Patents by Inventor Paul D. Walkowski

Paul D. Walkowski 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: 10703197
    Abstract: A fuel filler tube housing assembly constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a fuel filler neck and a filler extension tube. The fuel filler neck housing includes a first mounting structure operable to support a check valve. The fuel filler extension tube is fixed to the fuel filler neck housing and has a second mounting structure substantially similar to the first mounting structure and thereby also operable to support the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Robert A. Dayton
  • Patent number: 10184583
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided that is suitable for use in a fuel fill line. The valve assembly may include a housing having a flange that surrounds the housing. A weld foot can be molded over at least a portion of the flange. A lip seal may be disposed between the flange and the weld foot. The lip seal includes a first lip and a second lip, and the first lip and the second lip may both be in contact with a surface on one of the flange and the weld foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Patent number: 10059196
    Abstract: A vent valve for a fuel system includes a float, a flapper assembly and an orifice plate. The flapper assembly has a flapper and a seal mounted on or fixed to the flapper. The flapper assembly can be movably engaged with the float. The orifice plate can have a plate body that includes a nipple portion extending to a terminal end that defines a valve seat. The valve seat comprises an orifice having splines arranged around an outer diameter thereof. The seal is configured to selectively engage the valve seat between a sealed, closed position and an unsealed, open position. The splines facilitate movement of the seal from the closed position to the open position with reduced reopening force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Patent number: 9884550
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly is provided for venting pressure in a tank. The flapper valve assembly includes a float assembly that is configured to be disposed within a valve housing. The float assembly may have a plurality of guide supports that extend from an end portion of the float assembly. A flapper member is movably supported on the float assembly. The flapper member may include a plurality of guide legs that correspond with the guide supports of the float assembly to maintain proper alignment of the flapper member relative to the float assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Publication number: 20170158047
    Abstract: A vent valve for a fuel system includes a float, a flapper assembly and an orifice plate. The flapper assembly has a flapper and a seal mounted on or fixed to the flapper. The flapper assembly can be movably engaged with the float. The orifice plate can have a plate body that includes a nipple portion extending to a terminal end that defines a valve seat. The valve seat comprises an orifice having splines arranged around an outer diameter thereof. The seal is configured to selectively engage the valve seat between a sealed, closed position and an unsealed, open position. The splines facilitate movement of the seal from the closed position to the open position with reduced reopening force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Publication number: 20170158049
    Abstract: A fuel filler tube housing assembly constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a fuel filler neck and a filler extension tube. The fuel filler neck housing includes a first mounting structure operable to support a check valve. The fuel filler extension tube is fixed to the fuel filler neck housing and has a second mounting structure substantially similar to the first mounting structure and thereby also operable to support the check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Robert A. Dayton
  • Publication number: 20150107690
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for venting pressure in a fuel tank. The valve assembly includes a float member that is movable between a first position and a second position. A flexible seal is supported on the float member. The valve assembly also includes a valve port that may define an orifice and a closure surface surrounding the orifice. The closure surface may include textured features that are configured to engage a surface of the seal when the float member is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Publication number: 20150107689
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly is provided for venting pressure in a tank. The flapper valve assembly includes a float assembly that is configured to be disposed within a valve housing. The float assembly may have a plurality of guide supports that extend from an end portion of the float assembly. A flapper member is movably supported on the float assembly. The flapper member may include a plurality of guide legs that correspond with the guide supports of the float assembly to maintain proper alignment of the flapper member relative to the float assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Publication number: 20150107700
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided that is suitable for use in a fuel fill line. The valve assembly may include a housing having a flange that surrounds the housing. A weld foot can be molded over at least a portion of the flange. A lip seal may be disposed between the flange and the weld foot. The lip seal includes a first lip and a second lip, and the first lip and the second lip may both be in contact with a surface on one of the flange and the weld foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Publication number: 20150090346
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for venting pressure in a fuel tank. The valve assembly includes a housing that defines a passage and a valve seat provided at one end of the passage. A float assembly is disposed within the housing. The float assembly includes a flexible membrane seal that seals against the valve seat when the float assembly rises in response to a rising fuel level in the fuel tank, and a reopen profile that applies a reopening force along a select portion of the membrane seal to release the membrane seal from the valve seat when the float assembly drops in response to a falling fuel level in the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew L. Erdmann, Paul D. Walkowski
  • Patent number: 8281947
