Patents by Inventor Bruce Geist

Bruce Geist 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: 9726056
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, an engine oil circuit for a vehicle includes first and second oil circuits, and first and second oil pumps. The first oil circuit is communicated with at least one first engine component and the first oil pump is communicated with the first oil circuit to supply fluid flow in the first oil circuit at a first flow rate and a first pressure. The second oil circuit is communicated with at least one second engine component and may be segregated from the first oil circuit. The second oil pump is communicated with the second oil circuit to supply fluid flow in the second oil circuit at a second flow rate and a second pressure. At least one of the second flow rate or the second pressure is different than the first flow rate or the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: William F. Resh, Wei Tao, Bruce Geist
  • Patent number: 9605707
    Abstract: A crankshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine can include a crankshaft having a lobe with a pendulum absorber coupled thereto. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum, a pin and a centrifugal switch assembly. The carrier can be coupled to a body of the lobe and can have an opening therein. The pendulum can have an opening therein and the pin can extend through the pendulum opening and the carrier opening to pivotably couple the pendulum to the carrier. The switch assembly can be slidably positioned in a bore of the body and can have a lock member configured to selectively engage the pendulum based on a centrifugal force being below a predetermined threshold to lock movement of the pendulum relative to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Ian S Glanfield, Bruce Geist
  • Patent number: 9429047
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method can include receiving a contact point path between a rocker arm pad and a valve tip. The method can include adjusting the contact point path to obtain a modified contact point path that satisfies a design objective of decreased valve tip wear or decreased valve tick. The method can include determining and outputting a custom contour for the rocker arm pad and the camshaft lobe based on the modified contact point path. The custom contoured camshaft lobe can companion with the custom contoured rocker arm pad to produce the modified contact point path for the specified design objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Geist, Scott K Fisher, William F Resh, Mark S Hannon, Christopher L Allmond
  • Patent number: 9322454
    Abstract: A crankshaft can include a pendulum absorber and a retention arrangement. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum and a pin. The carrier can be coupled to a lobe and can have an opening. The pendulum can have an opening and the pin can be received in the openings to couple the pendulum to the carrier. The retention arrangement can include a retention flange and a retention pin. The retention flange can extend from the carrier or lobe. The retention pin can be coupled to the pendulum. The retention arrangement can maintain the retention pin in spaced relation to the retention surface during movement of the pendulum when the pin maintains the pendulum coupled to the carrier, and can retain the pendulum relative to the carrier through engagement of the retention pin and retention surface in an absence of the pin maintaining the pendulum coupled to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Ian S Glanfield, Bruce Geist, John Bortell, Edward A Luibrand
  • Patent number: 9174645
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Beechie, Thomas F. Wentworth, Gregory A. Sbroglia, Bruce Geist, Mark C. Azzaretti, Marc H. Sullivan, In-Soo Suh, Mark J. Duty, Changwei Cao
  • Patent number: 9032837
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber system attenuates torsional vibrations within a drive train of a vehicle. The system can be incorporated between an engine and an automatic transmission, for example, within a flex plate assembly attached to an engine's crankshaft, within a pump housing cover of a torque converter, or as a stand-alone unit between a flex plate assembly and a torque converter. The system includes at least one pendulum weight that dynamically moves along a predetermined path in response to variations in rotational velocities of a housing of the system and that is tuned to attenuate excitation of torsional vibrations within the drive train. A limiter assembly, which can include multiple limiters, is provided within the system for stopping movement of the weight when it reaches endpoints of the predetermined path, by mechanically impeding further movement at both of a first and second end of the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: James R. Klotz, Bruce Geist, Jerry P. Harkey
  • Publication number: 20150128887
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method can include receiving a contact point path between a rocker arm pad and a valve tip. The method can include adjusting the contact point path to obtain a modified contact point path that satisfies a design objective of decreased valve tip wear or decreased valve tick. The method can include determining and outputting a custom contour for the rocker arm pad and the camshaft lobe based on the modified contact point path. The custom contoured camshaft lobe can companion with the custom contoured rocker arm pad to produce the modified contact point path for the specified design objective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Geist, Scott K. Fisher, William F. Resh, Mark S. Hannon, Christopher L. Allmond
  • Publication number: 20150090073
    Abstract: A crankshaft can include a pendulum absorber and a retention arrangement. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum and a pin. The carrier can be coupled to a lobe and can have an opening. The pendulum can have an opening and the pin can be received in the openings to couple the pendulum to the carrier. The retention arrangement can include a retention flange and a retention pin. The retention flange can extend from the carrier or lobe. The retention pin can be coupled to the pendulum. The retention arrangement can maintain the retention pin in spaced relation to the retention surface during movement of the pendulum when the pin maintains the pendulum coupled to the carrier, and can retain the pendulum relative to the carrier through engagement of the retention pin and retention surface in an absence of the pin maintaining the pendulum coupled to the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ian S Glanfield, Bruce Geist, John Bortell, Edward A Luibrand
  • Publication number: 20150047461
    Abstract: A crankshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine can include a crankshaft having a lobe with a pendulum absorber coupled thereto. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum, a pin and a centrifugal switch assembly. The carrier can be coupled to a body of the lobe and can have an opening therein. The pendulum can have an opening therein and the pin can extend through the pendulum opening and the carrier opening to pivotably couple the pendulum to the carrier. The switch assembly can be slidably positioned in a bore of the body and can have a lock member configured to selectively engage the pendulum based on a centrifugal force being below a predetermined threshold to lock movement of the pendulum relative to the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Ian S. Glanfield, Bruce Geist
