Patents by Inventor Donn NIFFENEGGER

Donn NIFFENEGGER 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: 10066743
    Abstract: A transfer case (30) and a method of assembly in an all-wheel drive vehicle can include a range shifting assembly (60) for shifting between a low-range and high-range drive mode, a normally disengaged clutch assembly (80) for transferring drive torque to a first and second driveline, a clutch actuator (88), and an actuating gear (48). The clutch actuator (88) can be moveable between an expanded position and a contracted position and engageable with the clutch assembly (80) for engaging the clutch assembly (80) when in the expanded position. The actuating gear (48) can be reversibly rotatable through a predetermined angular arc of movement for operating the clutch actuator (88) between the contracted and expanded position for actuating the clutch assembly (80) and for shifting the range shifting assembly (60) between a low-range drive mode and a high-range mode when the clutch assembly (80) is in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Pritchard, David E. Young, Joseph Mastie, Donn Niffenegger, Christopher Kurmaniak
  • Publication number: 20160131253
    Abstract: A transfer case (30) and a method of assembly in an all-wheel drive vehicle can include a range shifting assembly (60) for shifting between a low-range and high-range drive mode, a normally disengaged clutch assembly (80) for transferring drive torque to a first and second driveline, a clutch actuator (88), and an actuating gear (48). The clutch actuator (88) can be moveable between an expanded position and a contracted position and engageable with the clutch assembly (80) for engaging the clutch assembly (80) when in the expanded position. The actuating gear (48) can be reversibly rotatable through a predetermined angular arc of movement for operating the clutch actuator (88) between the contracted and expanded position for actuating the clutch assembly (80) and for shifting the range shifting assembly (60) between a low-range drive mode and a high-range mode when the clutch assembly (80) is in the disengaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Larry A. PRITCHARD, David E. YOUNG, Joseph MASTIE, Donn NIFFENEGGER, Christopher KURMANIAK
  • Patent number: 9186987
    Abstract: A transfer case (21, 330) and a method of assembly can include an input shaft (15) and output shafts (14, 16), a mode clutch (30) for shifting between a two-wheel and four-wheel drive mode, a mode shift mechanism (56, 380, 480), a planetary gear assembly (20) for providing a different drive ratio between the input shaft (15) and the output shaft (14), a range shift mechanism (50, 360, 460), and a synchronizer (40, 340) for speed synchronization before shifting between a low-range drive mode and a high-range drive mode. A fixed ring gear (24) can be connected to the planetary gear assembly (20) during the high-range and low-range drive mode. The mode shift mechanism (56) and the range shift mechanism (50) can be electro-mechanically actuated by a reversible rotatable actuating gear (348, 448) interposed between an expandable clutch actuator (388, 488) and a rotatable barrel cam (359, 459).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Mastie, Larry A. Pritchard, David Young, Donn Niffenegger, Christopher Kurmaniak
  • Publication number: 20150158383
    Abstract: A transfer case (21, 330) and a method of assembly can include an input shaft (15) and output shafts (14, 16), a mode clutch (30) for shifting between a two-wheel and four-wheel drive mode, a mode shift mechanism (56, 380, 480), a planetary gear assembly (20) for providing a different drive ratio between the input shaft (15) and the output shaft (14), a range shift mechanism (50, 360, 460), and a synchronizer (40, 340) for speed synchronization before shifting between a low-range drive mode and a high-range drive mode. A fixed ring gear (24) can be connected to the planetary gear assembly (20) during the high-range and low-range drive mode. The mode shift mechanism (56) and the range shift mechanism (50) can be electro-mechanically actuated by a reversible rotatable actuating gear (348, 448) interposed between an expandable clutch actuator (388, 488) and a rotatable barrel cam (359, 459).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Joseph D. MASTIE, Larry A. PRITCHARD, David YOUNG, Donn NIFFENEGGER, Christopher KURMANIAK