Patents by Inventor Alan E. Rice
Alan E. Rice 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).
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Publication number: 20170350286Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine structure including an engine block defining a combustion chamber and a crankcase, and a cylinder head mounted to the engine block. An oil fill tube is connected to the engine structure. A separator assembly includes a separator chamber having a positive crankcase ventilation tube inlet connected to a positive crankcase ventilation passage and having a positive crankcase ventilation tube outlet. The separator chamber includes an internal baffle and a check valve in a bottom of the separator chamber in communication with a drain chamber, the drain chamber being in communication with the oil fill tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Alan E. RICE, Kimberly L. O'KANE
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Patent number: 9217343Abstract: A dual flow check valve includes a valve body having an inner valve cavity, a first valve opening, and a second valve opening. The dual flow check valve further includes a seal disposed within the valve body. The seal is operatively coupled within the valve body such that the seal is configured to move relative to the valve body between an open position, in which the seal allows the gas to flow between the first and second valve openings through the inner valve cavity, and a closed position, in which the seal inhibits the gas and the liquid from flowing through the inner valve cavity from the first valve opening to the second valve opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan E. Rice, Steven G. Bryde
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Publication number: 20150020784Abstract: A dual flow check valve includes a valve body having an inner valve cavity, a first valve opening, and a second valve opening. The dual flow check valve further includes a seal disposed within the valve body. The seal is operatively coupled within the valve body such that the seal is configured to move relative to the valve body between an open position, in which the seal allows the gas to flow between the first and second valve openings through the inner valve cavity, and a closed position, in which the seal inhibits the gas and the liquid from flowing through the inner valve cavity from the first valve opening to the second valve opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Alan E. Rice, Steven G. Bryde
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Patent number: 8844506Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine defining a combustion chamber and a crankcase volume, together with an intake assembly. The intake assembly includes an air cleaner assembly, a throttle, and an intake manifold in a series arrangement and fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber. An air-oil separator is fluidly coupled between the crankcase volume and the intake manifold and defines a separator volume configured to extract oil from air flowing through the volume. The air-oil separator includes a first inlet port configured to direct a first air flow into the separator volume substantially along a first direction, and a second inlet port configured to direct a second air flow into the volume substantially along a second direction that generally opposes the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas A. Spix, Alan E. Rice
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Publication number: 20130306043Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine defining a combustion chamber and a crankcase volume, together with an intake assembly. The intake assembly includes an air cleaner assembly, a throttle, and an intake manifold in a series arrangement and fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber. An air-oil separator is fluidly coupled between the crankcase volume and the intake manifold and defines a separator volume configured to extract oil from air flowing through the volume. The air-oil separator includes a first inlet port configured to direct a first air flow into the separator volume substantially along a first direction, and a second inlet port configured to direct a second air flow into the volume substantially along a second direction that generally opposes the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas A. Spix, Alan E. Rice
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Patent number: 8495993Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine structure, an air intake assembly and a positive crankcase ventilation system. The engine structure defines an intake port and a crankcase. Furthermore, the air intake assembly is in communication with the intake port. The positive crankcase ventilation system includes a fresh air line, a housing and a foul air line. The fresh air line is in communication with the air intake assembly and the crankcase. The housing defines an air inlet and an air outlet with the air inlet being in communication with the crankcase and partially defined by a wall extending into an inner volume of the housing. An oil separation mechanism may be located in the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet. The foul air line is in communication with the air intake assembly and the air outlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Inventors: Alan E. Rice, Thomas A. Spix
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Patent number: 8464698Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, a first cylinder head, and an air intake assembly. The engine block may include a first bank defining a first set of cylinders. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake ports. The air intake assembly may include an intake air tube, a crankcase ventilation housing integrally formed with the intake air tube, and an oil separation assembly located within the crankcase ventilation housing. The intake air tube may be in communication with the first set of intake ports and an air source. The crankcase ventilation housing may have a wall at least partially defined by the intake air tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Inventors: Thomas Richard Durkin, Alan E. Rice
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Patent number: 8408190Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine and an intake assembly. The engine defines a combustion chamber and a crankcase, and the intake assembly includes an intake manifold in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An air-oil separator is provided with the engine and defines a separator volume, an inlet and an outlet, where each of the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the separator volume. The inlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the crankcase, and the outlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the intake manifold. The air-oil separator further includes an interior surface that abuts and surrounds the separator volume, and the interior surface has a surface roughness (RA) of greater than about 75 microns.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas A. Spix, Alan E. Rice
