Patents by Inventor Joseph L. Bair

Joseph L. Bair 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: 5685407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission device which is located between the crankshaft of an engine and a clutch and is designed with a flexible plate in contact with the crankshaft, and which can be connected to the flexible plate by means of connecting elements which are engaged from the crankshaft side via the flexible plate in a fastening element of the clutch and have a retaining part for the flexible plate, so that the installation of the fastening element and the flexible plate can be performed as quickly as possible and without causing any damage. For this purpose, the connecting elements with their retaining parts for the installation of the flexible plate project from the fastening element by a distance which exceeds the thickness of the flexible plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Gerda Rudolph, Michael Grosse-Erdmann, Joseph L. Bair, Edwin Murray, Peter Doll, Heiko Schulz-Andres
  • Patent number: 5634542
    Abstract: A friction clutch/flywheel assembly includes a flywheel with a predetermined diametral area designed to hold a preferably cylindrical wall of a basin-shaped clutch housing, so that the clutch housing does not rotate and is also secured against axial movement with respect to the flywheel. The assembly is designed so that there is a clamping device allocated to at least one of the flywheel or the clutch housing, which clamping device is designed to be located in the contact area between the cylindrical wall of the clutch housing and the predetermined diametral area of the flywheel. By means of this clamping device, the flywheel and clutch housing can be held in a non-positive connection with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Michael Grosse-Erdmann, Joseph L. Bair, Edwin Murray, Gerda Rudolph, Peter Doll, Heiko Schulz-Andres, George Traub, Reinhold Weidinger
  • Patent number: 5404979
    Abstract: A manual transmission modular clutch assembly has a flywheel, pressure plate and interposed clutch plate mounted in a cover that is adapted to be connected to an engine crankshaft and wherein separate spring-torque straps connect the pressure plate and the flywheel to the cover for rotation therewith. At assembly the flywheel is positioned against the force of its spring-torque straps by travel limit pins that are retained on the cover, press fitted in the flywheel and contact with the pressure plate when in its clutch engaging position. A diaphragm spring normally clamps the pressure plate, clutch plate and flywheel together and is adapted to be connected to a clutch pedal to release the clutch. As wear occurs, the pressure plate is allowed to move further in the direction of the flywheel and forces the flywheel travel limit pins to move in their press fit by the same amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignees: Chrysler Corporation, Sachs Automotive of America
    Inventors: Barrie G. Craft, Joseph L. Bair, Michael B. Grosse Erdmann, Edwin R. Murray, George S. Traub, Gerda Rudolph, Peter Doll, Heiko Schulz-Andres, David G. Buckingham, Richard G. Reed