Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Carns

Christopher A. Carns 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: 20250068193
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermostatic valve assembly having a valve body with a chamber, an inlet port, a first output port, and a second output port. The thermostatic assembly includes a wax element, a ball valve component with a drive pin, and a plunger with a drive opening to engage the drive pin. The ball valve component is rotatably secured within the chamber and transitions between a first rotational position when the plunger is in the first linear position and a second rotational position when the plunger is in the second linear position. The ball valve component features a body portion that includes a first spherical portion, defined by a radius extending from the axis to the exterior surface of the first spherical portion, and a second spherical portion with a second radius extending from the axis to the exterior surface of the second spherical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher A. Carns, Nathan C. Osmun
  • Publication number: 20250020232
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermostatic valve assembly having a valve body with a chamber, an inlet port, a first output port, and a second output port. The thermostatic assembly includes a wax element, a ball valve component with a drive pin, and a plunger with a drive opening to receive the drive pin. The drive opening has a partially flattened oval profile with an upper flat section and curved ends, and a lower curve connected to the upper portion. The plunger is connected to the wax element, slideably secured within the chamber, and moves between a first and second linear position. The ball valve component is rotatably secured within the chamber and moves between a first rotational position when the plunger is in the first linear position and a second rotational position when the plunger is in the second linear position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher A. Carns, Joseph D. Davis, Nathan C. Osmun
  • Publication number: 20250020230
    Abstract: A rotating valve system assembly for an internal combustion engine cooling system. The rotating valve system assembly including a housing, a valve assembly, an actuator, and a seal. The housing includes a valve cavity and a manifold which allows fluid flow to and from the rotating valve system. The valve assembly includes one or more cartridges, which control the volume of fluid that passes through the valve. The actuator turns the cartridges by interfacing with them via a drive gear that connects with a gear portion that is included on each cartridge. As the cartridges turn, exit holes that are disposed around the circumference of the cylinder bodies may overlap, partially or wholly, with an inlet port to the manifold of the housing, which allows control of the volume of fluid that flows through the valve and into the manifold and into the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Joseph D. Davis, Christopher A. Carns, Nathan C. Osmun
  • Patent number: 12123338
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve assembly for an internal combustion engine cooling system. The thermostatic valve assembly including a valve housing and a plunger assembly. The valve housing includes a chamber, an inlet port, a radiator output port, and a bypass output port. The bypass output port including a flow opening. The plunger assembly being slideably secured within the chamber and moving between a first position to close the flow opening and a second position to open the flow opening. The plunger assembly comprises a body and at least one seal configured to seal the flow opening when in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan C. Osmun, Joseph D. Davis, Christopher A. Carns
  • Publication number: 20240110502
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve assembly for an internal combustion engine cooling system. The thermostatic valve assembly including a valve housing and a plunger assembly. The valve housing includes a chamber, an inlet port, a radiator output port, and a bypass output port. The bypass output port including a flow opening. The plunger assembly being slideably secured within the chamber and moving between a first position to close the flow opening and a second position to open the flow opening. The plunger assembly comprises a body and at least one seal configured to seal the flow opening when in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan C. Osmun, Joseph D. Davis, Christopher A. Carns
  • Patent number: 10222813
    Abstract: A four-way hall valve includes a linear gear for operating the ball element in the valve and a temperature responsive wax element connected to the linear gear for moving the linear gear and rotating the ball in response to temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Carns
  • Patent number: 9695734
    Abstract: A fluid-metering valve assembly for use in a coolant regulator of an internal combustion engine cooling system may include a main body and a metering member. The main body is configured to be rotatably secured within an internal chamber of the coolant regulator. A fluid passage is formed through the main body, and is defined, at least in part, by a metering edge of the main body. The metering member is formed proximate to the metering edge of the main body, and is configured to allow variable doses of fluid to be metered into or out of the coolant regulator as the main body is rotated within the coolant regulator. The metering member includes one or more linear features formed into the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventors: Christopher A. Carns, Rohan R. Sawai
  • Publication number: 20150241884
    Abstract: A four-way ball valve includes a linear gear for operating the ball element in the valve and a temperatures responsive wax element connected to the linear gear for moving the linear gear and rotating the ball in response to temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher A. Carns
  • Patent number: 7878181
    Abstract: A pressure responsive regulator valve particularly suitable for a vehicle fuel system includes a substantially monolithic T-shaped body having a first bore defining a substantially unrestricted fluid flow path therethrough and a second bore in fluid flow communication with the first bore. A pressure responsive valve is provided in the second bore to open and close a fluid flow path through the second bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Carns