Patents by Inventor William L. Cousins
William L. Cousins 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).
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Patent number: 10808772Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Eric Carlson, David Howe, William L. Cousins, David A. Craig, Alex Kwon
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Publication number: 20200109748Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Eric CARLSON, David HOWE, William L. COUSINS, David A. CRAIG, Alex KWON
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Publication number: 20190285163Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a manual transmission with a transmission housing, a pump inlet positioned near an inside bottom surface of the transmission housing, and a baffle positioned adjacent the pump inlet for directing lubricating fluid in the transmission toward the pump inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: William L. Cousins, Mohammad Galab, Richard Nietz
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Patent number: 10132373Abstract: A method for detecting and mitigating excessive clutch disc wear for a manual transmission includes determining if a clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a first predetermined pedal position threshold and if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold. The method further includes determining if the clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a second predetermined pedal position threshold when the clutch pedal position is depressed less than the first predetermined pedal position threshold. The method still further includes calculating a clutch disc heat flux value and a clutch disc surface temperature. The method further includes displaying an alert/warning and a remedial action message to a vehicle operator when the clutch disc surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined surface temperature threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Inventors: William L. Cousins, Glenn W. Hoefflin, David Howe, Michael Partridge, Binu Jose Kochucheruvil
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Publication number: 20180031063Abstract: A method for detecting and mitigating excessive clutch disc wear for a manual transmission includes determining if a clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a first predetermined pedal position threshold and if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold. The method further includes determining if the clutch pedal position is depressed greater than or equal to a second predetermined pedal position threshold when the clutch pedal position is depressed less than the first predetermined pedal position threshold. The method still further includes calculating a clutch disc heat flux value and a clutch disc surface temperature. The method further includes displaying an alert/warning and a remedial action message to a vehicle operator when the clutch disc surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined surface temperature threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: William L. Cousins, Glenn W. Hoefflin, David Howe, Michael Partridge, Binu Jose Kochucheruvil
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Patent number: 9777779Abstract: A synchronizer for a transmission of a motor vehicle is provided. The synchronizer includes a sleeve and a blocker ring. The sleeve includes sleeve spline teeth and advanced sleeve spline teeth. The blocker ring includes blocker spline teeth. The sleeve spline teeth and blocker spline teeth are each asymmetrical and have a blunt tip, a first angled side, and a second angled side. The first and second angled sides have different angular relationships to a longitudinal axis of the teeth.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: William L. Cousins, Kristopher Villegas, Todd W. Rooney
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Patent number: 9624846Abstract: In a vehicle having a manual transmission, various sensors such as pedal and gearshift position sensors and accelerometers provide data to a control module such as an engine control module. The control module includes a microprocessor which calculates derivatives, i.e., the rate of change (first derivative) or the rate of change of the rate of change (second derivative) of the data from the sensors. Based on these derivatives, the microprocessor classifies the current driving activity into one of two, three or more modes, for example, track, sport and touring. During a shift, from the data from the gearshift sensor, the microprocessor determines whether an upshift or downshift is imminent or in progress and decreases or increases the engine speed to achieve zero or negligible cross clutch speed differential upon clutch engagement, rapidly if in the first (track) mode, less rapidly in the second (sport) mode and less rapidly still in the third (touring) mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20160273461Abstract: In a vehicle having a manual transmission, various sensors such as pedal and gearshift position sensors and accelerometers provide data to a control module such as an engine control module. The control module includes a microprocessor which calculates derivatives, i.e., the rate of change (first derivative) or the rate of change of the rate of change (second derivative) of the data from the sensors. Based on these derivatives, the microprocessor classifies the current driving activity into one of two, three or more modes, for example, track, sport and touring. During a shift, from the data from the gearshift sensor, the microprocessor determines whether an upshift or downshift is imminent or in progress and decreases or increases the engine speed to achieve zero or negligible cross clutch speed differential upon clutch engagement, rapidly if in the first (track) mode, less rapidly in the second (sport) mode and less rapidly still in the third (touring) mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20160273593Abstract: A synchronizer for a transmission of a motor vehicle is provided. The synchronizer includes a sleeve and a blocker ring. The sleeve includes sleeve spline teeth and advanced sleeve spline teeth. The blocker ring includes blocker spline teeth. The sleeve spline teeth and blocker spline teeth are each asymmetrical and have a blunt tip, a first angled side, and a second angled side. The first and second angled sides have different angular relationships to a longitudinal axis of the teeth.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: William L. Cousins, Kristopher Villegas, Todd W. Rooney
