Patents by Inventor Mark A. Zen Ruffinen

Mark A. Zen Ruffinen 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 drive train having a front gear train with improved torsional dynamics
    Patent number: 5875752
    Abstract: An improved engine gear drive train arrangement is provided which effectively minimizes the crankshaft torsional vibrations at the location of the gear train, for engines with a front gear train. A flywheel is resiliently connected to the rear end portion of the crankshaft so as to resiliently connect a driven unit to the crankshaft. An extra inertial device is connected to the front end portion of the crankshaft and includes an inertia so selected as to cause a nodal point of the first torsional vibration mode of the crankshaft to be located in the vicinity of the crank gear to minimize the amplitude of torsional deflection of the crankshaft at the crank gear. Also, the device for resiliently connecting the flywheel to the rear end portion of the crankshaft may include resilient members positioned in cavities formed by engaging rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Zhao, Thomas E. Reinhart, Kwin R. Abram, Mark A. Zen Ruffinen, Paul A. Hayes