Patents by Inventor Mark D. Boardman

Mark D. Boardman 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: 20020151410
    Abstract: A method/system for controlling an automated mechanical transmission system (10) utilized on a vehicle and having a manually operated master friction clutch operator (48). To protect from driveline damage due to dynamic clutch “popping,” upon sensing dynamic vehicle conditions (OS>REFVSPEED) and clutch (16) not engaged, transmission (14) engaged and THL>REFTHL, a controller (28) causes engine speed (ES) to be limited to a target value (EST) substantially equal to input shaft speed (IS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation, Eaton Center
    Inventors: Mark D. Boardman, Karen L. Marx
  • Patent number: 6461272
    Abstract: A method/system for controlling an automated mechanical transmission system (10) utilized on a vehicle and having a manually operated master friction clutch operator (48). To protect from driveline damage due to dynamic clutch “popping,” upon sensing dynamic vehicle conditions (OS >REFVSPEED) and clutch (16) not engaged, transmission (14) engaged and THL>REFTHL, a controller (28) causes engine speed (ES) to be limited to a target value (EST) substantially equal to input shaft speed (IS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Boardman, Karen L. Marx
  • Patent number: 6318182
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring hydraulic pressure in a solenoid valve includes coupling the solenoid valve with a voltage source and monitoring the input current rise characteristic as the solenoid valve moves between the open and closed positions. The rise characteristic indicates the amount of current needed to move the solenoid valve and changes when the solenoid changes positions. The current levels in the characteristic are taken at two different time periods and compared to determine whether the solenoid has shifted positions by the second time period. Because a greater amount of current is required to move the solenoid valve if the hydraulic pressure is high, the rise characteristic will change sooner if the pressure is low and later if the pressure is high. The hydraulic pressure can therefore be determined by comparing the two current levels and correlating them with pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Boardman
  • Patent number: 6123644
    Abstract: A method/system for controlling downshifting in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) utilized on a vehicle. The anti-hunt logic after an upshift will sense conditions of high throttle demand (THL>85%) and low vehicle acceleration (d/dt(OS)<0) and reduce at least a portion (72) of the direction of last shift anti-hunt offset to the downshift profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. Janecke, Mark D. Boardman
  • Patent number: 5524481
    Abstract: A method for measuring the pressure of fluid in the wet tank (32) of a central tire inflation system (10) prior to initiating a tire pressure check sequence in order to ensure an accurate tire pressure reading by waiting for a sufficient wet tank pressure. To measure wet tank pressure, the wet tank (32) is isolated from the atmosphere and from a distribution manifold (55). Pressure is measured with an existing pressure transducer (44). Once wet tank pressure is sufficient, a normal tire pressure check sequence is allowed to begin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Claussen, James A. Beverly, Mark D. Boardman, Gary R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 5507372
    Abstract: A torque converter lock-up clutch (26) control is provided which is adaptive to sensed torque demand across the torque converter (20) of a vehicular automated transmission system (12). Torque demand is, in one embodiment, sensed as a function of torque converter slip rate ((ES-IS)/(ES)), and torque converter lock-up is delayed upon sensed positive (ZNV ((ES-IS)/(ES)) torque converter slip rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Boardman, Mark A. Osinski
  • Patent number: 5305213
    Abstract: A control system/method for an automated mechanical transmission system (12) is provided for limiting driveline torque to a predetermined maximum value (max.sub.-- OS.sub.-- torq). Driveline torque is controlled by controlled fueling of the engine (16) to limit engine speed (ES) to a maximum value (ES max) which is determined as a function of input shaft speed (IS), maximum output shaft torque (max.sub.-- OS.sub.-- torq), mechanical ratio (gear-ratio) of the engaged transmission gear and torque converter (20) constants (torque.sub.-- ratio, K factor).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Boardman, Robert M. Langbo
  • Patent number: 5274553
    Abstract: A power downshift control method/system strategy (FIG. 6), based upon sensed torque converter slip (TC slip) is provided for an automated mechanical transmission system (12) including an engine (16), a mechanical transmission (14) and a torque converter (20) drivingly interposed the engine and transmission. At the beginning of a power downshift, the target gear is derived from the TC.sub.-- slip, vehicle deceleration, current gear and operator throttle demand. These four vehicle conditions are parameters of a four dimensional matrix such that increasing values of each parameter promote a greater potential for skip power downshifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Boardman
  • Patent number: 5263524
    Abstract: A vehicle central tire inflation system (10), which checks and inflates/deflates tires of an automotive tractor and trailer, is provided with a prevention control (110) for preventing inflation/deflation operation of the system (10) when the tractor is disconnected from the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Boardman
  • Patent number: 5136897
    Abstract: A robust control method/system for smoothing upshifts in an automated mechanical transmission system (12) is provided. During the torque recovery portion of an upshift, engine deceleration (dES/dt) and the difference between current engine speed (ES) and a target engine speed (ES.sub.SYNC) and actuator response times are utilized to sequence the issuance of command output signals to the friction clutch (24) and throttle override (34) actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Boardman
  • Patent number: 5109729
    Abstract: A fault sensing and tolerant logic (FIG. 6) is provided for a control system/method for an automated mechanical transmission system (12) including a throttle dip override device (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Boardman
  • Patent number: 5109721
    Abstract: A shift control method/system for shifting an automated compound range type transmission (14) in only the auxiliary section (96) to provide a limp-home function if system faults adversely effecting continued main section (94) shifting are detected is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Boardman, James M. Irwin
  • Patent number: 5099711
    Abstract: A control method/system for an automated mechanical transmission system 12) including a nonsynchronized transmission (14) is provided with logic rules for detecting and responding to conditions indicative of jaw clutch tooth (98 a/b, 114 a/b, 118 a/b, 120 a/b, 128 a/b butt. and/or tooth buzz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Langbo, Mark D. Boardman