Patents by Inventor John C. Woody
John C. Woody 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: 9022011Abstract: A method of operating an engine is disclosed, which includes determining a peak power condition for the engine, measuring a temperature associated with the engine at said peak power condition, comparing the temperature measured with a previously determined temperature associated with a known peak power condition of the engine, determining an offset value based on the comparison made in step, controlling at least one of an air-fuel mixture delivered to the engine or ignition spark timing based on said offset value. Various engine fuel delivery systems, carburetors, fuel injection and control systems also are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Andrew E. Bejcek, Massimo Casoni, William E. Galka, Cyrus M. Healy, Alessandro Pascoli, Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, James E. Van Allen, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 8240292Abstract: A method, fuel system, and components for facilitating the delivery of liquid fuel from a fuel tank in fluid communication with a float bowl carburetor of an internal combustion engine, wherein evaporative emissions of the fuel from the fuel tank and float bowl carburetor are mitigated. During operation of the engine, fluid communication is permitted between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank. During inoperation of the engine, fluid communication is prevented between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, John C. Woody
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Publication number: 20100258099Abstract: A method of operating an engine is disclosed, which includes determining a peak power condition for the engine, measuring a temperature associated with the engine at said peak power condition, comparing the temperature measured with a previously determined temperature associated with a known peak power condition of the engine, determining an offset value based on the comparison made in step, controlling at least one of an air-fuel mixture delivered to the engine or ignition spark timing based on said offset value. Various engine fuel delivery systems, carburetors, fuel injection and control systems also are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2008Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT ,LLC.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Andrew E. Bejcek, Massimo Casoni, William E. Galka, Cyrus M. Healy, Alessandro Pascoli, Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, James E. Van Allen, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7775189Abstract: A fuel system for a carburetor that supports operation of an engine includes a body with a bore, a fuel source communicated with the bore and from which fuel is supplied to the bore for delivery to the engine, a drain unit and a control. The drain unit is communicated with the fuel source to selectively receive fuel from the fuel source and has a fuel chamber and an actuator operable to vary the volume of the fuel chamber. The control is communicated with the actuator to permit fuel flow from the fuel source to the fuel chamber when the engine is shut down and to cause fuel to flow from the fuel chamber to the fuel source prior to starting the engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Andrew E. Bejcek, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7591251Abstract: A method, fuel system, and components for facilitating the delivery of liquid fuel from a fuel tank in fluid communication with a float bowl carburetor of an internal combustion engine, wherein evaporative emissions of the fuel from the fuel tank and float bowl carburetor are mitigated. During operation of the engine, fluid communication is permitted between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank. During inoperation of the engine, fluid communication is prevented between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7568472Abstract: Methods and fuel systems to reduce evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel. A fuel tank contains fuel, a carburetor mixes air with the fuel from the fuel tank, and a plurality of fluid paths route fuel amongst and/or between the fuel tank and the carburetor. A valve actuation device stops flow of fuel in one or more of the plurality of fluid paths and the carburetor is adapted to be drained of fuel during engine shutdown to reduce or prevent evaporative emissions from the fuel system. The carburetor is preferably designed so as to minimize a volume of fuel contained therein.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventor: John C. Woody
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Publication number: 20080276911Abstract: Methods and fuel systems to reduce evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel. A fuel tank contains fuel, a carburetor mixes air with the fuel from the fuel tank, and a plurality of fluid paths route fuel amongst and/or between the fuel tank and the carburetor. A valve actuation device stops flow of fuel in one or more of the plurality of fluid paths and the carburetor is adapted to be drained of fuel during engine shutdown to reduce or prevent evaporative emissions from the fuel system. The carburetor is preferably designed so as to minimize a volume of fuel contained therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventor: John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7424884Abstract: Methods and fuel systems to reduce evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel. A fuel tank contains fuel, a carburetor mixes air with the fuel from the fuel tank, and a plurality of fluid paths route fuel amongst and/or between the fuel tank and the carburetor. A valve actuation device stops flow of fuel in one or more of the plurality of fluid paths and the carburetor is adapted to be drained of fuel during engine shutdown to reduce or prevent evaporative emissions from the fuel system. The carburetor is preferably designed so as to minimize a volume of fuel contained therein.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventor: John C. Woody
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Publication number: 20080178850Abstract: A fuel system for a carburetor that supports operation of an engine includes a body with a bore, a fuel source communicated with the bore and from which fuel is supplied to the bore for delivery to the engine, a drain unit and a control. The drain unit is communicated with the fuel source to selectively receive fuel from the fuel source and has a fuel chamber and an actuator operable to vary the volume of the fuel chamber. The control is communicated with the actuator to permit fuel flow from the fuel source to the fuel chamber when the engine is shut down and to cause fuel to flow from the fuel chamber to the fuel source prior to starting the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Andrew E. Bejcek, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7263981Abstract: Methods and fuel systems to reduce evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel. A fuel tank contains fuel, a carburetor mixes air with the fuel from the fuel tank, and a plurality of fluid paths route fuel amongst and/or between the fuel tank and the carburetor. A valve actuation device stops flow of fuel in one or more of the plurality of fluid paths and the carburetor is adapted to be drained of fuel during engine shutdown to reduce or prevent evaporative emissions from the fuel system. The carburetor is preferably designed so as to minimize a volume of fuel contained therein.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventor: John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7216635Abstract: A method, fuel system, and components for facilitating the delivery of liquid fuel from a fuel tank in fluid communication with a float bowl carburetor of an internal combustion engine, wherein evaporative emissions of the fuel from the fuel tank and float bowl carburetor are mitigated. During operation of the engine, fluid communication is permitted between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank. During inoperation of the engine, fluid communication is prevented between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 7185639Abstract: A method, fuel system, and a valve for facilitating the delivery of liquid fuel and fuel vapors from a fuel tank in fluid communication with a carburetor of an internal combustion engine. During operation of the internal combustion engine, the fuel tank is permitted to fluidically communicate the liquid fuel to the carburetor, and to vent the fuel vapors to one or more of a carbon canister, the atmosphere, and the carburetor. In contrast, when the internal combustion engine is not operating, the fuel tank is prevented from fluidically communicating the liquid fuel to the carburetor, and from venting the fuel vapors to one or more of the carbon canister, the atmosphere, and the carburetor, thereby preventing escape of evaporative emissions of the fuel from the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Ronald H. Roche, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 6640770Abstract: A fuel evaporative emission control apparatus in a carburetor which prevents diurnal evaporation to the atmosphere of fuel from a remote fuel tank through a fuel bowl or fuel chamber of a float-type carburetor. One or more shut-off valves in the carburetor are yieldably biased to a shut-off position. Only upon engine operation or user intervention will the fuel shut-off valve move to an open or on position. In this way, reliance upon the engine user is not required to reduce evaporative emissions.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: John C. Woody
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Patent number: 6622992Abstract: A carburetor having a first valve to control the application of pressure pulses to a fuel metering assembly of the carburetor through a first flow path and a second valve which controls at least a second flow path to provide an enriched fuel and air mixture to the engine to facilitate starting the engine and warming it up. The pressure pulses are preferably applied to a fuel metering diaphragm to actuate the diaphragm and cause a richer than normal fuel and air mixture to be delivered to the engine. Desirably, a maximum enrichment of the fuel and air mixture is obtained when at least one valve is open to facilitate starting the engine, and a lesser enrichment of the mixture may be obtained by closing a valve to facilitate warming the engine up after it is initially started.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: John C. Woody
