Patents by Inventor Mark MacDonald Wigsten

Mark MacDonald Wigsten 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: 7059985
    Abstract: A power transmission chain has rows of pivotally connected, interleaved drive links and guide links. One guide link is included in each row of links and the guide links are positioned on alternate lateral sides of the chain in each row. A sprocket that can engage the power transmission chain has teeth that extend radially outwardly at the periphery of the sprocket. The sprocket teeth are separated from adjacent teeth by a distance that is approximately the length of the links of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: George L. Markley, Mark MacDonald Wigsten
  • Patent number: 6955621
    Abstract: An engine tensioning system including tensioner arms and a rotary actuating tensioner capable of driving multiple tensioner arms making multiple chain or belt contacts. The rotary actuating tensioner has connector pins fixed to a rotating surface to which tensioner arms are attached. Rotation of this surface is accomplished through a combination of springs and hydraulic pressure. When the surface rotates, the attached tensioner arms are driven laterally against the engine chain or belt, keeping it taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, George L. Markley
  • Patent number: 6736744
    Abstract: A sprocket is disclosed for use with a roller chain and that substantially avoids radial impact of chain rollers with the sprocket. The sprocket differs from prior sprockets in that the tooth root radius of the sprocket is increased while the sprocket pitch circle diameter is maintained. This configuration creates a clearance between the roller and the tooth root. This clearance allows rollers of a chain of like pitch to impact the sprocket teeth in a substantially tangential fashion on their flanks, rather than substantially radially on the tooth root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, George L. Markley
  • Patent number: 6689003
    Abstract: A limited articulation chain design that prevents or reduces chain jumping at a given amount of chain slack comprises a chain having a plurality of alternating inner and outer links having ends interconnected by pins, wherein the ends of the outer links are partially or substantially squared on the sprocket side, such that the ends of adjacent outer links limit articulation of the links around the pins to a predetermined radius, by interfering with the adjacent outer links at the predetermined radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, Brian R. Scotti, George L. Markley
  • Patent number: 6575861
    Abstract: A sprocket for engaging a power transmission chain and for limiting motion of the chain along the radial direction of the sprocket is disclosed. The sprocket supports the chain at the sprocket teeth to limit chain motion in the radial direction of the sprocket at the sprocket teeth. The support limits chain motion in the radial direction including motion induced by chordal fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: George L. Markley, Mark MacDonald Wigsten
  • Publication number: 20030017896
    Abstract: A sprocket for engaging a power transmission chain with offset series of drive links and guide links is disclosed. The sprocket has teeth that extend radially outwardly at the periphery of the sprocket that support a chain engaging the sprocket. The sprocket teeth are separated from adjacent teeth by a distance that is approximately the length of the links of the chain. A power transmission chain is disclosed that has rows of pivotally connected, interleaved drive links and guide links. One guide link is included in each row of links and the guide links are positioned on alternate lateral sides of the chain by each row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: George L. Markley, Mark MacDonald Wigsten
  • Patent number: 6500084
    Abstract: The chain and sprocket design of the present invention is applicable to sprockets (9) which have an even number of teeth and chains which use inward-pointing teeth and parallel links (2) and outer guides (8). The sprocket is designed such that alternate teeth (6) of the sprocket are of increased width such that when the sprocket is properly oriented they extend outward between outer guide links, which are shaped to allow the teeth to enter the inter-guide gap. If the chain attempts to jump a tooth, such that the sprocket is oriented with the wider teeth aligned with the outer guide links, the wider teeth will contact the guide links and prevent the chain from seating in the sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark MacDonald Wigsten
  • Publication number: 20020173394
    Abstract: A limited articulation chain design that prevents or reduces chain jumping at a given amount of chain slack comprises a chain having a plurality of alternating inner and outer links having ends interconnected by pins, wherein the ends of the outer links are partially or substantially squared on the sprocket side, such that the ends of adjacent outer links limit articulation of the links around the pins to a predetermined radius, by interfering with the adjacent outer links at the predetermined radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, Brian R. Scotti, George L. Markley
  • Publication number: 20020160868
    Abstract: An engine tensioning system including tensioner arms and a rotary actuating tensioner capable of driving multiple tensioner arms making multiple chain or belt contacts. The rotary actuating tensioner has connector pins fixed to a rotating surface to which tensioner arms are attached. Rotation of this surface is accomplished through a combination of springs and hydraulic pressure. When the surface rotates, the attached tensioner arms are driven laterally against the engine chain or belt, keeping it taut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, George L. Markley
  • Publication number: 20020142874
    Abstract: A sprocket for engaging a power transmission chain and for limiting motion of the chain along the radial direction of the sprocket is disclosed. The sprocket supports the chain at sprocket teeth to limit chain motion in the radial direction of the sprocket at the sprocket teeth. The support limits chain motion in the radial direction including motion induced by chordal fall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: George L. Markley, Mark MacDonald Wigsten
  • Publication number: 20020098934
    Abstract: A novel chain and sprocket design which is applicable to sprockets (9) which have an even number of teeth and chains which use inward-pointing teeth and parallel links (2) and outer guides (8). The sprocket is designed such that alternate teeth (6) of the sprocket are of increased width such that when the sprocket is properly oriented they extend outward between outer guide links, which are shaped to allow the teeth to enter the inter-guide gap. If the chain attempts to jump a tooth, such that the sprocket is oriented with the wider teeth aligned with the outer guide links, the wider teeth will contact the guide links and prevent the chain from seating in the sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Mark MacDonald Wigsten