Patents by Inventor Frank Acierno Valencia

Frank Acierno Valencia 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: 9976513
    Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine is provided and includes a piston skirt enclosing at least a portion of an underside of a piston crown. A cooling oil passageway is provided on the underside of the piston and extends from a first part to a second part of the underside, where the first part is closer than the second part to a fluid flow from a cooling oil source. The cooling oil passageway may include a main channel and a branch channel extending from the main channel at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 9938928
    Abstract: A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Publication number: 20160273485
    Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine is provided and includes a piston skirt enclosing at least a portion of an underside of a piston crown. A cooling oil passageway is provided on the underside of the piston and extends from a first part to a second part of the underside, where the first part is closer than the second part to a fluid flow from a cooling oil source. The cooling oil passageway may include a main channel and a branch channel extending from the main channel at an angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Acierno VALENCIA
  • Publication number: 20160153395
    Abstract: A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Edward SMITH, Frank Acierno VALENCIA
  • Patent number: 9284937
    Abstract: A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 9169798
    Abstract: A valve cover for an engine and a method is provided. The valve cover may include a cover body, and a sparkplug tube formed integrally with the cover body. In this way, any distortion of the bottom end of the sparkplug tubes due to, for example removal and reinstallation may not provide a leakage path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Paul Thomas Reinhart
  • Patent number: 9140153
    Abstract: An engine system is described. The engine system includes an oil drain passage in fluidic communication with an oil separator. The engine system further includes a backflow valve positioned at an outlet of the oil drain line, the backflow valve having a first configuration where the valve provides a predetermined amount of oil backflow into the oil drain passage and a second configuration where the valve inhibits oil backflow into the oil drain passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 9097148
    Abstract: A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow in a conduit external to an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary David Liimatta, Thomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 9074502
    Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is provided. The PCV system includes an oil return line coupled to a PCV oil separator and extending through a crankcase housing and a PCV bypass valve positioned in a wall of the oil return line, the PCV bypass valve opening when a pressure in the crankcase exceeds a threshold value and closing when a pressure in the crankcase falls below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 9038614
    Abstract: A system for a cylinder head is provided. The system comprises a cam cover mounted on the cylinder head and including an oil separator and a coil on plug (COP) coupled to the oil separator via a snap-fit connection. The snap-fit connection holds the coil-on-plug in position and may provide a lower cost alternative to existing systems of retaining coil-on-plugs on a cam cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 8919329
    Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is provided herein. The PCV system includes an engine assembly, the engine assembly including an engine block, a cylinder head, a valve cover, and an intake manifold and a PCV passage providing fluidic communication between a crankcase of the engine assembly and a cylinder intake port of the engine assembly without hoses or conduits external to the engine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Carl Lohr, Chris William Newman, Todd Jay Brewer, Frank Acierno Valencia, Gene Reed Andersen
  • Publication number: 20140360454
    Abstract: An engine system is described. The engine system includes an oil drain passage in fluidic communication with an oil separator. The engine system further includes a backflow valve positioned at an outlet of the oil drain line, the backflow valve having a first configuration where the valve provides a predetermined amount of oil backflow into the oil drain passage and a second configuration where the valve inhibits oil backflow into the oil drain passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 8887703
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ventilating engine crankcase gases are described. In one example, crankcase gases flow from a first cylinder bank to a second cylinder bank via tubes placed between exhaust gas manifold runners. The systems and method may improve crankcase gas ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Timothy Gerald Taylor, John William Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140331979
    Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is provided. The PCV system includes an oil return line coupled to a PCV oil separator and extending through a crankcase housing and a PCV bypass valve positioned in a wall of the oil return line, the PCV bypass valve opening when a pressure in the crankcase exceeds a threshold value and closing when a pressure in the crankcase falls below a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 8813711
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly is provided. In one example, the cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head, a cam cap coupled to the cylinder head having a component port, and a cam cover coupled to the cylinder head. The cylinder head assembly cylinder head assembly further includes a drainage passage including an inlet opening and an outlet extending through an exterior cylinder head surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, John Carl Lohr
  • Patent number: 8800518
    Abstract: A cam cover for a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine has an aperture in the cam cover adapted to permit spark plug installation into the cylinder head and two tabs protruding vertically from the cam cover adapted to retain a boss extending from an ignition coil. The ignition coil has a portion adapted to fit over the spark plug and an orifice through the boss. The cam cover also has a recess between the tabs with the recess extending into the cam cover which is adapted to accept a self-tapping screw in the event of a tab failure. The tabs have a varying cross-section along their length such that they allow the orifice to slide over the tabs squeezing the tabs together and then snapping into place when the orifice clears the ramps on the side of the tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Publication number: 20140150746
    Abstract: A valve cover for an engine and a method is provided. The valve cover may include a cover body, and a sparkplug tube formed integrally with the cover body. In this way, any distortion of the bottom end of the sparkplug tubes due to, for example removal and reinstallation may not provide a leakage path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Paul Thomas Reinhart
  • Publication number: 20140048053
    Abstract: A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow in a conduit external to an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary David Liimatta, Thomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia
  • Patent number: 8607768
    Abstract: A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Thomas Edward Smith, Roy Ford
  • Patent number: 8567375
    Abstract: A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow in a conduit external to an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary David Liimatta, Thomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia