Patents by Inventor Steven Anatole Frait
Steven Anatole Frait 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: 20240059274Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an electrically driven transmission fluid pump may be deactivated in response to an engine pull-up request so that a driveline disconnect clutch may provide more consistent torque transfer capacity during closing of the driveline disconnect clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Maruthi Ravichandran, Rajit Johri, Steven Anatole Frait
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Publication number: 20230243436Abstract: A unitized valve body for use in an automatic transmission includes a plurality of valve bores and a plurality of hydraulic passages. Each valve bore is configured to receive a valve. The plurality of hydraulic passages are in fluid communication with the valve bores. The plurality of valve bores are arranged above and below the hydraulic passages.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Frank Hanson
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Publication number: 20230184267Abstract: A unitized valve body for use in an automatic transmission includes a plurality of first hydraulic passages, a second hydraulic passage and a plurality of orifices. The second hydraulic passage extending through the unitized valve body and configured to be in fluid communication with a plurality of valve bores. Each orifice disposed within the unitized valve body and fluidly connecting the second hydraulic passage to a respective first hydraulic passage of the plurality of first hydraulic passages.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Frank Hanson
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Publication number: 20230184364Abstract: A unitized valve body for use in an automatic transmission includes a valve bore and an annulus. The valve bore is configured to receive a valve. The annulus is in fluid communication with the valve bore. The annulus defines an outer portion having an outer diameter and an innermost portion located at an interface between the valve bore and the valve. The outer portion having a first axial length and the innermost portion having a second axial length. The first axial length is greater than the second axial length.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Ram Sudarsan Devendran, Frank Hanson
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Publication number: 20230184323Abstract: A unitized valve body for use in an automatic transmission includes a plurality of first hydraulic passages, a second hydraulic passage and a plurality of orifices. The second hydraulic passage extending through the unitized valve body and configured to be in fluid communication with a plurality of valve bores. Each orifice disposed within the unitized valve body and fluidly connecting the second hydraulic passage to a respective first hydraulic passage of the plurality of first hydraulic passages.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Frank Hanson
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Patent number: 11644116Abstract: A unitized valve body for use in an automatic transmission includes a plurality of valve bores and a plurality of hydraulic passages. Each valve bore is configured to receive a valve. The plurality of hydraulic passages are in fluid communication with the valve bores and arranged parallel to each other. The plurality of valve bores extend normal to the hydraulic passages and are arranged above and below the hydraulic passages.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Frank Hanson
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Patent number: 11015689Abstract: A gearbox includes an input gear supported for rotation about an input axis and includes first and second idler gears fixedly coupled to each other and supported for rotation about a transfer axis. The first idler gear is fixedly coupled to the input gear. A planetary gear set is supported for rotation about an output axis of the gearbox and has a first component fixedly coupled to the second idler gear. A differential is supported for rotation about the output axis, co-axial with the planetary gear set, and fixedly coupled to a second component of the planetary gear set.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Isaac Klurfeld, Steven Anatole Frait
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Patent number: 10953865Abstract: An assembly includes a front module housing an electric machine and an engine disconnect clutch, a transmission aft of the front module, a torque converter axially between the front module and the transmission, and a baffle radially between the torque converter and the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, John Edward Brevick
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Patent number: 10933730Abstract: A power split powertrain for a hybrid-electric vehicle powertrain has first and second electric machines disposed on opposite sides of a central support wall having a peripheral edge anchored to a transmission housing and a center region rotatably supporting rotors of the two electric machines on opposite sides of the support wall. A power split gearset is disposed adjacent to the first electric machine such that the first electric machine is between the first support wall and the power split gearset. A brake clutch associated with the second electric machine is mounted to the support wall and the support has a hydraulic feed channel supplying the brake clutch. Resolvers associated with the electric machines are mounted to the support wall and electrical connections with the resolvers are integrated with the support wall. A multi-step transmission assembly receiving torque from the power split gearset is also enclosed by the transmission housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, James E. Kearns, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 10889158Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including a climate control system with an accumulator, and a corresponding method. An example motor vehicle includes a powertrain and a climate control system configured to meet a thermal conditioning demand. The climate control system includes an accumulator and a compressor driven by the powertrain. Further, a controller is in electronic communication with the climate control system, and the controller is configured to selectively command the climate control system to charge the accumulator when an amount of energy available to the compressor from the powertrain is in excess of an amount of energy required to meet the thermal conditioning demand.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ram Sudarsan Devendran, John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait
