Patents by Inventor Aubrey J. Nofzinger

Aubrey J. Nofzinger 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).

  • Patent number: 11156290
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a rotary actuator includes a drive assembly including a motor and one or more gears coupled to and rotated by the motor, an output rotated by the drive assembly and a housing. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion to define an interior in which at least part of the drive assembly is received. The housing also includes a first motor locating feature that engages the motor and positions the motor within the housing and prevents rotation of the motor, and a first gear locating feature that locates and retains the position of at least one of said one or more gears. The first motor locating feature and first gear locating feature are both integrally formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: DUS Operating, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinseok Jeon, Aubrey J. Nofzinger
  • Patent number: 10935131
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a park lock assembly for a rotary component of a vehicle includes a lock body having at least one void, a lock member having an engagement portion selectively received within one of said at least one void, an actuator that drives the lock member to a position wherein the engagement portion may be received within one of said at least one void, and a biasing member received between the actuator and the lock member to permit the lock member to move relative to the actuator. The biasing member providing a force on the lock member tending to move the lock member toward the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Aubrey J. Nofzinger, David K. Wright, Michael Goatley, Clément G. Corselli
  • Patent number: 10859126
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a multiple position actuator, includes a motor, a gearset driven by the motor, an output driven by the gearset between at least two positions, and a clutch arranged between the gearset and the output to permit relative rotation between the output and gearset. The gearset, output and clutch may be coaxially arranged. The clutch may include at least two movable elements that move relative to one or both of the output and gearset to permit relative rotation between the clutch and gearset in two opposed rotational directions. In at least some implementations, the gearset provides a torque to the output that is at least 50 times greater than the torque of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Jinseok Jeon, Aubrey J. Nofzinger
  • Publication number: 20200103024
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a rotary actuator includes a drive assembly including a motor and one or more gears coupled to and rotated by the motor, an output rotated by the drive assembly and a housing. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion to define an interior in which at least part of the drive assembly is received. The housing also includes a first motor locating feature that engages the motor and positions the motor within the housing and prevents rotation of the motor, and a first gear locating feature that locates and retains the position of at least one of said one or more gears. The first motor locating feature and first gear locating feature are both integrally formed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jinseok Jeon, Aubrey J. Nofzinger
  • Publication number: 20190316640
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a multiple position actuator, includes a motor, a gearset driven by the motor, an output driven by the gearset between at least two positions, and a clutch arranged between the gearset and the output to permit relative rotation between the output and gearset. The gearset, output and clutch may be coaxially arranged. The clutch may include at least two movable elements that move relative to one or both of the output and gearset to permit relative rotation between the clutch and gearset in two opposed rotational directions. In at least some implementations, the gearset provides a torque to the output that is at least 50 times greater than the torque of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Jinseok Jeon, Aubrey J. Nofzinger
  • Publication number: 20190277401
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a park lock assembly for a rotary component of a vehicle includes a lock body having at least one void, a lock member having an engagement portion selectively received within one of said at least one void, an actuator that drives the lock member to a position wherein the engagement portion may be received within one of said at least one void, and a biasing member received between the actuator and the lock member to permit the lock member to move relative to the actuator. The biasing member providing a force on the lock member tending to move the lock member toward the lock body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Aubrey J. Nofzinger, David K. Wright, Michael Goatley, Clément G. Corselli
  • Publication number: 20190092374
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a steering assembly includes a steering shaft rotatable in response to an input, an actuator having an output, a gear train and a housing. The gear train couples the steering shaft with the output so that the actuator can apply a force to the steering shaft via the output and gear train. The gear train provides a change in torque from the output to the steering shaft, such as to increase the torque provided from the actuator. The housing surrounds at least part of the gear train and includes gear teeth that define part of the gear train and are arranged to engage at least one other gear of the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Aubrey J. Nofzinger
  • Publication number: 20190092373
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a steering assembly includes a steering shaft rotatable in response to an input, and a rotation limiting gear set coupled to the steering shaft. The gear set includes a first movable stop surface that rotates with at least one gear of the gear set and the stop surface rotates at a lesser rate than the steering shaft and is arranged to engage a first fixed stop surface to limit rotation of the steering shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Aubrey J. Nofzinger, Jinseok Jeon
  • Patent number: 9587421
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a cable control system includes a spool on which a portion of a cable may be taken up and released, an input shaft coupled to the spool, and a motor coupled to the input shaft to drive the input shaft and spool in a first direction to take up cable on the spool and in a second direction to release cable from the spool. The control system also has two clutches that allow rotation of the spool without corresponding rotation of the motor. Each clutch may have a first member coupled to the input shaft and a second member coupled to the spool and relative rotation between the first and second members of the clutch allows rotation of the spool relative to the motor or input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DURA OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Harrison, Aubrey J. Nofzinger