Patents by Inventor Mike Youakim

Mike Youakim 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: 7559302
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head at least partially defining a flow path through the engine, including an intake port, an exhaust port, and a combustion chamber disposed between the intake port and the exhaust port. A valve is coupled to the cylinder head and movable relative to the cylinder head to selectively open the combustion chamber to one of the intake port and the exhaust port. A valve spring is positioned between the valve and the cylinder head and biases the valve to a closed position. A thermally insulating washer is positioned between the cylinder head and the valve spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: John Cullen, Mike Youakim, Christopher Monaco, Jason Youd, Ron Check
  • Publication number: 20090126673
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head at least partially defining a flow path through the engine, including an intake port, an exhaust port, and a combustion chamber disposed between the intake post and the exhaust port. A valve is coupled to the cylinder head and movable relative to the cylinder head to selectively open the combustion chamber to one of the intake port and the exhaust port. A valve spring is positioned between the valve and the cylinder head and biases the valve to a closed position. A thermally insulating washer is positioned between the cylinder head and the valve spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John Cullen, Mike Youakim, Christopher Monaco, Jason Youd, Ron Check
  • Patent number: 6178950
    Abstract: A noise reducing fuel injection system includes an engine having a head with an injector bore. A fuel injector is suspended in the injector bore via a noise reducing mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a clamping portion that clamps to the fuel injector, a support that is attached to the engine and an arm portion extending between the clamping portion and the support. The fuel injector is allowed to slide a slight distance in and out of the injector bore when the engine is running by either making the arm portions slightly flexible, by including resilient members between the support and the engine, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, Mike Youakim
  • Patent number: 6119962
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a pressure relief passage with one end opening into a trapped volume, and a fuel pressurization chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is positioned in the injector body and moveable between an inject position in which the fuel pressurization chamber is open to the nozzle outlet, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. The needle valve member has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the trapped volume. A pressure relief valve is positioned in the pressure relief passage, and has a valve member with an opening surface exposed to fluid pressure in the trapped volume, and a closing surface exposed to fluid pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Youakim, George M. Matta
  • Patent number: 6092744
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a low pressure space, a trapped volume and a fuel pressurization chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is positioned in the injector body and moveable between an inject position in which the fuel pressurization chamber is open to the nozzle outlet, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked to the fuel pressurization chamber. The needle valve member includes a lifting hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the trapped volume. At least one of the needle valve member and the injector body define a pressure release passage extending between the trapped volume and the low pressure space. A pressure regulating valve is positioned in the pressure release passage, and has a regulating valve member that is moveable to an open position when fluid pressure in the trapped volume is above pop-off pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Youakim
  • Patent number: 6009856
    Abstract: Fuel injectors used in present day applications are normally requiring high pressure injection, short injection times and split or modified injection. Thus, this type of injection inherently produces an excess of noise. The present fuel injector assembly (22) overcomes the above deficiencies by controlling the noise emitted from a fuel injector (33). For example, as an actuation system (27) operates the fuel injector (33) the noise created by the opening and closing of the fuel injector (33) is absorbed within an isolator (34). As the fuel injector assembly (22) is installed, the fuel injector assembly (22) is positioned within a bore (26) with the fuel injector assembly being in a second position (29). And, a plurality of fasteners (28) are tightened to a predetermined value moving the fuel injector assembly (22) into a first position (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A. Smith, III, Mike Youakim