lifter. A rocker arm includes a screw bore offset relative to a rocker arm center plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen Pipis, JR., Selvaganpathi Ganesan
  • Patent number: 11002160
    Abstract: A cam follower assembly includes a cam roller, and a generally cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface configured to be reciprocally slidable within a bore of an engine component. The cam roller is rotatably mounted on the body and configured to engage with a cam lobe on a camshaft of the engine. The cam lobe is operative to drive the body to a position at which the cam follower assembly causes one of opening of a valve or actuation of a fuel injector of the engine. A groove is formed in the body inset from the outer peripheral surface and extending axially along the outer peripheral surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and aligned with an axial median plane of the cam roller and the cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwin A. Hattiangadi, John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Charles Francis Coffey, Kevin Duane Yoder, Vaibhav Balaji
  • Publication number: 20210054767
    Abstract: A cam follower assembly includes a cam roller, and a generally cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface configured to be reciprocally slidable within a bore of an engine component. The cam roller is rotatably mounted on the body and configured to engage with a cam lobe on a camshaft of the engine. The cam lobe is operative to drive the body to a position at which the cam follower assembly causes one of opening of a valve or actuation of a fuel injector of the engine. A groove is formed in the body inset from the outer peripheral surface and extending axially along the outer peripheral surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and aligned with an axial median plane of the cam roller and the cam lobe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Ashwin A. HATTIANGADI, John Stephen PIPIS, JR., Charles Francis COFFEY, Kevin Duane YODER, Vaibhav BALAJI
  • Patent number: 9714587
    Abstract: A bridge assembly is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The bridge assembly may have a valve bridge, a cylindrical housing disposed within the valve bridge, and a plunger disposed in the cylindrical housing and protruding from the valve bridge. The bridge assembly may also have a valve housing, a post located inside the valve housing, a plurality of obliquely angled ports passing through a straight annular wall portion of the valve housing, and a plurality of radially oriented ports passing through a tapered annular wall portion of the housing. The bridge assembly may further have a valve seat disposed at least partially inside the plunger, a ball disposed within the valve housing and movable between a distal end of the post and the valve seat, a first spring disposed over the post, and a second spring disposed within the cylindrical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Andrew Cyborski, John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Edwin H. Langewisch, Sanjay Kumar
  • Patent number: 9631522
    Abstract: A valve bridge assembly is disclosed for an internal combustion engine. The assembly may have a valve bridge with a center portion, opposing lateral extensions, a bore passing through first and second ends of the center portion, and an internal annular shelf. The assembly may also have a cylindrical housing with a main portion, a tip portion protruding from the second end of the center portion, and a positioning flange resting on the internal annular shelf. The assembly may further have a plunger with a first end having a larger opening and a second end having a smaller opening. The first end may be disposed within the main portion of the cylindrical housing, and the second end may protrude from the first end of the center portion. The assembly may also have a valve assembly disposed within the larger opening of the plunger, and a spring disposed inside the cylindrical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Andrew Cyborski, John Stephen Pipis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160215657
    Abstract: A pushrod assembly for an engine is disclosed. The pushrod assembly may include a first piece configured to house a hydraulic lash adjuster and a second piece coupled to the first piece. The first piece may include a mating portion with a tapered end section. The second piece may include a first bore adapted to receive the mating portion of the first piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Cyborski, John Stephen Pipis, JR., Edwin Langewisch, Ashwin Hattiangadi
  • Publication number: 20160201523
    Abstract: A valve bridge assembly is disclosed for an internal combustion engine. The assembly may have a valve bridge with a center portion, opposing lateral extensions, a bore passing through first and second ends of the center portion, and an internal annular shelf. The assembly may also have a cylindrical housing with a main portion, a tip portion protruding from the second end of the center portion, and a positioning flange resting on the internal annular shelf. The assembly may further have a plunger with a first end having a larger opening and a second end having a smaller opening. The first end may be disposed within the main portion of the cylindrical housing, and the second end may protrude from the first end of the center portion. The assembly may also have a valve assembly disposed within the larger opening of the plunger, and a spring disposed inside the cylindrical housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: David Andrew CYBORSKI, John Stephen PIPIS, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160201524
    Abstract: A bridge assembly is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The bridge assembly may have a valve bridge, a cylindrical housing disposed within the valve bridge, and a plunger disposed in the cylindrical housing and protruding from the valve bridge. The bridge assembly may also have a valve housing, a post located inside the valve housing, a plurality of obliquely angled ports passing through a straight annular wall portion of the valve housing, and a plurality of radially oriented ports passing through a tapered annular wall portion of the housing. The bridge assembly may further have a valve seat disposed at least partially inside the plunger, a ball disposed within the valve housing and movable between a distal end of the post and the valve seat, a first spring disposed over the post, and a second spring disposed within the cylindrical housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: David Andrew CYBORSKI, John Stephen PIPIS, JR., Edwin H. LANGEWISCH, Sanjay KUMAR
  • Patent number: 7789052
    Abstract: A variable valve actuator for a power system is provided. The variable valve actuator may have a hydraulic piston extendable to interrupt cyclical movement of an engine valve. The variable valve actuator may also have a pin member pivotally received by the hydraulic piston, and a retaining ring configured to axially align the pin member with the hydraulic piston as the hydraulic piston is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Ellison, Anthony Kok-Fai Chan, John Henry Nguyen, John Stephen Pipis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090000581
    Abstract: A variable valve actuator for a power system is provided. The variable valve actuator may have a hydraulic piston extendable to interrupt cyclical movement of an engine valve. The variable valve actuator may also have a pin member pivotally received by the hydraulic piston, and a retaining ring configured to axially align the pin member with the hydraulic piston as the hydraulic piston is retracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Steven Ellison, Anthony Kok-Fai Chan, John Henry Nguyen, John Stephen Pipis, JR.
  • Patent number: 6668773
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a variable valve actuation system is provided. An engine valve is moved from a first position where the engine valve blocks a flow of fluid to a second position where the engine valve passes a flow of fluid. A valve actuator is actuated to prevent the engine valve from returning to the first position. A signal is transmitted to cause the valve actuator and to allow the engine valve to return to the first position. The return of the engine valve to the first position is determined. A time parameter indicative of an elapsed time between the transmission of the signal and movement of the engine valve to the first position is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Richard Herman Holtman, Scott Alan Leman, Sean O. Cornell, John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Ronald D. Shinogle