Patents by Inventor Kevin P. Douglas

Kevin P. Douglas 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).

  • Publication number: 20210300461
    Abstract: A rack electric power steering system includes a rack having a single set of teeth with a constant tooth pitch. The system also includes a first pinion operatively coupled to a steering shaft and in meshed engagement with the single set of teeth of the rack. The system further includes a second pinion operatively coupled to an electric motor and in meshed engagement with the single set of teeth of the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Marcin Jan Nakielski, Grzegorz Piwowarski, Mateusz Cielniak, Jaroslaw Bujak, Michael J. Augustine, Kevin P. Douglas
  • Patent number: 11104373
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system includes a housing, a rack, a pinion gear, and a radially preloaded rack bearing. The rack is supported by the housing, and the pinion gear is meshed to the rack. The radially preloaded rack bearing is supported and preloaded to the housing and is preloaded to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Ryan D. Harris, Fred N. Golda, Justin R. Coats
  • Patent number: 11027767
    Abstract: A rack bar blank for a steering system includes a first region having a first diameter. The rack bar blank also includes a second region having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter prior to formation of teeth on the second region and a ball screw thread on the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Kevin P. Douglas, Gary V. Weiss, William H. Georges
  • Patent number: 10995799
    Abstract: A steering system is provided. The steering system may include a drive pulley and a ball nut assembly. The drive pulley may be operatively connected to a drive shaft. The ball nut assembly may be driven by the drive pulley via a belt disposed about the drive pulley and the ball nut assembly. The ball nut assembly may include a ball nut and a driven pulley. The ball nut may have an inner surface disposed about a ball screw that defines and extends along a first axis and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface. The ball nut may define a first groove that extends from the outer surface towards the inner surface. The driven pulley may be disposed about the ball nut and have a retaining member that includes a finger for extending into the first groove to engage the ball nut and driven pulley without separate fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Dale P. Wawrzyniec, Conrad G. Vorwerck, Gabriel J. McCoy
  • Publication number: 20200318689
    Abstract: A steering system is provided. The steering system may include a drive pulley and a ball nut assembly. The drive pulley may be operatively connected to a drive shaft. The ball nut assembly may be driven by the drive pulley via a belt disposed about the drive pulley and the ball nut assembly. The ball nut assembly may include a ball nut and a driven pulley. The ball nut may have an inner surface disposed about a ball screw that defines and extends along a first axis and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface. The ball nut may define a first groove that extends from the outer surface towards the inner surface. The driven pulley may be disposed about the ball nut and have a retaining member that includes a finger for extending into the first groove to engage the ball nut and driven pulley without separate fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Dale P. Wawrzyniec, Conrad G. Vorwerck, Gabriel J. McCoy
  • Publication number: 20200283056
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system includes a housing, a rack, a pinion gear, and a radially preloaded rack bearing. The rack is supported by the housing, and the pinion gear is meshed to the rack. The radially preloaded rack bearing is supported and preloaded to the housing and is preloaded to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Ryan D. Harris, Fred N. Golda, Justin R. Coats
  • Publication number: 20200172152
    Abstract: A rack bar blank for a steering system includes a first region having a first diameter. The rack bar blank also includes a second region having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter prior to formation of teeth on the second region and a ball screw thread on the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Kevin P. Douglas, Gary V. Weiss, William H. Georges
  • Publication number: 20200172151
    Abstract: A rack bar blank for a steering system is provided. The rack bar blank includes a first region having a circular cross-section. The rack bar blank also includes a second region having a flattened surface along a length thereof, the flattened surface present prior to formation of teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Kevin P. Douglas, William H. Georges, William S. Anders
  • Patent number: 10618544
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system includes a housing, a rack, a pinion gear, and a radially preloaded rack bearing. The rack is supported by the housing, and the pinion gear is meshed to the rack. The radially preloaded rack bearing is supported and preloaded to the housing and is preloaded to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Ryan D. Harris, Fred N. Golda, Justin R. Coats
  • Publication number: 20170334478
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system includes a housing, a rack, a pinion gear, and a radially preloaded rack bearing. The rack is supported by the housing, and the pinion gear is meshed to the rack. The radially preloaded rack bearing is supported and preloaded to the housing and is preloaded to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Ryan D. Harris, Fred N. Golda, Justin R. Coats
  • Publication number: 20090223581
    Abstract: A gear housing for a power steering system defines a valve bore, a pressure port, a plurality of orifices opening into the valve bore and a plurality of passageways interconnecting the plurality of orifices and the pressure port. The plurality of orifices direct a power steering fluid into the valve bore at multiple locations within the valve bore, thereby providing a balanced flow of the power steering fluid into the valve bore. The plurality of orifices is disposed about a bore axis, with each of the orifices angularly spaced about the bore axis relative to all of the other orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Jens Haupt, Joel E. Birsching, Bryan W. Cowan