Patents by Inventor Dennis E. Houle

Dennis E. Houle 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: 5424494
    Abstract: Noise is attenuated by a resonator having an inlet pipe leading to an expansion chamber and an outlet pipe leading from the expansion chamber. The two pipes are not aligned with each other at the expansion chamber. The portions of the two pipes proximate the expansion chamber contain respective venturis. The expansion chamber also functions as a Helmholtz resonator by providing the resonator with one or more apertures between the outlet pipe and the expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Dennis E. Houle, Stephen E. Brackett
  • Patent number: 5377629
    Abstract: The effective area of a Helmholtz resonator used to tune the manifold is varied in accordance with engine speed to improve the engine-torque speed curve. The organization and arrangement of air intake passage, plenum chamber, runners, and Helmholtz resonator is also advantageous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Electric Limited
    Inventors: Stephen E. Brackett, Dennis E. Houle
  • Patent number: 5211139
    Abstract: A shaft-door unit that is operable for selecting the effective lengths of runners leading from a plenum is assembled into the manifold by lengthwise insertion through an opening in an end wall of the plenum that is subsequently closed by a closure member. The shaft-door unit may include as part of the unit, a journal sleeve for journaling the shaft or a tray which incoproates the journal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Dennis E. Houle, Stephen E. Brackett, Lisa A. Whaley