Patents by Inventor Stanley L. Pierce
Stanley L. Pierce 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: 5755636Abstract: A kinematic arrangement of an automatic transmission includes three simple planetary gear units having certain elements fixed to other elements mutually, a one-way coupling for holding the ring gear of the first gear unit against rotation, brakes for holding the carrier of the third gear unit and the sun gears of the second and third gear units against rotation on the transmission housing, two friction clutches arranged in parallel between the input shaft and the sun gears of the second and third planetary gear units, a brake band for holding the ring gear of the third gear unit and carrier of the second gear unit against rotation, and a friction clutch for holding the sun gear of the first gear unit against rotation.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Clinton F. Justice, Stanley L. Pierce, Robert J. Miller
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Patent number: 5542889Abstract: A multiple-speed automatic transmission for automotive vehicles able to produce three underdrive speed ratios, a near direct ratio, and two overdrive ratios. A kinematic arrangement includes three simple planetary gear units (48, 50, 52). One of these produces an underdrive output drivably connected to components of the other gear units, two friction clutches (118, 122), three friction brakes (124, 126, 140), an overrunning coupling (82), a final drive gearset (94), a differential mechanism (102), a chain drive mechanism (30) for transmitting power from the turbine (16) of a torque converter (10) to the input shaft, which drives elements of the planetary gear units.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1994Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Stanley L. Pierce, Richard D. Moan
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Patent number: 5503604Abstract: A multiple-speed automatic transmission for automotive vehicles able to produce three underdrive speed ratios, a near direct ratio, and two overdrive ratios. A kinematic arrangement includes three simple planetary gear units (48, 50, 52). One of these produces an underdrive output drivably connected to components of the other gear units, three friction clutches (118, 120, 122) to friction brakes (124, 126), an overrunning coupling (82), a final drive gearset (94), a differential mechanism (102), a chain drive mechanism (30) for transmitting power from the turbine (16) of a torque converter (10) to the input shaft, which drives elements of the planetary gear units.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Stanley L. Pierce, Clinton F. Justice
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Patent number: 5435792Abstract: A multiple-speed transmission for use in an automotive vehicle driveline includes a torque converter, three simple planetary gear units, one-way clutches and brakes, friction clutches, and friction brakes. The engaged and disegaged state of the friction elements permit the transmission to produce several underdrive speed ratios, a direct drive ratio, and several overdrive ratios.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1994Date of Patent: July 25, 1995Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Clinton F Justice, Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5383822Abstract: An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle includes first and second simple planetary gear units, certain of whose elements are continually interconnected and certain others are releasably connected through operation of five friction elements, hydraulically-actuated clutches and brakes. The input shaft of the transmission drives elements of the planetary gear units through an underdrive gearset and an overdrive gearset. Various speed ratios result by either underdriving or overdriving a driven element of the planetary gear unit or both underdriving one element and overdriving another element.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1993Date of Patent: January 24, 1995Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5261862Abstract: An automatic transaxle includes a torque converter, three planetary gear units, friction clutches and brakes, various overrunning couplings and a chain sprocket wheel integrally formed with the ring gear of one of the gear units. The sprocket wheel forms a torque transfer mechanism between the axis of the torque converter and a parallel axis, about which is located a differential mechanism, half shafts connected to side bevel gears of the differential, and final drive gearing located between the chain drive mechanism and the differential.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1992Date of Patent: November 16, 1993Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5250011Abstract: A multiple speed transmission for use in an automotive vehicle driveline includes a torque converter and three simple planetary gear units, one-way clutches and brakes, friction clutches, and friction brakes. The engaged and disengaged state of the friction elements permit the transmission to produce several underdrive speed ratios, a direct drive ratio and several overdrive ratios. The transmission output shaft is geared to produce a direct drive connection to the spindle of an axle differential, which drives wheels fixed to the axle shafts.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1992Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5167593Abstract: A transaxle for use in an automotive vehicle driveline includes a torque converter and a compound planetary gear system having two simple planetary gear units adapted to provide four forward driving torque delivery paths, the highest speed ratio path being an overdrive, the axis of the torque converter being located on the crankshaft axis of the vehicle engine, and a torque output shaft being parallel to the torque converter and engine axis. Hydraulically actuated friction clutches and brakes and one-way couplings interconnect the input and output of the transmission to members of the planetary gearset and the transmission casing. A final drive planetary gearset, driven by the output of the planetary gear units, drives a differential mechanism connected to the axle shaft of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1991Date of Patent: December 1, 