Patents by Inventor John P. Laitala

John P. Laitala 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: 11192200
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis, a generator coupled to the engine, and a rotary screw compressor coupled to the chassis independent from the engine. The engine may be configured to drive both the generator and the rotary screw compressor. A method, according to another embodiment, may include isolating a rotary air compressor from an engine and a generator in a common chassis. The isolating may include separately mounting the rotary air compressor and the engine with a resilient or distance adjustable connection in between. The isolating also may include resiliently mounting the engine, or the rotary air compressor, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Helf, John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp
  • Patent number: 9863374
    Abstract: An engine-driven generator that controls fuel vapor flow is provided. The engine-driven generator includes an engine having an air intake, wherein the engine is configured to drive a generator. The engine-driven generator also includes a fuel tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel to the engine. The engine-driven generator includes a valve coupled between the air intake of the engine and the fuel tank. The engine-driven generator also includes a control device configured to transition the valve between a first position and a second position. The first position allows fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine and the second position inhibits the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp, Nathan J. Jochman
  • Publication number: 20170167446
    Abstract: An engine-driven generator that controls fuel vapor flow is provided. The engine-driven generator includes an engine having an air intake, wherein the engine is configured to drive a generator. The engine-driven generator also includes a fuel tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel to the engine. The engine-driven generator includes a valve coupled between the air intake of the engine and the fuel tank. The engine-driven generator also includes a control device configured to transition the valve between a first position and a second position. The first position allows fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine and the second position inhibits the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp, Nathan J. Jochman
  • Patent number: 9587593
    Abstract: An engine-driven generator that controls fuel vapor flow is provided. The engine-driven generator includes an engine having an air intake, wherein the engine is configured to drive a generator. The engine-driven generator also includes a fuel tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel to the engine. The engine-driven generator includes a valve coupled between the air intake of the engine and the fuel tank. The engine-driven generator also includes a control device configured to transition the valve between a first position and a second position. The first position allows fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine and the second position inhibits the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp, Nathan J. Jochman
  • Publication number: 20150322903
    Abstract: An engine-driven generator that controls fuel vapor flow is provided. The engine-driven generator includes an engine having an air intake, wherein the engine is configured to drive a generator. The engine-driven generator also includes a fuel tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel to the engine. The engine-driven generator includes a valve coupled between the air intake of the engine and the fuel tank. The engine-driven generator also includes a control device configured to transition the valve between a first position and a second position. The first position allows fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine and the second position inhibits the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp, Nathan J. Jochman
  • Patent number: 9109549
    Abstract: An engine-driven generator that controls fuel vapor flow is provided. The engine-driven generator includes an engine having an air intake, wherein the engine is configured to drive a generator. The engine-driven generator also includes a fuel tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel to the engine. The engine-driven generator includes a valve coupled between the air intake of the engine and the fuel tank. The engine-driven generator also includes a control device configured to transition the valve between a first position and a second position. The first position allows fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine and the second position inhibits the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp, Nathan J. Jochman
  • Publication number: 20150108104
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis, a generator coupled to the engine, and a rotary screw compressor coupled to the chassis independent from the engine. The engine may be configured to drive both the generator and the rotary screw compressor. A method, according to another embodiment, may include isolating a rotary air compressor from an engine and a generator in a common chassis. The isolating may include separately mounting the rotary air compressor and the engine with a resilient or distance adjustable connection in between. The isolating also may include resiliently mounting the engine, or the rotary air compressor, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph N. Helf, John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp
  • Patent number: 9000328
