Patents by Inventor Gary E. Hart

Gary E. Hart 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).

  • Publication number: 20090145713
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fan coupling (10) having a fan-drive subassembly (12), an electromagnet subassembly (14), and a magnetic medium (16). The fan-drive subassembly (12) includes an output member (22) and an input member (20) rotatably mounted around the output member (22) with the magnetic medium (16) therebetween. The magnetic medium (16) has a shear stress that can be adjusted by a magnetic flux (24) for transferring torque between the input member (20) and the output member (22). The electromagnet subassembly (14) includes a stationary electromagnet coil (62) for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium (16) and regulating a torque transferred between the input member (20) and the output member (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Neil E. Robb, Rick L. Boyer, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7516827
    Abstract: A hydraulically controlled fan drive system (12) having a method of engagement includes a housing assembly (20) containing a hydraulic fluid (48) and an engaging circuit (36). The engaging circuit (36) includes a pitot tube (152) coupled within the housing assembly (20) that receives at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid (48). An engaging circuit (36) engages the housing assembly (20) to a fan shaft (44) in response to supply of the hydraulic fluid (48) from the pitot tube (152).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Dale M. Pickelman, Jr., Theodore A. Malott, Neil E. Robb, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7490707
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fan coupling (10) having a fan-drive subassembly (12), an electromagnet subassembly (14), and a magnetic medium (16). The fan-drive subassembly (12) includes an output member (22) and an input member (20) rotatably mounted around the output member (22) with the magnetic medium (16) therebetween. The magnetic medium (16) has a shear stress that can be adjusted by a magnetic flux (24) for transferring torque between the input member (20) and the output member (22). The electromagnet subassembly (14) includes a stationary electromagnet coil (62) for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium (16) and regulating a torque transferred between the input member (20) and the output member (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Neil E. Robb, Rick L. Boyer, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7364025
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fan coupling (10) having an inverted construction with an input member (18) rotatably mounted to an output member (20). The input member (18) defines a fluid chamber (50) with the output member (20) rotating therein and a magnetic medium (52) between the output member (20) and the input member (18). The coupling (10) further includes an electromagnet subassembly (14) actuated by a controller (82) for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium (52) and regulating the amount of torque transferred from the input member (18) to the output member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Neil E. Robb, Rick L. Boyer, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7178656
    Abstract: A hydraulically controlled fan drive system (12) having a method of engagement includes a housing assembly (20) containing a hydraulic fluid (48) and an engaging circuit (36). The engaging circuit (36) includes a pitot tube (152) coupled within the housing assembly (20) that receives at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid (48). An engaging circuit (36) engages the housing assembly (20) to a fan shaft (44) in response to supply of the hydraulic fluid (48) from the pitot tube (152).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Dale M. Pickelman, Theodore A. Malott, Neil E. Robb, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7047911
    Abstract: A hydraulically controlled fan drive system for controlling the cooling of an engine and having a method of engagement includes a housing assembly containing a hydraulic fluid and an engaging circuit. The engaging circuit includes a pitot tube coupled within the housing assembly that receives at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid as the housing assembly rotates to drive a clutch pack (and coupled fan) via static pressure. A fluid controller having binary control adjusts the static pressure within the pitot tube at a given rotational speed, thereby controlling the engagement of the clutch pack to a fully engaged drive (utilizing friction type engagement), a fully disengaged drive, and at least two partially engaged clutch positions (i.e. partially engaged utilizing a wet viscous type clutch engagement). To control static pressure release, the fluid controller may utilize a dual spool system valving arrangement or a parallel fixed orifice binary control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Neil E. Robb, James E. Ignatovich, Dale M. Pickelman, Theodore A. Malott, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 6480174
    Abstract: An eyeglass-mount display (EMD) device includes a frame, a display pod, and a personalized module removably coupled to the frame. The frame has a cross-bracket and a pair of ear pieces each coupled to an end of the cross-bracket. The display pod is mounted to the cross-bracket and includes an electronic image generator for generating an image and optics for creating a virtual image. The personalized module includes preset fitting adjustments specific to a particular user. The module may also include corrective optical lenses. The removable personalized module enables multiple users to share the same EMD frame and display pod without making numerous fitting adjustments upon donning the EMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Optimize Incorporated
    Inventors: Rick James Kaufmann, Raymond T. Hebert, James W. Pfeiffer, Gary E. Hart, Loren D. Stirling, Barry Wingate, Roland J. Montalbo, Peter K. S. Lee
  • Patent number: D252627
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: Memorex Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Belgin, Gary E. Hart