Patents by Inventor Ryan M. Heinbuch

Ryan M. Heinbuch 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: 11280263
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio (VCR) phaser configured to control a compression ratio of an engine having a crankshaft and a control shaft. The variable compress ratio phaser comprises: i) a control shaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the control shaft of the engine and to receive torque from the control shaft; ii) a crankshaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the crankshaft of the engine and to deliver torque to the crankshaft; and iii) a torque conversion mechanism configured to receive torque from the control shaft and to convert the torque to a linear force that changes the compression ratio of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Heinbuch, Justin E. Ketterer, Rodney E. Baker, Dumitru Puiu
  • Publication number: 20210340904
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio (VCR) phaser configured to control a compression ratio of an engine having a crankshaft and a control shaft. The variable compress ratio phaser comprises: i) a control shaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the control shaft of the engine and to receive torque from the control shaft; ii) a crankshaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the crankshaft of the engine and to deliver torque to the crankshaft; and iii) a torque conversion mechanism configured to receive torque from the control shaft and to convert the torque to a linear force that changes the compression ratio of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan M. HEINBUCH, Justin E. Ketterer, Rodney E. Baker, Dumitru Puiu
  • Publication number: 20210324944
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a crankshaft, a control shaft, a drive gear fixed to the crankshaft, a carrier, a first planetary gear set, an actuator, and a second planetary gear set. The first planetary gear set includes a first sun gear fixed to ground, a first ring gear engaged with the drive gear, and a first planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the first ring gear and the first sun gear. The second planetary gear set includes a second sun gear fixed to the actuator, a second ring gear coupled with the control shaft, and a second planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the second ring gear and the second sun gear. The actuator is operable to rotate the second sun gear and thereby adjust a ratio of a rotational speed of the crankshaft to a rotational speed of the control shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan M. HEINBUCH, Dumitru PUIU, Justin E. KETTERER, Venu G. GANTI, Rodney E. BAKER
  • Patent number: 11149825
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a crankshaft, a control shaft, a drive gear fixed to the crankshaft, a carrier, a first planetary gear set, an actuator, and a second planetary gear set. The first planetary gear set includes a first sun gear fixed to ground, a first ring gear engaged with the drive gear, and a first planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the first ring gear and the first sun gear. The second planetary gear set includes a second sun gear fixed to the actuator, a second ring gear coupled with the control shaft, and a second planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the second ring gear and the second sun gear. The actuator is operable to rotate the second sun gear and thereby adjust a ratio of a rotational speed of the crankshaft to a rotational speed of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Heinbuch, Dumitru Puiu, Justin E. Ketterer, Venu G. Ganti, Rodney E. Baker
  • Patent number: 11092089
    Abstract: A method of selecting a compression ratio in an internal combustion engine having a mechanism configured to vary the compression ratio includes receiving, via an electronic controller, a requested output torque value. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a value of engine speed corresponding to the requested output torque value. The method additionally includes determining, via the controller, a compression ratio value corresponding to the requested output torque value and the determined value of the engine speed. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a position of the mechanism corresponding to the determined compression ratio value. Furthermore, the method includes commanding, via the controller, the determined position of the mechanism and thereby selecting the determined compression ratio value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justin E. Ketterer, Ryan M. Heinbuch, Nathan M. Picot, Craig E. Slepicka, Pulasti Bandara, Christopher E. Whitney
  • Patent number: 10787973
    Abstract: A internal combustion engine comprises an engine block defining a cylinder bore, and a piston slideably supported within the cylinder bore. The piston slides reciprocally within the cylinder bore throughout an engine cycle through a piston compression stroke having a compression stroke length and a piston expansion stroke having an expansion stroke length. A crankshaft is rotatably supported by the engine block and rotatable about a crank axis, and a drive gear is co-axially mounted on the crankshaft. A control shaft is rotatably supported by the engine block and rotatable about a control axis that is parallel to and distal from the crank axis. A driven gear is coaxially mounted on the control shaft. A link rod is rotatably connected to the crankshaft and rotatable relative to the crankshaft about an axis that is parallel to and distal from the crank axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Heinbuch, Rodney E. Baker, Justin E. Ketterer
  • Publication number: 20200248637
    Abstract: A internal combustion engine comprises an engine block defining a cylinder bore, and a piston slideably supported within the cylinder bore. The piston slides reciprocally within the cylinder bore throughout an engine cycle through a piston compression stroke having a compression stroke length and a piston expansion stroke having an expansion stroke length. A crankshaft is rotatably supported by the engine block and rotatable about a crank axis, and a drive gear is co-axially mounted on the crankshaft. A control shaft is rotatably supported by the engine block and rotatable about a control axis that is parallel to and distal from the crank axis. A driven gear is coaxially mounted on the control shaft. A link rod is rotatably connected to the crankshaft and rotatable relative to the crankshaft about an axis that is parallel to and distal from the crank axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan M. Heinbuch, Rodney E. Baker, Justin E. Ketterer