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Patent number: 9322381Abstract: A remote start vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a remote start requester configured to request that the engine be started. The remote start requester is operable to request that the engine be started when the remote start requester is located outside of the vehicle. A control module is configured to cause the engine to be started upon request from the remote start requester. A sensor assembly is configured to sense a neutral gear state of the transmission, where the neutral gear state indicates whether the transmission is in neutral. The sensor assembly is configured to communicate the neutral gear state to the control module. The control module is configured to prevent the engine from being started if the neutral gear state indicates that the transmission is not in neutral. A method of remotely starting an engine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Inc.Inventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Patent number: 9249838Abstract: A clutch for a manual or automatic transmission according to the present invention includes an axial fan or turbine disposed on a shaft extending between the clutch and the transmission. Air is supplied to the turbine through one or more radial passageways between the clutch and transmission housings and is provided through an annular passageway around the shaft. Air from the annular passageway is then dispersed generally radially between the clutch plates or disks and other clutch components to absorb and carry away heat generated during clutch operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Greg Alan Weeter, William L. Cousins, Shachindra Dongaonkar
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Patent number: 9103646Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an active fuel management (AFM) module, an expected engine speed determination module, and a disabling module. The AFM module selectively cuts off fuel to at least one cylinder of an engine and maintains valves of the at least one cylinder in closed positions. The expected engine speed determination module determines an expected engine speed based on a position of a shift lever of a manual transmission measured using a position sensor module. The disabling module selectively disables the AFM module based on the expected engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Inventors: Bradford W. Bur, William L. Cousins
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Patent number: 8874337Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a selected gear module and a shift indicator module. The selected gear module determines a selected gear of a manual transmission. The shift indicator module monitors vehicle speed and the selected gear and generates a shift indicator signal based on the vehicle speed and the selected gear, the shift indicator signal indicating when to shift to one of first gear and reverse gear.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Inventors: William L. Cousins, James M. Partyka
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Publication number: 20140256509Abstract: A remote start vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a remote start requester configured to request that the engine be started. The remote start requester is operable to request that the engine be started when the remote start requester is located outside of the vehicle. A control module is configured to cause the engine to be started upon request from the remote start requester. A sensor assembly is configured to sense a neutral gear state of the transmission, where the neutral gear state indicates whether the transmission is in neutral. The sensor assembly is configured to communicate the neutral gear state to the control module. The control module is configured to prevent the engine from being started if the neutral gear state indicates that the transmission is not in neutral. A method of remotely starting an engine is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Patent number: 8798880Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine speed module and a downshift indicator module. The engine speed module determines an engine speed when a clutch is engaged with a dual mass flywheel. The downshift indicator module generates a downshift indicator signal when the engine speed is less than a first speed, the downshift indicator signal indicating when to downshift a manual transmission.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Inventors: William L. Cousins, James M. Partyka
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Patent number: 8794416Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a housing, a clutch pack disposed within the housing and concentrically about a shaft, a clutch slave cylinder disposed between the clutch pack and the housing and concentrically about the shaft, and an energy control plate disposed between the clutch slave cylinder and the housing and concentrically about the shaft. The clutch slave cylinder and the energy control plate are generally secured to the housing with a set of fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Greg Alan Weeter, William L. Cousins, Shachindra Dongaonkar
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Patent number: 8746104Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises at least one Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur, Kevin O'Connor, Mark Pickhard, Steven R. Stuve
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Patent number: 8739647Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises two Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20130306429Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a housing, a clutch pack disposed within the housing and concentrically about a shaft, a clutch slave cylinder disposed between the clutch pack and the housing and concentrically about the shaft, and an energy control plate disposed between the clutch slave cylinder and the housing and concentrically about the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Greg Alan Weeter, William L. Cousins, Shachindra Dongaonkar
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Publication number: 20130300403Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises at least one Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur, Kevin O'Connor, Mark Pickhard, Steven R. Stuve