Patents by Inventor Alexander Phillip McDonnell

Alexander Phillip McDonnell 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: 10358134
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a torque converter, an oncoming clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a torque of the oncoming clutch exceeding an estimated average by a threshold during an engagement, increase the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedforward command and adjust the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedback command to compensate for deviations in the torque generated by the feedforward command during the engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Bradley Dean Riedle, Charles William Suter, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala
  • Patent number: 10344858
    Abstract: A park valve includes a slidable end-cap. Under normal circumstances, the end-cap is held in a nominal position by a spring, such as a Belleville spring. The park valve performs a multi-plexing function in which an out-of-park circuit is connected to line pressure when the valve is in an out-of-park position and is vented when the valve is in a park position. In an intermediate position, a hydraulic lock condition may potentially occur. When engaging park, the hydraulic lock condition is prevented by the slidable end-cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Joseph Gittins, Matthew Scott Malnar, Allison Lynch, Lisa Waldock, Alexander Phillip McDonnell
  • Patent number: 10295054
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The first neutral has more engaged clutches than the second. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from a drive gear to the first neutral and a clutch of the drive gear being failed-on, shift to the second neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Randall Armstead, Stephen Michael Cicala, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Dongdong Dee Li, Conor Edward Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10295053
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Dongdong Dee Li, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Bradley D. Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20190120376
    Abstract: A park valve includes a slidable end-cap. Under normal circumstances, the end-cap is held in a nominal position by a spring, such as a Belleville spring. The park valve performs a multi-plexing function in which an out-of-park circuit is connected to line pressure when the valve is in an out-of-park position and is vented when the valve is in a park position. In an intermediate position, a hydraulic lock condition may potentially occur. When engaging park, the hydraulic lock condition is prevented by the slidable end-cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Joseph Gittins, Matthew Scott Malnar, Allison Lynch, Lisa Waldock, Alexander Phillip McDonnell
  • Patent number: 10023190
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Stephen Michael Cicala, Charles William Suter, Bradley Dean Riedle, Leonidas Kiliaris, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20180119805
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Michael CICALA, John Randall ARMSTEAD, Dongdong Dee LI, Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Bradley D. RIEDLE, Conor Edward SULLIVAN
  • Publication number: 20180118214
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Stephen Michael CICALA, Charles William SUTER, Bradley Dean RIEDLE, Leonidas KILIARIS, Markian Oleh DIAKIW, Kurt Howard NICKERSON
  • Publication number: 20180118212
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a torque converter, an oncoming clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a torque of the oncoming clutch exceeding an estimated average by a threshold during an engagement, increase the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedforward command and adjust the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedback command to compensate for deviations in the torque generated by the feedforward command during the engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip MCDONNELL, Bradley Dean RIEDLE, Charles William SUTER, Conor Edward SULLIVAN, Stephen Michael CICALA
  • Publication number: 20180119806
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The first neutral has more engaged clutches than the second. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from a drive gear to the first neutral and a clutch of the drive gear being failed-on, shift to the second neutral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: John Randall ARMSTEAD, Stephen Michael CICALA, Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Dongdong Dee LI, Conor Edward SULLIVAN
  • Patent number: 9835208
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first hydraulic clutch, a second hydraulic clutch, a third hydraulic clutch, a pump and a controller. The first, second, and third hydraulic clutches are configured to established a parked-ready condition upon engagement of all three clutches. The pump is configured to generate hydraulic fluid pressure. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start an engine that powers the pump, engage the first and second clutches. The controller is further programmed to, in response to engagement of the first and second clutches and obtaining operating hydraulic fluid pressure, engage the third clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Stephen Michael Cicala, Charles William Suter, Conor Edward Sullivan, Oguz Hasan Dagci
  • Publication number: 20170219028
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first hydraulic clutch, a second hydraulic clutch, a third hydraulic clutch, a pump and a controller. The first, second, and third hydraulic clutches are configured to established a parked-ready condition upon engagement of all three clutches. The pump is configured to generate hydraulic fluid pressure. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start an engine that powers the pump, engage the first and second clutches. The controller is further programmed to, in response to engagement of the first and second clutches and obtaining operating hydraulic fluid pressure, engage the third clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip MCDONNELL, Stephen Michael CICALA, Charles William SUTER, Conor Edward SULLIVAN, Oguz Hasan DAGCI
  • Patent number: 9353853
    Abstract: A transmission includes a latch valve with latched and de-latched states. In the de-latched state, the latch valve directs a control pressure to a clutch apply circuit. In the latched state, which is entered in response to a control pressure higher than a latch pressure, the latch valve directs a line pressure to the clutch apply circuit. A controller manages the transition from latched to de-latched differently depending upon the transmission input torque and gear state. At high transmission input torque, the controller first reduces the control pressure to rapidly accelerate a spool in the latch valve, and then increases the control pressure to prevent clutch slip. At low torque, the controller reduced the pressure to an intermediate value during the transition and then reduces it again. At moderate torques, the controller reduces the pressure directly to a target pressure in a single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Kendrick Morrison, Cory LaRoche, Derek Kinch, John Armstead, Brian Michael O'Neil, Pramod Kumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20160097448
    Abstract: A transmission includes a latch valve with latched and de-latched states. In the de-latched state, the latch valve directs a control pressure to a clutch apply circuit. In the latched state, which is entered in response to a control pressure higher than a latch pressure, the latch valve directs a line pressure to the clutch apply circuit. A controller manages the transition from latched to de-latched differently depending upon the transmission input torque and gear state. At high transmission input torque, the controller first reduces the control pressure to rapidly accelerate a spool in the latch valve, and then increases the control pressure to prevent clutch slip. At low torque, the controller reduced the pressure to an intermediate value during the transition and then reduces it again. At moderate torques, the controller reduces the pressure directly to a target pressure in a single step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Kendrick Morrison, Cory LaRoche, Derek Kinch, John Armstead, Brian Michael O'Neil, Pramod Kumar Jain