Patents by Inventor Alan G Falkowski

Alan G Falkowski 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: 11555439
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a cast cylinder head and a turbocharger housing integrally cast with the cylinder head and having an integrally cast wastegate housing. The turbocharger housing is configured to receive a turbocharger cartridge rotatably supporting a shaft coupled between a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel. The integrally cast wastegate housing defines a wastegate chamber configured to receive a wastegate valve, a flow of exhaust gas from the turbine wheel, and a flow of wastegate exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael P Schmidt, Nikhil Punneri Madathil, Alan G Falkowski, Michael D Buss, Constantin Hagiu, Douglas A Trudeau
  • Publication number: 20200347773
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a cast cylinder head, a turbocharger housing integrally cast with the cylinder head, and a water jacket cast into the integrally cast turbocharger housing and configured to receive a flow of coolant for cooling the integrally cast turbocharger housing. The assembly can also include a wastegate housing integrally cast with the cylinder head and the turbocharger housing, and a water jacket cast into the integrally cast wastegate housing. The water jacket is configured to receive a flow of coolant for cooling the integrally cast turbocharger housing and the integrally cast wastegate housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Michael P Schmidt, Nikhil P Madathil, Alan G Falkowski, Michael D Buss, Christantin Hagiu, Douglas A Trudeau
  • Publication number: 20200347796
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a cast cylinder head and a turbocharger housing integrally cast with the cylinder head and having an integrally cast wastegate housing. The turbocharger housing is configured to receive a turbocharger cartridge rotatably supporting a shaft coupled between a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel. The integrally cast wastegate housing defines a wastegate chamber configured to receive a wastegate valve, a flow of exhaust gas from the turbine wheel, and a flow of wastegate exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Michael P. Schmidt, Nikhil P. Madathil, Alan G. Falkowski, Michael D. Buss, Christantin Hagiu, Douglas A. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 10364769
    Abstract: Systems and methods utilize a controller configured to perform a diagnostic routine for a combustion seal provided between a gasoline direct injection (GDI) fuel injector and a combustion chamber of a cylinder of a GDI engine. The diagnostic routine comprises determining one of (i) a period for the injector coil current to reach a peak current and (ii) a resistance of the injector coil while the injector coil current is saturated, determining whether the determined period or the determined injector coil resistance is greater than a respective threshold indicative of a predetermined temperature of the injector coil, and when the determined period or the determined injector coil resistance is greater than its respective threshold, detecting a combustion seal leak fault. Based on the combustion seal leak fault, the controller may modify operation of the engine to prevent potential heat damage to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Louai A Faied, Alan G Falkowski
  • Publication number: 20190136782
    Abstract: Systems and methods utilize a controller configured to perform a diagnostic routine for a combustion seal provided between a gasoline direct injection (GDI) fuel injector and a combustion chamber of a cylinder of a GDI engine. The diagnostic routine comprises determining one of (i) a period for the injector coil current to reach a peak current and (ii) a resistance of the injector coil while the injector coil current is saturated, determining whether the determined period or the determined injector coil resistance is greater than a respective threshold indicative of a predetermined temperature of the injector coil, and when the determined period or the determined injector coil resistance is greater than its respective threshold, detecting a combustion seal leak fault. Based on the combustion seal leak fault, the controller may modify operation of the engine to prevent potential heat damage to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Louai A. Faied, Alan G. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 10094337
    Abstract: A dual path exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an engine includes a common EGR intake path and first and second low pressure EGR paths including respective first and second EGR valves. The common EGR intake path is connected to the exhaust system downstream of a catalyst and includes an EGR cooler. The first EGR path is coupled directly to the EGR cooler and an inlet of a turbocompressor. The second EGR path is coupled directly to the EGR cooler and the intake system, thereby bypassing the turbocharger and an engine throttle valve. The engine includes an absence of any high pressure EGR path and the EGR valves are controlled such that the first EGR valve is closed and the second EGR valve is open at low engine speed and load operating conditions thereby providing EGR directly to the intake system that bypasses the turbocharger and throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Massard, Alan G Falkowski, Thomas G Lawrence, Massimo Fulfaro
