Patents by Inventor Jeffrey E Shultz

Jeffrey E Shultz 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: 11885411
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Publication number: 20230204098
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Patent number: 11639752
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Patent number: 11530742
    Abstract: Transmission systems, control systems for vehicles, and methods of operating vehicles are disclosed herein. A transmission system for a vehicle includes a transmission and a heat exchanger. The transmission is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit and provide the rotational power to a load in use of the transmission system. The heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the transmission and configured to cool a sump of the transmission to manage transmission oil temperature in use of the transmission system. The transmission includes a control system having a plurality of sensors and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors that has a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re
  • Publication number: 20220282786
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Patent number: 11428311
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Publication number: 20220003307
    Abstract: Transmission systems, control systems for vehicles, and methods of operating vehicles are disclosed herein. A transmission system for a vehicle includes a transmission and a heat exchanger. The transmission is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit and provide the rotational power to a load in use of the transmission system. The heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the transmission and configured to cool a sump of the transmission to manage transmission oil temperature in use of the transmission system. The transmission includes a control system having a plurality of sensors and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors that has a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re
  • Publication number: 20210348682
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Patent number: 11111999
    Abstract: Transmission systems, control systems for vehicles, and methods of operating vehicles are disclosed herein. A transmission system for a vehicle includes a transmission and a heat exchanger. The transmission is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit and provide the rotational power to a load in use of the transmission system. The heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the transmission and configured to cool a sump of the transmission to manage transmission oil temperature in use of the transmission system. The transmission includes a control system having a plurality of sensors and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors that has a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re
  • Patent number: 11112004
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Publication number: 20210095757
    Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
  • Publication number: 20210095754
    Abstract: Transmission systems, control systems for vehicles, and methods of operating vehicles are disclosed herein. A transmission system for a vehicle includes a transmission and a heat exchanger. The transmission is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit and provide the rotational power to a load in use of the transmission system. The heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the transmission and configured to cool a sump of the transmission to manage transmission oil temperature in use of the transmission system. The transmission includes a control system having a plurality of sensors and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors that has a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re
  • Patent number: 9964162
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for controlling transmission torque to provide hill ascent and/or descent assistance to a vehicle includes applying a clutch hold pressure to one or more clutches of a transmission to lock an output shaft of the transmission to resist roll-back of the vehicle. The clutch hold pressure is applied based on one or more of a transmission output speed signal, an engine throttle signal, and a vehicle brake signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared S. Shattuck, Jeffrey E. Shultz, Peter G. York
  • Patent number: 9383010
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selecting and implementing a shift schedule for a transmission in a vehicle that includes an output speed sensor and a controller. The method includes measuring output speed with the output speed sensor and comparing the measured output speed to an output speed threshold. The controller receives throttle percentage and compares the throttle percentage to a throttle threshold. The method also includes calculating output acceleration and transmission gear ratio with the controller. The shift schedule is selected based on the measured output speed, calculated output acceleration, calculated transmission gear ratio, and throttle percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Jared S. Shattuck
  • Patent number: 9365201
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for controlling transmission torque to provide hill ascent and/or descent assistance to a vehicle includes applying a clutch hold pressure to one or more clutches of a transmission to lock an output shaft of the transmission to resist roll-back of the vehicle. The clutch hold pressure is determined as a function of the tractive effort of the vehicle and is applied based on one or more of a transmission output speed signal, an engine throttle signal, and a vehicle brake signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared S. Shattuck, Jeffrey E. Shultz, Peter G. York
  • Patent number: 9267597
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for increasing a volume of hydraulic fluid in a reservoir of a transmission. The method includes providing a retarder mounted to the transmission, an accumulator including an internal cavity, a piston disposed in the internal cavity of the accumulator, a solenoid, a valve, and a controller. The method also includes enabling the solenoid from an off state to an on state, transferring fluid pressure from the valve to the piston, and moving the piston from a first position to a second position in the internal cavity. The method further includes discharging an amount of hydraulic fluid from the internal cavity of the accumulator to the reservoir and increasing the volume of hydraulic fluid in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Randall S. Conn, Jeffrey E. Shultz
  • Publication number: 20150192201
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for increasing a volume of hydraulic fluid in a reservoir of a transmission. The method includes providing a retarder mounted to the transmission, an accumulator including an internal cavity, a piston disposed in the internal cavity of the accumulator, a solenoid, a valve, and a controller. The method also includes enabling the solenoid from an off state to an on state, transferring fluid pressure from the valve to the piston, and moving the piston from a first position to a second position in the internal cavity. The method further includes discharging an amount of hydraulic fluid from the internal cavity of the accumulator to the reservoir and increasing the volume of hydraulic fluid in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Randall S. Conn, Jeffrey E. Shultz
  • Patent number: 9046175
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selecting and implementing a shift schedule for a transmission in a vehicle that includes an output speed sensor and a controller. The method includes measuring output speed with the output speed sensor and comparing the measured output speed to an output speed threshold. The controller receives throttle percentage and compares the throttle percentage to a throttle threshold. The method also includes calculating output acceleration and transmission gear ratio with the controller. The shift schedule is selected based on the measured output speed, calculated output acceleration, calculated transmission gear ratio, and throttle percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Jared S. Shattuck
  • Publication number: 20140121920
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selecting and implementing a shift schedule for a transmission in a vehicle that includes an output speed sensor and a controller. The method includes measuring output speed with the output speed sensor and comparing the measured output speed to an output speed threshold. The controller receives throttle percentage and compares the throttle percentage to a throttle threshold. The method also includes calculating output acceleration and transmission gear ratio with the controller. The shift schedule is selected based on the measured output speed, calculated output acceleration, calculated transmission gear ratio, and throttle percentage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Jared S. Shattuck
  • Patent number: 8712654
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selecting and implementing a shift schedule for a transmission in a vehicle that includes an output speed sensor and a controller. The method includes measuring output speed with the output speed sensor and comparing the measured output speed to an output speed threshold. The controller receives throttle percentage and compares the throttle percentage to a throttle threshold. The method also includes calculating output acceleration and transmission gear ratio with the controller. The shift schedule is selected based on the measured output speed, calculated output acceleration, calculated transmission gear ratio, and throttle percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Jared S. Shattuck