Patents Examined by Rodney Bonck
  • Patent number: 8607948
    Abstract: A launch device for a vehicle transmission including a housing, an impeller, a turbine, and first and second clutches with first and second pistons, respectively. The first and second pistons are sealingly engaged with one another. The first clutch releaseably engages the impeller with the housing and the second clutch releaseably engages the turbine with the housing. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is disposed radially outside of the second clutch. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is engaged by a first pressure, and the second clutch is engaged by a second pressure greater than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Todd Jason Sturgin, Philip Andrew George, Jeffrey Alan Hemphill
  • Patent number: 8607950
    Abstract: A dual clutch having a first transmission-side output shaft and/or a second transmission-side output shaft having a first clutch comprising a first pressure plate that is axially movable relative to a first counterplate for engaging a first clutch disk connected to a first output shaft, a second clutch comprising a second pressure plate that is axially movable relative to a second counterplate for engaging a second clutch disk connected to a second output shaft, an actuating device for moving the first pressure plate and/or the second pressure plate and a fastening plate connected to the actuation device for axially fastening to a clutch housing, wherein the actuating device is designed to pre-center relative to the clutch housing and/or the transmission housing in a radially adjustable manner, and the fastening plate is designed to be radially fixed to the clutch housing and/or the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florian Krebs, René Daikeler, Karl-Ludwig Kimmig, Olaf Werner
  • Patent number: 8607952
    Abstract: A clutch has an outer aluminum housing and an inner housing arranged coaxially with respect to one another to support a plurality of first and second alternating, interiorly arranged, radially extending, friction members for axial movement between engaged and disengaged positions. The outer aluminum housing can have a cylindrical side wall and a radially inwardly extending end wall. A plurality of spline teeth can be formed at angularly spaced locations along the cylindrical side wall. Each spline tooth can have radial wall portions extending inwardly and longitudinally terminating at a circumferential wall portion extending between the radial wall portions to define the spline teeth. A sheet metal liner can be wrapped around to form a continuous, generally cylindrical, corrugated ring with inwardly extending spline teeth covers connected to a collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin P Keating, Kenneth C Yuergens, Yosuke Kimpara, Keith Honkala
  • Patent number: 8610527
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a field coil assembly of an electromagnetic clutch for a compressor, more particularly, a field coil assembly of an electromagnetic clutch for a compressor, in which a terminal electrically connected with a field coil portion, and an electric wire are assembled to each other by means of upper and lower holders, and then finally engaged with together by means of an insert molding, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process to reduce manufacturing expense, removing a need for a separate member for protecting an electric wire, and easily adjusting the length of the electric wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Sungtaeg Oh
  • Patent number: 8602189
    Abstract: A diecast pocket plate or member having a sacrificial surface layer or portion is provided. The member is formed as a unitary die-casting from a die-casting alloy strengthened by an alloying material in a die-casting process. The diecast member includes a coupling face having a pocket which is sized and shaped to receive and nominally retain a locking member that moves in the pocket during an overrun condition of an engageable coupling assembly. The diecast member also includes a relatively hard base portion including particles of the strengthening alloying material of the die-casting alloy. The diecast member further includes a plurality of surface portions which define the pocket. At least one generally vertical surface portion of the surface portions is soft relative to the hard base portion and is substantially devoid of the particles of the alloying material so that the at least one generally vertical surface portion wears or deforms (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Shaw, Stephen M. Ruth, Jeffrey J. Prout
  • Patent number: 8596440
    Abstract: A solenoid pump and associated hydraulic circuitry are intended for use in automatic transmissions capable of engine start stop (ESS) operation. In a first embodiment, a solenoid pump provides pressurized hydraulic fluid to respective inputs of two way check valves. The other inputs are provided with controlled hydraulic fluid from a transmission valve body. The outputs of the check valves are provided to those hydraulically operated torque transmitting devices associated with first gear. The solenoid pump is activated when the transmission is in gear and the engine is stopped to maintain hydraulic pressure in those actuators associated with first gear. A second embodiment provides hydraulic fluid to actuators associated with reverse. A third embodiment includes a solenoid pump and latching solenoid valve both communicating with a hydraulic supply In a fourth embodiment, a solenoid pump provides hydraulic fluid to the exhaust backfill circuits of hydraulic operators in an automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Kevin Michael Dougan, Bret M. Olson
  • Patent number: 8596438
    Abstract: A viscous fan drive with a front-mounted fan and electrical actuation without a tethered harness. The mechanical package includes an inverted viscous clutch, a drive pulley and a split electromagnetic actuator with the electrical portion mounted to a stationary mounting member. An axially moveable valve member controls the flow of viscous fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Rick L. Boyer
