Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Guntly

Thomas G. Guntly 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: 8146558
    Abstract: An engine starting assist system configured to be used on an internal combustion engine. The engine starting assist system includes a battery, a choke valve disposed in an air intake of an air/fuel-mixing device, the choke valve having an open position and a closed position, a rotary solenoid powered by the battery, the rotary solenoid having an output shaft, and a bimetal coil. The output shaft of the rotary solenoid is coaxial with the bimetal coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Max W. Clouse, Thomas G. Guntly, Mel O. Lux, Michael B. Busateri
  • Publication number: 20090044777
    Abstract: An engine starting assist system configured to be used on an internal combustion engine. The engine starting assist system includes a battery, a choke valve disposed in an air intake of an air/fuel-mixing device, the choke valve having an open position and a closed position, a rotary solenoid powered by the battery, the rotary solenoid having an output shaft, and a bimetal coil. The output shaft of the rotary solenoid is coaxial with the bimetal coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Max W. Clouse, Thomas G. Guntly, Mel O. Lux, Michael B. Busateri
  • Patent number: 7159741
    Abstract: A cap for covering an opening of a spout. The cap includes a top that defines an inner surface and an outer surface. An engagement portion extends from the inner surface and is adapted to engage the spout. A wall extends from the inner surface to define a container-receiving space and a pierce point extends from the inner surface and is at least partially disposed within the container-receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly, Peter D. Shears, Bradley Deml, Marvin Klowak
  • Patent number: 7144000
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a carburetor. The internal combustion engine includes a choke valve disposed within the carburetor, and a choke lever interconnected with the choke valve for movement with the choke valve. The engine also includes a throttle valve disposed within the carburetor and a throttle lever interconnected with the throttle valve for movement therewith. An intermediate lever is disposed between the throttle lever and the choke lever for movement with the choke and throttle levers. In one embodiment, the engine includes a connecting link coupled between the choke and intermediate levers, the connecting link movable with movement of the choke lever such that movement of the choke lever is translated into movement of the intermediate lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: David Roth, James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Patent number: 6990969
    Abstract: An automatic choke apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine. The choke apparatus includes a choke valve automatically operable in response to the speed of the engine, a thermally conductive assembly that conducts heat from exhaust gases produced by the engine, a thermally responsive member in thermal communication with the thermally conductive assembly, and a mechanism that moves in response to the thermally responsive member to cause the choke valve to remain in at least a partially open position during engine starting when the thermally responsive member senses a temperature above a predetermined temperature. The thermally conductive assembly at least partially surrounds the path of the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: David Roth, James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly, Curtis Schultz, Hisaya Iwata, Steven R. Schlosser, Travis Nickels, Gregory D. Irwin, Kenneth R. Breitenstein, Steven A. Dethloff
  • Patent number: 6981532
    Abstract: The invention recites an apparatus that delivers a fuel additive to a fuel container. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a fuel additive chamber. The housing is interconnectable with the container and the housing has a release section that automatically releases a portion of the fuel additive from the chamber into the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Patent number: 6942124
    Abstract: The invention recites an apparatus that delivers a fuel additive to a fuel. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a fuel additive chamber. The housing has a release section that automatically releases a portion of the fuel additive from the chamber into the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly, Peter D. Shears, Bradley Deml, Marvin Klowak
  • Patent number: 6830023
    Abstract: An engine starting system that includes a power source, an electromagnetic coil and core, and a choke valve disposed in an air intake of an air/fuel-mixing device of an internal combustion engine. At the time of starting the engine, the power source outputs an electrical signal to an electromagnetic coil and core, inducing a magnetic field from the electromagnetic coil and the core. The magnetic field from the core moves the choke valve toward a substantially closed position that enriches an intake mixture of fuel and air to the engine during starting. In one embodiment, the power source includes a moving magnet that interacts with a stator coil to provide the electrical signal to the electromagnetic coil. In another embodiment, the closing of a starter switch allows a battery to provide the electrical power to the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Tharman, Curtis L. Schultz, Jeffrey C. Blonski, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Patent number: 6752110
    Abstract: An engine starting system for an internal combustion engine. The starting system includes a starter switch electrically connected between a battery and a starter motor for the engine, and a choke valve disposed in an air intake of an air/fuel-mixing device for the engine. The choke valve moves in response to a solenoid actuator. The solenoid actuator is electrically connected to the starter motor and a temperature switch. When starting the engine below a threshold temperature, the starter switch and temperature switch close such that the battery powers the starter motor and solenoid actuator. The energized solenoid actuator moves the choke valve to a closed position to enrich the air/fuel mixture. Above a certain threshold temperature, the temperature switch interrupts the power to the solenoid actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Tharman, Curtis L. Schultz, Jeffrey C. Blonski, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Publication number: 20040089259
    Abstract: An engine starting system that includes a power source, an electromagnetic coil and core, and a choke valve disposed in an air intake of an air/fuel-mixing device of an internal combustion engine. At the time of starting the engine, the power source outputs an electrical signal to an electromagnetic coil and core, inducing a magnetic field from the electromagnetic coil and the core. The magnetic field from the core moves the choke valve toward a substantially closed position that enriches an intake mixture of fuel and air to the engine during starting. In one embodiment, the power source includes a moving magnet that interacts with a stator coil to provide the electrical signal to the electromagnetic coil. In another embodiment, the closing of a starter switch allows a battery to provide the electrical power to the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Paul A. Tharman, Curtis L. Schultz, Jeffrey C. Blonski, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Publication number: 20040055554
    Abstract: An engine starting system for an internal combustion engine. The starting system includes a starter switch electrically connected between a battery and a starter motor for the engine, and a choke valve disposed in an air intake of an air/fuel-mixing device for the engine. The choke valve moves in response to a solenoid actuator. The solenoid actuator is electrically connected to the starter motor and a temperature switch. When starting the engine below a threshold temperature, the starter switch and temperature switch close such that the battery powers the starter motor and solenoid actuator. The energized solenoid actuator moves the choke valve to a closed position to enrich the air/fuel mixture. Above a certain threshold temperature, the temperature switch interrupts the power to the solenoid actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Paul A. Tharman, Curtis L. Schultz, Jeffrey C. Blonski, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Publication number: 20040040619
    Abstract: The invention recites an apparatus that delivers a fuel additive to a fuel. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a fuel additive chamber. The housing has a release section that automatically releases a portion of the fuel additive from the chamber into the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly, Peter D. Shears, Bradley Deml, Marvin Klowak
  • Publication number: 20040020560
    Abstract: The invention recites an apparatus that delivers a fuel additive to a fuel container. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a fuel additive chamber. The housing is interconnectable with the container and the housing has a release section that automatically releases a portion of the fuel additive from the chamber into the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: James J. Dehn, Thomas G. Guntly
  • Patent number: 5843345
    Abstract: An accelerator having a main body defining a main chamber, a movable member (e.g., a diaphragm) positioned within and dividing the main chamber into a pneumatic chamber and a fuel chamber, and a damping orifice (e.g., in the main body) interconnecting the pneumatic chamber with a gas source (e.g., ambient air). The damping orifice has a cross sectional area less than about 0.002 square inches. To inhibit contamination of the accelerator, a filter can be operatively positioned between the pneumatic chamber and the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Guntly
  • Patent number: 5803035
    Abstract: A carburetor prevents priming of a combustion engine under certain operating conditions. The carburetor includes a body member having a wall portion defining an orifice extending through the body member, a fuel nozzle positioned through the wall portion and in operative communication with the orifice, a fuel bowl positioned in operative communication with the fuel nozzle, a primer device in operative communication with the fuel bowl, and a primer lockout operatively positioned between the primer device and the fuel bowl. A method of controlling the carburetor during start-up and warm-up of a combustion engine is also described, including the steps of actuating the primer device to prime the carburetor, starting the engine with the external vent in open communication with the fuel bowl, disabling the primer device when the engine reaches a first operating temperature, and closing the external vent when the engine reaches a second operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Guntly
  • Patent number: 5070829
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an engine primer bulb assembly having a base, a primer bulb and a retaining ring for securing the primer bulb to the base. The retaining ring is self-locking and provides a circumferential force against the bulb to seal it with the base to provide a primer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton
    Inventors: Thomas G. Guntly, Richard T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5058544
    Abstract: A floatless carburetor with a fuel reservoir in communication with the carburetor throttle bore includes an integral primer system which is operable to introduce fuel directly into both the carburetor throttle bore and the fuel reservoir. A plurality of check valves control flow of fuel from the fuel tank into the primer system and into the throttle bore and fuel reservoir. The carburetor and primer system are adapted to be operated in conjunction with an impulse-type fuel pump, wherein the primer system is operable to manually pump fuel into the reservoir when the fuel pump is not functioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Guntly, Jerome L. Rasmussen, Richard T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5049318
    Abstract: A carburetor assembly which has a body formed of extruded aluminum and a plastic fuel bowl assembly secured to the body by means of a resilient spring clip. A gasket is located between the body and the fuel bowl. The fuel bowl is molded of plastic and includes an integral well, and a mixing screw housing as well as a primer housing. A plastic nozzle extends from the well through the venturi insert into a through passage into the body. The venturi insert is made of plastic material and includes molded grooves therein which form passages with the through passage of the body. The nozzle is resiliently urged against the gasket and the body by means of a spring located in the well thereby sealing the nozzle to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas G. Guntly, Mark E. Federspiel, Michael J. Kurth
  • Patent number: 4864705
    Abstract: A method of making a carburetor by first extruding a length of material and then cutting a carburetor body of predetermined length from the extrusion. The extrusion includes a passageway. A venturi member is molded of plastic material and inserted in the passageway. A fuel bowl is molded from plastic material and is secured to the body by means of a resilient clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas G. Guntly, Mark E. Federspiel, Michael J. Kurth
  • Patent number: RE34224
    Abstract: A method of making a carburetor by first extruding a length of material and then cutting a carburetor body of predetermined length from the extrusion. The extrusion includes a passageway. A venturi member is molded of plastic material and inserted in the passageway. A fuel bowl is molded from plastic material and is secured to the body by means of a resilient clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas G. Guntly, Mark E. Federspiel, Michael J. Kurth