Patents by Inventor Randall R. Richards

Randall R. Richards 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: 6067973
    Abstract: A method and system for late cycle injection of oxygen enriched air into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The late cycle oxygen injection system is part of an airflow management system that effectively controls the use of oxygen and nitrogen available in the intake air. The preferred system comprises an intake air separation device adapted for separating a prescribed portion of intake air into a flow of oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air. The system includes an oxygen enriched air flow circuit extending from the intake air separating device to one or more combustion chambers and a control device adapted for controlling the introduction of the oxygen enriched air into the combustion chambers late in a combustion cycle in response to selected engine operating conditions such as engine speed or engine load or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok A. Chanda, Randall R. Richards, John T. Vachon
  • Patent number: 5035212
    Abstract: The design and construction of present engines have generally not compensated for white smoke during start up and cold operating conditions where incomplete combustion occurs. The present invention overcomes these problems by using a control system adapted to be used with the engine and positioned between a restrictor valve and a throttle. The restrictor valve restricts the flow of one of the intake air and the exhaust. A mechanical linkage is connected between the throttle and the valve. The linkage moves a shaft and a plate relative to the throttle high idle position and low idle position respectively. A first lever has a slot therein and is rotatably attached to the shaft and a second lever is fixedly attached to the shaft and has a pin being generally positioned in the center of the slot. The slot allows the first lever to move slightly in either direction relative to the position of the second lever without varying the position of the plate between the generally closed position and the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Hudson, Khaled M. Issa, Randall R. Richards, William L. Sprick