Patents by Inventor Sean Steele

Sean 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).

  • Patent number: 12240321
    Abstract: A disconnectable differential assembly has a reduced axial length and a side gear disconnectable from an axle shaft via a clutch unit. Various components of the disconnect mechanism are axially aligned and concentric to reduce the axial length. An output hub splined on the axle shaft and is actuatable, via an axially shiftable armature, into toothed engagement with the side gear via respective axially extending teeth. The output hub and armature include radially extending flanges that are axially adjacent and radially aligned with the teeth so that force is transmitted to the teeth at the same diameter. A thrust bearing is disposed between the flanges so that the output hub rotates relative to the armature. The side gear is supported for rotation on the axle shaft, and a bearing is disposed radially therebetween to improve radial alignment of the second side gear with the output hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Dusan Milacic, Sean Steele, Myron Samila, Stephen Yang, David Gelfand
  • Publication number: 20240198794
    Abstract: A disconnectable differential assembly has a reduced axial length and a side gear disconnectable from an axle shaft via a clutch unit. Various components of the disconnect mechanism are axially aligned and concentric to reduce the axial length. An output hub splined on the axle shaft and is actuatable, via an axially shiftable armature, into toothed engagement with the side gear via respective axially extending teeth. The output hub and armature include radially extending flanges that are axially adjacent and radially aligned with the teeth so that force is transmitted to the teeth at the same diameter. A thrust bearing is disposed between the flanges so that the output hub rotates relative to the armature. The side gear is supported for rotation on the axle shaft, and a bearing is disposed radially therebetween to improve radial alignment of the second side gear with the output hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Dusan Milacic, Sean Steele, Myron Samila, Stephen Yang, David Gelfand
  • Patent number: 11841082
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Tak Man Loui, Adrian Cioc, Romulus Crisan, Stephen Yang, Dusan Milacic, Sean Steele, Myron Samila
  • Patent number: 10533617
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.
    Inventors: Ranjit Uppal, Sean Steele, Alberto Passos, Dusan Milacic
  • Patent number: 10072627
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, David Dorigo, Adrian C. Cioc
  • Publication number: 20180058518
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Ranjit Uppal, Sean Steele, Alberto Passos, Dusan Milacic
  • Patent number: 9097296
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: MagnaPowertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Sean Steele, Richard D. Muizelaar
  • Patent number: 9074646
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Jianwen Li, John Sabo, Richard D. Muizelaar
  • Patent number: 8943914
    Abstract: A starting system for a hybrid vehicle includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor and a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch assembly drivingly interconnects the drive plate and an engine crankshaft and includes an inner race fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. The outer race includes a first set of teeth drivingly engaging a second set of teeth on the drive plate and arranged to allow the outer race to rotate about an axis misaligned with an axis of rotation of the drive plate. A spring engages the drive plate and the outer race to urge the first and second sets of teeth into alignment with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Adrian Cioc
  • Patent number: 8899201
    Abstract: A starting system for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatably supported within an engine block. The starting system includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor, a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear, and a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch is adapted to selectively drivingly interconnect the drive plate and the crankshaft. The clutch includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of roller elements positioned radially therebetween. A fastener couples the drive plate to the outer race and compresses an elastomeric damper between the drive plate and the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Adrian Cioc
  • Publication number: 20140305396
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Sean Steele, David Dorigo, Adrian C. Cioc
  • Patent number: 8850909
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle starting system includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor, and a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch drivingly interconnects the drive plate and an engine crankshaft and includes an inner race fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race fixed for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. A cage positions the rollers in circumferentially spaced apart alignment with outer cam surfaces. A split ring is positioned within grooves on each of the inner race and the outer race. The split ring is fitted within one of the grooves at a first clearance and fitted within the other of the grooves at a predetermined second clearance at least ten times the first clearance to isolate the outer race from vibrations of the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Adrian Cioc
  • Patent number: 8640846
    Abstract: A wet clutch includes a rotatable hub and a rotatable drum having an aperture extending therethrough. A plurality of outer clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the drum. A plurality of inner clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the hub and interleaved with the outer clutch plates. A piston is moveable to apply a force to the inner and outer clutch plates to transfer torque between the hub and the drum. A cover is moveable relative to the drum between first and second positions. The cover selectively restricts a flow of fluid through the aperture in the drum when in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Muizelaar, Sean Steele, Jianwen Li, Andrew Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20130256081
