Patents by Inventor Donald Edward Hoffman

Donald Edward Hoffman 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: 8986155
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. An input and an output are provided. Three planetary gear sets are located at an offset position relative to the input axis and the output axis. Axis transfer gears are provided to transfer rotational energy from the input to one of the planetary gear sets, and from one of the planetary gear sets to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technolgies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150031496
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements each establish at least one reverse gear ratio and between nine and fifteen forward gear ratios. A shiftable gearing arrangement establishes a variety of gear ratios speed ratio between the input and a first shaft. In some embodiments, a fixed speed ratio is established upstream or downstream of the shiftable gearing arrangement. In reverse and low gear ratios, a low clutch couples the first shaft to the output. In the high gear ratios, a combining planetary gear set establishes a linear speed relationship between the first shaft, a second shaft rotating at a speed proportional to the input, and the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150018156
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. An input and an output are provided. Three planetary gear sets are located at an offset position relative to the input axis and the output axis. Axis transfer gears are provided to transfer rotational energy from the input to one of the planetary gear sets, and from one of the planetary gear sets to the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140378270
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. Three simple planetary gear sets are located on the input axis. One of the simple planetary gear sets may have either a split-ring arrangement in which two ring gears are provided with one carrier and one sun gear, or a split-sun arrangement in which two sun gears are provided with one carrier and one ring gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140256499
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces ten forward speed ratios and four reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets and seven shift elements of which three or four are brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs in place of one of the planetary gear sets. One of the brakes is used only in reverse and may be a latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Scott Lippert, David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8784258
    Abstract: A multiple speed power transmission comprises: an epicyclic gearing assembly comprising first, second, third, and fourth rotating members with linearly related speeds; a double pinion planetary gear set with grounded carrier and input driven sun gear; two brakes; four clutches; and specified interconnections. The brakes and clutches are operated in combinations of two to produce eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, David Allen Janson
  • Publication number: 20140179487
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four rotating clutches. The brakes and clutches may be engaged in combinations of three to establish at least ten forward transmission ratios and at least three reverse transmission ratios. The lowest forward transmission ratio and lowest reverse transmission ratio may be used to implement a low range mode, obviating the need for a two speed transfer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Gerald Thomas, Donald Edward Hoffman, Gregory Daniel Goleski
  • Publication number: 20140045641
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces at least nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. One embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs, three simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8257217
    Abstract: An infinitely variable power transmission comprising an input shaft, a layshaft, a variator transmitting power from the input shaft to the layshaft, an output shaft, and an internal/external gear pair transmitting power from the layshaft to the output shaft. The output shaft axis may be offset a limited distance from the input shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8257216
    Abstract: An infinitely variable power transmission comprising an input shaft, a layshaft driven by the input shaft via internal/external gearing, a toroidal variator, and gearing and clutches which implement a low/reverse variable ratio mode and a high range variable ratio mode. An additional clutch and gearing implement an optional fixed ratio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120142485
    Abstract: A multiple speed power transmission comprises: an epicyclic gearing assembly comprising first, second, third, and fourth rotating members with linearly related speeds; a double pinion planetary gear set with grounded carrier and input driven sun gear; two brakes; four clutches; and specified interconnections. The brakes and clutches are operated in combinations of two to produce eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, David Allen Janson
  • Patent number: 8016714
    Abstract: A multiple speed power transmission, comprising an input shaft; a transmission case; a co-planar gear set; a rear epicyclic gearing assembly with four rotating members; a first clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the fourth rotating member; a second clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the first rotating member; a third clutch connecting the input shaft to the third rotating member; a first brake holding the fourth rotating member against rotation; a second brake holding the third rotating member against rotation; and an output shaft connected to the second rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, Steven Gerald Thomas
  • Publication number: 20110172051
    Abstract: An infinitely variable power transmission comprising an input shaft, a layshaft driven by the input shaft via internal/external gearing, a toroidal variator, and gearing and clutches which implement a low/reverse variable ratio mode and a high range variable ratio mode. An additional clutch and gearing implement an optional fixed ratio mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20100197448
    Abstract: An infinitely variable power transmission comprising an input shaft, a layshaft, a variator transmitting power from the input shaft to the layshaft, an output shaft, and an internal/external gear pair transmitting power from the layshaft to the output shaft. The output shaft axis may be offset a limited distance from the input shaft axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20100048346
    Abstract: A multiple speed power transmission, comprising an input shaft; a transmission case; a co-planar gear set; a rear epicyclic gearing assembly with four rotating members; a first clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the fourth rotating member; a second clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the first rotating member; a third clutch connecting the input shaft to the third rotating member; a first brake holding the fourth rotating member against rotation; a second brake holding the third rotating member against rotation; and an output shaft connected to the second rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, Steven Gerald Thomas
  • Patent number: 6122983
    Abstract: A transmission shift rail comprising a control rail and a shift fork are provided. The shift fork is not translated when the control rail is translated in a first shift plane. The shift fork is translated when the control rail is translated in a second shift plane. The shift fork is translated when the control rail is rotated to the first shift plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman