Patents by Inventor James A. Dial

James A. Dial 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: 20240026970
    Abstract: A modified hydraulic circuit for an OEM vehicle transmission, which transmission has a forward clutch, a forward clutch hub and a forward sprag having an inner sprag race and an outer sprag race, an overrun clutch and an overrun clutch hub, the forward clutch and the forward sprag providing a link to a planetary gear train to propel the vehicle forward, the forward clutch hub defining the outer sprag race, the overrun clutch hub defining the inner sprag race, a hydraulic valve body having a plurality of passages and a separator plate, and a 1-2 shift valve, a 2-3 shift valve, a 3-4 shift valve and a 3-4 relay valve, and a gear shift valve, includes a blockage in the passage fluidically connecting the 2-3 shift valve to the overrun clutch, a blockage in the passage fluidically connecting the gear shift valve to the 2-3 shift valve, removal of a movable element from the first check valve body and a passage from the gear shift valve to the overrun clutch via the first check valve body, wherein when operating in
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: James A. Dial
  • Patent number: 11815176
    Abstract: A drop-in lube boost valve assembly replaces an OE lube boost valve assembly in a vehicle transmission hydraulic circuit. The OE valve assembly has a valve body with inlet, balancing and outlet ports. The drop-in valve assembly includes a sleeve having inlet and outlet ports, and a bore extending between and fluidically connecting the ports. The drop-in valve ports are spaced from each other. The sleeve includes valve and spring chambers. A valve has a valve face, a sealing portion and a spring stem and is positioned in the sleeve with the sealing portion positioned in the sleeve bore. A spring is positioned on the spring stem. The valve reciprocates in the sleeve between an open state in which the sealing portion does not overlie the sleeve outlet port and a closed state in which the sealing portion overlies and closes off the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sonnax Transmission Company
    Inventors: John Varvayanis, Maura J. Stafford, James A. Dial
  • Publication number: 20230258236
    Abstract: A spring retainer and a stabilizer for securing a solenoid in a transmission fluid valve body, the valve body having a pair of bores therein collinear with one another and collinear with a movable valve stem, and a slot in the valve body between the bores. The retainer has an inverted U-shaped body having front and rear walls each having a top and a pair of depending legs defining free ends. The front and rear walls are connected at their free ends at a bend. The stabilizer has an inverted U-shaped body corresponding to the spring retainer body and is positioned in the spring retainer between the front and rear walls. A method for stabilizing a solenoid in a valve body is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: James A. Dial, Andrew M. Deyo
  • Publication number: 20220136598
    Abstract: A drop-in lube boost valve assembly replaces an OE lube boost valve assembly in a vehicle transmission hydraulic circuit. The OE valve assembly has a valve body with inlet, balancing and outlet ports. The drop-in valve assembly includes a sleeve having inlet and outlet ports, and a bore extending between and fluidically connecting the ports. The drop-in valve ports are spaced from each other. The sleeve includes valve and spring chambers. A valve has a valve face, a sealing portion and a spring stem and is positioned in the sleeve with the sealing portion positioned in the sleeve bore. A spring is positioned on the spring stem. The valve reciprocates in the sleeve between an open state in which the sealing portion does not overlie the sleeve outlet port and a closed state in which the sealing portion overlies and closes off the outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: John Varvayanis, Maura J. Stafford, James A. Dial
  • Publication number: 20220010877
    Abstract: A pressure regulator valve assembly for an automatic transmission includes a valve body, a valve chamber within the valve body, a valve piston disposed within the valve chamber, the valve piston having a valve channel, and a check valve disposed within the valve channel, the check valve is operable to permit fluid flow in the valve channel in a first direction and substantially prevent fluid flow in the valve channel in a second direction opposite to the first direction. An automatic transmission may include the pressure regulator valve assembly between a hydraulic pump and a torque converter, the pressure regulator valve assembly configured to control fluid flow between the hydraulic pump and the torque converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: John Varvayanis, Maura J. Stafford, James A. Dial
  • Patent number: 10161505
    Abstract: Methods for modifying certain prior art automatic transmissions to strengthen the transmission and eliminate a tendency of the transmissions to fail as well as components for doing the same. Some aspects also include kits for modifying a transmission to increase the strength of the transmission. In some examples, the hydraulic system of a General Motor's model number 4L80E transmission is modified so that an overrun clutch is engaged in more modes of operation than the original equipment prior art 4L80E transmission in order to minimize a tendency for an overdrive roller clutch to fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sonnax Transmission Company
    Inventors: James A. Dial, Eric W. Streed
  • Patent number: 10060526
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of modifying a transmission valve body to increase a line pressure response in certain hydraulic shift control system configurations. In one example, a Daimler Chrysler 46RE or 47RE transmission valve body may be modified to have a higher and more rapid line pressure increase when the transmission is in fourth gear and when the torque converter clutch (TCC) is engaged. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of modifying a transmission valve body to allow TCC engagement in any gear. Aspects of the present disclosure also include replacement valve bodies, as well as kits for modifying a 46RE or 47RE valve body to perform like a 48RE valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sonnax Transmission Company
    Inventors: James A. Dial, MacKenzie M. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20170219091
    Abstract: Methods for modifying certain prior art automatic transmissions to strengthen the transmission and eliminate a tendency of the transmissions to fail as well as components for doing the same. Some aspects also include kits for modifying a transmission to increase the strength of the transmission. In some examples, the hydraulic system of a General Motor's model number 4L80E transmission is modified so that an overrun clutch is engaged in more modes of operation than the original equipment prior art 4L80E transmission in order to minimize a tendency for an overdrive roller clutch to fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: James A. Dial, Eric W. Streed
  • Publication number: 20160252178
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of modifying a transmission valve body to increase a line pressure response in certain hydraulic shift control system configurations. In one example, a Daimler Chrysler 46RE or 47RE transmission valve body may be modified to have a higher and more rapid line pressure increase when the transmission is in fourth gear and when the torque converter clutch (TCC) is engaged. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of modifying a transmission valve body to allow TCC engagement in any gear. Aspects of the present disclosure also include replacement valve bodies, as well as kits for modifying a 46RE or 47RE valve body to perform like a 48RE valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: James A. Dial, MacKenzie M. Campbell
  • Patent number: 3963743
    Abstract: A strong, clean phthalocyanine pigment is prepared by conditioning the crude pigment with 4-sulfophthalic acid or the anhydride thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1973
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: Chemetron Corporation
    Inventor: James Dial Stepp