Patents by Inventor Mark L. Hopper
Mark L. Hopper 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).
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Publication number: 20240133308Abstract: A rotary machine, such as a turbomachine of a gas turbine engine, for example, including a rotor and a rotor seal assembly. The rotor is rotatable about a rotational axis and has a rotor seal face. The rotor seal assembly includes a seal body, one or more primary fluid conduits formed in the seal body, and a retraction assembly. The seal body has a seal face and is positionable to form a fluid-bearing gap between the seal face of the seal body and the rotor seal face. The one or more primary fluid conduits are fluidly connected to the fluid-bearing gap to supply a fluid to the fluid-bearing gap. The retraction assembly is connected to the seal body to move the seal body in a retraction direction away from the rotor seal face.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: David Yamarthi, Prateek Jalan, Grant Portune, Steven Douglas Johnson, Mark L. Hopper, Richard A. Wesling, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger
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Publication number: 20230407762Abstract: This disclosure is directed to seal assemblies for a turbomachine. The seal assemblies include stationary and rotating components and at least one interface between the stationary and rotating components. In some examples, seal assembly includes a runner coupled to a rotating shaft and a sealing element coupled to a stationary engine housing. The seal assembly can also include a spring element located between the sealing element and the stationary engine housing, which allows the relative position between the runner and the sealing element to be adjusted while the turbomachine engine is in operation. Some seal assemblies include damping elements positioned between the sealing element and the fixed engine housing to slow the motion of the sealing element relative to the runner to reduce the risk of inadvertent contact between the runner and the sealing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark L. Hopper, Scott Francis Wolfer, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger
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Patent number: 7305942Abstract: An electromechanical valve actuator with an armature stem guidance system that ensures that the armature stem stays aligned with the valve stem during operation. The stem guidance system may also allow for adjustment of the lash gap during assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ha T. Chung, Mark L. Hopper, John D. Norton, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 7255073Abstract: An electromechanical valve actuator having a beginning of stroke damper to damp the impact between the armature stem and the valve stem as the valve is opened. The beginning of stroke damper includes an armature stem defining a stem passage and a valve stem including a lash compensator defining a cavity communicating with the stem passage. An oil pocket may be provided within the cavity to absorb the impact of the armature stem before the armature stem contacts the valve stem as the valve is opened. The lash compensator is configured so that the cavity has a discharge rate sufficient to ensure that the cavity completely drains at approximately the time the engine valve reaches the full open position.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark L. Hopper, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 7154326Abstract: In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides an improved switched driver circuit. As disclosed above, there is a need to compensate for the high impedance load characteristics in certain implementations of hysteretic switching constant current drivers. The switching waveform of switching constant current driver circuits may be modified in such a way that retains the important dither characteristics and improves system level performance.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dirk E. Swanson, Matthew T. LaDuke, Mark L. Hopper, Robert J. Bolduc
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Patent number: 7152558Abstract: A lever electromechanical valve actuator assembly and arrangement of electromechanical valve actuators that creates a compact actuator assembly to increase ease of serviceability, provide space for engine components and eliminate interference between the actuators and components in the vehicle engine compartment.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ha T. Chung, Mark L. Hopper, John D. Norton, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 7089894Abstract: A lever electromechanical valve actuator assembly and arrangement of electromechanical valve actuators that creates a compact actuator assembly to increase ease of serviceability, provide space for engine components and eliminate interference between the actuators and components in the vehicle engine compartment.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark L. Hopper, John D. Norton, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 6926639Abstract: A method of controlling an engine and an automatic transmission of a vehicle to reduce noise, vibration and harshness issues during shutting off a vehicle engine to improve fuel economy. The method combines vehicle engine start/stop control with neutral idle control in the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Mark L. Hopper
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Publication number: 20040179962Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling the pressure in an automatic transmission with an electric pump. The electric pump supplies and removes hydraulic fluid from the automatic transmission in response to various conditions. The addition of an electric pump to control pressure within the transmission allows the mechanical pump driven by the engine to be reduced in size and improve fuel economy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2003Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventor: Mark L. Hopper
