Patents by Inventor Bradley L. Mc Cafferty

Bradley L. Mc Cafferty 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).

  • Powertrain and method for controlling a driveline retarder
    Patent number: 7400961
    Abstract: A method of controlling a driveline retarder of a powertrain including a transmission having a rotatable input shaft connected to an engine and an output shaft connected to the driveline retarder is provided. The method includes determining a set speed value and comparing the set speed value plus a customer modifiable constant value to a current rotational speed value of the output shaft. A driveline retarder cruise modulation torque request value is then calculated when the current rotational speed value of the output shaft is greater than or equal to the set speed value plus the customer modifiable constant value. The driveline retarder is controlled as a function of the driveline retarder cruise modulation torque request value. A powertrain configured to implement the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Rushing, Jeffrey E Shultz, Bradley L. Mc Cafferty, Randall S. Conn
  • POWERTRAIN AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DRIVELINE RETARDER
    Publication number: 20080004784
    Abstract: A method of controlling a driveline retarder of a powertrain including a transmission having a rotatable input shaft connected to an engine and an output shaft connected to the driveline retarder is provided. The method includes determining a set speed value and comparing the set speed value plus a customer modifiable constant value to a current rotational speed value of the output shaft. A driveline retarder cruise modulation torque request value is then calculated when the current rotational speed value of the output shaft is greater than or equal to the set speed value plus the customer modifiable constant value. The driveline retarder is controlled as a function of the driveline retarder cruise modulation torque request value. A powertrain configured to implement the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Mark A. Rushing, Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bradley L. Mc Cafferty, Randall S. Conn