    Abstract: A wet clutch includes a rotatable hub and a rotatable drum having an aperture extending therethrough. A plurality of outer clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the drum. A plurality of inner clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the hub and interleaved with the outer clutch plates. A piston is moveable to apply a force to the inner and outer clutch plates to transfer torque between the hub and the drum. A cover is moveable relative to the drum between first and second positions. The cover selectively restricts a flow of fluid through the aperture in the drum when in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Richard D. Muizelaar, Sean Steele, Jianwen Li, Andrew Kowalski
  • Patent number: 8459432
    Abstract: A wet clutch includes a rotatable hub and a rotatable drum having an aperture extending therethrough. A plurality of outer clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the drum. A plurality of inner clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the hub and interleaved with the outer clutch plates. A piston is moveable to apply a force to the inner and outer clutch plates to transfer torque between the hub and the drum. A cover is moveable relative to the drum between first and second positions. The cover selectively restricts a flow of fluid through the aperture in the drum when in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Muizelaar, Sean Steele, Jianwen Li, Andrew Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20120234281
    Abstract: A starting system for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatably supported within an engine block. The starting system includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor, a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear, and a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch is adapted to selectively drivingly interconnect the drive plate and the crankshaft. The clutch includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of roller elements positioned radially therebetween. A fastener couples the drive plate to the outer race and compresses an elastomeric damper between the drive plate and the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA POWERTRAIN Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Adrian Cioc
  • Publication number: 20120227541
    Abstract: A starting system for a hybrid vehicle includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor and a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch assembly drivingly interconnects the drive plate and an engine crankshaft and includes an inner race fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. The outer race includes a first set of teeth drivingly engaging a second set of teeth on the drive plate and arranged to allow the outer race to rotate about an axis misaligned with an axis of rotation of the drive plate. A spring engages the drive plate and the outer race to urge the first and second sets of teeth into alignment with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Adrian Cioc
  • Publication number: 20120227540
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle starting system includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor, and a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch drivingly interconnects the drive plate and an engine crankshaft and includes an inner race fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race fixed for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. A cage positions the rollers in circumferentially spaced apart alignment with outer cam surfaces. A split ring is positioned within grooves on each of the inner race and the outer race. The split ring is fitted within one of the grooves at a first clearance and fitted within the other of the grooves at a predetermined second clearance at least ten times the first clearance to isolate the outer race from vibrations of the inner race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, Adrian Cioc
  • Patent number: 8240286
    Abstract: A starting system for an internal combustion engine includes a pinion gear selectively driven by a starter motor, a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear and a one-way clutch adapted to interconnect the drive plate and an engine crankshaft. The clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft. An outer race is fixed for rotation with the drive plate and has circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces. The clutch also includes a cage for positioning rollers in circumferentially spaced apart alignment with the cam surfaces. A pair of seal plates are coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race. Each seal plate is positioned proximate to and spaced apart from the other of the inner race and the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Richard D. Muizelaar, Sean Steele
  • Publication number: 20110168118
    Abstract: A starting system for an internal combustion engine includes a pinion gear selectively driven by a starter motor, a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear and a one-way clutch adapted to interconnect the drive plate and an engine crankshaft. The clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft. An outer race is fixed for rotation with the drive plate and has circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces. The clutch also includes a cage for positioning rollers in circumferentially spaced apart alignment with the cam surfaces. A pair of seal plates are coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race. Each seal plate is positioned proximate to and spaced apart from the other of the inner race and the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Richard D. Muizelaar, Sean Steele