Patents by Inventor Russell P. Fitzgerald

Russell P. Fitzgerald 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: 11879418
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body, and spray ducts coupled to the nozzle body and in spray path alignment with spray orifices therein. A nozzle check is movable within the nozzle body to open and close the spray orifices. Each of the spray ducts defines a duct center axis, and includes a center body forming, together with a duct inner surface, a spray jet passage circumferential of the duct center axis and reduced in area in a direction of spray jet advancement from the nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell P Fitzgerald, Glen Clifford Martin
  • Patent number: 11852113
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body having spray orifices formed therein each defining a spray orifice diameter dimension (d), and a plurality of spray ducts each in spray path alignment with one of the plurality of spray orifices and including a duct outlet defining a duct exit diameter dimension (D). Each of the spray ducts defines, together with the respective one of the spray orifices, a relative spray area reduction (SAR) at the duct outlet. The ratio of D/d is at least 14, and the SAR is 80% or greater. The configuration provides reduced soot production. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell P. Fitzgerald, Kenth I. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20230374961
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle needle movable within an injector housing and including a flow guiding tip. The flow guiding tip includes an outer ramp surface, defining, in profile, a concave curve and a fuel trajectory line tangent to the concave curve and extending through a spray orifice inlet to direct fuel into the same. Related methodology is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth I. Svensson, Russell P. Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20230243327
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body having spray orifices formed therein each defining a spray orifice diameter dimension (d), and a plurality of spray ducts each in spray path alignment with one of the plurality of spray orifices and including a duct outlet defining a duct exit diameter dimension (D). Each of the spray ducts defines, together with the respective one of the spray orifices, a relative spray area reduction (SAR) at the duct outlet. The ratio of D/d is at least 14, and the SAR is 80% or greater. The configuration provides reduced soot production. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell P. Fitzgerald, Kenth I. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20230235717
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body, and spray ducts coupled to the nozzle body and in spray path alignment with spray orifices therein. A nozzle check is movable within the nozzle body to open and close the spray orifices. Each of the spray ducts defines a duct center axis, and includes a center body forming, together with a duct inner surface, a spray jet passage circumferential of the duct center axis and reduced in area in a direction of spray jet advancement from the nozzle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell P Fitzgerald, Glen Clifford Martin
  • Patent number: 10612508
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a body defining an orifice. The orifice is configured to provide passage to a fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The orifice includes an inlet port having a first oval shape and an outlet port having a second oval shape. The second al shape is orthogonal to the first oval shape. Moreover, a transition from the first oval shape to the second oval shape defines a stagnation plane, facilitating an exit of the fuel as a fan spray from the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Ginter, Chad Koci, Russell P. Fitzgerald, Jonathan W. Anders
  • Publication number: 20190003438
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a body defining an orifice. The orifice is configured to provide passage to a fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The orifice includes an inlet port having a first oval shape and an outlet port having a second oval shape. The second al shape is orthogonal to the first oval shape. Moreover, a transition from the first oval shape to the second oval shape defines a stagnation plane, facilitating an exit of the fuel as a fan spray from the outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Ginter, Chad Koci, Russell P. Fitzgerald, Jonathan W. Anders
  • Patent number: 10119456
    Abstract: A ducted combustion system includes a combustion chamber and a fuel injector in fluid connection with the combustion chamber, which includes an orifice opening from an injector tip of the fuel injector, the orifice injecting fuel into the combustion chamber as a fuel jet, the fuel jet flowing, within the combustion chamber, in a fuel flow direction. The system includes at least one duct disposed within the combustion chamber, the at least one duct being disposed such that the fuel jet, at least partially, enters one of the at least one ducts upon being injected into the combustion chamber. The at least one duct may be configured for having a flow field air stream within the duct, prior to entrance of the fuel jet, the flow field air stream having a flow direction that is substantially similar to the fuel flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Russell P. Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20180195430
    Abstract: A ducted combustion system includes a combustion chamber and a fuel injector in fluid connection with the combustion chamber, which includes an orifice opening from an injector tip of the fuel injector, the orifice injecting fuel into the combustion chamber as a fuel jet, the fuel jet flowing, within the combustion chamber, in a fuel flow direction. The system includes at least one duct disposed within the combustion chamber, the at least one duct being disposed such that the fuel jet, at least partially, enters one of the at least one ducts upon being injected into the combustion chamber. The at least one duct may be configured for having a flow field air stream within the duct, prior to entrance of the fuel jet, the flow field air stream having a flow direction that is substantially similar to the fuel flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Russell P. Fitzgerald