Patents by Inventor Jeffrey D. Fluharty
Jeffrey D. Fluharty 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).
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Patent number: 11629620Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine includes a casting and plug. The casting defines a first channel, a second channel, and a bore extending inward from an exterior surface of the casting. The first channel intersects a central portion of the bore. The second channel intersects an opposing end of the bore relative to the exterior surface. The plug is disposed within the bore. The plug has a distal end that engages the casting along the opposing end of the bore via a slip-fit engagement, a proximal end that engages the casting within the bore proximal to the exterior surface via a fixed engagement, and an intermediate portion that is spaced apart from the casting along the central portion of the bore. The plug defines an internal channel that establishes fluid communication between the first and second channels.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Fluharty, Forest Heggie, Daniel Nelson, Jonathan Denis Crowe, David Henderlong, Richard J. Anton
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Patent number: 11415074Abstract: An engine includes a block defining at least one cylinder and a cylinder head received on the block. The cylinder includes a casting defining an exhaust port in fluid communication with the cylinder and an integrated exhaust manifold. The integrated exhaust manifold has an exhaust runner defined by the casting and extending from the exhaust port to an outlet defined on an outer surface of the casting. The casting includes a protrusion extending into the exhaust runner such that a raised dimple is disposed on a sidewall of the exhaust runner. The casting further defines a sensor bore extending towards the protrusion such that the sensor bore and the protrusion have a common centerline. A temperature sensor is disposed in the sensor bore and has a sensing element arranged in proximity to the protrusion such that the sensing element reads a temperature of the protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Fluharty, Forest Heggie
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Patent number: 11300072Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine includes a first wall, a second wall, and a post. The first wall defines an exhaust channel that is configured to direct exhaust gas away from the engine. The second wall forms an exterior of the cylinder head and defines a water jacket between the first wall and the second wall. The water jacket is configured to channel coolant through the cylinder head. The post is disposed within the water jacket. The post extends between and is secured to each of the first and second walls. The post tapers from the first wall to a center portion of the post. The post also tapers from the from the second wall to the center portion of the post. The post is configured to fracture in response to a thermal load generated by the engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Fluharty, Paul Thomas Reinhart, Chad Michael Strimpel, Dong-Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 10344705Abstract: An engine has a cylinder head defining an intake port with a roof defining first and second valve guide bores upstream of first and second siamesed intake valve seats for a cylinder. The head has first and second asymmetric fairings extending outwardly from the roof and positioned directly upstream of respective bores. Each fairing has an inner wall intersecting an outer wall along an upstream edge and an inclined planar roof wall extending between the inner and outer walls. A method of forming the cylinder head and engine is also provided by milling the fairings from a roof preform formed with the intake port of the head.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Christopher Riegger, Jeffrey D. Fluharty, Philip Damian Cierpial, Abhijyoth Vempati
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Publication number: 20180106214Abstract: An engine has a cylinder head defining an intake port with a roof defining first and second valve guide bores upstream of first and second siamesed intake valve seats for a cylinder. The head has first and second asymmetric fairings extending outwardly from the roof and positioned directly upstream of respective bores. Each fairing has an inner wall intersecting an outer wall along an upstream edge and an inclined planar roof wall extending between the inner and outer walls. A method of forming the cylinder head and engine is also provided by milling the fairings from a roof preform formed with the intake port of the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: John Christopher RIEGGER, Jeffrey D. FLUHARTY, Philip Damian CIERPIAL, Abhijyoth VEMPATI
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Patent number: 9784169Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a 2-port integrated exhaust manifold for an inline-3, inline-6, V-6, and/or V-12 engine. In one example, a system may include an exhaust manifold integrated within a cylinder head of an engine block. The integrated exhaust manifold may include a first set of two runners from a first outer cylinder coupled to a first manifold exhaust port, a second set of two runners of a second outer cylinder coupled to a second manifold exhaust port, and one runner of an inner cylinder coupled to the first manifold exhaust port and another runner of the inner cylinder coupled to the second manifold exhaust port.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Keith D. Miazgowicz, Michael Bruno Magnan, Ahsanul Karim, Philip Damian Cierpial, Jeffrey D. Fluharty
