Patents by Inventor Ralph L. Clayson

Ralph L. Clayson 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).

  • Publication number: 20080230036
    Abstract: A fuel pump actuator comprising a body portion and a contact end fitted to the body portion for actuating a mechanical fuel pump in response to a camshaft lobe. A roller mounted to the body portion is configured to ride on the lobe. The contact end of the actuator engages a plunger of the fuel pump. The body portion of the actuator is preferably a body portion of a conventional hydraulic valve lifter and preferably includes a lash adjuster and is reciprocally disposed in a bore on the engine block. Lubrication of the reciprocating actuator is also similar to the lubrication provided to conventional valve lifters and lash adjusters. The contact end of the actuator is configured to reduce the mass of the actuator. Several styles of the contact end and ways of attaching the contact end to the body portion are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: William D. Bauman, Ralph L. Clayson, David Draeger, Timothy W. Kunz, Daniel F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7121244
    Abstract: An anti-rotation guide for preventing rotation of a roller follower valve lifter in an internal combustion engine. The guide has an outer surface for engaging an engine bore and an inner surface for slidably receiving the lifter. One end of the guide includes an anti-rotation feature for cooperating with a mating feature on the lifter, preferably flats although other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the invention. The anti-rotation feature may take any of a plurality of shapes, including but not limited to an arm and tang, a flap, and an orifice flat. The guide is installed from an opening in the engine bore proximate a camshaft disposed in the engine block. The cooperating features prevent axial rotation of a lifter within the sleeve but do not inhibit axial or reciprocal motion of the lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Roe, Ralph L. Clayson
  • Publication number: 20040194739
    Abstract: An anti-rotation guide for preventing rotation of a roller follower valve lifter in an internal combustion engine. The guide has an outer surface for engaging an engine bore and an inner surface for slidably receiving the lifter. One end of the guide includes an anti-rotation feature for cooperating with a mating feature on the lifter, preferably flats although other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the invention. The anti-rotation feature may take any of a plurality of shapes, including but not limited to an arm and tang, a flap, and an orifice flat. The guide is installed from an opening in the engine bore proximate a camshaft disposed in the engine block. The cooperating features prevent axial rotation of a lifter within the sleeve but do not inhibit axial or reciprocal motion of the lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Richard B. Roe, Ralph L. Clayson
  • Patent number: 5520144
    Abstract: A valve actuation assembly is disclosed for use on an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a cam follower having a follower body. The follower body has an upper head portion and is configured to receive a pair of spaced rollers therein. The rollers are mounted on shafts in the follower body and extend outwardly from the head portion to engage corresponding spaced cam surfaces of a rotatable camshaft for actuating the valve lifter and, consequently, an associated engine valve. The head portion of the follower body cooperates with the inner sidewalls of the rollers to define a space therebetween for straddling a radially outwardly extending spacer mounted for rotation on the camshaft between the spaced cam surfaces. The side surfaces of the outwardly extending spacer are operable with corresponding sidewalls of the rollers to prevent rotation of the cam follower relative to the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles M. Philo, Ralph L. Clayson, III