Patents by Inventor Derek Kinch

Derek Kinch 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).

  • Publication number: 20150316143
    Abstract: A vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a shift-by-wire transmission, a pressure source configured to selectively provide hydraulic pressure in the absence of engine power, an internal combustion engine, and a controller. The shift-by-wire transmission includes a hydraulic actuator, and the electric pump is in fluid communication with the actuator. The controller is configured to, in response to a driver input and the engine being off, control the pressure source to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. DEURLOO, Jeffrey James TUMAVITCH, Derek KINCH, Richard Reynolds HATHAWAY, Todd Curtis SPAULDING
  • Publication number: 20150260269
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a transmission having a control valve and a torque converter with a lock-up clutch. The control valve is configured to control both a mode and an apply pressure of the lock-up clutch. The control valve includes a valve body and a plunger moveable within the valve body. When the plunger is in a first position, the lock-up clutch is in a release mode and, when the plunger is in a second position, the lock-up clutch is in an apply mode and movement of the plunger relative to the second position controls the apply pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Kinch
  • Patent number: 9114790
    Abstract: A transmission park-brake system includes a transmission park brake, a solenoid, first, second and third pressure sources, and a servo valve for disengaging the park-brake using the first and second pressure sources, holding the park-brake disengaged using a force produced by the solenoid and one of the first and second pressure sources, and engaging the park-brake using the third pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Steven A. Frait
  • Publication number: 20150184741
    Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: ROBERT O. BURKHART, DEREK KINCH, JOHN BUTWIN, ANTHONY G. KOENINGS, HRUDAYA MAHAPATRO, WEI ZHUANG
  • Patent number: 9062782
    Abstract: A system controlling gain in a control element includes a source of line pressure, a source of signal pressure, a control valve that controls communication between line pressure and the control element, including a first differential area communicating with control element pressure, and a second differential area, and a gain control valve that opens and closes communication between control element pressure and the second differential area in response to signal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Kurt H. Nickerson
  • Patent number: 9010374
    Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8960232
    Abstract: A latch valve includes a first port containing line pressure, a second port containing control pressure, a third port located between the first and second ports, alternately connecting the first and second ports to a transmission control element, and a fourth port containing control pressure that tends to close the second port and open the first port in opposition to a spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin, Derek Kinch, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang, Anthony Koenings
  • Publication number: 20140284170
    Abstract: A transmission park-brake system includes a transmission park brake, a solenoid, first, second and third pressure sources, and a servo valve for disengaging the park-brake using the first and second pressure sources, holding the park-brake disengaged using a force produced by the solenoid and one of the first and second pressure sources, and engaging the park-brake using the third pressure source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Steven A. Frait
  • Patent number: 8813485
    Abstract: A hydraulic accumulator system for providing pressurized oil to a transmission in a vehicle. The system includes a transmission oil storage chamber to store oil at a predetermined level; and a hydraulic accumulator mounted in the oil storage chamber and including an accumulator piston mounted below the level of oil, separating an accumulator oil area from a remainder of the oil storage area and movable to increase and decrease the oil in the accumulator oil area, and a spring biasing the piston toward the accumulator oil area. The system also has a hydraulic assembly including a first oil passage for removing the oil from the remainder of the oil storage area, a second oil passage for directing oil into and out of the accumulator oil area below the predetermined oil level and a hydraulic circuit directing the oil from the first oil passage into the second oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Derek Kinch
  • Publication number: 20140182693
    Abstract: A system controlling gain in a control element includes a source of line pressure, a source of signal pressure, a control valve that controls communication between line pressure and the control element, including a first differential area communicating with control element pressure, and a second differential area, and a gain control valve that opens and closes communication between control element pressure and the second differential area in response to signal pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Kurt H. Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20140161641
    Abstract: A system for pressurizing transmission control elements includes an accumulator for containing pressurized fluid, first and second check valves, a booster valve supplied with accumulator pressure, and an actuator that causes the booster valve to open a fluidic connection between the accumulator and the control elements through the check valves in response to an engine restart signal
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin
  • Patent number: 8734293
    Abstract: A system for pressurizing transmission control elements includes an accumulator for containing pressurized fluid, first and second check valves, a booster valve supplied with accumulator pressure, and an actuator that causes the booster valve to open a fluidic connection between the accumulator and the control elements through the check valves in response to an engine restart signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Perkarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin
  • Patent number: 8555503
    Abstract: A method for forming a valve includes forming a valve body; machining a bore by passing a tool having cutting edges along an axis into the valve body; machining a groove and face in the bore at axially spaced locations by revolving the tool about a circular circumference whose center is aligned with the bore; and supplying lubricant in a pneumatic stream through the tool to the cutting edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Habel, Derek Kinch
  • Publication number: 20130056657
    Abstract: A latch valve includes a first port containing line pressure, a second port containing control pressure, a third port located between the first and second ports, alternately connecting the first and second ports to a transmission control element, and a fourth port containing control pressure that tends to close the second port and open the first port in opposition to a spring force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin, Derek Kinch, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang, Anthony Koenings
  • Publication number: 20130026401
    Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20130019479
    Abstract: A method for forming a valve includes forming a valve body; machining a bore by passing a tool having cutting edges along an axis into the valve body; machining a groove and face in the bore at axially spaced locations by revolving the tool about a circular circumference whose center is aligned with the bore; and supplying lubricant in a pneumatic stream through the tool to the cutting edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Habel, Derek Kinch
  • Publication number: 20130014498
    Abstract: A system controlling pressure in a transmission including a variable displacement pump, a circuit carrying fluid from the pump to the transmission, a valve using fluid in said circuit to regulate pressure that controls displacement of the pump, a source of control pressure including an accumulator, a first spring acting with said source causing the valve to change the regulated pressure, and a second spring acting with feedback pressure from said circuit to oppose said change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Mark R. Dobson, Lev Pekarsky, Hrudaya Mahapatro
  • Publication number: 20120324873
    Abstract: A hydraulic accumulator system for providing pressurized oil to a transmission in a vehicle. The system includes a transmission oil storage chamber to store oil at a predetermined level; and a hydraulic accumulator mounted in the oil storage chamber and including an accumulator piston mounted below the level of oil, separating an accumulator oil area from a remainder of the oil storage area and movable to increase and decrease the oil in the accumulator oil area, and a spring biasing the piston toward the accumulator oil area. The system also has a hydraulic assembly including a first oil passage for removing the oil from the remainder of the oil storage area, a second oil passage for directing oil into and out of the accumulator oil area below the predetermined oil level and a hydraulic circuit directing the oil from the first oil passage into the second oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Derek Kinch
  • Publication number: 20100300828
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dual-stage regulator valve assemblies for use with vehicle transmissions and methods of manufacturing the same. A dual-stage regulator valve is configured to increase a flow area in the valve during clutch fill thereby reducing transmission shift time. Transition between a clutch fill and a pressure control state is automated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Derek Kinch
  • Publication number: 20100264348
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic control valve assembly with a dynamic bore plug assembly that flexibly dampens valve operation. The disclosure teaches various bore plug assemblies for control valve body that can include a dynamic plug configured to restrict fluid flow out of a control valve bore. The bore plug assemblies are configured to selectively alter compressibility in the control valve bore during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Robert Orley Burkhart