Patents by Inventor Calvin V. Kern

Calvin V. Kern 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: 5490721
    Abstract: There is presented an anti-lock brake system including a motor and pump assembly for supplying brake fluid to the brake system, the assembly comprising an electric motor, and gear pumps driven by the electric motor and operative to provide the brake fluid under pressure to the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Tennessee, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Bartell, Calvin V. Kern
  • Patent number: 4457725
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for trimming a marine outboard drive, and wherein a single actuator for moving the propulsion unit is used for both trim and tilt. The actuator is connected to a hydraulic pump. A pump pressure amplifier is connected to the actuator. The amplifier has first and second ports connecting the actuator and to the hydraulic pump. The amplifier includes a switch for bypassing the amplifier to pass the hydraulic fluid from the pump to the actuator without amplification. The switch is operable for bypassing the amplifier for rapidly tilting the propulsion unit and operable for connecting the amplifier within the hydraulic circuit to develop increased pressure for trimming the propulsion unit. The hydraulic amplifier includes a piston movable within a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Inventors: Calvin V. Kern, Lawrence P. Zepp
  • Patent number: 4369666
    Abstract: A pinion gear assembly for a starter motor which may be assembled utilizing a simple and convenient assembly process. The pinion gear assembly includes a pinion gear, a cup, a rubber washer, and a spline follower. The closed end of the cup has an opening which passes the body and teeth of the pinion gear, but does not pass intertooth fillets at one end of the pinion gear, thus keeping the pinion gear retained in the cup. The rubber washer is retained between the pinion gear and the spline follower, and acts to absorb shock and allow some movement to align teeth of the pinion gear with teeth of a mating ring gear or flywheel. In assembly, the spline follower is held in alignment with the pinion gear, and the material of the cup is pressed radially inward over the rear surface of the spline follower, forming retaining step portions for retaining the spline follower in the proper alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Eltra Corporation
    Inventor: Calvin V. Kern
  • Patent number: 4343153
    Abstract: Means are disclosed for dissipating supercharge pressure in a hydraulic system including a reversible pump (18) directly connected to a hydraulic cylinder (22). Supercharge pressure results from unequal areas on either side of a piston (24) of a single-ended hydraulic cylinder (22). When the piston moves towards the blind end of the cylinder (22), more fluid is displaced from the cylinder than is admitted to the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston. Means responsive to a pressure at a first port (82) of the pump (18) opens a passage between the second port (76) of the pump (18) and a fluid reservoir (16), allowing fluid in excess of the pump's intake requirements to pass to the reservoir (16). In a first embodiment of the invention, a rocker mechanism (60) is actuated by a piston (66) responsive to pressure at the first port (82) pressing against a first end (20) of the rocker mechanism (60), the second end (74) of the rocker mechanism (60) displacing a check ball (38) of a keep-full valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: Eltra Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin V. Kern, Bruce W. Mitton
  • Patent number: 4337596
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism for sliding doors provided on the passenger side of conventional panel-type trucks, commonly called vans, is intended to be either installed in the vehicle at the time of its original manufacture, or installed at any later time, without substantial modification of the vehicle. A winch assembly (44) including two separate winding drums (74, 86) on a common shaft (87) and driven by the shaft through springs (162, 174) and a positive driver (170), is mounted over the rear wheel well of such a vehicle. A guide assembly (50) including a pulley (54) and a pivoting guide member (62) is installed in an aperture cut in the door frame. A single pulley (56) is installed at the lower rear corner of the door opening, and a guide tube (58) is installed in the door. A flexible cable (52) is connected to an arm added to the latch operating mechanism, and extends through the guide tube (58), around the pulley (56), through the guiding assembly (50) to the winch assembly (44), for opening the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Eltra Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin V. Kern, James J. Villano
  • Patent number: 4325700
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder having a piston position memory element is disclosed, and is particularly adapted for use with propulsion units for watercraft. A valve seat (76,242) is frictionally retained in a bore of a cylinder (24,200) and cooperates with a valve (72,266) in a piston (70,244) to stop the piston (70,244) in a preset position by blocking the flow of fluid through the valve (72,266).In a first embodiment, a poppet valve 60 is provided to allow a piston (70) to move to dissipate the energy of a collision of a watercraft propulsion unit with a stationary object, the piston (70) being provided with a valve (72) to allow the piston (70) to return to its original position. The valve seat (76) having remained in its original position and being provided with an unrestricted aperture (78) stops the piston (70) in its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Eltra Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin V. Kern, Lawrence P. Zepp
  • Patent number: 4255982
    Abstract: A starting motor pinion gear assembly comprises a powdered metal pinion disposed and retained within a castellated drawn metal cup having axially extending tangs which are staked between adjacent pinion teeth. The tangs are staked against a plurality of fillets or projections which extend radially outwardly from the bottom land of the pinion and form a discontinuous web between the pinion teeth adjacent one end of the pinion. Also disposed within the drawn cup is a splined drive collar which engages a mating spline on the output shaft of the starting motor and a torque limiting friction clutch. The pinion gear assembly mounts on the output shaft of the starting motor and momentarily engages a ring gear on the flywheel of an internal combustion engine to effect cranking of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Eltra Corporation
    Inventor: Calvin V. Kern