Patents by Inventor Steve Birnie

Steve Birnie 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: 10233946
    Abstract: A method of assembling and retaining a noise attenuation device (30) within an air inlet (16) of a compressor cover (12) includes inserting the noise attenuation device (30) into the air inlet (16) and applying a rolling compressive force to the air inlet (16) using a forming tool (40). As a result, the air inlet terminal end (17) is deformed radially inward so as to form a radially-inwardly protruding lip (17b) about the air inlet terminal end (17). The radially-inwardly protruding lip (17b) is configured to retain the noise attenuation device (30) within the air inlet (16). The forming tool (40) used to form the radially-inwardly protruding lip (17b) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjit Chaggar, Steve Birnie, James Mawer, Andrew Richardson, Malcolm Carr
  • Patent number: 9926840
    Abstract: A turbine (32) section of a turbocharger (30) includes a turbine wheel (37) disposed in a turbine housing (33), the turbine housing (33) defining a gas inlet (34), a volute configured to direct gas from the inlet (34) to the turbine (32) wheel, and a gas outlet. A rotary diverter valve (100, 200) is disposed in the gas inlet (34) upstream of the volute, and provides three modes of controlling exhaust gas flow about the turbocharger (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: James Mawer, Kiumars Shoghi, Steve Birnie, Sean Rylance
  • Patent number: 9587557
    Abstract: A vane pack for a VTG turbocharger is provided. The vane pack includes a plurality of vanes pivotably positioned between an inner surface of an upper vane ring and an inner surface of a lower vane ring. Clearances are defined between opposing cheek surfaces of the vanes and the inner surfaces of the vane rings. The vane pack is configured to minimize these clearances by applying an abradable coating is to the inner surface of the upper vane ring, the inner surface of the lower vane ring and/or cheek surface(s) of one or more of the vanes. In this way, an essentially zero clearance can be established without interfering with the proper function of the vanes. As a result, there can be gains in efficiency. Further wearing of the abradable coating may occur during turbocharger operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Barron, Steve Birnie, Alan Wint
  • Publication number: 20150050129
    Abstract: A vane pack for a VTG turbocharger is provided. The vane pack includes a plurality of vanes pivotably positioned between an inner surface of an upper vane ring and an inner surface of a lower vane ring. Clearances are defined between opposing cheek surfaces of the vanes and the inner surfaces of the vane rings. The vane pack is configured to minimize these clearances by applying an abradable coating is to the inner surface of the upper vane ring, the inner surface of the lower vane ring and/or cheek surface(s) of one or more of the vanes. In this way, an essentially zero clearance can be established without interfering with the proper function of the vanes. As a result, there can be gains in efficiency. Further wearing of the abradable coating may occur during turbocharger operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Luke Barron, Steve Birnie, Alan Wint