Patents by Inventor Dean Molde

Dean Molde 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: 6769325
    Abstract: A detent assembly for a transmission is provided including a transmission component, such as a shift rail, movable between a plurality of shift positions including first, second, and neutral shift positions. A contoured surface on the shift rail includes first and second recesses, respectively, corresponding to the first and second shift positions. A neutral recess is arranged between the first and second shift recesses corresponding to the neutral shift position. The first and second recesses, respectively, include first and second transition surfaces sloping towards the neutral recess with the second transition surface being steeper than the first transition surface. A detent assembly includes a biasing member and a detent member with the biasing member urging the detent member into engagement with the contoured surface. The biasing member generates a first work along the first transition surface and a second force along the second transition surface greater than the first work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Meritor, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Molde, Patrick Scheib
  • Publication number: 20030154813
    Abstract: A detent assembly for a transmission is provided including a transmission component, such as a shift rail, movable between a plurality of shift positions including first, second, and neutral shift positions. A contoured surface on the shift rail includes first and second recesses, respectively, corresponding to the first and second shift positions. A neutral recess is arranged between the first and second shift recesses corresponding to the neutral shift position. The first and second recesses, respectively, include first and second transition surfaces sloping towards the neutral recess with the second transition surface being steeper than the first transition surface. A detent assembly includes a biasing member and a detent member with the biasing member urging the detent member into engagement with the contoured surface. The biasing member generates a first work along the first transition surface and a second force along the second transition surface greater than the first work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Dean Molde, Patrick Scheib
  • Patent number: 6446746
    Abstract: A driveline assembly module includes a drivetrain assembly having drivetrain components such as a transmission and differential assembly integrated with a first and a second axle assembly. In one embodiment the drivetrain assembly is integral to the second axle assembly and a coupling attaches the drivetrain assembly to the first axle assembly. By mounting the driveline components, rigid axles, and suspension as an integral module, the components are replaced or serviced by replacement of the entire module. Thus, the individual mounting, replacement and servicing of the individual components, each having multiple independent attachment points, is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Bell, Christos Kyrtsos, Christopher S. Keeney, Frank A. Palmeri, Gerald Montgomery, Yngue Naerheim, Dean Molde