Patents by Inventor Robert Neil Paciotti
Robert Neil Paciotti 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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Patent number: 9234551Abstract: A transmission and a clutch assembly for a vehicle are disclosed. The clutch assembly includes a housing defining a cavity presenting an interior surface. The interior surface defines a pocket along a longitudinal axis. The clutch assembly further includes a piston disposed in the pocket and movable between an initial position and a final position relative to the pocket along the longitudinal axis. The piston includes a plurality of flanges extending outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. The clutch assembly also includes a biasing member attached to the interior surface of the housing and engaging the piston to continuously bias the piston toward the initial position. The biasing member abuts the flanges of the piston to prevent rotation of the piston about the longitudinal axis as the piston moves between the initial and final positions along the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Scott William Heitzenrater, Robert Neil Paciotti, Douglas John Dwenger, Larry D. Diemer, John A. Diemer
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Patent number: 8932169Abstract: A backing plate for a friction clutch pack includes a shoulder or flange through which a plurality of radial drain passageways extend. The radial drain passageways intersect a circumferential channel which collects hydraulic fluid from the friction clutch. The radial passageways, assisted by centrifugal force, direct hydraulic fluid flow radially outwardly, away from other friction pack clutches and thus prevent such fluid from creating drag and causing increased spin losses as it flows to and through disengaged clutch packs.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventor: Robert Neil Paciotti
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Publication number: 20140190782Abstract: A backing plate for a friction clutch pack includes a shoulder or flange through which a plurality of radial drain passageways extend. The radial drain passageways intersect a circumferential channel which collects hydraulic fluid from the friction clutch. The radial passageways, assisted by centrifugal force, direct hydraulic fluid flow radially outwardly, away from other friction pack clutches and thus prevent such fluid from creating drag and causing increased spin losses as it flows to and through disengaged clutch packs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Robert Neil Paciotti
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Patent number: 8764977Abstract: A sump filter assembly for filtering hydraulic fluid supplied by a transmission sump includes a filter housing, a support member, a retainer member, and a biasing member. The filter housing has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface opposes a bottom surface of the transmission sump. The support member includes a first end portion attached to the filter housing. The retainer member is slideably connected to the support member and includes a first end portion having a retaining surface, wherein the retaining surface opposes the top surface of the filter housing. The biasing member has a first end in contact with the retaining surface of the retainer member and a second end in contact with the top surface of the filter housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Todd A Frerichs, Michael P. Fannin, John A. Diemer, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Publication number: 20140069763Abstract: A transmission and a clutch assembly for a vehicle are disclosed. The clutch assembly includes a housing defining a cavity presenting an interior surface. The interior surface defines a pocket along a longitudinal axis. The clutch assembly further includes a piston disposed in the pocket and movable between an initial position and a final position relative to the pocket along the longitudinal axis. The piston includes a plurality of flanges extending outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. The clutch assembly also includes a biasing member attached to the interior surface of the housing and engaging the piston to continuously bias the piston toward the initial position. The biasing member abuts the flanges of the piston to prevent rotation of the piston about the longitudinal axis as the piston moves between the initial and final positions along the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott William Heitzenrater, Robert Neil Paciotti, Douglas John Dwenger, Larry D. Diemer, John A. Diemer
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Patent number: 8636125Abstract: A dual clutch actuation device generates the axial compression force required to compress a first and second set of frictional elements of a dual clutch module. Dual clutch actuation device includes a first and second annular piston. The annular pistons are arranged in concentric annular piston slots. Together the piston and annular slots form annular piston chambers. The actuation device further includes a first set of wiper seals and a second set of wiper seals disposed in a first and a second annular channel in each of the annular pistons. Advantageously, contamination of the piston chambers is reduced or eliminated through the wiping or cleansing action of the first and second set of wiper seals against walls of the annular slots formed in the housing of the actuation device.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John A. Diemer, Edward J. Billings, Joakim Hogberg, James M. Partyka, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Patent number: 8485333Abstract: A dual clutch actuation device generates the axial compression force required to compress a first and second set of frictional elements of a dual clutch module. Dual clutch actuation device includes a first and second annular piston. The annular pistons include a first end that is in contact with annular bearing assemblies. The annular bearing assemblies are in contact with actuation levers that are in contact with the first set of frictional elements. The annular pistons are arranged in concentric annular piston slots. Together the piston and annular slots form annular piston chambers. The piston chambers are filled with hydraulic fluid. When the hydraulic fluid is pressurized the pistons slide out of the annular slots and apply a force on the actuation levers which in turn apply an axial compression force on the frictional elements.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joakim Hogberg, Uwe Krist, James M. Partyka, Robert Neil Paciotti, Stefan Gebert, Jurgen Ryba
