Patents by Inventor Steven E. Pritz

Steven E. Pritz 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: 5335642
    Abstract: An ignition coil having primary and secondary coils, the primary coil wound around a central core member and including a permanent magnet made of a magnetic material that is less than fully dense, and is interposed between one end of the central core member and one end of an outer core surrounding the primary and secondary coil assembly and assuring the elimination of any air gap between the iron core and the central core member. The ignition coil further having a common modular design for a slip-in fit into differing modular housing designs depending upon the number of cylinders in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Hancock, Steven E. Pritz, Robert C. Bauman, Shawn J. Nowlan
  • Patent number: 5285761
    Abstract: An ignition coil having annular primary and secondary coils, the primary coil wound around a central core member and including a permanent magnet made of a magnetic material that is less than fully dense, and is interposed between one end of the central core member and one end of a C-shaped iron core surrounding the primary and secondary coil assembly and assuring the elimination of any air gap between the C-shaped iron core and the central core member. Alternatively, the permanent magnet may be replaced with an electrically non-conductive shim of substantially equal dimension such that the energy output is substantially reduced and the charge/discharge interval substantially increased to thereby allow use of the same basic modularly constructed coil assembly for totally different ignition strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Hancock, Steven E. Pritz, Robert C. Bauman, Shawn J. Nowlan
  • Patent number: 5241941
    Abstract: An ignition coil having annular primary and secondary coils, the primary coil wound around a central core member and including a permanent magnet made of a magnetic material that is less than fully dense, and is interposed between one end of the central core member and one end of a C-shaped iron core surrounding the primary and secondary coil assembly and assuring the elimination of any air gap between the C-shaped iron core and the central core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Hancock, Steven E. Pritz, Robert C. Bauman, Shawn J. Nowlan
  • Patent number: 5218936
    Abstract: A method of making a unitary spark distribution cassette involves molding a cassette and placing electrically conductive lead frames within the cassette during molding. Electrically conductive sleeves for fitting over spark plugs are also provided on the cassette. An ignition system circuit using high voltage diodes in conjunction with an alternating flux ignition coil is placed in the cassette and connected to the lead frames and the sleeves to create a complete electrical circuit. The cassette is then filled with epoxy resin to encase the electrical components to form a unitary package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Steven E. Pritz, James P. Morris, Philip C. Chapekis