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include an engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and an oil fill assembly coupled to the compressor. The oil fill assembly relocates an oil fill location from a bottom region of the compressor to a top region of the compressor. A system, in other embodiments, may include a compressor retrofit kit. The kit may include a first tube configured to couple with a drain or an existing oil fill disposed in a base region of a compressor. The kit also may include a second tube coupled to the first tube, wherein the second tube is configured to couple with a vent in the compressor. The kit may include a relocated oil fill section coupled to the first tube, the second tube, or a combination thereof. A system having a compressor retrofit kit attached to the case of the compressor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Helf, Nathan J. Jochman, John P. Laitala, John C. Leisner
  • Patent number: 8921735
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis, a generator coupled to the engine, and a rotary screw compressor coupled to the chassis independent from the engine. The engine may be configured to drive both the generator and the rotary screw compressor. A method, according to another embodiment, may include isolating a rotary air compressor from an engine and a generator in a common chassis. The isolating may include separately mounting the rotary air compressor and the engine with a resilient or distance adjustable connection in between. The isolating also may include resiliently mounting the engine, or the rotary air compressor, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Helf, John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp
  • Patent number: 8653416
    Abstract: A portable engine driven welder is provided that has a case enclosing an internal combustion engine and a welding generator, and a running gear that is attached to the case. The running gear includes a pair of rails and a pair of leading wheels connected to the rails toward the back wall of the case. A pair of trailing wheels is connected to the rails toward the front wall of the case. The leading and trailing wheels have different resiliency values with the leading wheels being more resilient or flexible than the trailing wheels. This allows the leading wheels to act like a suspension system for the portable engine driven welder and running gear by soaking up or absorbing impacts instead of transmitting them therethrough so as to reduce exposure of the portable engine driven welder to such impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Laitala
  • Publication number: 20120240900
    Abstract: An engine-driven generator that controls fuel vapor flow is provided. The engine-driven generator includes an engine having an air intake, wherein the engine is configured to drive a generator. The engine-driven generator also includes a fuel tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel to the engine. The engine-driven generator includes a valve coupled between the air intake of the engine and the fuel tank. The engine-driven generator also includes a control device configured to transition the valve between a first position and a second position. The first position allows fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine and the second position inhibits the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp, Nathan J. Jochman
  • Publication number: 20100147816
    Abstract: A portable engine driven welder is provided that has a case enclosing an internal combustion engine and a welding generator, and a running gear that is attached to the case. The running gear includes a pair of rails and a pair of leading wheels connected to the rails toward the back wall of the case. A pair of trailing wheels is connected to the rails toward the front wall of the case. The leading and trailing wheels have different resiliency values with the leading wheels being more resilient or flexible than the trailing wheels. This allows the leading wheels to act like a suspension system for the portable engine driven welder and running gear by soaking up or absorbing impacts instead of transmitting them therethrough so as to reduce exposure of the portable engine driven welder to such impacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: John P. Laitala
  • Publication number: 20080264919
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis, a generator coupled to the engine, and a rotary screw compressor coupled to the chassis independent from the engine. The engine may be configured to drive both the generator and the rotary screw compressor. A method, according to another embodiment, may include isolating a rotary air compressor from an engine and a generator in a common chassis. The isolating may include separately mounting the rotary air compressor and the engine with a resilient or distance adjustable connection in between. The isolating also may include resiliently mounting the engine, or the rotary air compressor, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Helf, John P. Laitala, Eric M. Kropp
  • Publication number: 20080264918
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include an engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and an oil fill assembly coupled to the compressor. The oil fill assembly relocates an oil fill location from a bottom region of the compressor to a top region of the compressor. A system, in other embodiments, may include a compressor retrofit kit. The kit may include a first tube configured to couple with a drain or an existing oil fill disposed in a base region of a compressor. The kit also may include a second tube coupled to the first tube, wherein the second tube is configured to couple with a vent in the compressor. The kit may include a relocated oil fill section coupled to the first tube, the second tube, or a combination thereof. A system having a compressor retrofit kit attached to the case of the compressor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Helf, Nathan J. Jochman, John P. Laitala, John C. Leisner
  • Patent number: D742497
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Scent2Market Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. D'Amico, John P. Laitala
  • Patent number: D749203
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Scent2Market, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. D'Amico, John P. Laitala