Patents by Inventor Gary Hunter

Gary Hunter 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: 12241390
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a camshaft operably adjusted by a phaser. Another aspect includes an internal combustion engine having an actuation system for an air valve. A further aspect provides a camshaft-in-camshaft system with a cam phaser located adjacent opposite ends. In another aspect, an internal combustion engine apparatus includes multiple nested camshafts with one of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air intake valve associated with a turbulent jet ignition prechamber, and another of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air valve of a main piston combustion chamber, the nested camshafts being independently rotatable by separate electromagnetic actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Mid Michigan Research, LLC
    Inventors: Harold J. Schock, Thomas R. Stuecken, Jennifer Higel, Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20240209759
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a camshaft operably adjusted by a phaser. Another aspect includes an internal combustion engine having an actuation system for an air valve. A further aspect provides a camshaft-in-camshaft system with a cam phaser located adjacent opposite ends. In another aspect, an internal combustion engine apparatus includes multiple nested camshafts with one of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air intake valve associated with a turbulent jet ignition prechamber, and another of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air valve of a main piston combustion chamber, the nested camshafts being independently rotatable by separate electromagnetic actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicants: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Mid Michigan Research, LLC
    Inventors: Harold J. SCHOCK, Thomas R. STUECKEN, Jennifer HIGEL, Gary HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20230111918
    Abstract: A method of making Lu-177 involving dissolving enriched Yb2O3, loading dissolved enriched Yb2O3 on a first guard column containing resin prepared from (2-ethyl-1-hexyl)phosphonic acid mono(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)ester (HEH[EHP]), passing a first separation of a stream exiting from first guard column through a first resin cartridge containing dipentyl pentylphosphonate, collecting Lu-177 onto a first collection column having resin containing tetraoctyl diglycolamide (DGA), loading an exiting stream from first collection column on a second guard column containing resin prepared from (2-ethyl-1-hexyl)phosphonic acid mono(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)ester (HEH[EHP]); passing a first separation of a stream exiting from second guard column through a second resin cartridge containing dipentyl pentylphosphonate; collecting Lu-177 onto a second collection column having resin containing DGA; passing a second separation of a stream exiting from second guard column through a third resin cartridge containing dipentyl pentylphosphonate; and
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen M. OELSNER, Gary HUNTER, Bryan Blake WIGGINS, Timothy A. POLICKE, David J. GLENN
  • Patent number: 10584657
    Abstract: An oil cooled cylinder liner, a method for cooling the same, and an opposed piston engine using the oil cooled cylinder liner are described. The cylinder liner includes a liner wall that has an inner face adjacent a piston bore and an outer face including an oil gallery surface. A plurality of grooves are disposed along the oil gallery surface. The grooves run parallel to each other and are spaced apart by bridging portions of the liner wall. At least some of the grooves have at least one fin disposed therein that runs parallel with the grooves. The grooves in combination with the fins increase surface area of the oil gallery to improve heat transfer from the liner wall to oil disposed along the oil gallery surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20180106210
    Abstract: An oil cooled cylinder liner, a method for cooling the same, and an opposed piston engine using the oil cooled cylinder liner are described. The cylinder liner includes a liner wall that has an inner face adjacent a piston bore and an outer face including an oil gallery surface. A plurality of grooves are disposed along the oil gallery surface. The grooves run parallel to each other and are spaced apart by bridging portions of the liner wall. At least some of the grooves have at least one fin disposed therein that runs parallel with the grooves. The grooves in combination with the fins increase surface area of the oil gallery to improve heat transfer from the liner wall to oil disposed along the oil gallery surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Gary HUNTER
  • Patent number: 9932910
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the quality of natural gas is provided. The system includes a fuel line for communicating natural gas to an engine. An infrared light source is disposed along the fuel line and is configured to emit a beam of infrared light into the fuel line having a wavelength of 6 to 10 micrometers. An infrared light detector detects a transmission value of the natural gas as the beam of infrared light passes through the fuel line. A natural gas quality module receives the transmission value from the infrared light detector and determines a quality value of the natural gas based on an amount of infrared light absorbed by methane in the natural gas. An engine control module, including a feed-forward control loop, receives the quality value from the natural gas quality module and alters an operating parameter of the engine in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Patent number: 9677509
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine may be driven by the exhaust and may drive a compressor that receives air and produces the charge air. A second turbo machine may receive the exhaust and may rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump may receive an EGR from the exhaust and may introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner, Gary Hunter
  • Patent number: 9347365
