Joseph Fornuto

US Patent:

47921145, Dec 20, 1988

Filed:

Aug 7, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/083754

Inventors:

Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
James R. Gaffney - Penfield NY
Thaddeus J. Grey - Rochester NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F16K 3106

US Classification:

25112916

Abstract:

A vacuum regulator valve unit has a valve body and a coil assembly that define a chamber. The valve body has an air inlet passage opening into the chamber. A washer overlies the valve body within the chamber and has an air inlet port aligned with the passage and a valve seat surrounding the port. The coil assembly supports a shaft projecting into the chamber. A valve member is mounted loosely on the shaft within the chamber and slides on the shaft into and out of engagement with the valve seat in response to energization and deenergization of the coil. The valve body has a peripheral annular ledge that cambers the washer to assure full engagement of the washer with the valve body at the perimeter of the port. The shaft has an undercut taper that articulates the valve member to allow the valve member to align with the valve set and thereby assure full engagement of the valve member with the valve seat.

US Patent:

52536297, Oct 19, 1993

Filed:

Feb 3, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/829829

Inventors:

Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
William E. Gifford - Hemlock NY
Karen M. Meyer - Avon NY
Otto Muller-Girard - Rochester NY
Harold M. Haskew - Milford MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 3302
F02B 7702

US Classification:

123519

Abstract:

A device for detecting a malfunction of the evaporative control system comprises a two-way flow device in the atmospheric air vent of the evaporative canister with a sensor to detect whether fluid is flowing through the canister during selected operating conditions.

US Patent:

47067080, Nov 17, 1987

Filed:

Jun 23, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/877201

Inventors:

Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
William E. Gifford - Hemlock NY
Daniel Nolan - Spencerport NY
Carl H. Sherwood - Brookport NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B65B 3100
F16K 2400

US Classification:

137588

Abstract:

A fuel tank filler neck has a plate that pivots between a position restricting the filler neck and a position permitting introduction of fuel through the filler neck. A vent housing secured on the filler neck has a vapor inlet fitting and a vapor outlet fitting connected through a vent orifice, a pressure relief orifice, and a vacuum relief orifice. A diaphragm vent valve controls flow through the vent orifice. An actuating arm pivoted with the restrictor plate engages the vent valve across the vent orifice when the restrictor plate restricts the filler neck, and permits the vent valve to allow vapor flow from the vapor inlet fitting through the vent orifice to the vapor outlet fitting when the restrictor plate permits introduction of fuel through the filler neck. A diaphragm valve controls flow through the pressure relief orifice, and an umbrella valve controls flow through the vacuum relief orifice.

US Patent:

47250402, Feb 16, 1988

Filed:

Oct 14, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/918359

Inventors:

Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
Peter R. Wendt - Fairport NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F16K 3106
F16K 4100

US Classification:

25112915

Abstract:

A valve assembly for controlling recirculation of exhaust gases has three solenoid operated valve members that meter flow of exhaust gases through calibrated outlets from an exhaust gas chamber. Each valve member has a valve stem extending to its solenoid armature, and each valve stem is surrounded by a pair of spring-biased seals that seal the openings around the valve stems into the solenoid coils and the chamber. In this assembly, each armature-valve member-seal floats laterally to compensate for potential misalignment between the solenoid coils and the outlets.

US Patent:

48055824, Feb 21, 1989

Filed:

Jun 10, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/204833

Inventors:

Charles W. Braun - Macedon NY
Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
Dwight O. Palmer - Rochester NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 2506

US Classification:

123568

Abstract:

An exhaust gas recirculation valve has a seat formed in a member that is secured to the valve actuator independently of the valve base and that can accordingly accommodate a wide variety of base designs without substantial change in the equipment employed to assemble the valve.

US Patent:

52898113, Mar 1, 1994

Filed:

May 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/058851

Inventors:

Charles H. Covert - Manchester NY
Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
William E. Gifford - Hemlock NY
Otto Muller-Girard - Rochester NY
Gordon R. Paddock - Rochester NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 3302

US Classification:

123520

Abstract:

A purge control device for an evaporative control system comprises a single housing having two solenoid actuated valves controlling parallel orifices leading from an inlet chamber to an exit flow path. The two solenoid valves have different sized orifices to provide different flow capacities. Purge flow is controlled by an electronic control module which regulates the duty cycle of the solenoids. Each valve receives its own signal so that the flow through the orifices is individually controlled.

US Patent:

47248610, Feb 16, 1988

Filed:

Aug 18, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/897376

Inventors:

Charles H. Covert - Manchester NY
Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
Roy A. Giacomazzi - Washington Township, Macomb County MI
William E. Gifford - Hemlock NY
Carl H. Sherwood - Brockport NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F16K 2400

US Classification:

137202

Abstract:

A fuel tank filler neck has a partition providing a vent orifice for vapor flow from a fuel introduction tube to a vapor discharge fitting. A ball valve guided beneath the orifice is adapted to float into engagement across the orifice to prevent liquid fuel from passing through said orifice. A filler neck restrictor plate is carried on an actuating arm that has a cam surface engaging the ball valve. The cam surface engages the ball valve across the orifice to inhibit flow of fuel vapor through the orifice when the restrictor plate inhibits introduction of fuel through the filler neck, and permits the ball valve to drop away from the orifice to permit flow of fuel vapor through said orifice when the restrictor plate permits introduction of fuel through the filler neck.

US Patent:

46838627, Aug 4, 1987

Filed:

Oct 15, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/918887

Inventors:

Joseph Fornuto - Rochester NY
William E. Gifford - Hemlock NY
Karen M. Meyer - Webster NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 5900
B01D 5000

US Classification:

123520

Abstract:

A canister adapted to store fuel vapor discharged from a fuel tank has an inlet chamber at one end that forms a trap for liquid fuel. Fuel is purged from the canister through a purge tube that has a small liquid purge hole at the bottom of the chamber and a large vapor purge hole spaced above the bottom of the chamber.