Patents by Inventor Sean A. Steele
Sean A. Steele 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).
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Patent number: 11933774Abstract: In some embodiments, data from multiple vehicle-based natural gas leak detection survey runs are used by computer-implemented machine learning systems to generate a list of natural gas leaks ranked by hazard level. A risk model embodies training data having known hazard levels, and is used to classify newly-discovered leaks. Hazard levels may be expressed by continuous variables, and/or probabilities that a given leak fits within a predefined category of hazard (e.g. Grades 1-3). Each leak is represented by a cluster of leak indications (peaks) originating from a common leak source. Hazard-predictive features may include maximum, minimum, mean, and/or median CH4/amplitude of aggregated leak indications; estimated leak flow rate, determined from an average of leak indications in a cluster; likelihood of leak being natural gas based on other indicator data (e.g. ethane concentration); probability the leak was detected on a given pass; and estimated distance to leak source.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Picarro Inc.Inventors: Sean MacMullin, Chris W. Rella, Aaron Van Pelt, Alex Balkanski, Yonggang He, Sze M. Tan, David Steele, Tim Clark
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Patent number: 11841082Abstract: A locking pawl arrangement with a motion compliance mechanism for use with various automotive devices having a rotating hub with a plurality of teeth. There is provided a pawl that is moveable between a disengaged position wherein the pawl is not engaged with the rotating hub, an engaged positioned where the pawl is engaged with the hub and an intermediate position that is between the disengaged position and engaged position. A locking cam is in contact with the pawl and moves between a disengaged position, an engaged position, and an intermediate position against the pawl. There is further provided an actuator that is engageable with the locking cam. The actuator moves between a retracted position and an extended position, thereby causing the locking cam to move the pawl between the intermediate position, disengaged position and engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.Inventors: Tak Man Loui, Adrian Cioc, Romulus Crisan, Stephen Yang, Dusan Milacic, Sean Steele, Myron Samila
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Publication number: 20220186831Abstract: A locking pawl arrangement with a motion compliance mechanism for use with various automotive devices having a rotating hub with a plurality of teeth. There is provided a pawl that is moveable between a disengaged position wherein the pawl is not engaged with the rotating hub, an engaged positioned where the pawl is engaged with the hub and an intermediate position that is between the disengaged position and engaged position. A locking cam is in contact with the pawl and moves between a disengaged position, an engaged position, and an intermediate position against the pawl. There is further provided an actuator that is engageable with the locking cam. The actuator moves between a retracted position and an extended position, thereby causing the locking cam to move the pawl between the intermediate position, disengaged position and engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Magna Powertrain Inc.Inventors: Tak Man LOUI, Adrian CIOC, Romulus CRISAN, Stephen YANG, Dusan MILACIC, Sean STEELE, Myron SAMILA
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Patent number: 11022186Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes a clutch module and an electromagnetic actuator module. The electromagnetic actuator module includes an electromagnetic actuator and a strut assembly. The electromagnetic actuator having a coil assembly with a magnetic pole piece. The strut assembly having a strut and a magnetic armature mechanically interconnected to the strut for moving the strut between released and deployed positions in response to energization of the coil assembly. A contamination shroud is disposed between the armature and the pole piece to prevent collection of debris therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN, INC.Inventors: Ranjit Uppal, Myron R. Samila, Sean A. Steele, Dusan Milacic
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Patent number: 10851851Abstract: An electro-mechanical clutch apparatus includes a stationary member (22,122) having a center portion extending along an axis A and a stationary coil assembly (34,134) fixed about the center portion. A rotatable member (46,146) extends along the axis A and includes an annular projection (52,152) radially spaced from the coil assembly. A ratchet surface (29,129) presents a plurality of teeth disposed in axially aligned and radially spaced relationship with the annular projection. The rotatable member includes a magnetic pole piece (62,162) disposed in radially spaced and concentrically aligned relationship with said coil assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.Inventors: Darrell F. Greene, Adrian C. Cioc, Sean A. Steele, David V. Dorigo
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Patent number: 10533617Abstract: A one-way clutch having an anti-deployment feature operable to counteract hydraulic forces acting on the strut so as to assist in maintaining the strut in a non-deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.Inventors: Ranjit Uppal, Sean Steele, Alberto Passos, Dusan Milacic
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Patent number: 10495159Abstract: A clutch assembly includes an outer race presenting a plurality of outer ratchet teeth and an inner race presenting a plurality of outer ratchet teeth. A selectable one-way clutch includes at least one active strut pivotably supported by the outer race and at least one electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator is selectively energized for effectuating pivoting of the active strut from an unlocked position wherein the active strut is disengaged from the outer ratchet teeth to a locked position for engaging one of the plurality of outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race. The clutch assembly includes a lead frame assembly attached to the outer race and electrically connected to the at least one electromagnetic actuator for controlling selective energization of the at least one electromagnetic actuator.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.Inventors: Darrell F. Greene, Adrian C. Cioc, Sean A. Steele, Dennis T. Loui, Myron R. Samila, David V. Dorigo
