Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Gutmann

Thomas J. Gutmann 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: 6895996
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator including a valve head having a centerline offset from the centerline of a corresponding fuel orifice. The valve head may be offset with respect to the valve seat and orifice, the orifice may be offset within the seat with respect to the head and diaphragm assembly, or the axes of the head and seat may be non-coaxially biased. Because the vector of the valve closing force does not align with the centerline of the valve head and diaphragm assembly, a resulting torque on the valve head keeps the head in a stable, pivoted position at all flow rates. The valve head always makes contact with the valve seat at a predetermined point during regulator operation, eliminating pressure instabilities and noise experienced in prior art pressure regulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gutmann, Ahmet T. Becene, Charles W. Braun, Grover W. Preston
  • Patent number: 6802340
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator including a valve head having a centerline offset from the centerline of a corresponding fuel orifice. The valve head may be offset with respect to the valve seat and orifice, the orifice may be offset within the seat with respect to the head and diaphragm assembly, or the axes of the head and seat may be non-coaxially biased. Because the vector of the valve closing force does not align with the centerline of the valve head and diaphragm assembly, a resulting torque on the valve head keeps the head in a stable, pivoted position at all flow rates. The valve head always makes contact with the valve seat at a predetermined point during regulator operation, eliminating pressure instabilities and noise experienced in prior art pressure regulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gutmann, Ahmet T. Becene, Charles W. Braun, Grover W. Preston
  • Patent number: 4347823
    Abstract: A hollow, truncated cone-shaped distribution skirt is positioned beneath a fuel injector discharging fuel into a throttle bore of a throttle body injection apparatus whereby to divide induction air flow into two flow paths so as to improve the distribution of the air-fuel mixture following through the throttle bore upstream of the pivotable throttle valve therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Kessler, Thomas J. Gutmann, Charles E. Finn