Patents by Inventor Jeff Riffe

Jeff Riffe 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: 10968862
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body including an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions. The first portion extends annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion includes a combustion bowl. The first portion can also include valve pockets formed therein to reduce weight. The upper wall has an undercrown surface directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. To enhance cooling, a center portion of the undercrown surface is concave, such that oil is channeled during reciprocation of the piston from one side to the opposite side of the piston. The concave center portion is axially offset from the surrounding area of the undercrown surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Patent number: 10738731
    Abstract: A galleryless steel piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body including an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions. The first portion extends annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion defines a combustion bowl. The piston further includes undercrown surface located directly opposite the combustion bowl with an exposed 2-dimensional surface area allowing for contact of cooling oil. The exposed 2-dimensional surface area ranges from 25 to 60 percent of a cross-sectional area defined by a maximum outer diameter of the piston body. To further enhance cooling, a portion of the undercrown surface is concave or convex, such that oil is channeled during reciprocation of the piston from one side to the opposite side of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Patent number: 10202937
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine and method of construction thereof are provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body extending along a central longitudinal axis. The piston body has an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions, with the first portion extending annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion forming a combustion bowl. The upper wall has an undercrown surface on an underside of the combustion bowl directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. The undercrown surface has an openly exposed surface area, as viewed looking along the central longitudinal axis, thereby providing an expansive area against which oil being splashed or sprayed can freely contact to cool the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Publication number: 20190003418
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body including an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions. The first portion extends annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion includes a combustion bowl. The first portion can also include valve pockets formed therein to reduce weight. The upper wall has an undercrown surface directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. To enhance cooling, a center portion of the undercrown surface is concave, such that oil is channeled during reciprocation of the piston from one side to the opposite side of the piston. The concave center portion is axially offset from the surrounding area of the undercrown surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Patent number: 10094327
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body including an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions. The first portion extends annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion includes a combustion bowl. The first portion can also include valve pockets formed therein to reduce weight. The upper wall has an undercrown surface directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. To enhance cooling, a center portion of the undercrown surface is concave, such that oil is channeled during reciprocation of the piston from one side to the opposite side of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Patent number: 9869268
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine and method of construction thereof are provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body extending along a central longitudinal axis. The piston body has an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions, with the first portion extending annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion forming a combustion bowl. The upper wall has an undercrown surface on an underside of the combustion bowl directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. The undercrown surface has an openly exposed 2-dimensional surface area, as viewed looking along the central longitudinal axis, between about 35-60 percent of an area defined by a maximum outer diameter of the piston body, thereby providing an expansive area against which oil being splashed or sprayed can freely contact to cool the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Publication number: 20170321628
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine and method of construction thereof are provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body extending along a central longitudinal axis. The piston body has an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions, with the first portion extending annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion forming a combustion bowl. The upper wall has an undercrown surface on an underside of the combustion bowl directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. The undercrown surface has an openly exposed surface area, as viewed looking along the central longitudinal axis, thereby providing an expansive area against which oil being splashed or sprayed can freely contact to cool the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Publication number: 20160115899
    Abstract: A galleryless steel piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body including an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions. The first portion extends annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion defines a combustion bowl. The piston further includes undercrown surface located directly opposite the combustion bowl with an exposed 2-dimensional surface area allowing for contact of cooling oil. The exposed 2-dimensional surface area ranges from 25 to 60 percent of a cross-sectional area defined by a maximum outer diameter of the piston body. To further enhance cooling, a portion of the undercrown surface is concave or convex, such that oil is channeled during reciprocation of the piston from one side to the opposite side of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Publication number: 20160090939
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body including an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions. The first portion extends annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion includes a combustion bowl. The first portion can also include valve pockets formed therein to reduce weight. The upper wall has an undercrown surface directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. To enhance cooling, a center portion of the undercrown surface is concave, such that oil is channeled during reciprocation of the piston from one side to the opposite side of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Publication number: 20150122212
    Abstract: A galleryless piston for an internal combustion engine and method of construction thereof are provided. The piston has a monolithic piston body extending along a central longitudinal axis. The piston body has an upper wall forming an upper combustion surface with first and second portions, with the first portion extending annularly along an outer periphery of the upper wall and the second portion forming a combustion bowl. The upper wall has an undercrown surface on an underside of the combustion bowl directly opposite the second portion of the upper combustion surface. The undercrown surface has an openly exposed 2-dimensional surface area, as viewed looking along the central longitudinal axis, between about 35-60 percent of an area defined by a maximum outer diameter of the piston body, thereby providing an expansive area against which oil being splashed or sprayed can freely contact to cool the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger
  • Patent number: D768207
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Riffe, Michael Weinenger