Patents by Inventor Danny D. Alexander

Danny D. Alexander 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: 11702997
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle comprises a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly further comprises a valve flap disposed in the housing and rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. A mass damper is disposed within the exhaust gas passageway and attached to the valve flap. The mass damper includes end portions and an intermediate portion disposed between the end portions with the intermediate portion having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the end portions. The mass damper is positioned proximate an inner surface of the housing and positioned between the valve flap and the housing when the valve flap is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Danny D. Alexander
  • Patent number: 11371402
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a first housing, a second housing, a valve flap and a spring. The first housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The second housing is attached to the first housing and defines a compartment. The valve flap is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is allowed. The spring is disposed in the compartment and out of the exhaust gas passageway. The spring engages the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Danny D. Alexander
  • Patent number: 11274581
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a housing, a valve shaft and a valve plate. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve shaft is rotatable. The valve plate is coupled to the valve shaft and is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. The first housing includes spaced apart ears integral with and laterally extending from the first housing. The ears opposing each other. The shaft includes an axis of rotation being positioned at the ears and outside of the exhaust gas passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Danny D. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20210199057
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle comprises a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly further comprises a valve flap disposed in the housing and rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. A mass damper is disposed within the exhaust gas passageway and attached to the valve flap. The mass damper includes end portions and an intermediate portion disposed between the end portions with the intermediate portion having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the end portions. The mass damper is positioned proximate an inner surface of the housing and positioned between the valve flap and the housing when the valve flap is at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen M. THOMAS, Danny D. ALEXANDER
  • Patent number: 10961923
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a housing, a valve flap and a mass damper. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve flap is disposed in the housing and is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. The mass damper is disposed within the exhaust gas passageway. The mass damper is attached to the valve flap and comprise of a material having a high density. The mass damper is shielded from the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passageway when the valve flap is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Danny D. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20210025302
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a first housing, a second housing, a valve flap and a spring. The first housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The second housing is attached to the first housing and defines a compartment. The valve flap is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is allowed. The spring is disposed in the compartment and out of the exhaust gas passageway. The spring engages the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Danny D. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20210025301
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a housing, a valve shaft and a valve plate. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve shaft is rotatable. The valve plate is coupled to the valve shaft and is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. The first housing includes spaced apart ears integral with and laterally extending from the first housing. The ears opposing each other. The shaft includes an axis of rotation being positioned at the ears and outside of the exhaust gas passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen M. THOMAS, Danny D. ALEXANDER
  • Publication number: 20210025340
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a housing, a valve flap and a mass damper. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve flap is disposed in the housing and is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. The mass damper is disposed within the exhaust gas passageway. The mass damper is attached to the valve flap and comprise of a material having a high density. The mass damper is shielded from the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passageway when the valve flap is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen M. THOMAS, Danny D. ALEXANDER
  • Publication number: 20200309278
    Abstract: A damper valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve flap and a torsional spring. The valve housing is adapted to be attached to a pipe of an exhaust system and defines an opening. The valve flap is rotatably coupled to the valve housing about a pivot axis. The valve flap is movable between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed. The torsional spring engages the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position. A preload of the torsional spring when the valve flap is in the first position is adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen M. THOMAS, Danny D. ALEXANDER
  • Publication number: 20200309277
    Abstract: A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle includes a valve housing and a valve flap. The valve housing is adapted to be attached to a pipe of the exhaust system and defines an opening. The valve flap is rotatable relative to the valve housing and about a pivot axis between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed. The valve flap includes a body and a mass damper. The mass damper is integral with the body and includes a plurality of segments that are folded so that the plurality of segments are in a stacked arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen M. THOMAS, Danny D. ALEXANDER
  • Patent number: 10788136
    Abstract: A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle includes a valve housing and a valve flap. The valve housing is adapted to be attached to a pipe of the exhaust system and defines an opening. The valve flap is rotatable relative to the valve housing and about a pivot axis between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed. The valve flap includes a body and a mass damper. The mass damper is integral with the body and includes a plurality of segments that are folded so that the plurality of segments are in a stacked arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Thomas, Danny D. Alexander
  • Patent number: 10518632
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system includes a conduit, a valve flap disposed within an exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow through the exhaust passageway, a shaft supporting the valve flap in the exhaust passageway for rotation about a pivot axis, and a mass damper disposed external to the conduit and coupled to the shaft. The mass damper includes a longitudinal segment coupled to the shaft. The mass damper also includes a first damping mass that is disposed proximal to a first end of the longitudinal segment and is linearly movable along a centerline axis to a first distance with respect to the pivot axis. The mass damper further includes a second damping mass that is disposed proximal to a second end of the longitudinal segment and is linearly movable along the centerline axis to a second distance with respect to the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Louis Bell, Danny D. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20180326837
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an exhaust system includes a conduit, a valve flap disposed within an exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow through the exhaust passageway, a shaft supporting the valve flap in the exhaust passageway for rotation about a pivot axis, and a mass damper disposed external to the conduit and coupled to the shaft. The mass damper includes a longitudinal segment coupled to the shaft. The mass damper also includes a first damping mass that is disposed proximal to a first end of the longitudinal segment and is linearly movable along a centerline axis to a first distance with respect to the pivot axis. The mass damper further includes a second damping mass that is disposed proximal to a second end of the longitudinal segment and is linearly movable along the centerline axis to a second distance with respect to the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Louis Bell, Danny D. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7311358
    Abstract: A seat back cushion support presenting device for use in a foldable vehicle seat moves a cushion support member from a position within the seat back frame to a position extended from the seat back frame such that the entire cushion is presented. A pair of presenting members, each including a side bolster support portion, are provided in overlapping arrangement for translation along a presenting device support member and rotation with respect to a cushion support member such that as an activation member moves the presenting members together, the cushion support member is extended along with the side bolster support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brennon White, Renato Colja, Robert McMillen, Alan J. King, Barry Jones, Danny D. Alexander, Vanja Cemalovic, Robert Coon, Elliott Hsu