Patents by Inventor Brent M. Peura

Brent M. Peura 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: 11920666
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a clutch, an actuator and a stop member. The clutch is received within a first housing and has a first clutch member coupled to the second housing and a second clutch member coupled to the first housing, the second clutch member is movable and selectively engageable with the first clutch member. The actuator has a coil and a plunger driven for movement by a magnetic field generated by the coil so that the plunger moves axially to move the second clutch member relative to the first clutch member. The stop member has a retracted position spaced from the plunger and an advanced position within a path of movement of the plunger to limit movement of the plunger when the stop member is in the advanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin DeLand, Varadarajan Balaraman, Brent M. Peura
  • Publication number: 20230383830
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a clutch, an actuator and a stop member. The clutch is received within a first housing and has a first clutch member coupled to the second housing and a second clutch member coupled to the first housing, the second clutch member is movable and selectively engageable with the first clutch member. The actuator has a coil and a plunger driven for movement by a magnetic field generated by the coil so that the plunger moves axially to move the second clutch member relative to the first clutch member. The stop member has a retracted position spaced from the plunger and an advanced position within a path of movement of the plunger to limit movement of the plunger when the stop member is in the advanced position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin DeLand, Varadarajan Balaraman, Brent M. Peura
  • Patent number: 11701966
    Abstract: A driveline component includes a first plate and a second plate. A motor is engaged with the first plate. The first plate and the second plate include ramped grooves that ramp toward the other of the first plate and the second plate. Balls are disposed between the first plate and the second plate and are engaged with the ramped grooves. A shifter is engaged with the second plate. Relative rotation of the first plate and the second plate causes the balls in the ramped grooves to move the first plate and the second plate axially relative to each other. This relative rotation may be used to make one type of mode selection, and operation of the shifter by the second plate may be used to make another type of mode selection. This allows the single motor to make both selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Brent M. Peura, Matthew R. Schmalenberg
  • Publication number: 20220194219
    Abstract: A driveline component includes a first plate and a second plate. A motor is engaged with the first plate. The first plate and the second plate include ramped grooves that ramp toward the other of the first plate and the second plate. Balls are disposed between the first plate and the second plate and are engaged with the ramped grooves. A shifter is engaged with the second plate. Relative rotation of the first plate and the second plate causes the balls in the ramped grooves to move the first plate and the second plate axially relative to each other. This relative rotation may be used to make one type of mode selection, and operation of the shifter by the second plate may be used to make another type of mode selection. This allows the single motor to make both selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Brent M. Peura, Matthew R. Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 11149839
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, an automotive driveline unit includes a main housing having an interior and a first reservoir in the interior arranged to collect lubricant, the main housing also having a feed passage that is open to the first reservoir, a gear located within the interior and having a periphery arranged in the first reservoir so that rotation of the gear causes the gear to engage and displace some of the lubricant from the first reservoir, and a second housing carried by the main housing. A second reservoir is defined between the main housing and the second housing, the second reservoir is communicated with the first reservoir via the feed passage and includes multiple, spaced apart outlets through which lubricant exits the second reservoir at different locations to provide lubricant to different areas of the interior of the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Anders Jansson, Brent M. Peura, Robert Pettersson, Daniel Lindberg
  • Publication number: 20200370638
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, an automotive driveline unit includes a main housing having an interior and a first reservoir in the interior arranged to collect lubricant, the main housing also having a feed passage that is open to the first reservoir, a gear located within the interior and having a periphery arranged in the first reservoir so that rotation of the gear causes the gear to engage and displace some of the lubricant from the first reservoir, and a second housing carried by the main housing. A second reservoir is defined between the main housing and the second housing, the second reservoir is communicated with the first reservoir via the feed passage and includes multiple, spaced apart outlets through which lubricant exits the second reservoir at different locations to provide lubricant to different areas of the interior of the main housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Anders Jansson, Brent M. Peura, Robert Pettersson, Daniel Lindberg
  • Patent number: 10228049
    Abstract: A vehicle final drive unit (FDU) of a vehicle driveline. The vehicle FDU includes one or more wet clutches that provide disconnect capabilities in the vehicle FDU, and includes a final drive gearset. Different techniques are provided for discontinuing lubricant supply to the wet clutch(es) when the wet clutch(es) are disconnected in order to preclude unwanted rotations that can be the consequence of adhesion among clutch plates in the wet clutch(es). One technique actively brakes the final drive gearset in the vehicle FDU so that the final drive gearset no longer rotates and no longer throws lubricant to the wet clutch(es). Another technique involves closing an entrance that leads lubricant to the wet clutch(es).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Peura, David D. Spurlock, Stefan Nicklich, Robert Genway-Haden, Lei Yang
  • Publication number: 20170356535
    Abstract: A vehicle final drive unit (FDU) of a vehicle driveline. The vehicle FDU includes one or more wet clutches that provide disconnect capabilities in the vehicle FDU, and includes a final drive gearset. Different techniques are provided for discontinuing lubricant supply to the wet clutch(es) when the wet clutch(es) are disconnected in order to preclude unwanted rotations that can be the consequence of adhesion among clutch plates in the wet clutch(es). One technique actively brakes the final drive gearset in the vehicle FDU so that the final drive gearset no longer rotates and no longer throws lubricant to the wet clutch(es). Another technique involves closing an entrance that leads lubricant to the wet clutch(es).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Brent M. Peura, David D. Spurlock, Stefan Nicklich, Robert Genway-Haden, Lei Yang
  • Publication number: 20150321549
    Abstract: A power transfer unit assembly for a vehicle. The power transfer unit includes a cantilevered ring gear assembly configured on a housing cover. The housing cover is configured to mate to a main housing that may be configured in a vehicle drivetrain. The power transfer unit may include at least one engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the cantilevered ring gear assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Brent M. Peura, Robert Genway-Haden, Hiromichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6779420
    Abstract: An axle module for use in an automotive vehicle. The axle module includes a housing and a ring gear assembly rotatably supported within the housing. The axle module also includes a shaft arranged within the ring gear assembly. The axle module further includes a clutch pack arranged within the ring gear assembly and in an expansion unit arranged adjacent to the shaft and the housing. The axle module also includes a motor which is used to control the transfer of an axial torque through the clutch pack and plurality of plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent M. Peura
  • Publication number: 20030192762
    Abstract: An active bi-directional overrunning clutch that includes an oil housing. The clutch also includes a flange rotatably supported with respect to the oil housing. An input shaft is connected to the flange. The clutch further includes a plurality of rollers contacting the input shaft and a coupling. A roller cage positions the plurality of rollers with respect to the input shaft and coupling. The friction ground ring is in contact with the roller cage. The clutch also includes a worm gear in contact with the friction member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Brent M. Peura
  • Publication number: 20030177860
    Abstract: An axle module for use in an automotive vehicle. The axle module includes a housing and a ring gear assembly rotatably supported within the housing. The axle module also includes a shaft arranged within the ring gear assembly. The axle module further includes a clutch pack arranged within the ring gear assembly and in an expansion unit arranged adjacent to the shaft and the housing. The axle module also includes a motor which is used to control the transfer of an axial torque through the clutch pack and plurality of plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Brent M. Peura