Patents by Inventor Timothy Andrew Sikowski

Timothy Andrew Sikowski 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: 10808735
    Abstract: A hydraulic park system includes a spool valve linked to a park mechanism. In some circumstances, a hold-out-of-park mechanism is utilized to hold the spool in position. To avoid wear on the aluminum spool, a steel saddle is inserted onto the spool between two lands such that the hold-out-of-park mechanism engages the steel saddle. The steel saddle is inserted from the side of the spool. To ensure that the hold-out-of-park engages the correct side of the saddle, the saddle must be held in a predefined circumferential position about the bore axis. The saddle is constrained from rotation about the spool axis by abutting flat surfaces on the spool and the saddle. The spool is constrained from rotation relative to the bore by the park mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lee John Becker, Timothy Andrew Sikowski
  • Publication number: 20200096017
    Abstract: A hydraulic park system includes a spool valve linked to a park mechanism. In some circumstances, a hold-out-of-park mechanism is utilized to hold the spool in position. To avoid wear on the aluminum spool, a steel saddle is inserted onto the spool between two lands such that the hold-out-of-park mechanism engages the steel saddle. The steel saddle is inserted from the side of the spool. To ensure that the hold-out-of-park engages the correct side of the saddle, the saddle must be held in a predefined circumferential position about the bore axis. The saddle is constrained from rotation about the spool axis by abutting flat surfaces on the spool and the saddle. The spool is constrained from rotation relative to the bore by the park mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Lee John Becker, Timothy Andrew Sikowski
  • Patent number: 10480651
    Abstract: A transmission includes a hydraulically actuated park valve with two spools in a common housing. One of the spools engages and disengages the park mechanism in response to manipulation of line pressure and engagement of specified shift elements. A pin selectively engages this spool to hold it in position. The valve is designed such that friction holds the spool in position in the absence of hydraulic pressure or electric power. The second spool controls an out-of-park circuit such that the park mechanism remains disengaged when desired. The two spools are separated by a compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Timothy Andrew Sikowski
  • Publication number: 20190032780
    Abstract: A transmission includes a hydraulically actuated park valve with two spools in a common housing. One of the spools engages and disengages the park mechanism in response to manipulation of line pressure and engagement of specified shift elements. A pin selectively engages this spool to hold it in position. The valve is designed such that friction holds the spool in position in the absence of hydraulic pressure or electric power. The second spool controls an out-of-park circuit such that the park mechanism remains disengaged when desired. The two spools are separated by a compression spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Derek Kinch, Timothy Andrew Sikowski