Patents by Inventor James D. Curtis

James D. Curtis 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).

  • Fuel injector seat assembly with positive contact seal between fuel injector sleeve and cylinder head
    Patent number: 6112722
    Abstract: An assembly including an engine component, such as a fuel injector, seated against a seating surface of a cylinder head is provided with a positive seal contact an uppermost point of contact between an injector sleeve and a seating surface of the cylinder head. The positive seal contact prevents coolant from the water jacket from travelling below the uppermost point of contact, thereby avoiding cavitation damage which might otherwise occur by the entrapment of liquid between the cylinder head seating surface and the injector sleeve. In an embodiment, a raised annular ridge is formed in the seating surface of the cylinder head at the location of the uppermost point of contact. This ridge becomes embedded in the injector sleeve. Also, in an embodiment, the cylinder head includes a circular recess upwardly from the uppermost point of contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins Engine, Co.
    Inventors: Brett I. Barnhart, Timothy D. Britt, James D. Curtis, Matthew G. Leddy, Jay F. Leonard, David H. Parsons, Terrence M. Shaw, William R. Storkman