Patents by Inventor David A. Fulton

David A. Fulton 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: 20140070649
    Abstract: An apparatus including a rotating member, a resolver and a mounting structure. The resolver includes a resolver stator and a resolver rotor fixedly mounted on the rotating member via a mounting structure. The mounting structure has a low magnetic relative permeability and isolates the resolver rotor from the rotating member by preventing direct contact between the rotating member and the resolver rotor. The disclosed apparatus may be an electric machine having a rotor fixed to the rotating member and be suitable for use in a hybrid vehicle. The mounting structure advantageously has a relative permeability of no greater than about 2 and may be formed out of stainless steel material. The rotating member may be a rotor hub formed out of steel material having a relative permeability of at least about 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: David Fulton, Arlen Phillip Suter, George Pelton, Jim Shaw
  • Publication number: 20140054999
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnet stack for placement in a core member of a permanent magnet electric machine includes providing a plurality of magnet segments, each of the plurality of magnet segments including opposing axial faces having a first surface finish. The method further includes assembling the plurality of first magnet segments into a magnet stack, the magnet stack including a first end with a first axial face of a first magnet segment and an opposing second end with a second axial face of a second magnet segment. Additionally, the method includes finishing the opposing ends of the magnet stack such that the first axial face and the second axial face have a second surface finish that different than the first surface finish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Fulton, Bradley D. Chamberlin
  • Patent number: 8653706
    Abstract: A method of operating an electric machine includes flowing a coolant into an interior portion of a housing of the electric machine, and sensing a level of coolant in a coolant collection area within the interior portion with a coolant level sensor arranged at the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David A. Fulton, Bradley D. Chamberlin
  • Patent number: 8531147
    Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a vibration sensor arranged within the housing. The vibration sensor includes a sensing member configured and disposed to detect vibrations of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Patent number: 8497607
    Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a coolant system fluidly connected to the housing. The coolant system delivers a flow of coolant through the housing. A coolant temperature sensor is arranged within the housing and exposed to the flow of coolant. The coolant temperature sensor configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the coolant in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Patent number: 8432075
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing having a coolant collection area, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a coolant level sensor arranged at the coolant collection area. The coolant level sensor includes a sensing surface configured and disposed to detect a level of coolant collected in the coolant collection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David A. Fulton, Bradley D. Chamberlin
  • Patent number: 8415910
    Abstract: An electric machine including a housing and a stator arranged within the housing. The stator includes a plurality of stator windings that define a number of phases. A switch module is mounted at the housing. The switch module includes a plurality of switch members that are operatively connected to the plurality of stator windings. The plurality of switch members are configured and disposed to selectively establish one of a first electrical connection configuration and a second electrical connection configuration of the plurality of stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David A. Fulton
  • Patent number: 8407947
    Abstract: A connector for securing a horizontally extending member of a sloped roof at a selected angle relative to an upright member of the sloped roof includes a first portion adapted for secure engagement with the upright member and a second portion adapted for secure engagement with the horizontally extending member. An angular measurement section extending from the first portion and having multiple visible features thereon is usable to secure the connector to the upright member at a selected angle by aligning a selected visible feature with a portion of the upright member. Each visible feature corresponds to a selected angular relationship, such that a desired angle between the horizontally extending member and the upright member can be provided through selective alignment of a corresponding visible feature of the connector with the upright member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventors: Fred C. Yaggi, Jr., David A. Fulton
  • Patent number: 8356588
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a combustion-based system having a combustion chamber. The system also includes an ignition control system. The ignition control system includes an ignition device coupled to the combustion chamber, control circuitry having an energy storage device configured to supply energy to the ignition device to produce an ignition event having a desired energy level, and a controller configured to obtain a target voltage across the energy storage device and to discharge an ignition energy from the energy storage device after obtaining the target voltage, wherein the ignition control system is configured to supply the ignition energy to the ignition device to produce the ignition event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Fulton Johnston, Michael McCall Mahler, David Michael Chapin
  • Publication number: 20120305226
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module. The module can include a housing that can define a machine cavity. The housing can include a coolant jacket that contains a first coolant. A coolant sump can be in fluid communication with the machine cavity and can contain a second coolant that is different than the first coolant. The coolant sump can be in thermal communication with the coolant jacket. An electric machine can be positioned within the machine cavity. The electric machine can include a stator assembly, a rotor assembly, and a shaft. The module can also include at least one coolant channel, at least one shaft channel, and at least one rotor channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Remy Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120256524
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine control system including an electronic control unit. The control system can include a starter machine that is in communication with the electronic control unit. The starter machine can comprise a solenoid assembly that includes at least one biasing members and a coil winding. The starter machine can also include a motor that is coupled to a pinion. The motor can include a field assembly and an armature assembly. The field assembly can include a support body and permanent magnets that are supported within the support body. A plurality of flux members can be disposed between the permanent magnets. A plurality of windings can be disposed around the flux members and can be coupled to a control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120256523
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine comprising a housing. A motor can be positioned within the housing and coupled to a gear train, which can be coupled to a shaft. A switched reluctance solenoid assembly can be positioned within the housing and capable of being coupled to inverters that communicate with an electronic control unit. The switched reluctance solenoid assembly includes at least two switched reluctance stator assemblies and a rotor that is coupled to the shaft. The rotor can also include an integral pinion and is movably positioned within the switched reluctance stator assemblies. The rotor is capable of linear and rotational movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120183247
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing and a shaft arranged within the housing. The shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion. At least one bearing is mounted at one of the first end portion of the shaft and the second end portion of the shaft. A stator is mounted within the housing and a rotor is mounted relative to the shaft and rotatable relative to the stator. A temperature sensor is integrated into the housing at the at least one bearing. The temperature sensor includes a sensing element that detects a temperature of the at least one bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120181883
    Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a coolant system fluidly connected to the housing. The coolant system delivers a flow of coolant through the housing. A coolant temperature sensor is arranged within the housing and exposed to the flow of coolant. The coolant temperature sensor configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the coolant in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120181884
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing having a coolant collection area, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a coolant level sensor arranged at the coolant collection area. The coolant level sensor includes a sensing surface configured and disposed to detect a level of coolant collected in the coolant collection area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David A. Fulton, Bradley D. Chamberlin
  • Publication number: 20120181965
    Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a vibration sensor arranged within the housing. The vibration sensor includes a sensing member configured and disposed to detect vibrations of the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120181882
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, and a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator. The rotor includes a rotor lamination assembly having a plurality of laminations. A temperature sensor is arranged within the housing. The temperature sensor includes a sensing surface configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120181967
    Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine that includes a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor assembly, a plurality of permanent magnets mounted within the rotor assembly, and a magnetic flux sensor arranged within the housing. The magnetic flux sensor includes a sensing surface configured and disposed to detect magnetic flux leaking from the rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David A. Fulton, Bradley D. Chamberlin
  • Publication number: 20120126660
    Abstract: An electric machine including a stator, and a rotor lamination assembly configured and disposed to rotate relative to the stator. The rotor lamination assembly includes a plurality of laminations that define an outer diametric surface. A rotor lamination compression sleeve extends about the outer diametric surface of the rotor lamination assembly. The rotor lamination compression sleeve exerts a compressive radial force on the rotor lamination assembly. The rotor lamination compression sleeve is configured and disposed to expand when subjected to a centrifugal force while still maintaining a compressive radial force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120126650
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided and includes a hub, including first and second opposing faces, a first sidewall fixed at opposite ends thereof to the first and second opposing faces to define a first interior between the first and second opposing faces and a second sidewall fixed to one of the first and second opposing faces to define a second interior within the first interior, a first assembly, disposed within the second interior, to generate current from input mechanical energy and a second assembly, electrically coupled to the first assembly and disposed within the first interior, to generate mechanical energy from current associated with the current generated by the first assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Larry Kubes, David Fulton