  • Patent number: 8590107
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator, including at least one pivotably supported actuating arm for moving a furniture flap. The actuating arm is or can be acted on by a spring device, and a retaining clip is proposed for the empty actuating arm on which no furniture flap is mounted yet. The retaining clip prevents accidental opening or deflecting of the empty actuating arm and for this purpose includes a brake or detent device which can be moved by a shaft (R). A transmission gear is provided by which the pivot speed of the actuating arm can be geared to a higher rotational speed of the shaft (R) at least over a region of the pivot travel of the actuating arm in the open direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Omann
  • Patent number: 8584825
    Abstract: This bearing forms a clutching-declutching thrust bearing for a motor vehicle and comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and rolling elements. A flange mounted on the inner ring is equipped with two crenellated series of flange segments extending radially on the same side of a cylindrical web of the flange, and being offset angularly about an axis of symmetry of the inner ring, and axially along said axis. In addition to the bearing, the device further includes a control device, provided with a stationary portion and with a moving portion mounted to move axially and suitable for moving the bearing relative to the clutch mechanism, and a protective bellows disposed between the stationary portion and the bearing. The flange segments define between them an annular volume for receiving and for clamping one edge of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Benoit Arnault
  • Patent number: 8579098
    Abstract: A parking lock device (1) for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The parking lock device (1) comprises a locking pawl (3) that is fixed to the transmission housing and mounted so that the locking pawl (3) can pivot. The parking lock device (1) has a guiding element (3b) and a guide plate (5) fixed to and supported by the housing in which the guide element (3b) of the locking pawl (3) is guided laterally. One of a low-friction supporting element (7, 8) and an electrically insulating supporting element in a form of an insulating body (107) laterally guides the locking pawl (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hagen Dopfert, Matthias List
  • Patent number: 8579093
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a torque converter lockup clutch and a converter housing connected at the drive side, and a pump wheel non-rotatably connected thereto, as well as a turbine wheel non-rotatably connected at the output side to an output hub, and a torsional vibration damper actively arranged between the clutch output of the torque converter lockup clutch and the output hub, and comprising a centrifugal pendulum device arranged within the converter housing and having a pendulum flange with slightly swiveling pendulum masses thereupon, wherein the pendulum flange is arranged axially between the torsional vibration damper and the turbine wheel and is non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel and the output hub by means of a keyed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Peter Droll
  • Patent number: 8567579
    Abstract: A clutch apparatus includes an input shaft having a bore portion extending in an axial direction thereof, a stator shaft formed in a cylindrical shape and provided so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the input shaft, and a sleeve formed in a cylindrical shape and provided so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the stator shaft, wherein the stator shaft includes an internal hydraulic passage, a clearance formed between an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and the outer circumferential surface of the stator shaft serves as a first hydraulic passage, the internal hydraulic passage serves as a second hydraulic passage, a clearance formed between an inner circumferential surface of the stator shaft and the outer circumferential surface of the input shaft serves as a third hydraulic passage, and the bore portion of the input shaft serves as a fourth hydraulic passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinobu Nakamura, Masahiro Tomida
  • Patent number: 8567581
    Abstract: One embodiment includes an annular end plate for a plate assembly of a frictionally operating device, having a friction section, extending in the radial direction, to form a flat front side, which can be turned toward the plate assembly in a first axial direction, and having a rotary driving section, which integrally adjoins the friction section in the first radial direction. The end plate may have a reinforcing section, which integrally adjoins the friction section in the opposite, second, radial direction, the reinforcing section or the first section of the reinforcing section, that adjoining the friction section, being at least partially and preferably completely bent through more than 90° in the opposite, second, axial direction relative to the friction section. The present invention furthermore relates to a frictionally operating device having an end plate of this kind and to a method for the production of an end plate of this kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Juergen Hauck, Thomas Scharmacher
