Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Dea

Kevin L. Dea 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: 11319852
    Abstract: A reductant storage system for an internal combustion engine system includes a storage container having a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, an opening extending through the top wall, and a reservoir formed by a hollow interior of the storage container; a filter assembly; and a header assembly. The filter assembly extends through the opening and is configured to seal the opening and includes a filtering material. The header assembly extends through the opening and inside the filter assembly. The header assembly includes: (i) a first sensor configured to measure a quality of the reductant contained within the filter assembly and (ii) a second sensor configured to measure a level of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Dea
  • Publication number: 20210062701
    Abstract: A reductant storage system for an internal combustion engine system includes a storage container having a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, an opening extending through the top wall, and a reservoir formed by a hollow interior of the storage container; a filter assembly; and a header assembly. The filter assembly extends through the opening and is configured to seal the opening and includes a filtering material. The header assembly extends through the opening and inside the filter assembly. The header assembly includes: (i) a first sensor configured to measure a quality of the reductant contained within the filter assembly and (ii) a second sensor configured to measure a level of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. DEA
  • Patent number: 9677444
    Abstract: A reductant supply system for an exhaust aftertreatment system is disclosed. The reductant supply system may include a controller configured to receive an engine system operation signal and transmit a reductant delivery signal in response to the engine system operation signal, an injector configured to dispense a reductant fluid into an exhaust gas flow of the exhaust aftertreatment system in response to the reductant delivery signal, and a pump configured to actuate between an off condition and an on condition in response to the reductant delivery signal. Furthermore, the reductant supply system may include a recycle line and a two-way valve positioned in the recycle line configured to actuate between a closed position and an open position in response to the reductant delivery signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Dea, Brian M. Cole
  • Patent number: 9657628
    Abstract: A method for purging a reductant supply system for an engine is provided. The reductant supply system includes a reservoir to store a reductant. The reductant supply system further includes an injector to inject reductant in an exhaust conduit of the engine. The reductant supply system also includes a conduit coupled between the reservoir and the injector to supply the reductant. The method for purging the reductant supply system includes initiating purging of the injector and the conduit such that the reductant in the injector and conduit flows to the reservoir. The method further includes monitoring of the dilution of the reductant during purging and indicating a completion of the purging when the dilution of the reductant in the reservoir reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cole, Kevin L Dea, Johnathan Trundt, Dirk DeDecker
  • Publication number: 20170051648
    Abstract: A reductant supply system for an exhaust aftertreatment system is disclosed. The reductant supply system may include a controller configured to receive an engine system operation signal and transmit a reductant delivery signal in response to the engine system operation signal, an injector configured to dispense a reductant fluid into an exhaust gas flow of the exhaust aftertreatment system in response to the reductant delivery signal, and a pump configured to actuate between an off condition and an on condition in response to the reductant delivery signal. Furthermore, the reductant supply system may include a recycle line and a two-way valve positioned in the recycle line configured to actuate between a closed position and an open position in response to the reductant delivery signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin L. Dea, Brian M. Cole
  • Publication number: 20160376968
    Abstract: A header unit for a reductant tank is provided. The header unit includes a reductant draw conduit extending into an interior space of the reductant tank. The reductant draw conduit is configured to draw a reductant from the reductant tank. The reductant draw conduit includes at least one expansion opening provided along a length thereof. The header unit also includes a valve element coupled to the reductant draw conduit. The valve element includes a main body member defining a channel therethrough. The main body member circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the reductant draw conduit corresponding to the at least one expansion opening. The main body member is made of an elastomeric material configured to accommodate an expansion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dongming Tan, Brian M. Cole, Shawn R. Herold, Kevin L. Dea, Theron Cassidy, Matthew F. Fahrenkrug, Douglas A. Long, James J. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 9387437
    Abstract: A reductant supply system includes a reductant tank, an injector supply conduit fluidly connecting the reductant tank with an injector, a driving fluid source in fluid communication with the reductant tank via a dose driving conduit, a purge conduit in fluid communication with the driving fluid source and the reductant tank, and a valve in fluid communication with the reductant tank via the dose driving conduit and the purge conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Hogan, Thomas R. Fenelon, Brian M. Cole, Kevin L. Dea
  • Publication number: 20150336052
    Abstract: A reductant supply system includes a reductant tank, an injector supply conduit fluidly connecting the reductant tank with an injector, a driving fluid source in fluid communication with the reductant tank via a dose driving conduit, a purge conduit in fluid communication with the driving fluid source and the reductant tank, and a valve in fluid communication with the reductant tank via the dose driving conduit and the purge conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Hogan, Thomas R. Fenelon, Brian M. Cole, Kevin L. Dea
  • Publication number: 20150283508
