Patents by Inventor Kevin C. Payne

Kevin C. Payne 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: 9217477
    Abstract: A friction clutch system mechanically couples a power source to a driven system of a vehicle to reduce the rotational inertia of the clutch system, provide torsional damping within the system, and minimize vibration (e.g., rattling) between a floater and a flywheel. For example, a damping assembly secured to the floater may engage a locator pin secured to the flywheel and thereby reduce vibration. The friction clutch system may include a first friction disc assembly directly engaged with a second friction disc assembly. The first disc assembly may include protuberances that extend axially from a hub assembly, which in turn may include damping springs and an internal splined region for coupling to a splined, driven shaft. The second friction disc assembly includes openings, which may take the form of radial slots, configured to engageably receive the protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TNMJ CALIBER, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wilson, Kevin C. Payne, William F. Baty
  • Patent number: 8978857
    Abstract: A friction clutch system mechanically couples a power source to a driven system of a vehicle to reduce the rotational inertia of the clutch system, provide torsional damping within the system, and minimize vibration (e.g., rattling) between a floater and a flywheel. In one embodiment, the friction clutch system includes a first friction disc assembly directly engaged with a second friction disc assembly. The first disc assembly may include protuberances that extend axially from a hub assembly, which in turn may include damping springs and an internal splined region for coupling to a splined, driven shaft. The second friction disc assembly includes openings, which may take the form of radial slots, configured to engageably receive the protuberances. The first disc assembly may be positioned adjacent to a pressure plate assembly or a flywheel. A floater plate may be located between the first and second friction disc assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: TNMJ Caliber, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wilson, Kevin C. Payne, William F. Baty
  • Publication number: 20140138202
    Abstract: A friction clutch system mechanically couples a power source to a driven system of a vehicle to reduce the rotational inertia of the clutch system, provide torsional damping within the system, and minimize vibration (e.g., rattling) between a floater and a flywheel. For example, a damping assembly secured to the floater may engage a locator pin secured to the flywheel and thereby reduce vibration. The friction clutch system may include a first friction disc assembly directly engaged with a second friction disc assembly. The first disc assembly may include protuberances that extend axially from a hub assembly, which in turn may include damping springs and an internal splined region for coupling to a splined, driven shaft. The second friction disc assembly includes openings, which may take the form of radial slots, configured to engageably receive the protuberances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wilson, Kevin C. Payne, William F. Baty
  • Patent number: 8450926
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a thin film solid state lighting device, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device, having a planar light emitting side and an opposite planar mounting side and including electrodes disposed on the planar mounting side of the thin film solid state lighting device, the electrodes including a magnetic material configured to conductively convey electrical drive current to drive the thin film solid state lighting device to emit light at the planar light emitting principal side. The article of manufacture may further comprise a fixture having a planar surface with magnets arranged to mate with the electrodes to magnetically secure the thin film solid state lighting device with the fixture and to concurrently form electrically conductive paths including the magnetic material of the electrodes configured to conductively convey electrical drive current. Thus this magnetic connection provides both mechanical support and electrical conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce R. Roberts, Kevin C. Payne, Donald Seton Farquhar, Stefan Rakuff, Michael Scott Herzog
  • Patent number: 8430222
    Abstract: A friction clutch system mechanically couples a power source to a driven system of a vehicle while reducing the rotational inertia of the clutch system and yet still providing torsional damping within the system. In one embodiment, the friction clutch system includes a first friction disc assembly directly engaged with a second friction disc assembly. The first disc assembly may include protuberances that extend axially from a hub assembly, which in turn may include damping springs and an internal splined region for coupling to a splined, driven shaft. The second friction disc assembly includes openings, which may take the form of radial slots, configured to engageably receive the protuberances. The first disc assembly may be positioned adjacent to a pressure plate assembly or a flywheel. A floater plate may be located between the first and second friction disc assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: TNMJ Caliber, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wilson, Kevin C. Payne, William F. Baty
  • Publication number: 20110132714
    Abstract: A friction clutch system mechanically couples a power source to a driven system of a vehicle to reduce the rotational inertia of the clutch system, provide torsional damping within the system, and minimize vibration (e.g., rattling) between a floater and a flywheel. In one embodiment, the friction clutch system includes a first friction disc assembly directly engaged with a second friction disc assembly. The first disc assembly may include protuberances that extend axially from a hub assembly, which in turn may include damping springs and an internal splined region for coupling to a splined, driven shaft. The second friction disc assembly includes openings, which may take the form of radial slots, configured to engageably receive the protuberances. The first disc assembly may be positioned adjacent to a pressure plate assembly or a flywheel. A floater plate may be located between the first and second friction disc assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: TNMJ Caliber, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wilson, Kevin C. Payne, William F. Baty
  • Publication number: 20110100776
    Abstract: A friction clutch system mechanically couples a power source to a driven system of a vehicle while reducing the rotational inertia of the clutch system and yet still providing torsional damping within the system. In one embodiment, the friction clutch system includes a first friction disc assembly directly engaged with a second friction disc assembly. The first disc assembly may include protuberances that extend axially from a hub assembly, which in turn may include damping springs and an internal splined region for coupling to a splined, driven shaft. The second friction disc assembly includes openings, which may take the form of radial slots, configured to engageably receive the protuberances. The first disc assembly may be positioned adjacent to a pressure plate assembly or a flywheel. A floater plate may be located between the first and second friction disc assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wilson, Kevin C. Payne, William F. Baty
  • Publication number: 20100295443
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a thin film solid state lighting device, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device, having a planar light emitting side and an opposite planar mounting side and including electrodes disposed on the planar mounting side of the thin film solid state lighting device, the electrodes including a magnetic material configured to conductively convey electrical drive current to drive the thin film solid state lighting device to emit light at the planar light emitting principal side. The article of manufacture may further comprise a fixture having a planar surface with magnets arranged to mate with the electrodes to magnetically secure the thin film solid state lighting device with the fixture and to concurrently form electrically conductive paths including the magnetic material of the electrodes configured to conductively convey electrical drive current. Thus this magnetic connection provides both mechanical support and electrical conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Bruce R. Roberts, Kevin C. Payne, Donald Seton Farquhar, Stefan Rakuff, Michael Scott Herzog