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).
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Patent number: 11319852Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Kevin L. Dea
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Publication number: 20210062701Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Kevin L. DEA
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Patent number: 9677444Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Dea, Brian M. Cole
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Patent number: 9657628Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian Cole, Kevin L Dea, Johnathan Trundt, Dirk DeDecker
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Publication number: 20170051648Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Kevin L. Dea, Brian M. Cole
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Publication number: 20160376968Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 9387437Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Keith D. Hogan, Thomas R. Fenelon, Brian M. Cole, Kevin L. Dea
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Publication number: 20150336052Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Keith D. Hogan, Thomas R. Fenelon, Brian M. Cole, Kevin L. Dea
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Publication number: 20150283508Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
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Patent number: 9140166Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
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Publication number: 20150260069Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Dea, Brian Cole
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Patent number: 7707977Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James H. Mutti, Kevin L. Dea, John A. Gadbois
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Patent number: 7520259Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Stephen R. Lewis, W. John Love, Timothy J. Matzke, Kevin L. Dea
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Publication number: 20080092836Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: James H. Mutti, Kevin L. Dea, John A. Gadbois
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Publication number: 20070277777Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Travis E. Barnes, Stephen R. Lewis, W. John Love, Timothy J. Matzke, Kevin L. Dea
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Patent number: 7296562Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Caterpiller Inc.Inventors: Michael P. Withrow, Kevin L. Dea, Christopher R. Gehrke, Michael R. Donoho, II