Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Gee

Thomas A. Gee 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: 6561141
    Abstract: A water-cooled magnetorheological fluid controlled combination fan drive and water pump (60) used in a cooling system. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber (91) between a drive ring (74) and a driven ring (84) increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the magnetorheological fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid in an activated state creates additional torque to drive an output shaft (108), and coupled fan (110), at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The rotation of the drive ring (74) also rotates an attached impeller assembly (112) having impellers (114) to move engine coolant through the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Borg Warner, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Stretch, Wade A. Smith, David Turner, Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 6543396
    Abstract: An electronically controlled magnetorheological fluid based fan drive assembly 60 used to increase the rotational speed of a coupled radiator cooling fan. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber 99 between a drive ring 74 and an output member 86 increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid can be increased to create additional torque to drive the output member 86 and coupled radiator fan at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The magnetic field is induced by directing a flow of electrical current through an electronic coil 62 coupled within the fan drive assembly 60, and an electronic control unit coupled to the electronic coil 62 controls the amount of electrical current flowing through the coil 62.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Stretch, William Eybergen, Wade A. Smith, David Turner, Thomas A. Gee
  • Publication number: 20020096132
    Abstract: A water-cooled magnetorheological fluid controlled combination fan drive and water pump 60 used in a cooling system. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber 91 between a drive ring 74 and a driven ring 84 increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the magnetorheological fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid in an activated state creates additional torque to drive an output shaft 108, and coupled fan 110, at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The rotation of the drive ring 74 also rotates an attached impeller assembly 112 having impellers 114 to move engine coolant through the cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Dale A. Stretch, Wade A. Smith, David Turner, Thomas A. Gee
  • Publication number: 20020088411
    Abstract: An electronically controlled magnetorheological fluid based fan drive assembly 60 used to increase the rotational speed of a coupled radiator cooling fan. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber 99 between a drive ring 74 and an output member 86 increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid can be increased to create additional torque to drive the output member 86 and coupled radiator fan at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The magnetic field is induced by directing a flow of electrical current through an electronic coil 62 coupled within the fan drive assembly 60, and an electronic control unit coupled to the electronic coil 62 controls the amount of electrical current flowing through the coil 62.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Dale A. Stretch, William Eybergen, Wade A. Smith, David Turner, Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 6254196
    Abstract: A full floating inverted axle assembly having a removable axle shaft. A hub assembly includes an inner race rigidly connected to a wheel body and rotatably connected to an outer race which is in turn rigidly connected to an axle housing to enable rotation of the wheel body relative to the axle housing. A driving member is disposed within the axle housing for driving the inner race and wheel body. A removable axle shaft forms a detachable connection between the driving shaft and inner race. The removable axle shaft is externally removable from the entire axle assembly when the hub assembly is connected to the axle housing. Such an arrangement facilitates a disconnect between the driving member and inner race thereby allowing the wheel body to freely rotate, such as during towing, without having to remove the hub assembly. A brake torque member may be disposed between the inner race and axle housing to allow customized brake arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas A Gee
  • Patent number: 6021747
    Abstract: A fluid coupling assembly (11) in which the fluid coupling (43) is disposed within a coolant cavity (C) defined by an engine block (B) of an internal combustion engine. The fluid coupling includes an input coupling assembly (45) and disposed therein is an output coupling member (55), the input and output cooperating to define forward (61,65) and rearward (63,67) viscous shear areas to optimize torque capacity of the coupling. The input coupling assembly (45) includes a rearward body member (49) disposed within the cavity (C) and which includes impeller blades (73), such that the member (49) also serves as the water pump for the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gee, David A. Belfi, Richard W. Gibson
  • Patent number: 5797110
    Abstract: A control system/method for controlling engine (12) output torque in a vehicular powertrain system (10) including an electronically controlled engine and a torque load limited drivetrain system (11) is provided. The control will sense values of a control parameter (GR, OS) indicative of potential overloading of the drivetrain at maximum engine output torque and will cause engine output torque to be limited to a value less than the maximum value thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene R. Braun, Daniel G. Smedley, Russell C. Holmes, Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5718316
    Abstract: An electronically controlled clutch pedal dashpot driveline torque limiter utilizes a solenoid to regulate the apply rate of a vehicle master clutch based on current vehicle operating conditions such as engine speed, transmission input speed, and clutch pedal release rate. The present invention allows greater control authority of master clutch apply rates to reduce or eliminate the incidence of engine stall and excessive slipping of the master clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5693985
    Abstract: A trailer electrical monitor function is implemented into a microprocessor based truck tractor and trailer electrical communication system where a programmable memory unit connected to a trailer electronic control unit is used by the trailer electronic control unit to store a trailer identification code, the result of which is connected through an interface circuit to the trailer electronic control unit where the result is then transmitted to a tractor electronic control unit and/or to an external programming unit. The tractor and trailer electronic control units control the state of a plurality of switching devices to establish the appropriate electrical connection into and out of a standard seven pin tractor/trailer electrical connector where high speed data communication links are used for control diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gee, E. James Lane
  • Patent number: 5538111
