Patents by Inventor Kevin B. Todd

Kevin B. Todd 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: 11970958
    Abstract: Reducing engagement noise in a chain drive or belt drive for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft having a driving sprocket and at least one shaft having a first driven sprocket and a second driven sprocket, where the driving sprocket and at least one of the first driven sprocket and the second driven sprocket contain a pattern of pitch radii such that the radial variation of the pitch radii excite tensions at non-prevalent orders in a drive system of the internal combustion engine. The non-prevalent engine cycle orders excited by each of the driving sprocket, the first driven sprocket and the second driven sprocket are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B Todd
  • Patent number: 11402000
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 11078992
    Abstract: A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Mark E. Patton, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 10907721
    Abstract: A non-prevalent order random sprocket for an internal combustion engine comprising a pattern of pitch radii, such that the radial variation of the pitch radii excite tensions at non-prevalent orders in a drive system of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Todd
  • Patent number: 10738860
    Abstract: A pressure regulator is in fluid communication with a supply inlet of a hydraulic tensioner to actively control fluid to the inlet of the hydraulic tensioner. By actively controlling the pressure regulator based on engine conditions and thus the oil pressure being fed to the hydraulic tensioner, the oil pressure to the hydraulic tensioner may be reduced at low engine speeds, increasing the efficiency of the timing system, or allowing full oil pressure at high engine speeds and low engine temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Mark M. Wigsten, Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith, Sean R. Simmons, Seongdo Hong
  • Publication number: 20200191243
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 10677325
    Abstract: A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Mark E. Patton, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 10612629
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 10436291
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190234494
    Abstract: In order to prevent noise, a ratchet clip and grooves for the ratchet clip to engage are added to the second piston, such that the second piston cannot hit the bottom of the second bore housing. The second piston is prevented from hitting the bottom of the second bore housing by the ratchet clip engaging the ratchet grooves on the outer circumference of the second piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Keith B. COBB, Kevin B. TODD, Robert G. WILLIAMSON
  • Publication number: 20190024762
    Abstract: A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Mark E. Patton, Dale N. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180363753
    Abstract: A non-prevalent order random sprocket for an internal combustion engine comprising a pattern of pitch radii, such that the radial variation of the pitch radii excite tensions at non-prevalent orders in a drive system of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Kevin B. TODD
  • Patent number: 10125849
    Abstract: A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Mark E. Patton, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 10077825
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain or belt span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain or belt tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain or belt control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain or belt conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith, Robert G Williamson, Fenton O'Shea
  • Publication number: 20180112748
    Abstract: A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Mark E. Patton, Dale N. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180094709
    Abstract: A pressure regulator is in fluid communication with a supply inlet of a hydraulic tensioner to actively control fluid to the inlet of the hydraulic tensioner. By actively controlling the pressure regulator based on engine conditions and thus the oil pressure being fed to the hydraulic tensioner, the oil pressure to the hydraulic tensioner may be reduced at low engine speeds, increasing the efficiency of the timing system, or allowing full oil pressure at high engine speeds and low engine temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Mark M. WIGSTEN, Kevin B. TODD, Dale N. SMITH, Sean R. SIMMONS, Seongdo HONG
  • Patent number: 9879764
    Abstract: A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Mark E. Patton, Dale N. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170254392
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170254393
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 9683637
    Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Todd, Dale N. Smith