1992Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5131902Abstract: A transaxle for use in an automotive vehicle driveline includes a torque converter and a compound planetary gear system having three simple planetary gear units adapted to provide five forward driving torque delivery paths, the two highest speed ratios being overdrive, the axis of the torque converter being located on the crankshaft axis of the vehicle engine, and a torque output shaft being parallel to the torque converter and engine axis. Hydraulically actuated friction clutches and brakes and one-way couplings interconnect the input and output of the transmission to members of the planetary gearing and the transmission casing. A final drive planetary gearset, driven by the output of the planetary gear units, drives a differential mechanism connected to the axle shaft of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5129870Abstract: An automatic transmission having multiple planetary gear elements adapted to establish and disestablish plural torque delivery paths between a driving member and a driven member, and releasable couplings adapted to connect selected gear elements of the transmission to ground and to connect two of the elements together to effect nonsynchronous ratio changes in the transmission without the necessity of engaging and releasing in timed sequence friction clutches and friction brakes, whereby friction torque losses are reduced and ratio changes in the transmission have a high degree of smoothness.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1991Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 5039305Abstract: A transaxle for an automotive vehicle driveline having an internal combustion engine, a hydrokinetic torque converter (10) mounted on the axis of the crankshaft of the engine, multiple ratio gearing (118, 160) mounted on an output shaft axis (86) located in parallel relationship with respect to the engine crankshaft axis, and a torque transfer drive (14,68,70,78,86) comprising a dual torque flow path between the turbine of the torque converter and the torque input elements of the gearing including clutch and brake structure (96,138,144,106,178,170) for effecting ratio changes in the gearing, the torque converter, the torque transfer gearing and the multiple ratio gearing being packaged in a common assembly with maximum space economy whereby the clutch and brake structure is adapted to select one torque flow path or the other through the transfer drive as well as to control the torque flow pattern through the multiple ratio gearing and whereby the N/V design parameter for the transaxle may be chosen to effectType: GrantFiled: December 18, 1989Date of Patent: August 13, 1991Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 4978328Abstract: A transaxle assembly for use in a vehicle driveline comprising a hydrokinetic torque converter (12, 14, 16) located on an engine axis, planetary gearing (178, 180) located on a space parallel axis including means (242, 248, 250) for transferring the output torque of the planetary gearing to each of two axle shafts situated on an axis common to the axis of the planetary gearing and a multiple ratio torque transfer drive (52, 80, 90, 112, 114) between the turbine of the hydrokinetic torque converter and the torque input element of the planetary gearing, the transfer drive comprising a pair of differential diameter external tooth gears that are independently rotated and clutch means (96, 98) for selectively activating and deactivating each of two torque flow paths between the differential diameter gears whereby the speed-torque characteristics of the engine can be precisely matched with the ratio range available for the planetary gearing and the hydrokinetic torque converter to effect optimum powertrain performaType: GrantFiled: September 25, 1989Date of Patent: December 18, 1990Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 4938097Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter transaxle having a hydrokinetic torque converter, two simple planetary gear units and a clutch-and-brake system situated concentrically with respect to the axis of a vehicle engine wherein the torque output member of the planetary gear units is located in midposition between the planetary gear units and the hydrokinetic converter. A drive chain forms a torque transfer drive from the axis of the converter to a parallel axis coinciding with the axis of a geared differential, a pair of half shafts being connected to side gears of the differential for powering traction wheels wherein the clutch-and-brake system and the planetary gear units as well as the drive chain are integrated one with respect to the other to provide a minimum axial dimension with respect to the axis of the engine crankshaft thereby facilitating the packaging of the transaxle in a limited space within the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1989Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 4693129Abstract: An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle that transmits torque from an engine crankshaft to an outlet shaft includes a first clutch whose engagement driveably connects the engine directly to the output shaft and a second clutch whose engagement connects the engine to a countershaft on which a gear wheel having multiple pinions is formed. The output shaft has multiple forward drive output gears and a reverse output gear journalled on its outer surface. The countershaft has a forward drive pinion in continuous meshing engagement with a forward drive output gear, which is selectively connected to the output shaft by a synchronizer or coupler. A reverse idler gear wheel is in continuous engagement with the forward drive output pinion and with a reverse drive output gear that is connected to the output shaft by the synchronizer. A second synchronizer or coupler driveably connects selected forward drive gears to the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1984Date of Patent: September 15, 1987Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 4628771Abstract: The hydraulic control circuit for an automatic transmission includes solenoid-operated clutch pressure valves which selectively connect line pressure to the selected clutch as the winding of the solenoids are energized and de-energized by an electronic control system. A solenoid feed valve and feedback valve operate to connect line pressure to the input port of the several clutch actuator valves, provided the clutch pressures are within certain limits. If these limits are exceeded, line pressure is disconnected from the actuator valves and is applied, instead, automatically and without respect to electronic control, to the clutches that produce a predetermined gear ratio. A coast control valve operates to regulate pressure to a servo that is pressurized at a lower level for low gear ratio operation and at a higher level for reverse drive operation. The coast control valve vents the servo if either of the clutches that produce the predetermined speed ratio are pressurized.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1985Date of Patent: December 16, 1986Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Dennis W. Person, Stanley L. Pierce, Polung Liang
