Patents Examined by Rodney Bonck
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Patent number: 8820505Abstract: A pivot ring for a clutch assembly which has a first annular segment, a second annular segment, and a radial segment. The first annular segment has a first face on a front side of the pivot ring and the second annular segment has a second face, predominately opposing the first face, on a back side of the ring. The radial segment is disposed between the first annular segment and the second annular segment, connecting the first annular segment and the second annular segment. The first annular segment, the second annular segment, or both the first annular segment and the second annular segment can include axial protrusions with arcuately shaped pivot portions. Preferably, in the clutch assembly, the pivot ring is disposed between the diaphragm spring and the pressure plate, allowing for rotational freedom between the pressure plate and the diaphragm spring.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Michael Hodge, Jeffrey Hemphill
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Patent number: 8813934Abstract: A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignees: Szuba Consulting, Inc., Value Extraction LLCInventor: Joseph Szuba
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Patent number: 8807314Abstract: A clutch actuator controlled by a pressure medium, in particular for a compressor clutch of a commercial vehicle has an actuating piston displaceably disposed in a housing in an axial direction. An end of the actuating piston is supported in the axial direction on an elastic membrane, sealing a first region of the housing off from a second region of the housing. The elastic membrane includes a raised area on the side opposite the actuating piston. The clutch actuator can be used in a compressor clutch for a commercial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbHInventor: Gilles Hebrard
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Patent number: 8789671Abstract: A transmission system for driving one or two of a plurality of drivable devices by a single drive motor including an input shaft (4) for connection to the drive motor, a plurality of output units, each output unit including a drive member (6), which is drivable by the input shaft (4), an output shaft (16) and a clutch mechanism (8,18). A clutch engagement actuator (30) is arranged to act on a selected one of the clutch mechanisms (8, 18) to connect the input shaft (4) to the associated output shaft (16). The drive members (6) are carried on a common drive shaft (2) and are rotatable with respect to it. The clutch mechanisms (8,18) are operable to selectively connect the drive member (6) to the drive shaft (2) to rotate with it.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Inventor: John Phillip Chevalier
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Patent number: 8789669Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover; a first through bore for receiving a transmission input shaft; a clutch including a piston plate; a plurality of fasteners connected to the cover; and a plate connected to the cover. The plate includes a radially aligned wall including a plurality of openings in which the plurality of fasteners is disposed; a second through bore at least partially aligned, in an axial direction, with the first through bore; and a plurality fins extending from the radially aligned wall in the axial direction. Each fin includes a first end aligned with the first and second through bores in the axial direction. Each fin includes a second end disposed radially within the plurality of openings. A space, aligned with an axis of rotation for the torque converter and the second through bore, is formed between the respective first ends.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Aliihasan Karamavruc, Patrick M. Lindemann, Paul Dougall, Rashid Farahati, Larry Chad Boigegrain, Michael Clason, Layton Broome, Chad Mieczkowski, Nathan Yensho, David C. Avins
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Patent number: 8789672Abstract: A mechanical transmission device for transmitting a threshold force, comprising first and second elements rotatably mounted relative to each other about an axis of rotation, and having a transmitter member interposed between them to constrain the two elements to rotate together when a torque is imparted to one up to a threshold torque beyond which the two elements become movable in rotation. The transmitter member has a first friction disk constrained to rotate with the first element, and a second friction disk facing the first disk. It also has a bearing member that is axially movable to press the disks together and against a bearing turntable of the first element under drive from a presser member. Finally, it has a rotary drive, interposed between the bearing member and the second element, which are arranged to cause the bearing member to move axially against the presser member during rotation.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck, Guy Valembois
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Patent number: 8783434Abstract: A hydraulic piston is housed in a cylinder chamber that is provided in a cover plate of a transmission case and that opens toward a pressing arm so that the hydraulic piston is capable of rotating the pressing arm by abutting against a rearward arm portion of the pressing arm, and a hydraulic pipe supplying pressure oil to the cylinder chamber is connected to the cover plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignees: Mitsubishi Nichiyu Forklift Co., Ltd., Okamura CorporationInventors: Fujito Aikawa, Akihiko Fujimoto
