Patents by Inventor Jerry P. Harkey

Jerry P. Harkey 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: 9581074
    Abstract: A thermostat assembly for use with an engine cooling system includes a thermostat, a frame, a bypass valve and an integrated filter. The frame supports the thermostat and is positioned upstream of a thermostatic valve. The frame also defines a primary coolant passage. The bypass valve is positioned on the frame and selectively defines a bypass coolant passage. The filter is positioned on the frame upstream of the thermostat and is configured to filter coolant flowing through the primary coolant passage to the thermostat. The bypass valve moves between a normally closed position and an open position where coolant is free to pass through the bypass coolant passage and to the thermostat. The bypass valve moves to the open position upon being subjected to a predetermined pressure caused by a reduction in a coolant flow rate through the filter so as to provide for coolant flow to bypass the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Jerry P Harkey
  • Publication number: 20160177809
    Abstract: A thermostat assembly for use with an engine cooling system includes a thermostat, a frame, a bypass valve and an integrated filter. The frame supports the thermostat and is positioned upstream of a thermostatic valve. The frame also defines a primary coolant passage. The bypass valve is positioned on the frame and selectively defines a bypass coolant passage. The filter is positioned on the frame upstream of the thermostat and is configured to filter coolant flowing through the primary coolant passage to the thermostat. The bypass valve moves between a normally closed position and an open position where coolant is free to pass through the bypass coolant passage and to the thermostat. The bypass valve moves to the open position upon being subjected to a predetermined pressure caused by a reduction in a coolant flow rate through the filter so as to provide for coolant flow to bypass the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Jerry P. Harkey
  • Patent number: 9032837
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber system attenuates torsional vibrations within a drive train of a vehicle. The system can be incorporated between an engine and an automatic transmission, for example, within a flex plate assembly attached to an engine's crankshaft, within a pump housing cover of a torque converter, or as a stand-alone unit between a flex plate assembly and a torque converter. The system includes at least one pendulum weight that dynamically moves along a predetermined path in response to variations in rotational velocities of a housing of the system and that is tuned to attenuate excitation of torsional vibrations within the drive train. A limiter assembly, which can include multiple limiters, is provided within the system for stopping movement of the weight when it reaches endpoints of the predetermined path, by mechanically impeding further movement at both of a first and second end of the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: James R. Klotz, Bruce Geist, Jerry P. Harkey
  • Publication number: 20110031058
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber system attenuates torsional vibrations within a drive train of a vehicle. The system can be incorporated between an engine and an automatic transmission, for example, within a flex plate assembly attached to an engine's crankshaft, within a pump housing cover of a torque converter, or as a stand-alone unit between a flex plate assembly and a torque converter. The system includes at least one pendulum weight that dynamically moves along a predetermined path in response to variations in rotational velocities of a housing of the system and that is tuned to attenuate excitation of torsional vibrations within the drive train. A limiter assembly, which can include multiple limiters, is provided within the system for stopping movement of the weight when it reaches endpoints of the predetermined path, by mechanically impeding further movement at both of a first and second end of the weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: James R. Klotz, Bruce Geist, Jerry P. Harkey
  • Patent number: 6161284
    Abstract: Coolant pump service in a crowded engine compartment is provided by forming the side wall of the pump drive pulley with a centralized and radially lobed opening which can accommodate the radial arms of the drive hub that are normally connected by screws to the pulley side wall. The drive hub is fixed to the outboard end of the coolant pump drive shaft that extends through the housing of the pump that is removably secured by screws to the block of an internal combustion engine. The pump impeller is mounted on the inboard end of the drive shaft for fluid pumping operation in a coolant-receiving cavity in the coolant circuit of the engine. In the event of interference, which prevents or hampers the removal of the pulley axially from the drive shaft, the hub screws are removed and the pulley is turned into alignment with the lobes of the opening so that the pump housing screws are accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ian S. Glanfield, Jerry P. Harkey
  • Patent number: 6089833
    Abstract: Coolant pump service in a crowded engine compartment is provided by forming the side wall of the pump drive pulley with a centralized and radially lobed opening which can accommodate the radial arms of the drive hub that are normally connected by screws to the pulley side wall. The drive hub is fixed to the outboard end of the coolant pump drive shaft that extends through the housing of the pump that is removably secured by screws to the block of an internal combustion engine. The pump impeller is mounted on the inboard end of the drive shaft for fluid pumping operation in a coolant-receiving cavity in the coolant circuit of the engine. In the event of interference, which prevents or hampers the removal of the pulley axially from the drive shaft, the hub screws are removed and the pulley is turned into alignment with the lobes of the opening so that the pump housing screws are accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ian S. Glanfield, Jerry P. Harkey
  • Patent number: 5533472
    Abstract: An oil jet nozzle (24) has an extruded body (48) with an integrally formed tab (64). The tab is constructed to be snugly received in an oil groove (32) situated along the bearing seat (34) in the crankshaft journal of the engine block. The groove which receives oil from an oil gallery (42) passes some of the oil through to the nozzle which sprays the oil from two outlets (46) to two adjacent pistons (14) for cooling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Sands, Jerry P. Harkey, J. Gary Pace
  • Patent number: 5449147
    Abstract: This application concerns a leaf type spring for closing valves in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. Specifically, the leaf spring has an edge base which is attached to the cylinder head and a cantilevered unsupported portion which extends therefrom. The unsupported portion is bifurcated to form two arms, each arm engaging a valve in a manner biasing it towards its closed operative position and yieldably permitting the valve to be moved toward its open operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: J. Gary Pace, Jerry P. Harkey, James R. Klotz, James P. Savoyard