Patents by Inventor William F. Waltz

William F. Waltz 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: 20250083475
    Abstract: Described herein is a trumpet arm for use in an electric drive axle. In one embodiment, the trumpet arm comprises a housing with an arm section extending an arm length, the arm section having an outlet at a first end, and a flange with a planar face at a second end opposite the first end. The trumpet arm further comprises internal buttresses positioned in an interior of the housing and extending through at least a first portion of a flange length of the flange, a flange/arm transition at which the flange transitions into the arm section, and at least a portion of the arm length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventor: William F. WALTZ
  • Publication number: 20250043855
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric axle. The electric axle system includes, in one example, an electric machine, a multi-speed transmission that is rotationally coupled to the electric machine, rotationally coupled to two output shafts, and including a Ravigneaux gear set rotationally coupled and positioned coaxial to a differential. The electric axle system further includes a mode clutch configured to selectively ground a carrier or a ring gear in the Ravigneaux gear set, ground a sun gear in the Ravigneaux gear set, and couple the carrier or the ring gear to the sun gear in the Ravigneaux gear set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: William F. WALTZ, Darren J. ZISKOVSKY
  • Patent number: 12215772
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a clutch cartridge are provided. The clutch cartridge includes, a dog clutch including a clutch ring slidingly engaged with a tube shaft and including a first toothed interface and a second toothed interface, where the dog clutch is designed to selectively engage a first gear and a second gear. The clutch cartridge further includes a first bearing coupled to the tube shaft and the first gear and a second bearing coupled to the tube shaft and the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan M. Houser, William F. Waltz, Nicholas W. Smallman
  • Publication number: 20250035198
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric axle. The electric axle system includes, in one example, a first electric machine and a planetary reduction differential configured to receive mechanical power from the first electric machine. The planetary reduction differential includes a first planetary gear set directly rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set. In the electric axle system, a sun gear in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an input shaft of the planetary reduction differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: William F. WALTZ, Jeffrey M. DAVID
  • Publication number: 20250035196
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric axle. The electric axle system includes, in one example, an electric machine and a multi-speed transmission that is rotationally coupled to the electric machine and rotationally coupled to two output shafts. The transmission includes a differential rotationally coupled and positioned coaxial to a mode planetary gear set. In the electric axle system, the mode planetary gear set is a meshed planet compound planetary gear set and a mode clutch in the transmission is configured to selectively shift the mode planetary gear set between a first mode and a second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: William F. WALTZ, Darren J. ZISKOVSKY
  • Publication number: 20250033465
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an electric drive. The electric drive system includes, in one example, an electric machine, and a multi-speed transmission rotationally coupled to the electric machine, rotationally coupled to two output shafts. The multi-speed transmission includes a differentiating meshed planet compound planetary gear set rotationally coupled and positioned coaxial to a mode planetary gear set and a mode clutch configured to shift between two operating modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: William F. WALTZ, Darren J. ZISKOVSKY, Jeffrey M. DAVID
  • Publication number: 20240425048
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling torque of an electric machine that propels a vehicle when the vehicle is stopped are described. The methods and systems may be applied to synchronous and induction electric machines that are configured to propel a vehicle. The methods and systems may allow a consistent amount of torque to be delivered by an electric machine when vehicle speed and electric machine speed is zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Ahmad GHADERI, William F. WALTZ, Jeremy M. FRENZNICK
  • Publication number: 20240052922
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a clutch cartridge are provided. The clutch cartridge includes, a dog clutch including a clutch ring slidingly engaged with a tube shaft and including a first toothed interface and a second toothed interface, where the dog clutch is designed to selectively engage a first gear and a second gear. The clutch cartridge further includes a first bearing coupled to the tube shaft and the first gear and a second bearing coupled to the tube shaft and the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan M. HOUSER, William F. WALTZ, Nicholas W. SMALLMAN
  • Patent number: 11760195
    Abstract: Provided herein is an electric axle including a differential assembly drivingly connected to a first axle half shaft and a second axle half shaft, wherein the first and second axle half shafts each have a wheel coupled to the ends thereof; an electric motor/generator drivingly connected to a first rotatable shaft; a first gear set having a first gear connected to the first rotatable shaft and a second gear connected to a second rotatable shaft; a second gear set having a first gear connected to the second rotatable shaft and a second gear selectively connected to a third rotatable shaft; a third gear set having a first gear connected to the third rotatable shaft and a second gear drivingly connected to the differential assembly; and a selector device configured to selectively connect the third rotatable shaft to the second gear of the second gear set or the first rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua A. Perry, William F. Waltz, George A. Willford, James F. Ziech
  • Publication number: 20230025121
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transmission are provided. In one example, the transmission includes an input shaft with a first pair of gears that reside thereon, a first clutch positioned between the first pair of gears and designed to selectively rotationally couple a selected gear in the first pair of gears to the input shaft, and a layshaft with a second pair of gears fixedly coupled thereto. The transmission further includes an output shaft with a third pair of gears that reside thereon and a second clutch positioned between the third pair of gears and designed to selectively rotationally couple a selected gear in the third pair of gears to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: William F. WALTZ