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Publication number: 20130008420Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine and an intake assembly. The engine defines a combustion chamber and a crankcase, and the intake assembly includes an intake manifold in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An air-oil separator is provided with the engine and defines a separator volume, an inlet and an outlet, where each of the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the separator volume. The inlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the crankcase, and the outlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the intake manifold. The air-oil separator further includes an interior surface that abuts and surrounds the separator volume, and the interior surface has a surface roughness (RA) of greater than about 75 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas A. Spix, Alan E. Rice
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Publication number: 20120304971Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine structure, an air intake assembly and a positive crankcase ventilation system. The engine structure defines an intake port and a crankcase. Furthermore, the air intake assembly is in communication with the intake port. The positive crankcase ventilation system includes a fresh air line, a housing and a foul air line. The fresh air line is in communication with the air intake assembly and the crankcase. The housing defines an air inlet and an air outlet with the air inlet being in communication with the crankcase and partially defined by a wall extending into an inner volume of the housing. An oil separation mechanism may be located in the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet. The foul air line is in communication with the air intake assembly and the air outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: ALAN E. RICE, THOMAS A. SPIX
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Patent number: 8166958Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is provided for an internal combustion engine. The PCV system includes a centrifugal separator disposed within a shaft member, for example a balance shaft, of the internal combustion engine. The centrifugal separator is operable to impart rotational motion on the gases flowing through the shaft member such that the centrifugal forces urge the separation of oil particle entrained within the gases.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan E. Rice, Robert J. Moran
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Publication number: 20090266326Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, a first cylinder head, and an air intake assembly. The engine block may include a first bank defining a first set of cylinders. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake ports. The air intake assembly may include an intake air tube, a crankcase ventilation housing integrally formed with the intake air tube, and an oil separation assembly located within the crankcase ventilation housing. The intake air tube may be in communication with the first set of intake ports and an air source. The crankcase ventilation housing may have a wall at least partially defined by the intake air tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Thomas Richard Durkin, Alan E. Rice
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Patent number: 7600735Abstract: A bracket and nut assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket and a captured nut. The first bracket includes a body with first end having with an aperture extending therethrough. The second bracket includes a first end with an elongated aperture and a second end moveably attached to the body portion of the first bracket. A captured nut is retained within the elongated aperture. The nut includes a first piece coupled to a second piece and is axially translatable and rotatable within the elongated aperture.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Gary J. Vaandrager, Richard K. Marsh, Alan E. Rice
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Patent number: 7571701Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, first and second cylinder heads, and first and second valvetrain covers fixed to the first and second cylinder heads. The engine block may include first and second cylinder banks disposed at an angle relative to one another to form a V-configuration. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake and exhaust ports. The second cylinder head may be fixed to the second bank and may include a second set of intake and exhaust ports. The first and second sets of exhaust ports may be located proximate a center of the V-configuration. The first valvetrain cover may include a first air inlet in communication with the first set of intake ports. The second valvetrain cover may include a second air inlet in communication with the second set of intake ports.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Rice, Thomas Richard Durkin, Robert J. Moran
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Publication number: 20090194063Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, first and second cylinder heads, and first and second valvetrain covers fixed to the first and second cylinder heads. The engine block may include first and second cylinder banks disposed at an angle relative to one another to form a V-configuration. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake and exhaust ports. The second cylinder head may be fixed to the second bank and may include a second set of intake and exhaust ports. The first and second sets of exhaust ports may be located proximate a center of the V-configuration. The first valvetrain cover may include a first air inlet in communication with the first set of intake ports. The second valvetrain cover may include a second air inlet in communication with the second set of intake ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Alan E. Rice, Thomas Richard Durkin, Robert J. Moran
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Publication number: 20090044791Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is provided for an internal combustion engine. The PCV system includes a centrifugal separator disposed within a shaft member, for example a balance shaft, of the internal combustion engine. The centrifugal separator is operable to impart rotational motion on the gases flowing through the shaft member such that the centrifugal forces urge the separation of oil particle entrained within the gases.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Alan E. Rice, Robert J. Moran
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Publication number: 20090046962Abstract: A main bearing cap support structure is provided including a bulkhead and a main bearing cap removably mountable thereto by at least one threaded fastener. The threaded fastener includes a highly toleranced (i.e. controlled both dimensionally and geometrically) generally annular collar sufficiently configured to be received within a highly toleranced bore portion defined by the bulkhead and the main bearing cap such that the main bearing cap may be precisely aligned with the bulkhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Scott M. Kociba, Alan E. Rice, Greg Thurston