  • Patent number: 8839693
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber assembly for a torque converter including a first spring retainer, a second spring retainer, and a floating flange positioned between the first spring retainer and the second spring retainer. The pendulum absorber assembly also includes a drive plate affixed to the floating flange, a plurality of arcuate springs disposed between the second spring retainer and the drive plate, and a plurality of pendulum weights affixed to the second spring retainer, wherein at least one of the pendulum weights is made of tungsten alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Marvin G. Schiemann, Michael Fingerman, Tomasz K. Kietlinski, Bruce Geist
  • Patent number: 8813604
    Abstract: An apparatus for damping vibrations in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a crankshaft with a lobe. The lobe has a flange with an opening that is coupled to the body of the lobe. A pendulum is pivotally coupled to the flange in a manner to allow the pendulum to follow an epicycloidal path of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Geist, Christopher S. Barron, William F. Resh, Md Imran Hossain, Michael P. Patyi, Stan M. Mashkevich
  • Publication number: 20140047945
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber assembly for a torque converter including a first spring retainer, a second spring retainer, and a floating flange positioned between the first spring retainer and the second spring retainer. The pendulum absorber assembly also includes a drive plate affixed to the floating flange, a plurality of arcuate springs disposed between the second spring retainer and the drive plate, and a plurality of pendulum weights affixed to the second spring retainer, wherein at least one of the pendulum weights is made of tungsten alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Marvin G Schiemann, Michael Fingerman, Tomasz K Kietlinski, Bruce Geist
  • Publication number: 20130306022
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, an engine oil circuit for a vehicle includes first and second oil circuits, and first and second oil pumps. The first oil circuit is communicated with at least one first engine component and the first oil pump is communicated with the first oil circuit to supply fluid flow in the first oil circuit at a first flow rate and a first pressure. The second oil circuit is communicated with at least one second engine component and may be segregated from the first oil circuit. The second oil pump is communicated with the second oil circuit to supply fluid flow in the second oil circuit at a second flow rate and a second pressure. At least one of the second flow rate or the second pressure is different than the first flow rate or the first pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: William F. Resh, Wei Tao, Bruce Geist
  • Patent number: 8561499
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber assembly for a torque converter including a first spring retainer, a second spring retainer, and a floating flange positioned between the first spring retainer and the second spring retainer. The pendulum absorber assembly also includes a drive plate affixed to the floating flange, a plurality of arcuate springs disposed between the second spring retainer and the drive plate, and a plurality of pendulum weights affixed to the second spring retainer, wherein the pendulum weights are made of tungsten alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Marvin G. Schiemann, Michael Fingerman, Tomaxz K. Kietlinski, Bruce Geist
  • Publication number: 20130098198
    Abstract: An apparatus for damping vibrations in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a crankshaft with a lobe. The lobe has a flange with an opening that is coupled to the body of the lobe. A pendulum is pivotally coupled to the flange in a manner to allow the pendulum to follow an epicycloidal path of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Geist, Christopher S. Barron, William F. Resh, Md Imran Hossain, Michael P. Patyi, Stan M. Mashkevich
  • Publication number: 20110031058
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber system attenuates torsional vibrations within a drive train of a vehicle. The system can be incorporated between an engine and an automatic transmission, for example, within a flex plate assembly attached to an engine's crankshaft, within a pump housing cover of a torque converter, or as a stand-alone unit between a flex plate assembly and a torque converter. The system includes at least one pendulum weight that dynamically moves along a predetermined path in response to variations in rotational velocities of a housing of the system and that is tuned to attenuate excitation of torsional vibrations within the drive train. A limiter assembly, which can include multiple limiters, is provided within the system for stopping movement of the weight when it reaches endpoints of the predetermined path, by mechanically impeding further movement at both of a first and second end of the weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: James R. Klotz, Bruce Geist, Jerry P. Harkey
  • Publication number: 20080288146
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Brian E. Beechie, Thomas F. Wentworth, Gregory A. Sbroglia, Bruce Geist, Mark C. Azzaretti, Marc H. Sullivan, In-Soo Suh, Mark J. Duty, Changwei Cao
  • Patent number: 7421325
    Abstract: Automated calibration of an automatic transmission design generates upshift scheduling curves in a throttle level/transmission output speed plane based upon laboratory-generated data and user generated drivability data. Downshift scheduling curves and torque converter lock-up and unlock curves are then generated as offsets from breakpoints on corresponding upshift curves, the offsets determined principally from the drivability data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Geist, Pradeep Attibele, Javed Dada, John M Rzepecki, II, Alexander Dolpp, David Parenti, William F Resh
  • Patent number: 7136789
    Abstract: A method for generating an acceleration profile for a valve operating cam of an internal combustion engine varies an adjustment point of an initial draft acceleration profile curve such that a determinant of a set of equations defining valve motion constraints and scaling factors is forced to zero. The equations may then be solved for values of the scaling factors which are applied to the initial draft acceleration profile curve to generate a desired profile which satisfies valve motion constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald G. Mosier, Bruce Geist, William F Resh
  • Publication number: 20060224291
    Abstract: Automated calibration of an automatic transmission design generates upshift scheduling curves in a throttle level/transmission output speed plane based upon laboratory-generated data and user generated drivability data. Downshift scheduling curves and torque converter lock-up and unlock curves are then generated as offsets from breakpoints on corresponding upshift curves, the offsets determined principally from the drivability data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Geist, Pradeep Attibele, Javed Dada, John Rzepecki, Alexander Dolpp, David Parenti, William Resh