Patents by Inventor Steve Mullane

Steve Mullane 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: 10704683
    Abstract: A gear selector comprising a gate pattern and a gear lever arranged to be moveable within the gate pattern, the gate pattern comprising: a high range gate sub-pattern comprising one or more high range gear planes for moving the gear lever into to select a high range gear; a low range gate sub-pattern comprising one or more low range gear planes for moving the gear lever into to select a low range gear; a neutral plane extending transversely with respect to the high and low range gear planes; and a force profile arranged to urge the gear lever when in the neutral plane toward a resting position in one of the one or more high range gear planes, the force profile comprising a first interference arranged to divide the high range gate sub-pattern from the low range gate sub-pattern, wherein the gear lever is moveable past the first interference from the high range gate sub-pattern to the low range gate sub-pattern when a first predefined action is performed by an operator moving the gear lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: John Spooner, Russell Osborn, Steve Mullane
  • Patent number: 10272918
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) is configured to output a range change signal to implement a transfer case range change. The vehicle control system (1) also outputs a brake control signal for controlling vehicle braking during the range change. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1) and optionally also a transmission (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Sutton, Malkit Ram, Sam Burt, Steve Mullane
  • Patent number: 10197154
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) is configured to determine an operating range for the transfer case (3) based on a selected vehicle operating mode. A range change signal is output to implement a range change to engage the determined operating range. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Simon Sutton, Steve Mullane, Malkit Ram, Sam Burt
  • Patent number: 10054196
    Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Up to eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Russell Osborn, Alex Tylee-Birdsall, John Spooner, Steve Mullane, Steve Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 10030768
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) includes a selection means (21) for selecting first and second control strategies for the transfer case. The first and second control strategies are based on an activation time of the selection means (21). A further aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for implementing a deferred transfer case range change. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Sutton, Steve Mullane, Malkit Ram, Sam Burt
  • Patent number: 9829072
    Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Up to eight forward speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Russell Osborn, Alex Tylee-Birdsall, John Spooner, Steve Mullane, Steve Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 9752655
    Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Some torque paths are via a sleeve rotatable on a shaft on one of said axes. Up to eight forward speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Russell Osborn, Alex Tylee-Birdsall, John Spooner, Steve Mullane, Steve Nesbitt, Gareth Thomas, Matthew Hole, Mark Findlay, George Scott
  • Patent number: 9718355
    Abstract: A vehicle having a four-wheel-drive system including an auxiliary portion that has an auxiliary driveshaft and drive means between the auxiliary driveshaft arranged to releasably connect a second group of wheels to the driveline via a releasable torque transmitting device. The releasable torque transmitting device is operable to allow slippage of the input portion with respect to the output portions, thereby to vary an amount of torque that is transmitted to the second group of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Russell Osborn, Ian Beverley, Brett Hallam, Mark Rathbone, Steve Mullane, Shaun Wick
  • Publication number: 20170211692
    Abstract: A gear selector comprising a gate pattern and a gear lever arranged to be moveable within the gate pattern, the gate pattern comprising: a high range gate sub-pattern comprising one or more high range gear planes for moving the gear lever into to select a high range gear; a low range gate sub-pattern comprising one or more low range gear planes for moving the gear lever into to select a low range gear; a neutral plane extending transversely with respect to the high and low range gear planes; and a force profile arranged to urge the gear lever when in the neutral plane toward a resting position in one of the one or more high range gear planes, the force profile comprising a first interference arranged to divide the high range gate sub-pattern from the low range gate sub-pattern, wherein the gear lever is moveable past the first interference from the high range gate sub-pattern to the low range gate sub-pattern when a first predefined action is performed by an operator moving the gear lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: John Spooner, Russell Osborn, Steve Mullane
  • Publication number: 20160167663
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) is configured to output a range change signal to implement a transfer case range change. The vehicle control system (1) also outputs a brake control signal for controlling vehicle braking during the range change. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1) and optionally also a transmission (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Simon SUTTON, Malkit RAM, Sam BURT, Steve MULLANE
  • Publication number: 20160160998
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) is configured to determine an operating range for the transfer case (3) based on a selected vehicle operating mode. A range change signal is output to implement a range change to engage the determined operating range. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Simon SUTTON, Steve MULLANE, Malkit RAM, Sam BURT
  • Publication number: 20160153557
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) includes a selection means (21) for selecting first and second control strategies for the transfer case. The first and second control strategies are based on an activation time of the selection means (21). A further aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for implementing a deferred transfer case range change. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon SUTTON, Steve MULLANE, Malkit RAM, Sam BURT
  • Publication number: 20160102734
    Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Some torque paths are via a sleeve rotatable on a shaft on one of said axes. Up to eight forward speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Russell OSBORN, Alex TYLEE-BIRDSALL, John SPOONER, Steve MULLANE, Steve NESBITT, Gareth THOMAS, Matthew HOLE, Mark FINDLAY, George SCOTT
  • Publication number: 20160076628
    Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Up to eight forward speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Russell OSBORN, Alex TYLEE-BIRDSALL, John SPOONER, Steve MULLANE, Steve NESBITT
  • Publication number: 20160053862
    Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Up to eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Russell OSBORN, Alex TYLEE-BIRDSALL, John SPOONER, Steve MULLANE, Steve NESBITT
  • Publication number: 20160039284
    Abstract: A vehicle having a four-wheel-drive system including an auxiliary portion that has an auxiliary driveshaft and drive means between the auxiliary driveshaft arranged to releasably connect a second group of wheels to the driveline via a releasable torque transmitting device. The releasable torque transmitting device is operable to allow slippage of the input portion with respect to the output portions, thereby to vary an amount of torque that is transmitted to the second group of wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Russell OSBORN, Ian BEVERLEY, Brett HALLAM, Mark RATHBONE, Steve MULLANE, Shaun WICK
  • Publication number: 20140216840
    Abstract: A driveline for a vehicle such that a first group of one or more wheels and not a second group may be driven by prime mover means when the driveline is in a first mode of operation and the second group of one or more wheels may additionally be driven by the prime mover means when the driveline is in a second mode of operation, the driveline comprising: an auxiliary driveshaft; a power transfer unit (PTU) operable by means of PTU actuator means releasably to drivably couple the auxiliary driveshaft to the prime mover means; and a releasable drive unit operable by means of drive unit actuator means releasably to drivably couple the auxiliary driveshaft to the second group of one or more wheels, the PTU actuator means and drive unit actuator means each being powered by means of a pressurised fluid medium, the fluid medium being pressurised by a common pressurisation means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Russell Osborn, Ian Beverley, Brett Hallam, Steve Mullane, Mark Rathbone, Shaun Wick
  • Publication number: 20140051541
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle (100) comprising: prime mover means (111); a first group (112, 113) of one or more wheels; a second group (114, 115) of two or more wheels; and a driveline (105) to connect the prime mover means (111) to the first (112, 113) and second (114, 115) groups of wheels such that the first group (112, 113) of one or more wheels may be driven by the prime mover means (111) when the driveline (105) is in a first mode of operation and the second group (114,115) of wheels may additionally be driven by the prime mover means (111) when the driveline (105) is in a second mode of operation, the driveline (105) including an auxiliary driveline (110) comprising an auxiliary driveshaft (123) and drive means (125) between the auxiliary driveshaft (123) and the second group (114,115) of wheels, the drive means (125) having: an input portion; a plurality of output portions each operable to drive a respective different wheel of the second group (114, 115) of wheels; a first re
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Russell Osborn, Ian Beverley, Brett Hallam, Mark Rathbone, Steve Mullane, Shaun Wick