Patents by Inventor Robert T. Shea

Robert T. Shea 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: 5936422
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle utilizes a power unit to store and convert power between a turbine alternator, flywheel, and traction motor. The power unit uses a plurality of power transistors for switching power to the equipment. The transistors are set in an H-bridge configuration to provide AC power. The H bridge configuration comprises two transistor pairs, each forming a half bridge. A process for matching the transistor pairs of each half bridge includes measuring the electrical and timing characteristics associated with turn on and turn off with a first transistor module, and measuring the electrical and timing characteristics associated with turn on and turn off of each of a plurality of transistor modules. The electrical and timing characteristics associated with each of the plurality of transistors modules is compared against the electrical and timing characteristics of the first transistor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Donegan, Robert T. Shea
  • Patent number: 5708579
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle utilizes a power unit to store and convert power between a turbine alternator, flywheel and traction motor. The power unit includes a water cooled heater exchanger for cooling power transistors used to switch stored and generated power between the peripheral machines. A power supply for a plurality of an isolated transistor drives comprises a chopped DC generator producing a chopped power signal, a plurality of gate drives each including a transformer to receive the power signal and electrically isolate the gate drives, one of the transformers providing feedback to the chopped DC generator for regulating the level of the chopped power signal. A plurality of power transistors are connected in parallel and includes a controller providing a drive signal. A plurality of optical isolators receive the drive signal in series to control the power transistors independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Donegan, Dennis E. Hartzell, Robert T. Shea