  • Patent number: 11560047
    Abstract: A vehicle including a frame having an axle and a support apparatus coupled thereto. The support apparatus is configured to support a load coupled to the axle and permit the load to translate along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Vailliencourt, William F. Waltz, Steven J. Wesolowski, George A. Willford
  • Publication number: 20220297537
    Abstract: Provided herein is an electric axle including a differential assembly drivingly connected to a first axle half shaft and a second axle half shaft, wherein the first and second axle half shafts each have a wheel coupled to the ends thereof; an electric motor/generator drivingly connected to a first rotatable shaft; a first gear set having a first gear connected to the first rotatable shaft and a second gear connected to a second rotatable shaft; a second gear set having a first gear connected to the second rotatable shaft and a second gear selectively connected to a third rotatable shaft; a third gear set having a first gear connected to the third rotatable shaft and a second gear drivingly connected to the differential assembly; and a selector device configured to selectively connect the third rotatable shaft to the second gear of the second gear set or the first rotatable shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua A. PERRY, William F. WALTZ, George A. WILLFORD, James F. ZIECH
  • Patent number: 11441612
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a multi-speed electric axle assembly. The multi-speed electric axle assembly includes a grounding plate with an outer interface coupled to a housing interface and an inner stepped splined interface designed to selectively mate with a clutch sleeve. In the assembly, the inner stepped splined interface includes a plurality of steps that each include a first side that perpendicularly intersects a second side and the first side of each step in the inner stepped splined interface includes a clearance between the first side and a stepped surface of the clutch sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 11433765
    Abstract: Provided herein is an electric axle including a differential assembly drivingly connected to a first axle half shaft and a second axle half shaft, wherein the first and second axle half shafts each have a wheel coupled to the ends thereof; an electric motor/generator drivingly connected to a first rotatable shaft; a first gear set having a first gear connected to the first rotatable shaft and a second gear connected to a second rotatable shaft; a second gear set having a first gear connected to the second rotatable shaft and a second gear selectively connected to a third rotatable shaft; a third gear set having a first gear connected to the third rotatable shaft and a second gear drivingly connected to the differential assembly; and a selector device configured to selectively connect the third rotatable shaft to the second gear of the second gear set or the first rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua A. Perry, William F. Waltz, George A. Willford, James F. Ziech
  • Patent number: 11391370
    Abstract: An actuation assembly for use in a drive unit assembly of a vehicle. The actuation assembly includes an actuator shaft that is connected to a shift shaft and a shift fork via a lever member. At least a portion of the lever member is connected to the shift shaft and at least a portion of the lever member is pivotably connected to said actuator shaft. An actuation mechanism drives the actuator shaft linearly to pivot the lever member which in turn rotates the shift shaft and the shift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel D. Carmean, Robert L. Vailliencourt, William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 11383597
    Abstract: A drive unit assembly. The drive unit assembly includes one or more first motors drivingly connected to at least a first end portion of a first shaft. A planetary gear assembly having a sun gear, one or more planetary gears, a ring gear and a carrier. At least a portion of the sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second end portion of the first shaft and the carrier is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the one or more planetary gears. A differential input member is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the carrier and a differential assembly. At least a portion of a first axle half shaft is drivingly connected to the differential and is disposed within a hollow portion of said first shaft and a second axle half shaft is drivingly connected to the differential assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 11376951
    Abstract: Provided herein is an electric powertrain including a differential assembly operably coupled to a drive axle having a set of wheel coupled to the ends thereof; a planetary gear set connected to the differential, the planetary gear set having a sun gear, a planet carrier supporting a plurality of planet gears, and a ring gear, wherein the planet carrier is drivingly engaged with the differential assembly; a first electric motor/generator; a second electric motor/generator; a first gear pass drivingly connected the first electric motor/generator and the ring gear; and a second gear pass drivingly connected the first electric motor/generator and the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 11365785
    Abstract: An electric axle having an electric drivetrain including a motor/generator, a first planetary gear set operably coupled to the motor/generator, and a second planetary gear set operably coupled to the first planetary gear set, wherein the first planetary gear set includes a first ring gear, a first planet carrier, and a first sun gear, and wherein the second planetary gear set includes a second ring gear, a second planet carrier, and a second sun gear; a drive wheel axle operably coupled to the electric drivetrain; and a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the drive wheel axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20210162848
    Abstract: A vehicle including a frame having an axle and a support apparatus coupled thereto. The support apparatus is configured to support a load coupled to the axle and permit the load to translate along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Robert L. VAILLIENCOURT, William F. WALTZ, Steven J. WESOLOWSKI, George A. WILLFORD
  • Patent number: 11002350
    Abstract: An axle assembly may have at least one electric motor/generator. The motor/generator may be connected to a first sun gear. A first gear of a first planet carrier may be meshed with the first sun gear. A first ring gear may be meshed with a second gear of the first planet carrier. A second ring gear, a second sun gear and a second planet carrier may be provided. A selector sleeve may selectively connect a selector spline connected to the first ring gear and a ground for a low output speed, the selector sleeve may selectively connect the first and second ring gears with the first planet carrier for a high output speed and selector sleeve selectively connect to only the first ring gear for neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: William F. Waltz