Patents by Inventor Gary M. Smith

Gary M. Smith 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: 6216646
    Abstract: An engine cooling system for an automotive vehicle including a liquid coolant deaeration and overflow bottle having plural cells constituting a degassing chamber assembly with the first cell having only an upper fluid inlet for initially receiving liquid coolant from the engine cooling system and a lower flow-through window which leads into an adjacent cell for receiving coolant from the first cell. The other cells are likewise connected together in series and the final cell has an outlet connected back into the engine cooling system. Coolant in the cells of the degassing chamber assembly creates a liquid trap arrangement to prevent any substantial back flow of accumulated air from the deaeration chamber assembly back into the engine's cooling system when engine operation is terminated. Most importantly, this prevents any formation of air bubbles in the heater core circuit which may restrict coolant flow and seriously degrade heater effectiveness, particularly at idle and low engine speed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Gary M. Smith, Ronald A. Reese, II, Ladd S. Lubaczewski, Jr., Peter A. Varma, Gavin J. DeNyse, Christopher J. Hauer
  • Patent number: 6176205
    Abstract: The present invention provides an airtight reservoir in fluid communication with a cooling system of an internal combustion engine. This cooling system allows coolant to flow into the overflow bottle, thereby compressing air therein, and causing increases pressure. When the coolant again cools, the pressurized coolant flows back into the cooling system, thereby maintaining the system pressure above ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6174558
    Abstract: A poultry feed composition including protein, vitamins and minerals, and a source of carbohydrates from the group consisting of soybean meals and corn supplemented with an &agr;-galactosidase that catalyzes the degradation of the galactoside. The addition of the &agr;-galactosidase increases the ratio of gain to feed, increases the amount of white meat, or decreases the amount of fat deposited during growth of a chicken fed the feed composition, relative to the chicken fed on an identical feed composition absent the &agr;-galactosidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kemin Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Arlene T. Lamptey, Friedhelm Brinkhaus, John A. Greaves, Eddy A. Fontana, Gary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6170360
    Abstract: A tool for removing a retainer from the opposed tangs of a spring-type hose clamp is provided. The tool includes a first member adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and dislodge the retainer from the tangs of the hose clamp. The tool also includes a second member adapted to retain the retainer to the first member after the removal of the retainer from the hose clamp. A method for employing the tool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5992481
    Abstract: A filling aid for field filling the engine cooling system of automotive vehicles with cooling liquids. For field service, the filling aid is mounted in a stabilized upright orientation by an integral fluid sealing connection to a filler neck of the deareation chamber of a coolant bottle of the system so that it extends above the bottle. Coolant is added into the cooling system through the filling aid until the filling aid and deareation chamber are filled with coolant. Because a taller column of coolant has been established by use of the filling aid, potential energy is increased and coolant is quickly fed by increased pressure and force into the engine cooling system. When sufficient coolant fills the system, any coolant left in the filling aid may be released by removing a closure clamp previously installed on an overflow tube leading from the deareation chamber so that it drains with no spills from the filling aid to an overflow chamber of the coolant bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5950695
    Abstract: A filling aid for field filling the engine cooling system of automotive vehicles with cooling liquids. For field service, the filling aid is mounted in a stabilized upright orientation by an integral fluid sealing connection to a filler neck of the deareation chamber of a coolant bottle of the system so that it extends above the bottle. Coolant is added into the cooling system through the filling aid until the filling aid and deareation chamber are filled with coolant. Because a taller column of coolant has been established by use of the filling aid, potential energy is increased and coolant is quickly fed by increased pressure and force into the engine cooling system. When sufficient coolant fills the system, any coolant left in the filling aid may be released by removing a closure clamp previously installed on an overflow tube leading from the deareation chamber so that it drains with no spills from the filling aid to an overflow chamber of the coolant bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5680833
    Abstract: A multi-chambered liquid coolant receiving bottle unitized from upper and lower plastic parts forming part of the closed coolant system of an internal combustion engine. When unitized the bottle comprises a pressurized coolant deaeration chamber separated by a convexly curved stationary pressure wall from overflow chamber. The chambers are arranged laterally side-by-side and are hydraulically connected to one another by a hose external of the bottle. The upper plastic part forming an upper portion of the coolant chamber supports a coolant filler neck that operatively mounts a pressure cap thereon. The pressure cap has a lower primary seal, an upper secondary seal and a vacuum breaker valve and cooperates with the filler neck so that coolant is transmitted to the overflow chamber from the deaeration chamber when the coolant of the system expands and from the overflow chamber to the dearation chamber when the system coolant contacts and creates a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4220053
    Abstract: A worm gear set (12) particularly adapted for use as a valve actuator (10) includes a stop mechanism (14) having a blocking member (32) and a stop (34) that cooperate to terminate rotation of the worm (18) thereof in order to limit the extent of rotation of the gear (22) driven by the worm while preventing lockup due to excessive torque applied to the worm. An actuator (36) on the gear preferably moves the blocking member from a nonblocking position to a blocking position as the gear approaches an extreme of rotary movement whereupon the stop which is mounted on the worm is engaged by further worm rotation with the blocking member to terminate worm rotation and thereby limit the extent of gear rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Ex-Cell-O Corporation
    Inventors: Roland J. Barlow, Gary M. Smith