Patents by Inventor LARRY J. GEER

LARRY J. GEER 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: 10815852
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system for an exhaust aftertreatment system includes a pump disposed within an outer housing. A filter assembly is in fluid communication with the pump and also disposed within the outer housing. A tubular filter medium is disposed within a pump housing. An elongated first compensation element is disposed within an elongated aperture of the filter medium. A support ring is associated with the pump housing and includes a plurality of flexible arms. Second and third compensation elements are also provided to contract in response to expansion of fluid within the pump housing due to freezing and expand in response to thawing of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Deenaraj Neelagal, Larry J. Geer, Ryan Barrus
  • Patent number: 10598059
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The valve assembly includes a first conduit and a second conduit that is partially received in the first conduit. A valve flap is disposed within the first conduit for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the first conduit for rotation between open and closed positions. The first conduit has first and second slots, each extending from an open slot end to a closed slot end. First and second bushings supporting the shaft are disposed within the slots between the second conduit and the closed slot ends. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first conduit in the closed position to dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Geer, Erwin Peters, Stephen M. Thomas, William E. Hill
  • Patent number: 10436088
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The valve assembly includes a first conduit and a second conduit that is partially received in the first conduit. A valve flap is disposed within the first conduit for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the first conduit for rotation between open and closed positions. The first conduit has first and second slots, each extending from an open slot end to a closed slot end. First and second bushings subassemblies supporting the shaft are disposed within the slots between the second conduit and the closed slot ends. Each of the first and second bushing subassemblies includes an alignment system in the form of protrusions that limit insertion of the first and second bushing subassemblies into the first and second slot to a single orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Larry J. Geer
  • Patent number: 10180092
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system is provided that includes a first conduit and a second conduit that are joined to together to define an exhaust passageway. A valve flap is disposed within the exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the exhaust passageway for rotation between open and closed positions. First and second bushings support the shaft. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first or second conduit in the closed position and side wings that contact the first or second conduit in the open position. A resilient tongue may support the pad on an angle relative to the valve flap and a mass damper may be attached to one end of the shaft. These features dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Geer, Erwin Peters, Stephen M. Thomas, William E. Hill
  • Patent number: 10100697
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system for an exhaust aftertreatment system may include an outer housing, a pump, a filter assembly, an electric heating blanket, and a heater retention plate. The heater retention plate is shaped to correspond to the shapes of the pump and filter assembly. A lid of the outer housing contacts the heater retention plate and clamps the heating blanket between the heater retention plate and the pump and filter assembly so that the heating blanket takes the shapes of portions of the pump and filter assembly. The outer housing includes mounting flanges and reinforcement members extending from corresponding mounting flanges to corresponding sidewalls of the outer housing and forming a hollow space therebetween. The filter assembly includes compensation elements that contract in response to expansion of fluid within a pump housing due to freezing and expand in response to thawing of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Deenaraj Neelagal, Larry J. Geer, Ryan Barrus
  • Patent number: 10077702
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for reducing emissions from an engine includes an exhaust conduit adapted to supply an exhaust stream from the engine to an exhaust treatment device. The conduit includes an aperture. An injector injects a reagent through the aperture and into the exhaust stream. A flow modifier is positioned within the exhaust conduit upstream of the injector. The flow modifier increases the velocity of the exhaust gas at a predetermined location within the conduit relative to the injected reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Floyd, John M. Lowry, Larry J. Geer
  • Publication number: 20180209317
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system for an exhaust aftertreatment system includes a pump disposed within an outer housing. A filter assembly is in fluid communication with the pump and also disposed within the outer housing. A tubular filter medium is disposed within a pump housing. An elongated first compensation element is disposed within an elongated aperture of the filter medium. A support ring is associated with the pump housing and includes a plurality of flexible arms. Second and third compensation elements are also provided to contract in response to expansion of fluid within the pump housing due to freezing and expand in response to thawing of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Deenaraj NEELAGAL, Larry J. GEER, Ryan BARRUS
  • Publication number: 20180051607
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system is provided that includes a first conduit and a second conduit that are joined to together to define an exhaust passageway. A valve flap is disposed within the exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the exhaust passageway for rotation between open and closed positions. First and second bushings support the shaft. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first or second conduit in the closed position and side wings that contact the first or second conduit in the open position. A resilient tongue may support the pad on an angle relative to the valve flap and a mass damper may be attached to one end of the shaft. These features dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Larry J. GEER, Erwin PETERS, Stephen M. THOMAS, William E. HILL
  • Publication number: 20180051610
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The valve assembly includes a first conduit and a second conduit that is partially received in the first conduit. A valve flap is disposed within the first conduit for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the first conduit for rotation between open and closed positions. The first conduit has first and second slots, each extending from an open slot end to a closed slot end. First and second bushings subassemblies supporting the shaft are disposed within the slots between the second conduit and the closed slot ends. Each of the first and second bushing subassemblies includes an alignment system in the form of protrusions that limit insertion of the first and second bushing subassemblies into the first and second slot to a single orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen M. THOMAS, Larry J. GEER
  • Publication number: 20180051609
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The valve assembly includes a first conduit and a second conduit that is partially received in the first conduit. A valve flap is disposed within the first conduit for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the first conduit for rotation between open and closed positions. The first conduit has first and second slots, each extending from an open slot end to a closed slot end. First and second bushings supporting the shaft are disposed within the slots between the second conduit and the closed slot ends. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first conduit in the closed position to dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Larry J. GEER, Erwin PETERS, Stephen M. THOMAS, William E. HILL
  • Publication number: 20170292425
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system for an exhaust aftertreatment system may include an outer housing, a pump, a filter assembly, an electric heating blanket, and a heater retention plate. The heater retention plate is shaped to correspond to the shapes of the pump and filter assembly. A lid of the outer housing contacts the heater retention plate and clamps the heating blanket between the heater retention plate and the pump and filter assembly so that the heating blanket takes the shapes of portions of the pump and filter assembly. The outer housing includes mounting flanges and reinforcement members extending from corresponding mounting flanges to corresponding sidewalls of the outer housing and forming a hollow space therebetween. The filter assembly includes compensation elements that contract in response to expansion of fluid within a pump housing due to freezing and expand in response to thawing of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Deenaraj NEELAGAL, Larry J. GEER, Ryan BARRUS
  • Publication number: 20160298519
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for reducing emissions from an engine includes an exhaust conduit adapted to supply an exhaust stream from the engine to an exhaust treatment device. The conduit includes an aperture. An injector injects a reagent through the aperture and into the exhaust stream. A flow modifier is positioned within the exhaust conduit upstream of the injector. The flow modifier increases the velocity of the exhaust gas at a predetermined location within the conduit relative to the injected reagent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Ryan A. Floyd, John M. Lowry, Larry J. Geer
  • Patent number: 9347355
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for reducing emissions from an engine includes an exhaust conduit adapted to supply an exhaust stream from the engine to an exhaust treatment device. The conduit includes an aperture. An injector injects a reagent through the aperture and into the exhaust stream. A flow modifier is positioned within the exhaust conduit upstream of the injector. The flow modifier includes a diverter for increasing the velocity of the exhaust gas at a predetermined location within the conduit relative to the injected reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Floyd, John M. Lowry, Larry J. Geer
  • Publication number: 20140178264
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for reducing emissions from an engine includes an exhaust conduit adapted to supply an exhaust stream from the engine to an exhaust treatment device. The conduit includes an aperture. An injector injects a reagent through the aperture and into the exhaust stream. A flow modifier is positioned within the exhaust conduit upstream of the injector. The flow modifier includes a diverter for increasing the velocity of the exhaust gas at a predetermined location within the conduit relative to the injected reagent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Ryan A. Floyd, John M. Lowry, Larry J. Geer
  • Publication number: 20120090305
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for reducing emissions from an engine includes an exhaust conduit adapted to supply an exhaust stream from an engine to an exhaust treatment device. An injector injects a reagent through an aperture in the conduit into the exhaust stream. A vortex breaker includes a mount having a cylindrical sleeve extending through the aperture as well as a flared tube fixed to and positioned within the cylindrical sleeve. A window extends through an upstream portion of the cylindrical sleeve exposing the flared tube to the exhaust stream. The sleeve includes a downstream aperture in fluid communication with the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: RYAN A. FLOYD, JOSEPH G. RALPH, CHRISTOPHER J. KLEINFELD, JAMES J. REYNOLDS, III, LARRY J. GEER, MANOJ K. SAMPATH, MICHAEL L. SHOVELS, ROBERT P.M. CLOUDT, RIK S.G. BAERT, JOHANNES P.M. SMEULERS, ERIK van den TILLAART