Patents by Inventor John Randall Armstead

John Randall Armstead 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: 10821957
    Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with active and passive states. Successful transition from the active state to the passive state is only possible when there is no torque tending to cause overrunning. After commanding a transition from the active state to the passive state, a controller partially engages a first friction clutch to induce a torque tending away from overrunning until a lash crossing is detected. Then, the controller releases the first clutch and partially applies a second clutch to induce a torque toward overrunning. When slip is detected, indicating successful achievement of the passive state, the second clutch is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Fedullo, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 10794435
    Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with an active state and a passive state. To avoid occupant discomfort and hardware damage, transitions from the passive state to the active state must only be commanded when no or very little slip is present across the selectable one-way clutch. Several methods are presented to eliminate slip, depending on vehicle speed. When the vehicle is stationary, full engagement of a clutch that causes slip to be proportional to vehicle speed eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving backwards, partial engagement of the above clutch eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving forwards, full engagement of all but one clutch of a tie-up condition and partial engagement of the remaining clutch of the tie-up condition brings the vehicle to a stop and eliminates slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Fedullo, Abhay Mane, Bradley Dean Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead
  • Publication number: 20200031331
    Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with active and passive states. Successful transition from the active state to the passive state is only possible when there is no torque tending to cause overrunning. After commanding a transition from the active state to the passive state, a controller partially engages a first friction clutch to induce a torque tending away from overrunning until a lash crossing is detected. Then, the controller releases the first clutch and partially applies a second clutch to induce a torque toward overrunning. When slip is detected, indicating successful achievement of the passive state, the second clutch is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Fedullo, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Publication number: 20200032862
    Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with an active state and a passive state. To avoid occupant discomfort and hardware damage, transitions from the passive state to the active state must only be commanded when no or very little slip is present across the selectable one-way clutch. Several methods are presented to eliminate slip, depending on vehicle speed. When the vehicle is stationary, full engagement of a clutch that causes slip to be proportional to vehicle speed eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving backwards, partial engagement of the above clutch eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving forwards, full engagement of all but one clutch of a tie-up condition and partial engagement of the remaining clutch of the tie-up condition brings the vehicle to a stop and eliminates slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Fedullo, Abhay Mane, Bradley Dean Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead
  • Patent number: 10337573
    Abstract: In order to pre-stage a clutch piston in preparation for clutch engagement, a controller commands a high current to a Casting Integrated Direct Acting Solenoid (CIDAS) valve. This staging is performed in two distinct phases wherein the current is higher in the first phase than in the second phase. Staging the piston in this manner reduces the staging time and reduces the variability of the staging time. The duration of the first phase may be adjusted based on a number of parameters including, the length of a preceding engine off period, the number of clutch applications since the engine off period, a fluid temperature, and a length of time since a preceding engagement of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Ravindra Velamakanni, Cory Benson LaRoche, John Randall Armstead, Joseph Scott Slayton
  • Patent number: 10295054
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The first neutral has more engaged clutches than the second. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from a drive gear to the first neutral and a clutch of the drive gear being failed-on, shift to the second neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Randall Armstead, Stephen Michael Cicala, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Dongdong Dee Li, Conor Edward Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10295053
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Dongdong Dee Li, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Bradley D. Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20180119757
    Abstract: In order to pre-stage a clutch piston in preparation for clutch engagement, a controller commands a high current to a Casting Integrated Direct Acting Solenoid (CIDAS) valve. This staging is performed in two distinct phases wherein the current is higher in the first phase than in the second phase. Staging the piston in this manner reduces the staging time and reduces the variability of the staging time. The duration of the first phase may be adjusted based on a number of parameters including, the length of a preceding engine off period, the number of clutch applications since the engine off period, a fluid temperature, and a length of time since a preceding engagement of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Ravindra Velamakanni, Cory Benson LaRoche, John Randall Armstead, Joseph Scott Slayton
  • Publication number: 20180119806
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The first neutral has more engaged clutches than the second. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from a drive gear to the first neutral and a clutch of the drive gear being failed-on, shift to the second neutral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: John Randall ARMSTEAD, Stephen Michael CICALA, Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Dongdong Dee LI, Conor Edward SULLIVAN
  • Publication number: 20180119805
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Michael CICALA, John Randall ARMSTEAD, Dongdong Dee LI, Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Bradley D. RIEDLE, Conor Edward SULLIVAN