Patents by Inventor John Christopher Riegger

John Christopher Riegger 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: 9488127
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a head gasket positioned between a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block has first and second cylinders separated by a block bore bridge, and a block cooling jacket with a first passage and a second passage intersecting a block deck face. The cylinder head has first and second chambers separated by a head bore bridge, and a head cooling jacket with a third passage and a fourth passage intersecting a head deck face. The gasket forms a slot positioned adjacent to at least one of the block bore bridge and the head bore bridge to fluidly connect the first and fourth passages to cool the at least one of the block bore bridge and head bore bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Beyer, Jody Michael Slike, Jeffrey D. Fluharty, John Christopher Riegger, Scott Eeley
  • Patent number: 9476481
    Abstract: Exemplary arrangements for drive chains are disclosed. In one exemplary arrangement, a tooth shaped link member for a drive chain comprises a web portion, a first side tooth, a second side tooth and a central guide tooth. The web portion extends between opposing side portions of the link member. The first side tooth and the second side tooth each include an apex that is oriented at an angle to extend toward the central guide tooth. In another exemplary arrangement, a drive chain comprises a plurality of inner links that are operatively connected to a plurality of outer links, where a pair of rollers are mounted between the inner links with a pin being positioned between the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Riegger, Jeffrey D. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 9470176
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block having first and second passages intersecting a block face on opposed sides of a bore bridge defining a bore bridge cooling passage. A cylinder head has third and fourth passages intersecting a head face. The first and fourth passages are opposed from one another. A gasket is placed between the block and the head. The gasket adapted to fluidly connect the first and fourth passages via the bore bridge cooling passage, and cover the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Beyer, John Christopher Riegger, Mohammed Yusuf Ali, Daryl Gene Self, Jody Michael Slike
  • Publication number: 20160265487
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an engine defines first and second exhaust runners fluidly coupled to an exhaust passage extending transversely in the head to an exhaust port on an exhaust side. The head defines an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage connected to the exhaust passage and extending longitudinally to an EGR port on the exhaust side. The head also defines a cooling jacket passage adjacent to and substantially surrounding the EGR passage to cool EGR gases prior to cooling by an EGR cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Theodore BEYER, Charles Joseph PATANIS, William SPENCE, Jody Michael SLIKE, John Christopher RIEGGER
  • Publication number: 20160069248
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block with first and second saw cuts intersecting a block face on opposed sides of a block bore bridge. A cylinder head has third and fourth saw cuts intersecting a head face on opposed sides of a head bore bridge. A gasket is placed between the block and the head. The gasket defines a cooling passage adapted to fluidly connect the first, second, third and fourth saw cuts and cool the interbore region of the engine. The cooling passage has an inlet and a pair of outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Theodore BEYER, John Christopher RIEGGER, Jody Michael SLIKE, Mohammed Yusuf ALI, Ian CATTERMOLE, Mathew Leonard HINTZEN
  • Publication number: 20160032814
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block having first and second passages intersecting a block face on opposed sides of a bore bridge defining a bore bridge cooling passage. A cylinder head has third and fourth passages intersecting a head face. The first and fourth passages are opposed from one another. A gasket is placed between the block and the head. The gasket adapted to fluidly connect the first and fourth passages via the bore bridge cooling passage, and cover the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Theodore BEYER, John Christopher RIEGGER, Mohammed Yusuf ALI, Daryl Gene SELF, Jody Michael SLIKE
  • Publication number: 20150300236
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a head gasket positioned between a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block has first and second cylinders separated by a block bore bridge, and a block cooling jacket with a first passage and a second passage intersecting a block deck face. The cylinder head has first and second chambers separated by a head bore bridge, and a head cooling jacket with a third passage and a fourth passage intersecting a head deck face. The gasket forms a slot positioned adjacent to at least one of the block bore bridge and the head bore bridge to fluidly connect the first and fourth passages to cool the at least one of the block bore bridge and head bore bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Beyer, Jody Michael Slike, Jeffrey D. Fluharty, John Christopher Riegger, Scott Eeley
  • Publication number: 20150292598
    Abstract: Exemplary arrangements for drive chains are disclosed. In one exemplary arrangement, a tooth shaped link member for a drive chain comprises a web portion, a first side tooth, a second side tooth and a central guide tooth. The web portion extends between opposing side portions of the link member. The first side tooth and the second side tooth each include an apex that is oriented at an angle to extend toward the central guide tooth. In another exemplary arrangement, a drive chain comprises a plurality of inner links that are operatively connected to a plurality of outer links, where a pair of rollers are mounted between the inner links with a pin being positioned between the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher RIEGGER, Jeffrey D. FLUHARTY
  • Patent number: 9157363
    Abstract: An engine receiving boost from a supercharger and/or a turbocharger compressor is provided, along with methods for its operation. The engine may include inline cylinders arranged on an engine block and an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM), where exhaust flow from inner cylinders is kept separate from exhaust flow from outer cylinders within the IEM and where exhaust flow from the inner cylinders but not the outer cylinders flows through a turbine of the turbocharger. The supercharger and turbocharger compressor may be arranged in parallel upstream of an intake manifold of the engine, and throttles upstream of each of the supercharger and compressor may be controlled to direct intake air through one or both of the supercharger and the compressor based on engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, John Christopher Riegger
  • Patent number: 8960137
