Patents by Inventor Charles H. Covert

Charles H. Covert 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: 7476269
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control canister for adsorbing fuel vapors from a fuel tank on a marine vessel. The canister comprises a polymeric extruded housing that may be formed to any desired length or cut from extruded stock. Identical end caps having tubing connectors are bonded to opposite ends of the housing, defining an inlet and an outlet. Marine-grade pelletized activated carbon is disposed within the housing between porous slidable plates that are spring loaded against the end caps to pack the carbon tightly against the housing walls. Mounting brackets at each end are rotatably attached to the end caps so that opposite ends of the assembly may be attached to different surfaces of the vessel's hull, thus relieving stress which might be introduced into the assembly. Preferably, the assembly is wrapped in a fire retardant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris C. Begley, Charles H. Covert
  • Patent number: 7160361
    Abstract: Disclosed herein an evaporative emission treatment device comprising: a housing; and an adsorption member disposed in the housing, the adsorption member comprising an adsorption component comprising an activated carbon textile made from a novoloid precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Meiller, Charles H. Covert, Robert A. Zaso, Jonathan M. Oemcke, Christopher S. Tupps
  • Patent number: 7118716
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon emissions scrubber for use in an evaporative emissions control system of a motor vehicle includes a scrubber element having an elongate body. The body defines a plurality of passageways for the flow of fluid therethrough. The plurality of passageways are one of coated with or constructed of a sorbent material. The sorbent material is adsorptive of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, INC
    Inventors: Thomas C. Meiller, Charles H. Covert, Susan S. LaBine
  • Patent number: 7077111
    Abstract: A variable purge orifice assembly for an evaporative emission system of a vehicle includes a housing for fluid connection to a vapor canister and a purge solenoid of the evaporative emission system. The housing has a purge orifice therein. The variable purge orifice assembly also includes a regulating device connected to the housing and for connection to an engine of the vehicle. The regulating device is actuated by manifold vacuum from the engine to vary flow of fuel vapor through the purge orifice from the vapor canister to the purge solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Robertson, Charles H. Covert, Gordon R. Paddock
  • Patent number: 6896852
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon emissions scrubber for use in an evaporative emissions control system of a motor vehicle includes a scrubber element having an elongate body. The body defines a plurality of passageways for the flow of fluid therethrough. The plurality of passageways are one of coated with or constructed of a sorbent material. The sorbent material is adsorptive of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Meiller, Charles H. Covert, Susan S. LaBine
  • Patent number: 6537354
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a vapor canister includes a partition adapted to be disposed in an interior chamber of the vapor canister and having at least one opening extending therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a valve connected to the partition and covering the at least one opening and being movable to provide variable flow of fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Meiller, Gregory P. Weilnau, Charles H. Covert
  • Publication number: 20030024397
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a vapor canister includes a partition adapted to be disposed in an interior chamber of the vapor canister and having at least one opening extending therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a valve connected to the partition and covering the at least one opening and being movable to provide variable flow of fluid therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas C. Meiller, Gregory P. Weilnau, Charles H. Covert
  • Publication number: 20020073847
    Abstract: A monolith for use in an evaporative emissions hydrocarbon scrubber is disclosed. The monolith, which is concentrically disposed with a shell, has at least one cell group disposed around at least two individual cells, such that the cell group comprises at least three thick walls. The individual cells comprise at least on thin wall, with the thick walls being thicker than the thin wall. A method for using the evaporative emissions hydrocarbon scrubber is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Matthew R. Sheline, Charles H. Covert, Susan LaBine, Jonathan M. Oemoke, Eileen A. Scardino
  • Patent number: 5462100
    Abstract: A refueling vapor recovery system for a vehicle utilizes recirculation of a portion of the displaced vapor and combines a vapor vent valve and a recirculation control into a single differential pressure valve assembly. A vapor vent conduit provides fuel tank vapor pressure to one side of a diaphragm and, through a restricted orifice, to the other side of the diaphragm, the other side being further connected by a recirculation conduit to the tank filler neck. When a gas cap closes the filler neck from the atmosphere, the orifice allows pressure to equalize across the diaphragm; and a spring biases the diaphragm to close a vapor vent valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Covert, Richard W. Wagner, Kenneth W. Turner, Karen M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5289811
