Patents by Inventor Zachary Alan Westhoff
Zachary Alan Westhoff 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).
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Patent number: 11981002Abstract: A tool system for installing a parking pawl includes a tool that includes a base, a plate, and an actuator. The base includes a base surface configured to support a parking pawl in a predetermined position. The plate includes a protrusion that extends upward from a front portion of the plate. A rear portion of the plate is coupled to a front portion of the base. The plate is movable relative to the base between a retention position in which the protrusion is positioned to retain a pawl spring loaded on the parking pawl in a pretensioned state, and a release position in which the protrusion is configured to release the pawl spring. The actuator is operably coupled to the plate such that activation of the actuator moves the plate between the retention position and the release position.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2022Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Brandon Paul Wilson, Zachary Alan Westhoff, Edward Lee Hollingsworth, Sr., David Eastman, Thomas Edward Krol
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Publication number: 20240116159Abstract: A tool system for installing a parking pawl includes a tool that includes a base, a plate, and an actuator. The base includes a base surface configured to support a parking pawl in a predetermined position. The plate includes a protrusion that extends upward from a front portion of the plate. A rear portion of the plate is coupled to a front portion of the base. The plate is movable relative to the base between a retention position in which the protrusion is positioned to retain a pawl spring loaded on the parking pawl in a pretensioned state, and a release position in which the protrusion is configured to release the pawl spring. The actuator is operably coupled to the plate such that activation of the actuator moves the plate between the retention position and the release position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Brandon Paul Wilson, Zachary Alan Westhoff, Edward Lee Hollingsworth, Sr., David Eastman, Thomas Edward Krol
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Patent number: 11685455Abstract: A tooling system for assembling a hybrid vehicle transmission includes a positioning device, support structure, gripper, clutch actuator, rotational actuator, and controller. The positioning device positions a hybrid module relative to a transmission housing. The gripper grips an input shaft of the hybrid module. The clutch actuator actuates the clutch of the hybrid module. The rotational actuator rotates the gripper about an assembly axis. The controller controls operation of the clutch actuator, positioning device, gripper, and rotational actuator such that an operation is performed that includes the clutch actuator actuating the clutch, the gripper gripping the input shaft of the hybrid module, the rotational actuator rotating the gripper to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module relative to an input shaft of the transmission module, and the positioning device translating the hybrid module toward the transmission module to seat a housing of the hybrid module on the transmission housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zachary Alan Westhoff, Brandon Paul Wilson
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Patent number: 11446800Abstract: A method and tool system coaxially orients inner clutch plates with outer clutch plates on a tool. The tool includes a plurality of guide members circumferentially spaced apart, each guide member matingly engages a toothed portion of each inner clutch plate to position the inner clutch plates coaxially. A pre-build fixture includes a plurality of alignment pillars, at least one support block, and an alignment member. The alignment pillars are circumferentially spaced apart about a fixture axis. Each alignment pillar has a curved inner face that faces radially inward and has an arclength that is configured to coincide with and fit within a corresponding gap between radially outward facing teeth of each outer clutch plate. The support block supports the tool coaxially with the fixture. The alignment member engages the tool to inhibit rotation of the tool when the tool is supported coaxially with the fixture by the support block.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brandon Paul Wilson, Zachary James Kadykowski, Nabil Ajami, Zachary Alan Westhoff
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Publication number: 20220250698Abstract: A tooling system for assembling a hybrid vehicle transmission includes a positioning device, support structure, gripper, clutch actuator, rotational actuator, and controller. The positioning device positions a hybrid module relative to a transmission housing. The gripper grips an input shaft of the hybrid module. The clutch actuator actuates the clutch of the hybrid module. The rotational actuator rotates the gripper about an assembly axis. The controller controls operation of the clutch actuator, positioning device, gripper, and rotational actuator such that an operation is performed that includes the clutch actuator actuating the clutch, the gripper gripping the input shaft of the hybrid module, the rotational actuator rotating the gripper to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module relative to an input shaft of the transmission module, and the positioning device translating the hybrid module toward the transmission module to seat a housing of the hybrid module on the transmission housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zachary Alan Westhoff, Brandon Paul Wilson
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Publication number: 20210394345Abstract: A method and tool system coaxially orients inner clutch plates with outer clutch plates on a tool. The tool includes a plurality of guide members circumferentially spaced apart, each guide member matingly engages a toothed portion of each inner clutch plate to position the inner clutch plates coaxially. A pre-build fixture includes a plurality of alignment pillars, at least one support block, and an alignment member. The alignment pillars are circumferentially spaced apart about a fixture axis. Each alignment pillar has a curved inner face that faces radially inward and has an arclength that is configured to coincide with and fit within a corresponding gap between radially outward facing teeth of each outer clutch plate. The support block supports the tool coaxially with the fixture. The alignment member engages the tool to inhibit rotation of the tool when the tool is supported coaxially with the fixture by the support block.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brandon Paul Wilson, Zachary James Kadykowski, Nabil Ajami, Zachary Alan Westhoff
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Patent number: 11148265Abstract: A tool for assembling components of a clutch pack coaxially about an axis includes a base, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The first guide member is coupled to the base and has a first guide face configured to matingly engage a toothed portion of an inner clutch plate of the clutch pack. A top portion of the first guide face is radially inward of a bottom portion of the first guide face. A second guide member is coupled to the base and spaced apart from the first guide member. The second guide member has a second guide face configured to matingly engage the toothed portion of the inner clutch plate of the clutch pack. A top portion of the second guide face is radially inward of a bottom portion of the second guide face.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brandon Wilson, Zachary James Kadykowski, Nabil Ajami, Zachary Alan Westhoff
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Publication number: 20210129302Abstract: A tool for assembling components of a clutch pack coaxially about an axis includes a base, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The first guide member is coupled to the base and has a first guide face configured to matingly engage a toothed portion of an inner clutch plate of the clutch pack. A top portion of the first guide face is radially inward of a bottom portion of the first guide face. A second guide member is coupled to the base and spaced apart from the first guide member. The second guide member has a second guide face configured to matingly engage the toothed portion of the inner clutch plate of the clutch pack. A top portion of the second guide face is radially inward of a bottom portion of the second guide face.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brandon Wilson, Zachary James Kadykowski, Nabil Ajami, Zachary Alan Westhoff