Including Drive-lockup Clutch Patents (Class 192/3.28)
  • Patent number: 11913530
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a front cover arranged to receive a torque and an impeller having an impeller shell connected to the front cover. The torque converter further includes a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell. The torque converter further includes a lock-up clutch including a clutch plate that is non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Victor Norwich, Timothy Chamberlain, Larry Chad Boigegrain, Corey Hillegass
  • Patent number: 11821502
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a front cover, an impeller assembly, a turbine assembly, a lock-up clutch, a backing plate, and a flow plate. The front cover is arranged to receive a torque. The lock-up clutch includes a piston and a seal plate disposed axially between the piston and a turbine shell. The backing plate is non-rotatably connected to the seal plate and is sealed to the piston. The flow plate is disposed axially between the backing plate and the front cover. The flow plate is non-rotatably connected to the backing plate and the front cover. A through-bore extends axially through the backing plate and the flow plate. A first chamber is bounded at least in part by the piston, the seal plate, and the backing plate, and a second chamber is bounded at least in part by the front cover, the piston, the backing plate, and the flow plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ricardo Humberto Garcia, Jose Manuel Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11421742
    Abstract: A torque converter is configured to connect with an electric machine via a connecting assembly. The torque converter includes a front cover facing the electric machine. The connecting assembly is non-rotatably fixed to the front cover to be coaxial with a rotor shaft of the electric machine. The connecting assembly defines axially extending teeth configured to engage the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthew Payne, Christopher Shamie
  • Patent number: 11346431
    Abstract: A lock-up device includes a clutch part and a damper part. The clutch part is disposed between a front cover and a turbine. The clutch part transmits or blocks torque. The damper part transmits torque from the clutch part to the turbine, and absorbs torsional vibration. The damper part includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of elastic members, and a support member. The input member is connected to the clutch part. The output member is rotatable relative to the input member and is connected to the turbine. The elastic members are accommodated in the input member, and elastically connect the input member and the output member in a rotational direction. The support member has a connecting part and a plurality of support parts. The connecting part is connected to the input member. The plurality of support parts support inner peripheral surfaces of the plurality of elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11181176
    Abstract: A turbine assembly includes a turbine shell, turbine hub, and a thrust washer. The turbine hub is coupled to the turbine shell via a fastener. The thrust washer is disposed on the turbine hub and includes at least one tab configured to contact the fastener. The fastener axially and radially retains the thrust washer on the turbine hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Scott Angel, Christopher Krause
  • Patent number: 11162558
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper in which collision noise resulting from collision of a rolling member against a rotary member is reduced. The torsional vibration damper comprises a restriction mechanism that establishes a restriction force in a direction to restrict the relative rotation between the rotary member and the inertia body, when the rolling member centrifugally pushed onto a raceway surface is pushed radially inwardly by the raceway surface toward a radially inner limit position of a guide section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taiki Nakamura, Hideyuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 11105405
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device for coupling together driving and driven shafts, comprises a casing, impeller and turbine wheels, a torsional vibration damper, a turbine hub non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel, and first and second vibration absorbers. Each of the first and second vibration absorbers is one of a dynamic absorber and a pendulum oscillator. The turbine hub is non-rotatably coupled to a driven member of the torsional vibration damper. The first vibration absorber is mounted to the turbine hub and the second vibration absorber is mounted to one of the turbine hub and the casing. The first vibration absorber and the second vibration absorber are tuned to address different orders of vibrations. The dynamic absorber includes an inertial member and a connecting plate coupled to the inertial member. The pendulum oscillator includes a support member and flyweights configured to oscillate relative to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: VALEO KAPEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 11009098
    Abstract: Blade and spring damper apparatus for use with vehicle torque converters are disclosed. A disclosed vehicle torque converter includes a housing, a hub, a clutch including a piston in the housing, and a damper assembly operatively interposed between the clutch and the hub. The damper assembly includes a blade damper having a blade and a roller engaging the blade. Movement of the roller relative to the blade bends and unbends the blade. The damper assembly also includes a spring damper connected to the blade damper. The spring damper includes a first spring damper portion, a second spring damper portion, and a spring between the first and second spring damper portions. Movement of the first spring damper portion relative to the second spring damper portion compresses and decompresses the spring. The blade damper and the spring damper, together, are configured to dampen a torsional vibration received by the housing when the clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Kapec CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Subramanian Jeyabalan, Sungchul Lee, Vijayakumar Velayudham, Xuexian Yin
