Patents by Inventor Gale C. Banks, III

Gale C. Banks, III 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: 11193441
    Abstract: An intake adaption system for internal combustion engines of vehicles employing an aftermarket intake air assembly including high capacity intake ducting and a low resistance air filter. Intake air sensors provide intake air condition signals of filtered intake air to the engine. A CPU includes a routine for modifying the intake air condition signals of the filtered intake air to the ECM. Tables alter the appropriate sensor signal or signals to correct for the calibration and predictions made by the ECM based on the original equipment. A first table translates the intake air condition signals from the intake air sensors indicative of MAF into the engine to provide actual MAF into the engine. A second table generates a pressure offset responsive to MAF into the engine to provide the ECM with a lower pressure value than actual, avoiding a diagnostic trouble code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 10933885
    Abstract: A fail-safe system for accelerator pedal signal modifiers of throttle-by-wire systems for vehicles has a CPU electronically between an accelerator pedal position signal and a vehicle ECU using routines to modify the accelerator pedal position signal to the ECU. The system is monitored for faults and bypasses the modification routines to transmit the unmodified accelerator pedal position signal to the ECU when the accelerator pedal signal modifier has failed. The ECU is also monitored to detect the status of the vehicle transmission. When reverse gear is initiated, the modification routines are bypassed to transmit the unmodified accelerator pedal position signal to the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 10934904
    Abstract: A system for collecting lube oil in an internal combustion engine with a rotating crankshaft assembly reduces lube oil aeration. The system includes a primary separation chamber arranged above an oil sump; an air interchange zone arranged above the primary separation chamber; an entrance aperture fluidly coupling the air interchange zone to the primary separation chamber; an exit aperture laterally spaced from the entrance aperture and fluidly coupling the primary separation chamber to the air interchange zone and for guiding air arising from the motion of the rotating crankshaft assembly from the primary separation chamber to the air interchange zone; and a main oil accumulation plate extending from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture and separating the primary separation chamber and the air interchange zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Publication number: 20210003050
    Abstract: A system for collecting lube oil in an internal combustion engine with a rotating crankshaft assembly reduces lube oil aeration. The system includes a primary separation chamber arranged above an oil sump; an air interchange zone arranged above the primary separation chamber; an entrance aperture fluidly coupling the air interchange zone to the primary separation chamber; an exit aperture laterally spaced from the entrance aperture and fluidly coupling the primary separation chamber to the air interchange zone and for guiding air arising from the motion of the rotating crankshaft assembly from the primary separation chamber to the air interchange zone; and a main oil accumulation plate extending from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture and separating the primary separation chamber and the air interchange zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 10443705
    Abstract: A vehicle differential cover with cooling fins. The differential cover including an area closing the differential lubricant sump. Air scoops are outwardly of the differential and the curved surfaces at the downstream edges of the air scopes direct flow to the cooling fins extending over the area of the cover plate closing the differential lubricant sump. A baffle selectively closes the scoops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 10138851
    Abstract: An automobile air filtration system including an air intake housing configured to house an air filter assembly. The air filter assembly includes filter media having a first end and a second end, and a base member including a locating member having a first width coupled to the second end. The air intake housing includes at least one sidewall defining an interior chamber, an inlet opening and an outlet opening defined in the sidewall, an outlet passageway defined by a portion of the sidewall extending to the outlet opening along an outlet axis, and a slip region having a second width defined in the portion of the sidewall defining the outlet passageway. When the air filter assembly is received in the interior chamber of the air intake housing, the locating member of the air filter assembly is received in the slip region of the air intake housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventors: Gale C. Banks, III, Chris Otani
  • Publication number: 20170074218
    Abstract: An automobile air filtration system including an air intake housing configured to house an air filter assembly. The air filter assembly includes filter media having a first end and a second end, and a base member including a locating member having a first width coupled to the second end. The air intake housing includes at least one sidewall defining an interior chamber, an inlet opening and an outlet opening defined in the sidewall, an outlet passageway defined by a portion of the sidewall extending to the outlet opening along an outlet axis, and a slip region having a second width defined in the portion of the sidewall defining the outlet passageway. When the air filter assembly is received in the interior chamber of the air intake housing, the locating member of the air filter assembly is received in the slip region of the air intake housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Gale C. Banks, III, Chris Otani
  • Patent number: 8468812
    Abstract: An exhaust scavenging system for an internal combustion engine including exhaust passages extending from the engine and an exhaust outlet system. A collector extends from the bundled ends of the exhaust passages to the exhaust outlet system. A central exhaust passage extends into the collector from a central position among the bundled exhaust passage outlets. The transverse cross-sectional area of the central exhaust passage through at least half of the transition collector portion from the outlet plane is not substantially less than the transverse cross-sectional area of the central exhaust passage at the outlet plane in the extended position and does decrease continuously through the transition collector portion from the outlet plane in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 6652414
    Abstract: An engine brake control system for a vehicle drive train including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust system and a turbocharger includes a variable inlet turbine in the exhaust system as part of the turbocharger which has a nozzle inlet control, a turbine wheel inlet and variable inlet nozzle vanes in the turbine wheel inlet of the variable inlet turbine and coupled with the nozzle inlet control. Further, a controller controls the variable inlet nozzle vanes through a number of positions from fully open to fully closed. Inputs to the controller affecting its operation include a speed sensor, a drive coupling sensor, a gear selection sensor, an overdrive gear sensor, an engine speed sensor, a throttle sensor, a pressure sensor and a warm-up sensor. A user interface both receives and sends information from and to the controller. The engine brake control system not only includes modulation of the engine brake, but also provides for control of a torque converter, automatic transmission and overdrive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 6634171
    Abstract: An exhaust scavenging system for an internal combustion engine including exhaust passages extending from the engine and an exhaust outlet system. A collector extends from the bundled ends of the exhaust passages to the exhaust outlet system. A flow enhancement element extends into the collector from a central position among the bundled exhaust passage outlets. The flow enhancement element may be fixed, adjustable axially or modulated axially. When modulated, a controller controls the actuator based on engine parameters with a feedback loop either directly from the actuator or through further measurement of engine conditions. When adjustable, the flow enhancement element can range in position from a retracted position to an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: 6152853
    Abstract: An exhaust brake control system for a vehicle drive train having an internal combustion engine with an exhaust system includes an exhaust brake valve in the exhaust system. Further, a controller controls the exhaust brake valve through a number of position commands from fully open to fully closed. Inputs to the controller affecting its operation include a speed sensor, a drive coupling sensor, a gear selection sensor, an overdrive gear sensor, an engine speed sensor, a throttle sensor, a pressure sensor and a warm-up sensor. A user interface both receives and sends information from and to the controller. The exhaust brake control system not only includes modulation of the exhaust brake, but also provides for control of a torque converter clutch, automatic transmission and overdrive. With throttled engines the intake throttle valve can be opened and the fuel supply disabled. Modulation of the exhaust brake valve is responsive to speed and acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: D558111
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: D881096
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III
  • Patent number: D896351
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Gale C. Banks, III