Patents by Inventor Kent H. Clark
Kent H. Clark 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: 11920538Abstract: An anti-polish ring for an internal combustion engine is provided. The anti-polish ring includes an axially extending ring portion that is configured to scrape a top portion of a piston in a cylinder liner. The anti-polish ring is configured to accommodate passage of an intake or exhaust valve thereby. The anti-polish ring may include an alignment feature so that the anti-polish ring is inserted in a predetermined orientation in the cylinder. The anti-polish ring may include a heat shield and/or a seating member.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Owen Summerfield, Craig Daniel Fox, Robert Harries, Jamie Kehoe, Kent H. Clark, John M Antonevich, Reid M. Irish, Scott A. Ragon, Stephen G. Townsend, Peter Thomas Quanz
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Publication number: 20230089302Abstract: An anti-polish ring for an internal combustion engine is provided. The anti-polish ring includes an axially extending ring portion that is configured to scrape a top portion of a piston in a cylinder liner. The anti-polish ring is configured to accommodate passage of an intake or exhaust valve thereby. The anti-polish ring may include an alignment feature so that the anti-polish ring is inserted in a predetermined orientation in the cylinder. The anti-polish ring may include a heat shield and/or a seating member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Owen Summerfield, Craig Daniel Fox, Robert Harries, Jamie Kehoe, Kent H. Clark, John M Antonevich, Reid M. Irish, Scott A. Ragon, Stephen G. Townsend, Peter Thomas Quanz
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Patent number: 11192210Abstract: A retaining ring configured for in-field repair of a fuel injector sleeve upper seal leak, comprising: a circular side wall comprising a barrel-shaped outer surface and a substantially cylindrical inner surface; wherein the outer surface comprises a lower curved portion and a central portion having a curvature that is less pronounced than the lower curved portion; and wherein the lower curved portion is configured to guide the retaining ring into the fuel injector sleeve and the circular side wall has an outer diameter at the central portion that is larger than an inner diameter of the fuel injector sleeve at a location of the upper seal leak such that the retaining ring forces the fuel injector sleeve outwardly at the location of the upper seal leak as the retaining ring is moved into an installed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Lukasik, Kenneth G. Mark, Kent H. Clark
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Patent number: 10808607Abstract: An energy storage device is provided for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The energy storage device includes first and second end connectors connected to respective ones of a piston and crankshaft, and a flexible connection rod portion rotatably connected with the first and second end connectors. The flexible connection rod portion elastically buckles above a predetermined cylinder pressure threshold to store combustion energy and provide a more constant pressure combustion process.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: John M. Antonevich, Reid Irish, Stephen D. Cofer, Jr., Kent H. Clark, Garrett Blum, Michael Kosinski, Beth Wagner, Mark Gray
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Publication number: 20190255664Abstract: A retaining ring configured for in-field repair of a fuel injector sleeve upper seal leak, comprising: a circular side wall comprising a barrel-shaped outer surface and a substantially cylindrical inner surface; wherein the outer surface comprises a lower curved portion and a central portion having a curvature that is less pronounced than the lower curved portion; and wherein the lower curved portion is configured to guide the retaining ring into the fuel injector sleeve and the circular side wall has an outer diameter at the central portion that is larger than an inner diameter of the fuel injector sleeve at a location of the upper seal leak such that the retaining ring forces the fuel injector sleeve outwardly at the location of the upper seal leak as the retaining ring is moved into an installed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Lukasik, Kenneth G. Mark, Kent H. Clark
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Publication number: 20180100432Abstract: An energy storage device is provided for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The energy storage device includes first and second end connectors connected to respective ones of a piston and crankshaft, and a flexible connection rod portion rotatably connected with the first and second end connectors. The flexible connection rod portion elastically buckles above a predetermined cylinder pressure threshold to store combustion energy and provide a more constant pressure combustion process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: John M. Antonevich, Reid Irish, Stephen D. Cofer, JR., Kent H. Clark, Garrett Blum, Michael Kosinski, Beth Wagner, Mark Gray
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Patent number: 9382887Abstract: An engine component seal assembly and method of sealing a coolant passage from an engine component are provided. The seal assembly includes a sealing sleeve sized and dimensioned to slip fit into an engine component mounting bore and a retaining ring sized and dimensioned to be axially inserted into the sleeve. The ring contacts the sleeve and applies a radial force sufficient to create an interference fit and to move or yield an interface portion of the sleeve radially outward into sealing abutment against a wall forming the mounting bore to create a secure and reliable annular fluid seal.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property. Inc.Inventors: Kent H. Clark, Glen T. Haegele, Nathan E. Coulombe, Matthew R. Walker, John M. Nyvall, Jeffrey J. Hurd, Andrew J. Keenan, Dustin J. Hall, Brendan J. O'Grady
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Patent number: 9057341Abstract: According to one embodiment, an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and liner. The cylinder includes a mid-stop formed in a side wall of the cylinder. The mid-stop includes a first contact surface and an undercut between the first contact surface and the side wall. The liner is positioned within the cylinder and includes a seat having a second contact surface. The second contact surface is supported on the first contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: CUMMINS IP, INC.Inventors: Alan Strandburg, III, Kent H. Clark
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Publication number: 20140216388Abstract: According to one embodiment, an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and liner. The cylinder includes a mid-stop formed in a side wall of the cylinder. The mid-stop includes a first contact surface and an undercut between the first contact surface and the side wall. The liner is positioned within the cylinder and includes a seat having a second contact surface. The second contact surface is supported on the first contact surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: CUMMINS IP, INC.Inventors: Alan Strandburg, III, Kent H. Clark
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Publication number: 20130133603Abstract: An engine component seal assembly and method of sealing a coolant passage from an engine component are provided. The seal assembly includes a sealing sleeve sized and dimensioned to slip fit into an engine component mounting bore and a retaining ring sized and dimensioned to be axially inserted into the sleeve. The ring contacts the sleeve and applies a radial force sufficient to create an interference fit and to move or yield an interface portion of the sleeve radially outward into sealing abutment against a wall forming the mounting bore to create a secure and reliable annular fluid seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.Inventors: Kent H. CLARK, Glen T. HAEGELE, Nathan E. COULOMBE, Matthew R. WALKER, John M. NYVALL, Jeffrey J. HURD, Andrew J. KEENAN, Dustin J. HALL, Brendan J. O'GRADY
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Patent number: 8251590Abstract: A bearing component and bearing assembly are disclosed. The bearing component includes structure for providing a hard rotation stop, in one embodiment, the anti-rotation structure includes a slot formed in at least one bearing component having a surface for supporting a bearing shell. The slot has a longitudinal axis at an oblique angle to a plane perpendicular to the surface for supporting the bearing shell. In other embodiments, a groove extends radially outward from a surface of at least one component for supporting a bearing shell to a side of the component. The groove has a depth that increases as a function of distance in a direction parallel with a center axis of the component.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Dale G. Gibby, Joseph Rennekamp, Kent H. Clark
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Patent number: 8230838Abstract: An injector seal assembly and method of sealing a coolant passage from an injector are provided. The seal assembly includes a sealing sleeve sized and dimensioned to slip fit into an injector mounting bore and a retaining ring sized and dimensioned to be axially inserted into the sleeve. The ring contacts the sleeve and applies a radial force sufficient to create an interference fit and to move or yield an interface portion of the sleeve radially outward into sealing abutment against a wall forming the injector mounting bore to create a secure and reliable annular fluid seal.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Kent H. Clark, Glen T. Haegele, Nathan Coulombe, Matthew R. Walker, John M. Nyvall, Jeffrey J. Hurd, Andrew J. Keenan
