Patents by Inventor David Earl Earhart

David Earl Earhart 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: 8038564
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Earl Earhart, James A. Raszkowski
  • Publication number: 20110118074
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Earl Earhart, James A. Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 7896770
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Earl Earhart, James A. Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 7846055
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a split dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Earl Earhart
  • Patent number: 7837589
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a split dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Earl Earhart
  • Patent number: 7798931
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: David Earl Earhart
  • Patent number: 7604561
    Abstract: A transmission is provided that combines first and second shaft members in a countershaft configuration with a planetary gear set and first and second head gear sets to provide ratios. Each of the shaft members includes gears in no more than four co-planar, intermeshing gear sets (and in some embodiments no more than three co-planar, intermeshing gear sets) and two sets of radially nested clutches, thus minimizing the overall length of the shaft members. At least one gear concentric with each shaft member is supported by a bearing on the adjacent gear rather than on the shaft member, thereby minimizing the weight of each shaft member. The transmission provides at least seven forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio and utilizes at most eight torque-transmitting mechanisms. A method of reducing the length and weight of a transmission package is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Earl Earhart
  • Publication number: 20090203482
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a split dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: DAVID EARL EARHART
  • Publication number: 20090203483
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a split dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: DAVID EARL EARHART
  • Publication number: 20090203484
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: DAVID EARL EARHART
  • Publication number: 20090036247
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: David Earl Earhart, James A. Raszkowski
  • Publication number: 20080247882
    Abstract: A split-pressure, dual-pump system for supplying hydraulic fluid to a multi-speed transmission is provided. The system includes a low-pressure work circuit operatively connected to a fixed displacement pump, and a high-pressure work circuit operatively connected to a variable displacement pump. The system also includes a regulator valve fluidly coupled to the variable displacement pump via a decrease circuit and an overage circuit for regulating the flow of fluid to the high-pressure work circuit. The invention consists of separating the high-pressure needs of the system into a separate work circuit from the low-pressure needs of the system, and optimizing pump design separately for each work circuit to maximize transmission efficiency and reduce parasitic losses. A method of supplying hydraulic fluid to a multi-speed transmission at variable flow and pressure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Earl Earhart, Dane L. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20080182700
    Abstract: A transmission is provided that combines first and second shaft members in a countershaft configuration with a planetary gear set and first and second head gear sets to provide ratios. Each of the shaft members includes gears in no more than four co-planar, intermeshing gear sets (and in some embodiments no more than three co-planar, intermeshing gear sets) and two sets of radially nested clutches, thus minimizing the overall length of the shaft members. At least one gear concentric with each shaft member is supported by a bearing on the adjacent gear rather than on the shaft member, thereby minimizing the weight of each shaft member. The transmission provides at least seven forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio and utilizes at most eight torque-transmitting mechanisms. A method of reducing the length and weight of a transmission package is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: DAVID EARL EARHART