Patents by Inventor Ned W. Wright

Ned W. Wright 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: 12044304
    Abstract: Systems for a differential are provided. The differential includes two sets of pinion gears with an asymmetric split tooth profile. A case of the differential includes a plurality of lubrication ports which open adjacent to untoothed sections of one set of pinion gears and in a drive mode and an outboard axial load is exerted on the corresponding set of pinion gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Brian V. Knapke, Ned W. Wright
  • Patent number: 11949319
    Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. An idler assembly is drivingly coupled to the electric motor and a differential. The idler assembly includes a first gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a first gear ratio and a second gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Gowrisankar Devaraj, Eric M. Engerman, Charles B. Lohr, III, Gordon M. McIndoe, Travis J. Miller, Ryan D. Nelms, Matthew Simister, Ned W. Wright
  • Publication number: 20230216374
    Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. An idler assembly is drivingly coupled to the electric motor and a differential. The idler assembly includes a first gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a first gear ratio and a second gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a second gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Gowrisankar DEVARAJ, Eric M. ENGERMAN, Charles B. LOHR, III, Gordon M. MCINDOE, Travis J. MILLER, Ryan D. NELMS, Matthew SIMISTER, Ned W. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 11621606
    Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. An idler assembly is drivingly coupled to the electric motor and a differential. The idler assembly includes a first gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a first gear ratio and a second gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Gowrisankar Devaraj, Eric M. Engerman, Charles B. Lohr, III, Gordon M. McIndoe, Travis J. Miller, Ryan D. Nelms, Matthew Simister, Ned W. Wright
  • Publication number: 20230020321
    Abstract: Systems for a differential are provided. The differential includes two sets of pinion gears with an asymmetric split tooth profile. A case of the differential includes a plurality of lubrication ports which open adjacent to untoothed sections of one set of pinion gears and in a drive mode and an outboard axial load is exerted on the corresponding set of pinion gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Brian V. KNAPKE, Ned W. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 11486490
    Abstract: Systems for a differential are provided. The differential includes two sets of pinion gears with an asymmetric split tooth profile. A case of the differential includes a plurality of lubrication ports which open adjacent to untoothed sections of one set of pinion gears and in a drive mode and an outboard axial load is exerted on the corresponding set of pinion gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Brian V. Knapke, Ned W. Wright
  • Publication number: 20220341490
    Abstract: Systems for a differential are provided. The differential includes two sets of pinion gears with an asymmetric split tooth profile. A case of the differential includes a plurality of lubrication ports which open adjacent to untoothed sections of one set of pinion gears and in a drive mode and an outboard axial load is exerted on the corresponding set of pinion gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Brian V. KNAPKE, Ned W. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 11378185
    Abstract: A parking mechanism for use in a vehicle and method of operation thereof. The parking mechanism includes one or more actuation mechanisms, a parking pawl and a parking gear. At least a portion of the one or more actuation mechanisms are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a cam. The parking pawl has one or more parking pawl teeth extending therefrom that are selectively engagable with at least a portion of one or more parking gear teeth extending from an outer surface of a body portion of the parking gear. The parking pawl also includes a parking pawl pin aperture having a size and shape needed to receive and/or retain at least a portion of a parking pawl pin therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Keller, Ned W. Wright, Aaron D. Gries, Robert L. Vailliencourt, Brian V. Knapke
  • Patent number: 11247548
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle. An axle assembly of the vehicle includes a banjo portion with a first opening extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of an inboard side of the banjo portion. At least a portion of a differential assembly disposed within at the banjo portion of the axle assembly and is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a gear assembly. The gear assembly is also drivingly connected to a motor output shaft. At least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within a hollow portion of a gear assembly housing. An outboard portion of the gear assembly housing has a mounting flange that is integrally connected to the inboard side of the banjo portion. A first and second protruding portion extends from the axle assembly mounting flange and provides rotational support for the differential assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Thibault G. Devreese, Wouter Wa Galoppin, Nicholas W. Laforce, Lewis H. Nickell, Robert L. Vailliencourt, Steven J. Wesolowski, George A. Willford, Ned W. Wright
  • Publication number: 20210108720
    Abstract: A parking mechanism for use in a vehicle and method of operation thereof. The parking mechanism includes one or more actuation mechanisms, a parking pawl and a parking gear. At least a portion of the one or more actuation mechanisms are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a cam. The parking pawl has one or more parking pawl teeth extending therefrom that are selectively engagable with at least a portion of one or more parking gear teeth extending from an outer surface of a body portion of the parking gear. The parking pawl also includes a parking pawl pin aperture having a size and shape needed to receive and/or retain at least a portion of a parking pawl pin therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Robert D. Keller, Ned W. Wright, Aaron D. Gries, Robert L. Vailliencourt, Brian V. Knapke
  • Publication number: 20200108706
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle. An axle assembly of the vehicle includes a banjo portion with a first opening extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of an inboard side of the banjo portion. At least a portion of a differential assembly disposed within at the banjo portion of the axle assembly and is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a gear assembly. The gear assembly is also drivingly connected to a motor output shaft. At least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within a hollow portion of a gear assembly housing. An outboard portion of the gear assembly housing has a mounting flange that is integrally connected to the inboard side of the banjo portion. A first and second protruding portion extends from the axle assembly mounting flange and provides rotational support for the differential assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: THIBAULT G. DEVREESE, WOUTER WA GALOPPIN, NICHOLAS W. LAFORCE, LEWIS H. NICKELL, ROBERT L. VAILLIENCOURT, STEVEN J. WESOLOWSKI, GEORGE A. WILLFORD, NED W. WRIGHT
  • Publication number: 20200106337
    Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. An idler assembly is drivingly coupled to the electric motor and a differential. The idler assembly includes a first gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a first gear ratio and a second gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a second gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Gowrisankar Devaraj, Eric M. Engerman, Charles B. Lohr, III, Gordon M. Mclndoe, Travis J. Miller, Ryan D. Nelms, Matthew Simister, Ned w. Wright
  • Publication number: 20190113122
    Abstract: A cage for mounting a set of pinion gears including: at least two support members disposed about a central axis; first and second axially spaced support arms extending circumferentially about the central axis and connecting the first and second support arms to form a cylindrically-shaped cage having an axially extending central passage. The central passage being coaxial with a wheel axle. The first and second arms and the at least two support members define a first window on one side of the cylindrical cage for receiving a pinion gear and a second window on the other side of the cylindrical cage for receiving another pinion gear. The support arms have axially aligned openings positioned at the first and second windows for receiving radially reduced and opposing heads of each of the pinion gears and supporting rotation of the pinion gears. The cage is mounted for rotation about the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: James J. Mehallow, JR., Ned W. Wright