Patents by Inventor Susan M. WYATT

Susan M. WYATT 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: 20170363168
    Abstract: In a default-to-park system for a transmission, a lever member has a cylindrical hub configured to rotate about a spindle. The lever member has a transverse plate including a lever arm connected to a park release actuator and to a link to a park pawl of the transmission. Under normal operation, a transmission controller shifts the actuator to turn the lever arm and release the park pawl so the transmission can rotate. In an absence of a signal from the controller to the actuator, a bias spring restores the lever arm so that the transmission is locked. The bias spring comprises torsion coils disposed over the hub, a fixed end, and a drive end. The drive end has a heel segment bearing against a transverse surface of the transverse plate facing the torsion coils and a loading hook wrapped around an edge of the transverse plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: TODD C. SPAULDING, SUSAN M. WYATT
  • Patent number: 9791013
    Abstract: In a default-to-park system for a transmission, a lever member has a cylindrical hub configured to rotate about a spindle. The lever member has a transverse plate including a lever arm connected to a park release actuator and to a link to a park pawl of the transmission. Under normal operation, a transmission controller shifts the actuator to turn the lever arm and release the park pawl so the transmission can rotate. In an absence of a signal from the controller to the actuator, a bias spring restores the lever arm so that the transmission is locked. The bias spring comprises torsion coils disposed over the hub, a fixed end, and a drive end. The drive end has a heel segment bearing against a transverse surface of the transverse plate facing the torsion coils and a loading hook wrapped around an edge of the transverse plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Todd C. Spaulding, Susan M. Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20170130794
    Abstract: In a default-to-park system for a transmission, a lever member has a cylindrical hub configured to rotate about a spindle. The lever member has a transverse plate including a lever arm connected to a park release actuator and to a link to a park pawl of the transmission. Under normal operation, a transmission controller shifts the actuator to turn the lever arm and release the park pawl so the transmission can rotate. In an absence of a signal from the controller to the actuator, a bias spring restores the lever arm so that the transmission is locked. The bias spring comprises torsion coils disposed over the hub, a fixed end, and a drive end. The drive end has a heel segment bearing against a transverse surface of the transverse plate facing the torsion coils and a loading hook wrapped around an edge of the transverse plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: TODD C. SPAULDING, SUSAN M. WYATT
  • Publication number: 20150308571
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire transmission includes a gear set having a gear, a shiftable member that is selectively engageable with the gear to put the vehicle in PARK, and a first intermediate member that is coupled with the shiftable member. The first intermediate member has an engaged position, with the shiftable member engaged with the gear and a disengaged position, with the shiftable member disengaged from the gear, and is biased toward the engaged position. An actuator is coupled with the first intermediate member. The transmission includes a second intermediate member with a nominal position and an override position. In the nominal position the second intermediate member does not move in response to the first intermediate member moving between the engaged position and disengaged position. Moving the second intermediate member from the nominal position to the override position moves the first intermediate member from the engaged position to the disengaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Susan M. WYATT, Todd Curtis SPAULDING, Emad AL-REGIB, Louis Aaron NAGY, Brian J. DEURLOO