Patents by Inventor Richard R. Hathaway

Richard R. Hathaway 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: 9200707
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission includes using actuation of a button of a shift module to produce a signal representing a desired gear, using the signal and a second signal commanding a park range to determining a priority range, using a shift mechanism to attempt engagement of the transmission in the priority range, and if the priority range is park and park is not engaged, engaging a park brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Todd C. Spaulding, Brian J. Deurloo, Mark E. Zyskowski, Christopher L. Danks, Matthew L. Fyie, Charles C. Poon, William R. Goodwin, Richard R. Hathaway
  • Patent number: 8821344
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission gear change to a desired gear includes disengaging an offgoing transmission control element, changing engine speed to a synchronous speed of the desired gear, decreasing engine output torque, and engaging an oncoming transmission control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Hathaway, Edward Katynski, Pedro S. Lujan
  • Publication number: 20140209429
    Abstract: A park mechanism includes a cam pivotal between Park and not-Park ranges, including a radial outer surface formed with angularly spaced lobes, a roller urged by a spring into contact with the outer surface, a park spring urging the cam toward the Park-range, a power source for pivoting the cam, and a pawl actuated by cam movement into a Park state and a not-Park state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Tumavitch, Brian J. Deurloo, Richard R. Hathaway
  • Publication number: 20120316031
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission gear change to a desired gear includes disengaging an offgoing transmission control element, changing engine speed to a synchronous speed of the desired gear, decreasing engine output torque, and engaging an oncoming transmission control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Hathaway, Edward Katynski, Pedro S. Lujan
  • Publication number: 20120078478
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission includes using actuation of a button of a shift module to produce a signal representing a desired gear, using the signal and a second signal commanding a park range to determining a priority range, using a shift mechanism to attempt engagement of the transmission in the priority range, and if the priority range is park and park is not engaged, engaging a park brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Todd C. Spaulding, Brian J. Deurloo, Mark E. Zyskowski, Christopher L. Danks, Matthew L. Fyie, Charles C. Poon, William R. Goodwin, Richard R. Hathaway
  • Patent number: 5521818
    Abstract: A diagnostic strategy for an automatic transmission having electronic shift control solenoids for controlling application and release of clutches and brakes during the establishment and disestablishment of torque ratios in multiple-ratio gearing for the transmission wherein provision is made for developing diagnostic data that detects failure modes due to a faulty shift solenoid by using predetermined failure modes stored in the RAM portion of a microprocessor and comparing those known failure modes to the actual performance of the shift solenoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bruce J. Palansky, Pamela J. Eggers, Richard R. Hathaway, Earl R. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5460582
    Abstract: An automatic transmission having multiple-ratio gearing, fluid pressure-operated clutches and brakes adapted to establish and to disestablish multiple torque ratios and electronic shift control solenoids that can be energized and de-energized under the control of an electronic microprocessor that senses transmission operating variables, and a control strategy inherent in the microprocessor that uses predetermined failure modes to perform functional testing on the shift solenoids without special hydraulic and electronic hardware for developing the diagnostic information that detects shift solenoid failures or malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bruce J. Palansky, Pamela J. Eggers, Richard R. Hathaway, Earl R. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5323320
    Abstract: In an electronically controlled transmission adapted to control operation of a torque converter clutch in softlock and hardlock modes, a test to determine whether the clutch is operating with an acceptable slip magnitude in a control region or whether it is operating with a high level of slip or instability outside the control region. The test distinguishes periods of instability associated with deterioration of the clutch from transients associated with normal operating conditions and background noise. An instability counter, interval clock and warm-up cycle counter are used to determine an appropriate point for discounting prior events and reentering the control test. Continuous slip mode of operation of the clutch is disabled entirely after a predetermined number of verified unstable events have occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard R. Hathaway, James J. Neigebauer