Patents by Inventor Joseph C. Cromas

Joseph C. Cromas 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: 4422420
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling fuel flow from a fuel source to the fuel rail of a fuel injected, internal combustion engine. Two fuel flow paths are connected in parallel between the source and the fuel rail, an on-off solenoid valve being provided in each of the fuel flow paths. The two solenoid valves have dissimilar fuel flow capacities. A microcomputer generates a pulse width modulated signal for application to a selected one of the two solenoid valves so as to control fuel flow through the associated fuel flow path. The microcomputer decides to which solenoid valve to apply the pulse width modulated signal and the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal in accordance with the value of a master variable. The master variable is adjusted in accordance with the difference between vehicle or engine speed and an associated limit, thereby providing vehicle or engine speed governing. The system is also operable in cruise control and variable engine speed governing modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Cromas, Charles M. McQuillan
  • Patent number: 4417694
    Abstract: An injector valve having a stable fuel flow while metering "single point" fuel volumes is disclosed. A metering portion of the injector valve comprises a needle valve and a valve housing including a centrally located valve housing bore that terminates in a truncated conical valve seat and cylindrical metering orifice. A transitional surface connects the valve seat to the metering orifice to gradually change the direction of fuel flow so separation and unstable flow will not occur. The needle valve is concentrically reciprocal within the valve housing bore and closes the metering orifice with a valve tip having a closure surface mating with the valve seat. The valve tip narrows from the closure surface into a pintle which extends through the metering orifice and ends in a deflection cap which shapes the spray of the valve into a hollow-cone pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: The Bendix Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Claxton, Joseph C. Cromas
  • Patent number: 4230273
    Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated fuel injection valve and its utilization in a dual plane, single point fuel injection system are disclosed. The single point injection system includes a throttle body having an air induction bore controlled by a throttle assembly for each plane of the internal combustion engine manifold. An integrally formed fuel injector jacket mounts an injector valve above the throttle blade and concentrically with each bore of the throttle body without a hard fuel connection to the valve. The injection valve includes a movable valve needle attached to the armature of an electromagnetic solenoid. The needle seats between an inlet orifice and a metering orifice of a valve housing which is inserted into the accumulation chamber defined by the inner wall of the injector jacket. A flexible or soft connection is maintained between the valve housing and injector jacket to seal the accumulator chamber and to provide for quickly mounting or removing the valve from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: The Bendix Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Claxton, Joseph C. Cromas
  • Patent number: 4203395
    Abstract: A closed loop idle speed controller for a fuel injection system operates to control an air valve which controls an air passage bypassing the main air flow. The air valve is positioned by an actuator whose output position is controlled by fuel pressure operating against a spring. The fuel pressure is controlled by a pair of solenoid-operated on-off valves, one of which responds to electrical signals representing engine speeds below a speed reference to direct fuel to the actuator and the other of which responds to signals representing speeds above the reference to permit fuel to be withdrawn from the actuator and returned to its source. Each of the solenoid on-off valves is supplied from a pulse width modulator. The engine-driven distributor provides pulses responsive to engine speed which are connected to a sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit provides d.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: The Bendix Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Cromas, Thomas P. Green