Patents by Inventor Steven Frait

Steven 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).

  • Publication number: 20150114787
    Abstract: An assembly includes an engine output concentric with an axis, an input, a starting gear, a first drive plate secured to the engine output, including a rim supporting the starting gear, and arms extending radially outward from the axis, and a second drive plate rotatably secured to the input, and secured to the first drive plate at a location spaced radially outward from the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Brevick, Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Patent number: 8992365
    Abstract: A drive system includes a differential for transmitting power between a power source and first axles; a clutch including a first member driveably connected to the power source and a second member secured to a power transfer shaft; and a servo including a cylinder connected to a pressure source, a piston displaceable in the cylinder for mutually disconnecting the first and second members and allowing mutual engagement of the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas E. Perakes, Matthew D. Hammond, Laurence A. Deutsch, Steven A. Frait
  • Publication number: 20150075941
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to durability enhancement techniques for a dry-clutch vehicle transmission. A cooling system that provides a direct convective cooling path to friction surfaces is disclosed. Also disclosed is a continuously variable clutch wear compensation assembly configured to adjust the position of clutch assembly components on-demand or as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: STEVEN A. FRAIT, THOMAS G. LEONE, NORMAN J. BIRD, MATTHEW T. TRENT, JOHN E. BREVICK
  • Patent number: 8960393
    Abstract: A powertrain module includes an input, a bulkhead supporting the input, a rotor support, a torque converter casing driveably connected to the rotor support, an electric machine including a stator supported on the bulkhead and a rotor connected to the rotor support, a clutch hub driveably connected to the input, and a clutch for alternately opening and closing a drive connection between the clutch hub and the rotor support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Patent number: 8851861
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a vehicle powertrain includes a module including a clutch, an electric machine and a first sump, a transmission including a line pressure source and a second sump, and a pump that supplies fluid from the first sump to the line pressure source when the source of line pressure is unavailable, and supplies fluid from the first sump to the second sump when fluid volume in the second sump is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Steven G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8844695
    Abstract: A hydraulic servo assembly includes a clutch support formed with first and second cylinders, spaced mutually and spaced from a longitudinal axis, first and second balance volumes, and a passage formed in the support for carrying fluid from a fluid source into the balance volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Janson, Jeffrey E. Maurer, Steven A. Frait
  • Publication number: 20140284170
    Abstract: A transmission park-brake system includes a transmission park brake, a solenoid, first, second and third pressure sources, and a servo valve for disengaging the park-brake using the first and second pressure sources, holding the park-brake disengaged using a force produced by the solenoid and one of the first and second pressure sources, and engaging the park-brake using the third pressure source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Steven A. Frait
  • Patent number: 8840505
    Abstract: A system for controlling a transmission fluid circuit includes a lube circuit, a source of control pressure, a first valve for engaging and disengaging a control element whose engagement produces desired forward gears, and a control valve, responsive to control pressure, that alternately connects the lube circuit to a sump and disconnects fluid feed to the first valve, and disconnects the lube circuit from the sump and feeds fluid to the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Steven A. Frait
  • Patent number: 8770364
    Abstract: A powertrain module includes an input, a first bulkhead supporting the input for rotation, a hub, an electric machine including a stator connected to the first bulkhead and a rotor connected to the hub, a clutch for alternately opening and closing a drive connection between the input and the rotor, a servo for actuating the clutch and supported on the input, and a second bulkhead supporting the hub for rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Patent number: 8758180
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a vehicle powertrain includes a first line for carrying fluid to a torque converter, a second line for carrying fluid from the torque converter, a third line for carrying fluid to a balance dam and an electric motor, and a fourth line for supplying actuating pressure to a clutch, said lines being coaxial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Steven G. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140144733
    Abstract: A vehicle park-brake system includes a park brake, a solenoid; a first pressure source; a servo for disengaging the park-brake using the first pressure source, and for disengaging the park-brake using a force produced by the solenoid that actuates first and second pistons; and a second pressure source applied to the servo causing hydraulic pressure to vent from the servo, the pistons to detach mutually, and the servo to engage the park brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Steven A. Frait
  • Publication number: 20140123807
    Abstract: A system for venting a hybrid electric powertrain includes a module defining a first volume containing a clutch and an electric machine, a housing defining a second volume containing an automatic transmission, and lines producing mutual pneumatic connections among the first volume, the second volume and ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick
  • Publication number: 20140124321
    Abstract: An assembly includes a shell fixed against axial displacement, a clutch including first plates secured to the shell by a spline, a member fixed against axial displacement, supporting the shell and secured to the shell by the spline, a retainer for limiting axial movement of the first plates and member along the spline, and a piston for forcing the plates along the spline toward the retaine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Steven A. Frait
  • Publication number: 20140128219
    Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter including a casing supported for rotation about an axis, a rotor hub secured to the torque converter casing for rotation about the axis, a leg member secured to and supporting the rotor hub for rotation about the axis, and an electric machine including a rotor secured to the rotor hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Publication number: 20140124318
    Abstract: A rotor hub includes a sheet metal cylinder including spline teeth including angularly spaced crests and valleys, a tube surrounding the cylinder, secured to the crests and supporting a rotor thereon, a hub secured to the cylinder and supported for rotation, a torque converter, and a flex plate secured to the hub and the torque converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Publication number: 20140105728
    Abstract: An automatic transmission pump assembly includes a torque converter housing and pinion that rotate about a first axis, an idler engaged with the pinion, a gear engaged with the idler, shaft secured to the gear, and a pump rotor secured to the shaft and that rotates about a second axis offset from the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Larry A. Deutsch, Jeffrey E. Maurer
  • Patent number: 8696518
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission includes using signals of first solenoids to control first and second clutches, servos of first gears and servos of second gears, using signals of a second solenoid to establish a flow rate to cool the clutches and to actuate the servo that is associated with a selected gear, and using signals of a third solenoid to direct the flow rate to one of the clutches and to engage the selected gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Steven G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8647225
    Abstract: A motor vehicle powertrain includes a multiple speed transmission including a first lube circuit that supplies hydraulic lubricant to components of the transmission, a first oil sump, and a first pump driveably connected to an engine for supplying oil at a first pressure to the lube circuit, a transfer case including a first output, a second oil sump located in the transfer case, a second pump located in the transfer case and driveably connected to the first output, and a check valve for alternately opening and closing a connection between the first pump and the lube circuit and for opening and closing a connection between the second pump and the lube circuit in response to differential pressure between an outlet of the first pump and an outlet of the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven G. Thomas, Andreas E. Perakes, Matthew D. Hammond, Steven A. Frait, Monica R. DeGraffenreid, Gregory D. Goleski, Chip Hartinger, Jeffrey E. Maurer
  • Patent number: 8647078
    Abstract: A pumping system for an automatic transmission includes a valve body containing transmission fluid having an upper level, a hydraulic pump mounted on a wall of the valve body, and an electric motor driveably connected to the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Steven A. Frait
  • Patent number: 8545355
    Abstract: A method for assembling a powertrain includes installing transmission gearing and an input shaft in a housing, installing a bearing in a pump housing and securing the pump housing to a pump plate, piloting on the housing the pump plate into position, seating a stator shaft on the pump housing over the input shaft, and installing over the stator shaft a rotor shaft, a rotor hub engaging the bearing and a clutch hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Steven G. Thomas