Patents by Inventor P. Douglas Free

P. Douglas Free 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: 7090145
    Abstract: A liquid cooled fuel injection valve is operable to inject fuel directly into a combustion chamber through a nozzle orifice provided in an injector tip. The fuel injection valve further comprises a cooling system for draining fuel from a fuel cavity disposed within the injector tip and a drain valve that opens when pressure within the fuel cavity is greater than a predetermined set point. Fuel drained through the cooling system is directed to a drain system that may be combined with drain passages typically found in fuel injection valves. In a preferred embodiment, the drain valve is disposed within the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventors: S. Michael Baker, Victor J. Perr, P. Douglas Free
  • Patent number: 6202413
    Abstract: An improved wastegated turbocharger including ejector nozzles such that the bypassed exhaust flow re-enters the main exhaust flow at a predetermined pitch angle and yaw angle so as to create a drop in turbine back pressure. The exhaust gas turbocharger includes a turbine housing having a turbine chamber, an exhaust housing portion, and an exhaust gas inlet to said turbine chamber wherein a turbine wheel is rotatably mounted in the turbine chamber and is rotatably responsive to exhaust gas flow from the exhaust gas inlet. In one embodiment, an outlet insert is provided which is rigidly attached to the exhaust housing portion and extends toward the turbine chamber thereby defining a bypass chamber and providing an exhaust gas outlet. A bypass flow passage which fluidly connects the exhaust gas inlet with the bypass chamber is also provided. The outlet insert includes a plurality of ejector nozzles for directing exhaust flow from the bypass chamber to the exhaust gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn L. Baker, Gregory H. Henderson, P. Douglas Free
  • Patent number: 5937807
    Abstract: An exhaust valve system for an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger is provided for effectively increasing the turbocharged boost pressure at low load engine conditions thereby effectively improving engine transient response. The exhaust valve system includes an exhaust valve control device operable in a normal timing mode for permitting normal opening of one or more exhaust valves at a normal opening crank angle, and in an advanced timing mode for advancing the timing of the opening of the exhaust valve to an advanced opening crank angle prior to the normal opening crank angle while maintaining the timing of normal closing of the exhaust valves at a normal closing crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester L. Peters, David A. Vittorio, P. Douglas Free, Amarjit S. Ghuman, Harold G. Weber, Canden R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5372114
    Abstract: A hydraulic tappet for use in the fuel injector drive trains of compression ignition or diesel internal combustion engines are provided which optimize injector timing for improved fuel economy. One embodiment of the hydraulic tappet of the present invention includes a dampened pressure regulating feature which determines blow down pressure. A second embodiment of the hydraulic tappet of the present invention includes a dampening load cell feature which allows the blow down pressure of the load cell to be increased and injection timing to be optimally advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Gant, P. Douglas Free, James R. Katzenmeyer, Donald E. Duckworth, George L. Muntean