Patents by Inventor Andrew M. Boyes
Andrew M. Boyes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11639720Abstract: A system is provided for generating vacuum in a vehicle. The system includes a vacuum pump, an engagement clutch, an actuator, and a torque limiting clutch. The engagement clutch operatively connects a camshaft to the rotor. The actuator controls the clutch. The actuator is movable, based on air pressure in a vacuum conduit, between a low-pressure position in which the actuator causes the clutch to operatively disconnect the camshaft from the rotor, and a high-pressure position in which the actuator causes the clutch to operatively connect the camshaft to the rotor. The torque limiting clutch limits torque transfer to the rotor when the engagement clutch operatively connects the camshaft to the rotor. The system also provides control for hysteresis.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: Gianmarc Coppola, Kody Orr, Sean Kieran, Julian Pires, Andrew M Boyes
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Patent number: 11365769Abstract: An automotive air conditioning assembly including a scroll compressor and a wrap spring clutch. The wrap spring clutch enables the use of a comparatively smaller pulley (a diameter of at most 85 mm) which comparatively increases the compressor speed and hence cooling capacity at a given engine speed. The clutch requires low power (e.g. less than 5 Watts) for continuous operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: David Balsdon, Hao Q. Tran, Andrew M. Boyes
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Publication number: 20210122357Abstract: In an aspect, a drive arrangement for a vehicle is provided, comprising: an engine having a crankshaft; a crankshaft pulley; a one-way clutch between the crankshaft pulley and the crankshaft; a belt by the crankshaft pulley; and an electric motor having a pulley engaged with the belt. When the electric motor drives the belt in a first direction, the one-way clutch permits the belt to overrun the crankshaft pulley. The crankshaft defines an axis. The electric motor pulley is on a first axial side of the engine. A transmission is on a second axial side and is operatively connected to drive a vehicle wheel. The transmission has an input shaft. A first rotary drive member is on the input shaft; and a motor-transmission drive shaft is drivable by the motor and has a second rotary drive member thereon, which is operatively connected with the first transmission rotary drive member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2018Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Jun XU, Andrew M. BOYES, John R. ANTCHAK
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Patent number: 10975939Abstract: In an aspect, a tensioner is provided for tensioning a belt and includes first and second tensioner arms having first and second pulleys respectively. The first and second pulleys are configured for engagement with first and second belt spans, and are biased in first and second free arm directions respectively. A second tensioner arm stop is positioned to limit the movement of the second tensioner arm in a direction opposite the second free arm direction. The second tensioner arm stop is positioned such that, in use, the second pulley is engaged with the endless drive member while the second tensioner arm is engaged with the second tensioner arm stop throughout a first selected range of operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Litens Automotive PartnershipInventors: Geoffrey W. Ryeland, Ron Farewell, Andrew M. Boyes, Thelma Neudorf, Jason R. Desouza-Coelho, John R. Antchak
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Publication number: 20210018049Abstract: In an aspect, an automotive air conditioning assembly comprising a scroll compressor and a wrap spring clutch. The wrap spring clutch enables the use of a comparatively smaller pulley (a diameter of at most 85 mm) which comparatively increases the compressor speed and hence cooling capacity at a given engine speed. The clutch requires low power (e.g. less than 5 Watts) for continuous operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: David BALSDON, Hao Q. TRAN, Andrew M. BOYES
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Patent number: 10767724Abstract: An isolator for isolating a device driven by an engine via an endless drive member is described. The isolator comprises a shaft adapter that is connectable with a shaft of the device, defining a shaft adapter axis, a rotary drive member that is rotatable relative to the shaft adapter and has an endless drive member engagement surface that is engageable with the endless drive member, and an isolation spring arrangement positioned to transfer torque between the shaft adapter and the rotary drive member. The isolation spring arrangement has at least one isolation spring that is axially offset from the endless drive member engagement surface. The at least one isolation spring has an outer edge that is radially outside the endless drive member engagement surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Litens Automotive PartnershipInventors: Hao Tran, Andrew M. Boyes, Boris Replete
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Patent number: 10767516Abstract: A synchronous drive is provided in which a non-circular rotor generates a fluctuating corrective torque to counteract a fluctuating load torque on a driven rotor. The angular orientation of the non-circular rotor can vary relative to the driven rotor so as to change the phase angle of the fluctuating corrective torque relative to the driving rotor. The arrangement may be applied in internal combustion engines with variable valve timing (VVT) systems, wherein the phase angle of a fluctuating load torque presented on a cam rotor, due to forces arising from actuation of intake and/or exhaust valves by the camshaft, varies relative to the crankshaft. The phase angle of the fluctuating corrective torque is also varied relative to the crankshaft to maintain phase relationship with the fluctuating load torque and thereby maintain reduced cam torsional vibrations and span tensions provided by the non-circular rotor during operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Litens Automotive PartnershipInventors: Gianmarc Coppola, Andrew M. Boyes, Gary Spicer