    Abstract: A fuel storage system includes a tank, a check valve having an inlet tube, an anti-siphon device and a fuel intake tube. The anti-siphon device includes a ring defining an interior opening having a diameter. The ring abuts an upstream end of the inlet tube of the check valve, which includes an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the interior opening of the ring. The ring includes and supports a plurality of fins within the inlet tube without narrowing the inlet tube to maximize fluid flow through the inlet tube. The anti-siphon device is rotatable relative to the check valve and the fuel intake tube. The shape, size and orientation of the fins are optimized to minimize flow interruption through the anti-siphon device and minimize vaporization of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Vaughn K. Mills
  • Publication number: 20100282757
    Abstract: A fuel storage system includes a tank, a check valve having an inlet tube, an anti-siphon device and a fuel intake tube. The anti-siphon device includes a ring defining an interior opening having a diameter. The ring abuts an upstream end of the inlet tube of the check valve, which includes an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the interior opening of the ring. The ring includes and supports a plurality of fins within the inlet tube without narrowing the inlet tube to maximize fluid flow through the inlet tube. The anti-siphon device is rotatable relative to the check valve and the fuel intake tube. The shape, size and orientation of the fins are optimized to minimize flow interruption through the anti-siphon device and minimize vaporization of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Vaughn K. Mills
  • Publication number: 20100193076
    Abstract: A capless fuel tank filler pipe assembly includes a filler pipe and a bulkhead disposed on the filler pipe. The bulkhead includes a nozzle receiving portion. A flapper door is pivotally disposed on the filler pipe, and is biased to a closed position. The flapper door is configured to compress an annular seal disposed between the bulkhead and the flapper door. The annular seal includes a liquid/vapor sealing material bonded to a substantially impermeable material. The substantially impermeable material substantially blocks emission of hydrocarbon molecules that permeate the liquid/vapor sealing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Robert P. Benjey, Kenneth Maynard Spink
  • Patent number: 7644740
    Abstract: A protective cover for a filler neck is designed to discriminate between different sizes of fuel nozzles. The cover includes a body portion and a movable door that covers and exposes an opening in the filler neck. The body portion has a pair of spaced body protrusions that form a gate, and the door has a ledge that may also be formed by a pair of spaced door protrusions. The protrusions on the door can be easily moved to an open position by pressing a tip of a fuel nozzle against the protrusions. The gate and the ledge are configured so that they can accommodate the fuel nozzle for only one type of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Benjey, Paul D. Walkowski, Russell C. Jahnke, Andrew W. McIntosh, David Adam Deboskey
  • Publication number: 20080257426
    Abstract: A valve is provided. The valve may include a housing defining a cavity. A first end of the housing may define an opening configured to be closed by a flapper door. The valve may further include a hinge formed integrally with the housing. The hinge may extend from an upper portion of the housing and be configured to receive the flapper door. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the hinge extends beyond the opening. The hinge may provide a pivot point for the flapper door that is at or above the opening of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Spink, Paul D. Walkowski, James R. Fries, Ronald E. Sexton
  • Publication number: 20080210333
    Abstract: A protective cover for a filler neck is designed to discriminate between different sizes of fuel nozzles. The cover includes a body portion and a movable door that covers and exposes an opening in the filler neck. The body portion has a pair of spaced body protrusions that form a gate, and the door has a ledge that may also be formed by a pair of spaced door protrusions. The protrusions on the door can be easily moved to an open position by pressing a tip of a fuel nozzle against the protrusions. The gate and the ledge are configured so that they can accommodate the fuel nozzle for only one type of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Benjey, Paul D. Walkowski, Russell C. Jahnke, Andrew W. McIntosh, David Adam Deboskey
  • Patent number: 7306017
    Abstract: A capless seal door for a fuel tank filler tube employs a door valve with a flexible annular seal which, upon closing against a seat on the undersurface of a nozzle-receiving orifice formed in a bulkhead across the tube, initially wipes on the seat and is subsequently compressed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Robert P. Benjey
  • Patent number: 7165583
    Abstract: A capless filler neck creates a vapor-tight closure for a fuel system using a spring-loaded door and a latch structure that anchors the door to create a vapor-tight seal. The filler neck includes a spring that biases the door shut and a wedge arrangement that acts as the latching structure. The wedge arrangement includes a movable plate that selectively engages with the door to pull the door shut with sufficient force to form and maintain the vapor-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Kenneth M. Spink, Robert P. Benjey
  • Patent number: 7163037
    Abstract: A capless filler tube closure door has a pair of spaced axles or pins which are guided by slots to initially upon being opened by a refueling nozzle move in translation away from the nozzle orifice seat and then pivot out of the way so as not to obstruct the nozzle. Upon nozzle removal as the door approaches the seat, it moves in linear translation to close on the seat to ensure uniform sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Patent number: 7147019
    Abstract: A cover for a filler neck includes a body portion and a movable protective door that covers and exposes an opening in the filler neck. The protective door includes a ledge that protrudes from the plane of the door so that the door can be easily moved to an open position by pressing a tip of a fuel nozzle against the door. The door itself may be biased to move into a closed position automatically when the fuel nozzle is removed from the ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Walkowski, Robert P. Benjey, Russell C. Jahnke, Andrew W. McIntosh