Patents by Inventor Bryan Danner

Bryan Danner 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: 12403999
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system, supported by a strut, which comprises an inner propeller shaft supporting a first propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the inner propeller shaft is connected to the drive shaft for receiving and supplying a first portion of torque to the first propeller as well as transfer thrust, generated by the first propeller, along the inner propeller shaft back to the drive shaft. An outer propeller shaft supports a second propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the outer propeller shaft surrounds the inner propeller shaft. A planetary gear assembly receives a second portion of the torque and supplies the torque to the outer propeller shaft so that the second propeller rotates in an opposite direction to the first propeller. A portion of the planetary gear assembly is accommodated vertically above a flat end face of the strut for reducing hydrodynamic drag of the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEMS MIRAMAR, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Orvieto, Keith Stanley, Dave Gruenwald, Bryan Danner
  • Publication number: 20230278690
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system, supported by a strut, which comprises an inner propeller shaft supporting a first propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the inner propeller shaft is connected to the drive shaft for receiving and supplying a first portion of torque to the first propeller as well as transfer thrust, generated by the first propeller, along the inner propeller shaft back to the drive shaft. An outer propeller shaft supports a second propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the outer propeller shaft surrounds the inner propeller shaft. A planetary gear assembly receives a second portion of the torque and supplies the torque to the outer propeller shaft so that the second propeller rotates in an opposite direction to the first propeller. A portion of the planetary gear assembly is accommodated vertically above a flat end face of the strut for reducing hydrodynamic drag of the strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew ORVIETO, Keith STANLEY, Dave GRUENWALD, Bryan DANNER
  • Patent number: 10906618
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system, supported by a strut, comprising an inner propeller shaft supporting a first propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the inner propeller shaft is connected to the drive shaft for receiving and supplying a first portion of torque to the first propeller as well as transfer thrust, generated by the first propeller, along the inner propeller shaft back to the drive shaft. An outer propeller shaft supports a second propeller adjacent a trailing and thereof, and the outer propeller shaft surrounds the inner propeller shaft. A differential gear set receives a second portion of the torque and supplies the second portion to the outer propeller shaft so that the second propeller rotates in an opposite rotational direction to the first propeller. The thrust, generated by the first and the second propellers, is conveyed along either the inner or the outer propeller shafts, to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Keith Stanley, Andrew Orvieto, Dave Gruenwald, Bryan Danner
  • Publication number: 20200130794
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system, supported by a strut, comprising an inner propeller shaft supporting a first propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the inner propeller shaft is connected to the drive shaft for receiving and supplying a first portion of torque to the first propeller as well as transfer thrust, generated by the first propeller, along the inner propeller shaft back to the drive shaft. An outer propeller shaft supports a second propeller adjacent a trailing and thereof, and the outer propeller shaft surrounds the inner propeller shaft. A differential gear set receives a second portion of the torque and supplies the second portion to the outer propeller shaft so that the second propeller rotates in an opposite rotational direction to the first propeller. The thrust, generated by the first and the second propellers, is conveyed along either the inner or the outer propeller shafts, to the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Keith STANLEY, Andrew ORVIETO, Dave GRUENWALD, Bryan DANNER
  • Patent number: 9714071
    Abstract: A drive pod of a watercraft such as a boat may be designed to break off the hull of the boat in the event of an underwater collision involving the drive pod. A shaft assembly that transmits power from the engine in the hull to blades or a jet in the drive pod is designed to break at a precise point so that seals in the hull and seals in the drive pod are protected from damage. The shaft assembly may include an axial blind hole with an undercut at a bottom of the blind hole. A pin may be inserted to reinforce the shaft above the undercut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. McDonald, John Schlintz, Bryan Danner
  • Publication number: 20160016645
    Abstract: A drive pod of a watercraft such as a boat may be designed to break off the hull of the boat in the event of an underwater collision involving the drive pod. A shaft assembly that transmits power from the engine in the hull to blades or a jet in the drive pod is designed to break at a precise point so that seals in the hull and seals in the drive pod are protected from damage. The shaft assembly may include an axial blind hole with an undercut at a bottom of the blind hole. A pin may be inserted to reinforce the shaft above the undercut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. McDonald, John Schlintz, Bryan Danner
  • Publication number: 20080026899
    Abstract: A drive train for use with a tractor having an engine includes a transmission module having an input side coupled to the engine and an output side. The output side is rotatable in response to rotation of the input side to define a transmission speed ratio. A differential module includes a drive input coupled to the output side, and including an axle. The axle is configured to rotate in response to rotation of the drive input to define a differential speed ratio. A control module is coupled to the transmission module and to the differential module, and is configured to independently vary the transmission speed ratio and the differential speed ratio. The drive train operates using a single lever control and does not require a clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Carlson, Bryan Danner