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Patent number: 8413780Abstract: A device for transmitting torque between a flywheel rotatably connected to an engine and a dual clutch transmission. The device includes a first substantially u-shaped member fixed to a perimeter of a dual clutch of the dual clutch transmission. The first substantially u-shaped member defines a slot having an open end. The second substantially u-shaped member is attached to a perimeter of the flywheel. The second substantially u-shaped member includes a support member for supporting an engagement member. The first substantially u-shaped member fits at least partially within the second substantially u-shaped member. The pair of bushings disposed proximate the engagement member between the first and second coupling members.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Servet Yildiz, Markus Haehle, James M. Partyka, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Patent number: 8337111Abstract: An axial retention assembly for axially retaining a retained member includes a retaining member and a retaining ring. The retaining member has a surface and an annular groove disposed on the surface, where the surface defines a cavity and the annular groove has a groove surface and an edge surface disposed between the surface and the groove surface. The retaining ring has a first portion at least partially disposed in the groove and opposing the groove surface, a second portion at least partially disposed in the cavity and opposing the retained member and the surface of the retaining member, and a recess portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and opposing the edge surface. The recessed portion of the retaining ring does not contact the edge surface of the retaining member when the retained member exerts a predetermined force on the second portion of the retaining ring.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Russell M. Pajewski, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Publication number: 20110135382Abstract: An axial retention assembly for axially retaining a retained member includes a retaining member and a retaining ring. The retaining member has a surface and an annular groove disposed on the surface, where the surface defines a cavity and the annular groove has a groove surface and an edge surface disposed between the surface and the groove surface. The retaining ring has a first portion at least partially disposed in the groove and opposing the groove surface, a second portion at least partially disposed in the cavity and opposing the retained member and the surface of the retaining member, and a recess portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and opposing the edge surface. The recessed portion of the retaining ring does not contact the edge surface of the retaining member when the retained member exerts a predetermined force on the second portion of the retaining ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Russell M. Pajewski, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Publication number: 20110094845Abstract: A dual clutch actuation device generates the axial compression force required to compress a first and second set of frictional elements of a dual clutch module. Dual clutch actuation device includes a first and second annular piston. The annular pistons include a first end that is in contact with annular bearing assemblies. The annular bearing assemblies are in contact with actuation levers that are in contact with the first set of frictional elements. The annular pistons are arranged in concentric annular piston slots. Together the piston and annular slots form annular piston chambers. The piston chambers are filled with hydraulic fluid. When the hydraulic fluid is pressurized the pistons slide out of the annular slots and apply a force on the actuation levers which in turn apply an axial compression force on the frictional elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Joakim Hogberg, Uwe Krist, James M. Partyka, Robert Neil Paciotti, Stefan Gebert, Jurgen Ryba
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Publication number: 20110084015Abstract: A sump filter assembly for filtering hydraulic fluid supplied by a transmission sump includes a filter housing, a support member, a retainer member, and a biasing member. The filter housing has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface opposes a bottom surface of the transmission sump. The support member includes a first end portion attached to the filter housing. The retainer member is slideably connected to the support member and includes a first end portion having a retaining surface, wherein the retaining surface opposes the top surface of the filter housing. The biasing member has a first end in contact with the retaining surface of the retainer member and a second end in contact with the top surface of the filter housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Todd A. Frerichs, Michael A. Fannin, John A. Diemer, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Publication number: 20110048887Abstract: A dual clutch actuation device generates the axial compression force required to compress a first and second set of frictional elements of a dual clutch module. Dual clutch actuation device includes a first and second annular piston. The annular pistons include a first end that is in contact with annular bearing assemblies. The annular bearing assemblies are in contact with actuation levers that are in contact with the first set of frictional elements. The annular pistons are arranged in concentric annular piston slots. Together the piston and annular slots form annular piston chambers. The piston chambers are filled with hydraulic fluid. The actuation device further includes a first set of wiper seals and a second set of wiper seals disposed in a first and a second annular channel in each of the annular pistons. When the hydraulic fluid is pressurized the pistons slide out of the annular slots and apply a force on the actuation levers which in turn apply an axial compression force on the frictional elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: John A. Diemer, Edward J. Billings, Joakim Hogberg, James M. Partyka, Robert Neil Paciotti
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Publication number: 20110053697Abstract: A device for transmitting torque between a flywheel rotatably connected to an engine and a dual clutch transmission. The device includes a first substantially u-shaped member fixed to a perimeter of a dual clutch of the dual clutch transmission. The first substantially u-shaped member defines a slot having an open end. The second substantially u-shaped member is attached to a perimeter of the flywheel. The second substantially u-shaped member includes a support member for supporting an engagement member. The first substantially u-shaped member fits at least partially within the second substantially u-shaped member. The pair of bushings disposed proximate the engagement member between the first and second coupling members.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Servet Yildiz, Markus Haehle, James M. Partyka, Robert Neil Paciotti