Patents by Inventor Keith A. Devereaux
Keith A. Devereaux 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).
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Patent number: 10933730Abstract: A power split powertrain for a hybrid-electric vehicle powertrain has first and second electric machines disposed on opposite sides of a central support wall having a peripheral edge anchored to a transmission housing and a center region rotatably supporting rotors of the two electric machines on opposite sides of the support wall. A power split gearset is disposed adjacent to the first electric machine such that the first electric machine is between the first support wall and the power split gearset. A brake clutch associated with the second electric machine is mounted to the support wall and the support has a hydraulic feed channel supplying the brake clutch. Resolvers associated with the electric machines are mounted to the support wall and electrical connections with the resolvers are integrated with the support wall. A multi-step transmission assembly receiving torque from the power split gearset is also enclosed by the transmission housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, James E. Kearns, Keith A. Devereaux
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Publication number: 20200406738Abstract: A power split powertrain for a hybrid-electric vehicle powertrain has first and second electric machines disposed on opposite sides of a central support wall having a peripheral edge anchored to a transmission housing and a center region rotatably supporting rotors of the two electric machines on opposite sides of the support wall. A power split gearset is disposed adjacent to the first electric machine such that the first electric machine is between the first support wall and the power split gearset. A brake clutch associated with the second electric machine is mounted to the support wall and the support has a hydraulic feed channel supplying the brake clutch. Resolvers associated with the electric machines are mounted to the support wall and electrical connections with the resolvers are integrated with the support wall. A multi-step transmission assembly receiving torque from the power split gearset is also enclosed by the transmission housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, James E. Kearns, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 10830349Abstract: A torque converter stator includes a hub, an outer ring, a plurality of blades, and a plurality of spokes. The hub is disposed about an axis. The blades are disposed radially between the outer ring and the hub. All of the blades are pivotable relative to the hub and outer ring. The spokes are spaced apart from the blades and fixed to the hub and the outer ring to support the outer ring relative to the hub.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 10731741Abstract: A method for forming a rotor hub that includes a sheet metal cylinder including spline teeth including angularly spaced crests and valleys, a tube surrounding the cylinder, secured to the crests and supporting a rotor thereon, a hub secured to the cylinder and supported for rotation, a torque converter, and a flex plate secured to the hub and the torque converter.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Publication number: 20200063863Abstract: A torque converter stator includes a hub, an outer ring, a plurality of blades, and a plurality of spokes. The hub is disposed about an axis. The blades are disposed radially between the outer ring and the hub. All of the blades are pivotable relative to the hub and outer ring. The spokes are spaced apart from the blades and fixed to the hub and the outer ring to support the outer ring relative to the hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 10471819Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie
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Publication number: 20190315221Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2018Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie
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Publication number: 20170122421Abstract: A method for forming a rotor hub that includes a sheet metal cylinder including spline teeth including angularly spaced crests and valleys, a tube surrounding the cylinder, secured to the crests and supporting a rotor thereon, a hub secured to the cylinder and supported for rotation, a torque converter, and a flex plate secured to the hub and the torque converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9579965Abstract: A powertrain module includes an input, first bulkhead supporting the input for rotation, a hub, an electric machine including a stator connected to the first bulkhead and a rotor connected to the hub, a clutch for alternately opening and closing a drive connection between the input and the rotor, and a second bulkhead supporting the input for rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9581210Abstract: A rotor hub includes a sheet metal cylinder including spline teeth including angularly spaced crests and valleys, a tube surrounding the cylinder, secured to the crests and supporting a rotor thereon, a hub secured to the cylinder and supported for rotation, a torque converter, and a flex plate secured to the hub and the torque converter.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9421857Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter including a casing supported for rotation about an axis, a rotor hub secured to the torque converter casing for rotation about the axis, a leg member secured to and supporting the rotor hub for rotation about the axis, and an electric machine including a rotor secured to the rotor hub.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9243672Abstract: An assembly includes an engine output concentric with an axis, an input, a starting gear, a first drive plate secured to the engine output, including a rim supporting the starting gear, and arms extending radially outward from the axis, and a second drive plate rotatably secured to the input, and secured to the first drive plate at a location spaced radially outward from the axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John E. Brevick, Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9243669Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis and including a casing, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine, a coupler connected to the rotor hub, and a flex plate coupled for elastic displacement between the coupler and a surface of the casing that faces away from the coupler.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9157495Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine and selectively to an engine through a disconnect clutch, a coupler located between the rotor hub and torque converter, providing a rotational connection and an axial connection between the coupler and the rotor hub, and a flex plate providing second rotational and axial connections between the coupler and the torque converter.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Publication number: 20150114787Abstract: An assembly includes an engine output concentric with an axis, an input, a starting gear, a first drive plate secured to the engine output, including a rim supporting the starting gear, and arms extending radially outward from the axis, and a second drive plate rotatably secured to the input, and secured to the first drive plate at a location spaced radially outward from the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John E. Brevick, Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
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Publication number: 20150114779Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine and selectively to an engine through a disconnect clutch, a coupler located between the rotor hub and torque converter, providing a rotational connection and an axial connection between the coupler and the rotor hub, and a flex plate providing second rotational and axial connections between the coupler and the torque converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Publication number: 20150114780Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis and including a casing, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine, a coupler connected to the rotor hub, and a flex plate coupled for elastic displacement between the coupler and a surface of the casing that faces away from the coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 8960393Abstract: A powertrain module includes an input, a bulkhead supporting the input, a rotor support, a torque converter casing driveably connected to the rotor support, an electric machine including a stator supported on the bulkhead and a rotor connected to the rotor support, a clutch hub driveably connected to the input, and a clutch for alternately opening and closing a drive connection between the clutch hub and the rotor support.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 8770364Abstract: A powertrain module includes an input, a first bulkhead supporting the input for rotation, a hub, an electric machine including a stator connected to the first bulkhead and a rotor connected to the hub, a clutch for alternately opening and closing a drive connection between the input and the rotor, a servo for actuating the clutch and supported on the input, and a second bulkhead supporting the hub for rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
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Publication number: 20140128219Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter including a casing supported for rotation about an axis, a rotor hub secured to the torque converter casing for rotation about the axis, a leg member secured to and supporting the rotor hub for rotation about the axis, and an electric machine including a rotor secured to the rotor hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2014Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux