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).

  • Patent number: 7690492
    Abstract: A component surrounding an axis for directing fluid along a flow path in a transmission for a motor vehicle. The component includes a first wall having a thickness formed with an inner surface facing the axis, and a hole spaced about the axis and extending through the thickness of the wall, and a channel formed in the wall, communicating with the hole and the inner surface, including a base having a length that extends angularly about the axis, and having a depth that increases along the length as distance from the hole decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Gooden, Norman J. Bird, Ernest R. Shedd, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 7661518
    Abstract: An overrunning one-way clutch includes a cam plate including notches angularly spaced about an axis, a rocker plate including pockets angularly spaced about the axis and facing the notches, each pocket including a lock surface, a plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in one of the pockets for movement toward and away from engagement with the notches, each rocker including a contact surface that engages one of the lock surfaces to prevent the rocker from moving into engagement with one of the notches when the notches rotate in a first direction relative to the rockers, and springs supported on the rocker plate, each spring urging one of the rockers toward the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20100029435
    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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Mark W. Rosselot, Gregory D. Goleski
  • Patent number: 7654929
    Abstract: A planetary gear unit for an automatic transmission includes a pinion carrier including a first disc formed with first holes located radially from an axis joined to a second disc spaced axially from the first disc and formed with second holes, each second hole being aligned with a first hole, a clutch ring contacting the second disc and pinion shafts, each pinion shaft extending axially through one of the first holes and one of the second holes and supporting a pinion thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Mark W. Rosselot, Gregory D. Goleski
  • Patent number: 7614486
    Abstract: A device for transmitting torque in one rotary direction includes a cam plate including notches spaced angularly about an axis, a rocker plate including pockets mutually spaced angularly about the axis, rockers, each rocker being located in a respective pocket for movement toward and away from engagement with a notch on the cam plate, a spring recesses, each spring recess including a retainer, and springs, each spring located in a spring recess and engaged with a retainer, for urging a rocker toward the cam plate and engagement with a notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Norman J. Bird, Dennis N. Wys, John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20090233755
    Abstract: An assembly for an automatic transmission includes a casing, a carrier of a planetary gear set, a hydraulically actuated brake that driveably connects the carrier and the casing mutually when the brake is engaged in reverse drive and disconnects the carrier from the casing when the brake is disengaged in forward drive, and an overrunning clutch including an outer race driveably connected to the casing, an inner race driveably connected to the carrier, and multiple rockers carried on the inner race that pivot toward engagement with the cam surfaces, contact of the clutch with the casing providing a reaction to a force tending to engage the brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20090211863
    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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 7500548
    Abstract: A dual mode one-way torque transmitting device includes an inner race having a first plurality of notches spaced about an axis. An intermediate race includes a second plurality of notches spaced about the axis, a first plurality of pockets spaced about the axis, and a first plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in a pocket of the intermediate race. A spring urges each rocker toward engagement with a notch on the inner race. An outer race includes a second plurality of pockets spaced about the axis, a second plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in a pocket on the outer race, and a plurality of actuators, each actuator alternately engages and disengages a rocker on the outer race and a notch on the intermediate race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Gregory D. Gardner, Norman J. Bird, Lee J. Becker, Dennis N. Wys
  • Publication number: 20090062058
    Abstract: A planetary gear set includes a sun gear including a first set of gear teeth having a helix angle and second set of gear teeth formed as a single unit with the first set of gear teeth and having a second helix angle of opposite hand relative to the first helix angle. A ring gear includes a third set of gear teeth having a third helix angle, and fourth set of gear teeth and having a fourth helix angle of opposite hand relative to the third helix angle. Planet pinions, each include a fifth set of gear teeth having a fifth helix angle, and sixth set of gear teeth formed as a single unit with the fifth set of gear teeth and having a sixth helix angle of opposite hand relative to the fifth helix angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Mark W. Rosselot, Greg D. Gardner, John D. Emilio, JR., James Rutter, Matthew T. Trent
  • Patent number: 7461626
    Abstract: A powertrain for driving a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including first and second rotors supported for rotation about an axis, a first epicyclic gear unit including a first component fixed against rotation, a first driving component, and a first driven component, a first power path alternately producing a first drive connection between the driven component and the first rotor, and opening said first drive connection, and a second power path producing a second drive connection between the driven component and the second rotor, and opening said second drive connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 7455156
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a first race having mutually spaced pockets formed with an opening at a periphery of the first race, each pocket being at least partially bounded by a wall that extends along at least a portion of a margin of the pocket and contains a drive surface. A second race includes a series of alternating notches and cam surfaces formed on a periphery of the second race facing the openings. A plurality of rockers is located in the pockets. Each rocker includes an engagement surface for driveably engaging and disengaging a notch, a reaction surface for contacting the drive surface when the engagement surface driveably engages a notch, and guide surfaces for contacting the pocket wall to guide movement of the rocker from a disengaged position toward an engaged position. Springs, located on the first race, urge the rockers toward engagement with the cam surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Michael J. McDonough, Xiaoyong Lu
  • Patent number: 7455157
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch includes a cam plate formed with cams angularly spaced about a central axis, and a rocker plate that includes pockets angularly spaced about the central axis. Each pocket includes a first concave surface having a center located within the pocket and through which a pivot axis passes. Each pocket contains a rocker that includes a first convex surface complementary to, and at least partially surrounded by the first concave surface. Springs, supported on the rocker plate, each urge a rocker to pivot about the pivot axis toward the cam plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Norman J. Bird, Xiaoyong Lu, Dennis Wys
  • Patent number: 7451862
    Abstract: An overrunning one-way clutch includes a cam plate formed with cam surfaces angularly spaced about a central axis, and a rocker plate including pockets angularly spaced about the axis, each pocket including a surface that closes the pocket at an axial end, an opening located at an axial end opposite the surface, and an aperture facing the cam surfaces. Each pocket contains a rocker supported for pivoting a portion of the rocker through the pocket aperture toward the cam surfaces. Springs supported on the rocker plate, urging each rocker toward an aperture and engagement with the cam surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Norman J. Bird
  • Patent number: 7448481
    Abstract: A ratcheting one-way clutch includes a cam plate formed with cam surfaces angularly spaced about a central axis, and a rocker plate having pockets angularly spaced about the central axis, each pocket including a surface having a pivot axis located within the pocket. A rocker, located in each pocket, pivots about the pivot axis toward and away from the cam surfaces. Each rocker has a center of mass, located relative to the pivot axis when the rocker is retracted into the pocket away from the cam surfaces, such that an acute angle formed between a first line that extends radially from the central axis through the pivot axis and a second line that passes through the center of mass and the pivot axis is equal to or less than twenty degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon
  • Publication number: 20080188338
    Abstract: A planetary gear unit for an automatic transmission includes a pinion carrier including a first disc formed with first holes located radially from an axis joined to a second disc spaced axially from the first disc and formed with second holes, each second hole being aligned with a first hole, a clutch ring contacting the second disc and pinion shafts, each pinion shaft extending axially through one of the first holes and one of the second holes and supporting a pinion thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Mark W. Rosselot, Gregory D. Goleski
  • Publication number: 20080185253
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20080149067
    Abstract: A powertrain for driving a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including first and second rotors supported for rotation about an axis, a first epicyclic gear unit including a first component fixed against rotation, a first driving component, and a first driven component, a first power path alternately producing a first drive connection between the driven component and the first rotor, and opening said first drive connection, and a second power path producing a second drive connection between the driven component and the second rotor, and opening said second drive connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Publication number: 20080135370
    Abstract: A component surrounding an axis for directing fluid along a flow path in a transmission for a motor vehicle. The component includes a first wall having a thickness formed with an inner surface facing the axis, and a hole spaced about the axis and extending through the thickness of the wall, and a channel formed in the wall, communicating with the hole and the inner surface, including a base having a length that extends angularly about the axis, and having a depth that increases along the length as distance from the hole decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Jim T. Gooden, Norm J. Bird, Ernest R. Shedd, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 7383930
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a cam plate formed with notches, a rocker plate formed with pockets mutually spaced angularly about an axis, each pocket including an open axial end, and a surface that closes each pocket at an end opposite the open axial end of each pocket. A rocker is located in a respective pocket for movement toward and away from engagement with a notch on the cam plate. Springs are supported on the rocker plate, each spring urging a rocker toward engagement with a notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Michael J. McDonough, Xiaoyong Lu, Norman J. Bird, Lisa Waldock
  • Patent number: 7223198
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for a planetary gearset of a transmission includes a pinion carrier, a one-way brake having a rocker ring integral with the carrier and having multiple pockets mutually spaced about an axis and located on an outer radial surface of the carrier. A cam ring includes multiple notches angularly spaced about the axis and facing the rocker ring. A rocker, located in each pocket, pivots about a pivot center to engage the cam ring, and a spring urges each rocker to pivot toward engagement with the cam ring. A hydraulically actuated friction brake secured to the carrier alternately holds the carrier against rotation relative to a housing and permits the carrier to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernie J. Simon