Patents by Inventor Ralph E. Ulm

Ralph E. Ulm 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: 5961293
    Abstract: An in-tank fuel pump apparatus includes an elongated motor-pump unit having a motor and pump unit connected in end-to-end relation. An outer cam has a substantially constant diameter enclosing the motor-pump unit and projecting axially outwardly therefrom and defining a control chamber immediately adjacent the one end of the motor-pump unit. A control tower is secured to the end of the motor-pump unit from which the motor cam extends. The control tower includes a body member having a closure plate abutting the motor pump unit, an outlet passageway extending axially from the motor-pump unit to the exterior of the motor cam, a pressure sensor secured within the body member having an inlet connected to a sensing passage connected to the output of the motor pump unit in an outermost circuit board forming the outermost end of the tower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: UIS, Inc
    Inventors: Robert T. Clemmons, Ralph E. Ulm
  • Patent number: 5908020
    Abstract: An integrated fuel system component (10) comprising a fuel pump (52), a fuel filter (30) axially mounted directly below and around the lower portion of the fuel pump, and a spiral-wound fuel line (84) composed of a heat-conductive material mounted concentric to the upper portion of the fuel pump, minimizing the space required for installation. A fuel cooling system encloses the pump housing (70) and the fuel line in sealed chambers (66, 68) through which a liquid coolant is circulated to cool both the fuel pump and the fuel contained within the fuel line. A fuel pressure regulator (104) located between the fuel line and a fuel outlet (100) returns fuel to a fuel reservoir (24) located below the fuel filter, thereby providing a closed loop system. By combining the fuel pump, fuel filter, liquid cooling system, and pressure regulator into a single unit, the integrated unit minimizes vapor lock induced by heat, and optimally houses the fuel system components within a minimal volume of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: UIS, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Boutwell, Ralph E. Ulm
  • Patent number: 4016906
    Abstract: Federal regulations require certain safety features on road vehicles in connection with leakage from gasoline filled devices, such as fuel pumps, wherein only a certain amount of leakage over a specified time period is permitted in a barrier crash or roll over. The invention herein is particularly directed to minimizing leakage so as to conform to federal regulations insofar as fuel pumps are concerned by modification of existing check valves minimizing retooling expense by providing a backup washer spring pressed over an area of the valve disc so as to apply sealing pressure in a pair of spaced concentric areas on the valve seat. This precludes edge curling of the valve disc and ultimate leakage as well as increasing the wear life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1977
    Assignee: Airtex Products, Div. of United Industrial Syndicate, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph E. Ulm