Patents by Inventor VINCENT PATRICK LaVOIE

VINCENT PATRICK LaVOIE 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: 10118624
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter with both a variable pitch stator and a bypass clutch. These are controlled in two modes to maintain a target slip speed. In a first mode, the bypass clutch is fully released and slip is controlled by varying the pitch of the stator blades. In a second mode, the stator is held in the tightest position and slip is controlled by varying the torque capacity of the bypass clutch. The target slip is calculated based on a variety of different input signals depending on what type of vehicle maneuver is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Patent number: 9784353
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. The controller also adjust the torque capacity of a torque converter bypass clutch by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to apply and release chambers. Various schemes are presented to multiplex hydraulic circuits to serve multiple functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird, John Edward Brevick
  • Patent number: 9689492
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. The blade angle is adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of a control ring with respect to a stator hub. The stator blades are supported by the stator hob, a locking ring, and an outer ring. The stator blades have teeth that mesh with teeth on the control ring to determine blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. Various circumstances in which the controller would adjust the blade angle are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Publication number: 20160159363
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter with both a variable pitch stator and a bypass clutch. These are controlled in two modes to maintain a target slip speed. In a first mode, the bypass clutch is fully released and slip is controlled by varying the pitch of the stator blades. In a second mode, the stator is held in the tightest position and slip is controlled by varying the torque capacity of the bypass clutch. The target slip is calculates based on a variety of different input signals depending on what type of vehicle maneuver is being performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird
  • Publication number: 20160116044
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. The controller also adjust the torque capacity of a torque converter bypass clutch by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to apply and release chambers. Various schemes are presented to multiplex hydraulic circuits to serve multiple functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Vincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird, John Edward Brevick
  • Publication number: 20160047469
    Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. The blade angle is adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of a control ring with respect to a stator hub. The stator blades are supported by the stator hob, a locking ring, and an outer ring. The stator blades have teeth that mesh with teeth on the control ring to determine blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. Various circumstances in which the controller would adjust the blade angle are discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: VINCENT PATRICK LaVOIE, NORMAN JERRY BIRD