Patents by Inventor James P. Downs

James P. Downs 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: 9783035
    Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly including an electric motor, an electric power source, a mode shift gearset, an actuator and a differential within a housing. The motor can include a first output member. The mode shift gearset can include a second output member and a shift member. The shift member can transmit torque between the first and second output members when the shift member is in a second position. The actuator can be coupled to the shift member to move the shift member between first and second positions. The differential can include a differential case and a differential gearset. The differential case can be drivingly coupled to the second output member to receive rotary power therefrom. The differential gearset can transmit rotary power between the differential case and first and second output shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Zugang Huang, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9777818
    Abstract: A drive module that includes an electric motor, a differential assembly with a differential input member and a pair of differential output members, a multi-speed transmission assembly, which transmits rotary power between the electric motor and the differential input member, and a pair of axle shafts that are each coupled to an associated one of the differential output members for rotation therewith. The multi-speed transmission assembly and includes a housing, a two-speed planetary transmission stage, a plurality of clutches and a transmission output member that provides rotary power to the differential input member. The two-speed planetary transmission stage has an input sun gear, which is driven by the motor, and employs a set of planet gears having compound planet gears that provide a gear reduction between the sun gear and the transmission output member. The clutches are employed to control an overall reduction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9746064
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component having a dual friction clutch differential assembly and a hydraulic circuit for operating the friction clutches. The hydraulic circuit includes a pair of normally open, solenoid operated valves that are selectively closed to control the fluid pressure that acts on the friction clutches. The hydraulic circuit provides a simplified and cost-effective means for providing disconnecting and/or torque vectoring capabilities to the vehicle driveline component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent A. Shoemaker, Charles G. Stuart, James P. Downs
  • Publication number: 20170239989
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft, a plurality of axle shaft bearings and a seal. The axle housing has a tubular member and an end flange that is coupled to the tubular member. The axle shaft bearings and the seal are received in the end flange and are engaged to the axle shaft. The axle shaft bearings support the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing. The seal is sealingly engaged to the end flange and the axle shaft. A method for assembling an axle assembly is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Publication number: 20170234154
    Abstract: A turbine stator vane with a closed loop sequential impingement cooling circuit with an impingement cooling insert that includes a three-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit, where each leg of the circuit includes a cooling air supply channel and a return channel with rows of impingement cooling holes and rows of return openings connecting them together. Turn channels are located at the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the vane to direct cooling air from the first leg and into the second and third legs in series. Impingement holes are formed on impingement surfaces that alternate with return slots formed in the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: James P Downs
  • Publication number: 20170198799
    Abstract: An axle assembly with a carrier housing, an input pinion and a ring gear. The input pinion includes pinion gear teeth and is supported for rotation about a first axis relative to the carrier housing via first and second bearings. The ring gear includes ring gear teeth that are meshed to the pinion gear teeth and a third bearing supports the ring gear for rotation about the second axis relative to the carrier housing. The third bearing is disposed along the second axis on a side of the ring gear that is opposite the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 9677656
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an input pinion with a pinion gear, which is received in an axle housing and rotatable about a first axis, and a pinion shaft. The pinion gear is meshed with a ring gear that is coupled to a differential assembly. A head bearing, which is disposed on a first axial end of the input pinion, supports the input pinion for rotation relative to the housing about the first axis. A tail bearing supports the input pinion for rotation relative to the housing about the first axis. The pinion gear is disposed axially between the tail bearing and the head bearing. A bearing groove is formed into the pinion shaft and the bearing elements are received into the bearing groove such that an inner bearing race of the tail bearing is unitarily and integrally formed with the pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Publication number: 20170146108
    Abstract: A family of axle assemblies that employ a modular concept to maximize part commonality amongst the several axle assemblies. The axle assemblies have a housing assembly that employs a main housing that is formed from a casting that is common to all of the axle assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9649882
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an axle housing, a wheel end cover and an axle shaft. The axle housing has a tubular member with an end flange coupled thereto. A pair of axle bearings are mounted to the axle shaft and the end flange and support the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing. The wheel end cover is mounted to the end flange and carries a seal that is engaged to the axle shaft. A method for assembling an axle assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 9593757
    Abstract: An axle assembly with a housing, a pinion, a ring gear, a bearing and a pair of shafts. The pinon is mounted to the housing for rotation about a first axis. The ring gear is received in the housing and meshingly engaged with the pinion. The bearing supports the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing about a second axis and also handles thrust loads between the housing and the ring gear that are directed (in both directions) along the second axis. The bearing has a plurality of bearing elements and is abutted against a shoulder formed on the housing that is positioned along the second axis between the first axis and the bearing elements. The differential assembly has a differential case, which is coupled to the ring gear for rotation therewith, and a pair of output members that are coupled to the shafts for common rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Publication number: 20170057352