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Patent number: 6615792Abstract: A fuel shut-off system for a carburetor substantially reduces or prevents the delivery of fuel to an engine when the engine is turned off and as it coasts to a stop. The fuel shut-off system preferably reduces or eliminates the pressure differential across a nozzle through which fuel is delivered from a fuel chamber through a fuel-and-air mixing passage of the carburetor and into the engine. In this manner, the flow of fuel through the nozzle is reduced and preferably eliminated immediately upon engine turn-off to prevent the after-fire and associated problems within a residually hot exhaust system. The system incorporates an actuator, preferably a solenoid valve, having a first position which obstructs a vacuum bypass passage communicating between the fuel chamber and the fuel-and-air mixing passage, and a second position which enables communication between the vacuum bypass passage and a fuel chamber passage which otherwise communicates with a near atmospheric pressure source.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Walbro Engine Management LLCInventors: Timothy K. Grifka, Terry O. Hendrick, Kevin L. Israelson, Eric L. King, Albert L. Sayers, John C. Woody
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Patent number: 6561495Abstract: A carburetor with a manual priming pump having an integrated fuel drain which provides both the engine manufacturer and end user with an easy way to drain fuel from a fuel chamber of the carburetor. The priming pump has a pump chamber defined by a resilient priming bulb. The pump chamber generally communicates between the fuel chamber and a fuel-and-air mixing passage of the carburetor body and is preferably positioned above the fuel chamber. The dual function of the manual priming pump, prime or drain, is switched by a valve with a rotatable selector member received between a seat and the resilient priming bulb of the pump. The selector member moves between a drain position and a priming position thus enabling draining of the fuel chamber or priming of the carburetor via successive manual depressions of the priming bulb.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: John C. Woody
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Publication number: 20030066505Abstract: A fuel evaporative emission control apparatus in a carburetor which prevents diurnal evaporation to the atmosphere of fuel from a remote fuel tank through a fuel bowl or fuel chamber of a float-type carburetor. One or more shut-off valves in the carburetor are yieldably biased to a shut-off position. Only upon engine operation or user intervention will the fuel shut-off valve move to an open or on position. In this way, reliance upon the engine user is not required to reduce evaporative emissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventor: John C. Woody
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Publication number: 20030062633Abstract: A carburetor with a manual priming pump having an integrated fuel drain which provides both the engine manufacturer and end user with an easy way to drain fuel from a fuel chamber of the carburetor. The priming pump has a pump chamber defined by a resilient priming bulb. The pump chamber generally communicates between the fuel chamber and a fuel-and-air mixing passage of the carburetor body and is preferably positioned above the fuel chamber. The dual function of the manual priming pump, prime or drain, is switched by a valve with a rotatable selector member received between a seat and the resilient priming bulb of the pump. The selector member moves between a drain position and a priming position thus enabling draining of the fuel chamber or priming of the carburetor via successive manual depressions of the priming bulb.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2001Publication date: April 3, 2003Inventor: John C. Woody
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Patent number: 6523809Abstract: A carburetor having a first valve to control the application of pressure pulses to a fuel metering assembly of the carburetor through a first flow path and a second valve which controls application of pressure pulses to the fuel metering assembly through at least a second flow path to provide an enriched fuel and air mixture to the engine to facilitate starting the engine and warming it up. The pressure pulses are preferably applied to a fuel metering diaphragm to actuate the diaphragm and cause a richer than normal fuel and air mixture to be delivered to the engine. Desirably, a maximum enrichment of the fuel and air mixture is obtained when both valves are open to facilitate starting the engine, and a lesser enrichment of the mixture may be obtained when only one valve is open to facilitate warming the engine up after it is initially started.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: John C. Woody
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Publication number: 20020135081Abstract: A carburetor having a first valve to control the application of pressure pulses to a fuel metering assembly of the carburetor through a first flow path and a second valve which controls application of pressure pulses to the fuel metering assembly through at least a second flow path to provide an enriched fuel and air mixture to the engine to facilitate starting the engine and warming it up. The pressure pulses are preferably applied to a fuel metering diaphragm to actuate the diaphragm and cause a richer than normal fuel and air mixture to be delivered to the engine. Desirably, a maximum enrichment of the fuel and air mixture is obtained when both valves are open to facilitate starting the engine, and a lesser enrichment of the mixture may be obtained when only one valve is open to facilitate warming the engine up after it is initially started.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventor: John C. Woody