    Abstract: A reductant dosing system for an engine is disclosed. The disclosed reductant dosing system includes a reservoir of reductant fluid that is connected to an inlet of a reductant pump. The pump has an outlet that is fluidly connected to the reservoir, an inlet of a pressure regulator and an inlet of an injector. The pressure regulator includes a reductant pressure control valve that fluidly connects the outlet of the reductant pump to the reservoir when the reductant pressure control valve is in an open position. A compressed gas source is fluidly connected to an air supply control valve that fluidly connects the compressed gas source to the reservoir when the air supply control valve is in an open position. The air supply control valve also has a closed position and is shifted between the open and closed positions by a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
  • Patent number: 9140166
    Abstract: A reductant dosing system for an engine is disclosed. The disclosed reductant dosing system includes a reservoir of reductant fluid that is connected to an inlet of a reductant pump. The pump has an outlet that is fluidly connected to the reservoir, an inlet of a pressure regulator and an inlet of an injector. The pressure regulator includes a reductant pressure control valve that fluidly connects the outlet of the reductant pump to the reservoir when the reductant pressure control valve is in an open position. A compressed gas source is fluidly connected to an air supply control valve that fluidly connects the compressed gas source to the reservoir when the air supply control valve is in an open position. The air supply control valve also has a closed position and is shifted between the open and closed positions by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
  • Publication number: 20150260069
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a reservoir, a pump, an injector, and a pressure regulator. The reservoir encloses a fluid and includes a reservoir body forming a reservoir volume that encloses the fluid. The reservoir includes a draw conduit and a return conduit. The pump has an inlet connected to the draw conduit and provides fluid at the operating pressure and at a desired flow to a pressure line that is fluidly connected to an outlet of the pump. The injector selectively opens to allow an injected fluid flow to pass therethrough. The return orifice fluidly connects the pressure line with the return conduit, and the pressure regulator provides a regulated fluid flow to the fluid reservoir. During operation, the desired fluid flow is equal to a sum of the injected fluid flow, the return fluid flow and the regulated fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
  • Patent number: 7707977
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes varying the opening or closing of engine valves including intake or exhaust valves, in fluid communication with each of the cylinders of the engine. The method further includes generating a signal indicative of engine valve status in response to monitoring an acceleration parameter of the engine. An engine includes a computer configured to determine a performance status of intake or exhaust valves of the engine responsive to monitoring an engine acceleration parameter such as crankshaft acceleration. The computer is configured via fault detection and cylinder trimming routines to adjust valve performance based on a nominal crankshaft acceleration for the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Mutti, Kevin L. Dea, John A. Gadbois
  • Patent number: 7520259
    Abstract: A power management system for a combustion engine is disclosed. The power management system has a fuel injector, a sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the fuel injector. The fuel injector is operable to inject multiple shots of fuel into the combustion engine during a single injection event. The sensor is configured to sense a speed of the combustion engine and generate a signal indicative of the sensed speed. The controller is configured to limit the number of shots per injection event in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Stephen R. Lewis, W. John Love, Timothy J. Matzke, Kevin L. Dea
  • Publication number: 20080092836
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes varying the opening or closing of engine valves including intake or exhaust valves, in fluid communication with each of the cylinders of the engine. The method further includes generating a signal indicative of engine valve status in response to monitoring an acceleration parameter of the engine. An engine includes a computer configured to determine a performance status of intake or exhaust valves of the engine responsive to monitoring an engine acceleration parameter such as crankshaft acceleration. The computer is configured via fault detection and cylinder trimming routines to adjust valve performance based on a nominal crankshaft acceleration for the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: James H. Mutti, Kevin L. Dea, John A. Gadbois
  • Publication number: 20070277777
    Abstract: A power management system for a combustion engine is disclosed. The power management system has a fuel injector, a sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the fuel injector. The fuel injector is operable to inject multiple shots of fuel into the combustion engine during a single injection event. The sensor is configured to sense a speed of the combustion engine and generate a signal indicative of the sensed speed. The controller is configured to limit the number of shots per injection event in response to the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Stephen R. Lewis, W. John Love, Timothy J. Matzke, Kevin L. Dea
  • Patent number: 7296562
    Abstract: A control system for estimating the performance of a compressor is disclosed. The control system has a compressor fluidly connected to an inlet manifold of a power source. The control system also has a power source speed sensor to provide an indication of a rotational speed of the power source, an inlet pressure sensor to provide an indication of a pressure of a fluid within the inlet manifold, an inlet temperature sensor to provide an indication of a temperature of the fluid within the inlet manifold, an atmospheric pressure sensor to provide an indication of an atmospheric pressure, and a control module in communication with each of the sensors. The control module is configured to monitor an engine valve opening duration and an exhaust gas recirculation valve position, and estimate a compressor inlet pressure based on the provided indications, the monitored duration, and the monitored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpiller Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Withrow, Kevin L. Dea, Christopher R. Gehrke, Michael R. Donoho, II