Patents by Inventor Charles W. Braun
Charles W. Braun 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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Patent number: 6736111Abstract: A fuel rail assembly includes an integral pressure damper and an over-pressure stop to prevent the damper from flexing beyond it elastic limit. The rail assembly also includes injector cups formed outwardly relative to the rail to provide substantially unimpeded fuel flow to the injector. The fuel rail assembly further includes a damper cover to protect the damper from outside damage. The damper cover can be hermetically sealed to form an air chamber above the damper and opposite the fuel chamber in the fuel rail thereby providing a means for keeping the pressure differential between the chambers in an APDI fuel injection system substantially constant.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Kern E. Haynes
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Patent number: 6732717Abstract: A fuel rail permeant collection system includes a substantially impermeable enclosure surrounding a fuel rail on an internal combustion engine. Preferably, the enclosure is in communication with air intake means for the engine, for example, the intake manifold or runners from the manifold to the engine cylinders, such that fuel collected by the enclosure can be evaporated and passed into the intake means for combustion by the engine. The system may be included in a vehicle vapor purge circuit from a fuel tank emissions-control canister system.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Keith A. Confer, Kenneth W. Turner, Curtis D. Lamb
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Publication number: 20040035399Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides, and a width. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces and wherein the widths of the ends do not substantially exceed the hollow member width.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: Steven M. Curran, Michael A. Bradley, Charles W. Braun, Peter E. Bartell, Kern E. Haynes
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Publication number: 20030230282Abstract: A fuel rail assembly includes an integral pressure damper and an over-pressure stop to prevent the damper from flexing beyond it elastic limit. The rail assembly also includes injector cups formed outwardly relative to the rail to provide substantially unimpeded fuel flow to the injector. The fuel rail assembly further includes a damper cover to protect the damper from outside damage. The damper cover can be hermetically sealed to form an air chamber above the damper and opposite the fuel chamber in the fuel rail thereby providing a means for keeping the pressure differential between the chambers in an APDI fuel injection system substantially constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2002Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Kern E. Haynes
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Patent number: 6655354Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides, and a width. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces and wherein the widths of the ends do not substantially exceed the hollow member width.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Curran, Michael A. Bradley, Charles W. Braun, Peter E. Bartell, Kern E. Haynes
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Patent number: 6640783Abstract: The present invention generally includes a composite fuel rail with integral damping provided by flat sections, molded into the rail conduit, that flex in response to a pressure pulsation and a co-injected composite laminate structure wherein the compounds of the laminates can be selectively varied to provide impact resistance, chemical resistance and a vapor permeation barrier, as needed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Gary J. DeAngelis, Ahmet T. Becene, Steven J. Fogarassy, Brent J. Wahba
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Publication number: 20030196644Abstract: A fuel rail permeant collection system includes a substantially impermeable enclosure surrounding a fuel rail on an internal combustion engine. Preferably, the enclosure is in communication with air intake means for the engine, for example, the intake manifold or runners from the manifold to the engine cylinders, such that fuel collected by the enclosure can be evaporated and passed into the intake means for combustion by the engine. The system may be included in a vehicle vapor purge circuit from a fuel tank emissions-control canister system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Keith A. Confer, Kenneth W. Turner, Curtis D. Lamb
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Patent number: 6622708Abstract: A fuel system for fluidly connecting a fuel tank with an engine includes a low-pressure fuel circuit connected to the fuel tank. A high-pressure fuel circuit connected to the engine is supplied with fuel by the low-pressure fuel circuit. A priming fuel circuit includes a priming fuel conduit and a priming valve. The priming fuel conduit has a first segment and a second segment. The priming valve has an inlet and an outlet. The first segment of the priming fuel circuit interconnects the low-pressure fuel circuit and the outlet of the priming valve. The second segment of the priming fuel circuit interconnects the high-pressure fuel circuit and the inlet of the priming valve. The priming valve is operable to control a flow of fluid through the priming fuel conduit to thereby selectively connect and disconnect the high-pressure fuel circuit and the low-pressure fuel circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Chris C. Begley, Michael J. Niemiec
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Publication number: 20030111057Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides, and a width. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces and wherein the widths of the ends do not substantially exceed the hollow member width.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Steven M. Curran, Michael A. Bradley, Charles W. Braun, Peter E. Bartell, Kern E. Haynes
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Patent number: 6513500Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, and a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Andrew S. Price, Steven M. Curran, Michael A. Bradley, Peter E. Bartell, Kern E. Haynes
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Publication number: 20020139351Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, and a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Andrew S. Price, Steven M. Curran, Michael A. Bradley, Peter E. Bartell, Kern E. Haynes
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Publication number: 20020108660Abstract: The present invention generally includes a composite fuel rail with integral damping provided by flat sections, molded into the rail conduit, that flex in response to a pressure pulsation and a co-injected composite laminate structure wherein the compounds of the laminates can be selectively varied to provide impact resistance, chemical resistance and a vapor permeation barrier, as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Gary J. DeAngelis, Ahmet T. Becene, Steven J. Fogarassy, Brent J. Wahba
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Publication number: 20010039944Abstract: A fuel system for fluidly connecting a fuel tank with an engine includes a low-pressure fuel circuit fluidly connected to the fuel tank. A high-pressure fuel circuit is supplied with fuel by the low-pressure fuel circuit, and is fluidly connected to the engine. A priming fuel circuit includes a priming fuel conduit and a priming valve. The priming fuel conduit has a first segment and a second segment. The priming valve has an inlet and an outlet. The first segment of the priming fuel circuit fluidly interconnects the low-pressure fuel circuit and the outlet of the priming valve. The second segment of the priming fuel circuit fluidly interconnects the high-pressure fuel circuit and the inlet of the priming valve. The priming valve is operable to control a flow of fluid through the priming fuel conduit to thereby selectively fluidly connect and disconnect the high-pressure fuel circuit and the low-pressure fuel circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2001Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventors: Charles W. Braun, Chris C. Begley, Michael J. Niemiec
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Patent number: 5020505Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine having a base with an exhaust gas chamber formed therein, a valve member mounted within the exhaust gas chamber for metering the flow of exhaust gas therethrough, a one piece bearing having upper and lower bearing members for precise positioning of the valve member within the exhaust gas chamber, and a valve stem support assembly for mounting the valve stem relative to the actuator having means for allowing lateral movement between the actuator and the valve member thereby eliminating side-to-side loading and resultant binding of the precisely positioned valve member within the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1990Date of Patent: June 4, 1991Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Thaddeus J. Grey, Charles W. Braun, Dwight O. Palmer
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Patent number: 4961413Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine having a base with an exhaust gas chamber formed therein, a valve member mounted within the exhaust gas chamber for metering the flow of exhaust gas therethrough, a one piece bearing having upper and lower bearing members for precise positioning of the valve member within the exhaust gas chamber, and a valve stem support assembly for mounting the valve stem relative to the actuator having means for allowing lateral movement between the actuator and the valve member thereby eliminating side-to-side loading and resultant binding of the precisely positioned valve member within the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1989Date of Patent: October 9, 1990Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Thaddeus J. Grey, Charles W. Braun, Dwight O. Palmer
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Patent number: 4805582Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve has a seat formed in a member that is secured to the valve actuator independently of the valve base and that can accordingly accommodate a wide variety of base designs without substantial change in the equipment employed to assemble the valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1988Date of Patent: February 21, 1989Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Charles W. Braun, Joseph Fornuto, Dwight O. Palmer