Patents by Inventor Burke Smith

Burke Smith 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: 20240376962
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a gearbox. The gearbox system, in one example, includes an input shaft with a first helical gear coupled thereto, a first intermediate shaft with a second helical gear coupled thereto and meshing with the first helical gear and a second intermediate shaft with a third helical gear coupled thereto and meshing with the first helical gear. The gearbox system further includes a balance beam that transfers loads between the first intermediate shaft and the second intermediate shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventor: Burke SMITH
  • Publication number: 20240317045
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an electric axle. The electric axle includes, in one example, a first electric machine directly coupled to a sun gear of a planetary gear set and a second electric machine directly coupled to a carrier of a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set includes a set of planet gears that rotate on the carrier and an output gear that meshes with an input gear in a differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Eric M. ENGERMAN, Burke SMITH
  • Publication number: 20140174430
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mirror orientation system of a heliostat includes mounting an artificial light source to a heliostat mirror, providing an array of light sensors on a solar thermal tower and positioning the heliostat mirror at a first orientation. A control module is provided a signal indicative of a mirror drive mechanism position at the first mirror orientation. The control module correlates the signal indicative of the mechanism position with an energy distribution across the sensor array as the artificial light source is energized when the mirror is at the first orientation. The drive mechanism moves the mirror to a second orientation and directs artificial light on the sensor array. The drive mechanism position signal is correlated with an energy distribution across the sensor array based on the second mirror orientation. The heliostat is calibrated based on the energy distributions and the drive mechanism position signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Brian M. Fitzgerald, John D. Zalewski, Peter M. Jacobsen, Franz Faschinger, Richard A. Bakowski, Philipp Ebner, David W. Wenthen, Burke Smith
  • Publication number: 20140174499
    Abstract: A heliostat for reflecting sunlight toward a target includes a first structure supporting a mirror including inner and outer tubes being rotatable relative to one another. A first actuator includes an electric motor driving a reduction gearset to rotate one of the first tubes and rotate the mirror about a first axis. A second structure also includes inner and outer rotatable tubes. A second actuator includes a second electric motor driving a reduction gearset to rotate the mirror about a second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Brian M. Fitzgerald, John D. Zalewski, Franz Faschinger, Richard A. Bakowski, Philipp Ebner, David W. Wenthen, Burke Smith, Peter M. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 8613143
    Abstract: A method of assembling a planetary gearset includes die-forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth on a sun gear, a planet gear and a ring gear. Each tooth includes a pair of tooth flanks in a final net form for engagement with mating gear teeth. The sun gear teeth have a conical shape to allow a first die to linearly move relative to a second die after the gear teeth are die-formed. The planet gears are mounted on a carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear are oriented such that the conical shapes of the respective gear teeth taper in opposite directions from one another and the planet gear teeth meshingly engage with both the ring gear teeth and the sun gear teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fitzgerald, Burke Smith, David W. Wenthen
  • Publication number: 20130263452
    Abstract: A method of assembling a planetary gearset includes die-forming plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth on a sun gear, a planet gear an a ring gear. Each tooth includes a pair of tooth flanks in a final net form for engagement with mating gear teeth. The sun gear teeth have a conical shape to allow a first die to linearly move relative to a second die after the gear teeth are die-formed. The planet gears are mounted on a carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear are oriented such that the conical shapes of the respective gear teeth taper in opposite directions from one another and the planet gear teeth meshingly engage with both the ring gear teeth and the sun gear teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Brian Fitzgerald, Burke Smith, David W. Wenthen
  • Patent number: 7992668
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by a power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to a first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to a second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes diverge from one another. A transfer unit includes a drive member driven by the first output shaft and a driven member driving the second output shaft. A spline coupling is positioned within a cavity formed in the driven member to drivingly interconnect the driven member and the second output shaft. The second output shaft is axially moveable relative to the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Burke Smith, William A. Hellinger, Carl F. Stephens, David W. Wenthen
  • Patent number: 7963190
    Abstract: A gear set for a transmission for use in limited space and capable of transmitting relatively large amounts of power with a small diameter of the gear sets, comprising a series of helical gear elements having stub shafts extending laterally from either side thereof, each of the stub shafts having teeth formed at the remote ends thereof and a central axial bore extending through each gear element and a coupler adapted to engage the teeth on adjacent gear elements join gear elements in driving contact. The gear set having a relatively large effective diameter, and a tension rail extending through the axial bore in the gear elements with retainers at either end of the tension rail so as to effectively permit limited axial movement along the tension rail while preventing inadvertent disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Harrier Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sullivan, Richard Mizon, John Desilvia, Burke Smith, Timothy Breen, Brian Ide
  • Publication number: 20100314189
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by a power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to a first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to a second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes diverge from one another. A transfer unit includes a drive member driven by the first output shaft and a driven member driving the second output shaft. A spline coupling is positioned within a cavity formed in the driven member to drivingly interconnect the driven member and the second output shaft. The second output shaft is axially moveable relative to the driven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Burke SMITH, William Hellinger, Carl F. Stephens, David W. Wenthen
  • Publication number: 20100064832
    Abstract: A gear set for a transmission for use in limited space and capable of transmitting relatively large amounts of power with a small diameter of the gear sets, comprising a series of helical gear elements having stub shafts extending laterally from either side thereof, each of the stub shafts having teeth formed at the remote ends thereof and a central axial bore extending through each gear element and a coupler adapted to engage the teeth on adjacent gear elements join gear elements in driving contact. The gear set having a relatively large effective diameter, and a tension rail extending through the axial bore in the gear elements with retainers at either end of the tension rail so as to effectively permit limited axial movement along the tension rail while preventing inadvertent disengagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Sullivan, Richard Mizon, John Desilvia, Burke Smith, Timothy Breen, Brian Ide