Patents by Inventor Mircea Gradu
Mircea Gradu 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).
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Publication number: 20070228809Abstract: A packaged bearing assembly for a full floating axle fits on the end of an axle tube where it serves to couple a road wheel to the axle. The bearing assembly includes a housing having external formations for mounting brake components. It also has a hub provided with a drive flange located beyond the outboard end of the housing and a spindle that projects into the housing. Finally, the bearing assembly also has an antifriction bearing located within the housing and around the spindle of the hub to enable the hub to rotate relative to the housing and axle tube. The drive flange of the hub provides a mounting for a road wheel. An axle shaft extends through the axle tube and through the hub and is removably connected to the hub, so that it can be withdrawn without elevating the road wheel off of its supporting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2006Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventors: Mircea Gradu, Gregory Piotrowski
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Patent number: 7243768Abstract: A clutch (A,B) includes a cam (20,70) and a rotor (22,74), both of which revolve around a common axis (X). The cam has a camming surface (30,72) provided with lobes (32), whereas the rotor carries pistons (26,80) which bear against the camming surface of the cam. The pistons project from piston cavities (40,42; 76) in the rotor and those cavities communicate through a connecting cavity (44,78), to thereby form a fluid chamber (56,82) of constant volume which contains a magneto-rheological fluid (28,84). An electrical coil controls the viscosity of the rheological fluid. When the viscosity is low, the pistons will move inwardly and outwardly on the rotor as the camming surface passes over them and no torque will transfer between the cam and rotor. However, when the fluid is viscous, the fluid will impede displacement of the pistons in the piston cavities, and the pistons will grip the camming surface sufficiently to enable torque to transfer between the cam and rotor.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventor: Mircea Gradu
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Patent number: 7238140Abstract: A differential for delivering vectored torque to left and right axle shafts that rotate about an axis includes a cage which rotates about the axis as a consequence of torque applied to it. The cage contains gearing that transfers the torque to the axle shafts while accommodating for variances in angular velocity between the axle shafts. In addition, the differential has left and right torque diverters, each of which includes a ring gear on the cage, a sun gear on the axle shaft with which it is identified, planet gears between the ring and sun gears, and a carrier for providing axes about which the planet gears rotate. Each diverter also has a brake which resists rotation of the carrier for the diverter and thereby causes torque to transfer from the cage to the axle shaft while bypassing the gearing. The brakes control the torque delivered to the axle shafts, so the differential has the capacity to vector the torque applied to its cage.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventor: Mircea Gradu
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Patent number: 7207574Abstract: A stabilizer bar for controlling the roll of an automotive vehicle has left and right sections, each provided with a torsion rod and a torque arm. The torsion rods are aligned along a transverse axis and attached to a structural component of the vehicle, while the torque arms are connected to the left and right control arms of the vehicle's suspension system. In addition, the bar has a coupling between the torsion rods of the two sections for controlling the torsional stiffness of the bar. The coupling includes a rotor fitted to one of the torsion rods and a housing fitted to the other torsion rod, with the housing receiving the rotor, such that a cavities exist between the rotor and housing. Both the rotor and housing carry vanes, that alternate so that the vanes of the rotor are located between the vanes of the housing. The cavities contain a magneto-rheological fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventors: Mircea Gradu, Timothy L. Schlernitzauer
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Publication number: 20070044776Abstract: A supercharger for an internal combustion engine includes a housing in which an impeller rotates to pressurize the intake manifold of the engine. The impeller is connected to the crankshaft of the engine through a magnetic clutch which enables the impeller to remain at rest or to rotate at a speed that is independent of the speed of the crankshaft and is under control of an engine management system or the operator of the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2005Publication date: March 1, 2007Inventors: Mircea Gradu, Richard Domin
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Patent number: 7175350Abstract: A shaft rotates in a housing on two single row tapered roller bearings mounted in opposition such that the raceways of the one bearing taper downwardly toward the raceways of the other bearing. The metal from which the housing is formed has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the metal from which the shaft and bearings are formed. The bearings are set to preload to stabilize the axis of rotation. To prevent the cups (outer races) of the bearings from becoming loose as a consequence of differential thermal expansion between the housing and shaft, the cups are provided with beveled back faces which abut beveled shoulders at the ends of bearing seats in the housing. As the housing expands radially and perhaps eliminates radial interference fits between the cups and housing, the housing also expands axially and maintains the beveled shoulders of the bearing seats firmly abutted against the beveled back faces of the cups, so that the cups do not displace either axially or radially.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventors: Mircea Gradu, John Feltman, Sharon E. Ross, Tim Schlernitzauer
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Publication number: 20070022979Abstract: An internal combustion engine relies on a liquid coolant to dissipate heat that is produced by combustion within the engine. A coolant pump, which is driven by the engine itself, circulates the coolant through passageways in the engine. The pump includes a clutch such as a magnetic particle clutch or a magnetorheological clutch, that relies on a magnetic field to control the speed at which the pump operates and the rate that it circulates the coolant, so that a variable speed ratio exists between the speed of the engine and the speed of the pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2005Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Mircea Gradu, Timothy Schlernitzauer
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Publication number: 20060172847Abstract: A differential for selectively vectoring torque to left and right axle shafts that rotate about an axis includes a cage that rotates about the axis as a consequence of torque applied to it. The cage contains gearing that transfers the torque to the axle shafts while accommodating for variances in angular velocity between the axle shafts. In addition, the differential has left and right torque diverters for the left and right axle shafts, with each torque diverter including a planetary set connected between the cage and its axle shaft and a brake which imparts a reactive torque to its planetary set so that the planetary set diverts torque from the cage through the planetary set to its axle shaft. The brakes, which are preferably magnetic particle brakes, control the torque delivered to the axle shafts, so the differential has the capacity to vector the torque applied to its cage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: August 3, 2006Inventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20060166775Abstract: A power transmission system coupling (100) configured to provide a responsive and controllable clutch (110) using a torque split arrangement including a planetary gear set (106) for torque modulation, together with a locking device (134) to maximize torque transfer capability when modulation is not required.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2003Publication date: July 27, 2006Inventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20060116233Abstract: An electric drive axle, which is located between and powers the left and right drive wheels of an automotive vehicle, includes an electric motor and left and right torque couplings. Torque developed by the motor transfers through the torque couplings to axle shafts which are connected to the drive wheels. Each torque coupling includes a magnetic particle clutch and a planetary set organized such that the current flowing through the electromagnet of the clutch controls the torque delivered through the coupler. The magnetic particle clutches also accommodate slippage so that the drive wheels may rotate at different angular velocities.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2004Publication date: June 1, 2006Inventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20060025267Abstract: A differential for delivering vectored torque to left and right axle shafts that rotate about an axis includes a cage which rotates about the axis as a consequence of torque applied to it. The cage contains gearing that transfers the torque to the axle shafts while accommodating for variances in angular velocity between the axle shafts. In addition, the differential has left and right torque diverters, each of which includes a ring gear on the cage, a sun gear on the axle shaft with which it is identified, planet gears between the ring and sun gears, and a carrier for providing axes about which the planet gears rotate. Each diverter also has a brake which resists rotation of the carrier for the diverter and thereby causes torque to transfer from the cage to the axle shaft while bypassing the gearing. The brakes control the torque delivered to the axle shafts, so the differential has the capacity to vector the torque applied to its cage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2004Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20060025273Abstract: A differential for delivering vectored torque to left and right axle shafts that rotate about an axis includes a cage which rotates about the axis as a consequence of torque applied to it. The cage contains gearing that transfers the torque to the axle shafts while accommodating for variances in angular velocity between the axle shafts. In addition, the differential has left and right torque diverters, each of which includes a ring gear on the cage, a sun gear on the axle shaft with which it is identified, planet gears between the ring and sun gears, and a carrier for providing axes about which the planet gears rotate. Each diverter also has a brake which resists rotation of the carrier for the diverter and thereby causes torque to transfer from the cage to the axle shaft while bypassing the gearing. The brakes control the torque delivered to the axle shafts, so the differential has the capacity to vector the torque applied to its cage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20060023985Abstract: The setting of opposed bearings located between two machine components is controlled with at least one piezoelectric actuator located such that it axially displaces a race of one of the bearings.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2004Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Mircea Gradu, Christian Adam, Marc Weston, Graham McDearmon
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Publication number: 20060016657Abstract: A clutch (A,B) includes a cam (20,70) and a rotor (22,74), both of which revolve around a common axis (X). The cam has a camming surface (30,72) provided with lobes (32), whereas the rotor carries pistons (26,80) which bear against the camming surface of the cam. The pistons project from piston cavities (40,42; 76) in the rotor and those cavities communicate through a connecting cavity (44,78), to thereby form a fluid chamber (56,82) of constant volume which contains a magneto-rheological fluid (28,84). An electrical coil controls the viscosity of the rheological fluid. When the viscosity is low, the pistons will move inwardly and outwardly on the rotor as the camming surface passes over them and no torque will transfer between the cam and rotor. However, when the fluid is viscous, the fluid will impede displacement of the pistons in the piston cavities, and the pistons will grip the camming surface sufficiently to enable torque to transfer between