Patents by Inventor George A. Meek

George A. Meek 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: 11506164
    Abstract: A control valve assembly of a fuel injector includes a first valve arrangement wherein a first valve spool is guided in a first hydraulic bore provided in a body of the assembly. The control assembly further includes a first tubular sleeve having a seating portion which end face defines the first seating face, the first sleeve being fixed in the first hydraulic bore and the first spool extending through the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Backhouse, George A. Meek
  • Patent number: 11208975
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a control valve assembly arranged between an actuator assembly and a nozzle assembly. A 3-way valve controls flow for filling or draining a control chamber through a first throttle and through a second throttle for enabling or preventing fuel injection. The second throttle is a through orifice provided in a plate arranged in the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Lauren Dransfield
  • Patent number: 11053899
    Abstract: A positioning feature includes a first member so that in an embodiment where the pins of a connector are perpendicular to a main axis, an incorrect angular orientation is prevented by the positioning feature that would contact one of the pins and, a correct angular orientation is assured by the engagement of the first member between the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Thomas Hagon
  • Patent number: 10982635
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle having at least one nozzle outlet. A valve needle is moveable with respect to a valve needle seating through a range of movement between a closed position and an open position to control fuel delivery through the at least one nozzle outlet. The movement of the nozzle needle is controlled by fuel pressure within a control chamber. The injector has first and second nozzle control valves for controlling fuel flow into and out of the control chamber to pressurise and depressurise the control chamber, respectively. The first nozzle control valve can operate selectively to place the control chamber in fluid communication with a fuel drain or to place the control chamber in fluid communication with a high pressure supply line. The second nozzle control valve can operate selectively to place the control chamber in fluid communication with a fuel drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Anthony Thomas Harcombe, George A. Meek
  • Publication number: 20210095628
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a control valve assembly arranged between an actuator assembly and a nozzle assembly. A 3-way valve controls flow for filling or draining a control chamber through a first throttle and through a second throttle for enabling or preventing fuel injection. The second throttle is a through orifice provided in a plate arranged in the control chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: George A. MEEK, Lauren DRANSFIELD
  • Patent number: 10883428
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly of a dual fuel injector includes a first fuel conduit and a second fuel conduit. An anti-leakage feature of the nozzle assembly includes a cylindrical tubular sleeve axially extending in an inner space of the nozzle body from an upper end attached to the body to a distant lower end, the outer valve member being axially guided through said sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jason Yearsley, George A. Meek
  • Patent number: 10767611
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is particularly suitable for use as a dual fuel injector, and comprises a generally tubular outer valve needle, an inner valve needle slidably received in the outer valve needle, and a nozzle body assembly comprising a tip part and a needle guide part. The tip part defines a seating region for the outer valve needle, and the needle guide part comprises a guide bore for slidably receiving the outer valve needle. In one embodiment, a lower bore region of the needle guide part defines a cavity around the outer valve needle which houses a biasing spring for the outer valve needle and a fuel. A collar for seating the biasing spring can be dimensioned to allow free flow of the fuel from the cavity into an annular accumulator volume defined between the outer valve needle and the bore of the tip part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: WESTPORT POWER INC., DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Lukhbir Panesar
  • Publication number: 20200018275
    Abstract: A positioning feature includes a first member so that in an embodiment where the pins of a connector are perpendicular to a main axis, an incorrect angular orientation is prevented by the positioning feature that would contact one of the pins and, a correct angular orientation is assured by the engagement of the first member between the pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Thomas Hagon
  • Publication number: 20200018246
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly of a dual fuel injector includes a first fuel conduit and a second fuel conduit. An anti-leakage feature of the nozzle assembly includes a cylindrical tubular sleeve axially extending in an inner space of the nozzle body from an upper end attached to the body to a distant lower end, the outer valve member being axially guided through said sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Yearsley, George A. Meek
  • Publication number: 20200003171
    Abstract: A control valve assembly of a fuel injector includes a first valve arrangement wherein a first valve spool is guided in a first hydraulic bore provided in a body of the assembly. The control assembly further includes a first tubular sleeve having a seating portion which end face defines the first seating face, the first sleeve being fixed in the first hydraulic bore and the first spool extending through the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Simon Backhouse, George A. Meek
  • Publication number: 20190389622
    Abstract: A storage container 10 has multiple concertinas 34, said concertinas 34 can individually be clicked down when collapsed and such that when clicked down it is self-maintaining in a collapsed state. This provides improved storage options for when the storage container 10 is not in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: DEE WOOD, ALAN MICHAEL GEORGE MEEKS
  • Patent number: 10502169
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is installable in a cylinder head bore of a cylinder head of the engine and has a body region arranged to be received within the cylinder head bore, and a head region arranged to extend outside the cylinder head bore to protrude from the cylinder head when the injector is installed in the cylinder head bore. The injector includes a first valve needle arranged to control the injection of a gaseous fuel from a first outlet, a second valve needle arranged to control the injection of a liquid fuel from a second outlet, a gaseous fuel inlet for admitting the gaseous fuel to the injector, and a liquid fuel inlet port for admitting the liquid fuel to the injector. The gaseous fuel inlet is disposed in the body region of the injector, and the liquid fuel inlet port is disposed in the head region of the injector. The injector can also include an internal accumulator volume so that an external fuel rail is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Lukhbir Panesar
