Patents by Inventor Brian L. Merten

Brian L. Merten 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: 9200600
    Abstract: A fuel management system for a marine propulsion device provides a series of intermediate venting commands to a canister purge valve which controls the pressure decay within a fuel supply module in such a way that both the lift pump and high pressure pump within the module are provided with appropriate pressures to allow them to operate satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Taylor, Brian L. Merten, Matthew W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7832380
    Abstract: A marine engine fuel system provides a low pressure lift pump to draw fuel from a fuel tank and cause the fuel to flow into a reservoir and a high pressure fuel pump which draws fuel from the reservoir and provides it to a fuel rail. An inlet conduit of the high pressure fuel pump is provided with a primary and a secondary opening. The secondary opening can be an orifice formed through a wall of the inlet conduit. The secondary opening is positioned, relative to the primary opening, at a location which assists in controlling the fuel level within the reservoir and the quantity of gaseous fuel contained within an ullage above the liquid pool of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Abou Zeid, Timothy S. Reid, Troy J. Kollmann, Michael A. Torgerud, Brian L. Merten
  • Patent number: 7178512
    Abstract: A fuel container for a marine propulsion system is provided with a pump and a hose connected to an outlet of the pump and disposed within the cavity of the fuel container. The hose is provided with an opening, formed through its wall, through which a fluid can flow under certain circumstances. The opening is disposed in an ullage within the container and allows gaseous elements to be purged from the container when flow is induced from the container back to a fuel reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Brian L. Merten
  • Patent number: 7101239
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided with a fuel filter that is connectable between a fuel tank and a fuel pump, wherein the fuel filter is disposed below an adapter plate of the marine propulsion device. The adapter plate is located between the fuel filter and the engine so that the fuel filter is not located under the cowl of the marine propulsion device where an engine is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Torgerud, Timothy P. Wickman, Troy J. Kollmann, Brian L. Merten
  • Patent number: 6553974
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a marine engine provides an additional fuel chamber, associated with a fuel vapor separator, that receives fuel vapor from a vent of the fuel vapor separator. In order to prevent the flow of liquid fuel into and out of the additional fuel chamber, a valve is provided which is able to block the vent of the additional chamber. In addition, a sensor is provided to provide a signal that represents a condition in which liquid fuel within the additional fuel chamber exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Wickman, David C. Entringer, Brian L. Merten, DuWayne C. Schelter, John M. Rath