Patents by Inventor John E. Brune

John E. Brune 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: 11326480
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly including a rocker body having an upper wall arranged above a pivot axis, two ears extending from opposing sides of the upper wall and defining a pivot bore coaxial with the pivot axis, and a pad end wall and a socket end wall each extending from the upper wall and the ears. A pad having a convex pad surface is formed on the pad end wall for engaging a valve and a socket having a concave socket surface is formed on the socket end wall for engaging a pushrod. The rocker arm assembly further includes a trunnion body and a bearing, each disposed in the pivot bores and for facilitating pivoting movement between the rocker body and the trunnion body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith, Dennis Landis
  • Publication number: 20220010692
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly including a rocker body having an upper wall arranged above a pivot axis, two ears extending from opposing sides of the upper wall and defining a pivot bore coaxial with the pivot axis, and a pad end wall and a socket end wall each extending from the upper wall and the ears. A pad having a convex pad surface is formed on the pad end wall for engaging a valve and a socket having a concave socket surface is formed on the socket end wall for engaging a pushrod. The rocker arm assembly further includes a trunnion body and a bearing, each disposed in the pivot bores and for facilitating pivoting movement between the rocker body and the trunnion body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith, Dennis Landis
  • Publication number: 20210404430
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body having inner and outer surface and defining a pair of apertures, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft and a first bearing and a second bearing each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. A beam is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body and the beam is arranged in the tappet body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Terence William Roberts, JR., Tyler Austin Hamm
  • Patent number: 11111893
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body having a shelf and defining a pair of apertures, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft, a first bearing and a second bearing, each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. A beam is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body and the beam is arranged in the tappet body and engaged with the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Terence William Roberts, Jr., Tyler Austin Hamm
  • Patent number: 10837416
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body defining a pair of apertures and a pair of seats, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft, a first bearing and a second bearing, each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. An intermediate element is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element is at least partially disposed in the pair of seats of the tappet body and the shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Luke Gossman, Dennis Landis
  • Publication number: 20200300203
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body having a shelf and defining a pair of apertures, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft, a first bearing and a second bearing, each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. A beam is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body and the beam is arranged in the tappet body and engaged with the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Terence William Roberts, JR., Tyler Austin Hamm
  • Patent number: 10697413
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body defining a pair of apertures and at least one seat, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft, a first bearing, and a second bearing, each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. An intermediate element is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element is at least partially disposed in the at least one seat of the tappet body and the shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Luke Gossman, Dennis Landis
  • Publication number: 20190368456
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body defining a pair of apertures and at least one seat, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft, a first bearing, and a second bearing, each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. An intermediate element is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element is at least partially disposed in the at least one seat of the tappet body and the shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: GT Technologies
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Luke Gossman, Dennis Landis
  • Publication number: 20190368455
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly comprises a tappet body defining a pair of apertures and a pair of seats, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly has a shaft, a first bearing and a second bearing, each supported on the shaft for engaging the camshaft lobe. An intermediate element is further supported on the shaft between the first and second bearings and has a platform for engaging the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element is at least partially disposed in the pair of seats of the tappet body and the shaft is disposed in the pair of apertures of the tappet body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: GT Technologies
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Luke Gossman, Dennis Landis
  • Patent number: 10060400
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element includes a pair of lock apertures. The bearing assembly further includes a pair of shields supported on the shaft of the bearing assembly with the bearing interposed between the shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: GT Technologies
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180202402
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element includes a pair of lock apertures. The bearing assembly further includes a pair of shields supported on the shaft of the bearing assembly with the bearing interposed between the shields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith
  • Patent number: 10024286
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a first aperture, a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. An annular body has a second aperture and at least one stop member abutting the intermediate element to align the first aperture with the second aperture. An anti-rotation clip is disposed so as to extend through the apertures and cooperates with the stop member to substantially prevent rotational and axial movement of the intermediate element with respect to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith
