Patents by Inventor Diana Barbara Placha

Diana Barbara Placha 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).

  • Wheel disconnect clutch
    Patent number: 11390160
    Abstract: A wheel disconnect clutch includes a housing attachable to a knuckle and a clutch sleeve slidably supported for axial movement within the housing and having first teeth configured to couple with a wheel hub and second teeth configured to couple with a half shaft. The clutch sleeve is slidable between an engaged position in which the first teeth are coupled to the wheel hub and a disengaged position in which the first teeth are decoupled from the wheel hub. A drive ring is connected to the clutch sleeve and supported within the housing to be axially slidable and rotationally fixed relative to the housing. An actuator ring is disposed adjacent to the drive ring, supported for rotation within the housing, and axially fixed relative to the housing. The driver ring moves the clutch sleeve between engaged and disengaged positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Russell McBride, Norman Jerry Bird, Megan Mackenzie Gould, Diana Barbara Placha
  • WHEEL DISCONNECT CLUTCH
    Publication number: 20220176813
    Abstract: A wheel disconnect clutch includes a housing attachable to a knuckle and a clutch sleeve slidably supported for axial movement within the housing and having first teeth configured to couple with a wheel hub and second teeth configured to couple with a half shaft. The clutch sleeve is slidable between an engaged position in which the first teeth are coupled to the wheel hub and a disengaged position in which the first teeth are decoupled from the wheel hub. A drive ring is connected to the clutch sleeve and supported within the housing to be axially slidable and rotationally fixed relative to the housing. An actuator ring is disposed adjacent to the drive ring, supported for rotation within the housing, and axially fixed relative to the housing. The driver ring moves the clutch sleeve between engaged and disengaged positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Russell McBride, Norman Jerry Bird, Megan Mackenzie Gould, Diana Barbara Placha
  • Wheel end disconnect system and method
    Patent number: 11105380
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for locking a half shaft to a wheel hub to engage four wheel drive are disclosed. In one example, a wheel hub is locked to a half shaft via a radially expanding engagement mechanism. The radially expanding engagement mechanism is without grease and without springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Eugene Kathman, Jr., Gregory D. Gardner, Norman Jerry Bird, Diana Barbara Placha, Xiaoyong Lu
  • WHEEL END DISCONNECT SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20210025460
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for locking a half shaft to a wheel hub to engage four wheel drive are disclosed. In one example, a wheel hub is locked to a half shaft via a radially expanding engagement mechanism. The radially expanding engagement mechanism is without grease and without springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Eugene Kathman, JR., Gregory D. Gardner, Norman Jerry Bird, Diana Barbara Placha, Xiaoyong Lu