Patents by Inventor Nathan Cowan

Nathan Cowan 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: 10934946
    Abstract: The present invention is a throttle body assembly which is adaptable for both gasoline and diesel applications, and may also be used for applications to meter fluid, such as for a water cooling valve. The throttle body assembly includes at least one bearing assembly and at least one seal which is used to configure the bearing assembly to withstand a high-pressure environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Norman Stockbridge, Nathan Cowan
  • Publication number: 20170204791
    Abstract: The present invention is a throttle body assembly which is adaptable for both gasoline and diesel applications, and may also be used for applications to meter fluid, such as for a water cooling valve. The throttle body assembly includes at least one bearing assembly and at least one seal which is used to configure the bearing assembly to withstand a high-pressure environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Norman Stockbridge, Nathan Cowan
  • Patent number: 9657650
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Donald Taylor, John Norman Stockbridge, Stefan Köhler, Nathan Cowan, Joy Jacobs, Jennifer Betsistas, Dominik Ilse
  • Patent number: 9624839
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the gear assembly and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias biasing structure, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Donald Taylor, John Norman Stockbridge, Stefan Köhler, Nathan Cowan, Dean Sorell
  • Patent number: 9546606
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Cowan, Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Stefan Köhler, John Norman Stockbridge, Donald Taylor
  • Publication number: 20160169122
    Abstract: A throttle control assembly which includes a valve plate made of aluminum, where the valve plate has a brass coating to substantially reduce or eliminate the effects of thermal cycling, and the probability of the occurrence of micro-welding. In one embodiment, the brass coating is applied using an electroplating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: John Norman Stockbridge, Nathan Cowan, Dean G. Sorrell
  • Publication number: 20150337743
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Nathan Cowan, Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Stefan Köhler, John Norman Stockbridge, Donald Taylor
  • Publication number: 20150337767
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the gear assembly and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias biasing structure, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Donald Taylor, John Norman Stockbridge, Stefan Köhler, Nathan Cowan, Dean Sorell
  • Publication number: 20150337768
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly includes an intermediate gear and a sector gear and transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the sector gear and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the pinion gear causes rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias on the sector gear, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A positon sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Donald Taylor, John Norman Stockbridge, Stefan Köhler, Nathan Cowan, Joy Jacobs, Jennifer Betsistas, Dominik Ilse
  • Patent number: 8905000
    Abstract: Improved throttle body assemblies are described. More particularly, throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensor assemblies are described. In one aspect, a throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine is described. The assembly comprises a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate. The throttle plate is actuatable by an electric motor. The assembly further comprises a throttle position sensor configured to monitor positions of the throttle plate. The throttle assembly further comprises an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing, wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Cowan
  • Patent number: 8720414
    Abstract: Throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensing assemblies and a method of integrating a throttle position sensor assembly with a throttle body assembly are described. The method comprises the steps of: i) press-fitting a sensor element onto a shaft of a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly; ii) engaging one or more inwardly extending members of the sensor element with one or more recessed portions formed on the shaft of the throttle plate; and iii) disposing an inductive rotary position sensor proximate the sensor element, wherein the press-fit engagement and one or more inwardly extending members limit axial and rotational movement of the sensor element with respect to the throttle plate, and wherein the inductive rotary position sensor detects a relative position of the sensor element for the purpose of ascertaining a position of the throttle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Cowan, John Norman Stockbridge
  • Publication number: 20130160738
    Abstract: Improved throttle body assemblies are described. More particularly, throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensor assemblies are described. In one aspect, a throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine is described. The assembly comprises a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate. The throttle plate is actuatable by an electric motor. The assembly further comprises a throttle position sensor configured to monitor positions of the throttle plate. The throttle assembly further comprises an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing, wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventor: Nathan Cowan
  • Publication number: 20130160735
    Abstract: Throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensing assemblies and a method of integrating a throttle position sensor assembly with a throttle body assembly are described. The method comprises the steps of: i) press-fitting a sensor element onto a shaft of a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly; ii) engaging one or more inwardly extending members of the sensor element with one or more recessed portions formed on the shaft of the throttle plate; and iii) disposing an inductive rotary position sensor proximate the sensor element, wherein the press-fit engagement and one or more inwardly extending members limit axial and rotational movement of the sensor element with respect to the throttle plate, and wherein the inductive rotary position sensor detects a relative position of the sensor element for the purpose of ascertaining a position of the throttle plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan Cowan, John Norman Stockbridge
  • Patent number: 7506633
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control housing structure (10) for a vehicle includes an upper housing (12), a lower housing (14) mating with the upper housing, and a sensor assembly (20) clamped between the upper housing and the lower housing. One of the upper housing or the lower housing has surfaces defining slot structure (22, 24) therein. A portion of the sensor assembly is received in the slot structure in interference fit relation with the surfaces defining the slot structure. Thus, no screws or glue is needed to mount the sensor assembly in the housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Cowan
  • Publication number: 20070295304
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control housing structure (10) for a vehicle includes an upper housing (12), a lower housing (14) mating with the upper housing, and a sensor assembly (20) clamped between the upper housing and the lower housing. One of the upper housing or the lower housing has surfaces defining slot structure (22, 24) therein. A portion of the sensor assembly is received in the slot structure in interference fit relation with the surfaces defining the slot structure. Thus, no screws or glue is needed to mount the sensor assembly in the housing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventor: Nathan Cowan