Patents by Inventor Brandon P. Lenk

Brandon P. Lenk 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).

  • Publication number: 20230011517
    Abstract: A double clutch reverse and active torque management system is provided. A forward variable torque limiting clutch selectively couples torque between a driven sheave of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and at least one drive axle of a vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction. The forward variable torque limiting clutch is set to transmit less torque than can be transmitted through each of the drive sheave and the driven sheave of the CVT. A reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively couples torque between the driven sheave and the at least one drive axle of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction. The reverse variable torque limiting clutch is set to transmit less torque than can be transmitted through each of the drive sheave and driven sheave of the CVT, wherein any slip caused by excessive torque occurs at one of the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan E. Fisk, Brandon P. Lenk, Alexander C. Yudell, Bruce H. Younggren
  • Patent number: 11293360
    Abstract: A smart driveline disconnect assembly having a torque coupling assembly, an actuator, at least one sensor and a controller is provided. The torque coupling assembly is configured to selectively couple torque between a transmission and a final drive assembly. The actuator is configured to activate the torque coupling assembly. The at least one sensor is used to generate sensor information. The controller is configured to control the actuator based at least in part on the sensor information. The controller is further configured to determine at least a thermal energy level associated with the torque coupling assembly based on the sensor information and at least in part control the actuator based on the determined estimated thermal energy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Ryan Ricke, Brandon P. Lenk, John Edward Hamrin, Matthew Douglas Cann, Gregory Lee Maki, Ronald Joseph Wendt
  • Patent number: 11098794
    Abstract: A locking angle gear box is provided. The locking angle gear box includes a torque transfer assembly, a ring gear, at least one connection drive assembly and an actuator. The torque transfer assembly is configured to communicate torque between the torque transfer assembly and a pair of outputs to halfshafts. The ring gear is rotationally supported on the torque transfer assembly. The ring gear is configured to transfer torque between at least a portion of a driveline and the torque transfer assembly. The at least one connection drive assembly is configured to selectively lock rotation of the torque transfer assembly with the rotation of the ring gear to selectively couple torque between the torque transfer assembly and the ring gear. The actuator is in communication with the at least one connection drive assembly to selectively manipulate the at least one connection drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Yudell, Gregory Lee Maki, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Kody P. Kawlewski, Roland R. Roth, Brandon P. Lenk
  • Publication number: 20200408162
    Abstract: A smart driveline disconnect assembly having a torque coupling assembly, an actuator, at least one sensor and a controller is provided. The torque coupling assembly is configured to selectively couple torque between a transmission and a final drive assembly. The actuator is configured to activate the torque coupling assembly. The at least one sensor is used to generate sensor information. The controller is configured to control the actuator based at least in part on the sensor information. The controller is further configured to determine at least a thermal energy level associated with the torque coupling assembly based on the sensor information and at least in part control the actuator based on the determined estimated thermal energy level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Ryan Ricke, Brandon P. Lenk, John Edward Hamrin, Matthew Douglas Cann, Gregory Lee Maki, Ronald Joseph Wendt
  • Patent number: 10830324
    Abstract: A vehicle layout including a motor, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an actuator, a controller, a drivetrain and at least one clutch is provided. The motor provides engine torque. The CVT is operationally coupled to receive the engine torque. The actuator is configured to control a gearing ratio of the CVT. The controller activates the actuator based at least in part on an input. The drivetrain is in operational communication with the CVT. The at least one clutch is configured to selectively disconnect torque between at least one of the motor and the CVT and the CVT and the drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, John Edward Hamrin, Joel Dunlap, Brandon P. Lenk, Gary Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: 10625606
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 10626929
    Abstract: A dual clutch that includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a ball ramp assembly and at least one actuator is provided. The first clutch engages and disengages a first set of gears. The second clutch engages and disengages a second set of gears. The at least one ball ramp assembly includes at least one ball, first member and a second member. The first member includes a ball pocket for each ball. The second member has at least one ball ramp. The at least one ball partially received in an associated ball pocket of the first member and ball ramp of the second member. The at least one actuator is configured and arranged to rotate one of the first member and the second member to cause the at least one ball ramp assembly to activate at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Brandon P. Lenk, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 10486705
    Abstract: A shift control is provided. The shift control includes an operator input, a memory and a controller. The memory is used to store a plurality of shifting maps. Each shifting map is associated with a select input signal received from the operator input. At least some of the shifting maps include launch aggressiveness parameters based on anticipated vehicle use. The controller is in communication with the operator input and the memory. The controller is configured to control shifting of a transmission based at least in part on a shifting map stored in the memory associated with an input signal received from the operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Brandon P. Lenk
  • Publication number: 20190331206
