Patents by Inventor Eric J. LaMothe

Eric J. LaMothe 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: 10738668
    Abstract: An automotive driveline unit housing can be that of a power transfer unit (PTU), a final drive unit (FDU), or a rear drive unit (RDU). The automotive driveline unit housing has a lubricant feed passage spanning from an inlet to an outlet. The outlet can be situated near a seal of the automotive driveline unit, near a bearing of the unit, near both the seal and bearing, or near another component. The lubricant feed passage can have a flow restrictor located near its outlet. When the unit is in a connected state, lubricant is received in the lubricant feed passage via a spinning gear of the unit. The received lubricant trickles through the flow restrictor. And when the unit is in a disconnected state, lubricant continues to trickle through the flow restrictor, even though lubricant may no longer be received in the lubricant feed passage via the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Walker, Eric J. LaMothe
  • Patent number: 10352367
    Abstract: A torque transfer device for a vehicle may include a housing and a variable angle constant velocity joint integrated with the housing. The joint may be connected between a drive mechanism and an output shaft for transmitting torque from the drive mechanism to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Miller, Eric J. LaMothe, Sam Junior D'Angelo, Robert Leslie Cassell
  • Patent number: 10156268
    Abstract: A boot assembly for a constant velocity joint includes a boot having a neck portion arranged to be received over a shaft that is coupled to the constant velocity joint, and a retainer or insert which may include a vent. The retainer or insert may be carried by the neck portion and has at least one flex feature to facilitate flexing thereof. The insert may have at least one projection that extends radially inwardly from the neck portion and defines part of an inner surface of the boot, or at least one vent path defined therein to facilitate venting of one or more chambers defined at least in part by the boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cassell, Robert Paladichuk, Eric J. LaMothe
  • Publication number: 20180202331
    Abstract: An automotive driveline unit housing can be that of a power transfer unit (PTU), a final drive unit (FDU), or a rear drive unit (RDU). The automotive driveline unit housing has a lubricant feed passage spanning from an inlet to an outlet. The outlet can be situated near a seal of the automotive driveline unit, near a bearing of the unit, near both the seal and bearing, or near another component. The lubricant feed passage can have a flow restrictor located near its outlet. When the unit is in a connected state, lubricant is received in the lubricant feed passage via a spinning gear of the unit. The received lubricant trickles through the flow restrictor. And when the unit is in a disconnected state, lubricant continues to trickle through the flow restrictor, even though lubricant may no longer be received in the lubricant feed passage via the gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin M. Walker, Eric J. LaMothe
  • Publication number: 20170248170
    Abstract: A boot assembly for a constant velocity joint includes a boot having a neck portion arranged to be received over a shaft that is coupled to the constant velocity joint, and a retainer or insert which may include a vent. The retainer or insert may be carried by the neck portion and has at least one flex feature to facilitate flexing thereof. The insert may have at least one projection that extends radially inwardly from the neck portion and defines part of an inner surface of the boot, or at least one vent path defined therein to facilitate venting of one or more chambers defined at least in part by the boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Cassell, Robert Paladichuk, Eric J. LaMothe
  • Publication number: 20160238084
    Abstract: One exemplary illustration of a torque transfer device for a vehicle may include a housing and a variable angle constant velocity joint integrated with the housing. The joint may be connected between a drive mechanism and an output shaft for transmitting torque from the drive mechanism to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Michael James Miller, Eric J. LaMothe, Sam Junior D'Angelo, Robert Leslie Cassell
  • Publication number: 20140179449
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint may include a shaft and a boot assembly. The boot assembly may include a boot having a boot neck. The boot neck may include a boot lip. A shaft may be rotationally coupled to a housing and may define a shaft groove. An attachment mechanism may be integrated within the boot neck. The shaft groove may be configured to receive the boot lip and the attachment mechanism may exert a radial force on the groove to secure the boot neck to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Eric J. LaMothe, Sam Junior D'Angelo