Patents by Inventor Tyler Craven

Tyler Craven 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: 11231032
    Abstract: A fuel pump, is disclosed, including a power group having a housing, a coil, a pole piece and a movable armature; a valve group including a valve body, a plunger connected to the armature, a bushing in which the plunger is disposed, an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, a pump chamber, an inlet valve disposed between the inlet chamber and the pump chamber and an outlet valve disposed between the pump chamber and the outlet valve; and an inlet filter coupled to a fluid inlet of the valve group. The inlet filter is disposed relative to the coil such that when the fuel pump is disposed within a fuel tank, a bottom of the inlet filter as oriented in the fuel tank is disposed above a fuel level in the fuel tank and the coil is at least partly submerged in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven, Joe Angelino
  • Patent number: 11105437
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; an inlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body. The valve seat includes a first aperture defined axially through the valve seat in a radial central portion thereof, and one or more second apertures disposed at least partly around the first aperture. The inlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a first surface thereof, the closed position of the inlet disk covering the one or more second apertures of the valve seat. The outlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a second surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Patent number: 11035491
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump includes a housing; a pole piece disposed within the housing; an armature assembly movably disposed within the housing and including an armature and a plunger; and a coil disposed within the housing. A plurality of metal disks are disposed in a stacked arrangement, coupled to the pole piece and situated so as to be impacted by the armature during a full stroke of the armature assembly. The solenoid assembly further includes at least one fluid path in fluid communication with the region surrounding the metal disks, the at least one fluid path configured such that only a portion of a secondary swept volume of fuel associated with the armature assembly during operation of the fuel pump passes through the region and decelerates the armature assembly when the armature assembly moves towards the pole piece responsive to a current passing through the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Patent number: 10982633
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump is disclosed, including a housing having an open end and a partly closed end; a pole piece fixedly disposed within the housing; a bobbin assembly disposed within the housing and including a coil disposed proximal to the pole piece; and a bobbin retainer disposed between the open end of the housing and the bobbin assembly, a radially outer surface of the bobbin retainer contacting the housing. A portion of the housing which is adjacent the bobbin retainer has an outer surface that is recessed and an inner surface that protrudes against the bobbin retainer. The portion is created by deforming the housing to create the protrusion on the inner surface of the housing. The housing inner surface protrusion provides a press fit engagement with the bobbin retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Patent number: 10982634
    Abstract: A fluid pump valve assembly includes: a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; an inlet disk and an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body and including a disk member including at least one first aperture defined axially through the disk member, and at least one second aperture defined axially through the disk member, the inlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an inlet valve and the outlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an outlet valve. An inlet chamber is disposed upstream of the inlet valve, a pump chamber is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and an outlet chamber is disposed downstream of the outlet valve. The inlet chamber surrounds the outlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Patent number: 10883458
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; a valve seat; and an inlet disk disposed in the valve body having an inner portion, an outer portion fixed within the valve body, and a plurality of legs connected between the inner portion and the outer portion so that the inner portion is movable between a first position against the valve seat and a second position spaced apart from the valve seat. The connection between the legs, the inner portion and the outer portion provides a spring bias force to the inner portion against movement of the inner portion from the first position. The plurality of legs, the inner portion and the outer portion are configured such that the spring bias force is asymmetric as applied to the inner portion of the inlet disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Publication number: 20190010909
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump is disclosed, including a housing having an open end and a partly closed end; a pole piece fixedly disposed within the housing; a bobbin assembly disposed within the housing and including a coil disposed proximal to the pole piece; and a bobbin retainer disposed between the open end of the housing and the bobbin assembly, a radially outer surface of the bobbin retainer contacting the housing. A portion of the housing which is adjacent the bobbin retainer has an outer surface that is recessed and an inner surface that protrudes against the bobbin retainer. The portion is created by deforming the housing to create the protrusion on the inner surface of the housing. The housing inner surface protrusion provides a press fit engagement with the bobbin retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Publication number: 20190003474
    Abstract: A fuel pump, is disclosed, including a power group having a housing, a coil, a pole piece and a movable armature; a valve group including a valve body, a plunger connected to the armature, a bushing in which the plunger is disposed, an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, a pump chamber, an inlet valve disposed between the inlet chamber and the pump chamber and an outlet valve disposed between the pump chamber and the outlet valve; and an inlet filter coupled to a fluid inlet of the valve group. The inlet filter is disposed relative to the coil such that when the fuel pump is disposed within a fuel tank, a bottom of the inlet filter as oriented in the fuel tank is disposed above a fuel level in the fuel tank and the coil is at least partly submerged in the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven, Joe Angelino
  • Publication number: 20190003603
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; a valve seat; and an inlet disk disposed in the valve body having an inner portion, an outer portion fixed within the valve body, and a plurality of legs connected between the inner portion and the outer portion so that the inner portion is movable between a first position against the valve seat and a second position spaced apart from the valve seat. The connection between the legs, the inner portion and the outer portion provides a spring bias force to the inner portion against movement of the inner portion from the first position. The plurality of legs, the inner portion and the outer portion are configured such that the spring bias force is asymmetric as applied to the inner portion of the inlet disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Publication number: 20190003605
    Abstract: A fluid pump valve assembly includes: a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; an inlet disk and an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body and including a disk member including at least one first aperture defined axially through the disk member, and at least one second aperture defined axially through the disk member, the inlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an inlet valve and the outlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an outlet valve. An inlet chamber is disposed upstream of the inlet valve, a pump chamber is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and an outlet chamber is disposed downstream of the outlet valve. The inlet chamber surrounds the outlet chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Publication number: 20190003598
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; an inlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body. The valve seat includes a first aperture defined axially through the valve seat in a radial central portion thereof, and one or more second apertures disposed at least partly around the first aperture. The inlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a first surface thereof, the closed position of the inlet disk covering the one or more second apertures of the valve seat. The outlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a second surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
  • Publication number: 20190003611
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump includes a housing; a pole piece disposed within the housing; an armature assembly movably disposed within the housing and including an armature and a plunger; and a coil disposed within the housing. A plurality of metal disks are disposed in a stacked arrangement, coupled to the pole piece and situated so as to be impacted by the armature during a full stroke of the armature assembly. The solenoid assembly further includes at least one fluid path in fluid communication with the region surrounding the metal disks, the at least one fluid path configured such that only a portion of a secondary swept volume of fuel associated with the armature assembly during operation of the fuel pump passes through the region and decelerates the armature assembly when the armature assembly moves towards the pole piece responsive to a current passing through the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven