Patents by Inventor Domenico Chiera

Domenico Chiera 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: 20150361945
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Patent number: 9172217
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Publication number: 20150260131
    Abstract: Air is cooled to conditions where the oxygen component of the air is liquid and the nitrogen component of the air is gaseous using fuel for an engine as a heat sink. The oxygen is separated from the nitrogen, and the oxygen is supplied to the engine for combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Riley, Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Publication number: 20150040845
    Abstract: Air/fuel mixture is received from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine into an enclosure about a flame kernel initiation gap between a first ignition body and a second ignition body. Air/fuel mixture received into the enclosure is directed into a flame kernel initiation gap. The mixture is then ignited in the flame kernel initiation gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Patent number: 8925518
    Abstract: A system has an engine. The engine has a combustion chamber, a pre-combustion chamber apart from the combustion chamber, and an opening spanning between the combustion chamber and the pre-combustion chamber. The engine also has a first fuel supply system adapted to supply liquid fuel to the pre-combustion chamber and a second fuel supply system adapted to supply a second, different fuel to the combustion chamber. In certain instances, an oxygen supply system supplies oxygen into the prechamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Riley, Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Patent number: 8839762
    Abstract: Air/fuel mixture is received from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine into an enclosure about a flame kernel initiation gap between a first ignition body and a second ignition body. Air/fuel mixture received into the enclosure is directed into a flame kernel initiation gap. The mixture is then ignited in the flame kernel initiation gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson, Nolan Polley
  • Publication number: 20140190437
    Abstract: An engine has an ignition source in a combustion chamber of the engine. An inner housing is provided that includes one or more jet apertures and defines an inner chamber containing the ignition source. An outer housing (or pre-chamber) is provided that includes one or more jet apertures in communication with the main combustion chamber and defines an outer chamber containing the inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20140165980
    Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Patent number: 8584648
    Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20130206122
    Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20130042834
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, David C. Petruska, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20120125279
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory James Hampson, Domenico Chiera
  • Publication number: 20120125287
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, David C. Petruska, Gregory James Hampson