Patents by Inventor Kenneth James Patton

Kenneth James Patton 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).

  • Engine assembly with engine block-mounted air-oil separator and method of ventilating an engine crankcase
    Patent number: 8887704
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine block at least partially defining a combustion chamber and a crankcase volume. The engine block defines an opening in fluid communication with the crankcase volume. An air-oil separator is mounted to the engine block at the opening and is configured to separate oil from blowby gasses flowing from the crankcase volume through the air-oil separator. A method of venting an engine crankcase volume is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Spix, Michael B. Fleck, Kenneth James Patton
  • System and method for controlling hydraulic pressure in electro-hydraulic valve actuation systems
    Patent number: 8839750
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a first lift control module and a second lift control module. The first lift control module increases lift of M valves of the engine to a predetermined valve lift during a period before disabling or re-enabling N valves of the engine. The second lift control module decreases the lift of the M valves to a desired valve lift during a period after enabling or re-enabling the N valves of the engine, wherein N and M are integers greater than or equal to one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Craig D. Marriott, Joel Cowgill, Matthew A. Wiles, Kenneth James Patton
  • ENGINE ASSEMBLY WITH ENGINE BLOCK-MOUNTED AIR-OIL SEPARATOR AND METHOD OF VENTILATING AN ENGINE CRANKCASE
    Publication number: 20130269636
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine block at least partially defining a combustion chamber and a crankcase volume. The engine block defines an opening in fluid communication with the crankcase volume. An air-oil separator is mounted to the engine block at the opening and is configured to separate oil from blowby gasses flowing from the crankcase volume through the air-oil separator. A method of venting an engine crankcase volume is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Spix, Michael B. Fleck, Kenneth James Patton
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC VALVE ACTUATION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20120097121
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a first lift control module and a second lift control module. The first lift control module increases lift of M valves of the engine to a predetermined valve lift during a period before disabling or re-enabling N valves of the engine. The second lift control module decreases the lift of the M valves to a desired valve lift during a period after enabling or re-enabling the N valves of the engine, wherein N and M are integers greater than or equal to one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Craig D. Marriott, Joel Cowgill, Matthew A. Wiles, Kenneth James Patton