Steven C Thomas

US Patent:

6360864, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Feb 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/515565

Inventors:

Steven Gerald Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI
Eli Avny - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Tech., Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16D 1372

US Classification:

192107R, 192 7012, 19211334

Abstract:

A clutch divider plate having a pair of outer plates and a pair of inner rings or members. Rings or members include several notches which allow cooling fluid or oil to pass through the plate , thereby cooling plate.

US Patent:

6955627, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Mar 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/797868

Inventors:

Steven Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Matthew Hammond - Dearborn MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H003/44

US Classification:

475283, 475269, 475275, 475276, 475277, 475278, 475282, 475288, 475311, 192 51

Abstract:

A multiple speed transmission capable of producing five underdrive gear ratios, one direct drive ratio, four overdrive ratios, and four reverse ratios includes four interconnected planetary gearsets, multi-plate clutches and brakes controlling the gearset elements, and a coupler that changes between forward drive and reverse drive by holding and releasing alternate gearset components against rotation on the transmission case. The transmission in combination with a single-speed transfer case having either an on-demand transfer clutch, or a full-time all-wheel drive system, are formed in an integrated package.

US Patent:

6994650, Feb 7, 2006

Filed:

Nov 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/706126

Inventors:

Timothy Allen - Livonia MI, US
Steven Thomas - Bloomfield MI, US
Juliette McCoy - Macomb Township MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 37/06

US Classification:

475295, 475900

Abstract:

In a motor vehicle driveline having an automatic transmission driveably connected to a transfer case, a park gear, continually driveably connected through a planetary gear set to the drive wheels of the vehicle, is alternately fixed against rotation on the transfer case or released to rotate freely in response to movement of a gear selector having a park position. When the gear selector is moved to the park position, a pawl holds the drive wheels against rotation. When the gear selector is moved from the park position, the drive wheels are free to rotate without restraint of the park mechanism.

US Patent:

7188017, Mar 6, 2007

Filed:

Feb 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/774866

Inventors:

Ashok Rodrigues - Farmington Hills MI, US
Timothy Allen - Livonia MI, US
Steven Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

701 67, 701 68, 701 82

Abstract:

In a motor vehicle driveline having an automatic transmission driveably connected to a transfer case whose output is continually connected to a first output, a clutch, selectively engaged in response to a control signal, driveably connects a second output to the first output. A digital computer continually monitors the occurrence of a change of clutch slip, input torque and a torque rate change to control the torque transmitted by the clutch to the second output. The control causes the clutch to transmit torque to the second output having a constant fraction of the input clutch torque and another portion that is proportional to the clutch slip. This result simulates the torque slip characteristics produced by transfer case having both a center differential mechanism and a viscous clutch.

US Patent:

7384357, Jun 10, 2008

Filed:

May 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/429550

Inventors:

Steven G. Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
David A. Janson - Plymouth MI, US
Matthew D. Hammond - Dearborn MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 37/06

US Classification:

475 5, 475204, 475205, 475149, 475150, 475151, 180 652, 180 656, 180247, 180248, 180250

Abstract:

An electric drive unit for a vehicle includes an electric motor, two output shafts, a first speed reduction planetary gearset driven by the motor, a second speed reduction gearset driven by an output of the first gearset, and a compound planetary differential gearset including an input driveably connected to the output of the second gearset, a first differential output driveably connected to the first output shaft, and a second differential output driveably connected to the second output shaft.

US Patent:

7670249, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

Mar 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/728448

Inventors:

Steven G. Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Donald E. Hoffman - Canton MI, US
Gregory D. Goleski - Clarkston MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 3/62

US Classification:

475276, 475275, 475332

Abstract:

A multi-speed automatic transmission includes an input, an output, a first gear unit drivable connected to the input and including a component rotating at the speed of the input and a first gear unit output, the first gear unit producing a gear ratio of a speed of the input and a speed of the first gear unit output, a planetary gear unit including a modified Simpson gearset, the gear unit being secured to first, second, third, fourth and fifth rotating members, the fifth member being secured to the output for rotation therewith, a first clutch being operable to connect the first rotating member and the first gear unit output, a second clutch being operable to connect the second rotating member and the first gear unit output, a third clutch being operable to connect the third rotating member and an element rotating at a speed of the input, a fourth clutch being operable to connect the fourth rotating member and said element rotating at the speed of the input, a first brake being operable to hold the fourth rotating member against rotation, and a second brake being operable to hold the third rotating member against rotation.

US Patent:

7743888, Jun 29, 2010

Filed:

Nov 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/706661

Inventors:

Timothy Allen - Livonia MI, US
Steven Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F01M 11/00

US Classification:

184 612, 184 628, 74606 A, 180223

Abstract:

In a driveline for a motor vehicle that includes an automatic transmission having an output shaft that drives a transfer case, an oil sump located in the transfer case, a pump supplied with fluid from the first sump, delivers fluid to a lubrication circuit in the transmission, a second sump supplies fluid to the inlet of a second pump, whose output supplies a second lubrication circuit located in the transfer case. Both of the hydraulic pumps are continually driveably connected to a set of the vehicle's drive wheels.

US Patent:

8187133, May 29, 2012

Filed:

Mar 31, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/750849

Inventors:

Laurence Andrew Deutsch - Farmington Hills MI, US
Steven Gerald Thomas - Bloomfield Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 57/04

US Classification:

475159

Abstract:

A lubrication system for transporting lubrication oil in an automatic transmission includes a radial lubrication passage opening at a hole in an outer peripheral surface of a shaft. The hole has a cross section that is elongated only along a first axis offset from a central axis the shaft so as to follow angular deformation caused by unidirectional torque applied to the shaft whereby stress produced around the hole by torque transmitted through the rotating shaft is reduced, thus minimizing fatigue and increasing a useful life of the automatic planetary transmission. Preferably cross sections of the radial passage taken sequentially along the transverse axis are elongated near outer peripheral surface of the shaft but become circular towards the central axis. With this arrangement stress produced around the hole by torque transmitted through the rotating shaft is reduced thus reducing fatigue and increasing a useful life of the transmission.