Patents by Inventor John C. Forsgren

John C. Forsgren 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).

  • Variable pitch stator with passive control
    Patent number: 5307629
    Abstract: A three element fluid torque converter has a variable pitch stator. The stator blades have two principal orientations, closed and open. The blades are biased toward the closed position by a spring loaded annular piston. In the closed position, the blades block approximately 75% to 90% of the annular area between a stator core and a stator shell. An inlet angle for the stator blades is between 30 degrees and 70 degrees in the closed position. This combination reduces creep torque without any significant increase in driveline noise and vibration when the engine is idling. As engine speed and torque are increased, the blades overcome the spring bias to rotate to the open position thereby increasing the torque transmitted to effectively propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. By, John C. Forsgren, Gelsino J. Volpe
  • Efficient variable pitch stator with passive control
    Patent number: 5263319
    Abstract: A three element fluid torque converter has a variable pitch stator. The stator blades have two principal orientations, closed and open. The blades are biased toward the closed position by a spring loaded annular piston. In the closed position, the blades block approximately 75% to 90% of the annular area between a stator core and a stator shell. An inlet angle for the stator blades is between 30 degrees and 70 degrees in the closed position. This combination reduces creep torque without any significant increase in driveline noise and vibration when the engine is idling. As engine speed and torque are increased, the blades overcome the spring bias to rotate to the open position thereby increasing the torque transmitted to effectively propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. By, John C. Forsgren, Gelsino J. Volpe