Patents by Inventor Albert Birk
Albert Birk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 6467599Abstract: A device for damping torsional vibrations has two elements that are rotatable relative to each other. One of the elements is connected to a motor, and the other element is connected to a gear box. A torsional vibration damper with energy accumulators is interposed between the elements to counteract a relative rotation between them. At least one of the elements is configured as a disc-like sheet metal part in which circumferentially extending mountings or pockets are formed to receive the energy accumulators. Press-formed support areas in the sheet metal part delimit the pockets in the circumferential direction and serve to introduce biasing forces into the energy accumulators. Impressed in the sheet metal part are circumferential grooves extending over at least part of the length of each pocket between the press-formed support areas.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KGInventors: Reinhold Oser, Albert Birk
-
Patent number: 6386981Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece component 1 with an at least partial axial contact bearing face 3 for the centred mounting of a ring-shaped component. The one-piece component is made by means of a cross flow pressing process.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Albert Birk, Wilfried Schwenk, Reinhold Oser
-
Patent number: 6305522Abstract: A clutch disc wherein two annular washer-like friction linings flank a two-part resilient cushion which moves the friction linings apart during disengagement of a friction clutch wherein the clutch disc is installed between an engine-driven flywheel and an axially movable pressure plate, and which stores energy during engagement of the clutch. A blocking or movement limiting device, which defines a fulcrum for the friction linings, is provided between the parts of the cushion and/or on the friction linings to prevent an axial movement of the friction linings toward each other beyond a selected minimum distance and to thus compensate for deformation of the flywheel and/or pressure plate as a result of heating attributable to slippage of the pressure plate and flywheel relative to the adjacent friction linings during engagement and disengagement of the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: LuK Lamellen Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Jürgen Busse, Hans-Dieter Elison, Kraft Gunther, Steffen Lehmann, Andreas Raimann, Willi Ruder, Martin Schindler, Mario Thümmler, Albert Birk
-
Patent number: 6279712Abstract: A clutch disc wherein two annular washer-like friction linings flank a two-part resilient cushion which moves the friction linings apart during disengagement of a friction clutch wherein the clutch disc is installed between an engine-driven flywheel and an axially movable pressure plate, and which stores energy during engagement of the clutch. A blocking or movement limiting device, which defines a fulcrum for the friction linings, is provided between the parts of the cushion and/or on the friction linings to prevent an axial movement of the friction linings toward each other beyond a selected minimum distance and to thus compensate for deformation of the flywheel and/or pressure plate as a result of heating attributable to slippage of the pressure plate and flywheel relative to the adjacent friction linings during engagement and disengagement of the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Jürgen Busse, Hans-Dieter Elison, Kraft Gunther, Steffen Lehmann, Andreas Raimann, Willi Ruder, Martin Schindler, Mario Thümmler, Albert Birk
-
Publication number: 20010003323Abstract: The invention relates to a device for damping torsional vibrations having at least two relatively rotatable elements which can rotate against a torsion vibration damper mounted between same.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2000Publication date: June 14, 2001Applicant: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Reinhold Oser, Albert Birk
-
Publication number: 20010000593Abstract: A clutch disc wherein two annular washer-like friction linings flank a two-part resilient cushion which moves the friction linings apart during disengagement of a friction clutch wherein the clutch disc is installed between an engine-driven flywheel and an axially movable pressure plate, and which stores energy during engagement of the clutch. A blocking or movement limiting device, which defines a fulcrum for the friction linings, is provided between the parts of the cushion and/or on the friction linings to prevent an axial movement of the friction linings toward each other beyond a selected minimum distance and to thus compensate for deformation of the flywheel and/or pressure plate as a result of heating attributable to slippage of the pressure plate and flywheel relative to the adjacent friction linings during engagement and disengagement of the clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: May 3, 2001Applicant: LuK Lamellen Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Jurgen Busse, Hans-Dieter Elison, Kraft Gunther, Steffen Lehmann, Andreas Raimann, Willi Ruder, Martin Schindler, Mario Thummler, Albert Birk
-