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Publication number: 20200406738Abstract: A power split powertrain for a hybrid-electric vehicle powertrain has first and second electric machines disposed on opposite sides of a central support wall having a peripheral edge anchored to a transmission housing and a center region rotatably supporting rotors of the two electric machines on opposite sides of the support wall. A power split gearset is disposed adjacent to the first electric machine such that the first electric machine is between the first support wall and the power split gearset. A brake clutch associated with the second electric machine is mounted to the support wall and the support has a hydraulic feed channel supplying the brake clutch. Resolvers associated with the electric machines are mounted to the support wall and electrical connections with the resolvers are integrated with the support wall. A multi-step transmission assembly receiving torque from the power split gearset is also enclosed by the transmission housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, James E. Kearns, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 10780876Abstract: A system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system may include an accumulator, a pump, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to braking of the vehicle, close a line pressure regulator to isolate the accumulator and pump from a transmission pressure line demand, and operate the pump to charge the accumulator without satisfying any of the demand, and responsive to a tip-in event, open the line pressure regulator and operate the accumulator and pump to satisfy the demand.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ram Sudarsan Devendran, John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait
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Publication number: 20200263770Abstract: A gearbox includes an input gear supported for rotation about an input axis and includes first and second idler gears fixedly coupled to each other and supported for rotation about a transfer axis. The first idler gear is fixedly coupled to the input gear. A planetary gear set is supported for rotation about an output axis of the gearbox and has a first component fixedly coupled to the second idler gear. A differential is supported for rotation about the output axis, co-axial with the planetary gear set, and fixedly coupled to a second component of the planetary gear set.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Steven Isaac KLURFELD, Steven Anatole FRAIT
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Patent number: 10737679Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for entering into a parked state in a hybrid electric vehicle that includes a dual clutch transmission. In one example, a driveline operating method comprises in response to a first condition, engaging a first gear and engaging a second gear of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to enter a vehicle park state where an output of a transmission is held from rotating, and in response to a second condition, engaging a third gear and engaging a fourth gear of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to enter a vehicle park state. In this way, a park state may be entered into without the use of a park pawl, which may reduce costs associated with the vehicle and which may prevent issues associated with degradation of the park pawl.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Steven Anatole Frait
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Publication number: 20200247211Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including a climate control system with an accumulator, and a corresponding method. An example motor vehicle includes a powertrain and a climate control system configured to meet a thermal conditioning demand. The climate control system includes an accumulator and a compressor driven by the powertrain. Further, a controller is in electronic communication with the climate control system, and the controller is configured to selectively command the climate control system to charge the accumulator when an amount of energy available to the compressor from the powertrain is in excess of an amount of energy required to meet the thermal conditioning demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Ram Sudarsan Devendran, John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait
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Patent number: 10549758Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
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Patent number: 10520045Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of clutches, a shaft, and a pressure relief valve. The plurality of clutches each define a balance dam chamber. The shaft partially defines a pressurized fluid circuit that includes each balance dam chamber. The shaft also defines an outlet. The pressure relief valve is disposed within the shaft between the pressurized fluid circuit and the outlet. The pressure relief valve is configured to open at a threshold pressure of the fluid circuit, wherein the threshold pressure decreases as rotational speed of the shaft increases.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ram Sudarsan Devendran, Steven Anatole Frait
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Patent number: 10479343Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for launching a vehicle in an electric-only mode of operation. In one example, a driveline operating method comprises engaging a parking pawl to an output shaft of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to engine a vehicle into a parked state, and disengaging the parking pawl via rotating an engine via an integrated starter/generator in response to a request to propel the vehicle solely via power of an electric machine positioned downstream of the dual clutch transmission. In this way, the vehicle may be launched in the electric-only mode without activating the engine in a fueled mode of operation and then deactivating the engine, which may increase vehicle operator satisfaction and which may improve fuel economy.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Jason Meyer, Kevin Ray Ruybal
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Patent number: 10471819Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie
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Publication number: 20190315221Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2018Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie