Patents by Inventor Jacques Alas

Jacques Alas 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: 4899862
    Abstract: A torsion damper, especially for a friction disc clutch for an automotive vehicle, comprising a hub, a main damper plate, at least one guide ring, and a ring member which is resiliently deformable. The ring member comprises at least one first part which is resiliently deformable and a second part comprising pins for centring with respect to the damping plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Michel Graton, Jacques Alas
  • Patent number: 4892008
    Abstract: A torsion damping device comprises at least two coaxial parts mounted to move circumferentially relative to one another against the action of elastic units. Inside a coil spring of one elastic unit a stiffer elastic means is housed, comprising in the central zone of the said unit a block of relatively rigid plastic material and two elastic pads each disposed at one of the circumferential ends of the said unit with a predetermined clearance relative to the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacky Naudin, Jacques Alas
  • Patent number: 4714148
    Abstract: A friction disk comprises circumferentially distributed support vanes and two annular friction facing members at its periphery, one on each side of the support vanes. Each friction facing member is axially fastened to the support vanes but axially mobile relative to the other friction facing member. Each support vane comprises a sheet metal member which is bent in an inoperative configuration with the friction facing members moved apart from one another. This sheet metal member features a circumferential succession of bends delimiting a circumferential succession of bearing surfaces alternately for one of the friction facing members and for the other. The friction facing members comprise bearing areas which cooperate with these bearing surfaces and recesses between these bearing areas axially recessed relative to the bearing areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacques Alas, Michel Bacher
  • Patent number: 4697682
    Abstract: A torsional damper device, for use in friction disks in automobile vehicle clutches, for example, comprises at least two coaxial parts rotatable relative to one another within defined limits and damper means adapted to oppose such relative rotation. The damper means comprise at least one friction ring, two annular members and an elastic prestressing member disposed axially between the annular members. The prestressing member is adapted to urge the friction ring axially against one of the coaxial parts. It and one of the annular members constitute a pair of members of which one has at least one primary transverse land which is circumferentially subdivided and of which the other has at least two secondary transverse lands which are axially offset and circumferentially subdivided and each of which is adapted to contact selectively the primary transverse land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacques Alas, Michel Graton
  • Patent number: 4669592
    Abstract: A torsional damper device comprises two coaxial parts disposed to rotate relative to one another within defined limits of relative angular movement. One comprises a hub flange and the other two guide rings disposed one on each side of the hub flange. Spacers fasten together the guide rings and elastic means are disposed circumferentially between the coaxial parts, housed in openings in circumferential series in the hub flange and in each guide ring. At least one of the guide rings features U-shaped peripheral stamped portions each associated with one opening, being radially aligned with the respective opening outwardly thereof. A circumferential strip separates each stamped portion and the corresponding opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacques Alas, Michel Graton
  • Patent number: 4650050
    Abstract: A clutch in which the starter ring and the ignition-timing target are carried by one and the same annular supporting collar. The reaction plate being formed by two separate components, namely a supporting flange, through which it is designed to be attached to the shaft in question, and an actual reaction plate, with which the friction disk can interact, the supporting flange itself forms directly the annular supporting collar for the starter ring and the ignition-timing target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacques Alas, Rumignani Paolo
  • Patent number: 4634398
    Abstract: A torsional damper device suitable for automobile vehicle clutch disks. The torsional damper device comprises two coaxial parts disposed to rotate relative to one another within defined limits of relative angular movement. Friction devices are inserted axially between the coaxial parts and comprise a pressure ring which is acted on by an elastic clamping lug outside the friction area of the pressure ring. This enables the overall size, especially the axial dimension, to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventor: Jacques Alas
  • Patent number: 4570772
    Abstract: A clutch comprises a transversely disposed reaction plate assembly. This is designed to be fixed in rotation to a shaft, in practice a drive shaft. At its outer periphery, on an axial rim, it has a toothed starter ring. The reaction plate assembly is in two parts fastened together, a support bracket and a reaction element. The support bracket is stamped out from sheet metal, the axial rim and the toothed starter ring forming integral parts of the support bracket. The toothed ring is formed by stamping the axial rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacques Alas, Michel Bacher
  • Patent number: 4545473
    Abstract: A torsion damping device for an automotive clutch plate assembly comprising two rotary parts, i.e. a hub with a hub disc and a pair of guide washers fixed to a friction disc. First and second spring stages are operatively circumferentially interposed between the rotary parts, the first stage spring(s) having relative low stiffness and being operative during small relatively angular displacements of the rotary parts and the second stage spring(s) having relatively high stiffness and being operative during larger relative angular displacements of the rotary parts. A friction washer in frictional engagement between the rotary parts and producing most of the frictional torque is freely angularly mounted and has a position in the rest position of the torsion damping device independent of the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventor: Jacques Alas
  • Patent number: 4529074
    Abstract: A pressure plate for a clutch cover assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises, on the side opposite that through which it is adapted to operate on a friction disk, axially projecting cooling fins 24. Certain at least of these extend substantially from its inside perimeter to its outside perimeter. Oblique air circulation grooves are defined between them. Over at least part of their length, the air circulation grooves are closed off in the axial direction, on the side opposite the pressure plate, by a separate confinement member which is attached to the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventor: Jacques Alas