Joshua W Steffen

US Patent:

20140033941, Feb 6, 2014

Filed:

Jul 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/562808

Inventors:

Aaron Gamache Foege - Westmont IL, US
Joshua Wayne Steffen - Mountain View CA, US

International Classification:

F16D 31/02
B61C 17/02
B61C 5/00

US Classification:

105 14, 60413

Abstract:

The disclosure is directed to an energy recovery system for a mobile machine. The mobile machine may include a locomotive and a tender car. The recovery system may include a tank located on the tender car. The tank may be configured to store a liquid fuel for combustion within a main engine located on the locomotive. The recovery system may also include a fuel delivery circuit connecting the tank to the main engine, and an auxiliary engine located on the locomotive. The auxiliary engine may be selectively connectable to receive gaseous fuel formed in the tank. The energy recovery system may also include a boil-off circuit connecting the tank to the auxiliary engine.

US Patent:

20140053800, Feb 27, 2014

Filed:

Aug 21, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/590518

Inventors:

Joshua W. Steffen - El Paso IL, US
Dana R. Coldren - Secor IL, US
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F02D 19/10
F02M 21/02
G06F 19/00
F02B 7/02

US Classification:

123304, 123 27 GE, 123525, 702 35

Abstract:

A machine includes a machine body and a dual fuel compression ignition engine attached to the machine body. A dual fuel system is operably coupled to supply the engine with liquid diesel fuel and natural gas fuel directly into respective cylinders of the engine. The fuel system includes an insulated tank for storing the natural gas fuel, a pressure sensor positioned to measure fluid pressure within the tank, and a pump for drawing the natural gas fuel from the tank. An electronic controller is in communication with the pressure sensor and has a cryogenic system diagnostics algorithm executable thereon that is configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, detect a cryogenic system fault based on the signal, and generate a notification signal based on the fault.

US Patent:

20140069386, Mar 13, 2014

Filed:

Sep 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/606422

Inventors:

Dana R. Coldren - Secor IL, US
Joshua W. Steffen - Mountain View CA, US
Gregg W. Uhland - Peoria IL, US
Brian K. Garman - Groveland IL, US
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F02D 19/08

US Classification:

123456, 123577

Abstract:

A dual fuel engine powers a machine by burning natural gas and liquid diesel fuel. When operating in a low load mode, some of the engine cylinders are fueled with a high ratio of diesel/gas, and the remaining cylinders are unfueled. When operating in a high load mode, all of the engine cylinders are fueled with a low ratio of diesel/gas. When operating in a limp home mode, the fuel injectors are configured to inject only diesel fuel into all of the plurality of engine cylinders.

US Patent:

20130333668, Dec 19, 2013

Filed:

Jun 19, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/527004

Inventors:

Dana R. Coldren - Secor IL, US
Joshua Wayne Steffen - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar, Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F02M 43/00
F02D 19/10
F02M 55/00
F02M 37/04
F02M 53/02

US Classification:

123456, 123459, 60722

Abstract:

An engine system is disclosed that combusts both gaseous and diesel fuels. The system includes a diesel reservoir in communication with an internal combustion engine via a diesel rail. The system also includes a liquefied gaseous fuel reservoir in communication with the internal combustion engine via a gaseous fuel rail. The gaseous fuel and diesel rails both are in communication with a pressure control device. The pressure control device measures the pressure differential between the gaseous fuel and diesel rails. If the pressure differential exceeds a desired range, the pressure control device vents gaseous fuel from the gaseous fuel rail to a spark ignited engine, where the vent gas is used as fuel. The spark ignited engine then converts the vented gaseous fuel to useful work.

US Patent:

20180320605, Nov 8, 2018

Filed:

Jun 10, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/735871

Inventors:

- Vancouver, CA
Derek PUZZUOLI - Vancouver, CA
Jordan C. HAAS - Courtenay, CA
Wesley A. BROWN - Delta, CA
Victor WOO - Richmond, CA
Joshua W. STEFFEN - El Paso IL, US

International Classification:

F02D 19/06
F02D 41/00
F02M 43/02
F02M 43/04

Abstract:

Disclosed are a fluid control system and method for controlling delivery of two variable pressure fluids to maintain a pressure bias between the two fluids within an end use device. The system employs an actively controlled vent valve which can be integrated into a fluid control module in preferred embodiments and is actuated to an open position to decrease fluid pressure in a first fluid supply line when a determined pressure differential reversal exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure differential reversal. The disclosed system is particularly useful in a high pressure direct injection (HPDI) multi-fueled engine system where the first fluid is a gaseous fuel and the second fluid is a liquid fuel. The fluid control system and method of controlling it provide for improved control of venting along with protecting system components from high back pressure and cross contamination of fluids.

US Patent:

20170037836, Feb 9, 2017

Filed:

Aug 6, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/820326

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
Adrienne M. Brasche - Peoria IL, US
Daniel R. Baldwin - Peoria IL, US
Sudhindra K. Ayanji - Edwards IL, US
Joshua W. Steffen - El Paso IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F04B 15/08
F04B 17/05
F04B 53/16

Abstract:

A cryogenic pump for pumping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a cryogenic tank storing LNG includes a drive assembly and a pump assembly disposed along a pump axis. The drive assembly includes a spool housing having a plurality of spool valves arranged around the pump axis, a tappet housing having a plurality of tappet bores with slidable tappets arranged around the pump axis, and spring housing including a plurality of movably disposed pushrods urged upward by a plurality of associated pushrod springs. Hydraulic fluid received by a hydraulic fluid inlet in the drive assembly is directed by the spool valves to the tappet bores to move the tappets downward against the pushrods. To collect the hydraulic fluid, the lowermost spring housing also includes a collection cavity formed therein that can return the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic fluid outlet.

US Patent:

20170030341, Feb 2, 2017

Filed:

Jul 27, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/810372

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
Cory A. BROWN - Peoria IL, US
Joshua W. STEFFEN - El Paso IL, US
Sunil J. BEAN - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F04B 15/08
F04B 1/12
F17C 7/02

Abstract:

A cryogenic pump is disclosed as having a plunger housing with a plurality of barrels formed in a ring around a central axis, and a plurality of plungers. Each of the plurality of plungers may be reciprocatingly disposed within a different one of the plurality of barrels. The cryogenic pump may also include an inlet manifold connected to the plunger housing and having a plurality of bores. Each of the plurality of bores may be open to a corresponding one of the plurality of barrels. The cryogenic pump may also have at least one orifice in fluid communication with each of the plurality of bores, and an inlet check valve disposed between each of the plurality of bores and the at least one orifice. The inlet check valve may be movable to selectively allow flow between the at least one orifice and a corresponding one of the plurality of barrels.

US Patent:

20170030344, Feb 2, 2017

Filed:

Jul 27, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/809861

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL, US
Joshua W. Steffen - El Paso IL, US
Cory A. Brown - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F04B 49/00
F04B 1/14
G01L 23/26
F04B 53/14
F04B 51/00
F04B 1/12
F04B 1/28

Abstract:

A method for controlling a stroke velocity in a pump includes using a sensor to detect a start of a pump stroke and an end of the pump stroke. A stroke time is calculated, the stroke time being a time period between the start of the pump stroke and the end of the pump stroke. The stroke velocity is calculated based on a stroke length and the stroke time. The stroke velocity is compared to a reference stroke velocity. A hydraulic supply pressure to the pump is increased if the calculated stroke velocity is less than the reference stroke velocity, and the hydraulic supply pressure is decreased if the calculated stroke velocity is more than the reference stroke velocity.