Patents by Inventor Gary Butzke

Gary Butzke 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: 11207937
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a knuckle defining a bore therethrough. The suspension system includes a wheel hub rotatably mounted on the knuckle. Further, the suspension system includes an axle at least partially received within the bore of the knuckle and operatively coupled to the wheel hub. The suspension system includes a pump driven by the axle and configured to generate pressurized fluid. The suspension system includes an actuator receiving pressurized fluid from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Publication number: 20210146743
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a knuckle defining a bore therethrough. The suspension system includes a wheel hub rotatably mounted on the knuckle. Further, the suspension system includes an axle at least partially received within the bore of the knuckle and operatively coupled to the wheel hub. The suspension system includes a pump driven by the axle and configured to generate pressurized fluid. The suspension system includes an actuator receiving pressurized fluid from the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Patent number: 10588233
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber includes a piston positioned within a tube that divides a fluid chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod is attached to the piston and projects. An electronically-controlled valve is positioned within a rod guide. A circuit board is in communication with the electronically-controlled valve. A carrier includes an inner wall and an outer wall interconnected by a bottom wall thereby defining a pocket. A circuit board is positioned within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Dunaway, Matthew L. Roessle, Robert C. Harris, Michael J. Lepkowski, Corey L. Stewart, Michael S. Weaver, Gary Butzke
  • Publication number: 20180345749
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber includes a piston positioned within a tube that divides a fluid chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod is attached to the piston and projects. An electronically-controlled valve is positioned within a rod guide. A circuit board is in communication with the electronically-controlled valve. A carrier includes an inner wall and an outer wall interconnected by a bottom wall thereby defining a pocket. A circuit board is positioned within the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Scott S. DUNAWAY, Matthew L. ROESSLE, Robert C. HARRIS, Michael J. LEPKOWSKI, Corey L. STEWART, Michael S. WEAVER, Gary BUTZKE
  • Publication number: 20160252310
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system may include a pump, first and second heat exchangers, an expander, and a valve. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid from the pump. The expander receives working fluid from the first heat exchanger and includes an output shaft that is powered by the flow of working fluid through the expander. The second heat exchanger may include a first fluid path and a second fluid path that is shorter than the first fluid path. The valve controls fluid flow through the first and second fluid paths. A sensor may measure a parameter of the working fluid that indicates whether the working fluid is in a gaseous state, a liquid state or a mixture of gas and liquid. A control module in communication with the sensor may control a position of the valve based on a value of the parameter measured by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Butzke, Gregory T. Weber, Borys J. Melnyk
  • Patent number: 9221014
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a tank, an injector, a supply conduit, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a control module. The tank may contain a volume of a fluid. The injector may be configured to inject the fluid into a stream of exhaust gas discharged from the combustion engine. The supply conduit may fluidly connect the tank and the injector. The pump may pump the fluid from the tank to the injector. The control module may be in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump and may control the pump based on first and second measurements from the pressure sensor. The first measurement may be indicative of a first pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is operating. The second measurement from the pressure sensor may be indicative of a second pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Patent number: 9133743
    Abstract: A system for treating the exhaust output by an internal combustion engine includes a regeneration positioned upstream from a diesel particulate filter. The regeneration unit combusts a fuel to heat the exhaust entering the diesel particulate filter. An air pump supplies a secondary source of compressed air to the regeneration unit and is adapted to be driven by the internal combustion engine. A speed sensor is coupled to the air pump and operable to output a signal indicative of a rotational speed of an air pump component. A controller receives the speed sensor signal and determines an operating speed of the internal combustion engine based on the speed sensor signal. The controller controls the regeneration unit based on the engine operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Publication number: 20150139859
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a tank, an injector, a supply conduit, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a control module. The tank may contain a volume of a fluid. The injector may be configured to inject the fluid into a stream of exhaust gas discharged from the combustion engine. The supply conduit may fluidly connect the tank and the injector. The pump may pump the fluid from the tank to the injector. The control module may be in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump and may control the pump based on first and second measurements from the pressure sensor. The first measurement may be indicative of a first pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is operating. The second measurement from the pressure sensor may be indicative of a second pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is not operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Publication number: 20130239548
    Abstract: A system for treating the exhaust output by an internal combustion engine includes a regeneration positioned upstream from a diesel particulate filter. The regeneration unit combusts a fuel to heat the exhaust entering the diesel particulate filter. An air pump supplies a secondary source of compressed air to the regeneration unit and is adapted to be driven by the internal combustion engine. A speed sensor is coupled to the air pump and operable to output a signal indicative of a rotational speed of an air pump component. A controller receives the speed sensor signal and determines an operating speed of the internal combustion engine based on the speed sensor signal. The controller controls the regeneration unit based on the engine operating speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Publication number: 20110289906
    Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of an exhaust stream from an engine at a location upstream from an exhaust aftertreatment apparatus includes a main exhaust passageway adapted to receive the exhaust stream from the engine. A side branch is in communication with the main exhaust passageway. A regeneration unit is positioned within the side branch for combusting a fuel and heating the exhaust flowing through the main exhaust passageway. An ion sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of the presence of fuel combustion. A controller selectively operates the regeneration unit to increase the exhaust temperature. The controller is operable to control a supply of fuel to the regeneration unit based on the ion sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Nicholas Morley, Gary Butzke, Lawrence Dalimonte, Adam J. Kotrba, Günter Palmer