Patents by Inventor Chad J. Gartzke
Chad J. Gartzke 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: 20160252052Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank including a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, the vent conduit extending between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, wherein the inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal air cleaner volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
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Patent number: 9341148Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank with a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, and an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume. The vent conduit extends between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume. An opening is formed in the air cleaner housing and the vent conduit extends through the opening. The outlet aperture of the vent conduit is positioned within the internal air cleaner volume and the vent conduit provides fluid communication between the internal fuel tank volume and the internal air cleaner volume.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
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Publication number: 20140216424Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank with a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, and an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume. The vent conduit extends between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume. An opening is formed in the air cleaner housing and the vent conduit extends through the opening. The outlet aperture of the vent conduit is positioned within the internal air cleaner volume and the vent conduit provides fluid communication between the internal fuel tank volume and the internal air cleaner volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Inventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
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Patent number: 8746207Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Briggs and Stratton CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
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Patent number: 8720392Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Benjamin R. Miller, Chad J. Gartzke, John R. Schneiker, Greg Hupfer, David W. Branski
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Patent number: 8656883Abstract: An engine includes an engine cover, a blower fan, and a recoil starter having a cover. The engine cover includes an inlet aperture and is configured to house working components of the engine. The blower fan is configured to disperse air received through the inlet aperture to cool the working components of the engine. The recoil starter cover has an opening for air to pass through and is fastened to the underside of the engine cover.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jason J. Raasch, Gregory L. Hupfer, Chad J. Gartzke, Carl Tiefenthaler
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Publication number: 20130291845Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
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Patent number: 8495995Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Briggs and Stratton CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
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Patent number: 8424498Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Benjamin R. Miller, Chad J. Gartzke, John R. Schneiker, Greg Hupfer, David W. Branski
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Publication number: 20130019822Abstract: An engine includes an engine cover, a blower fan, and a recoil starter having a cover. The engine cover includes an inlet aperture and is configured to house working components of the engine. The blower fan is configured to disperse air received through the inlet aperture to cool the working components of the engine. The recoil starter cover has an opening for air to pass through and is fastened to the underside of the engine cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventors: Jason J. Raasch, Gregory L. Hupfer, Chad J. Gartzke, Carl Tiefenthaler
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Publication number: 20110315133Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
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Publication number: 20110020151Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Benjamin R. Miller, Chad J. Gartzke, John R. Schneiker, Greg Hupfer, David W. Branski