Patents by Inventor John W. Kimes

John W. Kimes 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: 20150014116
    Abstract: Device and apparatus for controlling the operating mode of a coupling assembly, coupling and control assembly and electric motor disconnect and pass through assemblies are provided. The device is a switchable linear actuator device to control the operating mode of a coupling assembly. A plurality of magnetic sources produce corresponding magnetic fields to create a net translational force. A stator structure includes at least one electromagnetic source and a translator structure includes a permanent magnet source magnetically coupled to the stator structure across a radial air gap. The translator structure is supported for translational movement relative to the stator structure along an axis between first and second stable axial end positions which correspond to first and second operating modes of the coupling assembly and an unstable axial equilibrium position between the end positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Patrick J. McCleer
  • Publication number: 20150001023
    Abstract: An electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly is provided. A control member is mounted for controlled shifting movement between coupling faces of coupling members and a stator structure including at least one electromagnetic source to create a magnetic force when energized. A magnetic or ferromagnetic translator structure is coupled to the control member for selective, small displacement, control member movement. The translator structure is magnetically coupled to the stator structure across an air gap and is supported for translational movement relative to the stator structure along a path between first and second stable end positions. The translator structure completes a path of magnetic flux to magnetically latch in at least one of the end positions and to translate along the path between the end positions upon experiencing a net translational force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Philip B. Woodley
  • Publication number: 20150000442
    Abstract: An electronic, high-efficiency vehicular transmission, an overrunning, non-friction coupling and control assembly and switchable linear actuator device for use in the assembly and the transmission are provided. The device controls the operating mode of at least one non-friction coupling assembly. The device has a plurality of magnetic sources which produce corresponding magnetic fields to create a net translational force. The net translational force comprises a first translational force caused by energization of at least one electromagnetic source and a magnetic latching force based upon linear position of a permanent magnet source along an axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Patrick J. McCleer
  • Patent number: 8888637
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system including a transmission is provided. The system includes a compound planetary gear set including first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission. The system further includes a transmission housing. The system still further includes an electric motor which has an output shaft connecting with the first and fourth elements for driving the first and fourth elements in response to an electrical signal to obtain a desired transmission ratio. The system further includes a non-friction controllable clutch assembly which is non-hydraulically controlled to change between a coupling state for coupling the fourth element to the motor output shaft and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the fourth element from the motor output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20140305761
    Abstract: A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly is provided. The system includes a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket in an uncoupling position and is movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. An armature is connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions. A magnetic field sensor is disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the element for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on the position of the element. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to movement of the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20140284167
    Abstract: Electromechanical apparatus for use with a coupling assembly and controllable coupling assembly including such apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a housing part including an end wall having an outer coupling face with a single pocket defining a load-bearing shoulder in communication with an inner face of the end wall. An electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which is at least partially surrounded by the housing part. An element is received within the pocket in an uncoupling position and is movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position characterized by abutting engagement of the element with the load-bearing shoulder. A reciprocating armature is arranged concentrically relative to the at least one excitation coil and is axially movable when the at least one excitation coil is supplied with current. The armature is connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 8813929
    Abstract: A controllable coupling assembly includes first, second and third coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a common rotational axis. A face of the first coupling member has pockets spaced about the axis. A face of the second coupling member has locking formations that are engaged by struts upon projecting outwardly from the pockets to prevent relative rotation of the first and second coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis. A face of the third coupling member has pockets spaced about the axis. A different face of the second coupling member has locking formations that are engaged by struts from the third member to prevent relative rotation of the second and third coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20140100071
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system including a transmission has a gear set with first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission. The system has a transmission housing and a first electric motor having an output shaft connecting with the first element for driving the first element in response to a first electrical signal. A second electric motor has an output shaft connecting with the fourth element for driving the fourth element in response to a second electrical signal. The motors operate together to cause transmission ratios to change steplessly through an infinite number of ratios between maximum and minimum values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20140080648
    Abstract: A drive system including a transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The system includes a gear set having first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission and a first output shaft of an internal combustion engine connects with the third element for driving the third element. An electric motor having an output shaft connecting with the first element drives the first element in response to an electrical signal. An electric motor-generator unit has an output shaft which connects with the fourth element for driving the fourth element in response to an electrical signal. A second output shaft of the engine also connects with the fourth element through the unit for driving the fourth element. The resulting system has a plurality of different operating modes including a reverse gear or operating mode powered electrically and by the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 8646587
    Abstract: A strut for a controllable one-way clutch wherein a projecting leg portion on the strut provides an attachment location for a free end of a rod which reciprocates. The strut includes a member-engaging first end surface. The strut further includes a member-engaging second end surface diametrically opposite the first end surface. The strut still further includes a main body portion between the end surfaces. The projecting leg portion extends from the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20130256078
