Stanley Leroy Pierce

US Patent:

49380974, Jul 3, 1990

Filed:

Apr 11, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/336145

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Northville MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 3708

US Classification:

475 72

Abstract:

A hydrokinetic torque converter transaxle having a hydrokinetic torque converter, two simple planetary gear units and a clutch-and-brake system situated concentrically with respect to the axis of a vehicle engine wherein the torque output member of the planetary gear units is located in midposition between the planetary gear units and the hydrokinetic converter. A drive chain forms a torque transfer drive from the axis of the converter to a parallel axis coinciding with the axis of a geared differential, a pair of half shafts being connected to side gears of the differential for powering traction wheels wherein the clutch-and-brake system and the planetary gear units as well as the drive chain are integrated one with respect to the other to provide a minimum axial dimension with respect to the axis of the engine crankshaft thereby facilitating the packaging of the transaxle in a limited space within the vehicle. The torque flow path from the turbine of the converter through the gearing and from the gearing to the torque transfer drive chain is accomplished by strategically positioned torque transfer sleeve shafts surrounding the axis of the converter.

US Patent:

53838220, Jan 24, 1995

Filed:

Aug 9, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/103373

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Northville MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 356
F16H 5710

US Classification:

475281

Abstract:

An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle includes first and second simple planetary gear units, certain of whose elements are continually interconnected and certain others are releasably connected through operation of five friction elements, hydraulically-actuated clutches and brakes. The input shaft of the transmission drives elements of the planetary gear units through an underdrive gearset and an overdrive gearset. Various speed ratios result by either underdriving or overdriving a driven element of the planetary gear unit or both underdriving one element and overdriving another element.

US Patent:

45276781, Jul 9, 1985

Filed:

Dec 27, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/453415

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Northville MI
Larry T. Brown - Westland MI
Pramod K. Jain - Canton MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16D 2102
F16D 4328
F16D 4330

US Classification:

192 358

Abstract:

A control system for transferring torque from a first, offgoing clutch to a second, oncoming clutch while a gear shift is being made includes speed sensors for determining the speeds of the engine shaft and the output shaft of the transmission, a gear selector position indicator, a throttle position indicator and a gear ratio sensor. Solenoid operated valves open and close a source of high pressure fluid to the clutches, whose engagement and disengagement holds the gear elements of the transmission by means of which the various speed ratios are produced. An electronic computer is supplied with the digital equivalent of the shaft speeds, the position of the gear selector and of the throttle. The engine speed-output shaft speed ratio is used as a feedback signal on the basis of which an error between its value and a commanded value is determined. An equation for determining the duty cycle is repetitively calculated and its value converted to a pulse width modulated electrical current that is applied to the solenoid windings.

US Patent:

41946049, Mar 25, 1980

Filed:

Nov 14, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/850997

Inventors:

Robert W. Nichols - Canton MI
Stanley L. Pierce - Walled Lake MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 4502

US Classification:

192 33

Abstract:

A hydrodynamic torque converter mechanism having a bladed impeller, a bladed turbine and a bladed stator arranged in a toroidal fluid flow circuit enclosed within a common impeller housing, a friction clutch in the housing including a clutch disc with a friction surface thereon situated adjacent a cooperating friction surface formed on the housing, a stator sleeve shaft supporting the stator, an impeller sleeve hub journalled on the housing, a turbine shaft connected to the turbine and extending through the stator sleeve shaft, and a double circuit flow path for fluid circulating through the torus circuit, one circuit being defined in part by the annular space between the impeller hub and the stator sleeve shaft and the other circuit being defined by the annular space between said turbine shaft and said stator sleeve shaft and by the annular flow space between said friction surfaces.

US Patent:

44185855, Dec 6, 1983

Filed:

Apr 21, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/141855

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Walled Lake MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 3708

US Classification:

74695

Abstract:

An automatic transaxle for use in an automotive vehicle driveline for delivering torque from an engine to the vehicle traction wheels comprising two simple planetary gearsets adapted to provide four forward driving ratios and a single reverse ratio and including three friction clutches, three friction brakes and one overrunning clutch that are strategically arranged to provide optimum spacing between the ratios and smooth ratio changes with minimum shift timing problems for the ratio changes.

US Patent:

46931295, Sep 15, 1987

Filed:

Jun 25, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/624317

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Northville MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 308

US Classification:

74333

Abstract:

An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle that transmits torque from an engine crankshaft to an outlet shaft includes a first clutch whose engagement driveably connects the engine directly to the output shaft and a second clutch whose engagement connects the engine to a countershaft on which a gear wheel having multiple pinions is formed. The output shaft has multiple forward drive output gears and a reverse output gear journalled on its outer surface. The countershaft has a forward drive pinion in continuous meshing engagement with a forward drive output gear, which is selectively connected to the output shaft by a synchronizer or coupler. A reverse idler gear wheel is in continuous engagement with the forward drive output pinion and with a reverse drive output gear that is connected to the output shaft by the synchronizer. A second synchronizer or coupler driveably connects selected forward drive gears to the output shaft.

US Patent:

51298708, Jul 14, 1992

Filed:

Dec 23, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/812646

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Northville MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 146
F16D 4108

US Classification:

475285

Abstract:

An automatic transmission having multiple planetary gear elements adapted to establish and disestablish plural torque delivery paths between a driving member and a driven member, and releasable couplings adapted to connect selected gear elements of the transmission to ground and to connect two of the elements together to effect nonsynchronous ratio changes in the transmission without the necessity of engaging and releasing in timed sequence friction clutches and friction brakes, whereby friction torque losses are reduced and ratio changes in the transmission have a high degree of smoothness.

US Patent:

43466222, Aug 31, 1982

Filed:

May 9, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/148431

Inventors:

Stanley L. Pierce - Walled Lake MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 4708
F16H 3708
F16H 3700

US Classification:

74688

Abstract:

A transaxle for use in a vehicle having an engine mounted transversely with respect to the center plane of the vehicle comprising a compound planetary gear assembly mounted on the axis of the crankshaft for the engine, clutch and brake structure arranged in a strategic fashion to provide a minimum axial dimension for the transaxle, a final drive gear and differential mechanism mounted for rotation about an axis laterally spaced from and parallel to the engine axis, and a chain drive mechanism disposed intermediate the planetary gear assembly and the engine for effecting a driving connection between the driveshaft and the output gear element of the gear assembly whereby the outside dimensions of the transaxle permit packaging of the transaxle in an engine compartment with the engine axis disposed transversely and the driveshafts for the vehicle traction wheels may be positioned to effect a minimum angular displacement with respect to the axis of the differential.