Patents by Inventor Gerald A. Matranga

Gerald A. Matranga 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: 10443690
    Abstract: A heavy-duty industrial transmission is provided that can be implemented in a frac pump system with planetary gearsets with straightforward shift methodologies, slow back-driven speeds, and no recirculating torque in any of the ranges. The heavy-duty transmission has a high number of ranges and may be configured with no reverse range, no countershaft, no overdrive range(s), small and consistent steps of ratios between ranges, and a deep or large reduction ratio of the lowest range, such as at least about a 5:1 reduction. The heavy-duty industrial transmission may have a four-stage planetary arrangement that is configured to provide nine (9) ranges for the transmission that only requires two double pack shifts, with the remaining shifts being single pack shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Gerald A. Matranga
  • Publication number: 20170204943
    Abstract: A heavy-duty industrial transmission is provided that can be implemented in a frac pump system with planetary gearsets with straightforward shift methodologies, slow back-driven speeds, and no recirculating torque in any of the ranges. The heavy-duty transmission has a high number of ranges and may be configured with no reverse range, no countershaft, no overdrive range(s), small and consistent steps of ratios between ranges, and a deep or large reduction ratio of the lowest range, such as at least about a 5:1 reduction. The heavy-duty industrial transmission may have a four-stage planetary arrangement that is configured to provide nine (9) ranges for the transmission that only requires two double pack shifts, with the remaining shifts being single pack shifts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Gerald A. Matranga
  • Patent number: 8453819
    Abstract: A balanced clutch system is provided for use in a transmission. The balanced clutch system includes a clutch assembly that has a clutch piston and a balance piston that cooperate with a clutch piston cavity and a balance piston cavity. Each of the clutch piston cavity and balance piston cavity receives a continuous supply of fluid and establishes a centrifugal head pressure therein, during use. The centrifugal head pressure established in the balance piston cavity contributes to a force that opposes a self-engaging tendency of the clutch assembly that is created by the centrifugal head pressure established within the clutch piston cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Matranga, Glenn E. Meeusen
  • Publication number: 20110203896
    Abstract: A balanced clutch system is provided for use in a transmission. The balanced clutch system includes a clutch assembly that has a clutch piston and a balance piston that cooperate with a clutch piston cavity and a balance piston cavity. Each of the clutch piston cavity and balance piston cavity receives a continuous supply of fluid and establishes a centrifugal head pressure therein, during use. The centrifugal head pressure established in the balance piston cavity contributes to a force that opposes a self-engaging tendency of the clutch assembly that is created by the centrifugal head pressure established within the clutch piston cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Matranga, Glenn E. Meeusen
  • Publication number: 20050183776
    Abstract: The present invention is a pressure regulator for regulating a fluctuatable fluid pressure of a fluid flow, the fluid flow being received from a first device and being transmitted to a second device, including a spool valve being translatable between a closed non-regulating disposition and an open regulating disposition, a throttled portion of a fluid flow acting on a first spool working surface and a main portion of the fluid flow acting on a second opposed spool working surface. A method of regulating a fluctuatable fluid pressure is further included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Gerald Matranga, Andrew Clark
  • Patent number: 6666312
    Abstract: A transmission housing having a modulatable power transmission therein which includes a clutch having interleaved clutch plates and having a central power transmitting shaft extending axially through the clutch. The clutch includes a fluid operated movable piston for effecting clutch operation by compression of the plates. The piston has a smaller piston area and a larger piston area, the smaller piston area has fluid flow directed to it at a variable fluid pressure whereby the clutch is modulatable. The larger piston area is adapted to have fluid flow directed thereto to effect maximum and unmodulatable engagement of the clutch. A spring loaded normally closed trigger valve controls fluid flow to the larger piston area in response to fluid pressure above a predetermined amount at the smaller piston area. The trigger valve is mounted on the outside of the transmission housing and is readily accessible for adjustment, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald Matranga, Andrew Clark
  • Publication number: 20030201143
    Abstract: A transmission housing having a modulatable power transmission therein which includes a clutch having interleaved clutch plates and having a central power transmitting shaft extending axially through the clutch. The clutch includes a fluid operated movable piston for effecting clutch operation by compression of the plates. The piston has a smaller piston area and a larger piston area, the smaller piston area has fluid flow directed to it a variable fluid pressure whereby the clutch is modulatable. The larger piston area is adapted to have fluid flow directed thereto to effect maximum and unmodulatable engagement of the clutch. A spring loaded normally closed trigger valve controls fluid flow to the larger piston area in response to fluid pressure above a predetermined amount at the smaller piston area. The trigger valve is mounted on the outside of the transmission housing and is readily accessible for adjustment, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Twin Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald Matranga, Andrew Clark