    Abstract: An electromechanically actuated coupling and control assembly is provided. In one embodiment, an overrunning clutch and control assembly having first and second operating modes is provided. The clutch and control assembly includes first and second clutch members supported for rotation relative to one another about a common rotational axis. The first and second clutch members have respective coupling faces that oppose each other. The coupling face of one of the clutch members has a pocket. The coupling face of the other clutch member has a locking formation. The assembly further includes a strut received within the pocket in the coupling face of the one clutch member and has an end that is pivotally movable outwardly of the pocket. The assembly still further includes a biasing spring. The assembly further includes an electromechanical apparatus including an actuator mounted for controlled linear reciprocating motion and in communication with the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Patrick J. McCleer
  • Patent number: 8491440
    Abstract: A transmission gear unit includes a carrier including a first disc formed with a first chamfer, and a second disc, a one-way clutch including a first ring contacting the second disc, and a second ring, located radially outboard of and surrounding the first ring, and formed with a second chamfer, and pinion shafts, each shaft supported on the first disc and first ring, engaging the first and second chamfers and supporting a pinion thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Mark W. Rosselot, Gregory D. Goleski
  • Patent number: 8491439
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch assembly includes a first ring having pockets spaced mutually about an axis, rockers each located in a pocket, springs each urging a rocker to pivot in a respective pocket, and first notches arranged around the axis. A second ring includes second pockets spaced mutually about the axis, second rockers each located in a second pocket such that at least one second rocker is engageable with a notch, second springs each urging a second rocker toward engagement with a notch, and second notches around the axis, at least one rocker being engageable with at least one second notch. A control member moves about the axis alternately to prevent the first rockers from engaging the second notches and to permit the first rockers to engage the second notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20120152687
    Abstract: An electromechanical assembly to control the operating mode of a coupling apparatus is provided. The assembly includes a first subassembly including a stator having at least one electromagnetically inductive coil to create a magnetic flux when the at least one coil is energized. At least one bi-directionally movable rod has a free end adapted for connection to a strut of the coupling apparatus for selective, small displacement strut movement. An actuator is operatively connected to the at least one rod for selective bi-directional shifting movement along a rotational axis between a first position of the actuator which corresponds to a first mode of the coupling apparatus and a second position of the actuator which corresponds to a second mode of the coupling apparatus. A magnetic control force is applied to the actuator when the at least one coil is energized to cause the actuator to move between positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Patrick J. McCleer
  • Publication number: 20120152683
    Abstract: A controllable coupling assembly includes first, second and third coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a common rotational axis. A face of the first coupling member has pockets spaced about the axis. A face of the second coupling member has locking formations that are engaged by struts upon projecting outwardly from the pockets to prevent relative rotation of the first and second coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis. A face of the third coupling member has pockets spaced about the axis. A different face of the second coupling member has locking formations that are engaged by struts from the third member to prevent relative rotation of the second and third coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20120149518
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system including a transmission is provided. The system includes a compound planetary gear set including first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission. The system further includes a transmission housing. The system still further includes an electric motor which has an output shaft connecting with the first and fourth elements for driving the first and fourth elements in response to an electrical signal to obtain a desired transmission ratio. The system further includes a non-friction controllable clutch assembly which is non-hydraulically controlled to change between a coupling state for coupling the fourth element to the motor output shaft and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the fourth element from the motor output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20120145505
    Abstract: A strut for a controllable one-way clutch wherein a projecting leg portion on the strut provides an attachment location for a free end of a rod which reciprocates. The strut includes a member-engaging first end surface. The strut further includes a member-engaging second end surface diametrically opposite the first end surface. The strut still further includes a main body portion between the end surfaces. The projecting leg portion extends from the main body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 8187141
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for an automatic transmission includes a first plate, a second plate spaced along an axis from the first plate, a third plate spaced axially from the first plate and the second plate by angularly spaced legs, the third plate being formed with angularly spaced recesses. Short pinions, supported on the first plate and the third plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a chordal path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier. Long pinions, supported on the first plate and the second plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a radial path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Mark W. Rosselot, Mark E. Briscoe, Bryant L. Poynter, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 8079453
    Abstract: A controllable overrunning coupling assembly includes a control member mounted for controlled shifting movement between a first pair of coupling faces of first and second coupling members relative to reverse pockets formed in one of the coupling faces. The first pair of coupling faces oppose each other and are oriented to face axially along a common rotational axis. The control member is operable for controlling position of only reverse struts in the reverse pockets without controlling the position of forward rockers in forward pockets formed in a coupling face of a second pair of coupling faces of the coupling members that oppose each other and are oriented to face radially with respect to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20100105515
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for an automatic transmission includes a first plate, a second plate spaced along an axis from the first plate, a third plate spaced axially from the first plate and the second plate by angularly spaced legs, the third plate being formed with angularly spaced recesses. Short pinions, supported on the first plate and the third plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a chordal path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier. Long pinions, supported on the first plate and the second plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a radial path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Mark W. Rosselot, Mark E. Briscoe, Bryant L. Poynter, John W. Kimes