Patents by Inventor Manikandan Natarajan

Manikandan Natarajan 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).

  • Separation and venting cryogenic liquid from vapor on a mobile machine
    Patent number: 11608937
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile machine includes a LNG fuel tank to provide natural gas to a natural gas engine, a pressure relief valve to relieve pressure to a relief vent line, and a liquid separation device. The liquid separation device includes a canister defining an interior space and having a top end and a bottom end, a LNG inlet configured to receive mixed phase fluid into the canister from the relief vent line, a separator disposed within the interior space and fluidly connected to the LNG inlet, the separator configured to direct condensed liquid to the bottom end and to pass vapor to the interior space, a vapor outlet disposed on the top end of the canister, and a liquid drain disposed on the bottom end of the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Bevard, Derek Samsel, Manikandan Natarajan, Joshua Perko, Matthew Jordan Engfehr, Roderick S. Zehrung
  • Separation and Venting Cryogenic Liquid From Vapor on a Mobile Machine
    Publication number: 20210239273
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile machine includes a LNG fuel tank to provide natural gas to a natural gas engine, a pressure relief valve to relieve pressure to a relief vent line, and a liquid separation device. The liquid separation device includes a canister defining an interior space and having a top end and a bottom end, a LNG inlet configured to receive mixed phase fluid into the canister from the relief vent line, a separator disposed within the interior space and fluidly connected to the LNG inlet, the separator configured to direct condensed liquid to the bottom end and to pass vapor to the interior space, a vapor outlet disposed on the top end of the canister, and a liquid drain disposed on the bottom end of the canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Bevard, Derek Samsel, Manikandan Natarajan, Joshua Perko, Matthew Jordan Engfehr, Roderick S. Zehrung