Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Knowles
Thomas W. Knowles 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).
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Patent number: 8113040Abstract: A runout gauge includes a stand (such as a tripod), and a gauge bar pivotally mounted on the stand. The gauge bar includes a wheel on its upper end positioned above the pivot for rollingly engaging an outer surface of a vehicle tire, and further includes a pointer located a greater second distance below the pivot. By this arrangement, movement of the wheel on the tire due to runout causes the pointer to move along an amplified path having a length greater than the movement of the wheel, thus making it easier to read. The illustrated stand includes indicia for measuring movement of the pointer, and also includes gauge slides on a frame component that abut the pointer in a manner showing an extent of the pointer's movement, which relates to the runout on the tire.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: K-Line Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dwain L. Kamphuis, Thomas W. Knowles, II
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Publication number: 20110005309Abstract: A runout gauge includes a stand (such as a tripod), and a gauge bar pivotally mounted on the stand. The gauge bar includes a wheel on its upper end positioned above the pivot for rollingly engaging an outer surface of a vehicle tire, and further includes a pointer located a greater second distance below the pivot. By this arrangement, movement of the wheel on the tire due to runout causes the pointer to move along an amplified path having a length greater than the movement of the wheel, thus making it easier to read. The illustrated stand includes indicia for measuring movement of the pointer, and also includes gauge slides on a frame component that abut the pointer in a manner showing an extent of the pointer's movement, which relates to the runout on the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Dwain L. Kamphuis, Thomas W. Knowles, II
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Patent number: 7001121Abstract: A trimmer is provided for trimming a newly-installed sleeve liner after the liner is positioned in a cylinder bore of a combustion engine component. The trimmer includes a trimming cutter adapted to shave off a protruding end of the newly-installed sleeve liner, and a tool holder shaped to stably engage the combustion engine component. The tool holder operably supports the trimming tool for rotation collinearly with a centerline of the cylinder bore and for limited longitudinal movement when the tool holder is attached to the combustion engine component. A tie-down device engages the tool holder and secures the trimmer to the engine component. A venturi suction arrangement is connectable to shop compressed air to remove and includes a suction input adjacent the cutter for collecting all chips and debris from the trimming operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: K-Line Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dwain L. Kamphuis, Thomas W. Knowles, II
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Publication number: 20040191011Abstract: A trimmer is provided for trimming a newly-installed sleeve liner after the liner is positioned in a cylinder bore of a combustion engine component. The trimmer includes a trimming cutter adapted to shave off a protruding end of the newly-installed sleeve liner, and a tool holder shaped to stably engage the combustion engine component. The tool holder operably supports the trimming tool for rotation collinearly with a centerline of the cylinder bore and for limited longitudinal movement when the tool holder is attached to the combustion engine component. A tie-down device engages the tool holder and secures the trimmer to the engine component. A venturi suction arrangement is connectable to shop compressed air to remove and includes a suction input adjacent the cutter for collecting all chips and debris from the trimming operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Dwain L. Kamphuis, Thomas W. Knowles
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Patent number: 6729811Abstract: A trimmer is provided for trimming a newly-installed sleeve liner after the liner is positioned in a cylinder bore of a combustion engine component. The trimmer includes a trimming cutter adapted to shave off a protruding end of the newly-installed sleeve liner, and a tool holder shaped to stably engage the combustion engine component. The tool holder operably supports the trimming tool for rotation collinearly with a centerline of the cylinder bore and for limited longitudinal movement when the tool holder is attached to the combustion engine component. A tie-down device engages the tool holder and secures the trimmer to the engine component. A venturi suction arrangement is connectable to shop compressed air to remove and includes a suction input adjacent the cutter for collecting all chips and debris from the trimming operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: K-Line Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dwain L. Kamphuis, Thomas W. Knowles, II
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Publication number: 20030185639Abstract: A trimmer is provided for trimming a newly-installed sleeve liner after the liner is positioned in a cylinder bore of a combustion engine component. The trimmer includes a trimming cutter adapted to shave off a protruding end of the newly-installed sleeve liner, and a tool holder shaped to stably engage the combustion engine component. The tool holder operably supports the trimming tool for rotation collinearly with a centerline of the cylinder bore and for limited longitudinal movement when the tool holder is attached to the combustion engine component. A tie-down device engages the tool holder and secures the trimmer to the engine component. A venture suction arrangement is connectable to shop compressed air to remove and includes a suction input adjacent the cutter for collecting all chips and debris from the trimming operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Dwain L. Kamphuis, Thomas W. Knowles
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Patent number: 6470846Abstract: A broach tool is provided for use in repairing a camshaft support bearing for operably supporting a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a cylinder head with bearing support towers that operably support journals on the camshaft at multiple aligned bearing locations. A broaching tool is provided that is adapted to be linearly pulled through the aligned bearing locations to reform the bearing support structures. Methods of repair include enlarging at least one camshaft support bearing to an oversized condition, such as by using the broach, optionally repairing the oversized camshaft support bearing by filling voids and galled areas with a thermal setting polymer, as needed, and optionally positioning a bearing insert on the camshaft, and positioning the camshaft including the bearing insert in the camshaft support bearing with the camshaft being rotatably supported in the bearing insert and the bearing insert being secured to the oversized camshaft support bearing.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: K-Line Industries, Inc.Inventors: James A. Kammeraad, Thomas W. Knowles, II, Dwain L. Kamphuis
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Patent number: 6209509Abstract: A cam shaft bearing insert is provided for use in a cam shaft support bearing for operably supporting a cam shaft in an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a cylinder head with bearing support towers that operably support journals on the cam shaft at multiple aligned bearing locations. Each bearing support tower has an oil port for passing oil to the associated journal. The bearing insert further has a thin-walled cylindrical sleeve formed from thin flat stock into a cylindrical tubular shape that is adapted to fit into one of the bearing support structures and form a bearing surface suitable for supporting the cam shaft. The sleeve has an outer surface with an outwardly deformed area configured to non-rotatably engage the one bearing support structure and has an aperture therein so that, when the aperture is aligned with the oil port of the one bearing support structure, oil can pass from the oil port to the associated bearing location.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: K-Line Industries, Inc.Inventors: James A. Kammeraad, Thomas W. Knowles, II, Dwain L. Kamphuis