Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Jenks
Christopher R. Jenks 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).
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Patent number: 12330512Abstract: A voltage detection system for a marine vessel is provided. The system includes at least one electrode set configured to detect a voltage gradient measurement at a location in a body of water surrounding the marine vessel, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the voltage gradient measurement from each electrode set; compare each voltage gradient measurement to at least one threshold to determine a voltage threat level, and generate a threat response based on the voltage threat level.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Christopher R. Jenks, Corey L. Bruno
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Patent number: 11511840Abstract: A marine engine comprises a powerhead having an engine block, a cylinder head and a crankcase containing a crankshaft. Operation of the marine engine causes rotation of the crankshaft. A crankcase cover encloses the crankshaft in the crankcase. A supercharger is on the crankcase cover, the supercharger being configured to provide charge air for combustion in the powerhead. The supercharger comprises a charge air outlet for conveying charge air from the supercharger for combustion in the powerhead, the charge air outlet being oriented so as to discharge the charge air towards the powerhead.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Gregg D. Langenfeld, Jinesh Arakkal Meethal, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 11073116Abstract: A cooling system is for cooling a marine engine having an engine block and a cylinder head, and a supercharger configured to provide charge air for combustion in the marine engine. The cooling system has a charge air cooler configured to cool the charge air prior to combustion in the marine engine. The cooling system is configured to circulate cooling water from a body of water in which the marine engine is operating to the marine engine and then back to the body of water. The cooling system is further configured to convey the cooling water in parallel to the marine engine and the charge air cooler. A sprayer is configured to spray the cooling water into exhaust gas discharged from the marine engine. The cooling system is configured to convey the cooling water in series to the charge air cooler and then to the sprayer.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: David D. Dins, Gregg D. Langenfeld, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 10981636Abstract: A marine engine comprises a powerhead having an engine block, a cylinder head and a crankcase containing a crankshaft. Operation of the marine engine causes rotation of the crankshaft. A crankcase cover encloses the crankshaft in the crankcase. A supercharger is on the crankcase cover, the supercharger being configured to provide charge air for combustion in the powerhead. The supercharger comprises a charge air outlet for conveying charge air from the supercharger for combustion in the powerhead, the charge air outlet being oriented so as to discharge the charge air towards the powerhead.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Gregg D. Langenfeld, Jinesh Arakkal Meethal, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 10934928Abstract: A marine engine comprises a powerhead having an engine block, a cylinder head and a crankcase containing a crankshaft. Operation of the marine engine causes rotation of the crankshaft. A crankcase cover encloses the crankshaft in the crankcase. A supercharger is on the crankcase cover, the supercharger being configured to provide charge air for combustion in the powerhead. The supercharger comprises a charge air outlet for conveying charge air from the supercharger for combustion in the powerhead. A drainage port drains lubricant from the supercharger to the crankcase.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Gregg D. Langenfeld, Jinesh Arakkal Meethal, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 10829190Abstract: A trim control system for controlling a relative position of a trimmable marine device with respect to a marine vessel hull includes a trim actuator coupled to the trimmable marine device about a horizontal trim axis. The trim control system further includes a trim control module executable on a processor and configured to identify a target trim position for the trimmable marine device, determine a desired trim rate of change to rotate the trimmable marine device about the horizontal axis from a current trim position toward a target trim position, and operate the trim actuator to rotate the trimmable marine device at the desired trim rate of change toward the target trim position.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Jason F. Pugh, Christopher R. Jenks, Daniel P. Klawitter, Aaron J. Ward
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Patent number: 10059417Abstract: A marine propulsion device includes an internal combustion engine driving a driveshaft into rotation and a starter-generator motor in a torque transmitting relationship with the driveshaft. The starter-generator motor is alternately operable in a positive torque mode where it is powered by a battery to exert a positive torque on the driveshaft, and in a negative torque mode where it exerts a negative torque on the driveshaft and generates a charge to the battery. A control module is configured to receive an engine RPM, determine an engine RPM drop rate, and determine that the engine RPM drop rate exceeds a threshold drop rate. The starter-generator motor is then operated in a positive torque mode based on the engine RPM drop rate when the engine RPM drop rate exceeds the threshold drop rate.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: David J. Hilbert, Brian J. Fregonese, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 10048690Abstract: A method of controlling two or more propulsion devices on a marine vessel includes receiving a vessel speed, determining that the vessel speed is below a first vessel speed threshold, receiving an operator thrust demand, and determining that the operator thrust demand is below a first demand threshold. At least one of the two or more propulsion devices is then turned off, and a thrust output of at least one remaining propulsion device is adjusted based on the operator thrust demand.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: David J. Hilbert, Brian J. Fregonese, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 8985076Abstract: A lash adjustment device is for a valve train in a marine engine. The lash adjustment device comprises an external hollow body and a ball shaft that is telescopically movable in the hollow body. The ball shaft has a through-bore for receiving oil and having an annular lower end surface and an upper end surface. Oil flow into the hollow body pushes on the lower end surface and forces the ball shaft to telescope outwardly with respect to the hollow body. An absence of oil flow in the hollow body allows the ball shaft to telescope inwardly with respect to the hollow body until the annular lower end surface engages with an internal stop surface formed in the hollow body.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Bo K. Kim, Christopher R. Jenks
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Patent number: 8056518Abstract: A valve actuating system determines a shape of its jam nut surface as a function of a resultant force on a ball stud exerted by a rocker arm on the ball stud during operation of the valve train. The contact surface of the jam nut, which is pressed against an associated surface of the head of an engine, is a conical surface with an included angle that is generally twice the magnitude of an angle between a resultant force on the ball stud and a central axis of the ball stud and its associated jam nut. Certain accommodations can be made in order to reduce the cost of the system that would occur if perfect mathematical preciseness with a most preferred embodiment of the present invention is employed.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Aaron J. Novak, Christopher R. Jenks