Patents by Inventor Eric J. HODGKINSON

Eric J. HODGKINSON 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: 20240175403
    Abstract: Control of engine shutdown of an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders and, for each of the plurality of cylinders, a hydraulically controlled lost motion component operatively connected to an engine valve corresponding to the cylinder, is achieved when an engine controller determines that shutdown of the internal combustion engine has been requested. Responsive to the request for shutdown, the engine controller initiates or continues cylinder deactivation operation for each of at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders. The initiation or continuation of the cylinder deactivation operation for each of the at least one cylinder comprises, for an input to the hydraulically controlled lost motion component for each of at least one engine valve corresponding to the cylinder, operating the input to provide the cylinder deactivation operation for a duration at least long enough to complete shutdown of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Robb JANAK, Justin D. BALTRUCKI, Bruce A. SWANBON, Eric J. HODGKINSON
  • Patent number: 11649739
    Abstract: Valve bridge systems include constraints and guides for managing bridge jump and other uncontrolled valve bridge motion during engine operation. Constraints may include an e-foot collar, an extended portion on the bridge, and a bridge brake pin. Guides may include valve stem tip lead-in chamfers surrounding the valve bridge valve pockets as well as a deflection surface on the bridge extended portion. Methods of configuring valve bridges may include configuring the valve step tip lead-in chamfers based on worst-case positions of the valve bridge defined by one or more or a combination of the constraints provided by the e-foot collar, extended portion and brake pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Svstems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Hodgkinson, Timothy P. Neal, Justin D. Baltrucki, G. Michael Gron, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230007897
    Abstract: Valve bridge systems include constraints and guides for managing bridge jump and other uncontrolled valve bridge motion during engine operation. Constraints may include an e-foot collar, an extended portion on the bridge, and a bridge brake pin. Guides may include valve stem tip lead-in chamfers surrounding the valve bridge valve pockets as well as a deflection surface on the bridge extended portion. Methods of configuring valve bridges may include configuring the valve step tip lead-in chamfers based on worst-case positions of the valve bridge defined by one or more or a combination of the constraints provided by the e-foot collar, extended portion and brake pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Eric J. HODGKINSON, Timothy P. NEAL, Justin D. BALTRUCKI, G. Michael GRON, JR.
  • Patent number: 11401838
    Abstract: A system for controlling actuation of an engine valve comprises a pivot and a torsion spring having first and second legs operatively connected to the pivot. A lever arm is adjustably affixed to and extending away from the pivot, and is further rotatable about a pivot axis of the pivot between a retracted position and an extended position and vice versa relative to a motion conveying component. Furthermore, a housing is provided having a pivot bore formed therein with the pivot rotatably disposed in the pivot bore. The housing further comprises a first and second openings intersecting with the pivot bore such that the first and second legs extend out of the first opening and the lever arm extends out of the second opening. When a first force is applied by the motion conveying component to the lever arm, such first force maintains the lever arm in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Michael Gron, Jr., Jacob Moore, Justin D. Baltrucki, Eric J. Hodgkinson, Timothy P. Neal, Bruce A. Swanbon, Robb Janak, Matei Alexandru
  • Publication number: 20220178279
    Abstract: A system for controlling actuation of an engine valve comprises a pivot and a torsion spring having first and second legs operatively connected to the pivot. A lever arm is adjustably affixed to and extending away from the pivot, and is further rotatable about a pivot axis of the pivot between a retracted position and an extended position and vice versa relative to a motion conveying component. Furthermore, a housing is provided having a pivot bore formed therein with the pivot rotatably disposed in the pivot bore. The housing further comprises a first and second openings intersecting with the pivot bore such that the first and second legs extend out of the first opening and the lever arm extends out of the second opening. When a first force is applied by the motion conveying component to the lever arm, such first force maintains the lever arm in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: G. Michael GRON, JR., Jacob MOORE, Justin D. BALTRUCKI, Eric J. HODGKINSON, Timothy P. NEAL, Bruce A. SWANBON, Robb JANAK, Matei ALEXANDRU