Patents Examined by Ryan Dodd
  • Patent number: 9638270
    Abstract: In one aspect, a decoupler comprises an input member, an output member, and a torsional isolation spring, a carrier, and a wrap spring clutch configured to operate in a first mode in which rotary power is transmitted in a first rotational direction from the input member to the output member serially through the wrap spring clutch, the carrier, and the isolation spring, and a second mode in which the output member overruns the input member in the first rotational direction. The carrier has a carrier clutch drive face that receives a first vector force from an end of the wrap spring clutch, and an isolation spring drive face that receives a second vector force from an end of the isolation spring. The wrap spring clutch and isolation spring drive faces are arranged so as to direct the second vector force to intersect with the first vector force substantially at the carrier clutch drive face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: John R. Antchak, Warren J. Williams
  • Patent number: 9631705
    Abstract: A multi-stages automatic transmission for vehicle may include first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each including first, second and third rotation elements, friction members including first, second, third and fourth clutches and first and second brakes, in which an input shaft may be connected to the first rotation element of the second planetary gear set and the third rotation element of the fourth planetary gear set, and an output shaft may be connected to the second rotation element of the fourth planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seong-Wook Ji, Jae-Chang Kook, Won-Min Cho, Myeong-Hoon Noh, Kang-Soo Seo, Seong-Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 9611906
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a vehicle clutch assembly can include a pump and a purge valve for regulating hydraulic pressure supplied to the clutch. The hydraulic pressure at the pump can be set to a value higher than the operating pressure for the clutch. The purge valve can be configured to purge hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic system so that an optimum, controllable, and/or pre-determined operating pressure can be supplied to the clutch. The system can be configured to provide accurate control of the clutch(es), continuous cooling capacity to the hydraulic system components, lateral torque control when two separate hydraulic circuits are used, weight and cost reduction of the vehicle clutch, as well as other vehicle functions and characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsushi Asano
  • Patent number: 9611918
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes nine rotatable shafts and four planetary gear sets, each with a first, second and third element. For the shifting of multiple forward gears and one reverse gear, seven shift elements are provided. The second element of the fourth planetary gear set forms the first shaft designed as a drive shaft, the second element of the third planetary gear set forms the second shaft designed as an output shaft, the first element of the fourth planetary gear set forms the third shaft, one element of the planetary gear set forms the fourth shaft, the third element of the third planetary gear set forms the sixth shaft, the second element of the second planetary gear set forms the eighth shaft. The third element of the second planetary gear set and the first element of the third planetary gear set are connected to each other as the fifth shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Josef Haupt, Martin Brehmer
  • Patent number: 9605717
    Abstract: A synchronizer ring for a synchronization unit of a manual transmission has a ring axis and is formed of a ring-shaped sheet-metal cone with a substantially constant sheet thickness. The ring-shaped sheet-metal cone has a cone-shaped radial outer side and an opposite radial inner side with a cone-shaped friction surface, wherein on its radial outer side the sheet-metal cone includes an integrally molded centering collar for radially centering the synchronizer ring relative to a synchronizer hub of the synchronization unit. The sheet-metal cone is deformed in the region of the centering collar and includes a first sheet portion with a residual thickness reduced as compared to the sheet thickness and axially adjacent a second sheet portion with a collar thickness which at least corresponds to the sheet thickness. The residual thickness of the sheet-metal cone is substantially constant in the first sheet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HOERBIGER Antriebstechnik Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Berthold Negele
  • Patent number: 9574615
    Abstract: A centrifugal pendulum and a clutch disk with a pendulum flange provided thereon, rotational about an axis of rotation, and several pendulum weights distributed over the circumference and received on the pendulum flange in a pivotal fashion. In order to at least reduce noise development due to mass momentum of inertia acting here caused by the centrifugal pendulum, the pendulum flange is received on a rotational part, rotating on an axis of rotation, and a friction clutch is effectively arranged between the pendulum flange and said part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alain Rusch, Steffen Lehmann, Walter Hepperle
  • Patent number: 9555826
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for a steer-by-wire. The present invention can ensure the safety of a steer-by-wire using a simple and compact structure and achieve a manufacturing-cost reduction effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kwon Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9546720
