Patents by Inventor Wayne Eckerle

Wayne Eckerle 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).

  • Publication number: 20060070603
    Abstract: An engine is provided which includes various precise configuration parameters, including dimensions, shape and/or relative positioning of the combustion chamber features, resulting in a combustion process minimizing NOx emissions and particulates. The combustion chamber includes one or more of the following: a spray angle relative to an inner bowl floor angle; a vertical distance from the tip of the piston bowl to the injection orifices; a number of injection orifices; a swirl ratio; a vertical distance from the injection orifices to an inner face of the cylinder head; a radius of curvature of an outer bowl section; chamfer with dimensional parameters; and a transition radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Stanton, Randall Zehr, Wayne Eckerle, Francois Ntone
  • Publication number: 20050028797
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment EGR valve permits exhaust gas to be induced into the intake line downstream of the compressor, while minimizing the need to reduce the size of the turbocharger. The preferred embodiment EGR valve exploits variations around the mean pressure in the EGR passage created by the engine cycle by selectively opening when the pressure in the EGR valve exceeds the pressure in the intake line. Thus, exhaust gas is recirculated even when the engine is running near torque peak. The preferred embodiment EGR valve also exploits the higher mean pressure in the exhaust line relative to the intake line at higher engine speeds by remaining open, in order to minimize the energy consumed in opening and closing the EGR valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: John Janssen, Bruce Watson, Charles Schenk, Josh Shao, Lester Peters, David Buchanan, Wayne Eckerle, Julius Perr
  • Patent number: 6595436
    Abstract: The fuel injector includes a solid state actuator that operates through an actuator motion amplifying lever to directly control the needle valve motion. Hydraulic forces, which act along the axes of the needle valve and the motion amplifying lever, are compensated by using a control piston, or other biasing means, to reduce the required amplitude of the control current/voltage and to reduce the required strength of the spring biasing the needle valve closed. The fuel injector may also include a control fuel inlet that is separate from the injection fuel inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kirzhner, Lester Peters, John D. Crofts, Wayne Eckerle
  • Publication number: 20020166542
    Abstract: The fuel injector includes a solid state actuator that operates through an actuator motion amplifying lever to directly control the needle valve motion. Hydraulic forces, which act along the axes of the needle valve and the motion amplifying lever, are compensated by using a control piston, or other biasing means, to reduce the required amplitude of the control current/voltage and to reduce the required strength of the spring biasing the needle valve closed. The fuel injector may also include a control fuel inlet that is separate from the injection fuel inlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Kirzhner, Lester Peters, John D. Crofts, Wayne Eckerle