Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Gens

Thomas D. Gens 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: 7703421
    Abstract: A plurality of injector hold-down clamps (310) is arranged to connect, one each, each of a plurality of fuel injectors (106) to an internal combustion engine (100). Each fuel injector forms a neck region (212), and each clamp surrounds each injector around the neck region, such that a plurality of annular volumes (604) is defined, one each, between the neck region of each injector and each injector clamp. Each annular volume collects a quantity of lubrication oil during operation of the internal combustion engine such that the volume of oil collected in each respective annular volume removes heat from the respective fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jack A. Merchant, Thomas D. Gens, Scott A. Wallington
  • Publication number: 20100024746
    Abstract: A plurality of injector hold-down clamps (310) is arranged to connect, one each, each of a plurality of fuel injectors (106) to an internal combustion engine (100). Each fuel injector forms a neck region (212), and each clamp surrounds each injector around the neck region, such that a plurality of annular volumes (604) is defined, one each, between the neck region of each injector and each injector clamp. Each annular volume collects a quantity of lubrication oil during operation of the internal combustion engine such that the volume of oil collected in each respective annular volume removes heat from the respective fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jack A. Merchant, Thomas D. Gens, Scott A. Wallington
  • Patent number: 7578450
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting fluid into a machine are disclosed. A fluid injector is disclosed having a nozzle body with first and second body portions and at least one fluid injection orifice within the second body portion. The nozzle body may be configured for transmitting fluid from the first body portion toward the orifice. The fluid injector may also include a check member movably arranged inside the nozzle body for affecting fluid flow through the orifice and having a contoured outer surface defining (i) a recessed region and (ii) a generally convex region forming at least a portion of the recessed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R Stockner, Thomas D Gens, Suryanarayan Banduvula, Kit D Minnich
  • Patent number: 7360722
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting fluid into a machine are disclosed. A fluid injector is disclosed having a nozzle body with at least one fluid injection orifice therein and being configured for transmitting fluid toward the injection orifice. The nozzle body may have a generally curved internal wall at an end portion of the nozzle body. A check member may be movably arranged inside the nozzle body for affecting fluid flow through the injection orifice. The check member may have (i) a recessed region on the surface of the check member and (ii) a generally curved region at an end portion of the check member. The check member may be movable to a flow blocking position in which (i) the check member engages the nozzle body to prevent fluid flow through the injection orifice, (ii) the recessed region is disposed proximate the injection orifice, and (iii) a chamber volume exists between the end portion of the nozzle body and the end portion of the check member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R Stockner, Thomas D Gens, Suryanarayan Banduvula, Kit D Minnich
  • Patent number: 7093341
    Abstract: In an axial piston pump, a plurality of reciprocating pistons are at least partially positioned within a barrel. The barrel includes a ring shaped high pressure collection cavity that is positioned between the piston chambers and the outlet of the pump. In order to minimize potential loses due to leakage from the ring shaped collection cavity the barrel is made from a casting that utilizes a ring shaped core supported in a mold. This facilitates the formation of the ring shaped cavity while insuring location and dimensional tolerances, and assisting in the latter machining of the casting to its final form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Gens
  • Publication number: 20040064943
    Abstract: In an axial piston pump, a plurality of reciprocating pistons are at least partially positioned within a barrel. The barrel includes a ring shaped high pressure collection cavity that is positioned between the piston chambers and the outlet of the pump. In order to minimize potential loses due to leakage from the ring shaped collection cavity the barrel is made from a casting that utilizes a ring shaped core supported in a mold. This facilitates the formation of the ring shaped cavity while insuring location and dimensional tolerances, and assisting in the latter machining of the casting to its final form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas D. Gens
  • Patent number: 6682315
    Abstract: In an axial piston pump, a plurality of reciprocating pistons are at least partially positioned within a barrel. The barrel includes a ring shaped high pressure collection cavity that is positioned between the piston chambers and the outlet of the pump. In order to minimize potential loses due to leakage from the ring shaped collection cavity, the barrel is made from a casting that utilizes a ring shaped core supported in a mold. This facilitates the formation of the ring shaped cavity while insuring location and dimensional tolerances, and assisting in the latter machining of the casting to its final form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar INC
    Inventor: Thomas D. Gens
  • Publication number: 20030099552
    Abstract: In an axial piston pump, a plurality of reciprocating pistons are at least partially positioned within a barrel. The barrel includes a ring shaped high pressure collection cavity that is positioned between the piston chambers and the outlet of the pump. In order to minimize potential loses due to leakage from the ring shaped collection cavity, the barrel is made from a casting that utilizes a ring shaped core supported in a mold. This facilitates the formation of the ring shaped cavity while insuring location and dimensional tolerances, and assisting in the latter machining of the casting to its final form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas D. Gens