Patents by Inventor John E. Stainton

John E. Stainton 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: 5842376
    Abstract: A system and method for decreasing the time required to complete a ratio change in an electronically enhanced powertrain system is provided. The powertrain system includes a number of devices for providing a retarding torque to engine rotation to increase the decay rate of the engine speed during an upshift. These devices include an engine brake and an input shaft brake. A retarding torque is also provided by increasing engine accessory load by controlling various engine accessories such as a cooling fan, an air compressor, a hydraulic pump, an air conditioning compressor, and an alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Dresden, III, Thomas A. Genise, Simon Hornby, Ronald K. Markyvech, Richard A. Nellums, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 5655407
    Abstract: A system and method for decreasing the time required to complete a ratio change in an electronically enhanced powertrain system is provided. The powertrain system includes a number of devices for providing a retarding torque to engine rotation to increase the decay rate of the engine speed during an upshift. These devices include an engine brake and an input shaft brake. A retarding torque is also provided by increasing engine accessory load by controlling various engine accessories such as a cooling fan, an air compressor, a hydraulic pump, an air conditioning compressor, and an alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Dresden, III, Thomas A. Genise, Simon Hornby, Ronald K. Markyvech, Richard A. Nellums, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 5577978
    Abstract: A control system and method for a vehicular semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request, immediately after bringing a vehicle to rest, for both a direct shift into a preselected start ratio and a direct shift into neutral, under certain predefined conditions, by a single movement of the shift selection lever (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Stasik, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 5528949
    Abstract: A three-position actuator assembly for selectively shifting a three-speed splitter type auxiliary transmission section (14) is provided. The actuator assembly includes a piston portion (160) for axially moving a selected one of two shift forks (142/148) and a pneumatic control circuit (162) comprising three three-way, two-position solenoid controlled valves (202/204/206) and two three-way shuttle valves (214/216). Only one solenoid is energized for each selectable actuator position and a failure of the pneumatic (200) or electrical power sources to the control circuit will not cause the actuator to shift out of an engaged ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Stainton, Philip A. Morris
  • Patent number: 5415604
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request for a direct upshift and/or downshift into a preselected start ratio, under certain predefined conditions, by a single movement, or two movements, of the shift lever (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ian R. J. Bates, John E. Stainton, Robert S. Wheeler, Keith Wright
  • Patent number: 5416700
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request for a scrolling display of allowable ratios in either the upshift or downshift direction, and for a direct shift into the selected one of the displayed ratios. In one embodiment, retaining the control (1) lever in a displaced position for one or two seconds will initiate the scrolling display, while retaining the transmission engaged in the initial ratio, and subsequently release of the control lever to its centered position will cause a direct shift into the then displayed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ian R. J. Bates, John E. Stainton, Robert S. Wheeler, Keith Wright
  • Patent number: 5157607
    Abstract: A method and control for controlling an AMT system (10) having input shaft (IS) and output shaft (OS) speed sensors is provided including sensing faulty determinations of transmission engagement in a known gear ratio (GR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Stainton, Keith Wright
  • Patent number: 5094126
    Abstract: An emergency device (2) for allowing manual limp home/get off road shifting of an automatic/semiautomatic mechnical transmisssion of the type having an electrically controlled shifter (30) including a plurality of electrically initialed shifting drivers (solenoids S1-S6) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Stainton, Barry D. Thomas, Richard A. Nellums, Paul M. Fowler, John S. Tuson
  • Patent number: 5042327
    Abstract: An improved control method and control system for controlling the upshifting of an AMT (10) system including a compound splitter type semi-blocked transmission (12) is provided. In particular, different control logic is utilized to implement simple and compound upshifts of the transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4937749
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing high resistance to vehicle forward movement and allowing engagement of a gear ratio lower than the lowest engageable ratio at substantially constant vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4930078
    Abstract: A control and control method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing operator request for a direct downshift into an optimum pull-away ratio and for automatically determining and engaging the optimum pull-away ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4930081
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request for a direct downshift into transmission neutral, under certain predefined conditioned, by a single movement of the shift lever (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4913269
    Abstract: A method for smoothing skip up-shifts in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) without requiring direct sensing of the rotational speed of the engine (14) is provided. The method involves delaying re-engagement of the master clutch (16) after engagement of a selected transmission ratio (E) during a skip up-shift by a period of time (T) directly proportional to the number (N) of ratios skipped and/or a function of the identity of the newly engaged ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4899607
    Abstract: An electrically controlled, fluidly actuated X-Y type shifting mechanism (30) for cooperation with a mechanical change gear transmission shift bar housing assembly (10) normally controlled by a manual shift lever is provided. The mechanism (30) includes a housing (32) having a single pressurized fluid connection (52) and a single electrical connection assembly (50) which is mounted to a shift bar housing assembly normally receiving a shift lever lower. A shift finger (38) extends into the shift bar housing for cooperation with the shift rail (12, 14, 16) shift blocks (24, 26, 28) and is positioned by two transversely mounted, axially movable shafts (68, 110). Each of shafts is axially positioned in a selected one of three selectable axial position by piston/cylinder assemblies (46, 42) controlled by six three-way, two-position electrically operated valves (150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4888577
    Abstract: A transmission system (10) including a control display (2, 302) is provided. The control display comprised of three sections, a currently engaged gear ratio section (2'") a maximum permissible consecutive upshift indicating section (2') and a maximum permissible consecutive downshift indicating section (2"). The central processing unit (38) includes circuitry and logic rules to process input signals to determine the currently permissible gear ratios and will indicate said gear ratios, in the form of maximum permissible upshifts and downshifts, at said display. The central processing unit also includes circuitry and logic rules to sense the existence of a fault condition, to assign a predetermined code ("18") thereto and to issue command output signals to the display to cause the second and third sections to assume a fault condition indicating display and to cause said first section to display to assigned code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton, John E. Dunne
  • Patent number: 4800360
    Abstract: A control display (2) for a transmission is provided. The display includes a first section (2'") displaying the current engaged ratio, a second section (2') displaying permissible upshifts and a third section (2") displaying permissible downshifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4648290
    Abstract: A semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) and method for controlling same is provided. The transmission system includes a shaft selector lever (1) which may be moved forward or rearward from the centered position thereof to select upshifts and downshifts, respectively, and a central processing unit (38) receiving input signals from the selector lever and which will sense multiple movements of the shift select lever in a given direction and interpret same as request for multiple or skip shifts in said direction. The control also includes a display (2) comprised of three sections, a currently engaged gear ratio section (2'") a maximum permissible consecutive upshift indicating section (2') and a maximum permissible consecutive downshift indicating section (2").
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: RE38615
    Abstract: A system and method for decreasing the time required to complete a ratio change in an electronically enhanced powertrain system is provided. The powertrain system includes a number of devices for providing a retarding torque to engine rotation to increase the decay rate of the engine speed during an upshift. These devices include an engine brake and an input shaft brake. A retarding torque is also provided by increasing engine accessory load by controlling various engine accessories such as a cooling fan, an air compressor, a hydraulic pump, an air conditioning compressor, and an alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Dresden, III, Thomas A. Genise, Simon Hornby, Ronald K. Markyvech, Richard A. Nellums, John E. Stainton