Patents by Inventor Kevin Fuqua

Kevin Fuqua 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: 7077080
    Abstract: A free piston engine has a pair of opposed cylinders on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each in a respective one of the cylinders, with a push rod connected therebetween. The push rod forms a fluid plunger. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of outer pistons, one each in a respective one of the cylinders, with a pull rod connected therebetween. The pull rod forms a fluid plunger. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output. A hydraulic coupler synchronizes the inner and outer piston assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Schmuecker, Ing Gunter Guerich, Herman-Josef Laumen, Adrain Tusinean, Kevin Fuqua
  • Publication number: 20060051216
    Abstract: A variable displacement hydraulic/pump motor has a yoke with a pair of shafts aligned to define a yoke pivot axis and connected to a valve plate therebetween having intake and discharge apertures. A rotatable cylinder barrel has piston cylinders open at one end to receive a piston head and opening through fluid ports at another end, flush against the valve plate surface. A drive block is mounted on an input/output shaft for rotation about a central axis of rotation inclined at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder barrel which may be changed by a drive engaging the yoke at a point near its pivot axis. Loads on bushings supporting the yoke shafts are reduced by providing radially extending fluid ports in the shafts and in communication with the intake and discharge apertures of the valve plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: Government of the United States as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protec
    Inventors: Charles Gray, Andrew Moskalik, Matthew Brusstar, David Gill, Kevin Fuqua, Craig Moffat
  • Publication number: 20060042575
    Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of outer pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Joachim Schmuecker, Ing Guerich, Herman-Josef Laumen, Adrain Tusinean, Kevin Fuqua
  • Patent number: 6971341
    Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Fuqua, Peter Hofbauer
  • Publication number: 20050263114
    Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Kevin Fuqua, Dr. Ing. Hofbauer
  • Publication number: 20050254979
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the volume of fluid flow produced by a stroke of a piston pump includes a cylinder communicating with an outlet of the pump. A plunger displaces fluid from the cylinder to the outlet as the plunger moves in the cylinder. A lost motion piston moves in the cylinder. A fluid source supplies fluid to a first space in the cylinder located between the plunger and the piston. A port, through which fluid is supplied from the fluid source to a second space in the cylinder, is located above the piston such that the port is opened and closed by the piston. A stop establishes a maximum distance that the piston can move away from plunger toward the port without closing the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventor: Kevin Fuqua
  • Patent number: 6941904
    Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of pistons, one each operatively located, in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. Each outer piston cooperates with an integrated scavenge pump in order to compress the charge air, thus significantly increasing the air charge density into the engine cylinders for each stroke of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ing. Peter Hofbauer, Lixin Peng, Adrain Tusinean, Kevin Fuqua