Patents by Inventor John Seipold

John Seipold 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).

  • Publication number: 20230258444
    Abstract: A centering device for centering a rotor shaft of a generator to a gearbox shaft of a gearbox in a genset assembly is disclosed. The centering device comprises a clamp assembly configured to be oriented on the rotor shaft and the gearbox shaft wherein the clamp assembly is further configured to be tightened to force the rotor shaft to coaxially align with the gearbox shaft. A method of using the centering device in a genset assembly to coaxially align the gearbox shaft with the rotor shaft of a generator is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Seipold, Lucas Peterson
  • Patent number: 11680627
    Abstract: A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Seipold, Gaurav Vasudeva, Evan Jacobson, Eric Manning
  • Publication number: 20220145966
    Abstract: A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John SEIPOLD, Gaurav Vasudeva, Evan Jacobson, Eric Manning
  • Patent number: 11268596
    Abstract: A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Seipold, Gaurav Vasudeva, Evan Jacobson, Eric Manning
  • Patent number: 10948063
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) may include differential and range modules that include planetary gear arrangements, a plurality of selectively engageable clutch assemblies, and a drop box module with a final output member. First and second power source paths may provide power to a same end of the differential module. The clutch assemblies may be selectively engageable to provide variable rotational power from the differential module to the range module, and from the range module to the drop box module in a plurality of directional ranges. The drop box module may adapt the variable rotational power provided in the selected range for connection in a given application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Seipold, Stephen Marsh
  • Publication number: 20210018071
    Abstract: A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John SEIPOLD, Gaurav VASUDEVA, Evan JACOBSON, Eric MANNING
  • Patent number: 10608497
    Abstract: An electric power system includes an engine, a generator, a drivetrain including a driveshaft, and an energy storage system having a flywheel. In an implementation, a parallel-path continuously variable transmission is structured to transfer energy between the flywheel and the driveshaft, and in another implementation a parallel-path continuously variable transmission transfers energy between the engine and the generator. The transmission includes a variator and a differential geartrain. An electric motor is coupled to the flywheel and charges the flywheel such that stored flywheel energy is available for bringing up engine speed from a standby state and/or to accommodate generator load changes with limited generator speed changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Jacobson, John Seipold
  • Publication number: 20190271382
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) may include differential and range modules that include planetary gear arrangements, a plurality of selectively engageable clutch assemblies, and a drop box module with a final output member. First and second power source paths may provide power to a same end of the differential module. The clutch assemblies may be selectively engageable to provide variable rotational power from the differential module to the range module, and from the range module to the drop box module in a plurality of directional ranges. The drop box module may adapt the variable rotational power provided in the selected range for connection in a given application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: John Seipold, Stephen Marsh
  • Publication number: 20190190346
    Abstract: An electric power system includes an engine, a generator, a drivetrain including a driveshaft, and an energy storage system having a flywheel. In an implementation, a parallel-path continuously variable transmission is structured to transfer energy between the flywheel and the driveshaft, and in another implementation a parallel-path continuously variable transmission transfers energy between the engine and the generator. The transmission includes a variator and a differential geartrain. An electric motor is coupled to the flywheel and charges the flywheel such that stored flywheel energy is available for bringing up engine speed from a standby state and/or to accommodate generator load changes with limited generator speed changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Jacobson, John Seipold
  • Publication number: 20190061510
    Abstract: A power system includes an engine, a driveshaft, and an energy storage system having a flywheel. The energy storage system further includes a transmission structured to transfer energy between the flywheel and the driveshaft. The transmission includes a differential geartrain and a variator coupled to the differential geartrain and having a variator input shaft and a variator output shaft rotatable at a range of speed ratios. The variator may be coupled to a sun gear in the differential geartrain and controls a pattern of energy transfer between the flywheel and the driveshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Jacobson, John Seipold, Michael Cronin
  • Patent number: 10214090
    Abstract: A power system includes an engine, a driveshaft, and an energy storage system having a flywheel. The energy storage system further includes a transmission structured to transfer energy between the flywheel and the driveshaft. The transmission includes a differential geartrain and a variator coupled to the differential geartrain and having a variator input shaft and a variator output shaft rotatable at a range of speed ratios. The variator may be coupled to a sun gear in the differential geartrain and controls a pattern of energy transfer between the flywheel and the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Jacobson, John Seipold, Michael Cronin
  • Publication number: 20070107545
    Abstract: A transmission housing for an automatic transmission that includes a first and second plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly extending sets of protrusions connected to an inner surface of the transmission housing configured to engage clutch assemblies of a planetary transmission. The sets of protrusions are offset from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventor: John Seipold
  • Publication number: 20060201864
    Abstract: A filter assembly capable of being directly mounted to a transmission housing or to a structure other than the transmission housing. The transmission housing includes a cavity, or groove that receives a sealing device, which is used when the filter assembly is to be directly mounted to the transmission housing. Both the transmission housing and the filter assembly include threaded portions in communication with additional grooves, or chamfers that receive additional sealing devices. For remote mounting, hoses, having coupling devices, are attached to the threaded portions such that the filter assembly may be attached to the structure other than the transmission housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventor: John Seipold
  • Publication number: 20060167713
    Abstract: An automatic transmission adapted to receive a power take-off device at a rear portion thereof and kit for providing power take-off components. Due to size constraints around an automatic transmission, a rear mounted power take-off device avoids the difficulties common to side mounted power take-offs. The automatic transmission includes a transmission housing with a front and rear portion, an input member, at least one planetary gear set driven by the input member, at least one brake or clutch adapted to change a gear ratio output from the transmission. A driven gear on a second axis of rotation intermeshes an input gear on a first axis of rotation. A flange on the rear portion of the transmission is configured to receive the power take-off device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Anthony Johnson, John Seipold, Kevin Meyer
  • Publication number: 20060160649
    Abstract: An input member from an engine drives a fluid pump to provide hydraulic control and lubrication to transmission components. The fluid pump is positioned between the input member and an auxiliary device, such that a common driven member provides power to the fluid pump and the auxiliary device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventor: John Seipold
  • Publication number: 20060137484
    Abstract: A system for transferring power from a work machine engine to a pump assembly of the work machine includes a power transfer assembly configured to transfer power to the pump assembly independent of transmission gear ratio. The pump assembly is mounted to a rear portion of a transmission of the work machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: John Seipold, Kevin Meyer
  • Publication number: 20060021455
    Abstract: A power takeoff assembly having a brake assembly operable to prevent undesirable rotation of a power takeoff shaft when the power takeoff shaft is in a disengaged state. A clutch assembly is placed in an engaged state when pressurized fluid from a pressure source causes a first clutch element to engage a second clutch element such that the input shaft drives the power takeoff shaft. The clutch assembly is placed in a disengaged state when pressurized fluid from the pressure source is removed from the clutch assembly. The brake engages an output of the input shaft when the clutch assembly is in the disengaged state to prevent fluid forces within the clutch assembly from driving the power takeoff shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventor: John Seipold