  • Patent number: 10989289
    Abstract: A torque transmission arrangement is provided with a clutch device which has a clutch input and output, and a vibration damping device having at least two vibration damping units arranged at a radial offset with respect to one another, an input of the vibration damping device operatively connected to the clutch output, and an output of the radially outermost vibration damping unit being operatively connected by an intermediate transmission element to an input of the radially innermost vibration damping unit operatively connected via an output of the vibration damping device to an output unit, the clutch device partially axially overlapping with one of the vibration damping units, and being connected radially between the two vibration damping units to the intermediate transmission of the vibration damping device. The intermediate transmission is connected to an absorber mass carrier of an absorber system likewise assigned to the vibration damping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Richard Wu, Christian Schneider, Troy Menebroker
  • Patent number: 10808820
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a torque converter for a vehicle in which the number of components is reduced and stability is improved in a long-travel torsional damper structure having springs that operate at two stages. The torque converter for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a front cover, an impeller, a turbine, a reactor, a lock-up clutch, and a torsional damper, and the lock-up clutch includes a clutch drum which is coupled to the front cover, multiple first friction plates which are coupled to the clutch drum, second friction plates which are disposed between the multiple first friction plates, and a retaining plate which has an extending drum portion to which the second friction plate are coupled and supports springs provided on the torsional damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Kapec Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sanghyun Sung, Wan Choi, Soon Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 10788099
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper in which a noise resulting from collision of an inertia body against a rotary member is reduced. An inertia body is arranged coaxially with the rotary member, and rolling members are interposed between the rotary member and the inertial body to transmit torque of the rotary member to the inertia body. A first clearance between an outer circumference of a rotary member and an inner circumference of the inertia body created when rolling members are centrifugally pushed onto raceway surfaces is identical to or narrower than a second clearance between one of the rolling members situated at a highest level and a bottom surface of a guide section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taiki Nakamura, Hideyuki Nishida, Masayuki Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 10746273
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The driving apparatus is a device used for transmitting drive force to an output shaft. The driving apparatus includes a housing, an electric motor, a torque converter and a rotation transmitting structure. The electric motor includes a first stator fixed to the housing and a rotor configured to be rotate relative to the first stator. The torque converter transmits rotation of the rotor to the output shaft when the rotor rotates in a first rotational direction. The rotation transmitting structure transmits rotation of the rotor to the output shaft when the rotor rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10683908
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided in which abutment claw portions provided integrally with one of a pair of retaining plates of a dynamic damper mechanism are inserted into a cutout part, a spring retaining member fixed to a clutch piston having the cutout part, wherein the cutout part is formed so that an inner end of the cutout part along a radial direction of an output shaft is positioned further outside than an inside end of a damper spring in the radial direction, and the abutment claw portion is formed so that part of the abutment claw portion overlaps an inertia plate in a projection onto a plane passing through the abutment claw portion and an axis of the output shaft. Such arrangement shortens the axial distance between the clutch piston and the dynamic damper mechanism while maintaining function of the spring retaining member in retaining the damper spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Watanabe, Ayako Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 10458512
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper in which a mass may be fitted easily into a chamber is provided. In the rotary disc, an insertion hole is formed integrally with the chamber. An opening diameter of the insertion hole is larger than an outer diameter of a flange plate of the mass, and an opening width at a boundary between the insertion hole and the chamber is larger than an outer diameter of a trunk of the mass. The retainer comprises a restricting portion that restricts an oscillating range of the mass in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nishida, Hiroyuki Amano, Yuya Takahashi, Shuhei Horita, Taiki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10434865
