Patents by Inventor Andre Vazquez

Andre Vazquez 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: 11702126
    Abstract: A compact power steering system is suitable for small vehicles. A torque sensor on a steering shaft detects operator intention to turn. In response, a motor provides torque to assistance in rotating the steering shaft. A strain wave gear set multiplies the motor torque. A coupler having a torsional isolator links the gearbox output to the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker
  • Patent number: 11635071
    Abstract: A pumping system for fracking fluid is designed to provide nearly constant flow rate. The pumping system includes a set of linear actuator pumping units, each driven by at least one electric motor. Each pumping unit includes a hollow threaded shaft driven by the linear actuator, two hollow cylinders fixed to an interior of the hollow shaft, and hollow pistons in each of the hollow cylinders. The hollow cylinders and hollow pistons form two pumping chambers. A first pumping chamber expels fluid when the linear actuator is moving in a first direction and a second pumping chamber that expels fluid when the linear actuator is moving in an opposite direction. The speeds of the actuators are coordinated such that a total flow rate of the pumping system is substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael Conlin
  • Patent number: 11454226
    Abstract: A pumping system for fracking fluid is designed to provide nearly constant flow rate. The pumping system includes a set of linear actuator pumping units, each driven by an electric motor. Each pumping unit includes a first set of pumping chambers that expel fluid when the linear actuator is moving in a first direction and a second set of pumping chambers that expel fluid when the linear actuator is moving in an opposite direction. The speeds of the actuators are coordinated such that a total flow rate of the pumping system is substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael Conlin
  • Patent number: 11396868
    Abstract: A pumping system utilizes a linear actuator to move a shaft attached to two pistons within cylinders to pump a working fluid. A housing is designed with coolant passageways and one-way valves such that movement of the shaft also pumps coolant past cooling fins and over a motor. The shaft is formed of several sections joined by couplers which slide within a bore of the housing. The couplers have a non-round shape and the bore has a complimentary non-round cross section such that rotation of the shaft is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael White, Michael Conlin, Eric Ovendorf
  • Patent number: 11193567
    Abstract: An actuator assembly is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a motor shaft; support; harmonic drive connected to the motor shaft that includes an output connected to a drive shaft defining a first sun gear; drive mechanism; and actuator arm. The drive mechanism includes a first gear set and a second gear set. The first gear set has a first carrier including a second sun gear. The first carrier supports a first plurality of planetary gears that engage both the first sun gear and a first ring gear rotationally fixed to the support. The second gear set has a second carrier fixed to the support. The second carrier supports a second plurality of planetary gears that engage both the second sun gear and a second ring gear. The actuator arm is connected to the second ring gear such that the actuator arm is rotationally driven by the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker
  • Publication number: 20210277880
    Abstract: A pumping system utilizes a linear actuator to move a shaft attached to two pistons within cylinders to pump a working fluid. A housing is designed with coolant passageways and one-way valves such that movement of the shaft also pumps coolant past cooling fins and over a motor. The shaft is formed of several sections joined by couplers which slide within a bore of the housing. The couplers have a non-round shape and the bore has a complimentary non-round cross section such that rotation of the shaft is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael White, Michael Conlin, Eric Ovendorf
  • Publication number: 20210222682
    Abstract: A pumping system for fracking fluid is designed to provide nearly constant flow rate. The pumping system includes a set of linear actuator pumping units, each driven by an electric motor. Each pumping unit includes a first set of pumping chambers that expel fluid when the linear actuator is moving in a first direction and a second set of pumping chambers that expel fluid when the linear actuator is moving in an opposite direction. The speeds of the actuators are coordinated such that a total flow rate of the pumping system is substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael Conlin
  • Publication number: 20210222686
    Abstract: A pumping system for fracking fluid is designed to provide nearly constant flow rate. The pumping system includes a set of linear actuator pumping units, each driven by at least one electric motor. Each pumping unit includes a hollow threaded shaft driven by the linear actuator, two hollow cylinders fixed to an interior of the hollow shaft, and hollow pistons in each of the hollow cylinders. The hollow cylinders and hollow pistons form two pumping chambers. A first pumping chamber expels fluid when the linear actuator is moving in a first direction and a second pumping chamber that expels fluid when the linear actuator is moving in an opposite direction. The speeds of the actuators are coordinated such that a total flow rate of the pumping system is substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael Conlin
  • Publication number: 20210016821
    Abstract: A compact power steering system is suitable for small vehicles. A torque sensor on a steering shaft detects operator intention to turn. In response, a motor provides torque to assistance in rotating the steering shaft. A strain wave gear set multiplies the motor torque. A coupler having a torsional isolator links the gearbox output to the steering shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker
  • Publication number: 20200362838
    Abstract: A pumping system includes at least three electrically driven pumping units. Each pumping unit includes a linear actuator driven by at least one electric motor and driving a shaft. Pistons on each end of the shaft move within fixed cylinders to draw fluid from an inlet and expel the fluid to an outlet. Each pumping unit draws fluid at one end while expelling an equal quantity of fluid at the opposite end. The shaft velocity is controlled such that a total flow of the pumping system is constant, eliminating flow ripple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker, Michael White, Michael Conlin, Eric Ovendorf
  • Publication number: 20200340566
    Abstract: An actuator assembly is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a motor shaft; support; harmonic drive connected to the motor shaft that includes an output connected to a drive shaft defining a first sun gear; drive mechanism; and actuator arm. The drive mechanism includes a first gear set and a second gear set. The first gear set has a first carrier including a second sun gear. The first carrier supports a first plurality of planetary gears that engage both the first sun gear and a first ring gear rotationally fixed to the support. The second gear set has a second carrier fixed to the support. The second carrier supports a second plurality of planetary gears that engage both the second sun gear and a second ring gear. The actuator arm is connected to the second ring gear such that the actuator arm is rotationally driven by the motor shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Vazquez, Craig Hooker
  • Patent number: D939287
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Andre Vazquez
  • Patent number: D1009572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Andre Vazquez