Ryan Scott Howell

US Patent:

20180119626, May 3, 2018

Filed:

Nov 3, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/342567

Inventors:

- Auburn Hills MI, US
Ryan Howell - Hendersonville NC, US

International Classification:

F02D 41/00
H02K 11/215
H02K 11/30
H02K 21/14
G01D 5/14

Abstract:

A method, using multiple position sensors, for determining a characteristic of the actuator or a system, wherein the characteristic is causing or is indicative of the cause of the change in position of the actuator. One characteristic may be the lost motion of the actuator or system. Lost motion is the lag between the motion of a controlled device and that of an electrical drive device due to yielding or looseness. The lost motion of an actuator may increase as components wear and may eventually degrade the function or cause failure of the actuator and/or system.

US Patent:

20170234452, Aug 17, 2017

Filed:

Feb 11, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/041870

Inventors:

- Auburn Hills MI, US
Ryan T. Howell - Hendersonville NC, US

International Classification:

F16K 31/122
F16K 31/163
F16K 1/20

Abstract:

A valve actuator () and method for controlling such is disclosed. The valve actuator () may include a body (), a piston (), a first spring () displaceable between a primary position () and a secondary position (), and a second spring () displaceable between a first position () and a second position (). The first and second springs () are configured to be simultaneously displaced during movement of the piston () from a first piston position () to a second piston position (). The first spring () is configured to compress to a higher first spring force (F) during displacement from the primary position () to the secondary position (), and the second spring () is configured to have a decreasing second spring force (F) during displacement from the first position () to the second position (), the second spring force (F) decreasing non-linearly.

US Patent:

20170051765, Feb 23, 2017

Filed:

Feb 16, 2015

Appl. No.:

15/119217

Inventors:

- Auburn Hills MI, US
Ryan HOWELL - Hendersonville NC, US

International Classification:

F15B 15/10
F02B 37/18

Abstract:

A pneumatic actuator () adapted for use with a turbocharger includes a diaphragm () having a valley (), and a piston () having a lip () extending from a flange (). A portion of the lip () curves or bends around the diaphragm () and possibly forms a double bend. The distal end () of the piston () is adapted to contact a majority of the valley () of the diaphragm () in its preloaded state. The distal end () may have a complementary shape with a shape of the valley (). The edge of the flange () is always spaced away from the diaphragm () to prevent contact of the edge with the diaphragm ().

US Patent:

20160356208, Dec 8, 2016

Filed:

Feb 5, 2015

Appl. No.:

15/116560

Inventors:

- Auburn Hills MI, US
Ryan HOWELL - Hendersonville NC, US

Assignee:

BORGWARNER INC. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F02B 37/18
F04D 25/04
F15B 15/02
F01D 17/10
F01D 17/14
F01D 25/24
F04D 29/28
F01D 5/04

Abstract:

A turbocharger () includes a wastegate valve () supported on the turbine housing (), and a pneumatic actuator () configured to actuate the wastegate valve (). The pneumatic actuator () includes a housing () separated into compartments () by a separating member (). The actuator () includes a piston () disposed in the housing () that defines at least a portion of the separating member (), a piston-biasing spring () disposed in the housing (), a first in let () that is in fluid communication with the first compartment (), the first inlet configured to be connected to a non-zero-pressure fluid source (), and a second inlet () that is in fluid communication with the second compartment (), the second inlet () configured to be connected to a non-zero-pressure fluid source ().