Patents by Inventor Alan Falkowski

Alan Falkowski 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).

  • Publication number: 20220018306
    Abstract: A cylinder bore liner insert configured to be cast in an internal combustion engine block includes an additive manufactured liner wall formed during an additive manufacturing process and having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an upper surface configured to be operably associated with a cylinder head, wherein the inner surface at least partially defines a cylinder bore configured to receive a piston therein. A liner water jacket is defined internally within the additive manufactured liner wall during the additive manufacturing process. The liner water jacket at least partially surrounds the cylinder bore to provide cooling thereto via a flow of coolant within the liner water jacket. A plurality of coolant ports are formed in the upper surface and configured to enable flow of coolant between the liner water jacket and the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick H. Baer, Jeffrey Brand, Pietro A. Monaco, Anthony J. Denouden, Alan Falkowski
  • Publication number: 20140023477
    Abstract: A combination pump assembly for circulation of a coolant and for providing suction includes a shaft and a coolant pump portion with a coolant pump housing that defines at least a portion of a coolant flow path. The coolant pump portion also includes a coolant pump member that is rotatably disposed within the coolant pump housing. The coolant pump member is operably coupled to the shaft to be driven by the shaft to pump the coolant through the coolant flow path. Furthermore, the pump assembly includes a vacuum pump portion with a vacuum pump housing that defines at least a portion of a suction path. The vacuum pump portion also includes a vacuum pump member that is rotatably disposed within the vacuum pump housing. The vacuum pump member is operably coupled to the shaft to be driven by the shaft to provide suction through the suction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Mihail Nichifor, John W. Potts, Alan Falkowski
  • Publication number: 20060236969
    Abstract: A rocker shaft arrangement for a valvetrain system of an engine is provided. The rocker shaft arrangement includes a split rocker shaft having two fluidly separate internal regions. Each of the fluidly separate internal regions is arranged to selectively carry an independent supply of pressurized oil for distribution to valvetrain components. The two fluidly separate regions of the split rocker shaft are each further arranged to supply pressurized oil independent of each other to one of a high lift rocker arm and a low lift rocker arm of a rocker arm assembly for an engine valvetrain system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Falkowski, Richard Sands, Christopher Thomas, David Fiddes
  • Publication number: 20060236968
    Abstract: A variable lift deactivateable valvetrain system for an engine is provided. The system includes a camshaft, a rocker shaft, a valve and at least one rocker arm rotateably connected to the rocker shaft and arranged to engage the camshaft. A connecting rocker arm is rotateably connected to the rocker shaft and is in constant engagement with the valve. The connecting rocker arm is arranged to operate in selective engagement with the at least one rocker arm to provide a variable lift deactivateable valvetrain configuration. The system further includes a low lift rocker arm having a low lift pin assembly and a high lift rocker arm having a high lift pin assembly. The low and high lift pin assemblies are arranged to selectively engage the connecting rocker arm responsive to oil pressure selectively directed to the low and high lift pin assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Falkowski, Richard Sands, Christopher Thomas, David Fiddes, Anteo Opipari
  • Publication number: 20060185426
    Abstract: A method and code for controlling the operation of a deactivatable valve lifter of an internal combustion engine includes determining an oil viscosity measure based upon an engine oil pressure achieved when the engine is operating at a warm engine idle operating condition; determining a minimum oil temperature for actuator operation based on a comparison of the oil viscosity measure with a stored value representing the oil's nominal viscosity; and enabling actuator operation when an instantaneous oil temperature is not less than the minimum oil temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Falkowski, Dahai Wang, Michael Bonne
  • Patent number: 6318324
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for an engine is provided that includes a resilient seal received over a plunger assembly above a fluid return aperture in the plunger body. The hollow interior of the pushrod which supplies the hydraulic lash adjuster with fluid provides a secondary low pressure fluid cavity which allows the overall length of the hydraulic lash adjuster to be shortened, thus removing mass from the valve train and improving the valve train dynamics. This configuration prevents fluid from escaping the lash adjuster, allowing the lash adjuster to be positioned in the engine over a wider range of operating angles. Supplying fluid from the pushrod also eliminates the need to machine a fluid supply bore into the body of the hydraulic lash adjuster as well as the need to orient the fluid supply bore to a fluid gallery in the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Koeroghlian, Alan Falkowski
  • Patent number: 6095109
    Abstract: In a fastened joint where two or more joint members are secured together, a method for improving the sealing properties of the joint. The method includes the incorporation of one or more depressions into at least one joint surface of the joint members. The depressions are positioned to reduce the tendency of the joint members to transmit clamping forces between non-sealing areas, thereby increasing the magnitude of the clamping forces transmitted through sealing areas and reducing the opportunity for leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ming Zhou, Alan Falkowski
  • Patent number: 5949989
    Abstract: A method of minimizing engine noise emitted from a motor vehicle air intake system. An objective function to be minimized, such as emitted engine noise, is selected. A model of a motor vehicle engine and intake manifold as an acoustic source is generated. Next, a model of required air induction system components is generated. A set of air induction system components and system dimensional constraints is selected. A model of the air induction system is then created given the generated models of the acoustic source and the required induction system components, the selected air induction system components and the system dimensional constraints to thereby minimize the objective function. The methodology of the present invention minimizes the guesswork associated with multi-component induction system design, as it ties all functions together into a model that can be easily manipulated as needed in response to changing design parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Falkowski, Piotr Czapski
  • Patent number: 5839405
    Abstract: An engine induction system resonator that is designed to minimize emitted engine noise. The resonator includes an enclosed tube that has a first diameter and that defines a resonant chamber therein. The resonator also includes a pipe that has a second diameter smaller than the tube diameter. The pipe extends axially through the tube and has first and second ends that connect to other induction system components to channel inductive air flow therethrough. The pipe defines a plurality of perforated holes distributed along a section of the pipe housed within the tube. The plurality of perforated holes is distributed along the pipe in a manner that minimizes emitted engine noise. The resonator is designed in view of other system components to minimize overall system cost and overall required system implementation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Falkowski, Piotr Czapski, Dennis A. Soltis