Patents by Inventor Ralph J. Spitale

Ralph J. Spitale 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: 6814682
    Abstract: A transfer case for a vehicle that allows shifting between AWD and two-wheel drive at any vehicle speed. The transfer case includes a center differential employing pinion and sun gears that allow a front drive shaft and a rear drive shaft to turn at different speeds to provide the all-wheel drive function. The transfer case further includes an electrically actuated synchronizer assembly that allows the speed of the front drive shaft to be synchronized to the speed of the rear drive shaft when shifting from two-wheel drive to all-wheel drive to provide the shift on the fly function. The synchronizer assembly also includes a neutral position where both the front drive shaft and the rear drive shaft are not engaged to the vehicle transmission to allow for vehicle towing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph J. Spitale
  • Publication number: 20030211913
    Abstract: A transfer case for a vehicle that allows shifting between AWD and two-wheel drive at any vehicle speed. The transfer case includes a center differential employing pinion and sun gears that allow a front drive shaft and a rear drive shaft to turn at different speeds to provide the all-wheel drive function. The transfer case further includes an electrically actuated synchronizer assembly that allows the speed of the front drive shaft to be synchronized to the speed of the rear drive shaft when shifting from two-wheel drive to all-wheel drive to provide the shift on the fly function. The synchronizer assembly also includes a neutral position where both the front drive shaft and the rear drive shaft are not engaged to the vehicle transmission to allow for vehicle towing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Ralph J. Spitale
  • Patent number: 5211068
    Abstract: A gear transmission has a one-way synchronizer comprising a guide hub that is an integral part of a geared input member, and a shift sleeve that slides axially on the guide hub from a central neutral position either to an extended engaged position or to a retracted disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Spitale, Lance M. Tobey