Brian P Fitzgerald

US Patent:

6757949, Jul 6, 2004

Filed:

Jan 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/339514

Inventors:

Brian M. Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY
Jeffrey A. Rynders - Courtland NY

Assignee:

New Venture Gear, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B23P 1514

US Classification:

29 565, 409 40, 409 55, 409 11, 409 12, 409 37, 409 49, 409 51, 407 20, 407 23, 407 27, 407 29, 451900

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for manufacturing a gear component. The apparatus includes a plurality of tooling stocks movable relative to a base. The tooling stocks function to retain a component, as well as operably driving a combination hob/shaver tool and a combination chamfer/debur tool. The apparatus reduces the number of machines required to complete the gear component as well as reducing the cycle time for complete component manufacture. In this way, a more efficient manufacturing system is provided, whereby capital investment and operational costs are reduced.

US Patent:

6839953, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

May 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/848622

Inventors:

Brian M. Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US
Jeffrey A. Rynders - Cortland NY, US

Assignee:

Magna Drivetrain of America, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B23P 1514
B23F 1700

US Classification:

29558, 29 565, 29566, 409 40, 409 55, 409 11, 409 12, 409 37, 409 49, 409 51, 407 20, 407 23, 407 27, 407 29, 451900

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for manufacturing a gear component. The apparatus includes a plurality of tooling stocks movable relative to a base. The tooling stocks function to retain a component, as well as operably driving a combination hob/shaver tool and a combination chamfer/debut tool. The apparatus reduces the number of machines required to complete the gear component as well as reducing the cycle time for complete component manufacture. In this way, a more efficient manufacturing system is provided, whereby capital investment and operational costs are reduced.

US Patent:

6862953, Mar 8, 2005

Filed:

Jul 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/626100

Inventors:

Brian M. Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US
Douglas W. Conklin - Oneida NY, US

Assignee:

Magna Drivetrain of America, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F16H037/06

US Classification:

74665G, 74665 GE, 74665 T, 180248, 180249, 180251, 192 38, 192 44, 192 47, 192 542, 475223, 475295, 475320

Abstract:

A controllable, multi-mode, bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly and a shift system are adapted for use in a power transmission device. The clutch assembly includes a first ring journalled on a first rotary member, a second ring fixed to a second rotary member, and a plurality of rollers disposed in opposed cam tracks formed between the first and second rings. The first ring is split to define an actuation channel having a pair of spaced end segments. An actuator ring is moveable between positions engaged with and released from the end segments of the first ring. The shift system includes a moveable clutch actuator which controls movement of the actuator ring for establishing engaged and disengaged clutch modes. An alternate embodiment clutch assembly includes first and second rings non-rotatably coupled to one another. A third ring is selectively engageable with a rotary component to transfer power thereto.

US Patent:

8151662, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Mar 25, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/410527

Inventors:

Brian M. Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US
David W. Wenthen - Syracuse NY, US

Assignee:

Magna Powertrain USA, Inc. - MI

International Classification:

F16H 3/08

US Classification:

74330

Abstract:

A dual transmission includes a first input shaft, a second input shaft, a first input clutch adapted to drivingly couple a power source to the first input shaft and a second input clutch adapted to drivingly couple the power source to the second input shaft. First, third and fifth drive gears are driven by the first input shaft. Second, fourth and sixth drive gears are driven by the second input shaft. First, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth driven gears selectively drive a countershaft. The first through sixth drive gears are in meshed engagement with the corresponding first through sixth driven gears. First through sixth synchronizer clutches are individually associated with the respective first through sixth drive or driven gears to provide first through sixth gear drive ratios to the countershaft. Each synchronizer clutch is selectively actuated by an associated first through sixth electric actuator.

US Patent:

8316738, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Jun 10, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/481779

Inventors:

William A. Hellinger - Mexico NY, US
John D. Zalewski - Liverpool NY, US
David W. Wenthen - Syracuse NY, US
Brian M. Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US

Assignee:

Magna Powertrain of America, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F16H 37/06
B60K 23/08
F16D 19/00

US Classification:

74665H, 180247, 192 93 A

Abstract:

A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a power source and first and second drivelines includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by the power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to the first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to the second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes do not extend parallel to each other. A transfer unit includes a first cylindrically-shaped gear rotatably supported on the first output shaft and a second conically-shaped gear fixed for rotation with the second output shaft. The first and second gears are in constant meshed engagement with each other.

US Patent:

8613143, Dec 24, 2013

Filed:

Nov 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/509320

Inventors:

Brian Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US
Burke Smith - Syracuse NY, US
David W. Wenthen - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Magna Powertrain of America, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B21K 1/30
B21D 53/28

US Classification:

2989334, 2989336, 298933, 298931, 29893, 475331, 419 38

Abstract:

A method of assembling a planetary gearset includes die-forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth on a sun gear, a planet gear and a ring gear. Each tooth includes a pair of tooth flanks in a final net form for engagement with mating gear teeth. The sun gear teeth have a conical shape to allow a first die to linearly move relative to a second die after the gear teeth are die-formed. The planet gears are mounted on a carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear are oriented such that the conical shapes of the respective gear teeth taper in opposite directions from one another and the planet gear teeth meshingly engage with both the ring gear teeth and the sun gear teeth.

US Patent:

20060174464, Aug 10, 2006

Filed:

Feb 4, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/051806

Inventors:

Brian Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US
Jeffrey Rynders - McGraw NY, US

International Classification:

B23C 1/00

US Classification:

029056500

Abstract:

A gear production apparatus for producing a gear from a blank includes a base, a first stock slidable along a longitudinal axis of the base and including a first tool rotatably supported thereon and a second stock slidable along a first transverse axis of the base and including a second tool rotatably supported thereon. A blank retainer rotatably supports and selectively drives the blank about a first rotational axis. The first stock slides along the longitudinal axis to engage the first tool with the blank and to form rough teeth in the blank. The second stock slides along the transverse axis to engage the first tool with the blank, which rotatably drives the second tool to operate on the blank.

US Patent:

20090060672, Mar 5, 2009

Filed:

Jul 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/182367

Inventors:

Brian M. Fitzgerald - Cazenovia NY, US
Jeffrey A. Rynders - McGraw NY, US

International Classification:

B23F 17/00

US Classification:

409 31

Abstract:

A gear production apparatus for producing a gear from a blank includes a blank retainer rotatably supporting and selectively driving the blank about a work axis. An axially moveable first stock supports a first tool for rotation about a first axis extending substantially perpendicular to the work axis. An axially moveable second stock supports a second tool for rotation about the second axis. The second tool is moveable in two additional degrees of freedom such that the second axis is rotatable about a third axis and the second tool is axially translatable along the second axis. The second tool is moveable with the second stock along a line extending substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the work axis. The first stock is moveable to engage the first tool with the blank to form rough teeth. The second stock is moveable to engage the second tool with the blank.