Patents by Inventor James Douglas Ervin

James Douglas Ervin 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).

  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING HYDRAULIC VALVE LASH COMPENSATION FOR ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE POPPET VALVES
    Publication number: 20090266319
    Abstract: A system and method for assembling an electrical valve actuator to a cylinder head is described. The system and method provide for lower assembly cost, improved concentricity between valve actuator armatures and valve stems, as well enabling lower inertia valve actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: James Douglas Ervin
  • Traction-drive, continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 6575869
    Abstract: An infinitely variable traction drive variator comprising at least one pair of toroidal discs with torque-transmitting traction rollers situated between the discs. As one disc drives the other, the effective radius of the point of contact of the rollers on one disc is decreased and the effective radius of the point of contact of the rollers with the other disc increases. The rollers are rotatably mounted in a trunnion which is pivotally mounted on a gimbal frame, which in turn is pivotally mounted on a relatively stationary gimbal support. Provision is made for adjusting the angularity of the frame about the axis of the discs, thereby creating an angular offset for the rollers, which results in a change of the effective radius of the contact at each disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventor: James Douglas Ervin
  • Traction-drive, continuously variable transmission
    Publication number: 20020128114
    Abstract: An infinitely variable traction drive variator comprising at least one pair of toroidal discs with torque-transmitting traction rollers situated between the discs. As one disc drives the other, the effective radius of the point of contact of the rollers on one disc is decreased and the effective radius of the point of contact of the rollers with the other disc increases. The rollers are rotatably mounted in a trunnion which is pivotally mounted on a gimbal frame, which in turn is pivotally mounted on a relatively stationary gimbal support. Provision is made for adjusting the angularity of the frame about the axis of the discs, thereby creating an angular offset for the rollers, which results in a change of the effective radius of the contact at each disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: James Douglas Ervin