Patents by Inventor James R. Clark

James R. Clark 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: 12107468
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor for a power tool includes a rotor assembly and a stator assembly including stator windings. A ratio of a motor size (Km) constant of the motor to an electrical envelope of the motor including electrical parts of the motor is greater than approximately 850 (N·m/?W)/m{circumflex over (?)}3. A ratio of a motor size (Km) constant of the motor to a magnetic envelope of the motor including stator core and windings is greater than approximately 980 (N·m/?W)/m{circumflex over (?)}3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Barak N. Gohn, Colin M. Crosby, Nicholas J. Lowe, James R. Clarke, Daniel F. Heck, Michael P. Sikora, Christian B. Rogerson, Ryan F. Schroeder, Connor T. Mohan, Michael D. Grove
  • Patent number: 12088160
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor for a power tool includes a rotor assembly; a stator assembly including a stator having stator teeth forming slots therebetween and stator windings wound around the stator teeth; stator terminals extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from the stator assembly and being substantially aligned with centerlines of the slots of the stator assembly; and a circuit board mounted on the stator terminals adjacent the stator assembly. The circuit board includes conductive traces facilitating a one of a delta or a series connection between the stator windings. An end insulator is provided at an axial end of the stator to electrically insulate the stator from the stator windings, the end insulator including support members to support the stator terminals relative to the stator assembly. The circuit board is mounted and fastened to the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Barak N. Gohn, Colin M. Crosby, Nicholas J. Lowe, James R. Clarke, Daniel F. Heck, Michael P. Sikora, Christian B. Rogerson, Ryan F. Schroeder, Connor T. Mohan, Michael D. Grove
  • Patent number: 11837926
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly including a rotor supporting permanent magnets rotatable relative to the stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator comprising a stator core and stator teeth radially extending from the stator core and defining slots therebetween. A first set of stator windings is wound on the stator teeth, and a second set of stator windings is also wound on the stator teeth such that, on each stator tooth, the first and second windings are provided in an electrically parallel configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER, INC.
    Inventors: Barak N. Gohn, Colin M. Crosby, Nicholas J. Lowe, James R. Clarke, Daniel F. Heck, Michael P. Sikora, Christian B. Rogerson, Ryan F. Schroeder, Connor T. Mohan, Michael D. Grove
  • Publication number: 20210348548
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 11149632
    Abstract: Methods and systems for damping an impact velocity in an engine system are provided. In one example, the engine system comprises a variable compression ratio (VCR) mechanism including a rod length adjustment assembly configured to adjust a distance between a crankshaft interface and a piston interface. The rod length adjustment assembly also includes a fluid control circuit including a damping cavity positioned between a first rod section and second rod section and configured to dampen a relative motion between the first and second rod sections during a compression ratio adjustment to reduce noise, vibration, and/or harshness (NVH).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wade, James R. Clarke
  • Patent number: 11022029
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10899479
    Abstract: A controllable shape memory alloy (SMA) hinge apparatus comprises multiple SMA elements to effect a first angle of rotation and a second angle of rotation between a first object and a second object. In one example, respective SMA elements are independently activated by Joule heating to rotate the first object and/or the second object. SMA elements undergo a three-dimensional transformation, and a pair of elements may undergo antagonistic transformations so as to provide for a multiple-use bidirectional non-continuous rotary actuator. SMA elements may be trained to achieve different angles of rotations between the objects (e.g., zero degrees and 90 degrees). In some examples, the first object may be a spacecraft (e.g., a satellite) and the second object may be a deployable structure (e.g., a robotic appendage, a deployable solar panel, a deployable aperture, a deployable mirror, a deployable radiator, and at least one actuator to steer an antenna dish).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts INSTITUTE of technology
    Inventors: Kerri Lynn Cahoy, Christian Alexander Haughwout, Derek C. Barnes, Maxim Oleg Khatsenko, James R. Clark
  • Publication number: 20200400063
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10697357
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20200108951
    Abstract: A controllable shape memory alloy (SMA) hinge apparatus comprises multiple SMA elements to effect a first angle of rotation and a second angle of rotation between a first object and a second object. In one example, respective SMA elements are independently activated by Joule heating to rotate the first object and/or the second object. SMA elements undergo a three-dimensional transformation (e.g., bending or torsion), and a pair of elements may undergo antagonistic transformations so as to provide for a multiple-use bidirectional non-continuous rotary actuator. SMA elements may be trained to achieve different angles of rotations between the objects (e.g., zero degrees and 90 degrees). SMA elements may be nitinol, and may be formed as wires, rectangular sheets, or coils. In some examples, the first object may be a spacecraft (e.g., a satellite) and the second object may be a deployable structure (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Kerri Lynn Cahoy, Christian Alexander Haughwout, Derek C. Barnes, Maxim Oleg Khatsenko, James R. Clark
  • Publication number: 20200072122
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10465621
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20190277186
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10408122
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10364739
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10309296
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10302008
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20190136749
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20190032547
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20190032584
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke