Patents by Inventor Michael Allen Mueller

Michael Allen Mueller 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: 20230366463
    Abstract: A vehicle with continuously variable transmission operational modes is provided. The vehicle includes a motor to provide engine torque; a driveline; a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an actuator, a memory and a controller. The CVT is configured to couple torque between the motor and the driveline. The actuator is in operational communication with the CVT to selectively set operating characteristics of the CVT. The memory stores operating instructions including operational mode. The controller is in communication with the memory and the actuator. The controller configured to control the actuator based on one or more of the operational modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Yudell, Carlos Romo Ramírez, Bruce H. Younggren, Michael Allen Mueller, Jason S. Koskela, Ronald Joseph Wendt
  • Publication number: 20220354048
    Abstract: A zero-turn vehicle including a mode selection interface, a memory and at least one controller is provided. The mode selection interface provides a mode section input for a user. The memory is used to store mode instructions relating to at least one operation mode. The at least one controller in communication with the mode selection interface and the memory, the at least one controller configured to selectively modify normal operating characteristics of the zero-turn vehicle based the mode selection input from the user by implementing the stored mode instructions associated with the mode selection input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller, Micah Ryan Ricke, Karl Michael Leisenheimer
  • Patent number: 10626929
    Abstract: A dual clutch that includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a ball ramp assembly and at least one actuator is provided. The first clutch engages and disengages a first set of gears. The second clutch engages and disengages a second set of gears. The at least one ball ramp assembly includes at least one ball, first member and a second member. The first member includes a ball pocket for each ball. The second member has at least one ball ramp. The at least one ball partially received in an associated ball pocket of the first member and ball ramp of the second member. The at least one actuator is configured and arranged to rotate one of the first member and the second member to cause the at least one ball ramp assembly to activate at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Brandon P. Lenk, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 10625606
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20190176617
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 10252613
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20170321763
    Abstract: A dual clutch that includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a ball ramp assembly and at least one actuator is provided. The first clutch engages and disengages a first set of gears. The second clutch engages and disengages a second set of gears. The at least one ball ramp assembly includes at least one ball, first member and a second member. The first member includes a ball pocket for each ball. The second member has at least one ball ramp. The at least one ball partially received in an associated ball pocket of the first member and ball ramp of the second member. The at least one actuator is configured and arranged to rotate one of the first member and the second member to cause the at least one ball ramp assembly to activate at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Brandon P. Lenk, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20170210224
    Abstract: A dual clutch transaxle is provided that includes a dual clutch assembly, an input shaft assembly, a counter shaft assembly, a shift assembly and at least one output assembly. The dual clutch assembly has a dual clutch axis and includes a first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. The input shaft assembly includes a nested first inner input shaft and a second outer input shaft that are operationally coupled to the first clutch shaft and a second clutch shaft. An input shaft axis is offset from the dual clutch axis of the dual clutch assembly. A plurality of drive gears of the input shaft assembly are operationally coupled to a plurality of driven gears of the counter shaft assembly. The shift assembly is operationally coupled to select. The at least one output assembly is operationally coupled to the counter shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Thomas Richard Rosenbush, Ronald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 8341989
    Abstract: A key fob with a retractable key blank is provided. The present invention includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion coupled together. The housing includes an aperture formed between the first and second portions on an end of the housing. The aperture allows for a key blade to slide therethrough. The present invention further includes a key blank having a base portion and a blade portion, wherein the base portion is coupled to an activation mechanism and the blade extends from the base portion. The base portion is slideable within the housing and retained at all times within the housing. The blade portion slides out and in the housing in response to operation of the activation mechanism. The blade portion slides between an extended portion and a refracted position. The key blank is cuttable while coupled to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: M.C.M. Technologies
    Inventors: Ryan J. Hamblin, Michael Allen Mueller
  • Patent number: 5638866
    Abstract: A hydraulic pilot valve has a joystick which is normally maintained in a neutral position by coil springs acting on plungers which engage corresponding first cam surfaces of a cam fixed to the joystick. The plungers are each connected to respective valve members which are stroked to open the pilot valve when the plungers are depressed. When the joystick is pivoted to depress one of the plungers so as to stroke one of the valve members, that valve member is held stroked by an magnetic detent. The joystick may then be released and the valve member will remain in its stroked position. When the joystick is moved back towards a neutral position, a second cam surface on the joystick engages an outer end portion of the depressed plunger and applies an axial force to the plunger. This disengages an armature component of the magnetic detent from an electromagnetic component. A spring then pushes the plunger to its neutral position where the plunger holds the valve member operated thereby closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Allen Mueller