Patent number: 6131487Abstract: A composite flywheel has primary and secondary masses rotatable relative to each other against the resistance of a damper having arcuate coil springs and an abutment between neighboring end portions of such springs. The abutment can move in the circumferential direction of the masses and is preferably form-lockingly connected against loss to at least one of the springs. To this end, a portion of the abutment extends into the adjacent convolutions of the at least one spring and is engaged by such convolutions with a force which suffices to prevent unintentional separation of the at least one spring from the abutment in the axial direction of the at least one spring.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Johann Jackel, Albert Birk
-
Patent number: 5518100Abstract: A composite flywheel having coaxial primary and secondary flywheels, which can turn relative to each other against the opposition of one or more friction generating devices and/or dampers, employs a substantially cup-shaped carrier with one or more signal generators in the form of notches, recesses, grooves, holes, projections or the like. The carrier includes a radially inwardly extending washer-like portion and a sleeve-like portion, which sleeve-like portion is in one piece with the radially outermost part of the washer-like portion. The signal generator(s) is (are) provided in or on that part of the sleeve-like portion which projects outwardly beyond a sleeve-like part of the radially outer end portion of the primary flywheel. The sleeve-like part of the end portion of the primary flywheel surrounds and confines the washer-like portion and is welded to the sleeve-like portion of the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1993Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Albert Birk, Johann Jackel
-
Patent number: 5246398Abstract: A clutch plate for use in friction clutches has an output component in the form of a hub which is connectable to the input shaft of a variable-speed transmission, and an input component in the form of two spaced-apart disc-shaped walls which receive torque from a flywheel when the clutch is engaged. Two dampers are installed between the input and output components, and two diaphragm springs are provided to maintain the members of one damper and the elements of the other damper in proper axial positions relative to each other and relative to the components of the clutch plate. Plastic inserts are used to reduce wear upon metallic parts. One of the dampers is operative alone during a first stage of angular movement of the input and output components relative to each other, and the other damper is operative alone during the next-following stage of such angular movement.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1989Date of Patent: September 21, 1993Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Albert Birk, Michael Bosse
-
Patent number: 4567974Abstract: A friction clutch wherein the pressure plate at one side of the clutch disc is axially movably connected with a cover by a set of leaf springs which are disposed at the outer side of the cover, namely at the side which faces the engine of the motor vehicle wherein the clutch is installed. The cover is driven by the crankshaft of the engine and has raised portions extending toward the engine and being riveted to the respective end portions of the leaf springs. The other end portions of the leaf springs are riveted to protuberances which are provided on the pressure plate and extend into openings provided therefor in the cover and alternating with the raised portions. The clutch plate is biased against the adjacent lining of the clutch disc by a diaphragm spring whose radially outermost portion reacts against the cover radially inwardly of the protuberances and which bears against the pressure plate in a region which is located somewhat inwardly of the radially outermost portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1984Date of Patent: February 4, 1986Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventor: Albert Birk
-
Patent number: 4144959Abstract: In a clutch disk assembly having two structural units formed with window-shaped cutouts, at least two coaxially disposed force-storage devices received in the cutouts and braced against the structural units so as to afford limited torsional play of the structural units relative to one another, one of the structural units including two lateral disks mutually spaced-apart from one another in axial direction of the clutch disk assembly, the other of the structural units including at least one disk-like member disposed in the axial space between the two lateral disks, the two force storage devices includes a radially inner and a radially outer force storer, the radially inner force storer extending along the length of the radially outer force storer and, as viewed in circumferential direction of the lateral disks, having a portion thereof projecting beyond at least one end of the radially outer force storer, the cutouts being defined by contour portions of the two structural units conforming both to the radiallyType: GrantFiled: March 7, 1977Date of Patent: March 20, 1979Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Paul Maucher, Albert Birk