Patents by Inventor Bryant L. Poynter

Bryant L. Poynter 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: 11732790
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a torque converter, a weldment, an engine disconnect clutch, and a torque converter lockup clutch. The engine has a crankshaft. The electric machine has a rotor. The torque converter has an impeller and a turbine. The weldment is configured to rotate about an axis and to transfer power from the crankshaft and the rotor to the impeller. The weldment has a first hub, a second hub, a torque converter cover, an impeller housing, and a third hub. The engine disconnect clutch is configured to rotatably connect and disconnect the crankshaft to and from the weldment. The torque converter lockup clutch is configured to rotatably connect and disconnect the turbine to and from the weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew David Hammond, Gregory Daniel Goleski, Bryant L. Poynter, David Gon Oh, Bhaskar Marathe
  • Patent number: 11364786
    Abstract: A transmission including an electric machine, a torque converter and a planetary gearset in a transmission housing that is connected to an engine. A turbine shaft is configured to transfer torque from the engine and the electric machine to the planetary gear set. A disconnect clutch selectively couples the input shaft from the engine to the torque converter housing of the torque converter. The disconnect clutch includes a disconnect clutch piston and a first balance dam. A torque converter clutch selectively connects the torque converter housing to the turbine and the turbine shaft. The torque converter clutch includes a torque converter clutch piston and a second balance dam. Ports in the housing permit automatic transmission fluid to flow between the turbine shaft and the torque converter clutch piston; the turbine shaft and the torque converter clutch piston; and the turbine shaft, the first balance dam, and the second balance dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew David Hammond, Gregory Daniel Goleski, Bryant L. Poynter, David Gon Oh
  • Publication number: 20220145971
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an electric vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine disposed in a transmission housing that is attached to the engine. An engine vibration damper is disposed between the engine and the electric machine. A torque converter connects the engine to the turbine shaft and is disposed in the housing radially inboard of the windings of the electric machine. A turbine shaft connected to the electric machine is configured to transfer torque from the engine and the electric machine through the turbine shaft to a planetary gear set connected to the turbine shaft. A disconnect clutch is operatively connected between the engine and the electric machine and is disposed in the housing radially inboard the windings of the electric machine and is connected to the turbine shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew David HAMMOND, Gregory Daniel GOLESKI, Bryant L. POYNTER, David Gon OH, Bhaskar MARATHE
  • Publication number: 20220144071
    Abstract: A transmission including an electric machine, a torque converter and a planetary gearset in a transmission housing that is connected to an engine. A turbine shaft is configured to transfer torque from the engine and the electric machine to the planetary gear set. A disconnect clutch selectively couples the input shaft from the engine to the torque converter housing of the torque converter. The disconnect clutch includes a disconnect clutch piston and a first balance dam. A torque converter clutch selectively connects the torque converter housing to the turbine and the turbine shaft. The torque converter clutch includes a torque converter clutch piston and a second balance dam. Ports in the housing permit automatic transmission fluid to flow between the turbine shaft and the torque converter clutch piston; the turbine shaft and the torque converter clutch piston; and the turbine shaft, the first balance dam, and the second balance dam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew David HAMMOND, Gregory Daniel GOLESKI, Bryant L. POYNTER, David Gon OH
  • Publication number: 20220074477
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a torque converter, a weldment, an engine disconnect clutch, and a torque converter lockup clutch. The engine has a crankshaft. The electric machine has a rotor. The torque converter has an impeller and a turbine. The weldment is configured to rotate about an axis and to transfer power from the crankshaft and the rotor to the impeller. The weldment has a first hub, a second hub, a torque converter cover, an impeller housing, and a third hub. The engine disconnect clutch is configured to rotatably connect and disconnect the crankshaft to and from the weldment. The torque converter lockup clutch is configured to rotatably connect and disconnect the turbine to and from the weldment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew David Hammond, Gregory Daniel Goleski, Bryant L. Poynter, David Gon Oh, Bhaskar Marathe
  • Patent number: 10598281
    Abstract: An override mechanism for a shift-by-wire transmission includes a housing having a first pin aperture and a shaft extending into the housing. The override mechanism further includes a reel plate having a second pin aperture. The reel plate is rotatably fixed to the shaft and rotatable within the housing. The override mechanism further includes a spring biasing the reel plate to a first angular position, and a pull-pin removably disposable within the first and second pin apertures to retain the reel plate in a second angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Emad Al-Regib, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Craig Matthew Renneker, Bryant L. Poynter, Susan Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20180156333
    Abstract: An override mechanism for a shift-by-wire transmission includes a housing having a first pin aperture and a shaft extending into the housing. The override mechanism further includes a reel plate having a second pin aperture. The reel plate is rotatably fixed to the shaft and rotatable within the housing. The override mechanism further includes a spring biasing the reel plate to a first angular position, and a pull-pin removably disposable within the first and second pin apertures to retain the reel plate in a second angular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Emad AL-REGIB, Todd Curtis SPAULDING, Craig Matthew RENNEKER, Bryant L. POYNTER, Susan WYATT
  • Patent number: 8187141
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for an automatic transmission includes a first plate, a second plate spaced along an axis from the first plate, a third plate spaced axially from the first plate and the second plate by angularly spaced legs, the third plate being formed with angularly spaced recesses. Short pinions, supported on the first plate and the third plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a chordal path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier. Long pinions, supported on the first plate and the second plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a radial path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Mark W. Rosselot, Mark E. Briscoe, Bryant L. Poynter, John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20100105515
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for an automatic transmission includes a first plate, a second plate spaced along an axis from the first plate, a third plate spaced axially from the first plate and the second plate by angularly spaced legs, the third plate being formed with angularly spaced recesses. Short pinions, supported on the first plate and the third plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a chordal path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier. Long pinions, supported on the first plate and the second plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a radial path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Mark W. Rosselot, Mark E. Briscoe, Bryant L. Poynter, John W. Kimes