    Abstract: A vehicle with a primary driveline that is configured to distribute rotary power to a first set of vehicle wheels and a power transmitting device that can be selectively operated to transmit rotary power to a secondary driveline. The power transmitting device has an input member, which is driven by the primary driveline, and an output member that is selectively coupled to the input member to receive rotary power therefrom. The secondary driveline comprises a differential, a pair of shafts, and a side shaft coupling that selectively interrupts power transmission between the differential and one of the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, James P. Downs, Richard S. Silbert
  • Publication number: 20170051796
    Abstract: An actuator assembly can include a housing, first and second pistons, and spring. The housing can include first and second cylinders disposed about an axis. The first piston and cylinder can define a first chamber in fluid communication with an inlet. The second piston and cylinder can define a second chamber in fluid communication with an outlet. Opposite ends of the spring can be coupled for axial translation with the first and second piston, respectively. The spring can translate the first piston to provide high volume, low pressure fluid to the outlet when a pressure in the first chamber is less than a predetermined pressure. When the pressure in the first chamber is equal to, or greater than, the predetermined pressure and the second piston is translated in the first axial direction, the spring can compress and the second piston can provide low volume, high pressure fluid to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Publication number: 20170043663
    Abstract: A power transmitting component having a actuator with a lead screw, which is driven by a motor and a transmission, a pusher assembly driven by the lead screw, and a clutch fork. Translation of the pusher coordinates movement of the clutch fork along its axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventor: James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9512888
    Abstract: A power transmitting component can include a friction clutch, hydraulic ram, and an actuator. The actuator can include first and second pistons, and a resilient member. The resilient member can translate the first piston to provide a high volume of fluid at low pressure to the ram when a pressure in a first chamber is less than a predetermined pressure and the second piston is translated in a first direction. The resilient member can compress between the first and second pistons to permit relative motion between the pistons when the pressure is equal to, or greater than, the predetermined pressure and the second piston is translated in the first direction. The second piston provides a low volume of fluid at high pressure to the ram when pressure in the first chamber is equal to, or greater than, the predetermined pressure and the second piston is translated in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 9511666
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline that includes a differential assembly, a two-speed transmission, a power take-off unit, a range sleeve, a mode sleeve and an input shaft. The range sleeve is non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the input shaft. The range sleeve provides rotary power to the two-speed transmission and is movable into different positions to control the gear ratio in which the two-speed transmission operates. The two-speed transmission outputs rotary power to the differential assembly. The mode sleeve is selectively movable into a position where it transmits rotary power between the range sleeve and a PTU input of the power-take off unit. Movement of the range and mode sleeves can be coordinated to provide a two-wheel drive high speed mode, a four-wheel drive high speed mode and a four-wheel drive low speed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 9500237
    Abstract: A power transmitting component having a actuator with a lead screw, which is driven by a motor and a transmission, a pusher assembly driven by the lead screw, and first and second clutch forks. Translation of the pusher coordinates movement of the first and second clutch forks along respective axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: American & Axle Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9493069
    Abstract: A vehicle with a primary driveline that is configured to distribute rotary power to a first set of vehicle wheels and a power transmitting device that can be selectively operated to transmit rotary power to a secondary driveline. The power transmitting device has an input member, which is driven by the primary driveline, and an output member that is selectively coupled to the input member to receive rotary power therefrom. The secondary driveline comprises a differential, a pair of shafts, and a side shaft coupling that selectively interrupts power transmission between the differential and one of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, James P. Downs, Richard S. Silbert
  • Publication number: 20160327143
    Abstract: An axle assembly with a carrier housing, an input pinion and a ring gear. The input pinion includes pinion gear teeth and is supported for rotation about a first axis relative to the carrier housing via first and second bearings that are disposed along the first axis on opposite sides of the pinion gear teeth. The ring gear includes ring gear teeth that are meshed to the pinion gear teeth and a third bearing supports the ring gear for rotation about the second axis relative to the carrier housing. The third bearing is disposed along the second axis on a side of the ring gear that is opposite the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Publication number: 20160272003
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an axle housing, a wheel end cover and an axle shaft. The axle housing has a tubular member with an end flange coupled thereto. A pair of axle bearings are mounted to the axle shaft and the end flange and support the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing. The wheel end cover is mounted to the end flange and carries a seal that is engaged to the axle shaft. A method for assembling an axle assembly is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Publication number: 20160265641
    Abstract: An axle assembly with a housing, a pinion, a ring gear, a bearing and a pair of shafts. The pinon is mounted to the housing for rotation about a first axis. The ring gear is received in the housing and meshingly engaged with the pinion. The bearing supports the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing about a second axis and also handles thrust loads between the housing and the ring gear that are directed (in both directions) along the second axis . The bearing has a plurality of bearing elements and is abutted against a shoulder formed on the housing that is positioned along the second axis between the first axis and the bearing elements. The differential assembly has a differential case, which is coupled to the ring gear for rotation therewith, and a pair of output members that are coupled to the shafts for common rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente