Patents by Inventor Steven James Hoffman

Steven James Hoffman 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: 20200141368
    Abstract: Vapors in the fuel tank of a vehicle are collected in a carbon canister. An ejector or aspirator is used to purge the carbon canister in a pressure-charged engine in which a positive pressure exists in the intake. A compact ejector includes a substantially planar flange and a venturi tube coupled to the flange with a central axis of the venturi tube substantially parallel to the flange. By manufacturing the ejector in two pieces, dimensions within the ejector: throat, converging section, and diverging section, is more accurate than prior art manufacturing techniques thereby providing better flow characteristics throughout the boost range. By forming one of the two pieces of the ejector integrally with the air intake component in which it is coupled, decreases part count and the number of manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven James Hoffman, John Emley, Douglas Scott Sparks, David S. Moyer, Christopher Alan Myers, Brandon William Bailey, Roger Joseph Khami
  • Patent number: 9993968
    Abstract: Vapors in the fuel tank of a vehicle are collected in a carbon canister. An ejector or aspirator is used to purge the carbon canister in a pressure-charged engine in which a positive pressure exists in the intake. A compact ejector includes a substantially planar flange and a venturi tube coupled to the flange with a central axis of the venturi tube substantially parallel to the flange. By manufacturing the ejector in two pieces, dimensions within the ejector: throat, converging section, and diverging section, is more accurate than prior art manufacturing techniques thereby providing better flow characteristics throughout the boost range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Moyer, Shawn McGrath, Roger Joseph Khami, Chris A. Myers, Robert Joseph Mohan, Steven James Hoffman, John Emley, Scott M. Rollins, Eric A. Macke, Matthew Werner
  • Publication number: 20180112634
    Abstract: Vapors in the fuel tank of a vehicle are collected in a carbon canister. An ejector or aspirator is used to purge the carbon canister in a pressure-charged engine in which a positive pressure exists in the intake. A compact ejector includes a substantially planar flange and a venturi tube coupled to the flange with a central axis of the venturi tube substantially parallel to the flange. By manufacturing the ejector in two pieces, dimensions within the ejector: throat, converging section, and diverging section, is more accurate than prior art manufacturing techniques thereby providing better flow characteristics throughout the boost range. By forming one of the two pieces of the ejector integrally with the air intake component in which it is coupled, decreases part count and the number of manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven James Hoffman, John Emley, Douglas Scott Sparks, David S. Moyer, Christopher Alan Myers, Brandon William Bailey, Roger Joseph Khami
  • Publication number: 20180036956
    Abstract: Vapors in the fuel tank of a vehicle are collected in a carbon canister. An ejector or aspirator is used to purge the carbon canister in a pressure-charged engine in which a positive pressure exists in the intake. A compact ejector includes a substantially planar flange and a venturi tube coupled to the flange with a central axis of the venturi tube substantially parallel to the flange. By manufacturing the ejector in two pieces, dimensions within the ejector: throat, converging section, and diverging section, is more accurate than prior art manufacturing techniques thereby providing better flow characteristics throughout the boost range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: David S. Moyer, Shawn McGrath, Roger Joseph Khami, Chris A. Myers, Robert Joseph Mohan, Steven James Hoffman, John Emley, Scott M. Rollins, Eric A. Macke, Matthew Werner
  • Patent number: 8245699
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Steven James Hoffman, John Hedges
  • Patent number: 7980228
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Steven James Hoffman, John Hedges
  • Publication number: 20100307463
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Steven James Hoffman, John Hedges
  • Publication number: 20100307462
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Steven James Hoffman, John Hedges