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Patent number: 8776979Abstract: Disclosed is a parking lock apparatus which can prevent an electric actuator from being accessed from the outside of the vehicle, and thereby can prevent the function of the parking lock apparatus from being lowered as well as can reduce the production cost in comparison with the conventional parking lock apparatus. The parking lock apparatus comprises an electric actuator 11 to be activated in response to the shift operation, and a parking lock apparatus 12 capable of selectively taking a parking lock maintained state to have the stoppage state of a vehicle 1 maintained or a parking lock released state to have the stoppage state of the vehicle 1 released. The electric actuator 11 is disposed between a first housing 1H partly constituting an engine 2 for generating a power and a second housing 2H partly constituting a transaxle 3 for transmitting the power generated by the engine 2.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yosuke Kato, Michitaka Tsuchida
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Patent number: 8776977Abstract: A drive system for each arm of a mobile robot, each drive system including a drive motor and an adjustable clutch system interconnected between its associated arm and the drive motor and having a high friction locked position for enabling direct drive of the arm by the drive motor and a reduced friction slip position for enabling manual movement of the associated arm without back-driving the drive motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano
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Patent number: 8776637Abstract: A fluid retention assembly for a vehicle transmission has a valve housing, a first member, a second member, and a biasing member. The valve housing has a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and defines a central bore having a sealing portion. The first member is disposed at least partially in the central bore of the valve housing and includes a shaft portion and a sealing portion. The second member defines a plurality of fluid apertures. The second member is attached to the shaft portion of the first member opposite the sealing portion. The biasing member is disposed at least partially in the central bore of the valve housing coaxial with the first member and has a biasing force that biases the sealing portion of the first member against the sealing portion of the valve housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: David Juhassz, Lynn M. Krawczyk
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Patent number: 8776975Abstract: A one-way clutch with an outer race and an inner race is disclosed. One of the races includes at least one pawl and an engagement member for holding the at least one pawl in engagement with ratchet teeth on the other race. The contact surface of the at least one pawl or the ratchet teeth is an arcuate shape for improved load distribution. The arcuate contact surface has a radius of curvature that is greater than a radius of curvature at corners adjacent to the arcuate contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals, LLCInventors: Alfred J. Chiesa, Henry J. Knott
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Patent number: 8766752Abstract: A drive train is used at least including an input shaft and an output shaft. A clutch member is rotatable by a clutch shaft about an axis of rotation. The clutch shaft is supported for lateral movement along the axis of rotation to move the clutch member to cooperate with the drive train at a first lateral position to cause the output shaft to turn and to move the clutch member to a second lateral position to disengage the output shaft from rotation of the input shaft. A permanent magnet is supported by one end of the clutch shaft and arranged for receiving an external magnetic biasing force along the axis of rotation to selectively move the clutch member between the first and second lateral positions. A traveling shaft can be used to support a selected gear for movement by the permanent magnet to implement transmission and reversing configurations.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Merlin Technology Inc.Inventor: John E. Mercer
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Patent number: 8763775Abstract: A torque converter, including: a turbine; a cover; a lock-up clutch engageable with the cover; and a first damper assembly including: a first flange connected to the lock-up clutch so as to rotate in unison with the clutch; at least one side plate; a second flange for connection to an input shaft for a transmission; a first plurality of springs engaged with the first flange and with the at least one side plate; and a second plurality of springs, at least partially circumferentially aligned with the first plurality of springs, and engaged with the at least one side plate and the second flange. The torque converter includes a second damper assembly connected to the first damper assembly and including: a third side plate fixed to the turbine; and a third plurality of springs, radially outside of the first and second pluralities of springs, and engaged with the third side plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jeremy Vanni, Brian C. Zaugg
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Patent number: 8757341Abstract: The present invention relates to a rear wheel hub for a bicycle, a rear wheel for a bicycle, and a bicycle. In order to provide a rear wheel hub which, with a further reduction in weight, still allows reliable transmission of force, the hub has a hub body (12), an axle body (14), a first bearing device (16) between the axle body and the hub body, a freewheel body (18) for accommodating at least one sprocket, a second bearing device (20) between the axle body and the freewheel body, and a freewheel arrangement (22) between the freewheel body and the hub body which in a first rotational direction (26) about the rotational axis establishes a coupling between the freewheel body and the hub body, and in a second rotational direction (28) which is opposite that of the first rotational direction, the freewheel body is freely rotatable with respect to the hub body.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Inventor: Jochen Klieber
