Patents by Inventor Robert D. Fetting

Robert D. Fetting 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: 9188172
    Abstract: A compact overrunning coupling and control assembly having reduced part count and manufacturing complexity is provided. An actuator arm moves a control element from a first position which corresponds to a first mode of the assembly to a second position which corresponds to a second mode of the assembly. An actuator piston is disposed within the bore of a housing and has an outer surface in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing and a groove formed in the outer surface of the piston to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm therein. A control pressure signal within the housing causes the piston to slide within the bore against a biasing force to move the actuator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert D. Fetting, Brice A. Pawley
  • Publication number: 20140190785
    Abstract: A compact overrunning coupling and control assembly having reduced part count and manufacturing complexity is provided. An actuator arm moves a control element from a first position which corresponds to a first mode of the assembly to a second position which corresponds to a second mode of the assembly. An actuator piston is disposed within the bore of a housing and has an outer surface in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing and a groove formed in the outer surface of the piston to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm therein. A control pressure signal within the housing causes the piston to slide within the bore against a biasing force to move the actuator arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Fetting, Brice A. Pawley
  • Patent number: 8272488
    Abstract: Overrunning coupling and control assemblies, each of which includes control apparatus having a latching mechanism are provided. Each latching mechanism prevents an actuator arm of an overrunning coupling assembly from moving in a first direction substantially parallel to a shift direction of a control plate of the coupling assembly within a housing slot in a locked condition of the mechanism in a first position of the control plate. A control pressure signal within a bore of the housing changes the condition of the latching mechanism from locked to unlocked to unlock the actuator arm and causes the unlocked actuator arm to move along the first direction within the slot and the control element to move along the shift direction to a second position. The control pressure signal also causes a piston which has a groove formed in its outer surface to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm to slide within the bore in the housing against the biasing force of the at least one biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Eisengruber, Terry O. Hendrick, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Robert D. Fetting, Joshua A. Bukoffsky
  • Publication number: 20100200358
    Abstract: Overrunning coupling and control assemblies, each of which includes control apparatus having a latching mechanism are provided. Each latching mechanism prevents an actuator arm of an overrunning coupling assembly from moving in a first direction substantially parallel to a shift direction of a control plate of the coupling assembly within a housing slot in a locked condition of the mechanism in a first position of the control plate. A control pressure signal within a bore of the housing changes the condition of the latching mechanism from locked to unlocked to unlock the actuator arm and causes the unlocked actuator arm to move along the first direction within the slot and the control element to move along the shift direction to a second position. The control pressure signal also causes a piston which has a groove formed in its outer surface to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm to slide within the bore in the housing against the biasing force of the at least one biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Eisengruber, Terry O. Hendrick, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Robert D. Fetting, Joshua A. Bukoffosky
  • Patent number: 7344010
    Abstract: An overrunning coupling assembly and a method of controlling the engagement of planar first and second members are provided wherein the assembly includes clustered pawls and their respective pawl-holding portions. The planar first and second members have inside surfaces extending generally normal to a first axis. The pawls include a forward set of free-floating pawls and a reverse set of free-floating, clustered pawls. The forward and reverse sets of pawls are movable between a notch-engaging, engaged position and a disengaged position. Because of the clustering, a control element, disposed between the first and second surfaces, need not be fully circular and is controllably rotatable about the first axis between first and second angular positions relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Fetting, Jr., Brice A. Pawley
  • Patent number: 7296668
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch (24) has first and second clutch members (30, 32) having coupling faces (34) and (36) between which spring biased pivotal struts (40) and locking formations (44) cooperate to prevent relative rotation in only one direction. A snap ring (48) and thrust plate (50) cooperate to axially secure the clutch members (30) and (32) to each other and the thrust plate has a retainer (52) projecting therefrom to prevent rotation. The retainer (52) in certain embodiments is received between ends (58) of the snap ring (48) to prevent thrust plate rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Fetting, Jr., Gregory M. Eisengruber