Patents by Inventor Jeffrey J. McFarland

Jeffrey J. McFarland 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: 9109641
    Abstract: A friction clutch pack exhibiting improved high speed stability includes a first plurality of friction plates or discs preferably having friction material on both faces interleaved with a second plurality of thicker reaction plates or discs. The friction plates comprise a formed core plate having multiple obliquely oriented or angularly offset sinusoidal waves. Male splines around the periphery of each friction plate engage complementary splines on a cylindrical housing. The reaction plates are flat and thicker than the friction plates and include female splines around an inner opening which engage complementary splines on a shaft or quill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Kremer, Charles S. Davis, Jeffrey J. McFarland, Larry D. Diemer
  • Patent number: 9074642
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid filler for a motor vehicle transmission includes a set of holes through which respective springs of a spring pack extend. The filler is generally positioned adjacent to a single retainer ring or between two retainer rings associated with the spring pack. In some implementations, the filler floats between the two retainer rings, while, in other implementations, the filler is securely attached to one or both of the retainer rings. The filler reduces the volume of one of two cavities, chambers, or cylinders positioned on opposite sides of a piston that selectively interacts with a clutch assembly to engage or disengage the clutch assembly. Reducing the volume of one of the cavities, chambers or cylinders effectively reduces the time period the spring pack is then able to apply a restoring force to the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. McFarland, Chinar S. Ghike, Caleb G. Harmon, Vasanthakumar Chinnusamy
  • Publication number: 20140158494
    Abstract: A friction clutch pack exhibiting improved high speed stability includes a first plurality of friction plates or discs preferably having friction material on both faces interleaved with a second plurality of thicker reaction plates or discs. The friction plates comprise a formed core plate having multiple obliquely oriented or angularly offset sinusoidal waves. Male splines around the periphery of each friction plate engage complementary splines on a cylindrical housing. The reaction plates are flat and thicker than the friction plates and include female splines around an inner opening which engage complementary splines on a shaft or quill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John M. KREMER, Charles S. DAVIS, Jeffrey J. MCFARLAND, Larry D. DIEMER
  • Publication number: 20140110214
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid filler for a motor vehicle transmission includes a set of holes through which respective springs of a spring pack extend. The filler is generally positioned adjacent to a single retainer ring or between two retainer rings associated with the spring pack. In some implementations, the filler floats between the two retainer rings, while, in other implementations, the filler is securely attached to one or both of the retainer rings. The filler reduces the volume of one of two cavities, chambers, or cylinders positioned on opposite sides of a piston that selectively interacts with a clutch assembly to engage or disengage the clutch assembly. Reducing the volume of one of the cavities, chambers or cylinders effectively reduces the time period the spring pack is then able to apply a restoring force to the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. McFarland, Chinar S. Ghike, Caleb G. Harmon, Vasanthakumar Chinnusamy