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Patent number: 8746429Abstract: The present device is an improved clutch system that conveys rotational energy from a power source to the gearbox input shaft of a motorcycle. A clutch basket is mechanically coupled to the power source and slidably engaged to pronged clutch drive plates, which are frictionally engaged to splined steel driven plates. A clutch hub engages the splined steel driven plates when pressurized air moves a piston against a pressure plate, causing the clutch hub and splined steel driven plates to engage. The rotating splined steel driven plates will then rotate the clutch hub to convey rotational energy to the gearbox input shaft of the motorcycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Inventor: Todd Patterson
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Patent number: 8746424Abstract: A torque converter, including: a turbine with a turbine shell; and a damper assembly including: an output flange; a first cover plate; a first drive plate fixedly secured to the turbine shell; a first plurality of springs engaged with the first cover plate; a second plurality of springs engaged with the first cover plate and the output flange; a third plurality of springs engaged with the first cover plate and the first drive plate; and a single torque path from the turbine shell to the damper assembly, the single torque path formed by the first drive plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Craig Kneidel
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Patent number: 8746426Abstract: A through-connection clutch, for transferring torque between a motor and transmission of a vehicle, which has a friction clutch and a form-locking clutch. The form-locking clutch is disposed radially within the friction clutch, and the clutches can be actuated independently of each other. To minimize the required installation space, the through-connection clutch can be activated flexibly, but is still inexpensive to produce and ensures low-wear yet safe and comfortable torque transfer in a drive train of a vehicle. A pressure plate of the friction clutch and a form-locking element of the form-locking clutch are concentric, rotationally fixed together, and movable toward one another, and can be actuated via an actuation unit, which is rotationally decoupled from the pressure plate and the form-locking element. Depending on the operating situation, the friction clutch and/or the form-locking clutch is selectively activated one or more times.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2010Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter, Mario Steinborn, Franz Bitzer
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Patent number: 8746430Abstract: A method of feeding a clutch cylinder in a hydraulically actuated clutch system in a motor vehicle and a respective hydraulically actuated clutch system are suggested. The clutch system comprises at least one clutch that can be closed by filling the clutch cylinder; and a hydraulic system that provides a system pressure and has a clutch control valve having an inlet and an outlet. A system pressure is applied at the inlet of the control valve; the clutch pressure for actuating the clutch is provided at the outlet; and the system pressure is decreased pressure prior to and during the filling of the clutch cylinder. The decreased system pressure allows a high volume flow and therefore a fast filling of the clutch cylinder without establishing a premature torque transmitting capacity in the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbHInventors: Christian Krauss, Marco Siebigteroth, Georg Hillebrand, Reinhard Moehlmann, Stefan Kirschstein
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Patent number: 8739953Abstract: An actuating assembly for connecting a driving axle in the driveline of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The actuating assembly comprises a pump for generating a hydraulic pressure; a pressure accumulator which can be filled by the pump with a hydraulic fluid for generating a pre-pressure; a first hydraulic actuating unit for actuating a first coupling; a second hydraulic actuating unit for actuating a second coupling; wherein at least one of the two first or second hydraulic actuating units can be loaded by the pressure accumulator with hydraulic pressure and, after the pressure accumulator has been at least partially emptied, can be additionally loaded by the pump, wherein the associated first or second coupling can be actuated in the closing sense. Furthermore, a drive assembly having an inventive actuating assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbHInventors: Theodor Gassmann, Michael Schwekutsch, Mark Schmidt, Holger Seidl
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Patent number: 8733526Abstract: An electromechanical actuating assembly for at least an actuator element of a vehicle transmission with at least a drive device which activates a spindle drive (2) of an actuator device to actuate the actuator element. The actuator device comprises a toggle lever mechanism (4) which is activated via the spindle drive (2), and the actuator device is positioned coaxially with a transmission shaft (5) of the vehicle transmission and is positioned radially inside or radially outside with reference to the actuator element.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Benjamin Schneider