Patents by Inventor Shaun Mepham
Shaun Mepham 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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Publication number: 20220126663Abstract: An electric axle assembly includes a suspension frame and drive assemblies coupled to opposing sides of the suspension frame. The electric axle assembly engages with wheels of a vehicle for rotating the wheels to move the vehicle along a round surface. A drive unit transfers motive force to the wheels through one or more gearsets and axle shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventor: Shaun MEPHAM
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Patent number: 11292332Abstract: An axle assembly for a low floor vehicle is described herein. The axle assembly includes an axle housing and a drive unit for driving a wheel assembly. The drive unit includes an axle shaft, a wheel end assembly, an electric machine, and a transmission unit. The axle shaft extends along an axle centerline axis between a first axle end and a second axle end. The wheel end assembly is coupled to the first axle end. The electric machine is positioned within the axle housing and includes a rotor shaft, a drive pinion coupled to the rotor shaft, and an electric motor for rotating the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft extends along a rotor shaft centerline axis that is orientated parallel to the axle centerline axis. The transmission unit is positioned within the axle housing and is configured to transfer torque from the electric machine to the axle shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Shaun Mepham, Vikram Chopra, Christopher G. Baillie
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Publication number: 20220045577Abstract: An electric motor for use in an axle assembly. The electric motor includes a stator having a stator core, and a rotor adapted for rotation about a rotor axis within the stator core. The stator includes a series of conductive windings that are disposed about the stator core. The windings are wound in a direction generally parallel to the rotor axis and protrude from first and second ends of the stator core. The stator core is formed to include a plurality of longitudinal passageways that are radially arranged about the stator core and are adapted to permit the flow of a cooling fluid through the passageways. The passageways of the stator core extend longitudinally through the stator core and are positioned between the windings such that heat generated by the windings is transferred to the cooling fluid to remove heat from the windings. The motor also includes a metering ring coupled to a first end of the stator core and a discharge ring coupled to a second end of the stator core.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Christopher G. BAILLIE, Shaun MEPHAM
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Patent number: 11220168Abstract: An electric axle assembly includes a suspension frame and drive assemblies coupled to opposing sides of the suspension frame. The electric axle assembly engages with wheels of a vehicle for rotating the wheels to move the vehicle along a ground surface. A drive unit transfers motive force to the wheels through one or more gearsets and axle shafts.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventor: Shaun Mepham
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Publication number: 20210379983Abstract: An electric axle assembly includes a drive unit and a drive train stored in a case, and a cooling system coupled to the case for circulating a cooling fluid through the case. The electric axle assembly is mounted on a vehicle to support the vehicle for movement along a ground surface. The drive unit provides motive force through the drive train to wheels of the vehicle for propelling the vehicle along the ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Christopher G. BAILLIE, Shaun MEPHAM
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Patent number: 11192448Abstract: An axle assembly for frame rail vehicles is described herein. The axle assembly includes a drive unit that includes a first drive unit assembly, a second drive unit assembly, a first axle shaft, and a second axle shaft. The first drive unit assembly includes a first electric machine, a first output assembly, and a first offset gear reduction assembly. The second drive unit assembly includes a second electric machine, a second output assembly, and a second offset gear reduction assembly. The first electric machine and the second electric machine are orientated in a same direction, and spaced such that the axle centerline axis is positioned between the first electric machine and the second electric machine. The first offset gear reduction assembly is spaced from the second offset gear reduction assembly such that the axle centerline axis is positioned between the first offset gear reduction and the second offset gear reduction.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Shaun Mepham, Christopher G. Baillie, Vikram Chopra
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Publication number: 20210245599Abstract: An axle assembly for a low floor vehicle is described herein. The axle assembly includes an axle housing and a drive unit for driving a wheel assembly. The axle housing including a first gearbox, a second gearbox and a cradle assembly coupling the first gear box to the second gear box. The axle assembly includes first and second hub assemblies that form a first axis of rotation. The first gearbox includes an electric motor that is coupled to a transmission used to rotate an output shaft. The first gearbox also includes a differential mounted for rotation with the transmission and a first drop box mounted for rotation with the differential. The axle assembly also includes a portal axle mounted for rotation with the first drop box and extends from the first gearbox to the second gearbox wherein the portal axle forms a second axis of rotation that is offset from the first axis of rotation of the hub assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Shaun MEPHAM, Christopher G. BAILLIE
