Patents by Inventor Joseph E. Muhleisen

Joseph E. Muhleisen 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: 6758780
    Abstract: An improved planetary traction drive mechanism for use in actuating a throttle valve assembly is provided. An electric drive motor supports a cup-shaped member defining the outer ring of the mechanism. The drive shaft of the motor extends into the cup-shaped member to define a sun roller and forming an annular space between the sun roller and the outer ring. An output plate is rotatably supported on the drive shaft, and one or more deformable planetary friction rollers are disposed in radial compression between the outer ring and the sun roller are mounted on the plate. An output shaft extends from the plate and may or may not be coaxially aligned with the sun roller. The output shaft may be connected via a link to a lever arm on the throttle shaft of the throttle valve, which may be used on an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald G. Witzel, Joseph E. Muhleisen
  • Publication number: 20030141479
    Abstract: An improved planetary traction drive mechanism for use in actuating a throttle valve assembly. An electric drive motor supports a cup-shaped member defining the outer ring of the mechanism. The drive shaft of the motor extends into the cup-shaped member to define a sun roller and forming an annular space between the sun roller and the outer ring. An output plate is rotatably supported on the drive shaft, and one or more planetary friction rollers disposed in radial compression between the outer ring and the sun roller are mounted on the plate. An output shaft extends from the plate and may or may not be coaxially aligned with the sun roller. The output shaft may be connected via a link to a lever arm on the throttle shaft of the throttle valve, which may be used on an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Donald G. Witzel, Joseph E. Muhleisen