Patents by Inventor Jeffrey C. Hoppe

Jeffrey C. Hoppe 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: 11920544
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11885430
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of assembling an electromechanical valve includes positioning the armature stop in a first position at a first distance from a valve seat, actuating the valve to move an armature away from the valve seat, providing a fluid flow to the valve, determining a fluid flow characteristic, and as a function of the fluid flow characteristic, moving the armature stop relative to the valve seat to a second position that is at a distance other than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, William E. Galka, David L. Speirs, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Ernesto O. Basanez
  • Patent number: 11885291
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes multiple throttle bores, an inlet chamber in which fuel is received, at least one fuel passage communicating the inlet chamber with the throttle bores, and a valve having an inlet in communication with the inlet chamber, an outlet and a valve head that is movable and allows flow from the inlet chamber through the outlet when the pressure in the inlet chamber is greater than a threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban
  • Publication number: 20230243328
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 11655788
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20230123915
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20220220927
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes multiple throttle bores, an inlet chamber in which fuel is received, at least one fuel passage communicating the inlet chamber with the throttle bores, and a valve having an inlet in communication with the inlet chamber, an outlet and a valve head that is movable and allows flow from the inlet chamber through the outlet when the pressure in the inlet chamber is greater than a threshold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban
  • Publication number: 20220205419
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a body that has a throttle bore, a throttle valve associated with the throttle bore, a coupler and an actuator. The throttle has a valve head received within and movable relative to the throttle bore, and a valve shaft to which the valve head is coupled. The coupler is connected to the valve shaft and carries or includes a sensor element. And the actuator has a drive shaft coupled to the coupler so that rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the coupler and the valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20220195949
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle valve includes a valve shaft having an axis and a mounting surface, and a valve head secured to the valve shaft. The valve head has a front face and a rear face closer to the mounting surface than the front face, the mounting surface being located so that a thickness of the valve head between the front face and the rear face is not coincident with the axis. And the axis is closer to the front face than to the rear face, or the axis is coincident with the rear face, or the axis is offset from the front face by more than the distance between the front face and rear face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, David L. Speirs
  • Publication number: 20220003332
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of assembling an electromechanical valve includes positioning the armature stop in a first position at a first distance from a valve seat, actuating the valve to move an armature away from the valve seat, providing a fluid flow to the valve, determining a fluid flow characteristic, and as a function of the fluid flow characteristic, moving the armature stop relative to the valve seat to a second position that is at a distance other than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley J. Roche, William E. Galka, David L. Speirs, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Ernesto O. Basanez
  • Publication number: 20200208753
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, an armature for a solenoid valve includes a tubular main body and a head. The main body has an axis, a first end and a second end spaced axially from the first end. An outer surface of the main body is spaced radially from the axis and extends between the first end and the second end, and an inner surface is spaced radially inwardly from the outer surface and defines a cavity within the main body. The head is formed from a different material than the main body and carried by the main body, the head enclosing at least part of the cavity in the main body. The armature may be used in a solenoid valve and may be driven by an electromagnetic field generated by a coil of the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8272488
    Abstract: Overrunning coupling and control assemblies, each of which includes control apparatus having a latching mechanism are provided. Each latching mechanism prevents an actuator arm of an overrunning coupling assembly from moving in a first direction substantially parallel to a shift direction of a control plate of the coupling assembly within a housing slot in a locked condition of the mechanism in a first position of the control plate. A control pressure signal within a bore of the housing changes the condition of the latching mechanism from locked to unlocked to unlock the actuator arm and causes the unlocked actuator arm to move along the first direction within the slot and the control element to move along the shift direction to a second position. The control pressure signal also causes a piston which has a groove formed in its outer surface to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm to slide within the bore in the housing against the biasing force of the at least one biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Eisengruber, Terry O. Hendrick, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Robert D. Fetting, Joshua A. Bukoffsky