  • Publication number: 20190345881
    Abstract: A dual-fuel injector to be arranged in a dual-fuel injection equipment of an internal combustion engine extends along a main axis from a top-head to a nozzle-tip. A first circuit conveys a first fuel to a first set of injection holes and a second circuit conveys a second fuel to a second set of injection holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Stanbridge, George A. Meek
  • Patent number: 10294908
    Abstract: A fuel injector, preferably a dual fuel injector, for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector comprises first and second valve needles (80, 100) arranged to control the injection of first and second fuels, first and second control chambers (88, 10) associated with the first and second valve needles (80, 100) respectively, a first control valve (26) comprising a first control valve member (48) and arranged to vary the pressure of a control fluid in the first control chamber (88) so as to cause opening and closing movement of the first valve needle (80), and a second control valve (28) comprising a second control valve member (60) and arranged to vary the control fluid 10 pressure in the second control chamber (110) so as to cause opening and closing movement of the second valve needle (100). The first and second control valve members (48, 60) are arranged for linear movement along a common control valve axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Lukhbir Panesar, Michael Colin Wickstone
  • Publication number: 20190010908
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is particularly suitable for use as a dual fuel injector, and comprises a generally tubular outer valve needle, an inner valve needle slidably received in the outer valve needle, and a nozzle body assembly comprising a tip part and a needle guide part. The tip part defines a seating region for the outer valve needle, and the needle guide part comprises a guide bore for slidably receiving the outer valve needle. In one embodiment, a lower bore region of the needle guide part defines a. cavity around the outer valve needle which houses a biasing spring for the outer valve needle and a fuel. A collar for seating the biasing spring can be dimensioned to allow free flow of the fuel from the cavity into an annular accumulator volume defined between the outer valve needle and the bore of the tip part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: George A. MEEK, Lukhbir PANESAR
  • Patent number: 10100797
    Abstract: A fuel injector (100) for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is particularly suitable for use as a dual fuel injector, and comprises a generally tubular outer valve needle (130), an inner valve needle (140) slidably received in the outer valve needle (130), and a nozzle body assembly (112) comprising a tip part (120) and a needle guide part (118). The tip part (120) defines a seating region (120f) for the outer valve needle (130), and the needle guide part (118) comprises a guide bore (118e) for slidably receiving the outer valve needle (130). In one embodiment, the tip part (120) and the needle guide part (118) are made from different materials, and a biasing spring (148) for the outer valve needle (130) is housed in the nozzle body assembly (112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: WESTPORT POWER INC., DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Lukhbir Panesar
  • Publication number: 20180274506
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is installable in a cylinder head bore of a cylinder head of the engine and has a body region arranged to be received within the cylinder head bore, and a head region arranged to extend outside the cylinder head bore to protrude from the cylinder head when the injector is installed in the cylinder head bore. The injector includes a first valve needle arranged to control the injection of a gaseous fuel from a first outlet, a second valve needle arranged to control the injection of a liquid fuel from a second outlet, a gaseous fuel inlet for admitting the gaseous fuel to the injector, and a liquid fuel inlet port for admitting the liquid fuel to the injector. The gaseous fuel inlet is disposed in the body region of the injector, and the liquid fuel inlet port is disposed in the head region of the injector. The injector can also include an internal accumulator volume so that an external fuel rail is not necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: George A. MEEK, Lukhbir PANESAR
  • Patent number: 10006422
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is installable in a cylinder head bore of a cylinder head of the engine and has a body region arranged to be received within the cylinder head bore, and a head region arranged to extend outside the cylinder head bore to protrude from the cylinder head when the injector is installed in the cylinder head bore. The injector includes a first valve needle arranged to control the injection of a gaseous fuel from a first outlet, a second valve needle arranged to control the injection of a liquid fuel from a second outlet, a gaseous fuel inlet for admitting the gaseous fuel to the injector, and a liquid fuel inlet port for admitting the liquid fuel to the injector. The gaseous fuel inlet is disposed in the body region of the injector, and the liquid fuel inlet port is disposed in the head region of the injector. The injector can also include an internal accumulator volume so that an external fuel rail is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: WESTPORT POWER INC., DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: George A. Meek, Lukhbir Panesar
  • Publication number: 20180118410
    Abstract: A storage container (10) has a storage vessel (12) and a lid (14). The lid has clips (16) for attaching it to the storage vessel. The storage vessel (12) has a separate lip (20) assembled onto an opening flange (72) of the storage vessel. The lip seals with a circumferential member (18) of the lid (14). The lip 20 thus allows the opening flange (72) to form a seal with the lid (14). This provides greater freedom in the manufacturing techniques used for the storage vessel (12) whilst still enabling a seal with the lid (14).There is also a concertina-type vessel described in combination with the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: DEE WOOD, ALAN MICHAEL GEORGE MEEKS
  • Publication number: 20180045153
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle having at least one nozzle outlet. A valve needle is moveable with respect to a valve needle seating through a range of movement between a closed position and an open position to control fuel delivery through the at least one nozzle outlet. The movement of the nozzle needle is controlled by fuel pressure within a control chamber. The injector has first and second nozzle control valves for controlling fuel flow into and out of the control chamber to pressurise and depressurise the control chamber, respectively. The first nozzle control valve can operate selectively to place the control chamber in fluid communication with a fuel drain or to place the control chamber in fluid communication with a high pressure supply line. The second nozzle control valve can operate selectively to place the control chamber in fluid communication with a fuel drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Thomas Harcombe, George A. Meek