    Abstract: An engine cooling system is provided. The engine cooling system includes a cylinder head including an integrated exhaust manifold that directs exhaust gases to an exhaust outlet port and a coolant passage surrounding the exhaust manifold. The engine cooling system further includes a cluster of separated exhaust passages for directing exhaust gases to the exhaust outlet port, the cluster including a drill hole disposed within material between the exhaust passages, the drill hole fluidically coupled to the coolant passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Jay Brewer, John Christopher Riegger, Kevin V. Tallio
  • Publication number: 20150007800
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a turbocharged engine are described. In one example, a system comprises a cylinder head having a first and second exhaust duct separately coupled to first and second groups of cylinders, each of the first and second exhaust ducts leading to an exhaust driven turbine mounted inside the cylinder head on a bearing, the bearing located within a bearing housing supported by the cylinder head. In this way, exhaust pulses remain separate up to the turbine mounted inside the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, John Christopher Riegger
  • Patent number: 8875670
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an engine is provided. The cylinder head may include an upper cooling jacket including at least a first inlet and a first outlet and a lower cooling jacket including at least a second inlet and a second outlet. The cylinder head may further include a first set of crossover coolant passages including one or more crossover coolant passages fluidly coupled to the upper cooling jacket and the lower cooling jacket and adjacent to one or more combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Jay Brewer, John Christopher Riegger, Dennis G. Barbier, Jeff D. Fluharty, Jody Michael Slike
  • Patent number: 8869758
    Abstract: An engine is has a cylinder block defining a cylinder and a block cooling jacket having an open passage along a block deck face, and a cylinder head having an exhaust bridge conduit. A head gasket is placed between the block and the head and defines first and second apertures connecting the open passage of the block cooling jacket to the exhaust bridge conduit. A cylinder head has a deck face, and a cooling jacket. The cooling jacket has a passage formed by an inlet channel with a conduit at one end and extending into an exhaust bridge between adjacent exhaust ports. The inlet channel intersects the deck face and is elongated along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder head. The inlet channel has a convex surface positioned between opposed ends of the channel and extending away from the deck face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Beyer, John Christopher Riegger, Jody Michael Slike, Philip Damian Cierpial, Jeffrey D. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 8857385
    Abstract: A cylinder head including an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM cylinder head) is coupled to a cylinder block of an engine. The IEM cylinder head comprises an exhaust collector coupled to cylinder exhaust valves, an exhaust port coupled to the exhaust collector, and a coolant jacket for cooling the cylinder head. An upper wall of the cylinder head at a region above the exhaust collector and proximal to the exhaust port may include a degas valve and a temperature sensor. The degas valve may be coupled at a top most dome portion of an upper coolant core of the coolant jacket to direct accumulated steam and/or gas out of the upper coolant core to a degas bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Beyer, John Christopher Riegger, Eric Dummer
  • Patent number: 8839759
    Abstract: A cylinder head of an engine with an integrated exhaust manifold is provided. In one example, the inner exhaust runners and outer exhaust runners have different cross-sectional areas. This arrangement may be beneficial to maintain exhaust flow rates in the integrated exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Riegger, Shuya Shark Yamada, Todd Jay Brewer
  • Publication number: 20140069357
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an engine is provided. The cylinder head may include an upper cooling jacket including at least a first inlet and a first outlet and a lower cooling jacket including at least a second inlet and a second outlet. The cylinder head may further include a first set of crossover coolant passages including one or more crossover coolant passages fluidly coupled to the upper cooling jacket and the lower cooling jacket and adjacent to one or more combustion chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Jay Brewer, John Christopher Riegger, Dennis G. Barbier, Jeff D. Fluharty, Jody Michael Slike
  • Publication number: 20140053547
    Abstract: An engine receiving boost from a supercharger and/or a turbocharger compressor is provided, along with methods for its operation. The engine may include inline cylinders arranged on an engine block and an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM), where exhaust flow from inner cylinders is kept separate from exhaust flow from outer cylinders within the IEM and where exhaust flow from the inner cylinders but not the outer cylinders flows through a turbine of the turbocharger. The supercharger and turbocharger compressor may be arranged in parallel upstream of an intake manifold of the engine, and throttles upstream of each of the supercharger and compressor may be controlled to direct intake air through one or both of the supercharger and the compressor based on engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Wade, John Christopher Riegger
  • Patent number: 8584628
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an engine is provided. The cylinder head may include an upper cooling jacket including at least a first inlet and a first outlet and a lower cooling jacket including at least a second inlet and a second outlet. The cylinder head may further include a first set of crossover coolant passages including one or more crossover coolant passages fluidly coupled to the upper cooling jacket and the lower cooling jacket and adjacent to one or more combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Jay Brewer, John Christopher Riegger, Dennis G. Barbier, Jeff D. Fluharty, Jody Michael Slike
  • Patent number: 8474251
    Abstract: A cylinder head with an integrated exhaust manifold is provided, the integrated exhaust manifold including an exhaust manifold flange. In one example, the cylinder head includes a cooled flange to control exhaust system heat. The cylinder head can improve operation of an integrated cylinder head during at least some operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ted Beyer, Jody Michael Slike, John Christopher Riegger
  • Publication number: 20130055971
    Abstract: An engine cooling system is provided. The engine cooling system includes a cylinder head including an integrated exhaust manifold that directs exhaust gases to an exhaust outlet port and a coolant passage surrounding the exhaust manifold. The engine cooling system further includes a cluster of separated exhaust passages for directing exhaust gases to the exhaust outlet port, the cluster including a drill hole disposed within material between the exhaust passages, the drill hole fluidically coupled to the coolant passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Jay Brewer, John Christopher Riegger, Kevin V. Tallio