Patents by Inventor Bradley R. Heuver

Bradley R. Heuver 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: 9631715
    Abstract: A transaxle for a vehicle has a case adapted to retain a transaxle oil. A chain transfers torque between transaxle gears, and a snubber is disposed along the tension side of the chain. The snubber comprises a molded base plate with a pair of mounting inserts extending transverse to the base plate to mount the snubber to a case of the transaxle. A snubber plate is integrally molded with the base plate and extends substantially transversely from a longitudinal side of the base plate to frame an edge of the chain. A ramp plate is integrally molded with the base plate and extends substantially transversely from the base plate and obliquely with respect to the snubber plate. A scoop is integrally molded with the base plate and extends from the ramp plate configured to transversely deflect a flow of transaxle oil directed to the scoop by the ramp plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steward, Srinivas V. Arcota, Vladimir Yasnogorodskiy, Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20170108111
    Abstract: A transaxle for a vehicle has a case adapted to retain a transaxle oil. A chain transfers torque between transaxle gears, and a snubber is disposed along the tension side of the chain. The snubber comprises a molded base plate with a pair of mounting inserts extending transverse to the base plate to mount the snubber to a case of the transaxle. A snubber plate is integrally molded with the base plate and extends substantially transversely from a longitudinal side of the base plate to frame an edge of the chain. A ramp plate is integrally molded with the base plate and extends substantially transversely from the base plate and obliquely with respect to the snubber plate. A scoop is integrally molded with the base plate and extends from the ramp plate configured to transversely deflect a flow of transaxle oil directed to the scoop by the ramp plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: MARK STEWARD, SRINIVAS V. ARCOTA, VLADIMIR YASNOGORODSKIY, BRADLEY R. HEUVER
  • Patent number: 9273737
    Abstract: A pinion carrier includes a first disc including ring segments, each ring segment extending angularly about an axis and spaced angularly from the other ring segments, a second disc, spacers secured to the discs and separating the discs axially, and retention elements, each retention element secured to one of the ring segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley R. Heuver, Gregory D. Goleski, James G. Gibboney, Srinivas M. Arcota, Dennis N. Wys
  • Patent number: 9109644
    Abstract: A dog clutch, includes a first ring secured to an overrunning brake rotatable race, including first teeth, a first disc, the second ring angularly displaceable relative to the discs, a non-rotating, axially displaceable second ring including second teeth engageable with the first teeth and a second disc engageable with the first disc, a first spring urging the discs into mutual contact, and a second spring urging the first and second rings apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 9080607
    Abstract: An assembly includes a rotatable member formed with a recess, a first component, a snap ring located in the recess for limiting axial displacement of the first component, and a bearing located between the first component and a second component, including a finger extending from a race of the bearing toward the bearing and able to limit radial movement of the snap ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Gooden, Troy Smith, Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 9004253
    Abstract: A flow control assembly for an automatic transmission includes a valve for opening and closing communication with a source of pressurized fluid and a rotatable cam secured to a member, contact between the cam and a plunger of the valve causing said communication to open, absence of contact between the cam and the plunger causing said communication to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 8994236
    Abstract: A clutch including a rotatable member including a first ramp and first teeth, a second member held against rotation, axially displaceable, including a second ramp and second teeth, a spring urging the first and second members apart, and an electromagnet causing the first and second teeth to engage and prevent rotation in a first direction, rotation in a second direction separating the first and second members as the first ramp ascends the second ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 8978862
    Abstract: A park-brake actuator includes a cam including first serrations and an open-ended slot, a piston including second serrations displaceable relative to the cam in response to variable pressure applied to the piston, a spring, and a rod including a pin urged by the spring toward the slot and contact with the first and second serrations, the pin moved by piston displacement from the slot, onto one of the first serrations to a flat-tow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20150030279
    Abstract: An assembly includes a rotatable member formed with a recess, a first component, a snap ring located in the recess for limiting axial displacement of the first component, and a bearing located between the first component and a second component, including a finger extending from a race of the bearing toward the bearing and able to limit radial movement of the snap ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Gooden, Troy Smith, Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20150001026
    Abstract: A flow control assembly for an automatic transmission includes a valve for opening and closing communication with a source of pressurized fluid and a rotatable cam secured to a member, contact between the cam and a plunger of the valve causing said communication to open, absence of contact between the cam and the plunger causing said communication to close.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20140374208
    Abstract: A dog clutch, includes a first ring secured to an overrunning brake rotatable race, including first teeth, a first disc, the second ring angularly displaceable relative to the discs, a non-rotating, axially displaceable second ring including second teeth engageable with the first teeth and a second disc engageable with the first disc, a first spring urging the discs into mutual contact, and a second spring urging the first and second rings apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20140238811
    Abstract: A clutch including a rotatable member including a first ramp and first teeth, a second member held against rotation, axially displaceable, including a second ramp and second teeth, a spring urging the first and second members apart, and an electromagnet causing the first and second teeth to engage and prevent rotation in a first direction, rotation in a second direction separating the first and second members as the first ramp ascends the second ramp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20140216885
    Abstract: A park-brake actuator includes a cam including first serrations and an open-ended slot, a piston including second serrations displaceable relative to the cam in response to variable pressure applied to the piston, a spring, and a rod including a pin urged by the spring toward the slot and contact with the first and second serrations, the pin moved by piston displacement from the slot, onto one of the first serrations to a flat-tow position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20140116835
    Abstract: A park assembly includes a park gear, a pawl that engages and disengages the park gear, a park rod that causes the pawl to engage with the park gear and to disengage from the park gear, a servo, and a bellcrank transmitting a first force to the park rod causes the pawl to disengage from the park gear in response to a second force substantially greater than the first force and produced by the servo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20140045643
    Abstract: A pinion carrier includes a first disc including ring segments, each ring segment extending angularly about an axis and spaced angularly from the other ring segments, a second disc, spacers secured to the discs and separating the discs axially, and retention elements, each retention element secured to one of the ring segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley R. Heuver, Gregory D. Goleski, James G. Gibboney, Srinivas M. Arcota, Dennis N. Wys
  • Patent number: 8371986
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle transmission during a park release event includes engaging a park brake to hold vehicle wheels against rotation, holding against rotation a first component and a second component of an epicyclic gear unit connected to the wheels, releasing the park brake, selecting a transmission drive range, releasing said first component, and operating the transmission in the selected drive range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 8348802
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a piston-actuated clutch assembly for a transmission. Interconnecting members are integrated into a pressure plate of the clutch assembly. The interlocking members are configured to selectively interlock the piston and the pressure plate. The location of the interlocking members reduces wear on the piston and other transmission components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 8298122
    Abstract: A method for controlling brakes of an automatic transmission including a first brake arranged in parallel with an overrunning brake between a planet pinion carrier and a housing, includes using the overrunning brake to provide brake torque equal to or less than a reference brake torque under positive torque conditions, increasing a torque capacity of the first brake when brake torque is greater than the reference brake torque, and fully engaging the first brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Charles W. Suter, Bradley R. Heuver, Brad W. Probert, Kenneth L. Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 8128529
    Abstract: An assembly for stabilizing a gear unit of a transmission for an automotive vehicle includes a first component fixed against displacement along an axis, a carrier facing the first component, supported for rotation about the axis, and supporting planet pinion thereon, and springs located between the first component and the carrier, producing axial forces distributed angularly around the axis and applied to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Publication number: 20110297505
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle transmission during a park release event includes engaging a park brake to hold vehicle wheels against rotation, holding against rotation a first component and a second component of an epicyclic gear unit connected to the wheels, releasing the park brake, selecting a transmission drive range, releasing said first component, and operating the transmission in the selected drive range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver