Curtis C Vars

US Patent:

53987241, Mar 21, 1995

Filed:

Jun 28, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/083613

Inventors:

Curtis C. Vars - Fort Collins CO
Dale A. Beckman - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

Woodward Governor Company - Rockford IL

International Classification:

F16K 3106
F02M 5106

US Classification:

13762533

Abstract:

An electronic fuel admission system for use in an industrial engine or the like, having high speed electrically operated flow control valve assemblies for controlling fuel flow to the engine's cylinders via an air intake system is disclosed. The valve assembly comprises two opposed face-to-face disks; one disk being fixed, the other being translatable with respect to the fixed disk. Both disks include ports distributed around their surfaces such that flow is prevented when the disks abut yet a slight separation results in a relatively high flow rate. The translatable disk is connected to an armature which is associated with a high permeability magnetic core having a coil for generating magnetic flux within the core. The system includes a two phase driver for energizing the coil which first provides a high current of short duration to rapidly generate flux in the core and rapidly attract the armature thereby separating the translatable disk from the fixed disk and opening the valve. The two phase driver then provides the coil with a lower current to lower the flux in the core to a level that will enable rapid closing of the valve, but which remains sufficient to hold the disks apart in the open position.

US Patent:

60168323, Jan 25, 2000

Filed:

Apr 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/834366

Inventors:

Curtis C. Vars - Andover NY
Jason E. Yost - Windsor CO
Joel L. McLane - Fort Collins CO
Donald R. Samuelson - Fort Collins CO
Gary F. Branch - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

Woodward Governor Company - Loveland CO

International Classification:

F16K 3112

US Classification:

1374875

Abstract:

A fuel admission valve for metering gas without using a mass flow sensor. The valve uses a flow control element and nozzle, an actuator, a fuel supply pressure sensor, a fuel supply temperature sensor, a flow control element position sensor, and a flow control circuit to meter gas in sonic flow with insensitivity to the discharge pressure.

US Patent:

58733515, Feb 23, 1999

Filed:

Apr 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/840323

Inventors:

Curtis C. Vars - Andover NY
Jason E. Yost - Windsor CO

Assignee:

Woodward Governor Company - Loveland CO

International Classification:

F02M 2104

US Classification:

123527

Abstract:

A gas fuel admission system for use with a gas fuel supply and an internal combustion engine having an engine control unit that produces a desired mass flow signal. The system has a continuously variable gas fuel admission valve having a flow control element and nozzle for metering gas in sonic flow from the gas supply to the engine with insensitivity to the valve discharge pressure. An actuator moves the flow control element relative to the nozzle. The system also has a flow control circuit that responds to the desired mass flow signal from the engine control unit, a gas supply pressure signal from a gas supply pressure sensor, a gas supply temperature signal from a gas supply temperature sensor, and a flow control element position signal from a flow control element position sensor to determine the appropriate flow control element position needed to achieve the desired mass flow at the present engine operating conditions.

US Patent:

20150204232, Jul 23, 2015

Filed:

Dec 8, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/562886

Inventors:

Kent R. Hanson - Loveland CO, US
Curtis C. Vars - Andover NY, US

Assignee:

Dresser-Rand Company - Olean NY

International Classification:

F02B 19/10
F16K 31/06
F02M 51/06

Abstract:

A solenoid valve for a pre-chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided. The solenoid valve may include a valve body defining an inlet port fluidly coupled with a fuel line, an outlet port fluidly coupled with the pre-chamber, and a passage fluidly coupling the inlet port with the outlet port. A valve stem may be slidably disposed in the passage between a first position and a second position. The valve stem may be configured to engage the outlet port in the first position to thereby prevent fluid communication therethrough. A biasing member may be disposed in the passage and configured to actuate the valve stem to the first position. A solenoid may be coupled with the valve body and configured to actuate the valve stem to the second position to thereby allow fluid communication therethrough.