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first drive secured to an input, producing a fixed drive ratio; a second drive secured to an input, producing a variable drive ratio; a planetary gearset including a member connected to the second drive, and a second member; a brake releasably holding the second member rotatably fixed; a first clutch releasably connecting the first member and an output; and a second clutch releasably connecting the second member and the first drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Janson
  • Patent number: 9546698
    Abstract: A dual clutch for coupling an engine drive shaft with a transmission shaft and/or an auxiliary power take-off. A first friction clutch presses a first clutch plate that is couplable with the transmission shaft between a first contact plate, displaceable in an axial direction to engage the first friction clutch and a first counter plate. A second friction clutch presses a second clutch plate that is couplable with the auxiliary power take-off between a second contact plate, displaceable in the axial direction to engage the second friction clutch and a second counter plate. First and second actuating elements move the first and second contact plates; respectively. The second contact plate is connected to a thrust ring connected to the second actuating element to transfer displacing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Simon Sebastian Fünfgeld, Patrick Weydmann, Gerhard Gander, Alexander Obitz
  • Patent number: 9541139
    Abstract: A clutch comprises an input side and an output side, which are disposed rotatably. First frictional partners are non-rotatably connected with the input side and axially movable and second frictional partners are non-rotatably connected with the output side and axially movable. Furthermore, a compression device is provided to compress the frictional partners axially, in order to provide a torsional connection between the input side and the output side. Both sides are decoupled axially from the respective frictional partners with which they are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Goetz
  • Patent number: 9534640
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine clutch includes a dry clutch assembly, forward and aft working areas, and a shaft. The dry clutch assembly is operative to receive power from a gas turbine engine. The dry clutch assembly is configured to selectively engage the gas turbine engine with a driven source, and has an axial opening extending therethrough. The forward and aft working areas are disposed at axially opposite ends of the dry clutch assembly. The shaft extends axially through the axial opening of the dry clutch assembly, and defines an axial fluid flow passage therethrough in liquid fluid communication with the forward and aft working areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew T. Bouton, Doug M. Schwerin
  • Patent number: 9528556
    Abstract: A multiple natural frequency coupling apparatus for connecting a rotatable driving member to a rotatable driven member of a drive line. The coupling apparatus of the present invention provides a substantially cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis with a substantially cylindrical outer shaft coaxially aligned with and connected to the housing. A substantially cylindrical inner shaft is coaxially aligned with the outer shaft and the housing. A substantially cylindrical chuck housing is coaxially aligned with the housing, the outer shaft, and the inner shaft wherein the fluid chuck housing is connected to the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Comau LLC
    Inventor: Robert M. Kerchen
  • Patent number: 9523416
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement comprises an epicyclic gear set 4a, 4b including a sun gear 7, at least one planet gear 9 in meshing engagement with the sun gear 7, and a ring gear 3 in meshing engagement with the planet gear 9, the planet gear 9 being carried by a rotatable support 5, wherein one of the sun gear 7 and the support 5 is arranged to be driven by a motor 2 and the other of the sun gear 7 and the support 5 is arranged to drive an actuator 18, and a clutch arrangement 6 operable to resist rotation of the ring gear 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tim Hudson, Tony Jones, Nicholas Sloane
  • Patent number: 9506547
    Abstract: It is intended to inhibit variation in output-side rotation in a wide rotational speed range even when a lock-up rotational speed is set to be low. The present lock-up device includes: a piston configured to be pressed onto a front cover; an output-side unit disposed to be unitarily rotatable with a turbine; and a first torsion spring elastically coupling the piston and the output-side unit. The output-side unit includes: an output member fixed to the turbine; an inertia member disposed to be rotatable relatively to the output member; a second torsion spring elastically coupling the inertia member and the output member; and a hysteresis torque generating mechanism. The hysteresis torque generating mechanism is configured to generate variable hysteresis torque while being disposed between the inertia member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 9494200
    Abstract: A clutch for a power tool includes an adjustment ring configured to move axially relative to the housing while being rotated relative to the housing. A spring retainer is disposed axially rearward of the adjustment ring. The spring retainer is coupled for rotation together with the adjustment ring and configured to remain substantially axially stationary relative to the housing when rotated. A spring is disposed between the adjustment ring and the spring retainer. A clutch face is coupled to a portion of the transmission. A locking member is disposed between the spring retainer and the clutch face. The locking member is configured to transfer a holding force exerted by the spring to the clutch face. Rotation and axial movement of the adjustment ring alters the holding force exerted by the spring. When an amount of output torque exceeds the holding force, torque transmission to the output spindle is effectively interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, Daniel L. Krout, David C. Tomayko
  • Patent number: 9441709
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes plural planetary gear mechanisms rotatably supported by a housing to be coaxial to a rotation axis, a ring gear of the foremost planetary gear mechanism being connected to a sun gear of the rearmost planetary gear mechanism, an input shaft being connected to a carrier of the foremost planetary gear mechanism, an output shaft being connected to a carrier of the rearmost planetary gear mechanism, a rotation member positioned at a radially outward of the ring gear of the rearmost planetary gear mechanism to be rotatable coaxially to the ring gear of the rearmost planetary gear mechanism, a brake selectively fixing the rotation member to the housing, a clutch selectively connecting the rotation member and a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism positioned at front relative to the rearmost planetary gear mechanism by one, and a dog clutch selectively connecting the ring gear of the rearmost planetary gear mechanism and the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Kiyoharu Takagi, Atsuhiro Mase
  • Patent number: 9421855
    Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle is provided. The powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, a first gearset connected to the internal combustion engine, a first electric machine connected to the first gearset, a drivetrain gear for connection to a drivetrain of the vehicle, a second gearset connecting the first gearset to the drivetrain gear, a second electric machine, and at least one dynamic clutch selectively coupling the second electric machine to the first electric machine, the first gearset, and the second gearset. In a first mode of operation, the at least one dynamic clutch couples the second electric machine and the first electric machine. In a second mode of operation, the at least one dynamic clutch couples the second electric machine and the first gearset. In a third mode of operation, the at least one dynamic clutch couples the second electric machine and the second gearset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: Piranavan Suntharalingam, Ali Emadi
  • Patent number: 9388864
    Abstract: Provided is a roller type one-way clutch that can prevent rollers from coming off at the time of conveyance and assembling of an outer race without increasing a cost and a weight. The roller type one-way clutch includes: an outer race having pockets that have a cam surface formed on an inner surface thereof; an inner race that is apart on an inner diameter side in a radial direction from the outer race, concentrically arranged to allow its relative rotation, and has an annular outer peripheral raceway surface; a plurality of rollers each of which is arranged in each pocket, engaged with the cam surface, and transmits torque between the outer race and the inner race; and springs each of which is arranged in each pocket and energizes each roller by one end portion thereof in an engaging direction with respect to the cam surface, the other end portion of each spring is fixed to the outer race, and a support portion that supports each roller in a radial direction is provided at the other end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Tomoharu Ando
  • Patent number: 9381903
    Abstract: A variable channel type fan clutch apparatus may include a storage chamber and an operation chamber in which oil may be collected, wherein a fan clutch rotor may be interposed between the storage chamber and the operation chamber, an oil circulatory channel which fluid-connects the storage chamber and the operation chamber to circulate the oil therethrough, and a variable value which may be located in the oil circulatory channel, wherein the variable value may be configured to close the oil circulatory channel when an engine may be stopped or when a fan clutch exceeds an operation temperature, and wherein the variable value may be configured to open the oil circulatory channel when the engine may be operated or when the fan clutch does not exceed the operation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jaejin Lee
  • Patent number: 9381799
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine block, a flywheel, and a grounding clutch coupled to the block. The block defines a bore along a first longitudinal axis. The flywheel is rotatable about the axis and includes a spline. The spline has a first tooth and a second tooth spaced apart from the first tooth to define a gap therebetween. The clutch is configured for preventing rotation of the flywheel about the first axis and includes a locking pin. The pin is transitionable between a locked position in which the pin is disposed within the gap and abuts the first and second teeth such that the flywheel does not rotate, and an unlocked position in which the pin does not abut the first and second teeth such that the flywheel rotates. A hybrid vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Arthur L. McGrew, Jr., Gary R. Valler