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Publication number: 20190323568Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes a clutch module and an electromagnetic actuator module. The electromagnetic actuator module includes an electromagnetic actuator and a strut assembly. The electromagnetic actuator having a coil assembly with a magnetic pole piece. The strut assembly having a strut and a magnetic armature mechanically interconnected to the strut for moving the strut between released and deployed positions in response to energization of the coil assembly. A contamination shroud is disposed between the armature and the pole piece to prevent collection of debris therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Ranjit UPPAL, Myron R. SAMILA, Sean A. STEELE, Dusan MILACIC
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Patent number: 10451121Abstract: A bi-directional clutch assembly, method of construction thereof and method of setting a preset gap between a magnetically permeable core and armature thereof is provided, An outer race has inner ratchet teeth and an inner race has outer ratchet teeth. A passive one-way clutch has passive struts pivotally supported for locked engagement with the inner ratchet teeth in a first direction. A selectable one-way clutch has an active strut selectively pivotal from an unlocked position to a locked position for engaging the outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in a second direction opposite the first direction. A protrusion extends radially outwardly from the outer race and has an orifice extending therethrough. A coil is operably supported by the protrusion. The magnetically permeable core is operably fixed in the orifice to be magnetized by the coil to move the at least one active strut to the locked position.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Magna Powertrain, Inc.Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele, Myron R. Samila, Dennis T. Loui
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Patent number: 10337571Abstract: A bi-directional clutch assembly includes an outer race presenting a plurality of inner ratchet teeth and an inner race presenting a plurality of outer ratchet teeth. A passive one-way clutch includes a plurality of passive struts supported by the inner race and pivotable into engaging relationships with the inner ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in a first direction. A selectable one-way reverse clutch includes at least one active strut supported by the outer race and selectively pivotable from an unlocked position to a locked position to engage one of the outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in the second direction. The passive struts are unevenly circumferentially spaced from one another along the inner race to establish an indexed relationship among the passive struts for staggering engagement of sequential passive struts with the inner ratchet teeth of the outer race.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele, Myron R. Samila, Dennis T. Loui
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Publication number: 20180355927Abstract: A clutch assembly includes an outer race presenting a plurality of outer ratchet teeth and an inner race presenting a plurality of outer ratchet teeth. A selectable one-way clutch includes at least one active strut pivotably supported by the outer race and at least one electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator is selectively energized for effectuating pivoting of the active strut from an unlocked position wherein the active strut is disengaged from the outer ratchet teeth to a locked position for engaging one of the plurality of outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race. The clutch assembly includes a lead frame assembly attached to the outer race and electrically connected to the at least one electromagnetic actuator for controlling selective energization of the at least one electromagnetic actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Darrell F. Greene, Adrian C. Cioc, Sean A. Steele, Dennis T. Loui, Myron R. Samila, David V. Dorigo
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Patent number: 10072627Abstract: A starting system for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor. A drive plate includes a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch assembly is adapted to drivingly interconnect the drive plate and the crankshaft. The clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race fixed for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. One of the inner and outer races includes circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces. The clutch assembly also includes a cage for positioning the rollers in a circumferentially spaced apart alignment with the cam surfaces and a roller bearing assembly positioned axially offset from the one-way clutch rollers to rotatably support the outer race on the inner race.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.Inventors: Sean Steele, David Dorigo, Adrian C. Cioc
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Patent number: 10066679Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch apparatus. The one-way clutch apparatus includes a first plate that has an inner surface that defines at least one compartment. A second plate has a ratchet surface aligned axially adjacent with the inner surface of the first plate and presents a plurality of teeth. Each of the compartments is divided into a strut section, an armature section and a core section. At least one electromagnetic actuator unit is received by the compartment. The electromagnetic actuator unit includes a coil assembly, an armature assembly that has at least one armature finger pivotally moveable in the armature section for movement toward and away from the coil assembly in response to the coil assembly being energized, and at least one strut that is pivotally moveable in the strut section for moving in response to engagement by the armature finger between a locked position and a released position.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele
