Patents by Inventor Kevin Lloyd Dea

Kevin Lloyd 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: 11945401
    Abstract: A systems for detecting level sensor malfunction or tampering based on reductant consumption and determining when to initiate a quality check of reductant used in an aftertreatment system are disclosed. The system comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor executing the instructions to perform a process including: receiving dosing data associated with an amount of DEF supplied to the aftertreatment system; receiving tank level data from a level sensor in a DEF tank; comparing the dosing data with the tank level data; and based on the comparison: initiating, by the one or more processors, a quality check; and/or determining, by the one or more processors, a possible error requiring further diagnostics; and causing to present, by the one or more processors, an indication that the quality check is being initiated and/or that a possible error requires further diagnostics on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Baoyong Liu, Urvish Joshi, Kevin Lloyd Dea
  • Publication number: 20230311808
    Abstract: A systems for detecting level sensor malfunction or tampering based on reductant consumption and determining when to initiate a quality check of reductant used in an aftertreatment system are disclosed. The system comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor executing the instructions to perform a process including: receiving dosing data associated with an amount of DEF supplied to the aftertreatment system; receiving tank level data from a level sensor in a DEF tank; comparing the dosing data with the tank level data; and based on the comparison: initiating, by the one or more processors, a quality check; and/or determining, by the one or more processors, a possible error requiring further diagnostics; and causing to present, by the one or more processors, an indication that the quality check is being initiated and/or that a possible error requires further diagnostics on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay VENKATARAGHAVAN, Baoyong LIU, Urvish JOSHI, Kevin Lloyd DEA
  • Patent number: 11614007
    Abstract: An engine valve actuation system includes engine braking rocker arms each having a hydraulically actuated switch, and an electrohydraulic control system including an actuation fluid supply, an electrically actuated valve adjustable to vary a pressure of actuation fluid supplied from the actuation fluid supply to the hydraulically actuated switches, and an engine braking control unit. The engine braking control unit is structured to command adjusting the electrically actuated valve to adjust the hydraulically actuated switch in each of the engine braking rocker arms at a switching window timing that is varied from engine braking cycle to engine braking cycle to distribute hard handoffs among the engine braking rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Quinton Burcar, Mike Dean Roley, Kevin Lloyd Dea
  • Patent number: 11598241
    Abstract: A reduction device includes a housing defining an input chamber configured to receive exhaust from a power source, an output chamber, an exhaust channel configured to direct the exhaust from the input chamber to the output chamber, and a longitudinal axis. The reduction device also includes a treatment unit disposed in the exhaust channel and along the longitudinal axis. The treatment unit is configured to at least partly remove pollutant species from the exhaust. The reduction device also includes an attenuation component disposed in the housing and radially outward of the treatment unit. The attenuation component is fluidly connected to the exhaust channel, and is configured to attenuate a range of frequencies corresponding to operation of the power source. Additionally, the exhaust channel prohibits exhaust entering the input chamber from exiting the housing without passing through the treatment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Lloyd Dea
  • Publication number: 20220356826
    Abstract: A reduction device includes a housing defining an input chamber configured to receive exhaust from a power source, an output chamber, an exhaust channel configured to direct the exhaust from the input chamber to the output chamber, and a longitudinal axis. The reduction device also includes a treatment unit disposed in the exhaust channel and along the longitudinal axis. The treatment unit is configured to at least partly remove pollutant species from the exhaust. The reduction device also includes an attenuation component disposed in the housing and radially outward of the treatment unit. The attenuation component is fluidly connected to the exhaust channel, and is configured to attenuate a range of frequencies corresponding to operation of the power source. Additionally, the exhaust channel prohibits exhaust entering the input chamber from exiting the housing without passing through the treatment unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Lloyd Dea
  • Publication number: 20210324780
    Abstract: An exhaust system includes an exhaust pressure sensing system having sensor conduits structured to fluidly connect to an exhaust conduit in an exhaust system and feed exhaust to a differential pressure sensor. The differential pressure sensor produces a pressure signal indicative of a pressure drop across an exhaust aftertreatment element such as an exhaust filter. A plugging-mitigation conduit provides an always-open leakage path to convey condensate in a stream of leaked exhaust between the sensor conduits to prevent formation of deposits that can impact pressure sensing accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Lloyd Dea, James Harris Mutti, Thomas Reilly Fenelon
  • Patent number: 11149677
    Abstract: An engine optimization controller may determine values of a set of input parameters of an engine and process, using an engine model, the values to determine a plurality of sets of potential output parameters. The engine optimization controller may determine, based on the plurality of sets of potential output parameters, an engine optimization scheme, which may indicate a first number of cylinders, of one or more cylinders of the engine, to be active and to receive gas; a second number of cylinders, of the one or more cylinders, to be inactive and to receive gas, and/or a third number of cylinders, of the one or more cylinders, to be inactive and to not receive gas. The engine optimization controller may provide the engine configuration scheme to another controller to allow control of the one or more cylinders and one or more fuel injectors according to the engine configuration scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain J. Charbonnel, Kevin Lloyd Dea
  • Patent number: 11131224
    Abstract: An exhaust system includes an exhaust pressure sensing system having sensor conduits structured to fluidly connect to an exhaust conduit in an exhaust system and feed exhaust to a differential pressure sensor. The differential pressure sensor produces a pressure signal indicative of a pressure drop across an exhaust aftertreatment element such as an exhaust filter. A plugging-mitigation conduit provides an always-open leakage path to convey condensate in a stream of leaked exhaust between the sensor conduits to prevent formation of deposits that can impact pressure sensing accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Lloyd Dea, James Harris Mutti, Thomas Reilly Fenelon