Patents by Inventor William J. Mack

William J. Mack 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: 8046140
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a method of operating a drivetrain. The drivetrain includes a PTO and a transmission having multiple speed ratios. The PTO includes a PTO output member and a PTO input member. The method includes monitoring a speed value representative of a rotational speed of a PTO component, comparing the speed value to a preselected PTO overspeed value, reducing the rotational speed of the PTO component, and overriding a manual command to increase the rotational speed of the PTO component above the preselected PTO overspeed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Romine, Gregg Andres, William J. Mack, David Brooks
  • Publication number: 20090187316
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a method of operating a drivetrain. The drivetrain includes a PTO and a transmission having multiple speed ratios. The PTO includes a PTO output member and a PTO input member. The method includes monitoring a speed value representative of a rotational speed of a PTO component, comparing the speed value to a preselected PTO overspeed value, reducing the rotational speed of the PTO component, and overriding a manual command to increase the rotational speed of the PTO component above the preselected PTO overspeed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Mike Romine, Gregg Andres, William J. Mack, David Brooks
  • Patent number: 6943676
    Abstract: A system for protecting the clutch of a vehicle from a harmful operating state. Included in the clutch protection system are means for monitoring the operating state of the clutch, along with means for estimating the amount of energy being dissipated by the clutch. A control unit compares the estimated amount of energy dissipated by the clutch to one or more predetermined threshold energy levels. One or more actions designed to reduce the amount of energy dissipated by the clutch are initiated when the estimated amount of energy dissipated by the clutch exceeds the one or more predetermined thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Mack
  • Publication number: 20040061603
    Abstract: A system for protecting the clutch of a vehicle from a harmful operating state. Included in the clutch protection system are means for monitoring the operating state of the clutch, along with means for estimating the amount of energy being dissipated by the clutch. A control unit compares the estimated amount of energy dissipated by the clutch to one or more predetermined threshold energy levels. One or more actions designed to reduce the amount of energy dissipated by the clutch are initiated when the estimated amount of energy dissipated by the clutch exceeds the one or more predetermined thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 6076622
    Abstract: A method for implementing an intelligent cruise control using standard engine control modes includes determining the distance and closing rate relative to a forward object or vehicle and using this information to implement a distance control mode and a speed control mode. The distance control mode maintains a selectable headway range relative to a forward object or vehicle and may include accelerating the vehicle or decelerating the vehicle by defueling, engaging an engine brake, or downshifting the transmission when engine speed permits. The speed control mode maintains a selectable cruising speed if no target vehicle is detected. This cruising speed set point also functions as an upper limit while in the distance control mode. The system and method effect the intelligent cruise control functions utilizing control logic external to the electronic engine control module utilizing the engine speed control mode or engine speed and torque limiting control mode of SAE J1922 or SAE J1939 standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton VORAD Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shubhayu Chakraborty, William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5839534
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing an intelligent cruise control using standard engine control modes includes a distance sensor to determine the distance and closing rate relative to a forward vehicle and use this information to implement a distance control mode and a speed control mode. The distance control mode maintains a selectable headway range relative to a forward vehicle and may include accelerating the vehicle or decelerating the vehicle by defueling, engaging an engine brake, or downshifting the transmission when engine speed permits. The speed control mode maintains a selectable cruising speed if no target vehicle is detected. This cruising speed set point also functions as an upper limit while in the distance control mode. The system and method effect the intelligent cruise control functions utilizing control logic external to the electronic engine control module utilizing the engine speed control mode or engine speed and torque limiting control mode of SAE J1922 or SAE J1939 standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Vorad Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shubhayu Chakraborty, William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5634867
    Abstract: A control is provided for controlling reengagement of a master clutch (16) in a vehicular automated mechanical transmission system. A nominal reengagement rate (CLU.sub.-- RATE) is determined as a function of engine lag (K.sub.1), throttle position (THL), engine acceleration/deceleration (dES/dt) and/or input shaft acceleration/deceleration (dIS/dr). To provide smoother shifting during braking (BRK=1, THL=0) and/or coasting (THL<30%) downshifts, the clutch is reengaged at a rate slower than the nominal reengagement rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5566070
    Abstract: A control method/system for sensing deflection-type gear neutral signal (GNS) errors in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) is provided. A gear neutral sensor (76/76A) provides signals indicative of axial position in a remote shift shaft (56) from which the neutral and not-neutral positioning of associated jaw clutch members (144) is inferred. Deflections in the shift members, such as the shift yokes (50), may result in erroneous indications of a neutral condition, which is a deflection-type gear neutral signal error sensed by the control of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Mack, Gregory J. Organek, Daniel G. Smedley
  • Patent number: 5529548
