Patents by Inventor Bruce K. Walker

Bruce K. Walker 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: 7266442
    Abstract: A method and system to optimize values of a plurality of calibration discharge coefficients useable in a computer program operable to estimate mass air flow into an internal combustion engine having an air intake system comprising a throttle body and a plurality of sensors is presented. This includes collecting engine operation data points, including throttle position. Discharge coefficients are calculated, one for each engine operation data point. The discharge coefficients are partitioned based upon throttle position. Calibration discharge coefficients are calculated for each partitioned plurality of discharge coefficients. This includes circumscribing each calibration discharge coefficient based upon predetermined thresholds. This further includes monitoring and collecting input signals correlatable to airflow from the sensors during ongoing engine operation, preferably comprising throttle position, manifold pressure, intake air temperature, and, atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Ting, Bruce K. Walker
  • Patent number: 6502480
    Abstract: An improved high performance aluminum connecting rod and a method of manufacturing such a connecting rod which is capable of carrying particularly high compressive loads with a substantially reduced deformation resulting from such high compressive loads in high performance engines. The connecting rod is made of an extruded bar stock forging made of an aluminum alloy material which is forged and machined to make the connecting rod. The connecting rod has a substantially increased compressive yield strength as well as a substantially increased tensile yield strength. This increase in the compressive yield strength of the connecting rod effectively prevents bending of the connecting rod beam, elongation of the wrist pin bore, and a marked deterioration in the roundness of the bearing housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventors: Bruce K. Walker, Raymal Childs
  • Patent number: 6134779
    Abstract: An improved high performance aluminum connecting rod and a method for manufacturing such a connecting rod are disclosed, the connecting rod being capable of carrying particularly high compressive loads with a substantially reduced deformation resulting from such high compressive loads. In the preferred embodiment, the connecting rod of the present invention is made of an extruded bar stock forging made of an aluminum alloy material which is forged and machined to make the connecting rod. The connecting rod of the present invention has a substantially increased compressive yield strength as well as a substantially increased tensile yield strength. This increase in the compressive yield strength of the connecting rod of the present invention effectively prevents bending of the connecting rod beam, elongation of the wrist pin bore, and a marked deterioration in the roundness of the bearing housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Bruce K. Walker, Raymal Childs
  • Patent number: 4445421
    Abstract: A redundant swashplate control system includes five or more actuators coupled to the swashplate. A feedback network independently controls each actuator to track a commanded position and a reference ram differential pressure that it related to the ram differential pressures sensed from all of the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce K. Walker, Mukund Desai, Eliezer Gai