Patents Examined by Greg Binda
  • Patent number: 11384812
    Abstract: A triple mass flywheel (104, 304, 504, 604) includes a first flywheel part (112, 312, 512, 612), a second flywheel part (114, 314, 514, 614), and a third flywheel part (116, 316, 516, 616) all arranged for rotation on an axis (118, 318). The triple mass flywheel (104, 304, 504, 604) also includes a first torsional damper (120, 320, 520, 620) connected to the first flywheel part (112, 312, 512, 612) and the second flywheel part (114, 314, 514, 614) and a second torsional damper (122, 322, 522, 622) connected to the second flywheel part (114, 314, 514, 614) and the third flywheel part (116, 316, 516, 616). The second flywheel part (114, 314, 514, 614) is driven by an electric motor (110, 310, 510, 610) to adjust the loading of the first torsional damper (120, 320, 520, 620) in relation to the first flywheel part 112, 312, 512, 612) and the second torsional damper (122, 322, 522, 622) in relation to the third flywheel part (116, 316, 516, 616).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Wesley L. Shaw
  • Patent number: 11384787
    Abstract: A composite vehicle driveshaft is provided with a crash collapse system that allows for a controlled longitudinal collapse of the driveshaft by facilitating telescopic movement of various components with respect to each other during a crash event. The crash collapse system may include a collapsible joint with a sleeve that is concentrically bonded in an end of a composite tube and a stub end assembly that is spline-engaged and interference fit within the sleeve, such as by way of a press-fit and/or a thermal shrink-fit procedure. This relationship may rotationally lock and axially fix the stub end assembly to the sleeve unless, during a crash event, the composite vehicle driveshaft experiences a compression or push-type force that exceeds a minimum breakaway or collapse force value that longitudinally and telescopically collapses the composite vehicle driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Composite Drivelines, LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Dorman, Kai-Peter Berndt, Anthony D. Stefanelli, Gregg Piper
  • Patent number: 11384799
    Abstract: A joint assembly for use in a vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member drivingly connected to a second joint member by one or more third joint members. The joint assembly further includes one or more bearing cup assemblies having a bearing cup, one or more bearings and one or more sealing members. The bearing cup has a receiving portion having a size and shape to receive and/or retain at least a portion of one or more trunnions extending from a body portion of the one or more third joint members. At least a portion of the one or more bearings are interposed between the one or more trunnions and one or more side surfaces of the receiving portion. Additionally, the one or more sealing members may be connected to and/or sealingly engaged with at least a portion of the outer surface of the one or more trunnions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew T. Malanga
  • Patent number: 11378137
    Abstract: A drive train includes a drive element, an output element and a thermal overload safeguard. The thermal overload safeguard is configured in such a way that there is a connection between the drive element and the output element below a critical temperature, and the drive element and the output element are decoupled mechanically from one another above the critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nikola Brk
  • Patent number: 11378135
    Abstract: Constant velocity joints or homokinetic joints are used for the continuous transmission of rotational movements and torques. They transmit the rotational movement of a driving shaft to a shaft to be driven without changing the speed or torque. The transmission takes place independently of the speed, torque, or the value of a diffraction angle and independently of the speed at which this diffraction angle changes. Constant velocity joints with a diffraction angle of 90° are equipped with specially shaped gear pairs, which are held together by a spring-loaded inner joint. In this joint transmission, a diffraction angle of 90° is achieved while the shafts to be connected to fixedly mounted bevel- and spur gear pairs are connected to each other, so that no spring-loaded inner joint is needed. Therefore, high engine speeds and high torques can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Jürgen Braun
  • Patent number: 11378136
    Abstract: A cord package supporting device for supporting a cord package wound with a cord, such as for an elastic joint disk for connecting two shaft portions, is disclosed. The cord package includes two opposite arcuate cord regions and two tangential cord regions that connect the arcuate cord regions to each other and extend parallel to each other. In embodiments, the cord package supporting device includes a first redirecting portion and a second redirecting portion, about which in each case one arcuate cord region of the cord package is guided. In embodiments, the two redirecting portions are integrally connected to each other via a web. An elastic joint disk and a method for producing an elastic joint disk are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vibracoustic SE
    Inventors: Frank Hofhansl, Niklas Müller
  • Patent number: 11378133
    Abstract: A damper device includes first and second rotary members, elastic members, and seat members. The first rotary member includes an annular chamber, and first engaging portions provided in the annular chamber. The second rotary member includes a second engaging portion. The elastic members are aligned in a circumferential direction in the annular chamber, and elastically couple the first and second rotary members in a rotational direction. Each seat member is disposed between a circumferential end surface of each elastic member and both the first engaging portions and the second engaging portion. Each seat member includes first and second contact surfaces. The first contact surface contacts the circumferential end surface of each elastic member. The second contact surface contacts the second engaging portion. The first and second contact surfaces tilt at angles to prevent a radially outward force from acting on each seat member when each elastic member is elastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masataka Aikawa, Hiroki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11378134
