Patents by Inventor Kevin P. Horak

Kevin P. Horak 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: 10781908
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a torque transmitting apparatus includes a first member arranged for rotation about an axis and having a first surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis, and a second member having a second surface with at least a portion that is parallel to and engaged with at least a portion of the first surface. The second member is coupled to the first member by a weld provided in an interface region defined by an area of radial overlap between the first surface and the second surface. The groove is provided in one or both of the first surface and the second surface, the groove has a portion located radially inboard of the weld and at least one outlet that, at least without the weld, is communicated with a radially outer edge of the interface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Kevin P. Horak
  • Publication number: 20190178362
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a torque transmitting apparatus includes a first member arranged for rotation about an axis and having a first surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis, and a second member having a second surface with at least a portion that is parallel to and engaged with at least a portion of the first surface. The second member is coupled to the first member by a weld provided in an interface region defined by an area of radial overlap between the first surface and the second surface. The groove is provided in one or both of the first surface and the second surface, the groove has a portion located radially inboard of the weld and at least one outlet that, at least without the weld, is communicated with a radially outer edge of the interface region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin P. Horak
  • Patent number: 9664253
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a differential for a vehicle includes a pinion gear, a pair of side gears and a housing. The side gears are meshed with the pinion gear and the housing defines a cavity in which the pinion gear and side gears are received. The housing also has an opening with an inner end leading to the cavity and an outer end spaced from the inner end. The opening is adapted to receive a shaft therethrough for coupling of the shaft to one of the side gears and the opening is defined at least in part by a journal surface. The journal surface is concave with respect to the shaft and provides a converging portion from the inner end to a central portion between the inner end and outer end and a diverging portion from the central portion to the outer end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GKN DRIVELINE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David E. Gall, Edward K. Kwon, Kevin P. Horak
  • Publication number: 20170074381
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a differential for a vehicle includes a pinion gear, a pair of side gears and a housing. The side gears are meshed with the pinion gear and the housing defines a cavity in which the pinion gear and side gears are received. The housing also has an opening with an inner end leading to the cavity and an outer end spaced from the inner end. The opening is adapted to receive a shaft therethrough for coupling of the shaft to one of the side gears and the opening is defined at least in part by a journal surface. The journal surface is concave with respect to the shaft and provides a converging portion from the inner end to a central portion between the inner end and outer end and a diverging portion from the central portion to the outer end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David E. Gall, Edward K. Kwon, Kevin P. Horak