Patents by Inventor Michael W. Dunkley

Michael W. Dunkley 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: 4937749
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing high resistance to vehicle forward movement and allowing engagement of a gear ratio lower than the lowest engageable ratio at substantially constant vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4930081
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request for a direct downshift into transmission neutral, under certain predefined conditioned, by a single movement of the shift lever (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4930078
    Abstract: A control and control method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing operator request for a direct downshift into an optimum pull-away ratio and for automatically determining and engaging the optimum pull-away ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4913269
    Abstract: A method for smoothing skip up-shifts in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) without requiring direct sensing of the rotational speed of the engine (14) is provided. The method involves delaying re-engagement of the master clutch (16) after engagement of a selected transmission ratio (E) during a skip up-shift by a period of time (T) directly proportional to the number (N) of ratios skipped and/or a function of the identity of the newly engaged ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4888577
    Abstract: A transmission system (10) including a control display (2, 302) is provided. The control display comprised of three sections, a currently engaged gear ratio section (2'") a maximum permissible consecutive upshift indicating section (2') and a maximum permissible consecutive downshift indicating section (2"). The central processing unit (38) includes circuitry and logic rules to process input signals to determine the currently permissible gear ratios and will indicate said gear ratios, in the form of maximum permissible upshifts and downshifts, at said display. The central processing unit also includes circuitry and logic rules to sense the existence of a fault condition, to assign a predetermined code ("18") thereto and to issue command output signals to the display to cause the second and third sections to assume a fault condition indicating display and to cause said first section to display to assigned code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton, John E. Dunne
  • Patent number: 4800360
    Abstract: A control display (2) for a transmission is provided. The display includes a first section (2'") displaying the current engaged ratio, a second section (2') displaying permissible upshifts and a third section (2") displaying permissible downshifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton
  • Patent number: 4648290
    Abstract: A semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) and method for controlling same is provided. The transmission system includes a shaft selector lever (1) which may be moved forward or rearward from the centered position thereof to select upshifts and downshifts, respectively, and a central processing unit (38) receiving input signals from the selector lever and which will sense multiple movements of the shift select lever in a given direction and interpret same as request for multiple or skip shifts in said direction. The control also includes a display (2) comprised of three sections, a currently engaged gear ratio section (2'") a maximum permissible consecutive upshift indicating section (2') and a maximum permissible consecutive downshift indicating section (2").
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Dunkley, John E. Stainton