Patents by Inventor Randall C. Harkema

Randall C. Harkema 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: 11598299
    Abstract: A fuel filter for a fuel system includes a cylindrical frame having a pair of circular openings at longitudinal ends of the frame and a filter membrane, with the frame including a circumferential wall having an aperture and the filter membrane being disposed about an outwardly facing side of the wall and over the aperture. The frame includes tabs, such as deformable tabs, disposed adjacent at the openings for retaining the filter membrane on the frame, and the filter membrane overlaps itself when circumferentially disposed about the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Exergy Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Philip J. DeVries, Randall C. Harkema, Mike Van Allsburg
  • Patent number: 9816493
    Abstract: A fuel pump comprises a cam assembly having a lobe, and a body assembly including a cavity for receiving the cam assembly. The body assembly includes both a body portion and a cover portion that cooperatively form the cavity. The body portion includes a lobe cavity, an engagement surface and an opening at the cavity, with the cover portion including a respective engagement surface and opening. The engagement surfaces are mated together with the cam assembly disposed in the cavity and extending through the openings, and is configured to rotate in the cavity with the lobe disposed in the lobe cavity. A groove is formed in one of the engagement surfaces of the body portion or cover portion for receiving a seal cap at least partially therein adjacent the lobe cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Exergy Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Mike Van Allsburg, Philip J. DeVries, Gregg R. Spoolstra, Randall C. Harkema
  • Publication number: 20140314588
    Abstract: A fuel pump comprises a cam assembly having a lobe, and a body assembly including a cavity for receiving the cam assembly. The body assembly includes both a body portion and a cover portion that cooperatively form the cavity. The body portion includes a lobe cavity, an engagement surface and an opening at the cavity, with the cover portion including a respective engagement surface and opening. The engagement surfaces are mated together with the cam assembly disposed in the cavity and extending through the openings, and is configured to rotate in the cavity with the lobe disposed in the lobe cavity. A groove is formed in one of the engagement surfaces of the body portion or cover portion for receiving a seal cap at least partially therein adjacent the lobe cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Exergy Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Mike Van Allsburg, Philip J. DeVries, Gregg R. Spoolstra, Randall C. Harkema
  • Publication number: 20090120869
    Abstract: A filter (100, 200) is provided especially for high aspect ratio particles in a conduit (102, 202) for a fuel injection system. The filter (100, 200) can be an edge filter (100) or a sack filter (200) with an annular gap (116, 212) between the filter section (106, 206) and the conduit wall sized smaller than previously known in order to filter high aspect ratio particles without significant changes in pressure drop. The edge filter (100) relates the gap (116) to grooves (118) in the filter section (106), and the sack filter (200) relates the gap (212) to the size of the holes (210) in the filter section (206).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Randall C. Harkema, Josh Bennett, Derek Vander Weide
  • Publication number: 20040195349
    Abstract: Fluid in a chamber, through which a fuel control armature is moving, is used to dampen armature vibrations. This dampening effect is achieved by forming a passage through which the fluid flows as the actuator moves to a steady state position. This passage may be implemented in a control module for controlling fuel delivery in a fuel injector. The control module includes a control module housing defining the cavity. The armature is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The armature affects the flow of fuel in the injector by changing the area of a fuel port through which fuel passes. The fluid passage is formed as the armature moves towards a contact wall defining the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Robert Bosch Fuel Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus Seelbach, Tedd R. Foote, Randall C. Harkema
  • Patent number: 6702207
    Abstract: Fluid in a chamber, through which a fuel control armature is moving, is used to dampen armature vibrations. This dampening effect is achieved by forming a passage through which the fluid flows as the actuator moves to a steady state position. This passage may be implemented in a control module for controlling fuel delivery in a fuel injector. The control module includes a control module housing defining the cavity. The armature is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The armature affects the flow of fuel in the injector by changing the area of a fuel port through which fuel passes. The fluid passage is formed as the armature moves towards a contact wall defining the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Seelbach, Todd R. Foote, Randall C. Harkema
  • Publication number: 20040011888
    Abstract: Fluid in a chamber, through which a fuel control armature is moving, is used to dampen armature vibrations. This dampening effect is achieved by forming a passage through which the fluid flows as the actuator moves to a steady state position. This passage may be implemented in a control module for controlling fuel delivery in a fuel injector. The control module includes a control module housing defining the cavity. The armature is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The armature affects the flow of fuel in the injector by changing the area of a fuel port through which fuel passes. The fluid passage is formed as the armature moves towards a contact wall defining the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Diesel Technology Company
    Inventors: Klaus Seelbach, Todd R. Foote, Randall C. Harkema
  • Publication number: 20040011893
    Abstract: Fluid in a chamber, through which a fuel control armature is moving, is used to dampen armature vibrations. This dampening effect is achieved by forming a passage through which the fluid flows as the actuator moves to a steady state position. This passage may be implemented in a control module for controlling fuel delivery in a fuel injector. The control module includes a control module housing defining the cavity. The armature is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The armature affects the flow of fuel in the injector by changing the area of a fuel port through which fuel passes. The fluid passage is formed as the armature moves towards a wall defining the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Robert Bosch Fuel Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Heine, Klaus Seelbach, Todd R. Foote, Randall C. Harkema
  • Patent number: 5636615
    Abstract: A device is provided for pumping fuel through an internal combustion engine, comprising a pump cylinder and a piston reciprocable within the pump cylinder to define a pump chamber open at one end in which fuel is pressurized during a pump stroke of the piston. A fuel supply means is provided for supplying fuel to the pump chamber. The fuel supply means includes an electromagnetically actuated fuel control valve having an armature secured thereto, with the armature residing in a fuel-filled armature cavity. The armature electromagnetically cycled between a first position closing the fuel control valve and thereby closing the flow of fuel to the pumping chamber and a second position opening the control valve thereby allowing fuel to flow to the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Diesel Technology Company
    Inventors: Stacy J. Shorey, Randall C. Harkema, Beckie J. DeYoung, Kenneth R. Potter, Robert D. Straub