Patents by Inventor Gerald S. Szczepanski

Gerald S. Szczepanski 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: 8544174
    Abstract: A differential mechanism includes a case including first and second portions, the first portion including a first surface interrupted by recesses, the second portion including a second surface interrupted by second recesses, contacting the first surface, and secured to the first portion, a pin extending though the recesses, and a ring gear secured to the portions and overlapping the surfaces and the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis W. Isken, II, James M. Story, Charles Krysztof, Robert J. Neal, Jason Savage, Gerald S. Szczepanski
  • Publication number: 20120149522
    Abstract: A differential mechanism includes a case including first and second portions, the first portion including a first surface interrupted by recesses, the second portion including a second surface interrupted by second recesses, contacting the first surface, and secured to the first portion, a pin extending though said recesses, and a ring gear secured to said portions and overlapping said surfaces and said pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis W. Isken, II, James M. Story, Charles Krysztof, Robert J. Neal, Jason Savage, Gerald S. Szczepanski
  • Patent number: 7794153
    Abstract: An axle differential mechanism includes a carrier, a bearing supporting the carrier in rotation about an axis, a bearing adjuster including a adjuster sleeve held against rotation and axial displacement, and an adjuster nut formed with first teeth, and engaged by screw threads with the adjuster sleeve such that rotation of the adjuster nut about the axis causes the adjuster nut to contact the bearing and produce a preload force on the bearing between the adjuster nut and the carrier, and a locking device secured against displacement for engaging the adjuster nut, said engagement preventing rotation of the adjuster nut relative to the bearing and maintaining the preload on the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Charles Krysztof, Jeffrey L. Hoff
  • Patent number: 7695392
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a first case portion, a second case portion secured to the first case portion, the first case portion and the second case portions enclosing a cavity and supported for rotation about a first axis, a spider pin located within and extending beyond the cavity at an axial position to engage the ring gear and secured to at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion for rotation therewith, and a ring gear secured to at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion, located radially outboard of the spider pins and at the axial position of the spider pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis W. Isken, II, James M. Story, Charles Krysztof, Robert J. Neal, Jason Savage, Gerald S. Szczepanski
  • Publication number: 20090145683
    Abstract: An axle differential mechanism includes a carrier, a bearing supporting the carrier in rotation about an axis, a bearing adjuster including a adjuster sleeve held against rotation and axial displacement, and an adjuster nut formed with first teeth, and engaged by screw threads with the adjuster sleeve such that rotation of the adjuster nut about the axis causes the adjuster nut to contact the bearing and produce a preload force on the bearing between the adjuster nut and the carrier, and a locking device secured against displacement for engaging the adjuster nut, said engagement preventing rotation of the adjuster nut relative to the bearing and maintaining the preload on the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Charles Krysztof, Jeffrey L. Hoff
  • Publication number: 20090013533
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a differential assembly, comprising producing a first case portion by cold flow forming a first workpiece on a first mandrel, producing a second case portion by cold flow forming a second workpiece on a second mandrel, installing in a cavity formed in the first case portion a spider assembly including radially extending spider pins located at an axial position, pinions supported for rotation on the spider assembly, and a first side gear engaged with the pinions, installing in a cavity formed in the second case portion a second side gear engaged with the pinions, and securing the second case portion to the first case portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Dennis W. Isken, II, James M. Story, Charles Krysztof, Robert J. Neal, Jason Savage, Gerald S. Szczepanski
  • Publication number: 20090017962
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a first case portion, a second case portion secured to the first case portion, the first case portion and the second case portions enclosing a cavity and supported for rotation about a first axis, a spider pin located within and extending beyond the cavity at an axial position to engage the ring gear and secured to at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion for rotation therewith, and a ring gear secured to at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion, located radially outboard of the spider pins and at the axial position of the spider pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Dennis W. Isken, II, James M. Story, Charles Krysztof, Robert J. Neal, Jason Savage, Gerald S. Szczepanski
  • Patent number: 7008345
    Abstract: A planetary differential including a differential case rotatable about an axis and a method of manufacturing thereof. The differential case includes a cover, a housing, an annulus gear, and a ring gear. The differential case defines a differential cavity having a clutch cavity and a planet cavity separated by a retainer plate coupled to the housing. The modular nature of this system allows both open and torque biasing constructions in the same packaging space. The method of manufacturing the differential includes the steps of coupling a retainer plate to the housing between the clutch cavity and the axial opening, placing a planetary gear set in the planetary cavity, and fixing the housing to the annulus gear and ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Marj Phelan, legal representative, Gerald S. Szczepanski, Richard M. Krzesicki, Norman Szalony, James M. Story, Bhulabai S. Narayanan, Perry E. Phelan, deceased
  • Patent number: 6616432
    Abstract: A fluid pump cowling for attachment to at least a pair of helical drivetrain gears having teeth and lands. The cowling has a pair of sidewalls adapted to extend at least partially over the lands of a first of the pair of drivetrain gears and a curved sump wall extending between the sidewalls that corresponds generally to the outermost circumference of the first gear. A sump channel is defined between the sidewalls on the sump wall adjacent a distal end of the sump wall. The sump channel has a generally frustoconical shape and leads to a fluid outlet opening defined in one of the sidewalls. The cowling is positioned such that the teeth of the pair of helical gears mesh in an area in fluid communication with the sump channel to create an area of high fluid pressure upon rotational movement of the gears with a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Jonathan M. Adler
  • Publication number: 20030124013
    Abstract: A fluid pump cowling for attachment to at least a pair of helical drivetrain gears having teeth and lands. The cowling has a pair of sidewalls adapted to extend at least partially over the lands of a first of the pair of drivetrain gears and a curved sump wall extending between the sidewalls that corresponds generally to the outermost circumference of the first gear. A sump channel is defined between the sidewalls on the sump wall adjacent a distal end of the sump wall. The sump channel has a generally frustoconical shape and leads to a fluid outlet opening defined in one of the sidewalls. The cowling is positioned such that the teeth of the pair of helical gears mesh in an area in fluid communication with the sump channel to create an area of high fluid pressure upon rotational movement of the gears with a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Jonathan M. Adler
  • Patent number: 5845531
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a reverse brake incorporated into the geartrain of a manual transmission which functions to stop inertial rotation of the input shaft prior to engagement of reverse gear. In particular, a constant-mesh gearset is operable with a first clutch to establish a forward drive connection between the input shaft and the output shaft, and is further operable with a second clutch to brake rotation of the input shaft without establishing a forward drive connection with the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: New Venture Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn W. Fraley, Gerald S. Szczepanski