  • Publication number: 20100200358
    Abstract: Overrunning coupling and control assemblies, each of which includes control apparatus having a latching mechanism are provided. Each latching mechanism prevents an actuator arm of an overrunning coupling assembly from moving in a first direction substantially parallel to a shift direction of a control plate of the coupling assembly within a housing slot in a locked condition of the mechanism in a first position of the control plate. A control pressure signal within a bore of the housing changes the condition of the latching mechanism from locked to unlocked to unlock the actuator arm and causes the unlocked actuator arm to move along the first direction within the slot and the control element to move along the shift direction to a second position. The control pressure signal also causes a piston which has a groove formed in its outer surface to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm to slide within the bore in the housing against the biasing force of the at least one biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Eisengruber, Terry O. Hendrick, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Robert D. Fetting, Joshua A. Bukoffosky
  • Publication number: 20090127052
    Abstract: A coupling assembly includes an annular housing, an inner member and a coupling pack including first and second sets of discs that alternate with each other and respectively have connections to the annular housing and the inner member. An actuator compresses the coupling pack to rotationally couple the annular housing and the inner member to each other about a central axis. One or more springs is received within the second set of discs between the actuator and the inner member for decompressing the coupling pack to rotationally decouple the annular housing and the inner member from each other about the central axis. A set of retainers in the form of retaining tabs hold the coupling pack, the actuator, the spring(s) and the inner member within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Mark A. Willett, Terry O. Hendrick, Jeffrey C. Hoppe
  • Publication number: 20090127053
    Abstract: A coupling assembly including an annular housing, an inner member and a plurality of coupling components is provided. The coupling components include a coupling pack, an actuator and springs between the actuator and the inner member. A set of retainers in the form of retaining tabs hold the coupling components as well as the inner member within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Brian M. Nosakowski, Terry O. Hendrick, Jeffrey C. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 6761193
    Abstract: A level sensor and fuel pump assembly insertable through an access hole of a fuel tank so that an elongated fuel pump is disposed substantially completely within the fuel tank, and so that a flange of the assembly covers the hole and is engaged sealably to the wall of the fuel tank. The fuel level sensor has an arm which projects generally laterally when in a biased operating position from the elongated fuel pump to a float at a distal end. During insertion of the fully pre-assembled fuel sensor and pump assembly through the access hole of the fuel tank, the fuel level sensor is pivoted from the biased operating position to a collapsed position by an external force thus pivoting the fuel level sensor generally parallel, and closely orientated, to the fuel pump. This temporary orientation permits insertion of the fuel pump assembly through the relatively small access hole of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cotton, Jeffrey D. Hanby, Gerald A. Hill, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Roger N. Smith
  • Patent number: 6446939
    Abstract: A modular diaphragm carburetor is provided which has a plurality of plates each with generally planar faces adapted to be mated and releasably connected together to facilitate manufacturing and assembling the carburetor and to permit various plates and components of the carburetor to be used in carburetors designed for use with different engine families. By providing a plurality of mated together plates, the machining of the passages through the carburetor is made dramatically easier when compared to the machining of a carburetor having a single body with end caps. Still further, the modular diaphragm design permits different plates and/or components of the carburetor to be used with other components to provide a carburetor having different performance characteristics and suitable for use with a different engine family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Ronald H. Roche, Kevin L. Williams
  • Patent number: 5905423
    Abstract: A permanent magnet armature solenoid has a tip formed of a non-magnetic material operably connected to a ferromagnetic insert which is firmly held to the end of the magnetic armature by the magnetic attraction between the insert and armature. The magnetic field of the armature holds the armature and the insert together as a single unit, even under high acceleration, deceleration and rapid movement of the armature. The insert is relatively small compared to the armature and the addition of the insert to the solenoid does not significantly adversely affect the performance of the solenoid. The insert is preferably formed of a magnetically susceptible metal such as iron, steel or stainless steel. Desirably, the tip is formed of a polymeric material and preferably of an elastomer so that the tip may be molded directly to the insert by conventional molding techniques to facilitate molding the non-magnetic tip onto the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Hoppe