Patents by Inventor Thibault G. Devreese

Thibault G. Devreese 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).

  • Patent number: 11273701
    Abstract: An electric drive axle having first and second axle shafts operatively connected by a differential apparatus, and an electric motor having a driving shaft coupled with a rotor of the electric motor is provided. A driving shaft may be coupled for rotation with a rotor of the electric motor, and disposed parallel with the first axle shaft. A first driving gear may be disposed on the driving shaft. A driven shaft having a first driven gear and a second driven gear, wherein the first driven gear meshes with the first driving gear. A layshaft disposed parallel with the first axle shaft may comprise a first layshaft gear coupled therewith and meshed with the second driven gear. A second layshaft gear disposed on the layshaft may be in meshed engagement with a first drive gear coupled with the differential apparatus case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Thibault G. Devreese, Wouter W. A. Galoppin
  • Patent number: 11247548
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle. An axle assembly of the vehicle includes a banjo portion with a first opening extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of an inboard side of the banjo portion. At least a portion of a differential assembly disposed within at the banjo portion of the axle assembly and is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a gear assembly. The gear assembly is also drivingly connected to a motor output shaft. At least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within a hollow portion of a gear assembly housing. An outboard portion of the gear assembly housing has a mounting flange that is integrally connected to the inboard side of the banjo portion. A first and second protruding portion extends from the axle assembly mounting flange and provides rotational support for the differential assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Thibault G. Devreese, Wouter Wa Galoppin, Nicholas W. Laforce, Lewis H. Nickell, Robert L. Vailliencourt, Steven J. Wesolowski, George A. Willford, Ned W. Wright
  • Patent number: 11131374
    Abstract: A drive unit having motor output shaft that is connected to a sun gear is connected to one or more planetary gears that are connected to a planetary gear housing. The housing is connected to planetary gear assembly pinion gear, which is connected to a ring gear. A first side of the ring gear is connected to a first clutch drum and the second side of the ring gear is connected to a second clutch drum. Connected to the first clutch drum is a first plurality of clutch plates interleafed with a second plurality of clutch plates connected to a first clutch can. The first clutch can is connected to a first shaft. Connected to the second clutch drum is a third plurality of clutch plates interleafed with a fourth plurality of clutch plates connected to a second clutch can. The second clutch can is connected to a second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Cooper, Frederik Desmet, Thibault G. Devreese
  • Publication number: 20210276409
    Abstract: An electric drive axle having first and second axle shafts operatively connected by a differential apparatus, and an electric motor having a driving shaft coupled with a rotor of the electric motor is provided. A driving shaft may be coupled for rotation with a rotor of the electric motor, and disposed parallel with the first axle shaft. A first driving gear may be disposed on the driving shaft. A driven shaft having a first driven gear and a second driven gear, wherein the first driven gear meshes with the first driving gear. A layshaft disposed parallel with the first axle shaft may comprise a first layshaft gear coupled therewith and meshed with the second driven gear. A second layshaft gear disposed on the layshaft may be in meshed engagement with a first drive gear coupled with the differential apparatus case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: THIBAULT G. DEVREESE, WOUTER W.A. GALOPPIN
  • Publication number: 20210107345
    Abstract: A drive unit having motor output shaft that is connected to a sun gear is connected to one or more planetary gears that are connected to a planetary gear housing. The housing is connected to planetary gear assembly pinion gear, which is connected to a ring gear. A first side of the ring gear is connected to a first clutch drum and the second side of the ring gear is connected to a second clutch drum. Connected to the first clutch drum is a first plurality of clutch plates interleafed with a second plurality of clutch plates connected to a first clutch can. The first clutch can is connected to a first shaft. Connected to the second clutch drum is a third plurality of clutch plates interleafed with a fourth plurality of clutch plates connected to a second clutch can. The second clutch can is connected to a second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: KENNETH E. COOPER, FREDERIK DESMET, THIBAULT G. DEVREESE
