Patents by Inventor Kevin A. FORD
Kevin A. FORD 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: 11906038Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter mechanism that is selectable between an automatic transmission mode and a manual shifting mode, including a shifter assembly, a pin attached to the shifter assembly, a first slotted plate to selectively receive a first portion of the shifter assembly, and a detent plate configured to receive the pin at different gear positions, wherein selected shifter assembly positions in the automatic transmission mode are maintained by the pin being located within a corresponding detent of the detent plate, and wherein movement of the first portion of the shifter assembly into the first slotted plate causes the pin to move out of range of detents in the detent plate such that an operator can shift between drive gears in the manual shifting mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: LOKAR, INC.Inventors: Kevin Ford, Scott Thiel, Eric R. Burgan
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Patent number: 11686577Abstract: An angled face cap probe includes a housing having a radially inner end and a radially outer end, defining a cavity, and configured to be located radially outward from an airfoil. The angled face cap probe further includes a sensor located in the cavity at the radially inner end of the housing, having a sensor body with a sensing face that is angled to match or substantially match an angle of a radially outward face the airfoil, and having a sensor flat that is elongated in a first direction. The angled face cap probe further includes an outer cap located in the cavity, coupled to the housing, and having an outer cap main body and cap legs that extend radially inward from the outer cap main body to interface with the sensor flat to resist rotation of the sensor relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Eli C. Warren, Kevin A. Ford, Patrick M. Harrington
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Patent number: 11441672Abstract: A shift lever mount assembly including a rotatable member having a ball portion formed with at least a partially arcuate surface and a shift lever connection portion extending from the ball portion to be connected to a shift lever, a casing formed to at least partially surround the ball portion of the rotatable member and having an inner surface forming a spherical bearing with the ball portion, the casing having a top opening through which the shift lever connection portion extends, a plurality of position fixing members to selectively contact the rotatable member so as to fix the rotatable member at a desired position, and a coupling member to selectively couple the casing to a control lever of a transmission shift assembly, wherein the spherical bearing allows rotational and angular movement of the rotatable member so that the rotatable member is selectively movable to the desired position.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Inventor: Kevin Ford
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Publication number: 20220235535Abstract: An electric or hybrid working machine includes a ground engaging structure, an electrical source of power, an electric motor arrangement, one or more hydraulically actuated devices, and a hydraulic pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the one or more hydraulically actuated devices. The working machine also includes a transmission operable to transmit drive from the electric motor arrangement to the ground engaging structure and the hydraulic pump. The transmission has a first input member connected to a first electric motor, a drive train comprising a first input gear connected to the first input member, and a coupling device connected between the first input member and the first input gear to selectively adjust transmission of drive to the hydraulic pump and the ground engaging structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicant: J. C. Bamford Excavators LimitedInventors: Alan Geoffrey Williams, Kevin Ford
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Patent number: 11070041Abstract: An egress seal fitting for a bulkhead penetration may comprise a housing, a driver configured to couple to the housing and define a cavity within the housing, and a seal member configured to be disposed within the cavity of the housing, wherein the driver is configured to pass a cable through the housing and apply pressure to the seal member.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Eli Cole Warren, Jerusalem Negash, Kevin A. Ford
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Publication number: 20210123523Abstract: A shift lever mount assembly including a rotatable member having a ball portion formed with at least a partially arcuate surface and a shift lever connection portion extending from the ball portion to be connected to a shift lever, a casing formed to at least partially surround the ball portion of the rotatable member and having an inner surface forming a spherical bearing with the ball portion, the casing having a top opening through which the shift lever connection portion extends, a plurality of position fixing members to selectively contact the rotatable member so as to fix the rotatable member at a desired position, and a coupling member to selectively couple the casing to a control lever of a transmission shift assembly, wherein the spherical bearing allows rotational and angular movement of the rotatable member so that the rotatable member is selectively movable to the desired position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventor: Kevin Ford
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Publication number: 20210102624Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter mechanism that is selectable between an automatic transmission mode and a manual shifting mode, including a shifter assembly, a pin attached to the shifter assembly, a first slotted plate to selectively receive a first portion of the shifter assembly, and a detent plate configured to receive the pin at different gear positions, wherein selected shifter assembly positions in the automatic transmission mode are maintained by the pin being located within a corresponding detent of the detent plate, and wherein movement of the first portion of the shifter assembly into the first slotted plate causes the pin to move out of range of detents in the detent plate such that an operator can shift between drive gears in the manual shifting mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Kevin Ford, Scott Thiel, Eric R. Burgan
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Patent number: 10871220Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter mechanism that is selectable between an automatic transmission mode and a manual shifting mode, including a shifter assembly configured to move in a first range of movement to be positioned in the automatic transmission mode, and to move in a second range of movement to selectively shift gears up and down in the manual shifting mode, a first sensor configured to sense that the shifter assembly is in the automatic transmission mode in response to the shifter assembly being in the first range of movement, and at least a second sensor configured to sense gear changes in the manual shifting mode, wherein the shifter assembly is configured to be selectively moved laterally from the first range of movement to the second range of movement when in a drive mode in the first range of movement.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Lokar, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Ford, Scott Thiel
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Patent number: 10808570Abstract: In combination a blade clearance sensor and a radial flow separation wall of a gas turbine engine is provided. The blade clearance sensor is embedded in the radial flow separation wall. The radial flow separation wall comprising: a splitter hoop located radially outward from blades in a first flow path of the gas turbine engine, the splitter hoop being about concentric to a blade path of the blades; and one or more guide vane bases attached to a guide vane located radially outward from the splitter hoop in a second flow path, each of the one or more guide vane bases being securely attached to a radially outward surface of the splitter hoop, wherein the blade clearance sensor is configured to detect a blade clearance between the blades and the splitter hoop.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Eli Cole Warren, Kevin A. Ford
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Publication number: 20200313416Abstract: An egress seal fitting for a bulkhead penetration may comprise a housing, a driver configured to couple to the housing and define a cavity within the housing, and a seal member configured to be disposed within the cavity of the housing, wherein the driver is configured to pass a cable through the housing and apply pressure to the seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: ELI COLE WARREN, Jerusalem Negash, Kevin A. Ford
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Publication number: 20200096331Abstract: An angled face cap probe includes a housing having a radially inner end and a radially outer end, defining a cavity, and configured to be located radially outward from an airfoil. The angled face cap probe further includes a sensor located in the cavity at the radially inner end of the housing, having a sensor body with a sensing face that is angled to match or substantially match an angle of a radially outward face the airfoil, and having a sensor flat that is elongated in a first direction. The angled face cap probe further includes an outer cap located in the cavity, coupled to the housing, and having an outer cap main body and cap legs that extend radially inward from the outer cap main body to interface with the sensor flat to resist rotation of the sensor relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Eli C. Warren, Kevin A. Ford, Patrick M. Harrington
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Patent number: 10557373Abstract: A low profile embedded BTC probe may comprise a housing having a cavity disposed radially outward of a blade, a lower insulator disposed within the cavity, a sensor element disposed within the cavity, an upper insulator disposed within the cavity, a cap wherein the cap fills a remainder of the cavity, and a hard lead in electronic communication with the sensor element and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Eli Cole Warren, Kevin A Ford
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Patent number: 10436612Abstract: A capacitance probe monitors the distance between a blade tip and a fan, compressor or turbine case. The capacitance probe may be attached to a liner, and may travel with the liner as it radially expands due to thermal changes. The capacitance probe may include a circuit board sensor with a metallic plate, and one or more capacitors. The metallic plate may be encapsulated within an insulating material. A plurality of soft leads may be in electrical communication with the circuit board sensor, allowing a lower lead weight, reduced size and increased flexibility. The soft leads may also be embedded in the liner. In this way, the capacitance probe can record more accurate distance measurements and promote a gas turbine engine's continued and efficient operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Ford, Eli Warren, Corey A. Benoit, Edward F Dreger, Erik D. Rice, Mark W. Costa
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Patent number: 10330455Abstract: A method is provided that involves a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor. During this method, a tri-axial capacitance probe is provided that includes a tri-axial conduit with an outer conductor member. The tri-axial capacitance probe is configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor. The tri-axial capacitance probe is configured within a wall aperture in the wall. The outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall. The wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Erik D. Rice, Corey A. Benoit, Marc Samit, Edward F. Dreger, III, Eli C. Warren, Kevin Ford, Michael G. Conigliaro, Timothy Jarvis
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Publication number: 20190170011Abstract: A low profile embedded BTC probe may comprise a housing having a cavity disposed radially outward of a blade, a lower insulator disposed within the cavity, a sensor element disposed within the cavity, an upper insulator disposed within the cavity, a cap wherein the cap fills a remainder of the cavity, and a hard lead in electronic communication with the sensor element and the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Eli Cole Warren, Kevin A Ford
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Publication number: 20190078869Abstract: In combination a blade clearance sensor and a radial flow separation wall of a gas turbine engine is provided. The blade clearance sensor is embedded in the radial flow separation wall. The radial flow separation wall comprising: a splitter hoop located radially outward from blades in a first flow path of the gas turbine engine, the splitter hoop being about concentric to a blade path of the blades; and one or more guide vane bases attached to a guide vane located radially outward from the splitter hoop in a second flow path, each of the one or more guide vane bases being securely attached to a radially outward surface of the splitter hoop, wherein the blade clearance sensor is configured to detect a blade clearance between the blades and the splitter hoop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Eli Cole Warren, Kevin A. Ford
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Publication number: 20180292000Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter mechanism that is selectable between an automatic transmission mode and a manual shifting mode, including a shifter assembly configured to move in a first range of movement to be positioned in the automatic transmission mode, and to move in a second range of movement to selectively shift gears up and down in the manual shifting mode, a first sensor configured to sense that the shifter assembly is in the automatic transmission mode in response to the shifter assembly being in the first range of movement, and at least a second sensor configured to sense gear changes in the manual shifting mode, wherein the shifter assembly is configured to be selectively moved laterally from the first range of movement to the second range of movement when in a drive mode in the first range of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Kevin Ford, Scott Thiel
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Publication number: 20180080753Abstract: A method is provided that involves a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor. During this method, a tri-axial capacitance probe is provided that includes a tri-axial conduit with an outer conductor member. The tri-axial capacitance probe is configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor. The tri-axial capacitance probe is configured within a wall aperture in the wall. The outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall. The wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Erik D. Rice, Corey A. Benoit, Marc Samit, Edward F. Dreger, III, Eli C. Warren, Kevin Ford, Michael G. Conigliaro, Timothy Jarvis
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Publication number: 20160195411Abstract: A capacitance probe monitors the distance between a blade tip and a fan, compressor or turbine case. The capacitance probe may be attached to a liner, and may travel with the liner as it radially expands due to thermal changes. The capacitance probe may include a circuit board sensor with a metallic plate, and one or more capacitors. The metallic plate may be encapsulated within an insulating material. A plurality of soft leads may be in electrical communication with the circuit board sensor, allowing a lower lead weight, reduced size and increased flexibility. The soft leads may also be embedded in the liner. In this way, the capacitance probe can record more accurate distance measurements and promote a gas turbine engine's continued and efficient operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2015Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Kevin Ford, Eli Warren, Corey A. Benoit, Edward F. Dreger, Erik D. Rice, Mark W. Costa
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Patent number: D751002Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Lokar, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Ford, Scott Thiel