Patents by Inventor Paul E. Kern

Paul E. Kern 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: 11952056
    Abstract: An electric powered recirculating ball assembly includes a steering rack. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly also includes a steering gear housing. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly further includes a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack and in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Kern, Jason A. Dutsky, Jeffrey E. Beyerlein
  • Patent number: 11942753
    Abstract: A folded slab waveguide laser having a hybrid waveguide-unstable resonator cavity. Multiple slab waveguides of thickness ‘t’ supporting vertical waveguide modes are physically arranged above one another in a stack and optically arranged in series through one or more cavity folding assemblies with curved mirrors. A gain medium such as a gas is arranged in each slab. Each cavity folding assembly is designed to redirect the radiation beam emitted from one slab waveguide into the next waveguide and also at the same time to provide a focus for the radiation beam so that a selected vertical waveguide mode (or modes) is (or are) coupled efficiently into the next slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: KERN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul E Jackson, Gerald L Kern, Jacob D Colby, Aaron M Kern, Tyler P Schmidt, Keith L Weiher
  • Patent number: 11198467
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a rack housing arranged to receive a longitudinally displaceable rack member. The system also includes an assist cover connected to the rack housing, the rack housing and the assist cover defining a cavity. The system further includes an assist assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity. The assist assembly includes a power pack connected to at least one of the rack housing and the assist cover, the power pack having a power pack shaft extending therefrom. The assist assembly also includes a drive pulley having a drive pulley shaft that extends between the rack housing and the assist cover, the drive pulley shaft and the power pack shaft separate shafts and operatively coupled to each other. The assist assembly further includes a driven pulley disposed about the rack member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Harris, Gabriel J L McCoy, Christopher L. Walsh, Paul E. Kern
  • Publication number: 20210309286
    Abstract: An electric powered recirculating ball assembly includes a steering rack. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly also includes a steering gear housing. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly further includes a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack and in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Paul E. Kern, Jason A. Dutsky, Jeffrey E. Beyerlein
  • Publication number: 20190375448
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a rack housing arranged to receive a longitudinally displaceable rack member. The system also includes an assist cover connected to the rack housing, the rack housing and the assist cover defining a cavity. The system further includes an assist assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity. The assist assembly includes a power pack connected to at least one of the rack housing and the assist cover, the power pack having a power pack shaft extending therefrom. The assist assembly also includes a drive pulley having a drive pulley shaft that extends between the rack housing and the assist cover, the drive pulley shaft and the power pack shaft separate shafts and operatively coupled to each other. The assist assembly further includes a driven pulley disposed about the rack member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ryan D. Harris, Gabriel JL McCoy, Christopher L. Walsh, Paul E. Kern
  • Patent number: 10322744
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for a road wheel actuator assembly includes a driven pulley assembly, a driven pulley, and a belt. The driven pulley assembly includes a driven pulley and a retainer. The driven pulley is at least partially disposed about a ball nut that is operatively connected to a rack bar. The retainer is received within the driven pulley. The belt is arranged to connect the driven pulley assembly to the drive pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Eickholt, Fred N. Golda, Paul E. Kern, Jeffrey L. Marr, Jeffrey M. Otto, Emily N. Stilwell
  • Publication number: 20180354548
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for a road wheel actuator assembly includes a driven pulley assembly, a driven pulley, and a belt. The driven pulley assembly includes a driven pulley and a retainer. The driven pulley is at least partially disposed about a ball nut that is operatively connected to a rack bar. The retainer is received within the driven pulley. The belt is arranged to connect the driven pulley assembly to the drive pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Michael A. Eickholt, Fred N. Golda, Paul E. Kern, Jeffrey L. Marr, Jeffrey M. Otto, Emily N. Stilwell
  • Patent number: 9802640
    Abstract: A ball screw assembly includes a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end. The ball screw assembly also includes a recirculation path extending from a first transition location to a second transition location. The recirculation path includes a first segment defined by a first arc portion of a first ellipse. The recirculation path also includes a second segment defined by a second arc portion of the first ellipse. The recirculation path further includes a third segment defined by an arc of a second ellipse, wherein the first ellipse and the second ellipse are disposed in a common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul E. Kern, Eric D. Pattok
  • Publication number: 20170261089
    Abstract: A steering assembly includes a rack assembly coupled to a road wheel. The rack assembly includes a housing, a ball screw, a bearing, and a retainer. The housing defines an injection port. The ball screw is at least partially received within the housing. The bearing is received within the housing and rotatably supports the ball screw. The retainer is received within the housing and includes a first retainer portion and a second retainer portion. The first retainer portion cooperates with the housing. The second retainer portion extends from the first retainer portion and is spaced apart from the housing. The second retainer portion defines a channel. The channel, the second retainer portion, and a surface of the housing defines an injection pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin M. McClendon, Niklaus A. von Matt, Paul E. Kern, Casey M. Bentoski, Jeffrey H. Krueger
  • Patent number: 9759307
    Abstract: A steering assembly includes a rack assembly coupled to a road wheel. The rack assembly includes a housing, a ball screw, a bearing, and a retainer. The housing defines an injection port. The ball screw is at least partially received within the housing. The bearing is received within the housing and rotatably supports the ball screw. The retainer is received within the housing and includes a first retainer portion and a second retainer portion. The first retainer portion cooperates with the housing. The second retainer portion extends from the first retainer portion and is spaced apart from the housing. The second retainer portion defines a channel. The channel, the second retainer portion, and a surface of the housing defines an injection pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin M. McClendon, Niklaus A. von Matt, Paul E. Kern, Casey M. Bentoski, Jeffrey H. Krueger
  • Publication number: 20170088162
    Abstract: A ball screw assembly includes a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end. The ball screw assembly also includes a recirculation path extending from a first transition location to a second transition location. The recirculation path includes a first segment defined by a first arc portion of a first ellipse. The recirculation path also includes a second segment defined by a second arc portion of the first ellipse. The recirculation path further includes a third segment defined by an arc of a second ellipse, wherein the first ellipse and the second ellipse are disposed in a common plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Paul E. Kern, Eric D. Pattok