    Abstract: A constant-velocity slip ball joint includes an outer joint part with an axis of rotation and outer ball tracks, an inner joint part with inner ball tracks, a plurality of torque-transmitting balls, each guided in associated outer and inner ball tracks, and a cage provided with a plurality of cage windows, which each accommodate each one or more of the balls. The inner joint part can be displaced in relation to the outer joint part by a displacement distance along the axis of rotation. At least a part of the outer ball tracks and at least a part of the inner ball tracks are at a track-helix angle in relation to the axis of rotation. A floor of each ball track, along the displacement path, is spaced apart from the axis of rotation by a respectively constant spacing along a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Günther, Norbert Krancioch
  • Patent number: 11371564
    Abstract: A double-offset plunging type constant velocity universal joint includes inner and outer joint members each having six linear track grooves extending along an axial direction. The inner joint member has a coupling hole at a center portion thereof for coupling a shaft. Six torque transmission balls retained by a cage are incorporated between the linear track grooves of the inner and outer joint members. A ratio TCAGE/DBALL of a minimum thickness (TCAGE) of the cage to a diameter of the torque transmission ball (DBALL) is from 0.225 to 0.245, wherein a ratio DBALL/DS of a diameter (DBALL) of the torque transmission ball to a spline large diameter (DS) of the coupling hole of the inner joint member is from 0.79 to 0.85, and wherein a ball contact ratio (?) of the torque transmission ball is from 1.08 to 1.12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuro Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11359677
    Abstract: A plunging type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member, an inner joint member, eight balls, and a cage. A curvature center of a spherical portion of an outer peripheral surface of the cage and a curvature center of a spherical portion of an inner peripheral surface of the cage are offset to opposite sides in the axial direction with respect to a joint center by an equal distance. A ratio PCDBALL/DBALL of a pitch circle diameter PCDBALL of the balls to a diameter DBALL of each of the balls is set from 3.3 to 3.6. A ratio TI/DBALL of a radial thickness TI of the inner joint member to the diameter DBALL of each of the balls is set from 0.30 to 0.45.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masazumi Kobayashi, Tomoshige Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11359676
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) includes an outer joint member (31), an inner joint member (32), eight balls (33), and a cage (34). A diameter (D31c) of the outer joint member (31) at an opening end of an inner peripheral surface (31c) is set larger than an outer diameter (D34b) of the cage (34) at a center portion in a circumferential direction of pockets (34a) when the cage (34) is seen from an axial direction of the joint. A bottom surface (31f) of a mouth section (31a) of the outer joint member (31) is arranged so as to interfere with an imaginary spherical surface (Q) being an extension of the inner peripheral surface (31c) of the outer joint member (31) toward a deep-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoshige Kobayashi, Masazumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11359673
    Abstract: A package of laminations includes a plurality of lamella segments, which are arranged in layers and embodied to be connected together as ring segments. Each of the lamella segments has a plurality of cutouts and at least one of the lamella segments has at least three cutouts. The lamella segments are interconnected via sleeves. A method for manufacturing a package of laminations, a multi-plate coupling employing the package of laminations and an industrial application using the package of laminations are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FLENDER GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Jansen, Stefan Kleinewegen, Marcel Reidl, Günter Scheithauer
  • Patent number: 11353067
    Abstract: A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger includes a first hub, a second hub, a central hub, and a plurality of coupler pins. The first hub can be mounted with the input shaft. The second hub can be mounted with the rotor shaft. The central hub can be disposed in between the first and second hubs. The central hub can have an elastomeric body that defines a series of passages therein. The passages can taper inwardly throughout and provide incremental dampening against the first and second plurality of pins. The plurality of coupler pins can be received in the central hub bores. The first and second plurality of pins can be received by the passages in the elastomeric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Mark Harold Pratley, William Bruce Witherspoon, Michael Coates
  • Patent number: 11353065
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer joint portion with a first longitudinal axis, a first attaching end, an aperture end and outer ball tracks on an inner circumferential surface, an inner joint portion with a second longitudinal axis, a second attaching end, an inner face facing towards the outer joint portion and inner ball tracks on its outer circumferential surface, balls for torque transmission between the outer and inner joint portions, an annular ball cage between the outer and inner joint portions with several cage windows in which the balls are guided. The inner and outer joint portions are arranged so that one outer ball track and one inner ball track are in each case arranged opposite to each other to form three different types of track pairs to receive one respective balls. The balls have different controlling behaviors due to different track geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NEAPCO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC.
    Inventor: Dominik Krings
  • Patent number: 11353066
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) includes an outer joint member (31), an inner joint member (32), eight balls (33), and a cage (34). A curvature center (O31d) of track grooves (31d) of the outer joint member (31) and a curvature center (O32e) of track grooves (32e) of the inner joint member (32) are offset to opposite sides in an axial direction of the joint with respect to a joint center (O(f)) by an equal distance. A ratio (PCDBALL/DBALL) of a pitch circle diameter (PCDBALL) of the balls (33) to a diameter (DBALL) of each of the balls (33) is set from 3.70 to 3.87. A ratio (TC/DBALL) of a radial thickness (TC) of the cage (34) to the diameter (DBALL) of each of the balls (33) is set from 0.22 to 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoshige Kobayashi, Masazumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11339831
    Abstract: A power transmission shaft has a shaft member having, on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a male spline; a cylindrical member having, on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a female spline; and a seal member provided in a pressed state between an outer peripheral seal surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member and an inner peripheral seal surface formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member is spline-engaged with the shaft member by one end side of the shaft member being inserted into the cylindrical member from an other end side of the cylindrical member. Axial direction shock is absorbed by sliding of the splines. The outer peripheral seal surface is positioned at the other end side with respect to the male spline, and the inner peripheral seal surface is positioned at the other side with respect to the female spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Akita, Hiromichi Komai, Masashi Kubo
  • Patent number: 11333244
    Abstract: A boot can be fastened to a joint housing with a seal. The boot includes a first and a second fastening region, and a pleated region between them. The first fastening region comprises lobe regions and/or guide regions, and connecting regions and a connector seat region, which comprises at least two grooves in at least the lobe regions and/or the guide regions, starting from the connector seat region surface, said grooves being parabolic when viewed in the cross sections and having different depths inside the lobe regions and/or the guide regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Deisinger
  • Patent number: 11332181
    Abstract: A longitudinally adjustable steering shaft for a vehicle has an inner shaft received in an outer shaft to be displaceable coaxially and in the direction of a rotational axis. The two shafts have interlocking profiles in cross section for transmitting torques. A profile sleeve on which the outer shaft is telescopically arranged is arranged on the inner shaft part. The profile sleeve in a first end region surrounds a free end of the inner shaft part in the mounted state and has a radially inwardly protruding stop for abutment against an end face of the inner shaft in one axial direction and an end region of the inner shaft has a radially outwardly protruding projection for abutment of the profile sleeve in an opposite axial direction. The profile sleeve includes a radially inwardly protruding stop with reference to a simplified mounting in a first end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Janick Durot, Marius Breuer
  • Patent number: 11333203
    Abstract: The wide-angle constant velocity joint (100) includes: a central core (101) forming respective inner yokes (24, 25) for connection and in which there is housed a guide disc (11); and outer yokes (103, 105). The central core (101) forms a lubricant reservoir (1) in communication with an annular seat (7) in which the guide disc (11) is slidingly received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Edi Bondioli
  • Patent number: 11326649
    Abstract: A rear-wheel drive shaft (1) includes a fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3), a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2), and an intermediate shaft (4) coupling both the constant velocity universal joints to each other. A ratio (PCDBALL(f)/DBALL(f)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCDBALL(f)) of balls (33) of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) to a diameter (DBALL(f)) of each of the balls (33) is set from 3.70 to 3.87. A ratio (PCDBALL(s)/DBALL(s)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCDBALL(s)) of balls (23) of the plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2) to a diameter (DBALL(s)) of each of the balls (23) is set from 3.3 to 3.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masazumi Kobayashi, Tomoshige Kobayashi