Patents by Inventor Wilford Dean Virgin

Wilford Dean Virgin 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: 11668395
    Abstract: A gasket includes an endless loop of sealing material. The endless loop includes a first segment, a second segment, and a sinuous segment extending from the first segment to the second segment. The gasket includes fastener sections defining fastener holes. The fastener holes extends through the fastener sections. The sinuous segment is between two of the fastener holes. A lip is in each fastener hole. The lip extends from the fastener section into the fastener hole and extends around the circumference of the fastener hole. The sinuous segment retains the gasket in a groove of a cover, and the lip retains a fastener in a fastener hole of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Gross, Brent J. Loomis, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Publication number: 20210131559
    Abstract: A gasket includes an endless loop of sealing material. The endless loop includes a first segment, a second segment, and a sinuous segment extending from the first segment to the second segment. The gasket includes fastener sections defining fastener holes. The fastener holes extends through the fastener sections. The sinuous segment is between two of the fastener holes. A lip is in each fastener hole. The lip extends from the fastener section into the fastener hole and extends around the circumference of the fastener hole. The sinuous segment retains the gasket in a groove of a cover, and the lip retains a fastener in a fastener hole of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Gross, Brent J. Loomis, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Patent number: 10634251
    Abstract: An improved multi-layer gasket assembly is provided. The gasket assembly includes a plurality of metal gasket layers which have at least one set of axially aligned openings. The plurality of layers includes at least two functional layers, at least one distance layer and at least one stopper layer. Each of the functional layers has at least one embossment bead that is spaced radially from the openings, and the distance and stopper layers are sandwiched between the functional layers. At least one of the stopper and the distance layer has a polymeric coating applied to at least a portion of an exterior surface thereof, and the stopper and distance layers are laser welded together through the polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneca Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Steven Kueltzo, Rich Larson, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Patent number: 10082103
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for establishing a gas and fluid tight seal in an internal combustion engine is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plate of metal which has a plurality of openings and at least one generally flat surface. The plate also has at least one shelf which circumferentially surrounds one of the openings and which opens to the generally flat surface and the opening. The sealing assembly further includes at least one sealing bead of an elastically compressible material which is engaged with the shelf and extends outwardly therefrom past the generally flat surface for sealing the plate with another component in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Olin Zurfluh, Daniel Joseph Orozco, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Publication number: 20170051704
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for establishing a gas and fluid tight seal in an internal combustion engine is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plate of metal which has a plurality of openings and at least one generally flat surface. The plate also has at least one shelf which circumferentially surrounds one of the openings and which opens to the generally flat surface and the opening. The sealing assembly further includes at least one sealing bead of an elastically compressible material which is engaged with the shelf and extends outwardly therefrom past the generally flat surface for sealing the plate with another component in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: THOMAS OLIN ZURFLUH, DANIEL JOSEPH OROZCO, WILFORD DEAN VIRGIN
  • Patent number: 9482179
    Abstract: A multi-layer cylinder head gasket is provided. The cylinder head gasket includes a plurality of layers of material, each of the layers has a plurality of openings including at least one cylinder bore opening and at least one pushrod opening. Each of the layers has an edge which surrounds the at least one pushrod opening, and the pushrod openings of the layers are aligned axially with one another. An eyelet extends axially in each of the pushrod openings and covers the edges of the layers for protecting a pushrod extending through the respective pushrod opening. The eyelet is made of a material that is softer than the material of the plurality of layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Nelson, Wilford Dean Virgin, Steven Kueltzo, Richard Larson, John Stark
  • Patent number: 9441574
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for establishing a gas and fluid tight seal in an internal combustion engine is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plate of metal which has a plurality of openings and at least one generally flat surface. The plate also has at least one shelf which circumferentially surrounds one of the openings and which opens to the generally flat surface and the opening. The sealing assembly further includes at least one sealing bead of an elastically compressible material which is engaged with the shelf and extends outwardly therefrom past the generally flat surface for sealing the plate with another component in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Olin Zurfluh, Daniel Joseph Orozco, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Publication number: 20160053716
    Abstract: An improved multi-layer gasket assembly is provided. The gasket assembly includes a plurality of metal gasket layers which have at least one set of axially aligned openings. The plurality of layers includes at least two functional layers, at least one distance layer and at least one stopper layer. Each of the functional layers has at least one embossment bead that is spaced radially from the openings, and the distance and stopper layers are sandwiched between the functional layers. At least one of the stopper and the distance layer has a polymeric coating applied to at least a portion of an exterior surface thereof, and the stopper and distance layers are laser welded together through the polymeric coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Steven Kueltzo, Rich Larson, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Publication number: 20150014942
    Abstract: A multi-layer cylinder head gasket is provided. The cylinder head gasket includes a plurality of layers of material, each of the layers has a plurality of openings including at least one cylinder bore opening and at least one pushrod opening. Each of the layers has an edge which surrounds the at least one pushrod opening, and the pushrod openings of the layers are aligned axially with one another. An eyelet extends axially in each of the pushrod openings and covers the edges of the layers for protecting a pushrod extending through the respective pushrod opening. The eyelet is made of a material that is softer than the material of the plurality of layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas Nelson, Wilford Dean Virgin, Steven Kueltzo, Richard Larson, John Stark
  • Publication number: 20140261287
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for establishing a gas and fluid tight seal in an internal combustion engine is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plate of metal which has a plurality of openings and at least one generally flat surface. The plate also has at least one shelf which circumferentially surrounds one of the openings and which opens to the generally flat surface and the opening. The sealing assembly further includes at least one sealing bead of an elastically compressible material which is engaged with the shelf and extends outwardly therefrom past the generally flat surface for sealing the plate with another component in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Olin Zurfluh, Daniel Joseph Orozco, Wilford Dean Virgin
  • Patent number: 8550469
    Abstract: A multi-layered composite gasket (10) includes three, preferably metallic cores (12, 14). A solid center core (12) is flanked on both sides by bonded paper layers (30). Perforated cores (14) mechanically interlock with each paper layer (30) through inwardly directed tangs (22). Graphite layers (26) are disposed outside of each perforated core (14) and are mechanically interlocked thereto by outwardly directed tangs (20) extending from the perforated cores (14). When using the gasket (10) material for sealing cylinder heads in internal combustion engines, a fire ring (46) may be affixed with a fire ring holder (48). The gasket (10) can be manufactured by making first and second preform sheets (32) comprised of one perforated core (14) sided with one paper layer (30) and one graphite layer (26). The preform sheets (32) are then bonded to a center core (12) using a heat activated adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Wilford Dean Virgin, Deepak Ponnavolu, Michael Shirilla, Carlos Santiago, Curtis Arthur Brandt
  • Publication number: 20100207334
    Abstract: A multi-layered composite gasket (10) includes three, preferably metallic cores (12, 14). A solid center core (12) is flanked on both sides by bonded paper layers (30). Perforated cores (14) mechanically interlock with each paper layer (30) through inwardly directed tangs (22). Graphite layers (26) are disposed outside of each perforated core (14) and are mechanically interlocked thereto by outwardly directed tangs (20) extending from the perforated cores (14). When using the gasket (10) material for sealing cylinder heads in internal combustion engines, a fire ring (46) may be affixed with a fire ring holder (48). The gasket (10) can be manufactured by making first and second preform sheets (32) comprised of one perforated core (14) sided with one paper layer (30) and one graphite layer (26). The preform sheets (32) are then bonded to a center core (12) using a heat activated adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wilford Dean Virgin, Deepak Ponnavolu, Michael Shirilla, Carlos Santiago, Curtis Arthur Brandt