    Abstract: A control method/system for controlling engine fueling during vehicle launch conditions for a vehicle equipped with an automated mechanical transmission system (10) including a fuel-controlled engine (14), a master friction clutch (16), a multiple-speed mechanical transmission (12) and a microprocessor-based control unit (44). During vehicle launch, if throttle position (THL) is less than a reference value (10-20% of maximum fueling), fueling is according to throttle position; otherwise, fueling is a calculated amount (F.sub.CALC) determined by the control unit as a function of throttle position, engine speed (ES) and/or the rate of change (dES/dt) thereof, clutch condition and/or time factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5506771
    Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request for a direct downshift or upshift into a preselected start ratio, under certain predefined conditions. The preselected start ratio is that ratio actually utilized in the immediately preceding vehicle start from stop operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kwok W. Chan, William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5337874
    Abstract: A method/system for updating, between system calibration operations, the value (134') of a monitored control parameter corresponding to clutch incipient engagement is provided. At calibration, the initial values of the parameter corresponding to full engagement (124), incipient engagement (130) and the difference therebetween (132) are determined, and thereafter, the updated value of the parameter corresponding to clutch incipient engagement is determined as a function of a current value (124') of the parameter corresponding to clutch full engagement and the memorized value of the difference (132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Oltean, William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5329826
    Abstract: A pneumatic control system (200) for controlling the automated shifting of the splitter section (114) of an automated compound transmission (110) is provided. Shifting of the splitter section is controlled by a differential area piston/cylinder actuator assembly (162) having a first chamber (168A) associated with low-speed operation and a second chamber (170A) associated with high-speed operation. Pressurization and exhaust of each of the chambers is controlled by an individual independently controlled solenoid actuated valve (202 and 204 respectively), each of which operates in response to control signals from an ECU 124.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Graves, Jr., William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5081588
    Abstract: A control system/control method for controlling the jaw clutch engagement and at least partially automated multiple speed change gear mechanical transmission (10) is provided. The control includes a central processing unit (106) for receiving signals indicative of transmission input shaft (16) speed, transmission output shaft (90) speed and of a selected ratio to be engaged. The control unit initiates/permits engagement of the jaw clutch members associated with the selected ratio upon sensing that the rotational speed of the input shaft falls within a calculated synchronous window. The control unit senses vehicle start from stop conditions and/or degraded clutch operation during vehicle start from stop conditions and responds thereto by enlarging the synchronous window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Russell C. Holmes, Thomas A. Genise, Ronald K. Markyvech, William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 5063511
    Abstract: A control system (104) for controlling execution of selected upshifts and downshifts of a mechanical transmission system (10) is provided. The control system includes a central processing unit (106) for receiving input signals indicative of transmission input shaft (16) and output shaft (90) speeds and from a driver control console (108) indicative of manual selection of upshifts or downshifts from a currently engaged gear ratio and processing the same in accordance with predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to a transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) to implement the selected shifts upon a manual caused torque break of the transmission and manual substantial synchronization of the transmission thereafter. The predetermined logic rules include an algorithm providing enhanced recovery from a missed shift condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Mack, Ronald K. Markyvech
  • Patent number: 5053963
    Abstract: An improved control system and method for an automatic mechanical transmission system (10) having an operator selectable (44A) cruise control mode of operation is provided. In the cruise control mode of operation, if fueling to the engine is at approximately 100% of full throttle, the cruise control speed error (SE) exceeds a speed error reference (REF-SE) and a time derivative of output shaft speed (dOS/dt) is less than a first reference value REF-1), which reference value has a negative value, then shift decisions will be based on enhanced performance shift profile (E-F-G, U-V-W) similar to "kick-down" shift profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 4945484
    Abstract: A control method/system for an automatic/semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided including logic rules by which a faulty input signal indicative of a gear neutral condition (GNS=.phi.) can be detected and, in the event of such detection, a fail safe mode of operation is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Cote, William J. Mack
  • Patent number: 4922425
    Abstract: A self-diagnostic method for controlling an AMT system (10) is provided including sensing and identifying faulty input signals (THD, THPS and RTDS) from the throttle position sensor assembly (22) sensors (22A, 22B and 22C). If only a known one of the input signals is faulty, logic method of control (38) is modified to a logic method tolerant of the identified faulty input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Mack, William F. Cote
  • Patent number: 4833613
    Abstract: A method for controlling an AMT system (10) is provided including sensing and identifying faulty input signals (THD, THPS and RTDS) from the throttle position sensor assembly (22) sensors (22A, 22B and 22C). If only a known one of the input signals is faulty, logic method of control (38) is modified to a logic method tolerant of the identified faulty input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Mack, William F. Cote
  • Patent number: 4792901
    Abstract: A method for controlling an AMT system (10) is provided including sensing the recovery mode of operation of the fuel control (26) and, if the fuel control command out signal (THCMD) from the controller (42) is less than the demand input signal (THL), increasing the value of the fuel control command output signal (THCMD) until it is equal to the value of the throttle pedal demand input signal (THL) at a rate dependent upon currently engaged gear ratio (GR) from an initial value dependent upon engine speed (N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Mack, Robert R. Smyth