Patents by Inventor Christopher G. Benson
Christopher G. Benson 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: 10948067Abstract: A transmission includes an input drive shaft, a drive gear, an idler gear, and a driven gear. The drive gear is rotationally fixed to the input drive shaft which, in turn, may but not necessarily, be powered by an engine. The idler gear may include a second set of gear teeth mounted to a bearing wherein the second set of gear teeth are formed from polymeric material. The second set of gear teeth for the idler gear may be in meshing engagement with the first set of gear teeth. The driven gear may include a third set of gear teeth in meshing engagement with the second set of gear teeth. The driven gear may be rotationally fixed to a pump shaft for a transmission pump. The input drive shaft, the drive gear, the idler gear, and the driven gear are configured to power a transmission pump.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, Arvo J. Siismets, Nathan J. Hankins
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Publication number: 20200063848Abstract: A transmission includes an input drive shaft, a drive gear, an idler gear, and a driven gear. The drive gear is rotationally fixed to the input drive shaft which, in turn, may but not necessarily, be powered by an engine. The idler gear may include a second set of gear teeth mounted to a bearing wherein the second set of gear teeth are formed from polymeric material. The second set of gear teeth for the idler gear may be in meshing engagement with the first set of gear teeth. The driven gear may include a third set of gear teeth in meshing engagement with the second set of gear teeth. The driven gear may be rotationally fixed to a pump shaft for a transmission pump. The input drive shaft, the drive gear, the idler gear, and the driven gear are configured to power a transmission pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Christopher G. Benson, Arvo J. Siismets, Nathan J. Hankins
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Patent number: 10495214Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with an analog electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) subsystem or a manual valve. The ETRS subsystem includes an ETRS valve, a park servo, a park mechanism, a mode valve, and a plurality of solenoids. The ETRS and manual valve communicate with a clutch actuator subsystem that engages a one-way clutch and six clutches/brakes.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Todd R. Berger, Kelly Eber, Steven P. Moorman, Christopher G. Benson, Cheol W. Kim, Ryan M. Jenness, Christopher M. Kaminski
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Publication number: 20190063597Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with an analog electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) subsystem or a manual valve. The ETRS subsystem includes an ETRS valve, a park servo, a park mechanism, a mode valve, and a plurality of solenoids. The ETRS and manual valve communicate with a clutch actuator subsystem that engages a one-way clutch and six clutches/brakes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Todd R. Berger, Kelly Eber, Steven P. Moorman, Christopher G. Benson, Cheol W. Kim, Ryan M. Jenness, Christopher M. Kaminski
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Patent number: 10190685Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover in communication with an input shaft of a transmission, an output shaft of the transmission in communication with a final drive and drive wheels, a park actuator system internal to a housing of the transmission and a park control system mounted to an external surface of the housing of the transmission with a pivot shaft extending through the housing that connects to the park actuator system to selectively place the park actuator system in one of a park configuration and an out of park configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Inventors: Vijay A Neelakantan, Christopher G Benson
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Patent number: 10161518Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes an electro-mechanical park actuator mechanism that provides motive force to an actuator rod of a park actuator, a default to park mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing, and an electromechanical park inhibit mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Inventors: Vijay A Neelakantan, Christopher G Benson
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Publication number: 20180292005Abstract: A method for retracting an extended pin of a sliding camshaft actuator wherein the actuator includes a magnetic field generating coil, a magnetic piston in connection with the extended pin operable to be actuated by the magnetic field generating coil, and a pin stop plate. The method comprises creating an air gap between the magnetic piston and the pin stop plate and reversing voltage on the magnetic field generating coil to retract the extended pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Christopher G. Benson
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Patent number: 10018269Abstract: A solenoid assembly is disposed in a bore of a valve body where the bore includes a plurality of ports. The solenoid assembly includes a bushing or sleeve disposed in the bore. The sleeve has at least one slot that is aligned with at least one of the plurality of ports. A valve is slidably disposed within the sleeve. A solenoid has a movable armature configured to move the valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kelly E. Eber, Todd R. Berger, Christopher G. Benson
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Publication number: 20180106370Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover in communication with an input shaft of a transmission, an output shaft of the transmission in communication with a final drive and drive wheels, a park actuator system internal to a housing of the transmission and a park control system mounted to an external surface of the housing of the transmission with a pivot shaft extending through the housing that connects to the park actuator system to selectively place the park actuator system in one of a park configuration and an out of park configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Christopher G. Benson
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Publication number: 20180100581Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes an electro-mechanical park actuator mechanism that provides motive force to an actuator rod of a park actuator, a default to park mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing, and an electromechanical park inhibit mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2016Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Christopher G. Benson
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Patent number: 9939050Abstract: The present invention provides improved, real time sensing of pressure supplied to the hydraulic operator of a clutch for a motor vehicle driveline power take off. A proportional sensor in the hydraulic line to the power take off clutch actuator provides a data signal in real time of the actual pressure applied to the clutch actuator. This signal is provided to the power take off control module (PCM) and/or to the transmission control module (TCM). The power take off control module, having instantaneous data regarding the pressure applied to the hydraulic operator achieves two important operating functions: monitoring and feedback.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Timothy J. Reinhart, Christopher G. Benson, Timothy Z. Jin, Brady Stein