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Publication number: 20210172495Abstract: Vehicles that are relatively heavy and/or configured to transport heavy loads may utilize a powertrain comprising an electric machine capable of operating at high speeds and a multispeed transmission to propel the vehicle. An interface module is configured to modulate torque between the electric machine and the multispeed transmission allowing the electric machine to smoothly match speed as the multispeed transmission shifts between gears. The interface module facilitates efficient, predictable, and reliable modulation of torque between an input and an output of the powertrain of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventor: Shaun MEPHAM
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Publication number: 20210129664Abstract: An axle assembly for frame rail vehicles is described herein. The axle assembly includes a drive unit that includes a first drive unit assembly, a second drive unit assembly, a first axle shaft, and a second axle shaft. The first drive unit assembly includes a first electric machine, a first output assembly, and a first offset gear reduction assembly. The second drive unit assembly includes a second electric machine, a second output assembly, and a second offset gear reduction assembly. The first electric machine and the second electric machine are orientated in a same direction, and spaced such that the axle centerline axis is positioned between the first electric machine and the second electric machine. The first offset gear reduction assembly is spaced from the second offset gear reduction assembly such that the axle centerline axis is positioned between the first offset gear reduction and the second offset gear reduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2018Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Shaun MEPHAM, Christopher G. BAILLIE, Vikram CHOPRA
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Publication number: 20210086558Abstract: An axle assembly for frame rail vehicles is described herein. The axle assembly also includes a drive unit housing that includes an interior cavity enclosing first and second electric machines, a common gear reduction, a differential gear set, and a speed change mechanism with the first and second axle shafts partially disposed within the interior cavity and extending out of the drive unit housing. The drive unit housing includes a central cavity, a lower cavity, a first machine cavity, and a second machine cavity. The central cavity includes the common gear reduction and the axis of rotation of the first and second axle shafts. The lower cavity accumulates a volume of gearbox fluid with the speed change mechanism at least partially immersed in the lower cavity. The first machine cavity includes the first electric machine and the second machine cavity includes the second electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Christopher G. BAILLIE, Vikram CHOPRA, Shaun MEPHAM, Siva Srinivas Rajeev MUPPARTI
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Publication number: 20210008969Abstract: An axle assembly for frame rail vehicles is described herein. The axle assembly includes a first axle shaft and a second axle shaft orientated along a first axis of rotation. A first electric machine is orientated along a second axis of rotation and a second electric machine is spaced from the first electric machine and orientated along a third axis of rotation. A differential gear set is disposed about the first axis of rotation and is coupled to and driven by a common gear reduction to transfer rotational torque from the first and second electric machines to the first and second axle shafts. A speed change mechanism is coupled between the common gear reduction and the differential gear set to change the rotational torque transferred to the first and second axle shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2019Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Vikram CHOPRA, Shaun MEPHAM, Christopher G. BAILLIE, Siva Srinivas Rajeev MUPPARTI
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Publication number: 20200276895Abstract: An electric axle assembly includes a suspension frame and drive assemblies coupled to opposing sides of the suspension frame. The electric axle assembly engages with wheels of a vehicle for rotating the wheels to move the vehicle along a ground surface. A drive unit transfers motive force to the wheels through one or more gearsets and axle shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventor: Shaun MEPHAM
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Publication number: 20200180426Abstract: An axle assembly for a low floor vehicle is described herein. The axle assembly includes an axle housing and a drive unit for driving a wheel assembly. The drive unit includes an axle shaft, a wheel end assembly, an electric machine, and a transmission unit. The axle shaft extends along an axle centerline axis between a first axle end and a second axle end. The wheel end assembly is coupled to the first axle end. The electric machine is positioned within the axle housing and includes a rotor shaft, a drive pinion coupled to the rotor shaft, and an electric motor for rotating the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft extends along a rotor shaft centerline axis that is orientated parallel to the axle centerline axis. The transmission unit is positioned within the axle housing and is configured to transfer torque from the electric machine to the axle shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Vikram CHOPRA, Christopher G. BAILLIE, Shaun MEPHAM
