Patents by Inventor Christopher Suhocki

Christopher Suhocki 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: 20230083067
    Abstract: A method of providing spark ignition for an engine or other equipment having a combustion chamber. A radio frequency wave or a microwave (RF/microwave) generator delivers radio frequency waves or microwaves to a transmit antenna inside the combustion chamber. At least one RF/microwave receive antenna is attached to an internal surface of the combustion chamber and comprises two or more RF/microwave focusing features with a spark gap between them. The transmit antenna wirelessly energizes the receive antenna, which generates a spark between the two focusing features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Brad D. Moore, Christopher Suhocki
  • Patent number: 11603786
    Abstract: A system for providing microwave energy to aftertreatment devices that treat the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The system has a microwave generator and a transmission network for delivering the microwaves to one or more of the aftertreatment devices. The transmission network comprises a combination of solid and hollow waveguides. Antenna(s) transmit microwave energy into the working chamber the aftertreatment device(s), with at least one of the devices having antenna(s) capable of distributing microwave energy throughout its chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Terry Alger, Scott Hotz, Christopher Suhocki
  • Patent number: 11585312
    Abstract: A method of providing spark ignition for an engine or other equipment having a combustion chamber. A radio frequency wave or a microwave (RF/microwave) generator delivers radio frequency waves or microwaves to a transmit antenna inside the combustion chamber. At least one RF/microwave receive antenna is attached to an internal surface of the combustion chamber and comprises two or more RF/microwave focusing features with a spark gap between them. The transmit antenna wirelessly energizes the receive antenna, which generates a spark between the two focusing features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Brad D. Moore, Christopher Suhocki
  • Patent number: 9840972
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dual compression engine boosting systems utilizing both a turbocharger and a supercharger and control systems relating to relative activation and deactivation of the boosting devices. Various Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) configurations are also disclosed for the dual compression engine boosting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Karen Evelyn Bevan, Douglas Anthony Hughes, Sean Keidel, Benjamin James Morris, Jeremy Novak, Martin Dale Pryor, Christopher Suhocki, Philip William Wetzel
  • Patent number: 9759218
    Abstract: A supercharger includes a supercharger housing, a primary rotor having a primary rotor shaft fixed to rotate therewith. A ring gear with internal teeth is attached to a transmission housing portion of the supercharger housing. A sun gear is fixed to the primary rotor shaft. A planetary gear carrier has a plurality of planetary gear shafts. A plurality of planetary gears rotate about corresponding planetary gear shafts and are meshingly engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear and are substantially equally spaced about the sun gear. A rotatable input shaft is connectable to the planetary gear carrier. The input shaft is connectable to receive rotational motion and power from an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher W. Creager, Daniel R. Ouwenga, Christopher Suhocki
  • Publication number: 20140271136
    Abstract: A supercharger includes a supercharger housing, a primary rotor having a primary rotor shaft fixed to rotate therewith. A ring gear with internal teeth is attached to a transmission housing portion of the supercharger housing. A sun gear is fixed to the primary rotor shaft. A planetary gear carrier has a plurality of planetary gear shafts. A plurality of planetary gears rotate about corresponding planetary gear shafts and are meshingly engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear and are substantially equally spaced about the sun gear. A rotatable input shaft is connectable to the planetary gear carrier. The input shaft is connectable to receive rotational motion and power from an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher W. Creager, Daniel R. Ouwenga, Christopher Suhocki
  • Publication number: 20140208745
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling an engine. The method includes manipulating a combustion air bypass valve between an open position and a closed position to create a negative pressure differential across a supercharger. The negative pressure differential is converted into a torque by the supercharger and transmitted from the supercharger back to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher Suhocki, Michael J. Silar, Robert P. Benjey, William N. Eybergen, Vasillos Tsourapas, Martin D. Pryor, Daniel R. Ouwenga
  • Patent number: 8640458
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine includes manipulating a wastegate to maintain the operation of the turbocharger within an optimum operating range. A combustion air bypass valve is manipulated between an open position and a closed position to create a negative pressure differential across a supercharger. The supercharger is sequentially disposed in-line before the turbocharger. The negative pressure differential is converted into a torque by the supercharger and transmitted from the supercharger back to the engine to increase the operating efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Suhocki, Michael J. Sitar
  • Publication number: 20130090832
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dual compression engine boosting systems utilizing both a turbocharger and a supercharger and control systems relating to relative activation and deactivation of the boosting devices. Various Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) configurations are also disclosed for the dual compression engine boosting systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Karen Evelyn Bevan, Douglas Anthony Hughes, Sean Keidel, Benjamin James Morris, Jeremy Novak, Martin Dale Pryor, Christopher Suhocki, Philip William Wetzel
  • Patent number: 8042526
    Abstract: A torsion damping mechanism for a rotary blower is provided that includes an input hub adapted to engage a first end of a torsion spring and an output hub adapted to engage a second end of the torsion spring. An intermediate hub is fixed for rotation with a first drive member. A bearing member includes an inner portion connected for rotation with the intermediate hub and an outer portion connected for rotation with the output hub. The bearing member may be a one-way bearing that permits torque to flow from the output hub into the intermediate hub and the first drive member when the output hub is driven in a first rotational direction, and permits the output hub to rotate relative to the intermediate hub with no substantial torque transfer therebetween when the output hub is driven in a second rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Suhocki, Mark H. Pratley, Christopher W. Creager, Daniel R. Ouwenga
  • Publication number: 20110094480
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine includes manipulating a wastegate to maintain the operation of the turbocharger within an optimum operating range. A combustion air bypass valve is manipulated between an open position and a closed position to create a negative pressure differential across a supercharger. The supercharger is sequentially disposed in-line before the turbocharger. The negative pressure differential is converted into a torque by the supercharger and transmitted from the supercharger back to the engine to increase the operating efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Suhocki, Michael J. Sitar
  • Publication number: 20110067395
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine having a mechanically driven supercharger supplying a flow of air to the engine includes defining a steady state operating condition in which the engine normally operates within efficiently. An engine parameter is monitored to determine if the engine is operating within the steady state operating condition, or outside the steady state operating condition in a transient operating condition. If the engine is operating outside the steady state operating condition in the transient operating condition, the flow of air from the supercharger is adjusted to maintain a fuel/air mixture to within a pre-determined ratio prior to increasing a fuel injection rate to the engine to minimize soot emissions from the engine during operation of the engine in the transient operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Suhocki
  • Publication number: 20090062018
    Abstract: A torsion damping mechanism for a rotary blower is provided that includes an input hub adapted to engage a first end of a torsion spring and an output hub adapted to engage a second end of the torsion spring. An intermediate hub is fixed for rotation with a first drive member. A bearing member includes an inner portion connected for rotation with the intermediate hub and an outer portion connected for rotation with the output hub. The bearing member may be a one-way bearing that permits torque to flow from the output hub into the intermediate hub and the first drive member when the output hub is driven in a first rotational direction, and permits the output hub to rotate relative to the intermediate hub with no substantial torque transfer therebetween when the output hub is driven in a second rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Suhocki, Mark H. Pratley, Christopher W. Creager, Daniel R. Ouwenga