Patents by Inventor Duane E. Potter

Duane E. Potter 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).

  • Publication number: 20090223489
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly of an internal combustion engine includes an axially extending non-round fuel conduit and at least one axially extending stiffening feature integral with said conduit. Integration of the stiffening features in the conduit enables reduction or elimination of the objectionable frequency noise radiated by the fuel rail assembly. By aligning the stiffening features axially relative to the conduit, panels having a relatively small surface area are formed and, thus, the noise radiating surface area is significantly reduced. The axial orientation of the added stiffening features allows the length of the stiffening features to be relatively large, which increases the stiffening effects to provide increased resistance to flexing, thus, reducing the noise radiated by the fuel system of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick A. Furchill, Avoki M. Omekanda, Duane E. Potter
  • Patent number: 7584746
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly of an internal combustion engine includes an axially extending non-round fuel conduit and at least one axially extending stiffening feature integral with said conduit. Integration of the stiffening features in the conduit enables reduction or elimination of the objectionable frequency noise radiated by the fuel rail assembly. By aligning the stiffening features axially relative to the conduit, panels having a relatively small surface area are formed and, thus, the noise radiating surface area is significantly reduced. The axial orientation of the added stiffening features allows the length of the stiffening features to be relatively large, which increases the stiffening effects to provide increased resistance to flexing, thus, reducing the noise radiated by the fuel system of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Furchill, Avoki M. Omekanda, Duane E. Potter
  • Patent number: 7093584
    Abstract: Several embodiments of noise reduction apparatus for a fuel injector are disclosed and include perforated tubes, side branch filters and expansion chambers strategically located between a respective injector and the fuel rail to target and reduce high frequency noise generated by the mechanical movement of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane E. Potter, Charles W. Braun