Patents by Inventor Scott Lehto

Scott Lehto 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: 9989026
    Abstract: A fuel system including a high pressure fuel pump with a quite fuel metering valve is disclosed. In one example, the quite fuel metering valve may be driven via a rotating motor. The fuel system may reduce engine noise and may provide improved fuel pressure control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Vince Paul Solferino, Kyi Shiah, Joseph Basmaji, Patrick Brostrom, Scott Lehto
  • Patent number: 9169817
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel pump is provided. The method may include decreasing a pump chamber pressure, passively opening a metering valve coupled to a pump chamber in response to the decreasing, and while the metering valve is open, generating a rotational output via a motor, transferring the rotational output into an actuation force applied to the metering valve via a metering valve actuation device, and inhibiting the metering valve from closing via sustaining application of the actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Vince Paul Solferino, Patrick Brostrom, Kyi Shiah, Joseph F. Basmaji, Scott Lehto
  • Patent number: 8844502
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine direct injection fuel injector system includes a fuel rail which is welded to a fuel rail bracket. A fuel rail mounting sleeve has a flange and is bolted to the engine cylinder head. The bracket fits around the flange and is held in place by a steel washer and a pair of stepped isolator washers which are positioned in pockets formed on either side of the bracket. The isolator washers serve as springs which form a shock absorber between the bracket and cylinder head. Compression forces on the bracket and isolator washers are controlled by bolt tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vince P. Solferino, Paul W. Zeng, Patrick C. Brostrom, Michael R. Kaput, Scott Lehto, Syed M. Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20140154100
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel pump is provided. The method may include decreasing a pump chamber pressure, passively opening a metering valve coupled to a pump chamber in response to the decreasing, and while the metering valve is open, generating a rotational output via a motor, transferring the rotational output into an actuation force applied to the metering valve via a metering valve actuation device, and inhibiting the metering valve from closing via sustaining application of the actuation force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Vince Paul Solferino, Patrick Brostrom, Kyi Shiah, Joseph F. Basmaji, Scott Lehto
  • Patent number: 8701632
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection fuel system includes a fuel rail cap and a fuel injector received within the fuel rail cap. A clip extends through slots in the fuel rail cap and engages the fuel rail to support the fuel rail within the fuel rail cap. The fuel rail cap includes a groove adjoining the slots to accept a portion of the clip. The clip engages a shoulder on the fuel injector assembly. The shoulder may be on the injector body or on an adapter secured to the injector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vince P. Solferino, Paul W. Zeng, Patrick C. Brostrom, Michael R. Kaput, Scott Lehto, Syed M. Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8651090
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection cylinder for an engine of a vehicle includes a direct fuel injector disposed in an injector bore within a cylinder head. A beveled conical wave washer is disposed between a shelf in the injector bore and a shoulder of the direct fuel injector. During operation of the vehicle, the beveled conical wave washer is elastically deformed by radial displacement caused by absorption of high frequency energy from the direct fuel injector. Elastic deformation of the beveled conical wave washer may reduce noise which may be caused by impact of the direct fuel injector and the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Patrick Brostrom, Giuseppe DeRose, Jr., Scott Lehto
  • Publication number: 20140027543
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection fuel system includes a fuel rail cap and a fuel injector received within the fuel rail cap. A clip extends through slots in the fuel rail cap and engages the fuel rail to support the fuel rail within the fuel rail cap. The fuel rail cap includes a groove adjoining the slots to accept a portion of the clip. The clip engages a shoulder on the fuel injector assembly. The shoulder may be on the injector body or on an adapter secured to the injector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vince P. Solferino, Paul W. Zeng, Patrick C. Brostrom, Michael R. Kaput, Scott Lehto, Syed M. Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20140026401
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine direct injection fuel injector system includes a fuel rail which is welded to a fuel rail bracket. A fuel rail mounting sleeve has a flange and is bolted to the engine cylinder head. The bracket fits around the flange and is held in place by a steel washer and a pair of stepped isolator washers which are positioned in pockets formed on either side of the bracket. The isolator washers serve as springs which form a shock absorber between the bracket and cylinder head. Compression forces on the bracket and isolator washers are controlled by bolt tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vince P. Solferino, Paul W. Zeng, Patrick C. Brostrom, Michael R. Kaput, Scott Lehto, Syed M. Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20130284153
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection cylinder for an engine of a vehicle includes a direct fuel injector disposed in an injector bore within a cylinder head. A beveled conical wave washer is disposed between a shelf in the injector bore and a shoulder of the direct fuel injector. During operation of the vehicle, the beveled conical wave washer is elastically deformed by radial displacement caused by absorption of high frequency energy from the direct fuel injector. Elastic deformation of the beveled conical wave washer may reduce noise which may be caused by impact of the direct fuel injector and the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Patrick Brostrom, Giuseppe DeRose, JR., Scott Lehto
  • Patent number: 8516996
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector pocket, formed within a cylinder head, for housing an injector which sprays fuel into a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder head and a piston crown. The injector is mounted with a conical isolator which is loaded at a lower, elastic rate during lower power operation, with the conical isolator being stacked solid between a tapered portion of the injector and a corresponding tapered portion of the cylinder head during high power operation of the engine and injection system. The isolator controls unwanted injector ticking noise, while protecting the integrity of the injector's tip seal by preventing excessive axial displacement of the injector during higher load operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Scott Lehto, Patrick Brostrom, Giuseppe DeRose, Jr., Simon Antonov, Jim Chern
  • Publication number: 20130213360
    Abstract: A fuel system including a high pressure fuel pump with a quite fuel metering valve is disclosed. In one example, the quite fuel metering valve may be driven via a rotating motor. The fuel system may reduce engine noise and may provide improved fuel pressure control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Vince Paul Solferino, Kyi Shiah, Joseph Basmaji, Patrick Brostrom, Scott Lehto
  • Patent number: 8469004
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection cylinder for an engine of a vehicle includes a direct fuel injector disposed in an injector bore within a cylinder head. A beveled conical wave washer is disposed between a shelf in the injector bore and a shoulder of the direct fuel injector. During operation of the vehicle, the beveled conical wave washer is elastically deformed by radial displacement caused by absorption of high frequency energy from the direct fuel injector. Elastic deformation of the beveled conical wave washer may reduce noise which may be caused by impact of the direct fuel injector and the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Patrick Brostrom, Giuseppe DeRose, Jr., Scott Lehto
  • Publication number: 20120138013
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector pocket, formed within a cylinder head, for housing an injector which sprays fuel into a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder head and a piston crown. The injector is mounted with a conical isolator which is loaded at a lower, elastic rate during lower power operation, with the conical isolator being stacked solid between a tapered portion of the injector and a corresponding tapered portion of the cylinder head during high power operation of the engine and injection system. The isolator controls unwanted injector ticking noise, while protecting the integrity of the injector's tip seal by preventing excessive axial displacement of the injector during higher load operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Scott Lehto, Patrick Brostrom, Giuseppe DeRose, JR., Simon Antonov, Jim Chern
  • Publication number: 20120060792
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection cylinder for an engine of a vehicle includes a direct fuel injector disposed in an injector bore within a cylinder head. A beveled conical wave washer is disposed between a shelf in the injector bore and a shoulder of the direct fuel injector. During operation of the vehicle, the beveled conical wave washer is elastically deformed by radial displacement caused by absorption of high frequency energy from the direct fuel injector. Elastic deformation of the beveled conical wave washer may reduce noise which may be caused by impact of the direct fuel injector and the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Patrick Brostrom, Giuseppe DeRose, JR., Scott Lehto