GEORGE ALEXANDER WILLFORD
Pilots at Farmview Dr, Waterville, OH

5771746, Jun 30, 1998

Jan 15, 1997

8/783313

Kurt R. Baer - Toledo OH
John M. Loeffler - Toledo OH
George A. Willford - Waterville OH
Timothy R. Zuehlke - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F16H 6336

7447325

An interlock assembly for a vehicle transmission prevents more than one of a plurality of shift rails from being simultaneously moved axially out of a central neutral position to a gear engaging position. The interlock assembly includes an interlock plate having four semi-circular cut-outs (one for each of the shift rails) and two relative large interior openings. The interlock assembly further includes a backing plate which is somewhat smaller than the interlock plate and has two relatively small interior openings. A pair of threaded fasteners extend through the small openings of the backing plate and through respective spacer bushings disposed in the large interior openings of the interlock plate into threaded engagement with the housing of the hydraulic actuator. The spacer bushings prevent the interlock plate from being frictionally engaged between the backing plate and the housing of the hydraulic actuator. As a result, the interlock plate is loosely supported on the threaded fasteners and can slide freely in any direction relative thereto.

5560255, Oct 1, 1996

Jun 5, 1995

8/461188

George A. Willford - Waterville OH
Kurt R. Baer - Toledo OH
John M. Loeffler - Toledo OH
Dennis D. Schwaiger - Whitmore Lake MI

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F16H 6110, G05G 900

74477

A transmission includes a plurality of shift rails, each of which is axially movable forwardly and rearwardly from a center neutral position to respective gear engaging positions. The lower shift rails are provided for manual shifting among the lower gear ratios of the transmission. The highest shift rail is provided for selective manual or automatic shifting among the highest two gear ratios of the transmission. An electronic controller is provided for controlling the automatic shifting of the transmission in response to sensed operating conditions of the vehicle. A circuit is provided for sensing the rotational position of the automatic shift shaft and for generating an electrical signal which is representative of the actual position thereof, which is also representative of the actual position of the highest shift rail, to the electronic controller. The transmission also includes a shift lever having an end which extends through an opening formed in a case. The end of the shift lever is movable in a first direction which is generally perpendicular to the shift rail so as to selectively cooperate with the shift rail.

5566579, Oct 22, 1996

Jun 5, 1995

8/461190

George A. Willford - Waterville OH
Kurt R. Baer - Toledo OH
John M. Loeffler - Toledo OH
Dennis D. Schwaiger - Whitmore Lake MI

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F16H 6100

74335

A transmission includes a plurality of shift rails, each of which is axially movable forwardly and rearwardly from a center neutral position to respective gear engaging positions. The lower shift rails are provided for manual shifting among the lower gear ratios of the transmission. The highest shift rail is provided for selective manual or automatic shifting among the highest two gear ratios of the transmission. An idler rail is disposed adjacent to the highest shift rail. For manual shifting, the idler rail is connected to the highest shift rail, and a manually operable shift lever is used to move both the idler rail and the highest shift rail. For automatic shifting, the idler rail is disconnected from the highest shift rail, and an automatic shift member is moved into cooperation with the highest shift rail. Rotation of the automatic shift shaft causes corresponding movement of the automatic shift member. An electronic controller is provided for controlling the automatic shifting of the transmission in response to sensed operating conditions of the vehicle.

6863634, Mar 8, 2005

Apr 7, 2003

10/408410

James L. Holman - Wauseon OH, US
George A. Willford - Waterville OH, US

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

B60K017/36

475221, 475222, 180 2412

A tandem axle assembly capable of accommodating variations in driveline length is provided. The tandem axle assembly includes forward and rear axle assemblies each having a wheel differential with the forward axle assembly further including an inter-axle differential for dividing power between the two wheel differentials. A male-female slip connection is formed between two members at one or more of the following intersections: the connection between a power input shaft driving the inter-axle differential and a power transmission shaft for transferring power from a vehicle driveshaft to the power input shaft; the connection between an output shaft driven by the inter-axle differential and an output yoke of an intermediate drive shaft assembly extending between the forward and rear axle assemblies; and the connection between an input yoke of the intermediate drive shaft assembly and a pinion shaft in the rear axle assembly drivingly coupled to the rear wheel differential.

5450767, Sep 19, 1995

Nov 3, 1993

8/147283

George A. Willford - Waterville OH
Kurt R. Baer - Toledo OH
John M. Loeffler - Toledo OH
Dennis D. Schwaiger - Whitmore Lake MI

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F16H 6100

74335

A transmission includes a plurality of shift rails, each of which is axially movable forwardly and rearwardly from a center neutral position to respective gear engaging positions. The lower shift rails are provided for manual shifting among the lower gear ratios of the transmission. The highest shift rail is provided for selective manual or automatic shifting among the highest two gear ratios of the transmission. An idler rail is disposed adjacent to the highest shift rail. For manual shifting, the idler rail is connected to the highest shift rail, and a manually operable shift lever is used to move both the idler rail and the highest shift rail. For automatic shifting, the idler rail is disconnected from the highest shift rail, and an automatic shift member is moved into cooperation with the highest shift rail. Rotation of the automatic shift shaft causes corresponding movement of the automatic shift member. An electronic controller is provided for controlling the automatic shifting of the transmission in response to sensed operating conditions of the vehicle.

5284065, Feb 8, 1994

Sep 18, 1992

7/947767

John M. Loeffler - Toledo OH
George A. Willford - Waterville OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F16H 6336

74477

A lockout device is provided for inhibiting the selection of certain gear combinations in range shift type transmission. The lockout device comprises an air cylinder mounted to the transmission housing. The air cylinder includes a rod selectively translatable between a retracted position and an extended position. The rod is normally urged to its retracted position, and extends through an aperture in the housing in its extended position to engage a notch in a selected shift rail. The air cylinder and the high range air line are operably interconnected, whereby a shift to high range simultaneously activates the air cylinder, extending the rod into the recess in the shift rail to thereby selectively limit axial translation of the shift rail. The lockout device is easily removable.

5794752, Aug 18, 1998

Dec 30, 1996

8/775460

Kurt R. Baer - Toledo OH
George A. Willford - Waterville OH
Timothy R. Zuehlke - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F16D 2314, F16D 2508

192 85CA

A clutch actuator includes an outer cylinder housing having a plurality of ramps formed on an inner cylindrical surface thereof. Each of the ramps has a radially inwardly facing surface which includes a forwardly facing tapered surface and a rearwardly facing tapered surface. A hollow cylindrical piston is disposed concentrically within the outer cylinder housing and has a plurality of axially extending protrusions formed thereon. Preferably, the number of such protrusions is equal to the number of the ramps formed on the outer cylinder housing, and the protrusions are circumferentially interleaved within the ramps formed on the outer cylinder housing. Each of the protrusions has a radially outwardly facing surface which includes a forwardly facing tapered surface and a circumferentially extending groove. An inner cylinder housing is disposed concentrically within the piston. The outer and inner cylinder housings are fixed in position and define an annular chamber within which the piston can reciprocate axially.