Patents by Inventor Kevin James SCHREADER

Kevin James SCHREADER 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).

  • Variable valve actuator having low-pressure relief
    Patent number: 10323579
    Abstract: A valve actuation system is disclosed for an engine. The valve actuation system may have a variable valve actuator that is configured to engage a rocker arm and hold the valve at an open position regardless of motion of a cam lobe. The variable valve actuator may have a housing forming a chamber, a plunger disposed in the chamber, a control valve movable to control a flow of fluid into the chamber, and a relief valve configured to automatically open and release fluid from the housing when a pressure inside the chamber is below a predetermined pressure. The valve actuation system may further have a controller configured to cycle the control valve prior to start-up of the engine and to selectively move the control valve after start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kendall Dean Yeager, Kevin James Schreader, Victor Iskander Yacoub
  • VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATOR HAVING LOW-PRESSURE RELIEF
    Publication number: 20180171881
    Abstract: A valve actuation system is disclosed for an engine. The valve actuation system may have a variable valve actuator that is configured to engage a rocker arm and hold the valve at an open position regardless of motion of a cam lobe. The variable valve actuator may have a housing forming a chamber, a plunger disposed in the chamber, a control valve movable to control a flow of fluid into the chamber, and a relief valve configured to automatically open and release fluid from the housing when a pressure inside the chamber is below a predetermined pressure. The valve actuation system may further have a controller configured to cycle the control valve prior to start-up of the engine and to selectively move the control valve after start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kendall Dean YEAGER, Kevin James SCHREADER, Victor Iskander YACOUB