Patents by Inventor Donald L. Drapeau

Donald L. Drapeau 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: 5404756
    Abstract: A method of making a capacitive pressure sensor preferably for a vehicle fuel system with a flexible diaphragm, spacer and rigid substrate disposed in opposed face-to-face relation in a housing and yieldably urged together by a spring clamp. Electrodes disposed on the immediately adjacent opposed faces of the diaphragm and substrate produce a signal indicative of and varying with changes in the pressure of fluid acting on the diaphragm to displace its central portion relative to the substrate. In operation, through sensor and control circuitry, the speed of a fuel pump is varied to vary and control the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine in response to varying engine operating loads and conditions. To control the flow of fuel, a check valve, pressure relief valve and vent valve may be provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Briggs, George H. Bucci, Donald L. Drapeau, Lawrence E. Egle
  • Patent number: 5351548
    Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor preferably for a vehicle fuel system with a flexible diaphragm, spacer and rigid substrate disposed in opposed face-to-face relation in a housing and yieldably urged together by a spring clamp. Electrodes disposed on the immediately adjacent opposed faces of the diaphragm and substrate produce a signal indicative of and varying with changes in the pressure of fluid acting on the diaphragm to displace its central portion relative to the substrate. In operation, through sensor and control circuitry, the speed of a fuel pump is varied to vary and control the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine in response to varying engine operating loads and conditions. To control the flow of fuel, a check valve, pressure relief valve and vent valve may be provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Briggs, George H. Bucci, Donald L. Drapeau, Lawrence E. Egle