Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Nelson
Stephen L. Nelson 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: 10800250Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. The powertrain assembly includes an engine, a shiftable transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a charger. Additionally, the utility vehicle may include a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and the charger.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Nugteren, Andrew C. Schleif, Stephen L. Nelson, Anthony J. Ripley
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Patent number: 10780770Abstract: A hybrid vehicle may be a series hybrid or a parallel hybrid vehicle. One embodiment of a parallel hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a front drive coupled to the transmission through a prop shaft, a rear drive coupled to the transmission, a traction motor drivingly coupled to the prop shaft, and a battery to operate the traction motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Beat R. Kohler, David F. Buehler, Markus Hoffet, Aaron D. Deckard, Stephen L. Nelson
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Publication number: 20200250904Abstract: A diagnostic system of a vehicle for diagnosing a drive belt of a continuously variable transmission. A diagnostic circuit detects or predicts a fault of the drive belt based on an operating parameter received from a sensor associated with the vehicle during a predetermined diagnostic period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Ryan D. Carlson, Brian R. Gillingham, Amery D. Kuhl, John F. Kallis, Bruce E. Herrala, Karl J. Grajkowski, Jonathon P. Oakden-Graus, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 10672207Abstract: A diagnostic system of a vehicle for diagnosing a drive belt of a continuously variable transmission. A diagnostic circuit detects or predicts a fault of the drive belt based on an operating parameter received from a sensor associated with the vehicle during a predetermined diagnostic period.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Ryan D. Carlson, Brian R. Gillingham, Amery D. Kuhl, John F. Kallis, Bruce E. Herrala, Karl J. Grajkowski, Jonathon P. Oakden-Graus, Stephen L. Nelson
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Publication number: 20200149615Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is disclosed which is operable in a first direction to transfer power from a power source to ground engaging members of a vehicle, and in a second direction where the ground engaging members brake and/or drive the engine. The CVT has a braking assembly having a thrust member positioned over a drive clutch shaft and adjacent an outer sheave of the drive clutch. A flanged sleeve is operatively coupled to the drive clutch shaft and generally positioned intermediate the inner and outer sheaves of the drive clutch, with a portion of the flanged sleeve being adjacent the thrust member. The flanged sleeve is fixed relative to the drive clutch shaft when operating in the first direction and is cooperable with the thrust member to move the flanged member axially relative to the drive clutch shaft and towards the inner sheave when operating in the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Amery D. Kuhl, Anthony J. Ripley, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 10641366Abstract: A continuously variable clutch (CVT) is disclosed which is operable in a first direction to transfer power from a power source to ground engaging members of a vehicle, and in a second direction where the ground engaging members brake and/or drive the engine. The CVT has a braking assembly having a thrust member positioned over a drive clutch shaft and adjacent an outer sheave of the drive clutch. A flanged sleeve is operatively coupled to the drive clutch shaft and generally positioned intermediate the inner and outer sheaves of the drive clutch, with a portion of the flanged sleeve being adjacent the thrust member. The flanged sleeve is fixed relative to the drive clutch shaft when operating in the first direction and is cooperable with the thrust member to move the flanged member axially relative to the drive clutch shaft and towards the inner sheave when operating in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Amery D. Kuhl, Anthony J. Ripley, Stephen L. Nelson
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Publication number: 20200108709Abstract: A hybrid vehicle may be a series hybrid or a parallel hybrid vehicle. One embodiment of a parallel hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a front drive coupled to the transmission through a prop shaft, a rear drive coupled to the transmission, a traction motor drivingly coupled to the prop shaft, and a battery to operate the traction motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Beat R. Kohler, David F. Buehler, Markus Hoffet, Aaron D. Deckard, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 10614638Abstract: A diagnostic system of a vehicle for diagnosing a drive belt of a continuously variable transmission. A diagnostic circuit detects or predicts a fault of the drive belt based on an operating parameter received from a sensor associated with the vehicle during a predetermined diagnostic period.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Ryan D. Carlson, Brian R. Gillingham, Amery D. Kuhl, John F. Kallis, Bruce E. Herrala, Karl J. Grajkowski, Jonathon P. Oakden-Graus, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 10493846Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Bennett, Stephen L. Nelson, Louis J. Brady, John D. Schreier
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Patent number: 10457140Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Bennett, Stephen L. Nelson, John D. Schreier
