James Patrick Mcfarland

US Patent:

61704547, Jan 9, 2001

Filed:

Jul 31, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/127173

Inventors:

James D. McFarland - Austin TX
Jack Dean Falkenrath - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

Techniphase Industries, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

F02F 324

US Classification:

1231936

Abstract:

A piston for use with an internal combustion engine is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a crown having an exhaust valve area, an intake valve area, and means for moving exhaust toward the exhaust valve area. The exhaust moving means includes means for homogenizing the air/fuel mixture. The homogenizing means may also include means for creating eddies within the air/fuel mixture. In addition, the piston may include means for concentrating the air/fuel mixture toward the area of ignition. In one presently preferred embodiment, the structure used to accomplish the invention includes a raised portion formed on the crown of the piston. The raised portion increases in height from the center of the crown toward the perimeter of the crown. Moreover, the raised portion also has an arcuate shape declining in height along the arcuate shape. The presently preferred raised portion includes a plurality of dimples formed therein for creating eddies within the air/fuel mixture.

US Patent:

20150364993, Dec 17, 2015

Filed:

Jun 12, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/303068

Inventors:

- Austin TX, US
Michael A. Kost - Austin TX, US
Eric J. King - Dripping Springs TX, US
John L. Melanson - Austin TX, US
James P. McFarland - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

H02M 3/156

Abstract:

A low voltage lamp includes a boost converter stage and a load. The load may include low voltage light producing elements including low voltage light emitting diodes. The boost converter stage receives an electronic transformer output and includes an inductor coupled to a switch and a switch controller that receives one or more controller inputs. Inductor current may be returned to the transformer when the switch is closed and provided to a rectifier coupled to the load when the switch is open. Controller inputs may include a transformer input that receives the transformer output, a sense input indicating switch current, and a load input indicating load voltage. Controller logic may synchronize assertions of a control signal for the switch with edge transitions of the transformer output to maintain peak inductor current within a specified range and to selectively transfer stored energy in the inductor to the load or back to the transformer.