Patents Examined by Richard M. Lorence
  • Patent number: 11971098
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a torque converter device, a first hydraulic pump, a first oil channel, a second oil channel, a third oil channel, a second pressure control valve, and a controller. The torque converter device has a torque converter and a lock-up clutch. The first oil channel supplies hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic pump to the torque converter. The second oil channel drains hydraulic fluid from the torque converter. The third oil channel communicates with the first oil channel and the second oil channel. The second pressure control valve is disposed in the third oil channel. The controller sets the second pressure control valve to an open state when the lock-up clutch is in an engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Torisu, Takuro Yoneda, Tetsuya Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11965594
    Abstract: An electronic parking mechanism that includes a parking cam assembly, a pawl assembly and a parking gear. The parking cam assembly includes a parking guide shaft and a parking cam that is sleeved on the parking guide shaft, and one side of the parking cam is provided with an arc protrusion along a circumferential direction so that as the parking cam rotates, the pawl assembly is in a first position where the pawl assembly parks in the parking gear and a second position where the pawl assembly parks out the parking gear, respectively. The pawl assembly includes a pawl and a pawl shaft, an upper part of the pawl contacts the parking cam, the pawl shaft is provided on a side of the pawl that can rotate around the pawl shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Jing-Jin Electric Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Ran Sun, Lena Jin
  • Patent number: 11965562
    Abstract: An outer member of a rotation transmission device has an opening integral with an inner peripheral portion of the outer member. Engaging elements are disposed between an inner member and the inner peripheral portion. An outer ring is fitted to the inner peripheral portion. A first snap ring is attached to the inner peripheral portion. An inner ring is fitted to an end portion of the inner member at one axial end thereof. A second snap ring is attached to the end portion through the opening. A shaft is connected to the opening so as to be rotatable in unison with and coaxially with the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Sato
  • Patent number: 11953059
    Abstract: A speed reducer is configured to reduce a rotational speed of rotation generated by torque received from a drive device and output the torque of the rotation of the reduced rotational speed. A drive cam has a plurality of drive cam grooves formed at one end surface of the drive cam and is rotated by the torque outputted from the speed reducer. A driven cam has a plurality of driven cam grooves formed at one end surface of the driven cam while each of the plurality of rolling elements is clamped between a corresponding one of the plurality of drive cam grooves and a corresponding one of the plurality of driven cam grooves. At least a part of each of the plurality of drive cam grooves overlaps with the speed reducer in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Ishibashi, Akira Takagi, Takumi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11946534
    Abstract: A torque converter assembly having a cover including a tubular body, and a pump including a shell. The shell of the pump is received in the tubular body of the cover, and the shell of the pump is joined to the cover with a circumferential weld. The tubular body of the cover can include a circumferentially extending groove, and the circumferential weld can be at least partially aligned in an axial direction with the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Erick Arturo Vazquez, Steven Olsen, Victor Alejandro Reyna
  • Patent number: 11940013
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a clutch center, and a pressure plate movable toward or away from the clutch center, rotatable relative to the clutch center, and operable to press input-side rotating plates and output-side rotating plates. The pressure plate holds the output-side rotating plates and includes pressure-side fitting teeth projecting radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of an outer peripheral wall and arranged in circumferential directions, and an oil channel in an end portion of at least one of the pressure-side fitting teeth in a first direction. The oil channel allows clutch oil flowing at least at an inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall to be discharged to the outside of the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Makoto Kambara, Jun Komukai
  • Patent number: 11913546
    Abstract: A parking lock device for positioning a parking head moved to a parking position in a parking position and holding the parking state includes a first switching mechanism and a second switching mechanism. The first switching mechanism is switched between a coupled state in which the parking head and the parking rod are coupled to each other and a non-coupled state in which the first switching mechanism is relatively movable. The second switching mechanism is switched between a locked state in which the parking head is positioned in the fixed case and an unlocked state in which the parking rod is retracted in the locked state to release the positioning of the parking head with respect to the fixed case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Morise
  • Patent number: 11906004
    Abstract: A freewheel assembly includes a central axis of rotation, a single-piece flange formed by deep drawing, and a freewheel unit. The single-piece flange includes a sleeve portion, a disk portion protruding radially outward from the sleeve portion, and a centering collar. The disk portion includes a first end face and the centering collar is formed on the first end face. The freewheel unit includes an outer ring fastened to the sleeve portion by press fitting, and a plurality of rolling elements accommodated within the outer ring. The outer ring includes a plurality of clamping ramps, and each one of the plurality of rolling elements cooperates with a one of the plurality of clamping ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Alexander Reimchen
  • Patent number: 11905999
    Abstract: To provide a cam clutch easily switchable from a torque transmitting state to a freewheeling state even during torque transmission between race members. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams set between a first race member and a second race member. The first race member and second race member are spaced away in the axial direction along the rotation axis of the first race member. The plurality of cams are disposed between the first race member and the second race member in the axial direction, and the first race member and the second race member are configured to be able to move relatively closer to and away from each other in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Sota Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 11885380
    Abstract: Claw-type shifting mechanism (5) with a first sliding sleeve (17) and a fixed coupling element (19). In order to produce a passage, the first sliding sleeve (17) and the coupling element (19) each respectively have at least one recess (31, 35) and at least one web section (32, 36), in which the first sliding sleeve (17) and the coupling element (19) can be arranged together radially on the outside on a first shaft. The first sliding sleeve (17) can be displaced along the first shaft and the coupling element (19) can be connected firmly to the first shaft. The drive arrangement (1) comprises at least one drive machine, a transmission with a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, a housing, and a claw-type shifting mechanism (5) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Renner, Martin Weiss
  • Patent number: 11879547
    Abstract: A device for actuating a park lock in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in which a gear position selector can be used to set at least one drive-, neutral- and park position. When the park position is selected, a park lock that is operatively connected to the automatic transmission can be actuated, and it can then be activated or deactivated with an emergency actuator device that can be operated manually. The emergency actuating device has a toothed wheel (gear) that can be made to engage with a spur gear that is configured as an intermediate toothed wheel (gear). A first engaging element engages into a control cam provided on the spur gear and, when the spur gear moves, the first engaging element can be moved in order to activate and deactivate the park lock in the control cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Küster Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Blücher, Thomas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11879504
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a pressure plate movable toward and away from a clutch center to press input-side rotating plates and output-side rotating plates. An oil flow hole is located in a spline groove to penetrate an outer peripheral wall of the clutch center, to enable clutch oil having flowed out of an output shaft to be discharged to outside of the clutch center, and located between an end of a center-side slipper cam surface in a second circumferential direction and a center-side cam hole located ahead, in the first circumferential direction, of the end in the second circumferential direction, in the circumferential directions. A through hole is located ahead, in the first circumferential direction, of the end of the center-side slipper cam surface in the first circumferential to guide clutch oil flowing outside the clutch center to the inside of the clutch center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventor: Yuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11879507
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a high-stability and large-torque magnetorheological fluid clutch. Firstly, in order to prevent sedimentation of the magnetorheological fluid, blades are installed on the disc body of an input disc. When the clutch operates in a power interruption mode, the blades can stir the magnetorheological fluid, so that the sedimented magnetorheological fluid is uniformly mixed. Secondly, in order to improve the maximum transmission torque of the magnetorheological fluid clutch, an excitation magnetic field is increased in a mode that a permanent magnet and an electromagnet are connected in series. Meanwhile, a third electric push rod is used for pushing the input disc, and the magnetorheological fluid works in a shearing-extruding working mode, so that the yield stress of the magnetorheological fluid is improved. Therefore, the maximum transmission torque of the magnetorheological fluid clutch is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jinxin Chen, Chongqiu Zhou, Lanpeng Zheng, Chunfu Gao
  • Patent number: 11859674
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a clutch center and a pressure plate operable to move toward or away from the clutch center and rotatable relative to the clutch center. The pressure plate includes a pressure-side cam portion. The clutch center includes a center-side cam portion. The pressure plate includes a boss extending in movement directions. The clutch center includes a through hole in which a boss is insertable. The through hole extends along circumferential directions and allows movement of the boss along the circumferential directions and the movement directions. While a surface of the pressure-side cam portion and a surface of the center-side cam portion are in contact with each other, a distal end of the boss projects outward from the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11852200
    Abstract: A power take-off includes bell housing disposed about an axis and configured for coupling to a housing of an engine or other driving device at a first axial end and to a housing of a driven device at a second axial end. The bell housing defines an air inlet port and an air outlet port between the first and second axial ends. A clutch is disposed within the bell housing and configured to transfer torque from an input member coupled to the engine to an output member coupled to the driven device. A fan is configured for rotation with the input member to draw air into the bell housing through the air inlet port, move air through the bell housing from the air inlet port to the air outlet port in a substantially radial direction across the clutch and exhaust air from the bell housing through the air outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Warner Electric Technology LLC
    Inventors: Rodney R Laisure, George Patrick Gill, Gary R. Haasch
  • Patent number: 11846345
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a front cover arranged to receive a torque; an impeller non-rotatably connected to the front cover; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller; a lock-up clutch having a piston and a seal plate disposed axially between the piston and the turbine. The torque converter further includes a flow plate non-rotatably connected to the front cover, and a backing plate sealed to the piston and disposed axially between the flow plate and the seal plate. A through-bore extends axially through the backing plate and the flow plate. The flow plate is welded to the backing plate around the through-bore. A first chamber is bounded at least in part by the piston, the seal plate, and the backing plate, and a second chamber is bounded at least in part by the front cover, the piston, the backing plate, and the flow plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jorge Arturo Martinez Torres
  • Patent number: 11827054
    Abstract: A bicycle hub includes an axle, a main body, a freehub body, and a clutch, which are engaged with the axle. The freehub body is disposed with first splines, wherein each of the first splines is defined to have a longitudinal direction. Each of the longitudinal directions obliquely intersects with an axial direction of the freehub body. The clutch is disposed with second splines, wherein the second splines are engaged with the first splines in a way that the second splines are movable along a longitudinal direction of the first splines. With such design, the clutch of the bicycle hub could be smoothly operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TIEN HSIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 11821469
    Abstract: A multi-plate clutch includes an outer plate mounted on a radial outside and axially displaceable, an inner plate mounted on a radial inside and axially displaceable, and a plurality of leaf springs. The plurality of leaf springs is distributed around an outer circumference of the outer plate to mount the outer plate in a torque-transmitting manner on a rotor pot, or the plurality of leaf springs is distributed in an inner circumference of the inner plate to mount the inner plate in a torque-transmitting manner on a driving ring. In an example embodiment, the multi-plate clutch is a dry multi-plate clutch for a hybrid drivetrain. In an example embodiment, the multi-plate clutch includes a plurality of outer plates and a plurality of inner plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Dannhäuser, Florian Vogel, Christian Basler, Marc Finkenzeller
  • Patent number: 11815135
    Abstract: A friction clutch mechanism includes a diaphragm spring, a pressure plate having a peripheral fulcrum acting against a first face of the diaphragm spring, and a pair of axially opposed intermediate fulcrums supported by a clutch cover and acting on the opposite faces of the diaphragm spring along a radially intermediate portion thereof. The friction clutch mechanism has an additional elastic element, operatively associated with a first intermediate fulcrum of the pair of axially opposed intermediate fulcrums, and axially and elastically compressible in response to a deflection of the diaphragm spring towards an open friction condition. The additional elastic element has a radially innermost annular portion resting on one or more bearing surfaces supported by the clutch cover, and a radially outermost annular portion that cantilevers and has a protrusion circumferentially extended and axially projecting towards the first face of the diaphragm spring to serve as the first intermediate fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: RAICAM DRIVELINE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Nicola Mazzarini, Amedeo Russo
  • Patent number: 11808313
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cam clutch capable of switching from one operating mode to another and offering improved stability of clutch operations and high responsiveness. The object is achieved by an operating mode switching means (180) having a cam attitude change part (185) being drivable independently of rotation of the inner race (110) and outer race (120). A load support point (Sp) is located radially between a load application point (Ap) of the cam attitude change part (185) on the cam (140) and a distal contact point (Ep) of the cam (140) on a raceway positioned on a radially distal side relative to the load application point (Ap). The radial distance (d1) between the load application point (Ap) and the load support point (Sp) is larger than the radial distance (d2) between the load support point (Sp) and the distal contact point (Ep).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Kohei Kunimatsu, Eiichi Nakagawa