Patents by Inventor David L. Speirs

David L. Speirs 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: 11927164
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11920544
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11885430
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of assembling an electromechanical valve includes positioning the armature stop in a first position at a first distance from a valve seat, actuating the valve to move an armature away from the valve seat, providing a fluid flow to the valve, determining a fluid flow characteristic, and as a function of the fluid flow characteristic, moving the armature stop relative to the valve seat to a second position that is at a distance other than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, William E. Galka, David L. Speirs, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Ernesto O. Basanez
  • Publication number: 20230407827
    Abstract: A fuel supply assembly includes a reservoir, primary and secondary fuel pumps and a pressure regulator. The secondary fuel pump has first and second inlets, and an outlet. The first inlet receives at least some fuel discharged from a pressure regulator outlet, a nozzle communicated with the first inlet so that a flow of fuel through the nozzle creates a drop in pressure in the area of the second fuel inlet to draw fuel from the supply of fuel through the second inlet and the fuel drawn in through the second fuel inlet is combined with the flow of fuel from the nozzle and the combined fuel flows are discharged from the secondary fuel pump outlet and into the reservoir. The primary fuel pump may be located outside of an interior of the reservoir and the secondary fuel pump may be connected to the reservoir by rigid or flexible conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Bryan K. Gangler, Jacob R. Mikulak, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20230332566
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a jet pump includes a main body having a first inlet, an inlet passage communicated with the inlet, a second inlet, an intake passage communicated with the second inlet, an outlet, and an outlet passage communicated with the outlet and with the intake passage, a jet carried by the main body and having a jet inlet communicated with the inlet passage so that fluid flowing in the inlet passage flows through the jet inlet, and a jet outlet having a flow area less than the jet inlet and less than the inlet passage. The main body is formed in one piece and the jet is a separate piece of material that is inserted into the inlet passage after the main body has been formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bryan K. Gangler, Jacob R. Mikulak, Bradley J. Roche, Spencer J. Schaefer, David L. Speirs, Edward J. Talaski
  • Patent number: 11781493
    Abstract: A throttle body may have a main bore for supplying a fuel and air mixture to an engine. A throttle valve head may be received in the main bore and movable between idle and wide open positions to control fluid flow through the main bore. A main fuel outlet and a boost venturi may open to the main bore and a flow directing feature may alter the velocity and/or direction of fluid flow in the main bore relative to the fuel outlet or boost venturi. The flow directing feature may be carried by the body, the throttle valve head, or the boost venturi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20230243328
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11655788
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20230123915
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20230087858
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L. Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L. Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11536235
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L. Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L. Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Publication number: 20220205419
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20220195949
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle valve includes a valve shaft having an axis and a mounting surface, and a valve head secured to the valve shaft. The valve head has a front face and a rear face closer to the mounting surface than the front face, the mounting surface being located so that a thickness of the valve head between the front face and the rear face is not coincident with the axis. And the axis is closer to the front face than to the rear face, or the axis is coincident with the rear face, or the axis is offset from the front face by more than the distance between the front face and rear face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20220145812
    Abstract: A throttle body may have a main bore for supplying a fuel and air mixture to an engine. A throttle valve head may be received in the main bore and movable between idle and wide open positions to control fluid flow through the main bore. A main fuel outlet and a boost venturi may open to the main bore and a flow directing feature may alter the velocity and/or direction of fluid flow in the main bore relative to the fuel outlet or boost venturi. The flow directing feature may be carried by the body, the throttle valve head, or the boost venturi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11268455
    Abstract: A throttle body may have a main bore for supplying a fuel and air mixture to an engine. A throttle valve head may be received in the main bore and movable between idle and wide open positions to control fluid flow through the main bore. A main fuel outlet and a boost venturi may open to the main bore and a flow directing feature may alter the velocity and/or direction of fluid flow in the main bore relative to the fuel outlet or boost venturi. The flow directing feature may be carried by the body, the throttle valve head, or the boost venturi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20220003332
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of assembling an electromechanical valve includes positioning the armature stop in a first position at a first distance from a valve seat, actuating the valve to move an armature away from the valve seat, providing a fluid flow to the valve, determining a fluid flow characteristic, and as a function of the fluid flow characteristic, moving the armature stop relative to the valve seat to a second position that is at a distance other than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, William E. Galka, David L. Speirs, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Ernesto O. Basanez
  • Publication number: 20210317809
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L. Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L. Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11073122
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber in which a supply of fuel is received and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received, a throttle valve carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore to control fluid flow through the throttle bore, and a metering valve carried by the throttle body. The metering valve may have a valve element that is movable between an open position wherein fuel may flow from the pressure chamber into the throttle bore and a closed position where fuel is prevented or substantially prevented from flowing into the throttle bore through the metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L. Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L. Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11008951
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle body assembly includes a body that has multiple throttle bores, multiple throttle valve heads received one in each of the throttle bores, at least one throttle valve shaft to which the throttle valve heads are coupled, and at least one of a fuel metering valve and a vapor separator carried by the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs, Eric G. Zbytowski
  • Publication number: 20200248635
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle body assembly includes a body that has multiple throttle bores, multiple throttle valve heads received one in each of the throttle bores, at least one throttle valve shaft to which the throttle valve heads are coupled, and at least one of a fuel metering valve and a vapor separator carried by the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs, Eric G. Zbytowski