    Abstract: A locking angle gear box is provided. The locking angle gear box includes a torque transfer assembly, a ring gear, at least one connection drive assembly and an actuator. The torque transfer assembly is configured to communicate torque between the torque transfer assembly and a pair of outputs to halfshafts. The ring gear is rotationally supported on the torque transfer assembly. The ring gear is configured to transfer torque between at least a portion of a driveline and the torque transfer assembly. The at least one connection drive assembly is configured to selectively lock rotation of the torque transfer assembly with the rotation of the ring gear to selectively couple torque between the torque transfer assembly and the ring gear. The actuator is in communication with the at least one connection drive assembly to selectively manipulate the at least one connection drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Yudell, Gregory Lee Maki, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Kody P. Kawlewski, Roland R. Roth, Brandon P. Lenk
  • Patent number: 10385949
    Abstract: A shift on the fly transmission is provided. The shift on the fly transmission includes a continuously variable transmission portion, a discrete transmission portion, at least one input shaft and a disconnect clutch. The continuously variable transmission portion is operationally coupled to receive torque from an engine. The discrete transmission portion includes a gear assembly. The at least one input shaft is operationally coupled to an output of the continuously variable transmission portion. The disconnect clutch operationally couples the at least one input shaft to the discrete transmission portion. The disconnect clutch is further configured to selectively decouple torque from the at least one input shaft to the discrete transmission portion during a range ratio shift of the discrete transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hamrin, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Gregory L. Maki
  • Publication number: 20190176617
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 10252613
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20190093745
    Abstract: A vehicle layout including a motor, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an actuator, a controller, a drivetrain and at least one clutch is provided. The motor provides engine torque. The CVT is operationally coupled to receive the engine torque. The actuator is configured to control a gearing ratio of the CVT. The controller activates the actuator based at least in part on an input. The drivetrain is in operational communication with the CVT. The at least one clutch is configured to selectively disconnect torque between at least one of the motor and the CVT and the CVT and the drivetrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, John Edward Hamrin, Joel Dunlap, Brandon P. Lenk, Gary Allen Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170321763
    Abstract: A dual clutch that includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a ball ramp assembly and at least one actuator is provided. The first clutch engages and disengages a first set of gears. The second clutch engages and disengages a second set of gears. The at least one ball ramp assembly includes at least one ball, first member and a second member. The first member includes a ball pocket for each ball. The second member has at least one ball ramp. The at least one ball partially received in an associated ball pocket of the first member and ball ramp of the second member. The at least one actuator is configured and arranged to rotate one of the first member and the second member to cause the at least one ball ramp assembly to activate at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Brandon P. Lenk, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20170210224
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20170138449
    Abstract: A shift on the fly transmission is provided. The shift on the fly transmission includes a continuously variable transmission portion, a discrete transmission portion, at least one input shaft and a disconnect clutch. The continuously variable transmission portion is operationally coupled to receive torque from an engine. The discrete transmission portion includes a gear assembly. The at least one input shaft is operationally coupled to an output of the continuously variable transmission portion. The disconnect clutch operationally couples the at least one input shaft to the discrete transmission portion. The disconnect clutch is further configured to selectively decouple torque from the at least one input shaft to the discrete transmission portion during a range ratio shift of the discrete transmission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: John E. Hamrin, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Gregory L. Maki
  • Publication number: 20170101104
    Abstract: A shift control is provided. The shift control includes an operator input, a memory and a controller. The memory is used to store a plurality of shifting maps. Each shifting map is associated with a select input signal received from the operator input. At least some of the shifting maps include launch aggressiveness parameters based on anticipated vehicle use. The controller is in communication with the operator input and the memory. The controller is configured to control shifting of a transmission based at least in part on a shifting map stored in the memory associated with an input signal received from the operator input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Brandon P. Lenk
  • Patent number: 9528603
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire transmission system is provided. The system includes a gearbox that is configured and arranged to receive a rotational input and provide a select rotational output. The gearbox includes a plurality of gear assemblies that are operationally coupled together to provide the select rotational output from the rotational input. A shift assembly is operationally coupled to the plurality of gear assemblies of the gearbox to selectively change gearing of gearbox. An electric motor is operationally coupled to the shift assembly to activate the shift assembly to selectively change the gearing of the gearbox. A manual shift override is employed that is coupled between the shift assembly and the electric motor. The manual shift override is configured and arranged to manually disconnect the electric motor from the shift assembly and activate the shift assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Maki, Brandon P. Lenk
  • Publication number: 20140338484
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire transmission system is provided. The system includes a gearbox that is configured and arranged to receive a rotational input and provide a select rotational output. The gearbox includes a plurality of gear assemblies that are operationally coupled together to provide the select rotational output from the rotational input. A shift assembly is operationally coupled to the plurality of gear assemblies of the gearbox to selectively change gearing of gearbox. An electric motor is operationally coupled to the shift assembly to activate the shift assembly to selectively change the gearing of the gearbox. A manual shift override is employed that is coupled between the shift assembly and the electric motor. The manual shift override is configured and arranged to manually disconnect the electric motor from the shift assembly and activate the shift assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Maki, Brandon P. Lenk