Patents by Inventor Dennis N. Stenz

Dennis N. Stenz 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: 7131430
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system for small internal combustion engines includes a control valve associated with a fuel line and with a vent line which each connect the fuel tank to the carburetor. When the engine is not running, the control valve automatically closes the vent line and the fuel line, thereby trapping fuel vapors within the fuel tank and vent line and preventing the supply of liquid fuel to the carburetor. Upon engine start up, actuation of a bail assembly or vacuum produced within the carburetor causes the control valve to open the vent line and the fuel line, venting fuel vapors from the fuel tank through the fuel line to the carburetor for consumption by the engine, and opening the supply of liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Gordon E. Rado, David R. Brower, Dennis N. Stenz
  • Publication number: 20040123846
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system for small internal combustion engines includes a control valve associated with a fuel line and with a vent line which each connect the fuel tank to the carburetor. When the engine is not running, the control valve automatically closes the vent line and the fuel line, thereby trapping fuel vapors within the fuel tank and vent line and preventing the supply of liquid fuel to the carburetor. Upon engine start up, actuation of a bail assembly or vacuum produced within the carburetor causes the control valve to open the vent line and the fuel line, venting fuel vapors from the fuel tank through the fuel line to the carburetor for consumption by the engine, and opening the supply of liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Gordon E. Rado, David R. Brower, Dennis N. Stenz
  • Patent number: 6745754
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an engine housing containing an oil sump in communication with an oil fill conduit, and a fuel pump including a pump assembly having at least a portion thereof formed integrally with the oil fill conduit and in fluid communication therewith. The fuel pump is actuated by pressure pulses created within the engine crankcase when the engine is running, which are communicated to the fuel pump through the oil fill conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Dennis N. Stenz, Allen A. Schmitz, Kevin D. Steffes, Scott J. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20040079343
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an engine housing containing an oil sump in communication with an oil fill conduit, and a fuel pump including a pump assembly having at least a portion thereof formed integrally with the oil fill conduit and in fluid communication therewith. The fuel pump is actuated by pressure pulses created within the engine crankcase when the engine is running, which are communicated to the fuel pump through the oil fill conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Dennis N. Stenz, Allen A. Schmitz, Kevin D. Steffes, Scott J. Schneider
  • Patent number: 6427364
    Abstract: A snow thrower engine carburetor is covered by a heater box provided with a channel through which air passes so as to be heated by the engine's muffler. The heated airstream is changed in direction as it leaves the heater box and moves towards the carburetor whereby moisture carried in the airstream is separated therefrom before the heated air reaches the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignees: Murray, Inc., Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Heismann, Dennis N. Stenz, Joseph T. Pawlak
  • Patent number: 6152431
    Abstract: A carburetor having an extended prime fuel chamber for gasoline engines. The carburetor includes a carburetor body having a throat, a fuel bowl, a conduit extending from the fuel bowl to the throat, a variable volume primer chamber communicating with the bowl through a priming passage, and an extended prime fuel chamber. The extended prime fuel chamber delivers additional fuel from start-up through warm-up periods of the engine. The extended prime fuel chamber communicates with the throat extending to the engine and communicates with the bowl containing fuel. The extended prime fuel chamber is arranged such that, after activation of a priming bulb, fuel from the carburetor bowl is directed into the throat through a nozzle tube and also into the extended prime fuel chamber through a prime fill passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Dennis N. Stenz, Thomas G. Klein, Nicholas J. Caruso