the cam and rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: January 26, 2006Applicant: THE TIMKEN COMPANYInventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20060018582Abstract: A tapered roller bearing for use in transmission cases made from aluminum alloy or other lightweight materials where the transmission contains a steel shaft which is supported in the case on two directly mounted tapered roller bearings, so that the two bearings confine the shaft both radially and axially. To compensate for the differences in expansion and contraction between the aluminum case and the steel shaft as the transmission or transaxle experiences variations in temperature, a race of at least one of the bearings is fitted with a compensating ring having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the case or shaft. As a consequence, the bearings operate at a generally uniform setting over a wide range of temperature variations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2004Publication date: January 26, 2006Inventors: Mircea Gradu, Russell Folger, David Crichton
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Patent number: 6974011Abstract: A bi-directional clutch permits the unidirectional transfer of torque between inner and outer races in either direction of rotation, depending on how the clutch is set. The outer race has a cylindrical raceway presented inwardly toward the inner race, whereas the inner race has recesses presented outwardly toward the raceway in the outer race. Each recess has ramps which converge and each contains a cylindrical roller. The rollers fit into pockets in a cage, with the fit being quite close so that the circumferential position of the cage relative to the inner race controls the position of the rollers in the recesses of the inner race. The inner race carries actuators which operate against the rollers in two different pockets, one to prevent the rollers from moving up the ramps presented in one circumferential direction and the other to prevent the rollers from moving up the ramps presented in the other circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventors: Mircea Gradu, Timothy Schlernitzauer
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Patent number: 6948707Abstract: A stabilizer bar (D) for controlling the roll of an automotive vehicle has left and right sections (16, 18) joined together at a coupling (20) including a housing (36) on one of the sections and on a rotor (38) on the other section, with the rotor being in the housing. The coupling also includes a piston (40) which displaces axially in the housing in response to relative rotation between the sections, and this varies the volume in a housing cavity (80) behind it. That cavity is connected to a valve (22) having a restrictor (98) that carries an electrical coil (104). Both the valve and housing cavity contain a rheological fluid (82). The cease with which the piston displaces in the housing controls the stiffness of bar, and that depends on the viscosity of the fluid in the valve. The magnetic field produced by the coil controls the viscosity of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventor: Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20050207689Abstract: A shaft rotates in a housing on two single row tapered roller bearings mounted in opposition such that the raceways of the one bearing taper downwardly toward the raceways of the other bearing. The metal from which the housing is formed has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the metal from which the shaft and bearings are formed. The bearings are set to preload to stabilize the axis of rotation. To prevent the cups (outer races) of the bearings from becoming loose as a consequence of differential thermal expansion between the housing and shaft, the cups are provided with beveled back faces which abut beveled shoulders at the ends of bearing seats in the housing. As the housing expands radially and perhaps eliminates radial interference fits between the cups and housing, the housing also expands axially and maintains the beveled shoulders of the bearing seats firmly abutted against the beveled back faces of the cups, so that the cups do not displace either axially or radially.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2005Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Mircea Gradu, John Feltman, Sharon Ross, Tim Schlernizauer
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Patent number: 6922004Abstract: A power unit assembly which has a pair of mirrored axial flux electric motors having a common axis of rotation, each axial flux motor including a rotor disposed on a rotor shaft and at least one stator disposed in operative relationship to said rotor. A common end plate is disposed between each of the pair of axial flux electric motors to provide a common mounting structure, while an output hub is operatively coupled to each rotor shaft of the pair of mirrored axial flux electric motors. Each of the pair of mirrored axial flux electric motors is operatively configured to provide independent speed and torque to each associated output hub.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2002Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: The Timken CompanyInventors: Fukuo Hashimoto, Rao-Sheng Zhou, Mircea Gradu
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Publication number: 20050133329Abstract: A bi-directional clutch permits the unidirectional transfer of torque between inner and outer races in either direction of rotation, depending on how the clutch is set. The outer race has a cylindrical raceway presented inwardly toward the inner race, whereas the inner race has recesses presented outwardly toward the raceway in the outer race. Each recess has ramps which converge and each contains a cylindrical roller. The rollers fit into pockets in a cage, with the fit being quite close so that the circumferential position of the cage relative to the inner race controls the position of the rollers in the recesses of the inner race. The inner race carries actuators which operate against the rollers in two different pockets, one to prevent the rollers from moving up the ramps presented in one circumferential direction and the other to prevent the rollers from moving up the ramps presented in the other circumferential direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2003Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Mircea Gradu, Timothy Schlernitzauer