  • Patent number: 8561774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clutch having a first clutch part (2) and a second clutch part (3), wherein said two clutch parts (2, 3) are disposed pivotably relative to one another. In order to propose a clutch which in particular allows a precisely-positioned location fixing of the two clutch parts (2, 3) to one another, a clutch (1) is proposed by the invention which is characterized by a clutch element (4), which can be positioned rotationally-fixed relative to one of the two clutch parts (3), wherein the other of said two clutch parts (2) has a clutch member (6), which works together with a clutch member (7) carried by said clutch element (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: IPROTEC Maschinen-und Edelstahlprodukte GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Kochsiek
  • Patent number: 8556051
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clutch assembly, particularly for use in force transmission devices for motor vehicle, comprising a housing arrangement that is or can be filled with a fluid, and a frictional arrangement that has a first frictional surface arrangement and a second frictional surface arrangement which can be effectively interconnected by means of an actuator. Each frictional surface arrangement is provided with at least one frictional surface-supporting element. A fluid flow can be generated in the housing arrangement for cooling the frictional surface arrangements. The invention is characterized in that means are provided for creating at least one circuit which repeatedly flows through at least one frictional surface-supporting element of the frictional arrangement and conducts the fluid flow when the rotational speed differs between the effectively interconnectable frictional surface-supporting elements of the different frictional surface arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Toros Guelluek, Thorsten Krause, Bruno Mueller
  • Patent number: 8556053
    Abstract: A twin-clutch for a twin-clutch variable speed transmission in motor vehicles includes two wet running multi-disk-clutches which are arranged axially in succession in a transmission housing, wherein end walls of the transmission housing are provided on respective sides of the multi disk clutches, a driving clutch housing; two transmission hubs outputting to transmission input shafts, and alternately drivingly connectable with the clutch housing via clutch disks; ring pistons shiftably supported in the end walls of the transmission housing and hydraulically pressurizeable with pressure oil via ducts arranged in the end walls to thereby cause a shifting of the ring pistons, wherein the ring pistons alternately act on the clutch disks via pressure disks, and wherein the pressure disks are actuatable from outside the clutch housing by the ring pistons; and axial rolling bearings respectively arranged between the ring pistons and the pressure disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Mathias Jakob-Bodenhagen, Hans-Peter Fleischmann, Tassilo Scholle
  • Patent number: 8544627
    Abstract: A magnet holder assembly for a clutch includes a magnet holder and first and second permanent magnets. The magnet holder includes a body portion, a first groove defined in the body portion, a second groove defined in the body portion adjacent to the first groove, and a flange extending from the body portion opposite the first groove and extending in a different direction than the first groove. The flange has a connection feature for securing the magnet holder to a rotatable component of the clutch. The first permanent magnet is radially retained by the first groove in the body portion, and the first permanent magnet has a beveled edge configured to mate with the first groove. The second permanent magnet is radially retained by the second groove, and the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet have magnetic orientations arranged substantially opposite one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Horton, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Lawrence, Michael J. Bieber, John Philip Cinq-Mars
  • Patent number: 8540064
    Abstract: A drive for an hybrid vehicle, having an electric machine situated in a housing and having a clutch that is provided with a release mechanism. The release mechanism is connected to a housing-mounted component, that is locked against rotation, via at least one damping element, the damping element absorbing multi-dimensional motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Banhegyi, Andreas Herzberger
  • Patent number: 8540065
    Abstract: A mode selector mechanism for a selectable one way clutch assembly includes a lever moveable between a first position, a second position and a third position. A lever biasing device biases the lever in a first direction. A piston acts in opposition against the lever biasing device to move the lever in a second direction opposite the first direction. The piston is actuated by a variable hydraulic signal. The lever is disposed in the second position when the variable hydraulic signal includes a fluid pressure between a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure. The lever is disposed in the third position when the variable hydraulic signal includes a fluid pressure greater than the second fluid pressure. The lever is disposed in the first position when the variable hydraulic signal includes a fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Farzad Samie, Andrew L. Bartos, Chunhao J. Lee, Robert K. Saley
  • Patent number: 8528711
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a dual clutch transmission includes a plurality of pressure and flow control devices and logic valve assemblies in fluid communication with a plurality of clutch actuators and with a plurality of synchronizer actuators. The clutch actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of torque transmitting devices and the synchronizer actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of synchronizer assemblies. Selective activation of combinations of the pressure control solenoids and the flow control solenoids allows for a pressurized fluid to activate at least one of the clutch actuators and synchronizer actuators in order to shift the transmission into a desired gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John R. Czoykowski, Philip C. Lundberg, Steven P. Moorman, Bret M. Olson