Patents by Inventor Michael A. Lucas
Michael A. Lucas 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: 12215658Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel injector, comprising: a body including a plurality of body alignment features; a nozzle including a plurality of nozzle alignment features and a plurality of nozzle holes for injecting fuel; and a plurality of alignment guides configured to mate with the plurality of body alignment features and the plurality of nozzle alignment features to align the nozzle with the body such that the plurality of nozzle holes is in a desired orientation relative to the body.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Jordan P. Steele, Michael A. Lucas, Derek G. Weiler
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Publication number: 20230323868Abstract: A valve includes a valve body having a valve plunger barrel formed therein and configured to be mounted to a pump head of a fuel pump, a valve plunger arranged to perform reciprocal motion with respect to the valve plunger barrel, a drive assembly configured to cause the valve plunger to perform reciprocal motion, and a spacer configured to couple to the valve plunger to perform reciprocal motion together with the valve plunger and configured to interface with the pump head. The spacer has a spacer body with first and second opposing spacer surfaces and with a central aperture extending from the first to the second spacer surface and configured to receive the valve plunger therethrough. At least one of the first and second spacer surfaces includes one or more grooves recessed into the spacer body to reduce or inhibit cavitation of the interface of the spacer and pump head.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Rodney J. Hemmerlein, Michael A. Lucas
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Publication number: 20230304482Abstract: A pump inlet valve includes a valve body and a plunger assembly. The valve body includes a valve body cavity. The plunger assembly is arranged within the valve body cavity and includes a plunger body, a plunger barrel formed at the plunger body so as to form a plunger barrel volume, and a plunger. The plunger is configured to move within the plunger barrel to thereby allow a fluid to flow past the plunger assembly when the plunger is in an open position and to inhibit the fluid from flowing past the plunger assembly when the plunger is in a closed position. The plunger is configured to allow continuous fluid communication between the plunger barrel volume and a supply inlet, through which fluid is supplied to the pump inlet valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Donald J. Benson, Karthik Sethuraman, Michael A. Lucas, Eric A. Benham, Richard E. Duncan
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Publication number: 20220178335Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel injector, comprising: a body including a plurality of body alignment features; a nozzle including a plurality of nozzle alignment features and a plurality of nozzle holes for injecting fuel; and a plurality of alignment guides configured to mate with the plurality of body alignment features and the plurality of nozzle alignment features to align the nozzle with the body such that the plurality of nozzle holes is in a desired orientation relative to the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2019Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Jordan P. Steele, Michael A. Lucas, Derek G. Weiler
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Publication number: 20180183283Abstract: A stator assembly comprising: a stator having an inner diameter; a plurality of coils wrapped around the stator; and a seal plate positioned on the lower surface of the stator and spanning the inner diameter of the stator, the seal plate having at least one welded edge to form a hermetic seal along the stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Michael A. Lucas, David M. Rix, Edward B. Manring, Yogesh G. Datar, Madeline J. Sullivan
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Patent number: 7950370Abstract: A high pressure common rail fuel system is provided including a fuel supply, a high pressure pump assembly fluidly connected to receive fuel from the fuel supply, and a gas supply system fluidly connected to provide gas to the high pressure pump assembly to create a high pressure gas fuel mixture. A common rail fuel system is fluidly connected to the high pressure pump assembly to receive the high pressure gas fuel mixture.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Lucas, Lars Tegnelius, Donald J. Benson
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Patent number: 7690361Abstract: A system and method for metering fuel is provided which includes a fuel supply line and a metering valve in fluid connection with the fuel supply line to control a flow of fuel through the fuel supply line. The valve is movable into a closed position to block a primary flow of fuel and create a leakage fuel flow in the fuel supply line downstream of the metering valve. The system also includes a venturi apparatus fluidly coupled to the fuel supply line upstream of the metering valve. The venturi apparatus is further coupled to the fuel supply line downstream of the metering valve to direct the leakage fuel flow out of the fuel supply line.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Vogt, Jung-Min C. Sung, Michael A. Lucas
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Publication number: 20090229572Abstract: A high pressure common rail fuel system is provided including a fuel supply, a high pressure pump assembly fluidly connected to receive fuel from the fuel supply, and a gas supply system fluidly connected to provide gas to the high pressure pump assembly to create a high pressure gas fuel mixture. A common rail fuel system is fluidly connected to the high pressure pump assembly to receive the high pressure gas fuel mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: CUMMINS, INC.Inventors: Michael A. Lucas, Lars Tegnelius, Donald J. Benson
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Publication number: 20090084355Abstract: A system and method for metering fuel is provided which includes a fuel supply line and a metering valve in fluid connection with the fuel supply line to control a flow of fuel through the fuel supply line. The valve is movable into a closed position to block a primary flow of fuel and create a leakage fuel flow in the fuel supply line downstream of the metering valve. The system also includes a venturi apparatus fluidly coupled to the fuel supply line upstream of the metering valve. The venturi apparatus is further coupled to the fuel supply line downstream of the metering valve to direct the leakage fuel flow out of the fuel supply line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Vogt, Jung-min C. Sung, Michael A. Lucas
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Patent number: 7156368Abstract: A flow control valve for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel system including a housing with a fuel passage, a valve device movable to close the fuel passage to block fuel flow through the fuel passage, and to open the fuel passage to permit fuel flow through the fuel passage, a valve plunger engaging the valve device, an actuator for reciprocally moving the valve plunger, an armature overtravel feature for permitting continued movement of the armature relative to the valve plunger from an engaged position into a disengaged position when the valve plunger reaches the extended position, and an armature stop for stopping overtravel of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Lucas, David L. Buchanan, David M. Rix, C. Edward Morris, Jr., Donald J. Benson
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Patent number: 5918630Abstract: A solenoid operated pin-within-a-sleeve three-way valve for high pressure fuel systems is provided which is capable of effectively minimizing the side loads imparted to the movable pin and sleeve elements while effectively controlling the timing and quantity of fuel injection. The three-way valve assembly includes a floating pin telescopingly received within the cavity of the movable valve member. A side load reducing device is provided for minimizing side loading on the floating pin and the movable valve member which includes a tappet reciprocally mounted in the valve housing adjacent one end of the floating pin, a biasing spring for causing the tappet to follow the pin and for causing the pin to follow the movable valve member to keep the second valve seat closed as the movable valve member is advanced toward the first position from the second position.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1998Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Lucas, Chafic M. Hammoud
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Patent number: 4824249Abstract: An analysis system for directly analyzing solid samples by atomic emission spectroscopy wherein the system includes an atomic spectral lamp (1) of the type which enables a solid sample to be analyzed to be demountably located as a cathode of the lamp (1), means (2) for producing a primary electric discharge by cathodic sputtering from the sample via connection (8) and a secondary boosted discharge for analytical emission via connection (9), spectral wave length analysis device (4) being arranged to receive and determine the intensity of spectral lines emitted by the lamp (1), and control means (3) for controlling the system, the current level of the sample cathode and the operation of the spectral wave length analysis device (4) being controlled on the basis of output from the photomultiplier tube (7) such that the intensity of the spectral lines is maximized and the relationship between spectral line intensity and concentration of the corresponding element in the sample is maintained in a region which is subType: GrantFiled: December 1, 1987Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: Chamber Ridge Pty. Ltd.Inventors: Michael A. Lucas, Terry C. Hughes