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Patent number: 10690228Abstract: An isolator is provided for use with an engine and in particular an engine that is assisted or started by MGU (Motor-Generator Unit) or a motor through an endless drive member. It comprises a double acting spring system for isolating crankshaft pulley from torsion vibration at the crankshaft, and in extreme conditions, such as during engine startup and accelerations or decelerations of the engine crankshaft relative to the pulley and when isolator operates in an “engine-driven” mode with the engine crankshaft is driven by the belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: Vladimir I. Starodoubov, John Antchak, Andrew M. Boyes, Boris Replete
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Publication number: 20200018312Abstract: In an aspect a system is provided for generating vacuum in a vehicle. The system includes a vacuum pump, an engagement clutch, an actuator, and a torque limiting clutch. The e engagement clutch operatively connects a camshaft to the rotor. The actuator controls the clutch. The actuator is movable, based on air pressure in a vacuum conduit, between a low-pressure position in which the actuator causes the clutch to operatively disconnect the camshaft from the rotor, and a high-pressure position in which the actuator causes the clutch to operatively connect the camshaft to the rotor. The torque limiting clutch limits torque transfer to the rotor when the engagement clutch operatively connects the camshaft to the rotor. The system also provides control hysteresis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Gianmarc COPPOLA, Kody ORR, Sean KIERAN, Julian PIRES, Andrew M BOYES
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Publication number: 20190345848Abstract: A synchronous drive is provided in which a non-circular rotor generates a fluctuating corrective torque to counteract a fluctuating load torque on a driven rotor. The angular orientation of the non-circular rotor can vary relative to the driven rotor so as to change the phase angle of the fluctuating corrective torque relative to the driving rotor. The arrangement may be applied in internal combustion engines with variable valve timing (VVT) systems, wherein the phase angle of a fluctuating load torque presented on a cam rotor, due to forces arising from actuation of intake and/or exhaust valves by the camshaft, varies relative to the crankshaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Gianmarc COPPOLA, Andrew M. BOYES, Gary SPICER
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Patent number: 10378620Abstract: In an aspect, a clutched device is provided, including a hub, a pulley and a hub drive clutch. The hub defines an axis and is connectable to a rotatable shaft of a rotary device. The pulley is rotatable relative to the hub and is engageable with an endless drive member. The hub drive clutch is a wrap spring clutch and is controllable to operatively connect the pulley to the hub for driving the hub in a first rotational direction. An isolation spring is provided and operatively connects the hub to the pulley when the hub drives the pulley in the first rotational direction. Optionally, a pulley overrun clutch is provided and permits the pulley to overrun the hub in the first rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: Hao Q. Tran, Jason R. Desouza-Coelho, Warren J. Williams, Andrew M. Boyes
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Patent number: 10060502Abstract: An isolator includes a driver that is connectable with a shaft of a device, a rotary drive member that is engageable with an endless drive member; and a first isolation spring and a second isolation spring. The first and second isolation springs are positioned such that during rotation of the driver in a first direction torque is transferred from the driver to the first rotary drive member through the first isolation spring and not through the second isolation spring, and such that during rotation of the first rotary drive member in the first direction torque is transferred from the first rotary drive member to the driver through the second isolation spring and not through the first isolation spring.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Litens Automotive PartnershipInventors: Andrew M. Boyes, Warren J. Williams, Gary J. Spicer
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Patent number: 9989129Abstract: In one aspect the invention relates to a tensioner that is capable of precognitively anticipating when it is desirable to increase the tension in a belt or other endless drive element so as to prevent belt slip prior to events that would raise the risk of it.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: John R. Antchak, Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Andrew M. Boyes
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Publication number: 20180045289Abstract: An isolator is provided for use with an engine and in particular an engine that is assisted or started by MGU (Motor-Generator Unit) or a motor through an endless drive member. It comprises a double acting spring system for isolating crankshaft pulley from torsion vibration at the crankshaft, and in extreme conditions, such as during engine startup and accelerations or decelerations of the engine crankshaft relative to the pulley and when isolator operates in an “engine-driven” mode with the engine crankshaft is driven by the belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Vladimir I. STARODOUBOV, John ANTCHAK, Andrew M. BOYES, Boris REPLETE
