Patents by Inventor Jeffrey L. Viola

Jeffrey L. Viola 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: 11828335
    Abstract: A driveline disconnect assembly disconnects a wheel hub from a drive shaft supported by a grounding component, such as a suspension knuckle. The driveline disconnect assembly includes a support frame that is fixedly secured to the grounding component. The support frame extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft and extends between first and second support frame sides. The support frame defines a central axis. A linear actuator is fixedly secured to the support frame and extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft. The linear actuator includes a shift sleeve moving axially relative to the support frame. The shift sleeve extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft to selectively engage and disengage the wheel hub to connect and disconnect the wheel hub from the drive shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: John W Kimes, Jeffrey L Viola
  • Publication number: 20230332651
    Abstract: A driveline disconnect assembly disconnects a wheel hub from a drive shaft supported by a grounding component, such as a suspension knuckle. The driveline disconnect assembly includes a support frame that is fixedly secured to the grounding component. The support frame extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft and extends between first and second support frame sides. The support frame defines a central axis. A linear actuator is fixedly secured to the support frame and extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft. The linear actuator includes a shift sleeve moving axially relative to the support frame. The shift sleeve extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft to selectively engage and disengage the wheel hub to connect and disconnect the wheel hub from the drive shaft, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: John W Kimes, Jeffrey L Viola
  • Patent number: 9541143
    Abstract: A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly and an overrunning coupling and magnetic control assembly including the system are provided. The system includes a control member mounted for controlled shifting movement and a translator structure supported for travelling along a path between first and second end positions. The structure is coupled to the control member for selective, small displacement, control member movement upon experiencing a net translational force. The translator structure supports a pair of spaced apart magnetic or ferromagnetic targets for movement therewith. A magnetic field sensor is disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the translator structure between the first and second end positions of travel for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on position of the translator structure. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to travel of the translator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Jeffrey L. Viola
  • Publication number: 20150211587
    Abstract: A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly and an overrunning coupling and magnetic control assembly including the system are provided. The system includes a control member mounted for controlled shifting movement and a translator structure supported for travelling along a path between first and second end positions. The structure is coupled to the control member for selective, small displacement, control member movement upon experiencing a net translational force. The translator structure supports a pair of spaced apart magnetic or ferromagnetic targets for movement therewith. A magnetic field sensor is disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the translator structure between the first and second end positions of travel for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on position of the translator structure. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to travel of the translator structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Jeffrey L. Viola
  • Patent number: 7098658
    Abstract: A fluxgate magnetometer including a fluxgate and a digital processor. The digital processor includes an analog to digital converter for digitizing the back EMF from the fluxgate and a signal generator to generate the fluxgate driving signal. Further, a current sourcing circuit is provided to receive the fluxgate driving signal from the signal generator and transmit a current amplified driver signal to the fluxgate capable of driving the fluxgate in and out of saturation. The signal generator is a pulse width modulator used in conjunction with a voltage shaper and driver to create a triangle-shaped driving signal to excite the fluxgate. The digital processor is further configured to reverse the sign of the digital back EMF signal at a frequency corresponding to two times the frequency of the fluxgate driving signal thereby capturing only the second harmonic of the back EMF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Viola
  • Patent number: 6823746
    Abstract: A torque sensor for magnetically detecting torque transmitted to a rotatable shaft without directly contacting the shaft comprises a magnetic alloy and one or more sensing elements about the magnetic alloy to measure a magnetic field emanating from the magnetic alloy without being affected by anomalies in magnetic alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore, Leon Bogdanov
  • Patent number: 6792817
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnetizing a shaft in a circumferential direction is provided in which electrical current is applied to one or more electrical current conduction tubes and is directed through the tube to at least one coupler having an internal diameter sized so as to circumferentially contact the exterior diameter of a part of the shaft to be magnetized. An electric current pulse is applied to the electrical current conduction tube and radially enters the shaft from the coupler associated with the tube at a substantially 90° degree angle to the axis of the shaft. The current is forced axially along the length of the shaft in the direction of at least a second coupler to magnetize one or more bands along the shaft in a circumferential direction. The current exits the shaft by way of the second coupler and a second electrical conduction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore
  • Publication number: 20040154412
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring divergent magnetic fields emanating from a rotatable magnetoelastic shaft without directly contacting the shaft comprises diametrically opposed sensing elements held in spaced relation to the shaft. Each sensing element is adjacent a corresponding one of the magnetic zones and on opposite sides of the shaft so as to create a cross-axial sensor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore
  • Publication number: 20040093951
    Abstract: A magnetoelastic pressure sensor has an axially sensitive canister responsive to pressure induced tension. The sensor may have axially or circumferentially sensitive sensing structure. The pressure of a sense medium may be indirectly coupled to the interior of the chamber through an isolating member or medium. A reference structure may be provided for comparison with the sensing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore
  • Publication number: 20040025600
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnetizing a shaft in a circumferential direction is provided in which electrical current is applied to one or more electrical current conduction tubes and is directed through the tube to at least one coupler having an internal diameter sized so as to circumferentially contact the exterior diameter of a part of the shaft to be magnetized. An electric current pulse is applied to the electrical current conduction tube and radially enters the shaft from the coupler associated with the tube at a substantially 90° degree angle to the axis of the shaft. The current is forced axially along the length of the shaft in the direction of at least a second coupler to magnetize one or more bands along the shaft in a circumferential direction. The current exits the shaft by way of the second coupler and a second electrical conduction tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore
  • Publication number: 20040008022
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing current passing through a conductor comprises a plurality of bi-directional magnetic pickups with low field sensing capability used in a common mode rejection configuration around the conductor without directly contacting the conductor. According to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of bi-directional magnetic pickups is used around the trace of a circuit board without directly contacting the trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore
  • Publication number: 20040007083
    Abstract: A torque sensor for magnetically detecting torque transmitted to a rotatable shaft without directly contacting the shaft comprises a magnetic alloy and one or more sensing elements about the magnetic alloy to measure a magnetic field emanating from the magnetic alloy without being affected by anomalies in magnetic alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Viola, William T. Moore, Leon Bogdanov