Patents by Inventor Nathan Ritchie

Nathan Ritchie 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: 5997260
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a barring adapter member is mounted on an auxiliary engine component, such as an air compressor shaft which is geared to the engine crankshaft. The barring adapter member is configured to receive a barring tool, permitting manual rotation of the air compressor shaft for desirably positioning engine crankshaft-driven components during engine repair or adjustment. In an arrangement according to the invention, the air compressor gear is enclosed by a gear casing, but the adapter is accessible through an aperture closeable by a removable cap. The barring adapter member facilitates barring the engine from a convenient position and is particularly advantageous in an engine designed to eliminate most externally-exposed rotational shaft seals and associated external pulleys conventionally used as barring locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David P. Genter, J. Eric Parlow, Roger L. Sweet, Nathan Ritchie
  • Patent number: 5277560
    Abstract: A ring valve assembly for use in a reciprocating type fluid pump with a piston cylinder and a cylinder head includes a ring valve having a fluid seal surface for selectively closing a fluid passage of a cylinder head and an annular ring retainer having a fulcrum edge and tapered top surface. The retainer is positioned beneath the ring valve and a slight clearance is designed in such that the ring valve experiences as a first stage of movement/deflection slight vertical travel. Continued operation of the fluid pump results in a second stage of deflection where the ring valve deflects into a frustoconical shape and lays against the tapered surface of the retainer, pivoting about the fulcrum edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Ritchie, Dan L. Streutker
  • Patent number: 5213487
    Abstract: A ring valve assembly for use in a reciprocating type fluid pump with a piston cylinder and a cylinder head is disclosed. The valve assembly includes a ring valve having a fluid seal surface for a selectively closing a fluid passage of a cylinder head and bias means for the ring valve for urging the ring valve in a first direction. The bias means includes the outer peripheral edge region of the ring valve being secured between opposing upper and lower annular surfaces with a predetermined smaller clearance. The upper annular surface includes an outer edge and the lower annular surface includes an inner edge which defines a fulcrum radially inward of the outer edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Ritchie
  • Patent number: 5022832
    Abstract: There is disclosed a valve assembly and a reciprocating type fluid pump having a piston cylinder and a cylinder head together which define a fluid chamber. A first ring valve having a seal surface on one side is disposed within the fluid chamber adjacent to the cylinder head to close at least one fluid intake passage. A bias means is provided for urging the first ring valve against the seat on the head by abutting the ring valve on the side opposite from the seal surface, and the bias means includes a peripheral region which is connected to the fluid pump and retains the first ring valve between the cylinder head and the bias means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jerre F. Lauterbach, Nathan Ritchie, Richard F. Miller
  • Patent number: 4993922
    Abstract: A compressor unloaded system for use in compressed air supply systems having reciprocating type air compressor means supplied with atmospheric or turbocharged air is shown. Means are provided to block off the air intake of such compressors, and to maintain back pressure against the exhaust valve of said air compressor during an unloading cycle, thereby preventing operation of the intake and exhaust valves of such compressor, and creating an "air spring" in the cylinder of such air compressor during an unloading cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerre F. Lauterbach, Nathan Ritchie, Richard F. Miller