Patents by Inventor Andrew Lee Welling

Andrew Lee Welling 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).

  • Electronically actuated ramp style locking differential having lock detection
    Patent number: 11867270
    Abstract: An electronically locking differential assembly according to the present disclosure includes a differential case, a first and second side gear, a lock actuation mechanism, a first and second tone wheel, a first and second pickup sensor and a controller. The lock actuation mechanism includes a ramp plate that selectively moves between a locked state and an unlocked state. The first tone wheel has a first plurality of teeth formed on the differential case. The second tone wheel has a second plurality of teeth formed on the ramp plate. The first pickup sensor senses a position of the first plurality of teeth. The second pickup sensor senses a position of the second plurality of teeth. The controller determines whether the lock actuation mechanism is in the locked or unlocked state based on the respective positions of the first and second plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Lee Welling
  • ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED RAMP STYLE LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL HAVING LOCK DETECTION
    Publication number: 20220186820
    Abstract: An electronically locking differential assembly according to the present disclosure includes a differential case, a first and second side gear, a lock actuation mechanism, a first and second tone wheel, a first and second pickup sensor and a controller. The lock actuation mechanism includes a ramp plate that selectively moves between a locked state and an unlocked state. The first tone wheel has a first plurality of teeth formed on the differential case. The second tone wheel has a second plurality of teeth formed on the ramp plate. The first pickup sensor senses a position of the first plurality of teeth. The second pickup sensor senses a position of the second plurality of teeth. The controller determines whether the lock actuation mechanism is in the locked or unlocked state based on the respective positions of the first and second plurality of teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Lee Welling