Patents by Inventor Thomas Edmund Braford

Thomas Edmund Braford 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: 20130190126
    Abstract: A limited slip differential assembly includes first and second output gears in constant meshed engagement with a pinion gear. Each of the gears is rotatably positioned within a carrier housing. The second output gear is axially moveable. A rotary to linear motion actuator includes a rotatable first member and a second member axially moveable in response to rotation of the first member. A primary clutch drivingly interconnects the second output gear and the first member of the actuator. The primary clutch includes an apply plate coupled to the second output gear such that an axial force acting on the second output gear during torque transmission through the differential assembly is transferred to the primary clutch via the apply plate. A secondary clutch drivingly interconnects the second output gear and the carrier housing. The second member of the actuator provides an apply force to the secondary clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Edmund Braford, JR.
  • Patent number: 6953412
    Abstract: A reversible one-way clutch (90) is positioned in parallel with a friction pack (62, 72) to drive a planetary transmission (10) in low gear and reverse. The clutch (90) has a biasing plate (96) secured to its surface to bias the clutch (90) in a direction so that the transmission (10) operates in either low gear or reverse gear. The biasing plate (96) is hydraulically actuated to bias the clutch (90) between low gear, neutral, and reverse gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Edmund Braford, Daniel P. Costin