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Patent number: 4541308Abstract: The hydraulic control circuit for an automatic transmission includes solenoid-operated clutch pressure valves which selectively connect line pressure to the selected clutch as the winding of the solenoids are energized and de-energized by an electronic control system. A solenoid feed valve and feedback valve operate to connect line pressure to the input port of the several clutch actuator valves, provided the clutch pressures are within certain limits. If these limits are exceeded, line pressure is disconnected from the actuator valves and is applied, instead, automatically and without respect to electronic control, to the clutches that produce a predetermined gear ratio. A coast control valve operates to regulate pressure to a servo that is pressurized at a lower level for low gear ratio operation and at a higher level for reverse drive operation. The coast control valve vents the servo if either of the clutches that produce the predetermined speed ratio are pressurized.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1982Date of Patent: September 17, 1985Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Dennis W. Person, Stanley L. Pierce, Polung Liang
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Patent number: 4527678Abstract: A control system for transferring torque from a first, offgoing clutch to a second, oncoming clutch while a gear shift is being made includes speed sensors for determining the speeds of the engine shaft and the output shaft of the transmission, a gear selector position indicator, a throttle position indicator and a gear ratio sensor. Solenoid operated valves open and close a source of high pressure fluid to the clutches, whose engagement and disengagement holds the gear elements of the transmission by means of which the various speed ratios are produced. An electronic computer is supplied with the digital equivalent of the shaft speeds, the position of the gear selector and of the throttle. The engine speed-output shaft speed ratio is used as a feedback signal on the basis of which an error between its value and a commanded value is determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1982Date of Patent: July 9, 1985Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Stanley L. Pierce, Larry T. Brown, Pramod K. Jain
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Patent number: 4527448Abstract: The hydraulic control circuit for an automatic transmission includes solenoid-operated clutch pressure valves which selectively connect line pressure to the selected clutch as the winding of the solenoids are energized and de-energized by an electronic control system. A solenoid feed valve and feedback valve operate to connect line pressure to the input port of the several clutch actuator valves, provided the clutch pressures are within certain limits. If these limits are exceeded, line pressure is disconnected from the actuator valves and is applied, instead, automatically and without respect to electronic control, to the clutches that produce a predetermined gear ratio. A coast control valve operates to regulate pressure to a servo that is pressurized at a lower level for low gear ratio operation and at a higher level for reverse drive operation. The coast control valve vents the servo if either of the clutches that produce the predetermined speed ratio are pressurized.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1982Date of Patent: July 9, 1985Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Dennis W. Person, Stanley L. Pierce, Po-lung Liang
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Patent number: 4418585Abstract: An automatic transaxle for use in an automotive vehicle driveline for delivering torque from an engine to the vehicle traction wheels comprising two simple planetary gearsets adapted to provide four forward driving ratios and a single reverse ratio and including three friction clutches, three friction brakes and one overrunning clutch that are strategically arranged to provide optimum spacing between the ratios and smooth ratio changes with minimum shift timing problems for the ratio changes.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1980Date of Patent: December 6, 1983Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce
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Patent number: 4346622Abstract: A transaxle for use in a vehicle having an engine mounted transversely with respect to the center plane of the vehicle comprising a compound planetary gear assembly mounted on the axis of the crankshaft for the engine, clutch and brake structure arranged in a strategic fashion to provide a minimum axial dimension for the transaxle, a final drive gear and differential mechanism mounted for rotation about an axis laterally spaced from and parallel to the engine axis, and a chain drive mechanism disposed intermediate the planetary gear assembly and the engine for effecting a driving connection between the driveshaft and the output gear element of the gear assembly whereby the outside dimensions of the transaxle permit packaging of the transaxle in an engine compartment with the engine axis disposed transversely and the driveshafts for the vehicle traction wheels may be positioned to effect a minimum angular displacement with respect to the axis of the differential.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1980Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Stanley L. Pierce