Patents by Inventor Darren J. Weber

Darren J. Weber 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: 10253875
    Abstract: An apparatus for multiplexing gear engagement control in an automatic transmission is provided. At least two friction engagement devices are configured to selectively engage and disengage a different gear ratio of the transmission. A trim system is configured to selectively supply engagement and disengagement pressures to at least one fluid passageway. A first control valve is fluidly coupled directly to the at least one fluid passageway and directly to each of the at least two friction engagement devices. The first control valve is configured to selectively route the engagement and disengagement pressures through the first control valve directly to the at least two friction devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 9784366
    Abstract: A fast valve actuation system for an automatic vehicle transmission includes a pair of spring-biased shift valves. Solenoids control the application of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the head of each of the shift valves. Each shift valve has at least one port that is coupled to a fluid chamber of a torque transferring mechanism of an automatic transmission. The position of each of the shift valves determines whether its ports are connected with fluid pressure. Fluid passages connect the head of each shift valve to the spring pocket of the other shift valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber
  • Patent number: 9759318
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Patent number: 9752678
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Patent number: 9562594
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling fluid flow to a variator which responsive to separate high and low pressure fluids to control an output torque thereof. A first trim valve may be responsive to a first control signal to supply a first fluid at a fluid outlet thereof. A second trim valve may be responsive to a second control signal to supply a second fluid at a fluid outlet thereof. A variator switching sub-system may controllably supply the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid to the variator. A multiplex valve may be fluidly coupled to the outlets of the first and second trim valves, and may supply the first fluid as the high pressure fluid to the variator switching sub-system during at least one predefined operating condition and may otherwise supply the second fluid as the high pressure fluid to the variator switching sub-system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John W. E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9541191
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling fluid flow in a motor vehicle transmission. At least one friction engagement device is fluidly coupled to a first pump, and a lubrication and cooling sub-system is normally fluidly coupled to a second pump. Illustratively, when a flow rate of the fluid in the first fluid passageway is less than a threshold fluid flow rate, a temperature of the fluid is greater than a temperature threshold and a fluid flow demand is greater than a fluid flow demand threshold, fluid flow from the second pump to the lubrication and cooling sub-system is blocked and fluid supplied by the second pump is instead directed to the at least one friction engagement device such that fluid is supplied by both the first and second pumps only to the at least one friction engagement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John W. E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9534672
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a variator having at least one roller between two torroidal disks may include at least one actuator responsive to fluid pressure at separate high side and low side fluid inlets thereof to control torque applied by the at least one roller to the disks. First and second variator switching valves may each receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second lesser pressure. The first and second variator switching valves supply the first fluid to the high side fluid inlet and the second fluid to the low side fluid inlet during two of four different operational states together defined by the variator switching valves, and supply the second fluid to the high side fluid inlet and the first fluid to the low side fluid inlet during each of the remaining two of the four different operational states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John W. E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9429232
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Patent number: 9400051
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmisson, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Publication number: 20160169376
    Abstract: An apparatus for multiplexing gear engagement control in an automatic transmission is provided. At least two friction engagement devices are configured to selectively engage and disengage a different gear ratio of the transmission. A trim system is configured to selectively supply engagement and disengagement pressures to at least one fluid passageway. A first control valve is fluidly coupled directly to the at least one fluid passageway and directly to each of the at least two friction engagement devices. The first control valve is configured to selectively route the engagement and disengagement pressures through the first control valve directly to the at least two friction devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 9347555
    Abstract: A variator lockout valve system for a continuously variable transmission includes a pair of shift valves. Each shift valve has at least one port that is fluidly coupled to a variator of the continuously variable transmission. Electro-hydraulic actuators control the position of each of the shift valves. When the shift valves are in one position, pressure control valves supply fluid pressure to the variator. If one of the shift valves is in another position, one of the pressure control valves is blocked from supplying fluid pressure to the variator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 9329099
    Abstract: A fault diagnostic method for an automatic transmission may include monitoring an operating state of a trim system configured to selectively supply clutch engagement pressure and exhaust to at least one clutch control valve, determining an expected operating state of the trim system based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and generating a fault signal if the monitored operating state of the trim system is different from the expected operating state of the trim system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 9267582
    Abstract: An apparatus for multiplexing gear engagement control in an automatic transmission is provided. At least two friction engagement devices are configured to selectively engage and disengage a different gear ratio of the transmission. A trim system is configured to selectively supply engagement and disengagement pressures to at least one fluid passageway. A first control valve is fluidly coupled directly to the at least one fluid passageway and directly to each of the at least two friction engagement devices. The first control valve is configured to selectively route the engagement and disengagement pressures through the first control valve directly to the at least two friction devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Publication number: 20150247572
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Patent number: 9103434
    Abstract: A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 9037370
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Publication number: 20150080172
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Publication number: 20150020633
    Abstract: A fast valve actuation system for an automatic vehicle transmission includes a pair of spring-biased shift valves. Solenoids control the application of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the head of each of the shift valves. Each shift valve has at least one port that is coupled to a fluid chamber of a torque transferring mechanism of an automatic transmission. The position of each of the shift valves determines whether its ports are connected with fluid pressure. Fluid passages connect the head of each shift valve to the spring pocket of the other shift valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20150011356
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a variator having at least one roller between two torroidal disks may include at least one actuator responsive to fluid pressure at separate high side and low side fluid inlets thereof to control torque applied by the at least one roller to the disks. First and second variator switching valves may each receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second lesser pressure. The first and second variator switching valves supply the first fluid to the high side fluid inlet and the second fluid to the low side fluid inlet during two of four different operational states together defined by the variator switching valves, and supply the second fluid to the high side fluid inlet and the first fluid to the low side fluid inlet during each of the remaining two of the four different operational states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John W.E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 8897977
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray