Patents by Inventor John Butwin

John Butwin 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: 10006541
    Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body and a solenoid module. The body has a chamber, control pressure port, exhaust port, and reference surface. Metering edges are formed in the body at the control port. A spring transmits force between first and second spools in the chamber. The solenoid module has a pin for displacing the first spool and is located by contact with the reference surface. The solenoid module also has a first stop surface limiting pin movement and a second stop surface contacting the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony G. Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Patent number: 9441732
    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: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony G. Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20160076642
    Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body and a solenoid module. The body has a chamber, control pressure port, exhaust port, and reference surface. Metering edges are formed in the body at the control port. A spring transmits force between first and second spools in the chamber. The solenoid module has a pin for displacing the first spool and is located by contact with the reference surface. The solenoid module also has a first stop surface limiting pin movement and a second stop surface contacting the reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: ROBERT O. BURKHART, DEREK KINCH, JOHN BUTWIN, ANTHONY G. KOENINGS, HRUDAYA MAHAPATRO, WEI ZHUANG
  • 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: 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: 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: 8490640
    Abstract: A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8255130
    Abstract: A closed loop shift control apparatus and method based on friction element load controls a torque transfer phase when shifting from a low gear configuration to a high gear configuration for an automatic transmission system. When pressure actuated friction elements are selectively engaged and released to establish torque flow paths in the transmission, measurements or estimates of torsional load exerted on the off-going friction element are used to predict the optimal off-going friction element release timing for achieving a consistent shift feel. The ideal timing to release the off-going friction element is uniquely defined when torque load exerted onto the off-going friction element becomes substantially zero. An on-coming clutch engagement process is controlled by a closed loop control based on measurements or estimates of on-coming clutch torque capacity for a constant shift feel under dynamically changing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Gregory Michael Pietron, Seung-Hoon Lee, James William Loch McCallum, Mohamed Redissi, David Popejoy, John Butwin, Robert Orley Burkhart, Diana Yanakiev
  • Publication number: 20100313970
    Abstract: A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
  • Publication number: 20100262344
    Abstract: A closed loop shift control apparatus and method based on friction element load controls a torque transfer phase when shifting from a low gear configuration to a high gear configuration for an automatic transmission system. When pressure actuated friction elements are selectively engaged and released to establish torque flow paths in the transmission, measurements or estimates of torsional load exerted on the off-going friction element are used to predict the optimal off-going friction element release timing for achieving a consistent shift feel. The ideal timing to release the off-going friction element is uniquely defined when torque load exerted onto the off-going friction element becomes substantially zero. An on-coming clutch engagement process is controlled by a closed loop control based on measurements or estimates of on-coming clutch torque capacity for a constant shift feel under dynamically changing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Gregory Michael Pietron, Seung-Hoon Lee, James William Loch McCallum, Mohamed Redissi, David Popejoy, John Butwin, Robert Orley Burkhart, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 6170506
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a solenoid-operated regulator valve wherein command current applied to a solenoid actuator establishes a defined response of a valve. Cleaning current pulses applied to the solenoid establish a response that does not interfere with the effectiveness of the valve function. The pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse direction and pulse period are determined by the degree of contamination of the valve environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Butwin, Michael J. Monaghan, Maria Eugenia Protopapas, Robert Cary Haase, Stephen Michael Cicala, Wolfgang Wickler