Patents by Inventor Michael Close
Michael Close 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).
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Publication number: 20210293285Abstract: A torque-limiting coupler for connecting an electric motor to a rotatable input of a vehicle is provided, including: a rigid frame that is configured to be coupled to one of the rotatable input or an output shaft of the electric motor; and an elastic member, configured to engage the other of the rotatable input or the output shaft of the electric motor, that engages the rigid frame such that the elastic member substantially maintains its shape and inhibits angular displacement between the rotatable input and the output shaft when an amount of torque received from the output shaft is below a predetermined torque limit, the elastic member changes shape permitting angular displacement between the rotatable input and the output shaft when an amount of torque received from the output shaft exceeds the predetermined torque limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2019Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Daniel BROWN, Shawn BLACKMUR, Michael CLOSE
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Patent number: 10233999Abstract: An electric phaser dynamically adjusting the rotational relationship of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to an engine crankshaft includes an electric motor and a planetary drive. In some embodiments, the planetary drive includes a sun gear, planet gears, a sprocket ring gear driven by the engine crankshaft, a camshaft ring gear rotating with the camshaft, a carrier, a lever arm, and a load generator. The lever arm is rotatably attached to at least one planet gear and pivotably attached to the carrier at a pivot point on the carrier located off-axis from the sun axis. The load generator is coupled to the carrier and applies a torque load to the lever arm to reduce backlash in the split ring planetary drive. The difference between the number of camshaft ring gear teeth and sprocket ring gear teeth is a multiple of the number of planet gears.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.Inventors: Chad McCloy, Michael Close
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Patent number: 10006321Abstract: An engine variable camshaft timing phaser (10) includes a sprocket (12) and a planetary gear set (14). The sprocket (12) receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. The planetary gear set (14) includes two or more ring gears (34, 36), multiple planet gears (32), a sun gear (30), a first set of teeth (82), and a second set of teeth (40, 62). One of the ring gears (34, 36) can be connected to the sprocket (12) and one of the ring gears (34, 36) transmits rotational drive output to an engine camshaft. The sun gear (30) engages with the planet gears (32) and is driven by an electric motor (38). In order to bring the planetary gear set (14) to a locked condition, the first set of teeth (82) and the second set of teeth (40, 62) are mated with each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.Inventors: Roger Simpson, Michael Close, Thomas Benner
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Publication number: 20170248047Abstract: An engine variable camshaft timing phaser (10) includes a sprocket (12) and a planetary gear set (14). The sprocket (12) receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. The planetary gear set (14) includes two or more ring gears (34, 36), multiple planet gears (32), a sun gear (30), a first set of teeth (82), and a second set of teeth (40, 62). One of the ring gears (34, 36) can be connected to the sprocket (12) and one of the ring gears (34, 36) transmits rotational drive output to an engine camshaft. The sun gear (30) engages with the planet gears (32) and is driven by an electric motor (38). In order to bring the planetary gear set (14) to a locked condition, the first set of teeth (82) and the second set of teeth (40, 62) are mated with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2015Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Roger SIMPSON, Michael CLOSE, Thomas BENNER
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Publication number: 20170022857Abstract: A decompression assembly (12) and method can include a linkage mechanism (20), a biasing assembly (38) for normally biasing the linkage mechanism toward a locked position when an internal combustion engine (10) is in an unpowered state, and an actuating piston (44) for driving the linkage mechanism from the locked position toward the unlocked position when the engine (10) is in a powered state. The engine can include a cam lobe (70) for driving pivotal oscillation of a rocker arm (36) engageable with a valve (16) in the engine for movement between open and closed positions. The linkage mechanism allows a full range of movement of the rocker arm when in an unlocked position, and restricts movement of the rocker arm to less than a full range of movement when the linkage mechanism is in a locked position for maintaining the valve in a partially open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Matthew E. JUNKER, David C. WHITE, Michael CLOSE
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Publication number: 20160327124Abstract: An electric phaser dynamically adjusting the rotational relationship of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to an engine crankshaft includes an electric motor and a planetary drive. In some embodiments, the planetary drive includes a sun gear, planet gears, a sprocket ring gear driven by the engine crankshaft, a camshaft ring gear rotating with the camshaft, a carrier, a lever arm, and a load generator. The lever arm is rotatably attached to at least one planet gear and pivotably attached to the carrier at a pivot point on the carrier located off-axis from the sun axis. The load generator is coupled to the carrier and applies a torque load to the lever arm to reduce backlash in the split ring planetary drive. The difference between the number of camshaft ring gear teeth and sprocket ring gear teeth is a multiple of the number of planet gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: Chad McCloy, Michael Close
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Patent number: 8651652Abstract: A printer device includes a housing (32) that defines an interior space. A platform (36) includes a first position extending along a plane within the interior space for receiving media to be printed with fluid. A mechanism (200) selectively applies a force to the platform (36) to move the platform (36) to a second position at an angle relative to the plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Kieran B Kelly, Shawn Michael Close, Prodpran Suetrong, Mark G Miranda
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Publication number: 20130286111Abstract: A printer device includes a housing (32) that defines an interior space. A platform (36) includes a first position extending along a plane within the interior space for receiving media to be printed with fluid. A mechanism (200) selectively applies a force to the platform (36) to move the platform (36) to a second position at an angle relative to the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Kieran B. Kelly, Shawn Michael Close, Prodpran Suetrong, Mark G. Miranda
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Patent number: 8529030Abstract: A check valve unit is provided for a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine between a reservoir for receiving and holding a volume of melted ink from a source and a receiving unit, which may be a printhead system. The check valve unit includes a plurality of ball elements trapped between upper and lower housings defining a like plurality of inlet and discharge passageways. The passageways are configured to optimize flow of melted ink through the unit during charging of the secondary reservoir. The check valve unit is scalable as to size and number of reservoirs for a particular application. The unit further incorporates features that simplify the manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining optimal performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Chad Johan Slenes, Tony Rogers, Shawn Michael Close, William Bruce Weaver, Chad David Freitag
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Publication number: 20120133714Abstract: A check valve unit is provided for a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine between a reservoir for receiving and holding a volume of melted ink from a source and a receiving unit, which may be a printhead system. The check valve unit includes a plurality of ball elements trapped between upper and lower housings defining a like plurality of inlet and discharge passageways. The passageways are configured to optimize flow of melted ink through the unit during charging of the secondary reservoir. The check valve unit is scalable as to size and number of reservoirs for a particular application. The unit further incorporates features that simplify the manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining optimal performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Chad Johan Slenes, Tony Rogers, Shawn Michael Close, William Bruce Weaver, Chad David Freitag
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Patent number: 8162462Abstract: A check valve unit is provided for a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine between a reservoir for receiving and holding a volume of melted ink from a source and a receiving unit, which may be a printhead system. The check valve unit includes a plurality of ball elements trapped between upper and lower housings defining a like plurality of inlet and discharge passageways. The passageways are configured to optimize flow of melted ink through the unit during charging of the secondary reservoir. The check valve unit is scalable as to size and number of reservoirs for a particular application. The unit further incorporates features that simplify the manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining optimal performance.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Chad Johan Slenes, Tony Rogers, Shawn Michael Close, William Bruce Weaver, Chad David Freitag
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Publication number: 20100020144Abstract: A check valve unit is provided for a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine between a reservoir for receiving and holding a volume of melted ink from a source and a receiving unit, which may be a printhead system. The check valve unit includes a plurality of ball elements trapped between upper and lower housings defining a like plurality of inlet and discharge passageways. The passageways are configured to optimize flow of melted ink through the unit during charging of the secondary reservoir. The check valve unit is scalable as to size and number of reservoirs for a particular application. The unit further incorporates features that simplify the manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining optimal performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2008Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Chad Johan Slenes, Tony Rogers, Shawn Michael Close, William Bruce Weaver, Chad David Freitag