Patents by Inventor Norman J. Bird

Norman J. Bird 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: 7690492
    Abstract: A component surrounding an axis for directing fluid along a flow path in a transmission for a motor vehicle. The component includes a first wall having a thickness formed with an inner surface facing the axis, and a hole spaced about the axis and extending through the thickness of the wall, and a channel formed in the wall, communicating with the hole and the inner surface, including a base having a length that extends angularly about the axis, and having a depth that increases along the length as distance from the hole decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Gooden, Norman J. Bird, Ernest R. Shedd, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 7614486
    Abstract: A device for transmitting torque in one rotary direction includes a cam plate including notches spaced angularly about an axis, a rocker plate including pockets mutually spaced angularly about the axis, rockers, each rocker being located in a respective pocket for movement toward and away from engagement with a notch on the cam plate, a spring recesses, each spring recess including a retainer, and springs, each spring located in a spring recess and engaged with a retainer, for urging a rocker toward the cam plate and engagement with a notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Norman J. Bird, Dennis N. Wys, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 7500548
    Abstract: A dual mode one-way torque transmitting device includes an inner race having a first plurality of notches spaced about an axis. An intermediate race includes a second plurality of notches spaced about the axis, a first plurality of pockets spaced about the axis, and a first plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in a pocket of the intermediate race. A spring urges each rocker toward engagement with a notch on the inner race. An outer race includes a second plurality of pockets spaced about the axis, a second plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in a pocket on the outer race, and a plurality of actuators, each actuator alternately engages and disengages a rocker on the outer race and a notch on the intermediate race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Gregory D. Gardner, Norman J. Bird, Lee J. Becker, Dennis N. Wys
  • Patent number: 7455157
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch includes a cam plate formed with cams angularly spaced about a central axis, and a rocker plate that includes pockets angularly spaced about the central axis. Each pocket includes a first concave surface having a center located within the pocket and through which a pivot axis passes. Each pocket contains a rocker that includes a first convex surface complementary to, and at least partially surrounded by the first concave surface. Springs, supported on the rocker plate, each urge a rocker to pivot about the pivot axis toward the cam plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Norman J. Bird, Xiaoyong Lu, Dennis Wys
  • Patent number: 7451862
    Abstract: An overrunning one-way clutch includes a cam plate formed with cam surfaces angularly spaced about a central axis, and a rocker plate including pockets angularly spaced about the axis, each pocket including a surface that closes the pocket at an axial end, an opening located at an axial end opposite the surface, and an aperture facing the cam surfaces. Each pocket contains a rocker supported for pivoting a portion of the rocker through the pocket aperture toward the cam surfaces. Springs supported on the rocker plate, urging each rocker toward an aperture and engagement with the cam surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Norman J. Bird
  • Patent number: 7383930
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a cam plate formed with notches, a rocker plate formed with pockets mutually spaced angularly about an axis, each pocket including an open axial end, and a surface that closes each pocket at an end opposite the open axial end of each pocket. A rocker is located in a respective pocket for movement toward and away from engagement with a notch on the cam plate. Springs are supported on the rocker plate, each spring urging a rocker toward engagement with a notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Michael J. McDonough, Xiaoyong Lu, Norman J. Bird, Lisa Waldock