Patents by Inventor Terry Nielsen

Terry Nielsen 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).

  • Auxiliary power unit having a continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 8845485
    Abstract: Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for auxiliary power units (APU). In one embodiment, the APU includes a source of rotational power such as a combustion engine operably coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT can be coupled to a load. In some embodiments, the load is provided by a generator. In one embodiment, the APU has a control system configured to control the operation of the engine and the operation of the CVT. The control system can facilitate substantially constant speed operation of the generator in the presence of variable operation of the engine. In another embodiment, the APU includes a continuously variable accessory drive (CVAD) operably coupled to an engine. The CVAD can include a continuously variable transmission operably coupled to a generator. In one embodiment, a skew-based control system is adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVAD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert Smithson, Brad P. Pohl, Charles B. Lohr, Javier Solis, Terry Nielsen, Scott T. McBroom, Nicole Munguia
  • AUXILIARY POWER UNIT HAVING A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20120258839
    Abstract: Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for auxiliary power units (APU). In one embodiment, the APU includes a source of rotational power such as a combustion engine operably coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT can be coupled to a load. In some embodiments, the load is provided by a generator. In one embodiment, the APU has a control system configured to control the operation of the engine and the operation of the CVT. The control system can facilitate substantially constant speed operation of the generator in the presence of variable operation of the engine. In another embodiment, the APU includes a continuously variable accessory drive (CVAD) operably coupled to an engine. The CVAD can include a continuously variable transmission operably coupled to a generator. In one embodiment, a skew-based control system is adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVAD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Smithson, Brad P. Pohl, Charles B. Lohr, Javier Solis, Terry Nielsen, Scott T. McBroom, Nicole Munguia