  • Publication number: 20160265485
    Abstract: A dual path exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an engine includes a common EGR intake path and first and second low pressure EGR paths including respective first and second EGR valves. The common EGR intake path is connected to the exhaust system downstream of a catalyst and includes an EGR cooler. The first EGR path is coupled directly to the EGR cooler and an inlet of a turbocompressor. The second EGR path is coupled directly to the EGR cooler and the intake system, thereby bypassing the turbocharger and an engine throttle valve. The engine includes an absence of any high pressure EGR path and the EGR valves are controlled such that the first EGR valve is closed and the second EGR valve is open at low engine speed and load operating conditions thereby providing EGR directly to the intake system that bypasses the turbocharger and throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Nicolas Massard, Alan G. Falkowski, Thomas G. Lawrence, Massimo Fulfaro
  • Patent number: 8833321
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a cylinder head cover module attached to the cylinder head. The cylinder head cover module includes passageways and a plurality of receiving features for valve train components. A housing may be integrally formed with the cylinder head cover module. The cylinder head cover module may include components of a non-integrated valve control system and may be used in either an inline or a V-shaped engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Sands, Alan G. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 8813710
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a fluid cavity that contains a fluid. The cylinder head assembly also includes a first member with a first internal surface defining a first part of the fluid cavity. Also, the assembly includes a second member with a second internal surface defining a second part of the fluid cavity. The second member is coupled to the first member. The first and second internal surfaces cooperate to define the fluid cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Thomas, Alan G. Falkowski, Richard H. Sands
  • Publication number: 20130025560
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a fluid cavity that contains a fluid. The cylinder head assembly also includes a first member with a first internal surface defining a first part of the fluid cavity. Also, the assembly includes a second member with a second internal surface defining a second part of the fluid cavity. The second member is coupled to the first member. The first and second internal surfaces cooperate to define the fluid cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Thomas, Alan G. Falkowski, Richard H. Sands
  • Publication number: 20120167845
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a cylinder head cover module attached to the cylinder head. The cylinder head cover module includes passageways and a plurality of receiving features for valve train components. A housing may be integrally formed with the cylinder head cover module. The cylinder head cover module may include components of a non-integrated valve control system and may be used in either an inline or a V-shaped engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Richard H. Sands, Alan G. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 7584732
    Abstract: The present invention is a shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement for an internal combustion engine which provides simplified assembly and disassembly by allowing individual rocker arms to be added or removed separately and without removing the rocker shaft. The present invention utilizes a rocker shaft and a rocker arm rotatably coupled to the rocker shaft. The rocker shaft includes a flat portion arranged to receive the rocker arm. The rocker arm includes a body portion and a curved arm portion arranged to match a curvature of the rocker shaft, and arranged to engage more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Alan G. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 7530338
    Abstract: A variable lift deactivateable valvetrain system for an engine is provided. The system includes a camshaft, a rocker shaft, a valve and at least one rocker arm rotateably connected to the rocker shaft and arranged to engage the camshaft. A connecting rocker arm is rotateably connected to the rocker shaft and is in constant engagement with the valve. The connecting rocker arm is arranged to operate in selective engagement with the at least one rocker arm to provide a variable lift deactivateable valvetrain configuration. The system further includes a low lift rocker arm having a low lift pin assembly and a high lift rocker arm having a high lift pin assembly. The low and high lift pin assemblies are arranged to selectively engage the connecting rocker arm responsive to oil pressure selectively directed to the low and high lift pin assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Alan G Falkowski, Richard H Sands, Christopher P Thomas, David W Fiddes, Anteo Opipari
  • Patent number: 7415954
    Abstract: A rocker shaft arrangement for a valvetrain system of an engine is provided. The rocker shaft arrangement includes a split rocker shaft having two fluidly separate internal regions. Each of the fluidly separate internal regions is arranged to selectively carry an independent supply of pressurized oil for distribution to valvetrain components. The two fluidly separate regions of the split rocker shaft are each further arranged to supply pressurized oil independent of each other to one of a high lift rocker arm and a low lift rocker arm of a rocker arm assembly for an engine valvetrain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Alan G Falkowski, Richard H Sands, Christopher P Thomas, David W Fiddes
  • Publication number: 20070169735
    Abstract: The present invention is a shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement for an internal combustion engine which provides simplified assembly and disassembly by allowing individual rocker arms to be added or removed separately and without removing the rocker shaft. The present invention utilizes a rocker shaft and a rocker arm rotatably coupled to the rocker shaft. The rocker shaft includes a flat portion arranged to receive the rocker arm. The rocker arm includes a body portion and a curved arm portion arranged to match a curvature of the rocker shaft, and arranged to engage more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Alan G. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 7107828
    Abstract: A method and code for controlling the operation of a deactivatable valve lifter of an internal combustion engine includes determining an oil viscosity measure based upon an engine oil pressure achieved when the engine is operating at a warm engine idle operating condition; determining a minimum oil temperature for actuator operation based on a comparison of the oil viscosity measure with a stored value representing the oil's nominal viscosity; and enabling actuator operation when an instantaneous oil temperature is not less than the minimum oil temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alan G. Falkowski, Dahai Wang, Michael A Bonne
  • Patent number: 7040265
    Abstract: A cylinder deactivation arrangement for an engine is provided. The arrangement includes an engine with main oiling circuit passages and lifter oil gallery control circuit passages formed internal to a cylinder block of the engine. The lifter oil gallery control circuit is arranged so as to provide an oil flow path internal to the cylinder block from the main oiling circuit to the deactivating lifter. A lifter is positioned in the cylinder block and arranged in fluid communication with the lifter oil gallery control circuit. A control valve is positioned in the cylinder block and arranged in fluid communication with the main oiling circuit and the lifter oil gallery control circuit. The control valve is arranged to allow selective fluid communication of oil from the main oiling circuit to the lifter oil gallery control circuit to selectively control actuation of the lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alan G. Falkowski, Mark R. McElwee, Joel A. Baker, Glen D. Hendershott, Constantin Hagiu, Mark Koeroghlian
  • Patent number: 7021273
    Abstract: A process for enabling cylinder deactivation in a multiple displacement engine involving oil aeration includes detecting engine speed. Once the engine speed has been determined, a delay period is established prior to enabling cylinder deactivation. The delay period is a function of whether engine speed exceeds a preselected threshold and an amount by which the threshold is exceeded. When the delay period expires, a request is generated for cylinder deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J Prucka, Michael A Bonne, Alan G Falkowski, Mark J Duty, Mark R. McElwee
  • Publication number: 20040244744
    Abstract: A cylinder deactivation arrangement for an engine is provided. The arrangement includes an engine with main oiling circuit passages and lifter oil gallery control circuit passages formed internal to a cylinder block of the engine. The lifter oil gallery control circuit is arranged so as to provide an oil flow path internal to the cylinder block from the main oiling circuit to the deactivating lifter. A lifter is positioned in the cylinder block and arranged in fluid communication with the lifter oil gallery control circuit. A control valve is positioned in the cylinder block and arranged in fluid communication with the main oiling circuit and the lifter oil gallery control circuit. The control valve is arranged to allow selective fluid communication of oil from the main oiling circuit to the lifter oil gallery control circuit to selectively control actuation of the lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Alan G. Falkowski, Mark R. McElwee, Joel A. Baker, Glen D. Hendershott, Constantin Hagiu, Mark Koeroghlian
  • Publication number: 20040244751
    Abstract: A valve lifter for an internal combustion engine comprises an outer body, an inner body and at least one pin. The inner body is movable with respect to the outer body, and the at least one pin is movable in response to hydraulic pressure into the groove to lock the outer body against movement relative to the inner body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Alan G. Falkowski, Mark R. McElwee, Joel A. Baker, Glen D. Hendershott, Constantin Hagiu, Mark Koeroghlian