Patents by Inventor William Carl Sullivan

William Carl Sullivan 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).

  • Low floor drive unit assembly for an electrically driven vehicle
    Patent number: 7866423
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle drive unit assembly which is located near the sides of a vehicle includes a first driving axle shaft, a second driving axle shaft, a first gear box, a second gear box, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The first driving axle shaft drives a first wheel hub of the vehicle and the second driving axle shaft drives a second wheel hub. Together the first and second driving axle shafts define an axis of rotation about which the first and second wheel hubs rotate. The first gear set drives the first wheel and the second gear set drives the second wheel. A first electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the first gear set. A second electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the second gear set. A plurality of electric motors can be used to drive each wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Ruppert, Lawrence Doyle Brill, William Carl Sullivan, Glen E. Swanson
  • Low floor drive unit assembly for an electrically driven vehicle
    Patent number: 7083015
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle drive unit assembly which is located near the sides of a vehicle includes a first driving axle shaft, a second driving axle shaft, a first gear box, a second gear box, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The first driving axle shaft drives a first wheel hub of the vehicle and the second driving axle shaft drives a second wheel hub. Together the first and second driving axle shafts define an axis of rotation about which the first and second wheel hubs rotate. The first gear set drives the first wheel and the second gear set drives the second wheel. A first electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the first gear set. A second electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the second gear set. A plurality of electric motors can be used to drive each wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Ruppert, Lawrence Doyle Brill, William Carl Sullivan, Glen E. Swanson
  • Low floor drive unit assembly for an electrically driven vehicle
    Patent number: 6276474
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle drive unit assembly which is located near the sides of a vehicle includes a first driving axle shaft, a second driving axle shaft, a first gear box, a second gear box, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The first driving axle shaft drives a first wheel hub of the vehicle and the second driving axle shaft drives a second wheel hub. Together the first and second driving axle shafts define an axis of rotation about which the first and second wheel hubs rotate. The first gear set drives the first wheel and the second gear set drives the second wheel. A first electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the first gear set. A second electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the second gear set. A plurality of electric motors can be used to drive each wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Rockwell Heavy Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Ruppert, Lawrence Doyle Brill, William Carl Sullivan, Glen E. Swanson
  • Low floor drive unit assembly for an electrically driven vehicle
    Publication number: 20010004948
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle drive unit assembly which is located near the sides of a vehicle includes a first driving axle shaft, a second driving axle shaft, a first gear box, a second gear box, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The first driving axle shaft drives a first wheel hub of the vehicle and the second driving axle shaft drives a second wheel hub. Together the first and second driving axle shafts define an axis of rotation about which the first and second wheel hubs rotate. The first gear set drives the first wheel and the second gear set drives the second wheel. A first electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the first gear set. A second electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the second gear set. A plurality of electric motors can be used to drive each wheel hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Ruppert, Lawrence Doyle Brill, William Carl Sullivan, Glen E. Swanson
  • Space saving mounting for electrically driven vehicle wheels
    Patent number: 5878830
    Abstract: An improved mount for an electric motor and drive gear includes mounting both of the motor and drive gear within a gear housing for a vehicle wheel. The motor is mounted on one side of the drive axis of the wheel, and the drive gear is mounted in bearings on an opposed side of the drive axis. In this way, the overall longitudinal distance required for mounting both the motor and the drive gear is reduced when compared to the envelope of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC.
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Ruppert, Dean Mark House, William Carl Sullivan, Silvio Masaaki Yamada