Patents by Inventor Robert J. Moffat

Robert J. Moffat 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).

  • Publication number: 20160363041
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber assembly for a reciprocating internal combustion engine includes a body that defines a combustion pre-chamber, a plurality of orifices that extend through the body and effect fluid communication between the combustion pre-chamber and a main combustion chamber of the reciprocating internal combustion engine, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fluidic oscillator flow path with an oscillator inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the fuel inlet conduit, and an oscillator outlet in fluid communication with the combustion pre-chamber. An ignition device is operatively coupled to the combustion pre-chamber. The fluidic oscillator flow path includes a plurality of oscillator conduits fluidly coupled to one another in parallel. Each oscillator conduit effects fluid communication between the oscillator inlet and the oscillator outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Moffat, Martin L. Willi
  • Publication number: 20130239579
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling engine performance that includes obtaining at least one optical wavelength-dependent measurement from at least one combustion event in at least one combustion chamber. The method further includes analyzing the optical wavelength-dependent measurement for determining adjustments to the at least one combustion event. Additionally, the method includes adjusting the at least one combustion event or at least a next combustion event by changing at least one physical parameter, at least one constituent parameter, or at least one physical parameter and at least one constituent parameter to control the engine performance, where the physical parameter includes adjusting a turbine blade angle using a vane-adjust actuator in response to a signal from a controller. The engine can include steady-flow engines or periodic flow engines, and the engine performance can be selected by an engine user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Raymond Girouard, Robert J. Moffat, Jacqueline R. Girouard
  • Patent number: 8413446
    Abstract: A fuel injector arrangement for a turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel injector arrangement may have a combustion chamber, a plenum, an injector, and a premixing chamber configured to receive the injector. The premixing chamber may be at least partially disposed within the plenum and open to the combustion chamber. The premixing chamber may have at least one passageway configured to allow air from the plenum to enter and mix with fuel from the injector to form an air/fuel mixture within the premixing chamber, and a porous annular wall configured to allow air from the plenum to enter and create a lean boundary layer at the porous annular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Callas, Scott B. Fiveland, Robert J. Moffat
  • Patent number: 8265851
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling engine performance that includes obtaining at least one optical wavelength-dependent measurement from at least one combustion event in at least one combustion chamber. The method further includes analyzing the optical wavelength-dependent measurement for determining adjustments to the at least one combustion event. Additionally, the method includes adjusting the at least one combustion event or at least a next combustion event by changing at least one physical parameter, at least one constituent parameter, or at least one physical parameter and at least one constituent parameter to control the engine performance. The engine can include steady-flow engines or periodic flow engines, and the engine performance can be selected by an engine user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Closed-Loop Engine Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Girouard, Robert J. Moffat, Jacqueline R. Girouard
  • Patent number: 8061892
    Abstract: Device and methods are provided for assessing a temperature exposure history of a sample that is comprised of a nonmetallic material. To assess the temperature exposure history, the pre-exposure and post-exposure electronic states of the sample are compared. Changes in the electronic state of the sample are indicative of the temperature exposure history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: John L. Lawless, Robert J. Moffat
  • Publication number: 20100292906
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling engine performance that includes obtaining at least one optical wavelength-dependent measurement from at least one combustion event in at least one combustion chamber. The method further includes analyzing the optical wavelength-dependent measurement for determining adjustments to the at least one combustion event. Additionally, the method includes adjusting the at least one combustion event or at least a next combustion event by changing at least one physical parameter, at least one constituent parameter, or at least one physical parameter and at least one constituent parameter to control the engine performance. The engine can include steady-flow engines or periodic flow engines, and the engine performance can be selected by an engine user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Raymond Girouard, Robert J. Moffat, Jacqueline R. Girouard
  • Publication number: 20100139281
    Abstract: A fuel injector arrangement for a turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel injector arrangement may have a combustion chamber, a plenum, an injector, and a premixing chamber configured to receive the injector. The premixing chamber may be at least partially disposed within the plenum and open to the combustion chamber. The premixing chamber may have at least one passageway configured to allow air from the plenum to enter and mix with fuel from the injector to form an air/fuel mixture within the premixing chamber, and a porous annular wall configured to allow air from the plenum to enter and create a lean boundary layer at the porous annular wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: James J. Callas, Scott B. Fiveland, Robert J. Moffat
  • Publication number: 20100074297
    Abstract: Device and methods are provided for assessing a temperature exposure history of a sample that is comprised of a nonmetallic material. To assess the temperature exposure history, the pre-exposure and post-exposure electronic states of the sample are compared. Changes in the electronic state of the sample are indicative of the temperature exposure history.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: John L. Lawless, Robert J. Moffat
  • Patent number: 7659619
    Abstract: A device includes a first semiconductor die having a first surface and a second surface. The first semiconductor die is configured to communicate by capacitive coupling using one or more of a plurality of proximity connectors proximate to the first surface. The first semiconductor die is configured to have a flexibility compliance greater than a first pre-determined value in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including the plurality of proximity connectors in order to reduce misalignment in the direction between the plurality of proximity connectors and additional proximity connectors on another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur R. Zingher, Robert J. Moffat, Ronald Ho
  • Patent number: 5526148
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately calibrating the full-field color response to temperature of a thermochromic liquid crystal (12, 76) (TLC) located on a substrate material (10, 78). The apparatus uses a camera (50) to measure a reflected light (101) reflected by the TLC (12, 76) from a light source (54) which preferably illuminates the TLC with a full visible light spectrum (100). To achieve a temperature distribution over its surface the TLC (12, 76) is placed on a thermal element (14, 80) and allowed to reach a steady state. An optically transmissive pane (36) covers the TLC and contact assurance elements (38) which ensure contact pressure between the thermal element (14, 80) and the TLC. A set of optically transmissive plates (42, 44) mounted on top of one another and separated by air gap (46) covers the optically transmissive pane (36) and provides a thermal resistance to prevent heat leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventors: Robert J. Moffat, Dino J. Farina