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Patent number: 8122859Abstract: A piston cooling nozzle including a nylon body having a hub and a pair of integral legs extending from the hub and a tube for delivering coolant to a piston. The pair of legs are formed relative to the hub and the tube to ensure that when the body is mounted to an engine block, the legs engage a cylinder liner to thereby position the tube between a skirt of the piston and a connecting rod coupled to the piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventors: Neal R. Phelps, Stephen D. Cofer, Jr., Kent H. Clark, Eric D. Stahl, Kenneth Howard, John Cook
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Publication number: 20110067653Abstract: An injector seal assembly and method of sealing a coolant passage from an injector are provided. The seal assembly includes a sealing sleeve sized and dimensioned to slip fit into an injector mounting bore and a retaining ring sized and dimensioned to be axially inserted into the sleeve. The ring contacts the sleeve and applies a radial force sufficient to create an interference fit and to move or yield an interface portion of the sleeve radially outward into sealing abutment against a wall forming the injector mounting bore to create a secure and reliable annular fluid seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Kent H. CLARK, Glen T. HAEGELE, Nathan COULOMBE, Matthew R. WALKER, John M. NYVALL, Jeffrey J. HURD, Andrew J. KEENAN
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Publication number: 20100300244Abstract: A bearing component and bearing assembly are disclosed. The bearing component includes structure for providing a hard rotation stop, in one embodiment, the anti-rotation structure includes a slot formed in at least one bearing component having a surface for supporting a bearing shell. The slot has a longitudinal axis at an oblique angle to a plane perpendicular to the surface for supporting the bearing shell, in other embodiments, a groove extends radially outward from a surface of at least one component for supporting a bearing shell to a side of the component. The groove has a depth that increases as a function of distance in a direction parallel with a center axis of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Dale G. GIBBY, Joseph RENNEKAMP, Kent H. CLARK
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Publication number: 20100095910Abstract: A piston cooling nozzle including a nylon body having a hub and a pair of integral legs extending from the hub and a tube for delivering coolant to a piston. The pair of legs are formed relative to the hub and the tube to ensure that when the body is mounted to an engine block, the legs engage a cylinder liner to thereby position the tube between a skirt of the piston and a connecting rod coupled to the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Neal R. Phelps, Stephen D. Cofer, JR., Kent H. Clark, Eric D. Stahl, Kenneth Howard, John Cook
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Patent number: 5531196Abstract: A vehicle oil pan assembly which is acoustically insulated for noise reduction includes an oil pan having a normal configuration with a base and enclosing sidewalls and further including a peripheral flange which is disposed adjacent an upper edge of the sidewall and which is used to attach the oil pan to the vehicle engine. In order to insulate the oil pan so as to reduce any noise which may otherwise be transmitted by the oil pan, a noise reducing/sound deadening enclosure is attached to the oil pan. In order to facilitate the attachment of the enclosure to the oil pan, a plurality of support brackets are welded to the oil pan and each bracket includes a plurality of support tabs. The noise-reducing enclosure is arranged with an outer skin and a foam isolation layer and the outer skin is molded so as to include a plurality of latching portions. The final component in the attachment system is a plurality of spring clips. There is one tab for each latching portion and one clip for each tab.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1995Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventor: Kent H. Clark
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Patent number: 5452693Abstract: A vehicle oil pan assembly which is acoustically insulated for noise reduction includes an oil pan having a normal configuration with a base and enclosing sidewalls and further including a peripheral flange which is disposed adjacent an upper edge of the sidewall and which is used to attach the oil pan to the vehicle engine. In order to insulate the oil pan so as to reduce any noise which may otherwise be transmitted by the oil pan, a noise reducing/sound deadening enclosure is attached to the oil pan. In order to facilitate the attachment of the enclosure to the oil pan, a plurality of support brackets are welded to the oil pan and each bracket includes a plurality of support tabs. The noise-reducing enclosure is arranged with an outer skin and a foam isolation layer and the outer skin is molded so as to include a plurality of latching portions. The final component in the attachment system is a plurality of spring clips. There is one tab for each latching portion and one clip for each tab.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1994Date of Patent: September 26, 1995Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventor: Kent H. Clark