Patents by Inventor Robert Orley Burkhart

Robert Orley Burkhart 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: 20150089934
    Abstract: A pressurized fluid storage system is suitable for use to rapidly engage a transmission following an engine shutdown. The system includes a reservoir, such as an accumulator, connected to a manifold by a single passageway. A pump provides pressurized fluid to the manifold while a transmission control system draws fluid from the manifold. A check valve in the single passageway passively holds fluid in the reservoir when pressure in the reservoir exceeds pressure in the manifold and allows flow into the reservoir when the manifold pressure is higher. An actively controlled actuator overrides the passive check ball to release pressurized fluid into the manifold to rapidly re-engage transmission clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Adam J. Richards, Lev Pekarsky, Robert Orley Burkhart, Mark Davis
  • 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: 20100264348
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic control valve assembly with a dynamic bore plug assembly that flexibly dampens valve operation. The disclosure teaches various bore plug assemblies for control valve body that can include a dynamic plug configured to restrict fluid flow out of a control valve bore. The bore plug assemblies are configured to selectively alter compressibility in the control valve bore during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Robert Orley Burkhart
  • 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