Patents by Inventor Donald Edward Hoffman

Donald Edward Hoffman 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: 10344830
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four clutches. The transmission produces two reverse gear ratios and twelve forward speed ratios in response to engagement of the brakes in clutches in combinations of three. The transmission is suitable for use with a range selector. In a low range, one of the reverse ratios and all twelve of the forward ratios are utilized. In a high range, the other reverse ratio and eleven of the forward ratios are utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10309506
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes four shift elements to establish three forward driving ranges and one reverse driving range. Two of the forward driving ranges utilize recirculating power flow paths in which the power transmitted through the variator is much smaller than the power transmitted by the transmission. Both variator sheaves rotate about axes that are offset from the input axis such that neither sheave is partially submerged in transmission fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10247280
    Abstract: A four gearing-arrangement transmission having six shift-elements cooperatively engaging in combinations of three to provide nine forward speeds and one reverse speed. The transmission having a first gearing-arrangement with an end-gear fixedly coupled to a ground. A second gearing-arrangement with one end-gear fixedly coupled to an input and the other end-gear fixedly coupled to an interior-gear of the first gearing-arrangement. A third gearing-arrangement having an interior-gear fixedly coupled to an output. A fourth gearing-arrangement having a fourth interior-gear fixedly coupled to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, Gregory Daniel Goleski
  • Patent number: 10145453
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces ten forward speed ratios and four reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets and seven shift elements of which three or four are brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs in place of one of the planetary gear sets. One of the brakes is used only in reverse and may be a latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Lippert, David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20180223958
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four clutches. The transmission produces two reverse gear ratios and twelve forward speed ratios in response to engagement of the brakes in clutches in combinations of three. The transmission is suitable for use with a range selector. In a low range, one of the reverse ratios and all twelve of the forward ratios are utilized. In a high range, the other reverse ratio and eleven of the forward ratios are utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9822856
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements each establish at least one reverse gear ratio and between nine and fifteen forward gear ratios. A shiftable gearing arrangement establishes a variety of speed ratios between the input and a first shaft. In some embodiments, a fixed speed ratio is established upstream or downstream of the shiftable gearing arrangement. In reverse and low gear ratios, a low clutch couples the first shaft to the output. In the high gear ratios, a combining planetary gear set establishes a linear speed relationship between the first shaft, a second shaft rotating at a speed proportional to the input, and the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20170328452
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes four shift elements to establish three forward driving ranges and one reverse driving range. Two of the forward driving ranges utilize recirculating power flow paths in which the power transmitted through the variator is much smaller than the power transmitted by the transmission. Both variator sheaves rotate about axes that are offset from the input axis such that neither sheave is partially submerged in transmission fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20170130806
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces ten forward speed ratios and four reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets and seven shift elements of which three or four are brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs in place of one of the planetary gear sets. One of the brakes is used only in reverse and may be a latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Scott Lippert, David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Patent number: 9638291
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. Three simple planetary gear sets are located on the input axis. One of the simple planetary gear sets may have either a split-ring arrangement in which two ring gears are provided with one carrier and one sun gear, or a split-sun arrangement in which two sun gears are provided with one carrier and one ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9625019
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements utilize one or two ball variators to establish a continuous range of speed ratios between an input and an output. In each case, the range of speed ratios includes an infinite ratio in which the output is stationary as the input rotates. In some embodiments having two ball variators, the outputs of the variators are combining using a planetary gear set. In other embodiments having two variators, the outputs of the variators are combined using clutches, which may be switchable one-way clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20170051815
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements utilize one or two ball variators to establish a continuous range of speed ratios between an input and an output. In each case, the range of speed ratios includes an infinite ratio in which the output is stationary as the input rotates. In some embodiments having two ball variators, the outputs of the variators are combining using a planetary gear set. In other embodiments having two variators, the outputs of the variators are combined using clutches, which may be switchable one-way clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9423005
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces at least nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. One embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs, three simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20160069431
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements each establish at least one reverse gear ratio and between nine and fifteen forward gear ratios. A shiftable gearing arrangement establishes a variety of speed ratios between the input and a first shaft. In some embodiments, a fixed speed ratio is established upstream or downstream of the shiftable gearing arrangement. In reverse and low gear ratios, a low clutch couples the first shaft to the output. In the high gear ratios, a combining planetary gear set establishes a linear speed relationship between the first shaft, a second shaft rotating at a speed proportional to the input, and the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9217494
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements each establish at least one reverse gear ratio and between nine and fifteen forward gear ratios. A shiftable gearing arrangement establishes a variety of speed ratio between the input and a first shaft. In some embodiments, a fixed speed ratio is established upstream or downstream of the shiftable gearing arrangement. In reverse and low gear ratios, a low clutch couples the first shaft to the output. In the high gear ratios, a combining planetary gear set establishes a linear speed relationship between the first shaft, a second shaft rotating at a speed proportional to the input, and the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150337925
    Abstract: A four gearing-arrangement transmission having six shift-elements cooperatively engaging in combinations of three to provide nine forward speeds and one reverse speed. The transmission having a first gearing-arrangement with an end-gear fixedly coupled to a ground. A second gearing-arrangement with one end-gear fixedly coupled to an input and the other end-gear fixedly coupled to an interior-gear of the first gearing-arrangement. A third gearing-arrangement having an interior-gear fixedly coupled to an output. A fourth gearing-arrangement having a fourth interior-gear fixedly coupled to the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, Gregory Daniel Goleski
  • Publication number: 20150323046
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. Three simple planetary gear sets are located on the input axis. One of the simple planetary gear sets may have either a split-ring arrangement in which two ring gears are provided with one carrier and one sun gear, or a split-sun arrangement in which two sun gears are provided with one carrier and one ring gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9175748
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces eleven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. One embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs, three simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Each of these embodiments may include a one way brake such that the first shift is non-synchronous. A third embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four brakes, and two clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Donald Edward Hoffman, Robert Scott Lippert
  • Patent number: 9109669
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. Three simple planetary gear sets are located on the input axis. One of the simple planetary gear sets may have either a split-ring arrangement in which two ring gears are provided with one carrier and one sun gear, or a split-sun arrangement in which two sun gears are provided with one carrier and one ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9103414
    Abstract: A nine speed transmission having six shift-elements. An input being selectively coupled with an interior-gear capable of being braked and an end-gear from a first gearing-arrangement and coupled with an interior-gear of a fourth gearing-arrangement. An opposite end-gear from the first gearing-arrangement being fixedly coupled with an interior-gear of a second gearing-arrangement. An end-gear of a third gearing-arrangement being a ground or capable of being braked. An output being coupled with an interior-gear from the third gearing arrangement and an end-gear from the fourth gearing-arrangement. An end-gear of the second gearing-arrangement being a ground and the opposite end-gear being coupled with opposite end-gears from the third and fourth gearing-arrangements. The opposite end-gear of the second gearing-arrangement also being selectively coupled to the interior-gear of the first gearing-arrangement. Coupled, as used here, may mean selectively or fixedly coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150099603
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces eleven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. One embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs, three simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Each of these embodiments may include a one way brake such that the first shift is non-synchronous. A third embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four brakes, and two clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Donald Edward Hoffman, Robert Scott Lippert