Patents by Inventor Andy Appleton

Andy Appleton 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: 20070107425
    Abstract: A charge air cooler drain system is provided for an engine system having a turbo-compressor and a charge air cooler for cooling air compressed by the turbo-compressor. The drain system includes a reservoir for storing condensation and having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet. A check valve is connected between the reservoir inlet and a condensation outlet of the charge air cooler. The check valve is biased to a closed position by a first spring. The drain system also includes a pilot operated valve connected between the reservoir outlet and atmosphere. The pilot operated valve is biased to an open position by a second spring, and has a pilot inlet exposed to pressure in the charge air cooler. The pilot operated valve closes when pressure in the charge air cooler exceeds a threshold pressure. The first and second springs are chosen so that the check valve is closed when the pilot operated valve is open and the pilot operated valve is closed when check valve is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventor: Andy Appleton
  • Publication number: 20060070588
    Abstract: A variable fan drive for a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine is provided. A drive side assembly utilizes a hydraulic actuator to actuate a variable sheave assembly. The variable sheave assembly drives a sheave assembly of a driven side assembly by way of a v-belt. The hydraulic actuator has a piston coupled to the variable sheave assembly. The piston is hydraulically translated by pressurized engine oil from the internal combustion engine. An electronically controlled solenoid valve controlled by an engine or vehicle controller selectively controls the flow of engine oil for piston actuation. Thus the speed of the fan can be controlled based on various engine or vehicle operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Dennis Bowman, Eric Keen, Andy Appleton
  • Publication number: 20050217907
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling package has a fan shroud mounted to a heat exchanger assembly. A diverter plate is mounted adjacent to the shroud and spaced therefrom with a fan interposed therebetween. A diverting surface of the shroud and the diverter plate are angled from the axis of the fan when the shroud and plate are assembled to the vehicle. A vehicle hood has upper and side surfaces each having air discharge apertures corresponding with the space between the diverting surface and the diverter plate when the hood is closed. The diverting surface and the diverter plate both extend fully to the hood assembly when the hood is closed. The angles of the diverting surface and the diverter plate closely match a natural discharge angle of the fan, so that air is discharged from the fan at a high velocity from under the hood through the air discharge apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Ricky Madson, Andy Appleton, Clinton Lafferty, Ronnie Burk, Dennis Bowman, Thomas Tock, Paul Bruss, Charles Warren, Scott Farlow, Matthew Oliver