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Publication number: 20190285159Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle includes a drive clutch, a driven clutch operably coupled to the drive clutch, and a belt extending between the drive and driven clutches. The continuously variable transmission also includes an inner cover and an outer cover removably coupled to the inner cover. At least one of the inner and outer covers includes an air inlet for providing cooling air to the drive and driven clutches and the belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen L. Nelson, Amery D. Kuhl, Narender Bejawada, Bruce E. Herrala, David J. Hicke, Ryan A. Tholen
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Publication number: 20190285160Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle includes a drive clutch, a driven clutch operably coupled to the drive clutch, and a belt extending between the drive and driven clutches. The continuously variable transmission also includes an inner cover and an outer cover removably coupled to the inner cover. At least one of the inner and outer covers includes an air inlet for providing cooling air to the drive and driven clutches and the belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen L. Nelson, Amery D. Kuhl, Narender Bejawada, Bruce E. Herrala, David J. Hicke, Paul Averillo, Giorgio Demetriou, Jeffrey I. Peterman
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Publication number: 20180211454Abstract: A diagnostic system of a vehicle for diagnosing a drive belt of a continuously variable transmission. A diagnostic circuit detects or predicts a fault of the drive belt based on an operating parameter received from a sensor associated with the vehicle during a predetermined diagnostic period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Ryan D. Carlson, Brian R. Gillingham, Amery D. Kuhl, John F. Kallis, Bruce E. Herrala, Karl J. Grajkowski, Jonathon P. Oakden-Graus, Stephen L. Nelson
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Publication number: 20180180141Abstract: A continuously variable clutch (CVT) is disclosed which is operable in a first direction to transfer power from a power source to ground engaging members of a vehicle, and in a second direction where the ground engaging members brake and/or drive the engine. The CVT has a braking assembly having a thrust member positioned over a drive clutch shaft and adjacent an outer sheave of the drive clutch. A flanged sleeve is operatively coupled to the drive clutch shaft and generally positioned intermediate the inner and outer sheaves of the drive clutch, with a portion of the flanged sleeve being adjacent the thrust member. The flanged sleeve is fixed relative to the drive clutch shaft when operating in the first direction and is cooperable with the thrust member to move the flanged member axially relative to the drive clutch shaft and towards the inner sheave when operating in the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2016Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Amery D. Kuhl, Anthony J. Ripley, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 9759313Abstract: A recreational vehicle is provided including a power source, such as an engine or an electric motor, and a transmission having a variable gear ratio. A sub-transmission coupled to an output of the transmission includes a plurality of selectable gear configurations including at least one of a forward gear, a neutral gear, a reverse gear, and a park gear. An electronic controller is operative to electronically control the gear configuration of the sub-transmission.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen L. Nelson, Donovan L. Fredrickson, David J. Koenig, Ryan D. Carlson, Aaron D. Deckard
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Patent number: 9718351Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. The powertrain assembly includes an engine, a shiftable transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a charger. Additionally, the utility vehicle may include a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and the charger.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. Ripley, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 9702455Abstract: A recreational vehicle is provided including a power source, such as an engine or an electric motor, and a transmission having a variable gear ratio. A sub-transmission coupled to an output of the transmission includes a plurality of selectable gear configurations including at least one of a forward gear, a neutral gear, a reverse gear, and a park gear. An electronic controller is operative to electronically control the gear configuration of the sub-transmission.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen L. Nelson, Donovan L. Fredrickson, David J. Koenig, Ryan D. Carlson, Aaron D. Deckard
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Patent number: 9592713Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. Kinsman, Kevin Van Bronkhorst, Stephen L. Nelson
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Patent number: 9429235Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is provided for use on a recreational or utility vehicle. The CVT is electronically controlled by at least one control unit of the vehicle. The CVT includes a primary clutch having a first sheave and a second sheave moveable relative to the first sheave. An actuator controls movement of the second sheave.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Brian D. Krosschell, Stephen L. Nelson, Brian R. Gillingham, Urs Wenger, Donovan L. Fredrickson, Karl J. Grajkowski, Philipp Meyer, Donald E. Frost, Beat R. Kohler, Ronald Zurbruegg, Peter J. Erasmus, Jeffrey I. Peterman
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Patent number: 9381810Abstract: An electronic throttle control (ETC) system is disclosed for use on a recreational or a utility vehicle. The ETC system includes a drive mode selection device for selecting between a plurality of drive modes. The ETC system provides an adjustable engine idle speed and an engine power limiting feature.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen L Nelson, Karl J Grajkowski, Scott P Sandstrom