Patents by Inventor James W. Merrick

James W. Merrick 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: 4538573
    Abstract: An electronic controller for an internal combustion engine provides a ratio control signal corresponding to a respective air/fuel ratio, and responds to an air flow signal, a fuel flow signal and the ratio control signal to control fuel flow as to make the ratio of air flow to fuel flow substantially equal to said respective air/fuel ratio. The ratio control signal is developed from a base run ratio control signal as modified in response to various parameters such as engine temperature, manifold pressure, idle, manifold vacuum, fuel temperature, wide open throttle, engine speed, and start. The controller also provides speed-up circuit for promptly responding to change in air flow and dynamic braking for the fuel metering pump. The pump speed circuit includes a range extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Merrick
  • Patent number: 4408583
    Abstract: A programmed timing control controls the occurrence of timing signals relative to engine position in systematic relation to engine speed to provide such spark at a time appropriate for a first fuel at each engine speed. An alternative fuel timing control produces a controlled timing interval systematically related to engine speed and changes the timing of such spark by the controlled timing interval to provide such spark at a time appropriate for a second fuel at each respective engine speed. A variable dwell control provides a dwell control signal for controlling the application of current to the ignition coil. A signal generator coupled to the timing means generates a time varying signal rising in magnitude substantially monotonically and preferrably lineraly with time following each interruption of such current until a later time corresponding to the next succeeding interruption of such current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Automatic Controls, Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Merrick
  • Patent number: 4408582
    Abstract: An electronic controller for an internal combustion engine provides a ratio control signal corresponding to a respective air/fuel ratio, and responds to an air flow signal, a fuel flow signal and the ratio control signal to control fuel flow as to make the ratio of air flow to fuel flow substantially equal to said respective air/fuel ratio. The ratio control signal is developed from a base run ratio control signal as modified in response to various parameters such as engine temperature, manifold pressure, idle, manifold vacuum, fuel temperature, wide open throttle, engine speed, and start. The controller also provides a speed-up circuit for promptly responding to change in air flow and dynamic braking for the fuel metering pump. The pump speed circuit includes a range extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Merrick
  • Patent number: 4326493
    Abstract: In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, current from a d.c. power supply is applied through an input inductor alternately through an ignition coil and through a circuit path in shunt of the ignition coil. The current through the ignition coil is made of substantially constant predetermined magnitude while flowing through the shunt circuit, preferably by means of a fixed ballast resistor in the shunt circuit. Switching of the current into the ignition coil is enabled during a predetermined fraction of the engine cycle, with no current applied to the ignition coil between predetermined periods. The current is switched back and forth between the two paths a plurality of times during each predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: Autotronic Controls, Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Merrick
  • Patent number: 4284053
    Abstract: An electronic controller for an internal combustion engine provides a ratio control signal corresponding to a respective air/fuel ratio, and responds to an air flow signal, a fuel flow signal and the ratio control signal to control fuel flow as to make the ratio of air flow to fuel flow substantially equal to said respective air/fuel ratio. The ratio control signal is developed from a base run ratio control signal as modified in response to various parameters such as engine temperature, manifold pressure, idle, manifold vacuum, fuel temperature, wide open throttle, engine speed, and start. The controller also provides a speed-up circuit for promptly responding to change in air flow and dynamic braking for the fuel metering pump. The pump speed circuit includes a range extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Autotronic Controls Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Merrick
  • Patent number: 4131100
    Abstract: A multi-strike spark discharge system which is combined with an internal combustion engine to produce a plurality of high voltage discharges across the spark gap of the engine. A timing signal associated with the engine is treated and used to actuate a duration control circuit which in turn actuates a repetition rate control circuit thereby controlling the duration and frequency of the discharges across the spark gap. At low rpm the repetition rate control apparatus provides several multi-discharges which enhances the combustion process and improves the operation of the combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Autotronic Controls, Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Merrick
  • Patent number: 4042923
    Abstract: A radar position locator system uses a mobile and at least two stationary transceivers. The signals are validated by being stored and compared with previously received signals. If the comparison indicates that the received signal is within a range of a reasonably possible change, as compared to the previously received signals, it is accepted. Otherwise, it is rejected and the memory circuit which stored the signal for validation is backed up to the last previously stored valid signal. The stationary transceivers function somewhat as a surveyor's bench mark. Each transceiver is individually identified by a coded stream of radar pulses, as, for example, a stream of pulses transmitted at a predetermined transceiver identifying pulse repetition rate. A selected number of validated radar signals are transmitted between the mobile and stationary transceivers. The round trip transmission times of several of these signals are averaged, and a digital read out indicates the distance represented by such averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Del Norte Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Merrick