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an exhaust gas recirculation passage and a turbo machine having a first turbine rotationally coupled to a pump. The first turbine may include an expanded air passage. The pump may be arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A pre-cooler may be arranged in the expanded air passage and in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20150300273
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the quality of natural gas is provided. The system includes a fuel line for communicating natural gas to an engine. An infrared light source is disposed along the fuel line and is configured to emit a beam of infrared light into the fuel line having a wavelength of 6 to 10 micrometers. An infrared light detector detects a transmission value of the natural gas as the beam of infrared light passes through the fuel line. A natural gas quality module receives the transmission value from the infrared light detector and determines a quality value of the natural gas based on an amount of infrared light absorbed by methane in the natural gas. An engine control module, including a feed-forward control loop, receives the quality value from the natural gas quality module and alters an operating parameter of the engine in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventor: Gary HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20140230800
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an exhaust gas recirculation passage and a turbo machine having a first turbine rotationally coupled to a pump. The first turbine may include an expanded air passage. The pump may be arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A pre-cooler may be arranged in the expanded air passage and in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Patent number: 8726657
    Abstract: A power plant includes an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine is configured to be driven by the exhaust and drive a compressor that receives air. The compressor is configured to produce the charge air. A second turbo machine is configured to receive the charge air and rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump is configured to receive an EGR from the exhaust and introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air. The power plant also includes an exhaust gas recirculation passage. The second turbo machine includes a turbine rotationally coupled to the pump. The turbine has an expanded air passage, and the pump is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A pre-cooler is arranged in the expanded air passage and in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20140075936
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine may be driven by the exhaust and may drive a compressor that receives air and produces the charge air. A second turbo machine may receive the exhaust and may rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump may receive an EGR from the exhaust and may introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Ho TENG, Gerhard REGNER, Gary HUNTER
  • Patent number: 8584458
    Abstract: A power plant includes an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine is configured to be driven by the exhaust and drive a compressor that receives air. The compressor is configured to produce the charge air. A second turbo machine is configured to receive a portion of the exhaust and rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. High temperature and low temperature EGR heat exchangers are arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage serially relative to one another upstream from the pump. A heat exchanger arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump. A water separator is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage fluidly between the heat exchanger and the pump. An EGR catalyst is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner, Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20100293943
    Abstract: A power plant includes an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine is configured to be driven by the exhaust and drive a compressor that receives air. The compressor is configured to produce the charge air. A second turbo machine is configured to receive a portion of the exhaust and rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. High temperature and low temperature EGR heat exchangers are arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage serially relative to one another upstream from the pump. A heat exchanger arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump. A water separator is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage fluidly between the heat exchanger and the pump. An EGR catalyst is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner, Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20100293944
    Abstract: A power plant includes an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine is configured to be driven by the exhaust and drive a compressor that receives air. The compressor is configured to produce the charge air. A second turbo machine is configured to receive the charge air and rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump is configured to receive an EGR from the exhaust and introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air. The power plant also includes an exhaust gas recirculation passage. The second turbo machine includes a turbine rotationally coupled to the pump. The turbine has an expanded air passage, and the pump is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A pre-cooler is arranged in the expanded air passage and in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20050220564
    Abstract: A fastener assembly that acoustically decouples a workpiece from direct contact with a supporting structure includes a threaded fastener having a head portion and a shaft portion, a retention sleeve disposed about the threaded fastener, and a wave spring disposed about the retention sleeve. When used to secure a valve cover to an engine cylinder head, the fastener assembly acoustically decouples the valve cover from the engine cylinder head. As a result, engine structural noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Kerry Hinson, Gary Hunter