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Publication number: 20040149944Abstract: An electromechanical valve including an energy absorption system to reduce or eliminate the force with which the armature contacts an electromagnet pole face. The energy absorption system absorbs kinetic energy from the armature assembly prior to the armature plate contacting the electromagnetic pole face to reduce the velocity or impact force of the armature plate against the electromagnet, thereby reducing noise, vibration, and harshness concerns associated with many electromechanical valve actuators. The cooperative nature of the energy absorption system allows damping even during short cycle times by the armature assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Mark L. Hopper, John D. Norton, Shawn H. Swales, Vladimir V. Kokotovic
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Patent number: 6736228Abstract: A powertrain for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a transmission and an electric machine disposed therebetween. The electric machine includes a stator housing, a stator mounted within the stator housing and a rotor mounted radially within and coaxial with the stator. The electric machine further includes a first clutch disposed between the engine and the rotor, and a second clutch disposed between the rotor and the transmission. The first and second clutches include non-ferrous clutch plates which are adapted to be immersed in hydraulic fluid. The electric machine has a first mode wherein the electric machine provides torque to the engine, a second mode wherein the electric machine is driven by the engine and a third mode wherein the electric machine provides torque to the transmission. The first and second clutches are positioned radially within the stator housing and axially within the length of the stator housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William P. Donohue, Greg Smith, Jeffrey J. Brautigan, Mark L. Hopper, Marci Smith
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Publication number: 20030098189Abstract: A powertrain for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a transmission and an electric machine disposed therebetween. The electric machine includes a stator housing, a stator mounted within the stator housing and a rotor mounted radially within and coaxial with the stator. The electric machine further includes a first clutch disposed between the engine and the rotor, and a second clutch disposed between the rotor and the transmission. The first and second clutches include non-ferrous clutch plates which are adapted to be immersed in hydraulic fluid. The electric machine has a first mode wherein the electric machine provides torque to the engine, a second mode wherein the electric machine is driven by the engine and a third mode wherein the electric machine provides torque to the transmission. The first and second clutches are positioned radially within the stator housing and axially within the length of the stator housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2001Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventors: William P. Donohue, Greg Smith, Jeffrey J. Brautigan, Mark L. Hopper, Marci Smith
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Patent number: 6361287Abstract: A fluid pumping system for an automatic transmission includes a primary pump operable to draw fluid from a sump to a main delivery line to a main hydraulic circuit of the transmission. A main circuit pressure regulator regulates pressure to the main circuit and exhausts excess fluid to a secondary delivery line to a secondary hydraulic circuit of the transmission. A secondary pump operates to draw fluid from the suction line to a discharge line. A check ball valve operates to permit one way flow from the discharge line to the secondary delivery line. A secondary circuit pressure regulator regulates pressure to the secondary circuit and operates to exhaust flow from the discharge line to a return line or from the discharge line and the secondary delivery line wherein the return line is in continuous fluid communication with the suction line to reduce hydraulic horsepower expended by the secondary pump.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Mark L. Hopper
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Patent number: 6123645Abstract: A control for a power transmission has a neutral idle circuit comprised of a signal valve, a control valve and a shuttle valve. The signal valve supplies a bias pressure to the control valve, which has an output control pressure proportional to the input torque to the transmission. The output control pressure and transmission line pressure act on the shuttle valve to direct the control pressure to a clutch in the transmission when the output pressure is below a predetermined percentage of the transmission line pressure and to direct line pressure to the clutch when the predetermined percentage is exceeded. This permits the clutch to be controlled at or below a slipping engagement state.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Mark L. Hopper
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Patent number: 6117045Abstract: A control for a continuously variable unit (CVU) provides control pressures to the variable sheave portions of the CVU pulleys. A first of the pulleys has a direct control pressure and the second of the pulleys has a control pressure proportional to the direct control pressure. The proportional pressure is established by a pair of control valves. One of the control valves issues a bias pressure, proportional to the commanded ratio in the CVU, to the other of the control valves. The other control valve communicates a sheave control pressure, proportional to or equal to the bias pressure, to the second pulley to control the relative position of the variable sheave.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1999Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Mark L. Hopper