Patents by Inventor Steven Franklin James

Steven Franklin James 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: 20030064853
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic retarder has an outer housing and an inner housing. A planetary carrier shaft member is rotatably supported on taper roller bearings located in the outer housing. The taper roller bearings are positioned between a shoulder on the shaft and a retaining nut or fastener which is threadably secured to the shaft. A Belleville or Belleville spring is positioned between the retaining nut and the inner race of one of the roller bearings. The retaining nut is secured such that the Belleville spring is flattened thereby applying maximum force to the inner race. The force is transmitted through the first roller bearing, the outer housing, the outer race of a second roller bearing, the second rollers and the second inner race. The Belleville spring will accommodate axial movement between the retaining nut and the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Conrad L. Rockey, Steven Franklin James, Mark A. Rader
  • Patent number: 6145842
    Abstract: A torque converter has a lip seal abutting the torque converter impeller control pump drive hub. The drive hub is rotatably supported in a transmission housing. Oil from the drive hub side of the bushing passes through the bushing into a chamber sealed from atmosphere by the lip seal. The lip seal has a component rotatably sealing on a diameter greater than the drive hub diameter. The bushing, in one embodiment, has a control passage for exhausting a portion of the oil from the control pump side prior to reaching the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Zellers, Steven Franklin James