Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Earhart

Thomas E. Earhart 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).

  • Method of assembling fuel injector pump components
    Patent number: 5937520
    Abstract: Methods of swaging fuel injector pump components are provided. A method of securing an armature plate to a control valve of a solenoid-actuated fuel injector pump comprises: (1) providing a control valve stem extending from the control valve, the stem having a body with a body width, a head with a head width narrower than the body width, and a neck with a neck width narrower than the head width, the neck forming an annular groove between the head and body; (2) providing a central aperture formed in the armature plate having an aperture width between the head and body widths; and (3) forcing the stem into the central aperture in a manner to cause a portion of the armature plate to deform into the groove to secure the armature plate to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Diesel Technology Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Earhart, Allan J. Vanden Berg
  • Method of assembling fuel injector pump components
    Patent number: 5815920
    Abstract: Methods of swaging fuel injector pump components are provided. A method of securing an armature plate to a control valve of a solenoid-actuated fuel injector pump comprises: (1) providing a control valve stem extending from the control valve, the stem having a body with a body width, a head with a head width narrower than the body width, and a neck with a neck width narrower than the head width, the neck forming an annular groove between the head and body; (2) providing a central aperture formed in the armature plate having an aperture width between the head and body widths; and (3) forcing the stem into the central aperture in a manner to cause a portion of the armature plate to deform into the groove to secure the armature plate to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Diesel Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Earhart