Charles F. Kettering

Charles Franklin Kettering
Kettering circa 1934
Born(1876 -08-29)August 29, 1876
Loudonville, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 25, 1958(1958-11-25) (aged 82)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
EducationOhio State University
Spouse
Olive Leora Williams
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(m. 1905)​
ChildrenEugene Kettering
Parent(s)Jacob and Martha Kettering
Awards

Charles Franklin Kettering (August 29, 1876 – November 25, 1958) sometimes known as Charles Fredrick Kettering[1] was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents.[2] He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research at General Motors from 1920 to 1947. Among his most widely used automotive developments were the electrical starting motor[3] and leaded gasoline.[4] In association with the DuPont Chemical Company, he was also responsible for the invention of Freon refrigerant for refrigeration and air conditioning systems. At DuPont he also was responsible for the development of Duco lacquers and enamels, the first practical colored paints for mass-produced automobiles. While working with the Dayton-Wright Company he developed the "Bug" aerial torpedo, considered the world's first aerial missile.[5] He led the advancement of practical, lightweight two-stroke diesel engines, revolutionizing the locomotive and heavy equipment industries. In 1927, he founded the Kettering Foundation, a non-partisan research foundation, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine in January 1933.

  1. ^ "Kettering, Charles F." Generations of GM History. General Motors Research Laboratories. Archived from the original on 2013-09-05. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  2. ^ Scharchburg, Richard P. "Charles F. Kettering : Doing the right thing at the right time". Kettering.edu. Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-13. His book of patents contains more than 300 separate applications. For the list of patents issued to Kettering, see, Leslie, Stuart W., Charles F. Kettering, 1876-1958 (Doctoral dissertation, University of Delaware, 1980, available at http://udel.worldcat.org/title/charles-f-kettering-1876-1958/oclc/9128472&referer=brief_results Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine) (appendix VII, United States Patents Issued to Charles F. Kettering)
  3. ^ Google Patents US Patent #1150523, filed June 15, 1911
  4. ^ Method and Means for Using Low Compression Fuels US Patent #1635216, filed Jan 3, 1924
  5. ^ Cornelisse (2002)