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Patent number: 9869365Abstract: In an aspect, an isolator is provided for isolating a device driven by an engine via an endless drive member. The isolator includes a shaft adapter that is connectable with a shaft of the device, a rotary drive member that is engageable with the endless drive member, a first isolation spring arrangement that is positioned to transfer torque between the shaft adapter and the rotary drive member, and a position-based damping structure. The damping structure is positioned to transfer torque via a frictional damping force between the rotary drive member and the shaft adapter at a selected amount of relative movement therebetween. The selected amount of relative movement is selected to be less than a maximum permitted amount of flexure of the first isolation spring arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: Hao Tran, Andrew M. Boyes, Boris Replete
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Publication number: 20170363183Abstract: In an aspect, an assembly is provided and includes a pulley device and a drive shaft. The pulley device includes a pulley and has a shaft adapter. A selected amount of combined resistance in the first and second connections to relative rotation in the second direction is generated by a threaded first connection and a second connection between the shaft adapter and the shaft at least some of which is provided by a compression force between them.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Boris Replete, Andrew M. Boyes, Hao Tran
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Publication number: 20170363182Abstract: In an aspect, a tensioner is provided for tensioning a belt and includes first and second tensioner arms having first and second pulleys respectively. The first and second pulleys are configured for engagement with first and second belt spans, and are biased in first and second free arm directions respectively. A second tensioner arm stop is positioned to limit the movement of the second tensioner arm in a direction opposite the second free arm direction. The second tensioner arm stop is positioned such that, in use, the second pulley is engaged with the endless drive member while the second tensioner arm is engaged with the second tensioner arm stop throughout a first selected range of operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Geoffrey W. RYELAND, Ron FAREWELL, Andrew M. BOYES, Thelma NEUDORF, Jason R. DESOUZA-COELHO, John R. ANTCHAK
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Publication number: 20170306836Abstract: In an aspect, a system is provided for controlling tension in an endless drive member, and including an isolation device and a tensioning system. The isolation device is positioned on an accessory drive shaft and has a pulley and a biasing member to transfer force from the pulley to the accessory drive shaft. The isolation device pulley is engaged with the endless drive member, such that a first span of the endless drive member is on a first side of the isolation device pulley and a second span of the endless drive member is on a second side of the isolation device pulley. The tensioning system has a first tensioner pulley engaged with the first span and a second tensioner pulley engaged with the second span. The first and second tensioner pulleys are urged by first and second tensioner pulley biasing forces towards the first and second spans respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Boris Replete, Ron Farewell, Andrew M. Boyes
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Patent number: 9797498Abstract: An isolator is provided for use with an engine and in particular an engine that is assisted or started by MGU (Motor-Generator Unit) or a motor through an endless drive member. It comprises a double acting spring system for isolating crankshaft pulley from torsion vibration at the crankshaft, and in extreme conditions, such as during engine startup and accelerations or decelerations of the engine crankshaft relative to the pulley and when isolator operates in an “engine-driven” mode with the engine crankshaft is driven by the belt.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIPInventors: Vladimir I. Starodoubov, John Antchak, Andrew M. Boyes, Boris Replete
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Patent number: RE47454Abstract: A clutched driven device (10) having a clutch assembly (16) with a first rotary clutch portion (50), a second rotary clutch portion (52), a bearing (54), a wrap spring (56) and an actuator (60). The first rotary clutch portion has an interior clutch surface (76). The first and second rotary clutch portions are rotatably disposed about a rotary axis (70) of the clutched driven device. The bearing is received between the first and second rotary clutch portions and supports the first rotary clutch portion for rotation on the second rotary clutch portion. The wrap spring is disposed radially inwardly of the bearing and has a plurality of helical coils (114) that are received against the interior clutch surface. The actuator is configured to selectively initiate coiling of the wrap spring to cause the helical coils of the wrap spring to disengage the interior clutch surface to a predetermined extent.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Litens Automotive PartnershipInventors: Andrew M. Boyes, Gary J. Spicer