  • Patent number: 9863291
    Abstract: A locator for use in a valvetrain of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine having a valve substantially concentrically aligned with both a valve spring and a support, the support at least partially extending into the valve spring. The locator includes an annulus seat that supports the valve spring. The locator further includes a tapered ring operatively attached to the seat that has a tapered inner surface, for at least partially accommodating the support of the valvetrain therein, and a tapered outer surface, for at least partially engaging and concentrically aligning with the valve spring. The locator also includes a plurality of radially-spaced lobes. The lobes are disposed on the inner surface of the ring and at least partially engage the support such that the locator substantially concentrically aligns the valve spring with the valve and the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: John E. Brune
  • Publication number: 20170016418
    Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a first aperture, a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. An annular body has a second aperture and at least one stop member abutting the intermediate element to align the first aperture with the second aperture. An anti-rotation clip is disposed so as to extend through the apertures and cooperates with the stop member to substantially prevent rotational and axial movement of the intermediate element with respect to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: GT Technologies
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160333750
    Abstract: A locator for use in a valvetrain of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine having a valve substantially concentrically aligned with both a valve spring and a support, the support at least partially extending into the valve spring. The locator includes an annulus seat that supports the valve spring. The locator further includes a tapered ring operatively attached to the seat that has a tapered inner surface, for at least partially accommodating the support of the valvetrain therein, and a tapered outer surface, for at least partially engaging and concentrically aligning with the valve spring. The locator also includes a plurality of radially-spaced lobes. The lobes are disposed on the inner surface of the ring and at least partially engage the support such that the locator substantially concentrically aligns the valve spring with the valve and the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: GT Technologies
    Inventor: John E. Brune
  • Patent number: 9482120
    Abstract: A retention device for a valve actuating mechanism to secure a finger follower and lash adjuster together includes a ring member disposed in a groove of a movable piston of the lash adjuster. The retention device also includes a connecting member having a plurality of legs adapted to engage the finger follower and an intermediate base interconnecting the legs and adapted to be disposed below the ring member and about a portion of the lash adjuster to effect a free movement of the connecting member in all pivoted positions of the finger follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GT Technologies
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Ira R. Stoody
  • Publication number: 20140283775
    Abstract: A retention device for a valve actuating mechanism to secure a finger follower and lash adjuster together includes a ring member disposed in a groove of a movable piston of the lash adjuster. The retention device also includes a connecting member having a plurality of legs adapted to engage the finger follower and an intermediate base interconnecting the legs and adapted to be disposed below the ring member and about a portion of the lash adjuster to effect a free movement of the connecting member in all pivoted positions of the finger follower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Ira R. Stoody
  • Publication number: 20080236532
    Abstract: A cam-follower rocker arm is provided comprising a flat single plate body containing an axle that extends perpendicular from the vertical wall area for making contact with a valve and a second pivot point axle. The pivot point for the cam-follower rocker arm may be located centrally or at the end of the cam-follower rocker arm that is opposite the cam-follower rocker arm valve arm. An external cam-follower bearing is mounted on the axle and extends on each side of the flat plate wall. The cam-follower rocker arm of the invention is characterized by a relatively reduced mass and has a stiffness that exceeds limits achieved by known prior art designs for an overhead cam and cam-follower valve train; the gain in stiffness being attributed to the body's flat plate cross-section relative to conventional prior art cam-follower rocker arms that have a U-shape or a dual wall cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Scott P. Smith, Blaine R. Lingenfelter, John E. Brune
  • Publication number: 20070221152
    Abstract: A rocker arm is provided that includes a body which is comprised of a single vertical wall having an I-shape cross section and an axle that extends perpendicular from the vertical wall area for making contact with a valve and a pivot point. The pivot point for the rocker arm may be located centrally or at the end of the rocker arm that is opposite the rocker arm valve arm. An external cam follower bearing is mounted on the axle on each side of a single vertical wall. The rocker arm of the invention is characterized by a relatively reduced mass and has a stiffness that exceeds limits achieved by known prior art designs for an overhead cam and cam follower valve train; the gain in stiffness being attributed to the body's I-shape cross-section relative to conventional prior art rocker arms having a U-shape or dual vertical wall cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: GenTek Technologies Marketing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Smith, Blaine R. Lingenfelter, John E. Brune
  • Patent number: 5172661
    Abstract: A phase change device of the type wherein a phase change is effected between an input member and an output member in response to the axial movement of an advancing element interconnecting the input member and the output member, and wherein such axial movement is effected by retarding the rotation of a drum member engaged with the advancing element. A grooved thread is formed in the drum member, and a plurality of balls carried in slots formed in the output member are received in the thread and in helical grooves formed in the input member to effect the relative rotation between the input and output members as the balls advance axially along the thread in response to retardation of the drum member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Darryl J. Muir, James K. Day