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Publication number: 20170260892Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a 2-port integrated exhaust manifold for an inline-3, inline-6, V-6, and/or V-12 engine. In one example, a system may include an exhaust manifold integrated within a cylinder head of an engine block. The integrated exhaust manifold may include a first set of two runners from a first outer cylinder coupled to a first manifold exhaust port, a second set of two runners of a second outer cylinder coupled to a second manifold exhaust port, and one runner of an inner cylinder coupled to the first manifold exhaust port and another runner of the inner cylinder coupled to the second manifold exhaust port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2016Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Keith D. Miazgowicz, Michael Bruno Magnan, Ahsanul Karim, Philip Damian Cierpial, Jeffrey D. Fluharty
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Patent number: 9488127Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a head gasket positioned between a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block has first and second cylinders separated by a block bore bridge, and a block cooling jacket with a first passage and a second passage intersecting a block deck face. The cylinder head has first and second chambers separated by a head bore bridge, and a head cooling jacket with a third passage and a fourth passage intersecting a head deck face. The gasket forms a slot positioned adjacent to at least one of the block bore bridge and the head bore bridge to fluidly connect the first and fourth passages to cool the at least one of the block bore bridge and head bore bridge.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Theodore Beyer, Jody Michael Slike, Jeffrey D. Fluharty, John Christopher Riegger, Scott Eeley
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Patent number: 9476481Abstract: Exemplary arrangements for drive chains are disclosed. In one exemplary arrangement, a tooth shaped link member for a drive chain comprises a web portion, a first side tooth, a second side tooth and a central guide tooth. The web portion extends between opposing side portions of the link member. The first side tooth and the second side tooth each include an apex that is oriented at an angle to extend toward the central guide tooth. In another exemplary arrangement, a drive chain comprises a plurality of inner links that are operatively connected to a plurality of outer links, where a pair of rollers are mounted between the inner links with a pin being positioned between the rollers.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Christopher Riegger, Jeffrey D. Fluharty
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Publication number: 20150300236Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a head gasket positioned between a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block has first and second cylinders separated by a block bore bridge, and a block cooling jacket with a first passage and a second passage intersecting a block deck face. The cylinder head has first and second chambers separated by a head bore bridge, and a head cooling jacket with a third passage and a fourth passage intersecting a head deck face. The gasket forms a slot positioned adjacent to at least one of the block bore bridge and the head bore bridge to fluidly connect the first and fourth passages to cool the at least one of the block bore bridge and head bore bridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Theodore Beyer, Jody Michael Slike, Jeffrey D. Fluharty, John Christopher Riegger, Scott Eeley
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Publication number: 20150292598Abstract: Exemplary arrangements for drive chains are disclosed. In one exemplary arrangement, a tooth shaped link member for a drive chain comprises a web portion, a first side tooth, a second side tooth and a central guide tooth. The web portion extends between opposing side portions of the link member. The first side tooth and the second side tooth each include an apex that is oriented at an angle to extend toward the central guide tooth. In another exemplary arrangement, a drive chain comprises a plurality of inner links that are operatively connected to a plurality of outer links, where a pair of rollers are mounted between the inner links with a pin being positioned between the rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John Christopher RIEGGER, Jeffrey D. FLUHARTY
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Patent number: 8869758Abstract: An engine is has a cylinder block defining a cylinder and a block cooling jacket having an open passage along a block deck face, and a cylinder head having an exhaust bridge conduit. A head gasket is placed between the block and the head and defines first and second apertures connecting the open passage of the block cooling jacket to the exhaust bridge conduit. A cylinder head has a deck face, and a cooling jacket. The cooling jacket has a passage formed by an inlet channel with a conduit at one end and extending into an exhaust bridge between adjacent exhaust ports. The inlet channel intersects the deck face and is elongated along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder head. The inlet channel has a convex surface positioned between opposed ends of the channel and extending away from the deck face.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Theodore Beyer, John Christopher Riegger, Jody Michael Slike, Philip Damian Cierpial, Jeffrey D. Fluharty