Patents by Inventor Christopher Wilkins

Christopher Wilkins 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: 20230035809
    Abstract: Segmented sprocket systems and methods for installing the segmented sprocket systems for use in numerous different applications such as, but not limited to, industrial sprockets. The present invention may be a segmented sprocket system including two or more relatively thin sprockets (100) that are installed together on a common hub (200) such that the two or more sprockets form a composite sprocket having a width approximately equal to the sum of the width of the individual sprockets. A segmented sprocket system may include a hub; at least two sprockets having the same outer diameter and an interior opening having a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the hub; wherein the at least two sprockets are positioned on the hub such that each sprocket abuts a neighboring sprocket, thus resulting in a composite sprocket structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jennifer E. Pease, Christopher Wilkins
  • Patent number: 11554771
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine configured to apply a negative torque during regenerative braking, and a multi-speed transmission coupled to the engine and having multiple discrete gear ratios. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to decelerate the vehicle, command a shift of the transmission to a one of the gear ratios that is predetermined to rotate the electric machine at a speed that generates a regenerative-braking torque corresponding to a target deceleration of the vehicle without application of friction brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Dashwood Crisp, James Christopher Wilkins, Tom Leroy, Jonathan James Hall
  • Publication number: 20220048493
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine configured to apply a negative torque during regenerative braking, and a multi-speed transmission coupled to the engine and having multiple discrete gear ratios. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to decelerate the vehicle, command a shift of the transmission to a one of the gear ratios that is predetermined to rotate the electric machine at a speed that generates a regenerative-braking torque corresponding to a target deceleration of the vehicle without application of friction brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas Dashwood Crisp, James Christopher Wilkins, Tom Leroy, Jonathan James Hall
  • Patent number: 10475603
    Abstract: A switch and methods of assembling a switch. The switch may include a housing; a first terminal electrically coupled to a power source; a second terminal electrically coupled to a load; a contact having a first contact end and a second contact end, the contact being operable to be in a closed position, in which the first contact end engages the first terminal and the second contact end engages the second terminal such that the contact electrically connects the first terminal to the second terminal, and an open position, in which the contact does not electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal; and a biasing member configured to bias the contact towards the first terminal and the second terminal, the biasing member being operable to apply a first biasing force proximate the first contact end and a second biasing force proximate the second connect end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Power Products, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Christopher Paul Chambers
  • Patent number: 9881753
    Abstract: A battery switch including a housing having a removable side panel, a base, and two terminals located within the housing. Each terminal has a fixed end and a free end. Each terminal extends upwardly from the base. Each free end is positioned in a space between the base and the housing. Wherein the free ends of each of the terminals are accessible by removing the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Power Products, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Jarrod D. Sagar
  • Publication number: 20170338066
    Abstract: A switch and methods of assembling a switch. The switch may include a housing; a first terminal electrically coupled to a power source; a second terminal electrically coupled to a load; a contact having a first contact end and a second contact end, the contact being operable to be in a closed position, in which the first contact end engages the first terminal and the second contact end engages the second terminal such that the contact electrically connects the first terminal to the second terminal, and an open position, in which the contact does not electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal; and a biasing member configured to bias the contact towards the first terminal and the second terminal, the biasing member being operable to apply a first biasing force proximate the first contact end and a second biasing force proximate the second connect end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Christopher Paul Chambers
  • Publication number: 20170271104
    Abstract: A battery switch including a housing having a removable side panel, a base, and two terminals located within the housing. Each terminal has a fixed end and a free end. Each terminal extends upwardly from the base. Each free end is positioned in a space between the base and the housing. Wherein the free ends of each of the terminals are accessible by removing the side panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Jarrod D. Sagar
  • Patent number: 9653233
    Abstract: A battery switch including a selector supported by a housing and rotatably mounted to the housing. The selector having four positions, including, a first position in which a first and second bank terminals are disconnected from a first and second load terminals, a second position in which the first bank terminal is connected to the first load terminal and the second bank terminal is disconnected from the second load terminal, a third position in which the first bank terminal is connected to the first load terminal, the second bank terminal is connected to the second load terminal, and the first bank terminal is disconnected from the second bank terminal, and a fourth position in which the first bank terminal is connected to the first load terminal and the second bank terminal and the second bank terminal is connected to the second load terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Power Products, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Jarrod D. Sagar
  • Publication number: 20150129398
    Abstract: A battery switch including a selector supported by a housing and rotatably mounted to the housing. The selector having four positions, including, a first position in which a first and second bank terminals are disconnected from a first and second load terminals, a second position in which the first bank terminal is connected to the first load terminal and the second bank terminal is disconnected from the second load terminal, a third position in which the first bank terminal is connected to the first load terminal, the second bank terminal is connected to the second load terminal, and the first bank terminal is disconnected from the second bank terminal, and a fourth position in which the first bank terminal is connected to the first load terminal and the second bank terminal and the second bank terminal is connected to the second load terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Jarrod D. Sagar
  • Publication number: 20090108814
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery switch for use in a multi-battery vehicle to selectively connect or isolate batteries from each other. It includes a detector to monitor the voltage of at least a first battery to detect consistently present transient voltages and on detection of such voltages to connect or maintain connected the battery to at least a second battery. The detector monitors the continuance of transient voltages and additionally monitors the voltage of at least the first and second battery, and isolates the batteries from each other where the voltage of either battery falls below a specified voltage despite the detection of transient voltages at the first battery. The invention also relates to a method of initiating the interconnection or disconnection of at least two batteries on a single vehicle, and to a method of detecting the existence of a charging supply on a supply line to an open battery isolating switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Wilkins, Ross G. Pratt, Paul G. A. Beeson, Justin D. Spence
  • Patent number: 7360362
    Abstract: A two-stage turbocharger system includes an exhaust manifold formed separately from the high-pressure and low-pressure turbine housings. The exhaust manifold defines a bypass passage, and a bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage for opening and closing the passage. The exhaust manifold also defines an inter-turbine passage. The turbine housings of the high-pressure and low-pressure turbochargers are releasably connected to the exhaust manifold such that exhaust gas received into the exhaust manifold bypasses the high-pressure turbine and flows through the bypass passage to the low-pressure turbine when the bypass valve is in the open position, and the exhaust gas flows through the high-pressure turbine and then through the inter-turbine passage to the low-pressure turbine when the bypass valve is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic F Nicolle, Christopher Wilkins, Magali M Capelli
  • Publication number: 20070169479
    Abstract: A two-stage turbocharger system includes an exhaust manifold formed separately from the high-pressure and low-pressure turbine housings. The exhaust manifold defines a bypass passage, and a bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage for opening and closing the passage. The exhaust manifold also defines an inter-turbine passage. The turbine housings of the high-pressure and low-pressure turbochargers are releasably connected to the exhaust manifold such that exhaust gas received into the exhaust manifold bypasses the high-pressure turbine and flows through the bypass passage to the low-pressure turbine when the bypass valve is in the open position, and the exhaust gas flows through the high-pressure turbine and then through the inter-turbine passage to the low-pressure turbine when the bypass valve is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Frederic Nicolle, Christopher Wilkins, Magali Capelli