    Abstract: A brake drum assembly with a cylindrical brake drum having an open end and a flanged end and an axis of rotation where an annular squealer band is formed on the brake drum approximately adjacent to the flanged end. A plurality of fracture apertures are formed in the squealer band and axially extend through the squealer band parallel to the axis of rotation of the brake drum. The fracture apertures are randomly circumferentially spaced along the squealer band and/or randomly angled relative to the axis of rotation. The squealer band is then cracked from the fracture apertures radially outward to the outer surface of the squealer band thereby providing friction dampening as vibration in the brake drum and squealer band cause relative motion within each crack. In an alternative embodiment, fracture apertures are formed in the brake drum adjacent to the open end and oriented radially inward where the brake drum is cracked from each fracture aperture toward the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5524735
    Abstract: A brake actuator assembly is disclosed for expanding internal shoe brakes in which a pair of brake shoes (17) are disposed within a brake drum (11). A pair of cam members (33,35) are fixed to a pair of cam shafts (41,43) and are operable to engage the brake shoes by use of cam followers (37,39), in response to a brake input (56,55). The cam shafts (41,43) are timed relative to each other by a pair of gears (73,75). The disclosed actuator assembly ensures that the cam members rotate through the same angular magnitude, but the amount of torque transmitted to each cam is determined by the braking force required for the respective brake shoe. The disclosed actuator assembly provides for substantially greater lift, for longer shoe wear life, without taking up as much space in the radial direction as would an equivalent S-cam arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5505112
    Abstract: A gear device such as a change gear transmission of the countershaft (21) type in which, mounted for rotation about the countershaft is a larger gear (17) and a smaller gear (29). The transmission housing (11) defines a first lubricant reservoir (R1), having a nominal fill level (L1), which is able to lubricate the smaller gear as it rotates. A partition member (51) is disposed around the larger gear and defines a second lubricant reservoir (R2) through which the larger gear passes as it rotates. The partition member defines fluid passages (71,73) providing restricted communication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. The fluid passages (71,73) are sized such that as the larger gear rotates, carrying lubricant out of the second reservoir (R2), there is maintained in the second reservoir a second fill level (L2), below the first fill level (L1) such that at least a portion of the teeth of the larger gear (17) pass just below the second fill level as the larger gear rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5467645
    Abstract: A remote system (10)/method for testing vehicle brake or brake system performance of vehicles (30) driving past a testing module (36) adjacent a test roadway (28A) is provided. Preferably, the system/method is associated with a typical highway weight station (14-22) and includes a brake testing area (28) located in series between the usual weight scales (18) and a ramp (22) back onto a highway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Skorupski, Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5452779
    Abstract: A dual piston hydraulic cylinder for actuating a clutch and an upshift brake in a heavy-duty vehicle is provided which achieves consistent, selectable, sequential, and controllable operation utilizing a single control pedal. A preloaded spring located between two pistons sequences the pressure accumulation and fluid flow to actuate the clutch and the upshift brake in such a manner so as to preclude brake actuation unless the clutch is disengaged. A fluid reservoir in selective fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder automatically adjusts the separate fluid links between the clutch and the upshift brake to compensate for changes in their corresponding engaged positions due to wear. The apparatus disclosed accommodates the use of disparately designed clutches and upshift brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5404982
    Abstract: A clutch pedal dashpot for controlling the rate torque is applied to a vehicular driveline during the coupling of an engine to a transmission by controlling the rate at which the clutch engages via damping clutch pedal travel. The dashpot is for use in a vehicle, such as a heavy-duty truck, which includes a clutch pedal displaced between a resting position and a depressed position. The clutch pedal dashpot includes a damper piston, coupled to the clutch pedal, for controlling the rate at which the clutch pedal returns to the first position from the second position during coupling so as to control the rate of clutch engagement, thereby controlling the rate of torque applied to the driveline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5397924
    Abstract: A truck tractor and trailer electrical communication system having one electronic control unit located in tractor and another electronic control unit located in at least one trailer both respectively controlling the state of a plurality of switching devices to establish the appropriate electrical connection into and out of a standard seven pin tractor/trailer electrical connector where high speed data communication links are used for control and diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gee, E. James Lane
  • Patent number: 5351540
    Abstract: A grade and acceleration sensor having a weight, a first sensor for measuring a first parameter of the weight due at least to the force of gravity to generate a first signal, a second sensor for measuring a second parameter of the weight due to both the force of gravity and the acceleration of the vehicle on which the sensor is mounted to generate a second signal, a grade angle generator generating the grade angle .theta. in response to the first and second signal, and an acceleration generation generating a signal having a value corresponding to the acceleration of the vehicle in response to the first and second signals. In a first embodiment, the weight is a bob of a pendulum, the first parameter is a displacement angle of the bob due to acceleration and gravity and the second parameter is the force on the arm of the bob due to gravity and acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5205622
    Abstract: A vehicular traction control system (10) is provided wherein the foundation brakes (40, 42) associated with an excessively spinning wheel (28, 30) are applied, the braking torque required to terminate the excessive spinning is determined, the brakes are released and if the spin-out reoccurs, the brakes are rapidly reapplied with a braking torque just insufficient to have previously caused the excessively spinning wheel to be substantially stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5186079
    Abstract: A torque fuse for a vehicle driveline has a sleeve splined at one end to the vehicle power transmission output shaft with the other end clip-splined to the driveshaft yoke. An intermediate pre-weakened frangible area of the sleeve is designed to rupture at a torque level less than the critical torque level of the driveshaft. A washer swaged into the sleeve enables the sleeve to be bolted to the end of the transmission output shaft. An auxiliary tailstick bolted to the transmission case has an auxiliary bearing to support transverse loads on the sleeve at the yoke end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gee
  • Patent number: 5152544
    Abstract: Sensors (170, 172) for sensing articulation angle (AA) and/or a time derivative thereof (dAA/dt, d.sup.2 AA/dt.sup.2) for a trailer anti-swing control system are provided. In the preferred embodiments, at least the active transducers of the sensors are mounted to the tractor (12) subvehicle of the articulated vehicle system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph B. Dierker, Jr., Thomas A. Gee, John Dresden, III