Patents by Inventor Norbert G. Schneider

Norbert G. Schneider 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: 11560947
    Abstract: A piston for a high temperature internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes an upper wall, base wall, outer rib, and inner rib defining a cooling chamber therebetween, and a plurality of ring grooves formed in the outer rib. Only the second ring groove is formed with the keystone cross-section, and all of the other ring grooves are formed with the conventional rectangular cross-section. Thus, the piston can be formed with low manufacturing costs and can also provide exceptional performance when used in high temperature combustion engines, wherein the temperature at the first ring groove is greater than 280° C., and thus prevents carbon from depositing or burns off any carbon deposits, but the temperature at the second ring groove is between 200° C. and 280° C., in which case carbon deposits can form and cause the piston ring to stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20210172523
    Abstract: A piston for a high temperature internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes an upper wall, base wall, outer rib, and inner rib defining a cooling chamber therebetween, and a plurality of ring grooves formed in the outer rib. Only the second ring groove is formed with the keystone cross-section, and all of the other ring grooves are formed with the conventional rectangular cross-section. Thus, the piston can be formed with low manufacturing costs and can also provide exceptional performance when used in high temperature combustion engines, wherein the temperature at the first ring groove is greater than 280° C., and thus prevents carbon from depositing or burns off any carbon deposits, but the temperature at the second ring groove is between 200° C. and 280° C., in which case carbon deposits can form and cause the piston ring to stick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: NORBERT G. SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 10787991
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine including a cooling gallery and a complex combustion surface is provided. The piston includes an upper crown member joined to a lower member, for example by hybrid induction welding. A complex combustion bowl is formed in the upper crown member by forging. The combustion bowl includes at least one protrusion, and typically a plurality of protrusions spaced from one another. After the forging step and before the joining step, portions of an undercrown surface located opposite the spaces between the protrusions are machined, and portions located directly opposite the protrusions are left as-forged. The crown member is joined to the lower member, for example by hybrid induction welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20190211774
    Abstract: A steel piston designed to improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and performance of an engine is provided. The piston includes a steel body portion and a thermal barrier layer applied to an upper combustion surface and/or a ring belt to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a combustion chamber to the body portion. The thermal barrier layer has a thermal conductivity which is lower than a thermal conductivity of the steel body portion. The thermal barrier layer typically includes a ceramic material, for example ceria, ceria stabilized zirconia, and/or a mixture of ceria stabilized zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia in an amount of 90 to 100 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The thermal barrier layer can also have a gradient structure which gradually transitions from 100 wt. % of a metal bond material to 100 wt. % of the ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10273902
    Abstract: A galleryless steel piston designed to improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and performance of an engine is provided. The piston includes a steel body portion and a thermal barrier layer applied to an upper combustion surface and/or a ring belt to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a combustion chamber to the body portion. The thermal barrier layer has a thermal conductivity which is lower than a thermal conductivity of the steel body portion. The thermal barrier layer typically includes a ceramic material, for example ceria, ceria stabilized zirconia, and/or a mixture of ceria stabilized zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia in an amount of 90 to 100 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The thermal barrier layer can also have a gradient structure which gradually transitions from 100 wt. % of a metal bond material to 100 wt. % of the ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10247134
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The oil gallery channel is first forged to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original forged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20170335793
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The oil gallery channel is first forged to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original forged condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventor: NORBERT G. SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20170314506
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The piston crown is made by a cast metal or powder metal forming process. The oil gallery channel is formed to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original as-formed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: NORBERT G. SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20170241371
    Abstract: A galleryless steel piston designed to improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and performance of an engine is provided. The piston includes a steel body portion and a thermal barrier layer applied to an upper combustion surface and/or a ring belt to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a combustion chamber to the body portion. The thermal barrier layer has a thermal conductivity which is lower than a thermal conductivity of the steel body portion. The thermal barrier layer typically includes a ceramic material, for example ceria, ceria stabilized zirconia, and/or a mixture of ceria stabilized zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia in an amount of 90 to 100 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The thermal barrier layer can also have a gradient structure which gradually transitions from 100 wt. % of a metal bond material to 100 wt. % of the ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9739234
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The oil gallery channel is first forged to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original forged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9650988
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The piston crown is made by a cast metal or powder metal forming process. The oil gallery channel is formed to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original as-formed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20160305365
    Abstract: A piston and method of construction thereof is provided. The piston has a lower member with diametrically opposite skirt portions and axially aligned pin bores and an upper member joined to the lower member. The upper member has a substantially planar upper combustion surface and a combustion bowl depending from the upper combustion surface. An undercrown surface is formed directly opposite the combustion bowl and a combustion bowl rim transitions the combustion bowl with the upper combustion surface. At least one of the combustion bowl, the undercrown surface and the upper combustion surface has a machined surface and an “as forged” surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Norbert G. Schneider, Jeffrey L. Riffe
  • Publication number: 20160222913
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The oil gallery channel is first forged to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original forged condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: NORBERT G. SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20160208735
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine including a cooling gallery and a complex combustion surface is provided. The piston includes an upper crown member joined to a lower member, for example by hybrid induction welding. A complex combustion bowl is formed in the upper crown member by forging. The combustion bowl includes at least one protrusion, and typically a plurality of protrusions spaced from one another. After the forging step and before the joining step, portions of an undercrown surface located opposite the spaces between the protrusions are machined, and portions located directly opposite the protrusions are left as-forged. The crown member is joined to the lower member, for example by hybrid induction welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9334958
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The oil gallery channel is first forged to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original forged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20160097342
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The piston crown is made by a cast metal or powder metal forming process. The oil gallery channel is formed to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original as-formed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: NORBERT G. SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 9243582
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The piston crown is made by a cast metal or powder metal forming process. The oil gallery channel is formed to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original as-formed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20150337959
    Abstract: A piston for a high temperature internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes an upper wall, base wall, outer rib, and inner rib defining a cooling chamber therebetween, and a plurality of ring grooves formed in the outer rib. Only the second ring groove is formed with the keystone cross-section, and all of the other ring grooves are formed with the conventional rectangular cross-section. Thus, the piston can be formed with low manufacturing costs and can also provide exceptional performance when used in high temperature combustion engines, wherein the temperature at the first ring groove is greater than 280° C., and thus prevents carbon from depositing or burns off any carbon deposits, but the temperature at the second ring groove is between 200° C. and 280° C., in which case carbon deposits can form and cause the piston ring to stick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140230774
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The piston crown is made by a cast metal or powder metal forming process. The oil gallery channel is formed to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original as-formed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140230646
    Abstract: A steel piston with an oil gallery, and process for forming a steel piston oil gallery channel, which corresponds to the complex shape of the combustion bowl in the piston crown. The oil gallery channel is first forged to the basic shape that corresponds to the shape of the walls of the combustion bowl. Machine-turning surfaces in the oil gallery channel can be machine-finished as desired. Surfaces in the oil gallery which cannot be machined with conventional turning operations, such as recesses and protrusions into the channel, are left in the original forged condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norbert G. Schneider