Patents by Inventor Michael A. Flinn

Michael A. Flinn 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: 8486341
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating exhaust gases are described. The described systems and/or methods for treating exhaust gases could be used with any power plant, engine, hydrocarbon burning system, other NOx producing system, or combinations thereof. A method (400) for treating exhaust gases is provided. The method (400) may include converting (402) ammonia (44) and NOx to nitrogen and water using an ammonia-SCR catalyst (30) after converting (404) ammonia to NOx using an ammonia-to-NOx catalyst (20) located upstream of at least a portion of the ammonia-SCR catalyst (30). The described systems and/or methods create NOx so excess ammonia added to the exhaust stream may be used to convert NOx to nitrogen and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Joshua Driscoll, Michael A. Flinn
  • Publication number: 20100139257
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating exhaust gases are described. The disclosed systems and/or methods for treating exhaust gases could be used with any power plant, engine, hydrocarbon burning system, other NOx producing system, or combinations thereof. A method (400) for treating exhaust gases is provided. The method (400) may include converting (402) a first quantity of ammonia (44) using an ammonia-SCR catalyst (30) to produce gaseous nitrogen and water and converting (404) a second quantity of ammonia using an ammonia-to-NOx catalyst (20) located upstream of at least a portion of the ammonia-SCR catalyst (30) to produce NOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Joshua Driscoll, Michael A. Flinn
  • Publication number: 20070112619
    Abstract: A method for determining an optimal number of lottery retailers is disclosed. The optimal number of lottery retailers for a region can be determined based households of the same segmentations purchasing lottery products similarly, and there is a strong correlation between lottery agent density (population/retailers) and per capita lottery sales. The lottery agent density (LAD) necessary to produce high per capita sales can be identified and applied to all markets of that household segmentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: John Hurt, Michael Flinn, Jim O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5887790
    Abstract: A fuel injector comprises a barrel, a plunger, and a port. The plunger is disposed in a bore in the barrel such that it intersects the port disposed in the barrel. The plunger has an injection rate shaping device and a cavitation control device disposed therein. The pressure control device is in such a position on the plunger such that subsequent to the rate shaping device passing fluidly communicating with the port, the cavitation control device aligns with the port to control the pressure wave propagated through the port by the termination of rate shaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Flinn
  • Patent number: 5632444
    Abstract: A multipiece fuel pump plunger assembly for controlling the fuel injection rate and delivery during the initial injection portion of a fuel injection cycle for an internal combustion engine. The injector includes a two piece plunger assembly including a plunger and a plunger sleeve. The plunger having a small predetermined diameter and being slidably positioned within a plunger sleeve having a diameter greater than the diameter of the plunger. The multipiece plunger is advantageous because it allows for shaping of the rate of fuel injected into the combustion process thereby reducing the excess fuel flow in the early portion of the injection cycle. Elimination of the excess fuel flow results in lower oxides of nitrogen and particulate exhaust emission levels and less engine noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Fred A. Camplin, Michael A. Flinn, Lianghe Zuo
  • Patent number: 5566660
    Abstract: A multipiece fuel pump plunger assembly for controlling the fuel injection rate and delivery during the initial injection portion of a fuel injection cycle for an internal combustion engine. The injector includes a two piece plunger assembly including a plunger and a plunger sleeve. The plunger having a small predetermined diameter and being slidably positioned within a plunger sleeve having a diameter greater than the diameter of the plunger. The multipiece plunger is advantageous because it allows for shaping of the rate of fuel injected into the combustion process thereby reducing the excess fuel flow in the early portion of the injection cycle. Elimination of the excess fuel flow results in lower oxides of nitrogen and particulate exhaust emission levels and less engine noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Fred A. Camplin, Michael A. Flinn, Jeffrey D. Graves, Lianghe Zuo
  • Patent number: 5515829
    Abstract: A pressure control system for controlling output pressure of a variable-displacement hydraulic pump used with a hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled injector fuel system and method of operation is disclosed. The control system comprises a variable-displacement hydraulic pump with a control element adjustable to a range of positions which controls an output of the pump. The control system additionally includes positioning means for positioning the control element responsive to pressure differences between the fluid reference chamber and the output port. Electronic valve means regulates a pressure of hydraulic actuating fluid in the fluid reference chamber. The electronic valve means is electronically connected with the electronic control means to receive the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry A. Wear, Chetan J. Desai, Michael A. Flinn, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 5121730
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods of conditioning fluid, such as damping fluid, in an electronically-controlled unit injector in order to facilitate quick starting of an engine. Fluid normally used to dampen the motion of an electrical actuator assembly of the unit injector can remain in the actuator assembly after the engine is stopped. If too much fluid remains and cools off in the actuator assembly, quick starting of a cold engine may be hindered. Each of the above methods expels and/or heats up at least a portion of the remaining fluid in the actuator assembly while the engine is at rest and thereby enables quicker response of the actuator assembly when the engine is started. Such quicker response improves the fuel injection delivery capability and timing accuracy of the unit injector during engine startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Ausman, John G. Ertel, Michael A. Flinn