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Patent number: 7487866Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a motor vehicle transmission, preferably a twin-clutch transmission, is connected for cooling at least one clutch of the transmission. The hydraulic circuit is preferably a low-pressure circuit and it includes at least one hydraulic pump, at least one filter element, for filtering the hydraulic oil, and at least one pressure-regulating valve. The circuit-related control sequence and the power consumption of the hydraulic pump are optimized in that at least one adjusting valve is provided in order to control the volume flow of cooling oil flowing to the clutch, in that a pressure-compensation valve is provided in addition, and in that the pressure-regulating valve, the adjusting valve and/or the pressure-compensation valve are arranged and/or formed within the hydraulic circuit such that the pressure difference between the supply pressure and the establishing cooling-oil pressure is essentially constant.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Georg Kruse, Rainer Hofmann, Carsten Adomeit, Lloyd Storey, Shaun Mepham
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Publication number: 20070137336Abstract: A gear selector mechanism for a twin clutch gearbox includes a shaft (2, 4) and a first actuator (6) arranged to move the shaft linearly parallel to its length The shaft (2, 4) is connected to a pivotal lever (18) carrying a selector finger (20) adapted to engage in a recess (44) in a selected gear selector rail (46, 48, 50, 52), a second actuator (24) and a return spring (22) cooperating with the pivotable lever. The second actuator (24) is arranged to pivot the lever (18) from an inoperative position, in which the selector finger does not engage in a recess in a gear selector rail, to an operative position, which the selector finger does engage in a recess in a gear selector rail. The return spring is arranged to move the lever from the operative position to the inoperative position. The second actuator (24) is carried by a carrier (16) which is connected to a third actuator (30) arranged to move the carrier (16) linearly in a direction transverse to the length of the shaft (2, 4).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2004Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: John Burk, Shaun Mepham, Robert Barnes
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Publication number: 20070023250Abstract: A clutch includes two rotary shafts, one of which (2) is connected to one or more first clutch plates (8) which cooperate with a second set of clutch plates (10), the clutch plates being acted on by an actuating piston (12) having a portion exposed on two opposite sides to first and second chambers (16, 18) in a hydraulic cylinder. A torque control valve is provided comprising a cylindrical inner valve member (48) rotatably and linearly movably received in a cylindrical opening in an outer valve member (46), the inner and outer valve members affording cooperating cylindrical surfaces, in one of which an elongate first recess (64) is formed, which communicates with one of the chambers (16), and in the other of which two circumferentially spaced elongate second recesses (56, 54) are formed communicating with a source of pressurised hydraulic fluid (26) and a substantially unpressurised hydraulic reservoir (30), respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2004Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Shaun Mepham, Robert Barnes
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Publication number: 20070020119Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a motor vehicle transmission, preferably a twin-clutch transmission, is connected for cooling at least one clutch of the transmission. The hydraulic circuit is preferably a low-pressure circuit and it includes at least one hydraulic pump, at least one filter element, for filtering the hydraulic oil, and at least one pressure-regulating valve. The circuit-related control sequence and the power consumption of the hydraulic pump are optimized in that at least one adjusting valve is provided in order to control the volume flow of cooling oil flowing to the clutch, in that a pressure-compensation valve is provided in addition, and in that the pressure-regulating valve, the adjusting valve and/or the pressure-compensation valve are arranged and/or formed within the hydraulic circuit such that the pressure difference between the supply pressure and the establishing cooling-oil pressure is essentially constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2006Publication date: January 25, 2007Inventors: Georg Kruse, Rainer Hofmann, Carsten Adomeit, Lloyd Storey, Shaun Mepham
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Patent number: D883864Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Christopher G. Baillie, Shaun Mepham, Vikram Chopra
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Patent number: D927578Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Christopher G. Baillie, Vikram Chopra, Shaun Mepham, Siva Srinivas Rajeev Mupparti, Dan Mircea Stefan, David John Swica