  • Patent number: 10975955
    Abstract: A planetary gear system including a first gear coupled to a shaft, a plurality of second gears in rotational engagement with the first gear, a fluid supply apparatus spaced apart from the second gears, and a carrier. The carrier includes an annular portion having a flow channel configured to receive a fluid deposited onto the carrier by the fluid supply apparatus. A pinion shaft is disposed through each of the second gears and includes a primary fluid conduit in fluid communication with the flow channel and at least one secondary fluid conduit in fluid communication with the primary fluid conduit. The primary fluid conduit and the at least one secondary fluid conduit facilitate a flow of the fluid from the flow channel to at least one bearing disposed on each of the pinion shafts and at least one thrust plate interposed between the second gears and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Thibault G. Devreese
  • Patent number: 10883573
    Abstract: Provided herein is a dual clutch transmission including a reverse countershaft that is selectively engaged with at least one primary shaft and provides speed ratio changes without torque interruption and a compact axial arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Thibault G. Devreese, Benoit Vandevoorde
  • Publication number: 20200108706
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle. An axle assembly of the vehicle includes a banjo portion with a first opening extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of an inboard side of the banjo portion. At least a portion of a differential assembly disposed within at the banjo portion of the axle assembly and is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a gear assembly. The gear assembly is also drivingly connected to a motor output shaft. At least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within a hollow portion of a gear assembly housing. An outboard portion of the gear assembly housing has a mounting flange that is integrally connected to the inboard side of the banjo portion. A first and second protruding portion extends from the axle assembly mounting flange and provides rotational support for the differential assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: THIBAULT G. DEVREESE, WOUTER WA GALOPPIN, NICHOLAS W. LAFORCE, LEWIS H. NICKELL, ROBERT L. VAILLIENCOURT, STEVEN J. WESOLOWSKI, GEORGE A. WILLFORD, NED W. WRIGHT
  • Publication number: 20200063855
    Abstract: A planetary gear system including a first gear coupled to a shaft, a plurality of second gears in rotational engagement with the first gear, a fluid supply apparatus spaced apart from the second gears, and a carrier. The carrier includes an annular portion having a flow channel configured to receive a fluid deposited onto the carrier by the fluid supply apparatus. A pinion shaft is disposed through each of the second gears and includes a primary fluid conduit in fluid communication with the flow channel and at least one secondary fluid conduit in fluid communication with the primary fluid conduit. The primary fluid conduit and the at least one secondary fluid conduit facilitate a flow of the fluid from the flow channel to at least one bearing disposed on each of the pinion shafts and at least one thrust plate interposed between the second gears and the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Thibault G. Devreese
  • Publication number: 20190024757
    Abstract: Provided herein is a dual clutch transmission including a reverse countershaft that is selectively engaged with at least one primary shaft and provides speed ratio changes without torque interruption and a compact axial arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: DANA BELGIUM N.V.
    Inventors: THIBAULT G. DEVREESE, BENOIT VANDEVOORDE
  • Publication number: 20190017583
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power can be transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A continuously variable transmission is provided with a ball variator assembly, a planetary gear set coupled thereto and an arrangement of rotatable shafts with multiple gears and clutches that extend the ratio range of the variator. In some embodiments, clutches are coupled to the gear sets to enable synchronous shifting of gear modes. In some embodiments, clutches are coupled to chain drives to enable synchronous shifting of gear modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: DANA LIMITED
    Inventors: THIBAULT G. DEVREESE, SEBASTIAN J. PETERS
  • Publication number: 20170284508
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A continuously variable transmission is provided with a ball variator assembly having an array of balls, a planetary gearset coupled thereto and an arrangement of rotatable shafts with multiple gears and clutches that extend the ratio range of the variator. In some embodiments, clutches are coupled to the gear sets to enable synchronous shifting of gear modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: Thibault G. Devreese