Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Nowaczyk

Kenneth L. Nowaczyk 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: 8616172
    Abstract: The present application relates to a drive and balance mass. In one example, an engine includes, a camshaft, a balance shaft disposed within an interior of the camshaft, and a first gear, intermediate the balance shaft and the camshaft and driving the balance shaft to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite of the crankshaft. In another example, a balance mass and drive for an engine includes, a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of pinions mounted on a carrier, an input coupled to an input gear of the planetary gear set, a balance mass coupled to an output gear of the planetary gear set, the output gear configured to drive the balance mass to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft in a direction opposite of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Morgan, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 8298122
    Abstract: A method for controlling brakes of an automatic transmission including a first brake arranged in parallel with an overrunning brake between a planet pinion carrier and a housing, includes using the overrunning brake to provide brake torque equal to or less than a reference brake torque under positive torque conditions, increasing a torque capacity of the first brake when brake torque is greater than the reference brake torque, and fully engaging the first brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Charles W. Suter, Bradley R. Heuver, Brad W. Probert, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20120255514
    Abstract: The present application relates to a drive and balance mass. In one example, an engine includes, a camshaft, a balance shaft disposed within an interior of the camshaft, and a first gear, intermediate the balance shaft and the camshaft and driving the balance shaft to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite of the crankshaft. In another example, a balance mass and drive for an engine includes, a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of pinions mounted on a carrier, an input coupled to an input gear of the planetary gear set, a balance mass coupled to an output gear of the planetary gear set, the output gear configured to drive the balance mass to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft in a direction opposite of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Morgan, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 8210148
    Abstract: The present application relates to a drive and balance mass. In one example, an engine includes, a camshaft, a balance shaft disposed within an interior of the camshaft, and a first gear, intermediate the balance shaft and the camshaft and driving the balance shaft to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite of the crankshaft. In another example, a balance mass and drive for an engine includes, a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of pinions mounted on a carrier, an input coupled to an input gear of the planetary gear set, a balance mass coupled to an output gear of the planetary gear set, the output gear configured to drive the balance mass to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft in a direction opposite of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Morgan, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20110082003
    Abstract: A method for controlling brakes of an automatic transmission including a first brake arranged in parallel with an overrunning brake between a planet pinion carrier and a housing, includes using the overrunning brake to provide brake torque equal to or less than a reference brake torque under positive torque conditions, increasing a torque capacity of the first brake when brake torque is greater than the reference brake torque, and fully engaging the first brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Charles W. Suter, Bradley R. Heuver, Brad W. Probert, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20110073060
    Abstract: The present application relates to a drive and balance mass. In one example, an engine includes, a camshaft, a balance shaft disposed within an interior of the camshaft, and a first gear, intermediate the balance shaft and the camshaft and driving the balance shaft to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite of the crankshaft. In another example, a balance mass and drive for an engine includes, a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of pinions mounted on a carrier, an input coupled to an input gear of the planetary gear set, a balance mass coupled to an output gear of the planetary gear set, the output gear configured to drive the balance mass to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft in a direction opposite of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Morgan, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20090114045
    Abstract: A power take-off assembly for transmitting rotary power includes an impeller shaft connected driveably to a power source, a housing having an opening through a wall of the housing, a pinion secured to the impeller shaft, located in the housing, aligned with the opening, and supported for rotation about an axis, and a first power takeoff idler gear including a first idler gear portion meshing with the pinion, aligned with the opening, and including a first pin extending from a side of the first idler gear portion; a second idler gear portion coaxial with the first idler gear portion, rotatable relative to the first idler gear portion, meshing with the pinion, aligned with the opening, and including a second pin extending from a side of the second idler gear portion toward the first idler gear portion; and an arcuate spring located between said first and second idler gears, and including first and second angularly spaced ends, the first end contacting the first pin and the second end contacting the second pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Wilson, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk