Patents by Inventor Brian Richard Light
Brian Richard Light 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).
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Patent number: 11390154Abstract: Methods and systems for an electric motor-generator in a vehicle are provided. In one example, an electric motor-generator is provided that includes an engine interface configured to rotationally couple to a first engine, a transmission interface configured to rotationally couple to a first transmission of the first engine, and a rotor with a plurality of magnets at least partially surrounding a stator including a plurality of coils. The rotor is rotationally coupled to the engine interface and the transmission interface.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Russell McBride, Megan Mackenzie Gould, Duane Allan Lewis, Jason Michael Sanderson, Brandon David Lint, James Trent, Brian Richard Light, Eric Pavlov
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Publication number: 20220068541Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a transmission having an inductor assembly. The inductor assembly is mounted within the transmission such that it is directly cooled by transmission fluid through at least one of spraying, splashing and immersion. The transmission includes at least one gear that is configured to, when rotating, transmit torque between an input and output of the transmission and splash fluid onto the inductor assembly to cool the inductor assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Behzad Vafakhah, Brian Richard Light, Brandon Dobbins, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Sudhir Kumar
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Patent number: 11195649Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a transmission having an inductor assembly. The inductor assembly is mounted within the transmission such that it is directly cooled by transmission fluid through at least one of spraying, splashing and immersion. The transmission includes at least one gear that is configured to, when rotating, transmit torque between an input and output of the transmission and splash fluid onto the inductor assembly to cool the inductor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Behzad Vafakhah, Brian Richard Light, Brandon Dobbins, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Sudhir Kumar
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Publication number: 20210170854Abstract: Methods and systems for an electric motor-generator in a vehicle are provided. In one example, an electric motor-generator is provided that includes an engine interface configured to rotationally couple to a first engine, a transmission interface configured to rotationally couple to a first transmission of the first engine, and a rotor with a plurality of magnets at least partially surrounding a stator including a plurality of coils. The rotor is rotationally coupled to the engine interface and the transmission interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Thomas Russell McBride, Megan Mackenzie Gould, Duane Allan Lewis, Jason Michael Sanderson, Brandon David Lint, James Trent, Brian Richard Light, Eric Pavlov
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Patent number: 10385960Abstract: A transmission assembly including a housing, an electric motor, and a baffle is provided. The housing may include first and second drainage channels. The electric motor may be disposed within the housing adjacent the drainage channels and a torque converter. The baffle may be disposed within the housing upon a housing inner surface, and may define an opening to the first and second drainage channels. The baffle may include a baffle flange sized for positioning adjacent the torque converter to minimize contact of oil within the housing to the torque converter. The housing may define first and second partition walls each partially extending over one of the first and second drainage channels. The baffle may further include first and second seal features each disposed at one of two baffle ends.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dengfu Zhang, Mark Steward, William Riley, Brian Richard Light
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Publication number: 20190048991Abstract: A transmission assembly including a housing, an electric motor, and a baffle is provided. The housing may include first and second drainage channels. The electric motor may be disposed within the housing adjacent the drainage channels and a torque converter. The baffle may be disposed within the housing upon a housing inner surface, and may define an opening to the first and second drainage channels. The baffle may include a baffle flange sized for positioning adjacent the torque converter to minimize contact of oil within the housing to the torque converter. The housing may define first and second partition walls each partially extending over one of the first and second drainage channels. The baffle may further include first and second seal features each disposed at one of two baffle ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dengfu Zhang, Mark Steward, William Riley, Brian Richard Light
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Patent number: 10197134Abstract: An electro-magnetically actuated pawl clutch is adapted to establish a fixed overdrive ratio in a powersplit type hybrid gearing arrangement. The electro-magnetically actuated clutch includes a first race splined to the transmission input shaft and a second race integrally formed into a first gear that is supported for rotation about the input shaft. Electrical current in a non-rotating coil establishes a magnetic field in the first race. The magnetic field causes a set of pawls to pivot with respect to the first race and to engage a cam surface in the second race. The pawls and cams are designed such that, when engaged, the second race can rotate faster than the inner race but cannot rotate slower. The first gear meshes with a second gear fixed to the transmission output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dennis Neil Wys, Brian Richard Light, Matthew Stephen Eiszler, David Capoccia
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Patent number: 9855930Abstract: A transaxle and a parking actuator assembly are provided. The parking actuator assembly may include an actuator, a rack, and the biasing member. The actuator may include a pin biased towards an extended position. The rack may be configured to carry a parking rod and may define first and second ramped recesses each configured to receive the pin. The biasing member may be coupled with the rack and may be configured to bias the parking rod towards engagement with a parking mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Emad Al-Regib, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Matthew Stephen Eiszler, Gerard Patrick Kuchta, Brian Richard Light, Eric S. Richardson, Ronald Gaw
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Publication number: 20170084375Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a transmission having an inductor assembly. The inductor assembly is mounted within the transmission such that it is directly cooled by transmission fluid through at least one of spraying, splashing and immersion. The transmission includes at least one gear that is configured to, when rotating, transmit torque between an input and output of the transmission and splash fluid onto the inductor assembly to cool the inductor assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Behzad VAFAKHAH, Brian Richard LIGHT, Brandon DOBBINS, Shailesh Shrikant KOZAREKAR, Sudhir KUMAR
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Patent number: 9581234Abstract: A vehicle electrical power system includes a variable voltage converter. The variable voltage converter includes an inductor assembly having a housing that defines a chamber containing dielectric fluid. An inductor is disposed within the chamber and is in contact with the fluid. The power system also includes a pump configured to circulate the dielectric fluid to cool the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Myung Ki Sung, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Michael W. Degner, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Behzad Vafakhah, Shahram Zarei, Brandon Dobbins, Vincent Skalski, Brian Richard Light, Sudhir Kumar
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Patent number: 9543069Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a transmission having an inductor assembly. The inductor assembly is mounted within the transmission such that it is directly cooled by transmission fluid through at least one of spraying, splashing and immersion. The transmission includes at least one gear that is configured to, when rotating, transmit torque between an input and output of the transmission and splash fluid onto the inductor assembly to cool the inductor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2012Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Behzad Vafakhah, Brian Richard Light, Brandon Dobbins, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Sudhir Kumar
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Publication number: 20170001604Abstract: A transaxle and a parking actuator assembly are provided. The parking actuator assembly may include an actuator, a rack, and the biasing member. The actuator may include a pin biased towards an extended position. The rack may be configured to carry a parking rod and may define first and second ramped recesses each configured to receive the pin. The biasing member may be coupled with the rack and may be configured to bias the parking rod towards engagement with a parking mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2015Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: EMAD AL-REGIB, TODD CURTIS SPAULDING, MATTHEW STEPHEN EISZLER, GERARD PATRICK KUCHTA, BRIAN RICHARD LIGHT, ERIC S. RICHARDSON, RONALD GAW
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Patent number: 9353801Abstract: An exemplary clutch device of an electrified vehicle includes a first member having a plurality of lugs about an axis, and a second member including a plurality of apertures. The plurality of lugs are selectively moveable axially into corresponding apertures to couple together rotation of the first member and the second member. Interfaces between the first member and the second member when under positive torque are angled differently than interfaces between the first member and the second member when under negative torque.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Bernard D. Nefacy, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Brian Richard Light, Brian Thomas Soo
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Publication number: 20160091062Abstract: An electro-magnetically actuated pawl clutch is adapted to establish a fixed overdrive ratio in a powersplit type hybrid gearing arrangement. The electro-magnetically actuated clutch includes a first race splined to the transmission input shaft and a second race integrally formed into a first gear that is supported for rotation about the input shaft. Electrical current in a non-rotating coil establishes a magnetic field in the first race. The magnetic field causes a set of pawls to pivot with respect to the first race and to engage a cam surface in the second race. The pawls and cams are designed such that, when engaged, the second race can rotate faster than the inner race but cannot rotate slower. The first gear meshes with a second gear fixed to the transmission output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Dennis Neil Wys, Brian Richard Light, Matthew Stephen Eiszler, David Capoccia
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Publication number: 20160053822Abstract: An exemplary clutch device of an electrified vehicle includes a first member having a plurality of lugs about an axis, and a second member including a plurality of apertures. The plurality of lugs are selectively moveable axially into corresponding apertures to couple together rotation of the first member and the second member. Interfaces between the first member and the second member when under positive torque are angled differently than interfaces between the first member and the second member when under negative torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Bernard D. Nefacy, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Brian Richard Light, Brian Thomas Soo
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Publication number: 20150100187Abstract: A method of controlling a motor in a hybrid electric vehicle mitigates the risk of an incorrectly wired or incorrectly connected wiring harness. Following the connection or re-connection of a wiring harness, the vehicle responds to a torque request by limiting the magnitude of the motor torque until the proper direction of torque is confirmed. A flag is then set to record that torque direction has been confirmed so that the vehicle can respond normally to future requests. Several events may indicate that a wiring harness has been re-connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Richard Light, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Daniel Richard Luedtke, Darko Acevski, Carlos Ayala, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar
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Publication number: 20140175867Abstract: A vehicle electrical power system includes a variable voltage converter. The variable voltage converter includes an inductor assembly having a housing that defines a chamber containing dielectric fluid. An inductor is disposed within the chamber and is in contact with the fluid. The power system also includes a pump configured to circulate the dielectric fluid to cool the inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Myung Ki SUNG, Edward Chan-Jiun JIH, Michael W. DEGNER, Shailesh Shrikant KOZAREKAR, Behzad VAFAKHAH, Shahram ZAREI, Brandon DOBBINS, Vincent SKALSKI, Brian Richard LIGHT, Sudhir KUMAR
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Patent number: 8649925Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling operation of an electric oil pump in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The HEV includes an engine and a transaxle including an electric motor coupled to a traction battery. A commanded speed for the electric oil pump is determined and whether the engine in the HEV is in an off state is determined. When the engine is in the off state, the electric oil pump is controlled to operate at the commanded speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Richard Light, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Wei Wu
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Publication number: 20110166727Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling operation of an electric oil pump in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The HEV includes an engine and a transaxle including an electric motor coupled to a traction battery. A commanded speed for the electric oil pump is determined and whether the engine in the HEV is in an off state is determined. When the engine is in the off state, the electric oil pump is controlled to operate at the commanded speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Richard Light, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Wei Wu