Patently Speaking highlights the technological achievements of Fort Wayne area residents.
Valve stem sealing assembly
•U.S. Patent No. 7,900,932
•Invented by: Mark A. Leimer, Fort Wayne; Mark A. Stamback, Avilla; Cathy Stamback, Avilla
•Assigned to Dana Automotive Systems Group LLC, Maumee, Ohio
Internal-combustion engines do not burn just gasoline. Instead, they burn a combination of gasoline and air.
Air enters the engine through a pair of reciprocating valves in the cylinder heads, which are alternately timed to communicate between intake and exhaust manifolds.
An intake valve opens when air is needed, and an exhaust valve opens to expend combustion gases.
For these valves to work, they need lubrication. But temperatures in the engine may reach 1,000 degrees Celsius. This burns off lubricants, leaving behind deposits that may interfere with the valves’ sealing abilities and causing the valves to deteriorate.
This problem is made worse by burned oil in the exhaust stream.
It is, therefore, important for the stem seals to seal properly. Conventional valve stem seals, however, require a lot of material and extend a relatively long distance. This translates into higher material costs.
This patent describes a new seal assembly that seals a valve stem using less material than earlier designs. This means less cost. According to this patent, this is accomplished without sacrificing the sealing capability.
Noise control using torsionally rigid damper stage
•U.S. Patent No. 7,886,887
•Invented by Michael L. Bassett, Auburn; Christopher D. Cole, Fort Wayne; Clinton J. McClellan, Butler; Kevin Schlosser, Auburn; Douglas G. Woolcott, Trenton, Mich.
•Assigned to Eaton Corp., Cleveland
We’ve examined several clutch assemblies in this column over the years. A clutch is the connection between a power source and the drive mechanism. Put simply, it connects the engine to the wheels. Of course, there is a lot in between.
The clutch can engage and disengage the engine, often controlled by a foot pedal connected to the transmission, which determines how fast the wheels travel and in which direction.
A problem with these clutches is the noise they make. Vibration through the transmission, drive train and other components produces these undesirable noises.
This patent describes a new clutch design with an energy storage member that selectively dampens this noise.
The preceding are lay descriptions of patents obtained from the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s public records and are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing contained herein is a legal description of any claimed invention, identification of novelty, or offer of legal advice. Because issued patents are based on applications often filed years earlier, the subject matter of some patents may have been available on the market for some time prior to the issuance of the patent. Additional information on these patents is available at www.uspto.gov.
