Patents by Inventor Keith Van Maanen

Keith Van Maanen 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: 20240149667
    Abstract: A vehicular drive unit for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) includes an electric motor, for propelling the BEV, having an output shaft; a planetary gearbox, having an input and an output; a sprocket coupled to an output of the electric motor or an input of the planetary gearbox; and an endless loop rotatably coupled with the sprocket and the input of the planetary gearbox thereby configured to transmit rotational movement of the output shaft of the electric motor to a drive shaft of the BEV, wherein an axis of rotation of the drive shaft of the BEV is offset from an axis of rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Keith Van Maanen, Chengyun Guo
  • Patent number: 11732789
    Abstract: An assembly for an electric vehicle includes an input shaft extending along a first axis and an electric motor rotatably coupled to the input shaft and co-axially aligned with the first axis. The assembly also includes an intermediate input shaft extending along a second axis and rotatably coupled to the input shaft. The assembly also includes an output shaft extending along the second axis and spaced from the intermediate input shaft along the second axis. The assembly further includes a planetary gearset rotatably coupled to the intermediate input shaft and to the output shaft, and co-axially aligned with the second axis. The assembly includes a final drive co-axially aligned with the first axis and rotatably coupled to the output shaft for providing rotational torque to at least one of a first and second set of wheels of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Chengyun Guo, Keith Van Maanen
  • Publication number: 20230068411
    Abstract: An assembly for an electric vehicle includes an input shaft extending along a first axis and an electric motor rotatably coupled to the input shaft and co-axially aligned with the first axis. The assembly also includes an intermediate input shaft extending along a second axis and rotatably coupled to the input shaft. The assembly also includes an output shaft extending along the second axis and spaced from the intermediate input shaft along the second axis. The assembly further includes a planetary gearset rotatably coupled to the intermediate input shaft and to the output shaft, and co-axially aligned with the second axis. The assembly includes a final drive co-axially aligned with the first axis and rotatably coupled to the output shaft for providing rotational torque to at least one of a first and second set of wheels of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Chengyun Guo, Keith Van Maanen
  • Patent number: 11541861
    Abstract: A transmission system includes a transmission housing and a countershaft having no less than two gears, with the gears defining a plurality of gear ratios. The transmission system also includes a module housing, a first output shaft rotatably coupled to the countershaft, and a second output shaft rotatably coupled to the countershaft. The transmission system further includes a first clutch configured to selectively rotatably couple the first output shaft to the countershaft. The transmission system also includes a second clutch configured to selectively rotatably couple the second output shaft to the countershaft. The transmission system further includes an electric machine configured to deliver rotational power to at least one of the first and second output shafts to deliver rotational power to the countershaft. The countershaft is rotatably coupled to either of the first and second output shafts for all of the gear ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Maguire, R. Keith Martin, Christopher Spangler, Keith Van Maanen, Thomas J. Foster, Mark Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11485216
    Abstract: A transmission system includes an input shaft, a transmission housing, and a planetary gear system rotatably coupled to the input shaft. The planetary gear system has a first and second gear ratio. The transmission system additionally includes an output shaft, a first electric machine, a second electric machine, and a shifting assembly. The shifting assembly includes a first stationary clutch element and a second stationary clutch element. The first electric machine is configured to apply rotational torque to the planetary gear system to synchronize rotational speed of the planetary gear system when moving between the first and second gear ratios, and the second electric machine is configured to provide rotational torque to the output shaft when the first electric machine applies rotational torque to the planetary gear system to synchronize rotational speed of the planetary gear system when moving between the first and second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Van Maanen, Joel Maguire
  • Publication number: 20220281308
    Abstract: A transfer case for use in a vehicle, with the vehicle including a powertrain, includes an input shaft configured to be rotatably coupled to the powertrain. The transfer case also includes a primary output shaft rotatably coupled to the input shaft, and a secondary output shaft selectively rotatably coupled to the primary output shaft. The transfer case further includes a planetary gearset disposed between and rotatably coupled to the input shaft and the primary output shaft. The transfer case also includes an input member and an electric machine. The input member is rotatably coupled to the electric machine and the input shaft to provide rotational torque from the electric machine, to the input shaft, and to the primary output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Chengyun Guo, Keith Van Maanen
  • Publication number: 20210402864
    Abstract: A transmission system includes an input shaft, a transmission housing, and a planetary gear system rotatably coupled to the input shaft. The planetary gear system has a first and second gear ratio. The transmission system additionally includes an output shaft, a first electric machine, a second electric machine, and a shifting assembly. The shifting assembly includes a first stationary clutch element and a second stationary clutch element. The first electric machine is configured to apply rotational torque to the planetary gear system to synchronize rotational speed of the planetary gear system when moving between the first and second gear ratios, and the second electric machine is configured to provide rotational torque to the output shaft when the first electric machine applies rotational torque to the planetary gear system to synchronize rotational speed of the planetary gear system when moving between the first and second gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Van Maanen, Joel Maguire
  • Publication number: 20200346631
    Abstract: A transmission system includes a transmission housing and a countershaft having no less than two gears, with the gears defining a plurality of gear ratios. The transmission system also includes a module housing, a first output shaft rotatably coupled to the countershaft, and a second output shaft rotatably coupled to the countershaft. The transmission system further includes a first clutch configured to selectively rotatably couple the first output shaft to the countershaft. The transmission system also includes a second clutch configured to selectively rotatably couple the second output shaft to the countershaft. The transmission system further includes an electric machine configured to deliver rotational power to at least one of the first and second output shafts to deliver rotational power to the countershaft. The countershaft is rotatably coupled to either of the first and second output shafts for all of the gear ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Joel MAGUIRE, Keith MARTIN, Christopher SPANGLER, Keith VAN MAANEN, Thomas J. FOSTER, Mark BUCHANAN
  • Publication number: 20200262413
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine including a crankshaft, a transmission including a transmission shaft, an axle, and a first electric machine rotatably coupled at least one of the crankshaft, the transmission shaft, and the axle. The first electric machine is configured to deliver rotational torque, and to generate electrical energy. The system includes an electrically-assisted turbomachine including a second electric machine configured to deliver rotational torque, and to generate electrical energy. The system includes a hybrid propulsion traction battery electrically coupled to the first and second electric machines. The hybrid propulsion traction battery is configured to deliver electrical energy to the first electric machine, and to receive electrical energy from the first and second electric machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: B. Jerry Song, Keith Van Maanen, Sara Mohon, Wen Gao
  • Publication number: 20070219698
    Abstract: A method for variable operation of a vehicle transmission using rough road sensing includes defining a first set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a smooth road condition and a second set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a rough road condition. The method includes sensing a road condition, generating a road condition signal corresponding to the road condition, and measuring a magnitude of the road condition signal. The method includes switching from the first set of parameters to the second set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method includes switching from the second set of parameters to the first set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Mike McDonald, William Albertson, Keith Van Maanen