Patents by Inventor Nicholas NIEMIEC

Nicholas NIEMIEC 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: 10578070
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for starting a vehicle engine. In one example, an engine starter system for starting the vehicle engine may comprise a ring gear coupled to an engine crankshaft, and a pinion gear coupled to a starter motor, the pinion gear having rotatable rocker elements for engaging the ring gear. In this way, the pinion gear may be engaged with the ring gear to transmit torque from the starter motor to the engine crankshaft to quickly start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Michael Archer, Norm Jerry Bird, Xiaoyong Lu, Nicholas Niemiec
  • Patent number: 10359085
    Abstract: A rocker plate assembly includes a rocker plate defining a pocket disposed at a periphery of the rocker plate. The rocker plate further includes a pin extending in an axial direction within the pocket. The rocker plate assembly further includes a rocker disposed at least partially within the pocket. The rocker is rotatably mounted to the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Emily Yang, Nicholas Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20180355926
    Abstract: A rocker plate assembly includes a rocker plate defining a pocket disposed at a periphery of the rocker plate. The rocker plate further includes a pin extending in an axial direction within the pocket. The rocker plate assembly further includes a rocker disposed at least partially within the pocket. The rocker is rotatably mounted to the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Emily YANG, Nicholas NIEMIEC
  • Publication number: 20180058411
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for starting a vehicle engine. In one example, an engine starter system for starting the vehicle engine may comprise a ring gear coupled to an engine crankshaft, and a pinion gear coupled to a starter motor, the pinion gear having rotatable rocker elements for engaging the ring gear. In this way, the pinion gear may be engaged with the ring gear to transmit torque from the starter motor to the engine crankshaft to quickly start the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Steven Michael Archer, Norm Jerry Bird, Xiaoyong Lu, Nicholas Niemiec
  • Patent number: 9732809
    Abstract: A clutch includes a first race, a second race, a pawl, a post, and a shoe. The second race defines a cam surface. The pawl is supported in the first race to pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that contact between the cam surface and the pawl in the engaged position prevents relative rotation between the first and second races in at least one direction. The post is supported in the first race to slide between a first and a second position such that in the first position the post forces the pawl into the disengaged position. The shoe is configured to pivot with respect to the first race in response to a magnetic field to slide the post into the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Niemiec, Norman Jerry Bird, Dennis Neil Wys, Matthew Stephen Eiszler
  • Publication number: 20160348741
    Abstract: A clutch includes a first race, a second race, a pawl, a post, and a shoe. The second race defines a cam surface. The pawl is supported in the first race to pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that contact between the cam surface and the pawl in the engaged position prevents relative rotation between the first and second races in at least one direction. The post is supported in the first race to slide between a first and a second position such that in the first position the post forces the pawl into the disengaged position. The shoe is configured to pivot with respect to the first race in response to a magnetic field to slide the post into the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas NIEMIEC, Norman Jerry BIRD, Dennis Neil WYS, Matthew Stephen EISZLER