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Patent number: 9835206Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a clutch body and body bore. A clutch plate stack includes first, second, and third clutch plates, the first and third clutch plates fixed to the clutch body. The second clutch plate rotates axially on a longitudinal axis. The first clutch plate includes a first strut cavity and the second clutch plate includes a second strut cavity. A forward strut is rotatably connected to the second clutch plate and biased toward the first clutch plate. The forward strut when positioned in the first strut cavity defines a clutch engaged position preventing second clutch plate rotation in a first rotational direction, while allowing rotation in a second rotational direction. A reverse strut slidably disposed in a strut bore extends through the third clutch plate, is partially positioned in the second strut cavity and is displaced in the strut bore during rotation of the second clutch plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kelly E. Eber, Todd R. Berger, Christopher G. Benson
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Publication number: 20170241520Abstract: The present invention provides improved, real time sensing of pressure supplied to the hydraulic operator of a clutch for a motor vehicle driveline power take off. A proportional sensor in the hydraulic line to the power take off clutch actuator provides a data signal in real time of the actual pressure applied to the clutch actuator. This signal is provided to the power take off control module (PCM) and/or to the transmission control module (TCM). The power take off control module, having instantaneous data regarding the pressure applied to the hydraulic operator achieves two important operating functions: monitoring and feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Timothy J. Reinhart, Christopher G. Benson, Timothy Z. Jin, Brady Stein
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Publication number: 20170130784Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a clutch body and body bore. A clutch plate stack includes first, second, and third clutch plates, the first and third clutch plates fixed to the clutch body. The second clutch plate rotates axially on a longitudinal axis. The first clutch plate includes a first strut cavity and the second clutch plate includes a second strut cavity. A forward strut is rotatably connected to the second clutch plate and biased toward the first clutch plate. The forward strut when positioned in the first strut cavity defines a clutch engaged position preventing second clutch plate rotation in a first rotational direction, while allowing rotation in a second rotational direction. A reverse strut slidably disposed in a strut bore extends through the third clutch plate, is partially positioned in the second strut cavity and is displaced in the strut bore during rotation of the second clutch plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Kelly E. Eber, Todd R. Berger, Christopher G. Benson
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Patent number: 9599214Abstract: An electronic transmission range selection hydraulic control system includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a first mode valve assembly in fluid communication downstream of the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a drive clutch actuator connected to a drive clutch and in fluid communication directly downstream of the first mode valve assembly, a reverse clutch actuator connected to a reverse clutch and in fluid communication directly downstream of the first mode valve assembly, a second mode valve assembly in fluid communication directly downstream of the first mode valve assembly, and a park servo connected to the park mechanism and in fluid communication directly downstream of the first mode valve assembly and the second mode valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Philip C. Lundberg, Christopher G. Benson
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Publication number: 20160312909Abstract: A method of selectively matching at least one diameter of a valve spool or piston of a spool valve to at least one diameter of a valve bore in an automatic transmission valve body reduces hydraulic fluid leakage in the valve body. The method includes the steps of fabricating a spool valve having at least one spool or piston, measuring a diameter of the at least one spool or piston and identifying the spool valve as belonging to certain size class, fabricating a valve body having a plurality of machined bores, measuring the diameter of at least one portion of a bore and, based on this measurement, installing a spool valve of the appropriate size class in the bore of the valve body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Thomas R. Martin, JR., James D. Hendrickson, Chinar S. Ghike, Christopher G. Benson
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Patent number: 9341199Abstract: A torque converter hydraulic control subsystem for a transmission is provided. The torque converter hydraulic control subsystem includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with a torque converter clutch (TCC) regulation valve, a TCC control valve, and a lubrication boost valve. The torque converter hydraulic control subsystem is configured to provide cooling and lubrication fluid flow to a torque converter in all modes of operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, Todd R. Berger
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Publication number: 20160123461Abstract: A solenoid assembly is disposed in a bore of a valve body where the bore includes a plurality of ports. The solenoid assembly includes a bushing or sleeve disposed in the bore. The sleeve has at least one slot that is aligned with at least one of the plurality of ports. A valve is slidably disposed within the sleeve. A solenoid has a movable armature configured to move the valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Kelly E. Eber, Todd R. Berger, Christopher G. Benson
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Publication number: 20160069452Abstract: An active electromechanical armature assembly for a transmission is provided. The active electromechanical armature assembly improves fuel economy by storing transmission fluid in areas away from rotating components during hot operation. During other conditions the transmission fluid is kept in the sump. The active electromechanical armature assembly includes a moveable armature or plunger. Movement of the plunger controls the opening and closing of an opening that communicates between the sump and the side or front cover of the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: THOMAS R. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER G. BENSON, WAYNE B. VOGEL
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Publication number: 20150285369Abstract: An active thermal hydraulic control system for a transmission is provided. The active thermal hydraulic control system improves fuel economy by storing transmission fluid in areas away from rotating components during hot operation. However, during other conditions the transmission fluid is kept in the sump. The active thermal hydraulic control system includes an active thermal valve. The active thermal valve is an electro-mechanical device which converts electrical energy into thermal energy which melts a wax pellet which in turn moves a plunger. Movement of the plunger controls the opening and closing of a valve that communicates between the sump and the side or front cover of the transmission. The system improves fuel economy by as much as 0.5% by storing excess hydraulic fluid away from rotating components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Christopher G. Benson, Todd R. Berger, Mark David Kieliszewski, Philip C. Lundberg