Patents by Inventor Mark Letourneau

Mark Letourneau 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: 7793757
    Abstract: A resonator for an induction system includes an inlet and outlet with a resonator cavity arranged therebetween. A tube is arranged within the resonator cavity and at least partially extends between the inlet and outlet. In one example, at least one supplemental noise attenuation device is in communication with the arcuate tube, such as a quarter wave tube and/or Helmholtz resonator. A large opening is provided in the tube that opens into the resonator cavity. In one example, the large opening is arranged on an outer radius side and faces a large cavity portion of the resonator cavity. Additional supplemental noise attenuation is provided by a collar arranged concentrically relative to the tube providing an annular quarter wave tube that is coaxial with the direction of flow from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Jason Lorne Pettipiece
  • Publication number: 20080236937
    Abstract: A resonator for an induction system includes an inlet and outlet with a resonator cavity arranged therebetween. A tube is arranged within the resonator cavity and at least partially extends between the inlet and outlet. In one example, at least one supplemental noise attenuation device is in communication with the arcuate tube, such as a quarter wave tube and/or Helmholtz resonator. A large opening is provided in the tube that opens into the resonator cavity. In one example, the large opening is arranged on an outer radius side and faces a large cavity portion of the resonator cavity. Additional supplemental noise attenuation is provided by a collar arranged concentrically relative to the tube providing an annular quarter wave tube that is coaxial with the direction of flow from the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Jason Lorne Pettipiece
  • Patent number: 7305959
    Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes a housing, a shaft assembly, and an intake insert. The shaft assembly has a metal shaft with bearings located at each end to provide hard mounting surfaces for the shaft assembly when assembled in the housing. The bearings support the shaft within the housing and allow the shaft to freely rotate. Bushings are spaced along the shaft to absorb vibrations and assist is providing a low friction surface for shaft assembly rotation. Journal pockets in the housing and in the intake insert surround the bushings. Isolators located within the journal pockets and housing surround the bushings and assist in dampening vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: MAHLE Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, John Mammarella
  • Patent number: 7270101
    Abstract: An arrangement for attaching a blade to a shaft for use in intake manifolds, uses fasteners that create a load on the blade. Fasteners are inserted through fastener holes in the blade and through shaft holes in the shaft. Once inserted outward pressure by the fastener on the shaft and the blade places the assembly under a constant load. The load prevents the shaft and the blade from vibrating against each other during engine operation. The same attachment method can also be used to retain and bias a shaft locater to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: MAHLE Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Letourneau
  • Patent number: 7231898
    Abstract: A flange seal molded as a single piece from a synthetic material which can withstand the high heat and pressure produced by the engine. The flange seal is shaped to correspond the intake manifold housing. Connecting portions on the flange seal separate the individual port openings. The flange seal is located between the intake manifold housing and the cylinder head to seal the joint. Pressure is applied to the flange seal when the fasteners are tightened to aid in sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Lisa Whaley
  • Patent number: 7228834
    Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an intake insert, and a flange seal. Bushings are located at each end of the shaft and spaced along the shaft to absorb vibrations and provide a low friction surface for shaft assembly rotation. In addition, the bushings allow for differences in the thermal expansion of the shaft and the intake manifold housing. A bearing is located adjacent a shaft locator to provide a hard mounting surface for the shaft assembly when assembled with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventor: Mark Letourneau
  • Publication number: 20070017472
    Abstract: An air inlet is mounted adjacent to an actuator and an intake manifold. A valve shaft extending from the actuator to the air inlet rotates the inlet valve from an open position to a closed position, or vice versa. The actuator senses revolutions per minute of an engine to control the inlet valve position. When the inlet valve is in the closed position the amount of oxygen reaching the engine is reduced. The restricted airflow through the air inlet helps to reduce engine noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Jason Pettipiece
  • Publication number: 20070017468
    Abstract: A flange seal molded as a single piece from a synthetic material which can withstand the high heat and pressure produced by the engine. The flange seal is shaped to correspond the intake manifold housing. Connecting portions on the flange seal separate the individual port openings. The flange seal is located between the intake manifold housing and the cylinder head to seal the joint. Pressure is applied to the flange seal when the fasteners are tightened to aid in sealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Lisa Whaley
  • Publication number: 20070017469
    Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes a housing, a shaft assembly, and an intake insert. The shaft assembly has a metal shaft with bearings located at each end to provide hard mounting surfaces for the shaft assembly when assembled in the housing. The bearings support the shaft within the housing and allow the shaft to freely rotate. Bushings are spaced along the shaft to absorb vibrations and assist is providing a low friction surface for shaft assembly rotation. Journal pockets in the housing and in the intake insert surround the bushings. Isolators located within the journal pockets and housing surround the bushings and assist in dampening vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, John Mammarella
  • Publication number: 20070017467
    Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an intake insert, and a flange seal. The shaft is a shaft manufactured from metal, preferably aluminum. Bushings are located at each end of the shaft and spaced along the shaft to absorb vibrations and provide a low friction surface for shaft assembly rotation. In addition, the bushings allow for differences in the thermal expansion of the shaft and the intake manifold housing. A bearing is located adjacent a shaft locator to provide a hard mounting surface for the shaft assembly when assembled with the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Letourneau
  • Publication number: 20070017470
    Abstract: An arrangement for attaching a blade to a shaft for use in intake manifolds, uses fasteners that create a load on the blade. Fasteners are inserted through fastener holes in the blade and through shaft holes in the shaft. Once inserted outward pressure by the fastener on the shaft and the blade places the assembly under a constant load. The load prevents the shaft and the blade from vibrating against each other during engine operation. The same attachment method can also be used to retain and bias a shaft locater to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Letourneau
  • Patent number: 7086497
    Abstract: A flow tube for an induction system with a turbo charger includes a first tube half and a second tube half with a noise attenuation plate positioned between the halves. The noise attenuation plate includes a plurality of holes having varying diameters and depths. The first tube half, the second tube half, and the noise attenuation plate are integrally formed as a single piece during an injection molding process. The noise attenuation plate is folding along a first living hinge to overlap one of the first or second tube halves. The other of the first or second tube halves is folded along a second living hinge to overlap the noise attenuation plate forming a flow tube that defines a flow path. The noise attenuation plate serves as a low pass filter that attenuates high frequencies while allowing lower frequencies through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Roderic Cole, Jason Pettipiece, Mark Letourneau
  • Patent number: 6875259
    Abstract: A low cost combined air cleaner and resonator includes two housing members which snap together. An air filter is captured between the two members. A first of the members receives the air filter, and the second of the two members has an enlarged plenum to provide a resonator function. The combined air cleaner and resonator thus provides a low cost way of achieving both functions in a system for supplying clean air to a vehicle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Frances Warren, Roderic Cole
  • Patent number: 6748915
    Abstract: A cuff is clamped to a boss on an air resonator. The cuff has an inner leg with an o-ring seal sized to provide a seal against an inner periphery of the air resonator boss. A throttle body has a boss to be received within the inner leg of the cuff, and will also deform the o-ring seal. The inner leg preferably includes a second forward seal which also contacts the throttle body boss. Preferably, this second seal includes a spring for biasing the second seal against the throttle body boss. The cuff is initially placed on the air resonator which may then be mounted within the engine compartment. The throttle body may be then simply snapped into the cuff. In this way, no space around the connection is necessary, while a dust-free connection is still provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Roderic Cole, Mark Letourneau, Frances Warren
  • Patent number: 6688425
    Abstract: A flow tube for an induction system with a turbo charger defines a longitudinal flow path and includes a noise attenuation plate positioned within the flow tube. A plurality of ribs formed on an internal surface of the tube. The ribs are spaced apart from one another and are tuned to a desired frequency. The noise attenuation plate includes a plurality of holes having varying diameter and depths. When acoustic energy created by the turbo charger encounters the noise attenuation plate and the ribs, the change in impedance results in acoustic reflections back toward the turbo charger. Thus the noise attenuation plate cooperates with the ribs to serve as a low pass filter that attenuates high frequencies while allowing lower frequencies through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderic Cole, Mark Letourneau, Jason Pettipiece
  • Publication number: 20030159587
    Abstract: A low cost combined air cleaner and resonator includes two housing members which snap together. An air filter is captured between the two members. A first of the members receives the air filter, and the second of the two members has an enlarged plenum to provide a resonator function. The combined air cleaner and resonator thus provides a low cost way of achieving both functions in a system for supplying clean air to a vehicle engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Letourneau, Frances Warren, Roderic Cole
  • Publication number: 20030131897
    Abstract: A fluid communication conduit 18 for a vehicle induction system includes a vane 28 offset from a center axis to generally bifurcate the duct 20. The vane 28 assures generally equal airflow distribution to separate plenum portions to maintain engine performance. The vane 28 is separated into a plurality of interrupted vane portions 40, 42 each having aerodynamic end section profiles 40e, 42e to minimize turbulent airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Letourneau
  • Publication number: 20030072459
    Abstract: A flow tube for an induction system with a turbo charger includes a first tube half and a second tube half with a noise attenuation plate positioned between the halves. The noise attenuation plate includes a plurality of holes having varying diameter and depths. The first tube half, the second tube half, and the noise attenuation plate are integrally formed as a single piece during an injection molding process. The noise attenuation plate is folding along a first living hinge to overlap one of the first or second tube halves. The other of the first or second tube halves is folded along a second living hinge to overlap the noise attenuation plate forming a flow tube that defines a flow path. The noise attenuation plate is thus positioned in the flow path. When acoustic energy created by the turbo charger encounters the noise attenuation plate, the change in impedance results in acoustic reflections back toward the turbo charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Roderic Cole, Jason Pettipiece, Mark Letourneau
  • Publication number: 20030070647
    Abstract: A cuff is clamped to a boss on an air resonator. The cuff has an inner leg with an o-ring seal sized to provide a seal against an inner periphery of the air resonator boss. A throttle body has a boss to be received within the inner leg of the cuff, and will also deform the o-ring seal. The inner leg preferably includes a second forward seal which also contacts the throttle body boss. Preferably, this second seal includes a spring for biasing the second seal against the throttle body boss. The cuff is initially placed on the air resonator which may then be mounted within the engine compartment. The throttle body may be then simply snapped into the cuff. In this way, no space around the connection is necessary, while a dust-free connection is still provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Roderic Cole, Mark Letourneau, Frances Warren
  • Publication number: 20030066706
    Abstract: A flow tube for an induction system with a turbo charger defines a longitudinal flow path and includes a noise attenuation plate positioned within the flow tube. A plurality of ribs formed on an internal surface of the tube. The ribs are spaced apart from one another and are tuned to a desired frequency. The noise attenuation plate includes a plurality of holes having varying diameter and depths. When acoustic energy created by the turbo charger encounters the noise attenuation plate and the ribs, the change in impedance results in acoustic reflections back toward the turbo charger. Thus the noise attenuation plate cooperates with the ribs to serve as a low pass filter that attenuates high frequencies while allowing lower frequencies through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderic Cole, Mark Letourneau, Jason Pettipiece