Entire Coolant Path Is Spaced From Clutch Surfaces Patents (Class 192/113.31)
  • Patent number: 9605738
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a torsional damper assembly. The torsional damper assembly includes a damper. The damper has an electromagnetic coil and a magnetorheological fluid. The electromagnetic coil is positioned such that a magnetic field from the electromagnetic coil adjusts a viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid when a current flows through the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Odilo Raphael Nawratil, James Frederick Vorberger, II, Won Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 8794414
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for use in transmitting force includes a housing which at least partially encloses a rotatable disc. The housing has a plate portion with an annular force transmitting surface which is engagable with the rotatable disc. A cooling fluid channel is at least partially defined by a side of the plate portion opposite from the force transmitting surface. A plurality of projections extend into a path of flow of cooling fluid through the cooling fluid channel. A cooling fluid inlet includes a passage having a portion with a large cross section connected in fluid communication with a radially outer portion of the cooling fluid channel. A portion of the inlet passage having a small cross section is connected in fluid communication with a radially inner portion of the cooling fluid channel. Ribs extend across the radially inner and outer portions of the cooling fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Jeremy Steven Culmer
  • Publication number: 20130153355
    Abstract: A wet clutch assembly has an inner housing configured for rotation with an input torque member to the clutch assembly. The inner housing has a series of splines to support a portion of the plates in a clutch pack. Each spline defines a single aperture in fluid communication with at least one plate of the clutch pack, and apertures on adjacent splines are offset to distribute cooling fluid nearly equally between friction surfaces. Uniform flow distribution ensures efficient use of cooling fluid and prevents overheating of plates receiving lesser fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Eugene Kummer, Mark Charles Barnholt
  • Patent number: 8333272
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission has a driving plate defining concentric engagement surfaces, concentric friction plates, concentric pressure plates, and first and second clutch springs for operation of the pressure plates in clamping the friction plates against their respective engagement surface on the driving plate. The driving plate has a top hat type configuration, whereby the engagement surfaces are axially off set from one another. Cooling passages may be provided in the driving plate. The dct is preferably nested, wherein the outer pressure plate is in axial alignment with the radially inner portion of the driving plate, the inner pressure plate is in axial alignment with the radially outer portion of the driving plate, and the friction plates are arranged in axial alignment with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ricardo UK Ltd
    Inventors: Jonathan Charles Wheals, Lee Sykes
  • Patent number: 8051968
    Abstract: A clutch unit for use in the drive train of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission including at least one transmission input shaft. The clutch unit includes at least one wet clutch device that is provided with a plurality of clutch elements, in particular clutch discs, that are at least partially wetted by a coolant such as oil. The coolant carries away frictional heat that is generated by slippage between adjacent clutch discs during certain vehicle operating conditions. The heat absorbed by the clutch coolant is cooled by heat transfer from the coolant to a cooler that surrounds the clutch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Ivo Agner, Oliver Nöhl
  • Patent number: 7059459
    Abstract: A multiple disc clutch apparatus, comprises a plurality of externally splined annular friction plates, to one side surface only of each externally splined annular friction plate being fixed a friction material, and each externally splined annular friction plate being formed with engagement teeth at an outer periphery, a plurality of internally splined annular friction plates, to one side surface only of each internally splined annular friction plate being fixed a friction material, and each internally splined annular friction plate being formed with engagement teeth at an inner periphery. The externally splined friction plate and the internally splined friction plate are alternately arranged in a direction in which the frictional materials are not overlapped each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Tatsuro Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 6814205
    Abstract: A dual clutch arrangement including two clutch areas, each with a pressure plate connected to a housing arrangement for rotation in common around an axis of rotation (A) and which can be shifted in the axial direction with respect to the housing; and a clutch disk, the friction surface areas of which can be clamped between the respective pressure plate and an opposing support arrangement. Each of the clutch disks is designed to be connected nonrotatably to a different power takeoff element. In addition a clutch cooling arrangement, through which a coolant can flow, is installed adjacent to the clutch areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Feldhaus, Markus Heiartz, Andreas Orlamünder, Jochen Kuhstrebe, Wolfgang Reisser, Thomas Wirth, Michael Peterseim, Jürgen Dudenhöffer, Manfred Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6699130
    Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester has a relatively wide mowing implement attached to its forward end and including right and left hand rotary mowing and drawing in drums together with right and left hand rotary conveying drums. A drive transmission for driving these drums includes a pair of identical slip cluthes having respective first sections defined in principal part by a fluid tight cylindrical container having opposite end plates and through the respective centers of which a drive element extends, with the drive element of one clutch being coupled to the drive element of the other clutch by a central drive shaft assembly. The clutches include respective second sections which are in the form of a housing which has a ring-like hub at one end adapted for being coupled to an associated righ-angle transmission unit that is in turn coupled for driving the mowing and drawing in drums at that side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Richard Wübbels
  • Publication number: 20030164275
    Abstract: A dual clutch arrangement including two clutch areas, each with a pressure plate connected to a housing arrangement for rotation in common around an axis of rotation (A) and which can be shifted in the axial direction with respect to the housing; and a clutch disk, the friction surface areas of which can be clamped between the respective pressure plate and an opposing support arrangement. Each of the clutch disks is designed to be connected nonrotatably to a different power takeoff element. In addition a clutch cooling arrangement, through which a coolant can flow, is installed adjacent to the clutch areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Feldhaus, Markus Heiartz, Andreas Orlamunder, Jochen Kuhstrebe, Wolfgang Reisser, Thomas Wirth, Michael Peterseim, Jurgen Dudenhoffer, Manfred Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6371267
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid clutch has a pair of radially spaced magnetic core members that cooperate with an input rotor to form a pair of working gaps filled with magnetorheological fluid (MRF). An encapsulated electric coil disposed in a radially inner of the two magnetic cores is energized to establish a magnetic field through the cores, the input rotor and the MRF to establish a torque transmitting relation therebetween. The magnetic cores are secured to a channel ring and a housing in both of which a plurality of cooling channels are formed. The channels in the housing are in fluid communication with an input path to a serpentine flow path formed between the radially outer magnetic core and the housing to direct liquid cooling flow thereto. A return path from the serpentine flow path is in communication with the channels in the channel ring to direct liquid cooling flow therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chi-Kuan Kao, Patrick Benedict Usoro, Andrew Leslie Bartos, Anthony L. Smith