Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Sutton

Stephen J. Sutton 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: 4771970
    Abstract: The invention provides a pressure flow control device of the type used primarily to maintain both vertical and horizontal stability and manueverability in a predetermined fluid environment. The device includes the first skin of predetermined configuration, a second skin of predetermined configuration disposed in substantially spaced apart configuration relation from the first skin and a plurality of third skin disposed in interconnecting relation between the first and second skins. One or more spors are defined by the first, second and third skins. One end of the spors at least partially defines a leading edge of the device and the opposite end of the spors at least partially defines the trailing edge of the device. One or more holonomic ports are formed in at least one of the third skins and a jet port is defined by at least a portion of one or more of the spors being open at its aft end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Inventor: Stephen J. Sutton
  • Patent number: 4718827
    Abstract: An improvement in automotive fuel pump assemblies of the type including a tubular cylindrical housing, an electric motor in the housing and a pump in the housing driven by the armature of the motor. The pump includes a first pump body adjacent a flux ring of the motor, a second pump body between the first pump body and the end of the tubular housing, and an impeller in a cavity between the pump bodies. The improvement resides in the provision of axially extending grooves in outer cylindrical surfaces of the pump bodies which register in only a single predetermined angular positional relationship of the pump bodies and in the provision of spring clips which fit in the registered grooves to maintain the predetermined positional relationship and to unitize the pump bodies for efficient handling prior to insertion in the tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Sutton, John E. Creager, Richard F. Kostelic
  • Patent number: 4638305
    Abstract: Diesel fuel tends to deposit an insulating coating on surfaces it contacts. A probe, preferably in the form of a siphon tube, is coupled to a detection circuit which is responsive to either low resistance or high capacitance between the probe and ground. The probe is initially uncoated to make a resistive coupling to a fuel container when accumulated water touches the probe. When insulating deposits from the diesel fuel or other fuel oil coat the probe, capacitive coupling will occur between the probe and the accumulated water. In either case the presence of water triggers an output signal by the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Sutton
  • Patent number: 4316174
    Abstract: A capacitive probe for sensing the presence of water in a fuel tank increases in capacitance when water is present. A threshold detector circuit includes the capacitive probe and a reference capacitor and an oscillator for periodically charging them to the same voltage and a comparator for comparing the capacitor voltages during discharge to determine when the probe capacitance exceeds the reference capacitance. The comparator controls a lamp driver which is connected to ground and which is also connected by a single conductor to a remote indicating lamp in series with a power supply. The single conductor carries the lamp energizing current as controlled by the lamp driver and also supplies the operating voltage to the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Sutton, John E. Creager, Robert B. Gelenius
  • Patent number: 4114130
    Abstract: A float operated fuel level sender for an automotive vehicle fuel tank includes a molded plastic case secured to a conductive plate. A potentiometer assembly (electrically connected to a fuel gauge) includes a resistor secured within the plastic case and a wiper element movable with the float arm along the length of the resistor. The wiper element is electrically and mechanically connected to the float arm which in turn is connected through a contact element to the conductive plate to provide an electrical ground return. The plastic case has an integral resilient finger formed therein which is biased against the end of the float arm to urge the contact member against the conductive plate thereby assuring a good ground connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Sutton, J. Robert Holen, John E. Creager