    Abstract: A purge control device for an evaporative control system comprises a single housing having two solenoid actuated valves controlling parallel orifices leading from an inlet chamber to an exit flow path. The two solenoid valves have different sized orifices to provide different flow capacities. Purge flow is controlled by an electronic control module which regulates the duty cycle of the solenoids. Each valve receives its own signal so that the flow through the orifices is individually controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Covert, Joseph Fornuto, William E. Gifford, Otto Muller-Girard, Jr., Gordon R. Paddock
  • Patent number: 5119791
    Abstract: A vapor storage canister incorporates a liquid trap that protects the carbon bed, but which avoids purging liquid directly out of the trap. The trap consists of a cup that forms an interior cavity at the bottom of, and surrounded by, the carbon bed. The purge tube does not enter the trap directly, but instead runs to a plenum that draws from the bottom face of the carbon bed. The trap, in turn, is open to the interior of the carbon bed only through a screen mesh grid. Consequently, vapor can be pulled from the trap at purge, but not liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Gifford, Otto M. Girard, Jr., Charles H. Covert, Samuel Yu, Gordon R. Paddock, Richard H. Simons, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5054520
    Abstract: A tank mounted vapor vent valve is actuated from the filler door by a pair of bellows, a primary bellows operated by the filler door, and a secondary bellows moved by the primary bellows to open and close the valve, joined only by a flexible, easily routed air hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Carl H. Sherwood, Kenneth W. Turner, Patti S. DuBois, Charles H. Covert
  • Patent number: 5014742
    Abstract: A tank vapor vent valve assembly mounted to the top of the tank wall has a piston actuated by a source of engine vacuum which maintains a fill vapor exit closed until the gas cap is removed to relieve the vacuum and allow the piston to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Covert, Kenneth W. Turner, Carl H. Sherwood, William E. Gifford, Richard W. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4946060
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck includes a seal lip bordered by a seal casing rim on one side, and a shelf of the filler neck on the other, so as to protect the seal lip against side loading from the nozzle that it seals against.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Carl H. Sherwood, Karen M. Meyer, Charles H. Covert, Gregory P. Weilnau
  • Patent number: 4917157
    Abstract: A tank vapor vent valve assembly uses a spring loaded sealing flapper door located below a normally open float chamber. The flapper door spring is specifically designed to open when the tank pressure falls, allowing make up air to pull the flapper door down and draw in make up air through the canister inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Gifford, Carl H. Sherwood, Charles H. Covert, Kenneth W. Turner
  • Patent number: 4893643
    Abstract: A TVVA with a buoyant overfill protection float contains the float closely and axially slidably within a sleeve, and feeds a negative pressure created by the rapid flow of fill vapors over the outside of the sleeve into the sleeve to hold the float down and prevent it from corking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Gifford, Carl H. Sherwood, Charles H. Covert, Kenenth W. Turner
  • Patent number: 4894072
    Abstract: A canister is divided into small and large bed portions, with the small portion being loaded separately with just diurnal vapors so that it can be purged with a greater efficiency. At fuel fill, both bed portions are loaded simultaneously with a proportion of fuel fill vapors keyed to their own volume ratio, so that an effective capacity equal to the sum of the two is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Turner, Charles H. Covert, Patti S. DuBois
  • Patent number: 4852761
    Abstract: A specially designed vapor storage canister may be placed within the interior volume of a fuel tank, eliminating the need for a tank to canister vapor line and shortening the TVVA to canister vapor line, while still protecting the adsorbent bed against contamination by liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Turner, Charles H. Covert, Karen M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 4732588
    Abstract: A fuel vapor storage canister includes a vapor inlet for introducing vapor into the canister and a bed of adsorbant material in fluid communication with the inlet for adsorbing vapor within the canister. A vapor purge tube is in fluid communication with the bed for purging fuel vapor from the bed. A thermoelectric cooler/heater selectively cools the inlet tube to promote condensation of vapors therein and selectively and alternatively heats the bed to promote purging of vapors from the bed and the remainder of the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Covert, William E. Gifford, Edwin C. Storey
  • Patent number: RE34518
    Abstract: A tank vapor vent valve assembly mounted to the top of the tank wall has a piston actuated by a source of engine vacuum which maintains a fill vapor exit closed until the gas cap is removed to relieve the vacuum and allow the piston to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Covert, Kenneth W. Turner, Carl H. Sherwood, William E. Gifford, Richard W. Wagner