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Publication number: 20180094677Abstract: A bi-directional clutch assembly, method of construction thereof and method of setting a preset gap between a magnetically permeable core and armature thereof is provided, An outer race has inner ratchet teeth and an inner race has outer ratchet teeth. A passive one-way clutch has passive struts pivotally supported for locked engagement with the inner ratchet teeth in a first direction. A selectable one-way clutch has an active strut selectively pivotal from an unlocked position to a locked position for engaging the outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in a second direction opposite the first direction. A protrusion extends radially outwardly from the outer race and has an orifice extending therethrough. A coil is operably supported by the protrusion. The magnetically permeable core is operably fixed in the orifice to be magnetized by the coil to move the at least one active strut to the locked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele, Myron R. Samila, Dennis T. Loui
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Publication number: 20180087586Abstract: A bi-directional clutch assembly includes an outer race presenting a plurality of inner ratchet teeth and an inner race presenting a plurality of outer ratchet teeth. A passive one-way clutch includes a plurality of passive struts supported by the inner race and pivotable into engaging relationships with the inner ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in a first direction. A selectable one-way reverse clutch includes at least one active strut supported by the outer race and selectively pivotable from an unlocked position to a locked position to engage one of the outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in the second direction. The passive struts are unevenly circumferentially spaced from one another along the inner race to establish an indexed relationship among the passive struts for staggering engagement of sequential passive struts with the inner ratchet teeth of the outer race.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele, Myron R. Samila, Dennis T. Loui
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Publication number: 20180058518Abstract: A one-way clutch having an anti-deployment feature operable to counteract hydraulic forces acting on the strut so as to assist in maintaining the strut in a non-deployed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Ranjit Uppal, Sean Steele, Alberto Passos, Dusan Milacic
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Publication number: 20170248174Abstract: An electro-mechanical clutch apparatus includes a stationary member (22,122) having a center portion extending along an axis A and a stationary coil assembly (34,134) fixed about the center portion. A rotatable member (46,146) extends along the axis A and includes an annular projection (52,152) radially spaced from the coil assembly. A ratchet surface (29,129) presents a plurality of teeth disposed in axially aligned and radially spaced relationship with the annular projection. The rotatable member includes a magnetic pole piece (62,162) disposed in radially spaced and concentrically aligned relationship with said coil assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2015Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Darrell F. Greene, Adrian C. Cioc, Sean A. Steele, David V. Dorigo
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Publication number: 20170138414Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch apparatus. The one-way clutch apparatus includes a first plate that has an inner surface that defines at least one compartment. A second plate has a ratchet surface aligned axially adjacent with the inner surface of the first plate and presents a plurality of teeth. Each of the compartments is divided into a strut section, an armature section and a core section. At least one electromagnetic actuator unit is received by the compartment. The electromagnetic actuator unit includes a coil assembly, an armature assembly that has at least one armature finger pivotally moveable in the armature section for movement toward and away from the coil assembly in response to the coil assembly being energized, and at least one strut that is pivotally moveable in the strut section for moving in response to engagement by the armature finger between a locked position and a released position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele
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Patent number: 9097296Abstract: A one-way clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with a first rotatable member, an outer race having circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces and being adapted to be fixed for rotation with a second rotatable member as well as a plurality of roller elements positioned therebetween. A plurality of circumferentially extending springs cooperate with the cage to align each roller element with the cam surfaces. The springs and cage urge the roller elements away from the inner race. A retaining mechanism captures lubricant in contact with the roller elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: MagnaPowertrain, Inc.Inventors: Jianwen Li, Sean Steele, Richard D. Muizelaar
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Patent number: 9074646Abstract: A clutch assembly includes an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of roller elements positioned radially therebetween. The clutch assembly also includes a cage assembly, a seal and a retaining ring. The cage assembly includes a skeleton coupled to a spring ring having a plurality of radially extending guides arranged to circumferentially space apart each roller element in alignment with cam surfaces formed on the outer race. The guides are resiliently deformable to allow concurrent engagement of each roller element with both the inner and outer races. The seal engages an inner surface of the outer race and an outer surface of the inner race, and is positioned axially outboard of the roller elements. The retaining ring is positioned within ring grooves formed on each of the inner and outer races to restrict movement of the cage.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.Inventors: Sean Steele, Jianwen Li, John Sabo, Richard D. Muizelaar