Patents by Inventor Norman Jerry Bird

Norman Jerry 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).

  • Publication number: 20180202502
    Abstract: An electro-magnetically actuated pawl clutch is adapted to establish a fixed overdrive ratio in a powersplit type hybrid gearing arrangement. The electro-magnetically actuated clutch includes an inner race splined to the transmission input shaft and an outer race fixed to a first gear that is supported for rotation about the input shaft. The inner race includes two magnetically separated toothed rings. Electrical current in a non-rotating coil establishes a magnetic field in the inner race. The magnetic field causes a set of pawls to pivot with respect to the outer race and to engage at least one of the toothed rings. The pawls and teeth are designed such that, when engaged, the outer race can rotate faster than the inner race but cannot rotate slower. The first gear meshes with a second gear fixed to the transmission output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Jacob Klaser, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Patent number: 10024370
    Abstract: An electro-magnetically actuated pawl clutch is adapted to establish a fixed overdrive ratio in a powersplit type hybrid gearing arrangement. The electro-magnetically actuated clutch includes an inner race splined to the transmission input shaft and an outer race fixed to a first gear that is supported for rotation about the input shaft. The inner race includes two magnetically separated toothed rings. Electrical current in a non-rotating coil establishes a magnetic field in the inner race. The magnetic field causes a set of pawls to pivot with respect to the outer race and to engage at least one of the toothed rings. The pawls and teeth are designed such that, when engaged, the outer race can rotate faster than the inner race but cannot rotate slower. The first gear meshes with a second gear fixed to the transmission output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Klaser, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Publication number: 20170356507
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a first shaft driveably connected to a power-plant and having a first pair of sheave disks, and a second shaft having a second pair of sheave disks. A tension member is connected to the first and second pairs of disks such that power is transmittable between the first and second shafts. A third shaft is selectively driveably connected to the second shaft via a clutch. The clutch includes an inner race fixed to one of the second and third shafts, and an outer race fixed to a gear and having an inner surface circumscribing the inner race. At least one pawl is biased to couple the races in a fixed relationship for common rotation. The clutch further includes an electric coil and an armature configured to engage the pawl to decouple the races in response to current being supplied to the electric coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: James TRENT, Norman Jerry BIRD, Matthew Thomas TRENT
  • Patent number: 9784353
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. The controller also adjust the torque capacity of a torque converter bypass clutch by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to apply and release chambers. Various schemes are presented to multiplex hydraulic circuits to serve multiple functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird, John Edward Brevick
  • Patent number: 9738286
    Abstract: A vehicle including a continuously variable transmission including a gear selectively locked to an output shaft via a clutch actuated by an electric coil. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to, in response to wheel hop being detected, energize the coil to disengage the clutch allowing the gear and the output shaft to rotate independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Trent, Norman Jerry Bird, Matthew Thomas Trent
  • 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: 20170204917
    Abstract: A controllable one-way clutch includes a first race and a second race. The first race has a periphery with a tooth. The second race has a rocker with an associated solenoid. The rocker is pivotable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the rocker is engaged with the tooth. In the second position, the rocker is disengaged from the tooth. The solenoid has an armature arranged to move the rocker from the first position to the second position and/or from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Norman Jerry Bird, Mark Gerard Czapski
  • Patent number: 9689492
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. The blade angle is adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of a control ring with respect to a stator hub. The stator blades are supported by the stator hob, a locking ring, and an outer ring. The stator blades have teeth that mesh with teeth on the control ring to determine blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. Various circumstances in which the controller would adjust the blade angle are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Patent number: 9546729
    Abstract: A transmission utilizes an electro-magnetically actuated selectable one-way-clutch. The one-way-clutch prevents rotation of a transmission member in both directions when a current exceeds a threshold and permits rotation in only one direction otherwise. To prevent un-intended engagement, a switch interrupts the current unless a second current exceeds a threshold. In order to engage the one-way-clutch, both currents are set above their respective thresholds by a controller. In the event of a single fault such as a short circuit, the system continues to function normally. The controller may periodically test for a fault by intentionally setting one current above its threshold and the other below its threshold and determining the state of the one-way-clutch by measuring speeds of transmission elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Norman Jerry Bird, Bradley Dean Riedle, Ricardo Humberto Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20160356377
    Abstract: A transmission utilizes an electro-magnetically actuated selectable one-way-clutch. The one-way-clutch prevents rotation of a transmission member in both directions when a current exceeds a threshold and permits rotation in only one direction otherwise. To prevent un-intended engagement, a switch interrupts the current unless a second current exceeds a threshold. In order to engage the one-way-clutch, both currents are set above their respective thresholds by a controller. In the event of a single fault such as a short circuit, the system continues to function normally. The controller may periodically test for a fault by intentionally setting one current above its threshold and the other below its threshold and determining the state of the one-way-clutch by measuring speeds of transmission elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Norman Jerry Bird, Bradley Dean Riedle, Ricardo Humberto Espinosa
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20160159363
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter with both a variable pitch stator and a bypass clutch. These are controlled in two modes to maintain a target slip speed. In a first mode, the bypass clutch is fully released and slip is controlled by varying the pitch of the stator blades. In a second mode, the stator is held in the tightest position and slip is controlled by varying the torque capacity of the bypass clutch. The target slip is calculates based on a variety of different input signals depending on what type of vehicle maneuver is being performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Publication number: 20160116044
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. The controller also adjust the torque capacity of a torque converter bypass clutch by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to apply and release chambers. Various schemes are presented to multiplex hydraulic circuits to serve multiple functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird, John Edward Brevick
  • Publication number: 20160047469
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. The blade angle is adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of a control ring with respect to a stator hub. The stator blades are supported by the stator hob, a locking ring, and an outer ring. The stator blades have teeth that mesh with teeth on the control ring to determine blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. Various circumstances in which the controller would adjust the blade angle are discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: VINCENT PATRICK LaVOIE, NORMAN JERRY BIRD
  • Patent number: 8965628
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling a flow regulator, such as a diverter valve, that is configured to guide air through a transmission housing before entering an engine intake manifold. In certain arrangements, the flow regulator operates according to predetermined conditions, e.g., meeting an engine intake manifold air temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Thomas G. Leone, Steven Anatole Frait, Norman Jerry Bird, James Thomas Gooden
  • Publication number: 20120123635
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling a flow regulator, such as a diverter valve, that is configured to guide air through a transmission housing before entering an engine intake manifold. In certain arrangements, the flow regulator operates according to predetermined conditions, e.g., meeting an engine intake manifold air temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Thomas G. Leone, Steven Anatole Frait, Norman Jerry Bird, James Thomas Gooden