Patents by Inventor Benjamin Northrup

Benjamin Northrup 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: 11274718
    Abstract: An active transfer case is equipped with a multi-plate clutch assembly, a clutch actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the clutch assembly, a power-operated clutch actuator configured to control actuation of the clutch actuation mechanism, a power-operated actuator brake associated with the power-operated clutch actuator, and a control system configured to control actuation of the clutch actuator and the actuator brake while employing a preemptive check of the functionality of the actuator brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Northrup, Opinder Sharma
  • Patent number: 10662884
    Abstract: A power transfer assembly for a motor vehicle includes a clutch protection system to prevent damage to an actively-controlled multi-plate mode clutch of the power transfer assembly. The clutch protection system includes a transfer case control module (TCCM) and an engine control module (ECM) configured to regulate the distribution of torque applied from an engine to front and rear output shafts of the power transfer assembly. The TCCM is in operable communication with the engine control module ECM, wherein TCCM is configured to detect slip in the actively-controlled multi-plate friction clutch and to communicate with the ECM to selectively reduce the output torque of the engine in response to detected slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin Northrup
  • Publication number: 20200109753
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an active transfer case equipped with a multi-plate clutch assembly, a clutch actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the clutch assembly, a power-operated clutch actuator configured to control actuation of the clutch actuation mechanism, a power-operated actuator brake associated with the power-operated clutch actuator, and a control system configured to control actuation of the clutch actuator and the actuator brake while employing a preemptive check of the functionality of the actuator brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin NORTHRUP, Opinder Sharma
  • Publication number: 20190218983
    Abstract: A power transfer assembly for a motor vehicle includes a clutch protection system to prevent damage to an actively-controlled multi-plate mode clutch of the power transfer assembly. The clutch protection system includes a transfer case control module (TCCM) and an engine control module (ECM) configured to regulate the distribution of torque applied from an engine to front and rear output shafts of the power transfer assembly. The TCCM is in operable communication with the engine control module ECM, wherein TCCM is configured to detect slip in the actively-controlled multi-plate friction clutch and to communicate with the ECM to selectively reduce the output torque of the engine in response to detected slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Benjamin Northrup