Patents by Inventor David P. Branyon

David P. Branyon 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: 7464673
    Abstract: An internal combustion barrel engine includes an engine housing and an elongated power shaft. A combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder are spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis. A double-ended piston includes a combustion end disposed in the combustion cylinder so as to define a combustion chamber between the combustion end and the closed end of the combustion cylinder. A guide end is disposed in the guide cylinder. Combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Russell Thomas, Bret R. Hauser, David P. Branyon
  • Patent number: 7121236
    Abstract: A method for decelerating an expansion piston of an engine is presented. The engine includes an expansion piston slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. The method includes accelerating the expansion piston during the expansion stroke from the expansion piston's top dead center position, and decelerating the expansion piston during at least a portion of the expansion stroke crank angle interval between 0 degrees and 60 degrees after top dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventors: Salvatore C. Scuderi, David P. Branyon
  • Patent number: 6986329
    Abstract: An engine includes a crankshaft having a crank throw, the crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder. A connecting rod is pivotally connected to the expansion piston. A mechanical linkage rotationally connects the crank throw to the connecting rod about a connecting rod/crank throw axis such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of the four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A non-circular path is established by the mechanical linkage which the connecting rod/crank throw axis travels around the crankshaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventors: Salvatore C. Scuderi, David P. Branyon
  • Patent number: 6952923
    Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is substantially 20 to 1 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
  • Patent number: 6948310
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas passing through an aftertreatment device disposed in the exhaust system of a diesel engine provides an optimal environment for efficient conversion of NOx and undesirable emissions during transient and steady state engine operation. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve timing, either singly or in combination with fuel injection timing and selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventors: Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Andrew C. Matheaus, David P. Branyon, Rudolf H Stanglmaier, Lee G. Dodge, Thomas W. Ryan, III, Daniel W. Stewart
  • Patent number: 6834636
    Abstract: An internal combustion barrel engine includes an engine housing with a first and second end. An elongated power shaft is longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defines a longitudinal axis. A combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder are spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis. The cylinders each have an inner end and an outer end, with the inner ends being closer to each other. The outer end of the combustion cylinder is closed. An intake system is operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder. A track is supported between the inner ends of the cylinders and has an undulating cam surface. The track is moveable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Thomas Engine Company
    Inventors: Charles Russell Thomas, Bret R. Hauser, David P. Branyon
  • Publication number: 20040255882
    Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is substantially 20 to 1 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
  • Publication number: 20040060284
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas passing through an aftertreatment device disposed in the exhaust system of a diesel engine provides an optimal environment for efficient conversion of NOx and undesirable emissions during transient and steady state engine operation. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve timing, either singly or in combination with fuel injection timing and selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Charles E. Roberts, Andrew C. Matheaus, David P. Branyon, Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Lee G. Dodge, Thomas W. Ryan, Daniel W. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20040035385
    Abstract: An internal combustion barrel engine includes an engine housing with a first and second end. An elongated power shaft is longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defines a longitudinal axis. A combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder are spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis. The cylinders each have an inner end and an outer end, with the inner ends being closer to each other. The outer end of the combustion cylinder is closed. An intake system is operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder. A track is supported between the inner ends of the cylinders and has an undulating cam surface. The track is moveable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Russell Thomas, Bret R. Hauser, David P. Branyon