    Abstract: A hybrid drive module for a motor vehicle includes at least one clutch and at least one electric machine. The clutch has an outer disk carrier and an inner disk carrier. Outer disks are disposed on the outer disk carrier and inner disks are disposed on the inner disk carrier. The outer disk carrier can be connected and/or is connected operatively to a rotor of the electric machine and a transmission input shaft. The inner disk carrier can be connected and/or is connected operatively to an internal combustion engine and a dual-mass flywheel and a centrifugal force pendulum are disposed spatially separated from one another. Torque vibrations are reduced by virtue of the fact that the centrifugal force pendulum is connected operatively to the inner disk carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Gorges, Fabian Kolze
  • Patent number: 10428926
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device comprises an impeller wheel, a turbine wheel drivable by the impeller wheel, a torsional vibration damper, and a turbine hub non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel. The turbine wheel includes a turbine shell and at least one coupling pin formed integrally with the turbine shell and extending radially outwardly from the turbine shell. The torsional vibration damper comprises a first damper, a driven member rotatable relative to the first damper retainer, and damper elastic members interposed between the first damper retainer and the driven member. The turbine hub is non-rotatably coupled to the driven member of the torsional vibration damper. The first damper retainer has at least one angularly extending bayonet slot configured to receive the at least one coupling pin therein such that the at least one coupling pin being angularly moveable in the at least one bayonet slot relative to the first damper retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Subramanian Jeyabalan
  • Patent number: 10428923
    Abstract: A torque converter oil cooling system includes an air-oil cooler system that is adapted to be disposed between a torque converter charging oil outlet and charging oil inlet. The torque converter oil cooling system has a controller that directs oil when at a predetermined temperature to pass through an air oil cooler for cooling and then directs the cooled oil back to the inlet of the torque converter for torque converter operation. The torque converter oil cooling system normally operates in the non-lockup mode operation of the torque converter. Using the torque converter oil cooling system permits a vehicle to continuously operate in a torque converter mode for an extended period of time, which becomes extremely helpful when the vehicle is called upon to haul heavy loads over steep grades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TowHaul Corporation
    Inventor: Harold W. Spielman
  • Patent number: 10393247
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device for coupling together driving and driven shafts, comprises a casing, impeller and turbine wheels, a torsional vibration damper, a turbine hub non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel, and first and second vibration absorbers. Each of the first and second vibration absorbers is one of a dynamic absorber and a pendulum oscillator. The turbine hub is non-rotatably coupled to a driven member of the torsional vibration damper. The first vibration absorber is mounted to the turbine hub and the second vibration absorber is mounted to one of the turbine hub and the casing. The first vibration absorber and the second vibration absorber are tuned to address different orders of vibrations. The dynamic absorber includes an inertial member and a connecting plate coupled to the inertial member. The pendulum oscillator includes a support member and flyweights configured to oscillate relative to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 10393248
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing having opposite sidewalls and an outer wall extending between and connecting the opposite sidewalls, an impeller coaxial aligned with the rotational axis, a piston engagement member extending substantially radially inward from and non-moveable relative to the outer wall of the casing, and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the piston engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Michel Bacher, Gyubong Jeon, Zane Yang
  • Patent number: 10378632
    Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; an output hub connected to the turbine shell and arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission; and a turbine clutch including a piston non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell, and for a lock-up mode, axially displaceable to non-rotatably connect the piston and the impeller shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Timothy Hess
  • Patent number: 10295034
    Abstract: A device for transmitting torque includes a hydrodynamic torque converter having a turbine and a pump, as well as a friction clutch that is connected in parallel to the torque converter, having a first and a second frictional segment. The first frictional segment is integrated with the pump, and the second frictional segment is integrated with the turbine. A ring-shaped frictional segment, on which the frictional elements may be brought into engagement with each other axially, and a ring-shaped flow segment, on which vanes of the pump and of the turbine are located opposite each other axially, are matched with one another in their dimensions, in order to realize a balanced transmission behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Toros Guelluek
  • Patent number: 10288171
    Abstract: When a butting control is performed at a low temperature at which an oil temperature of an automatic transmission is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, a driving condition changing process is performed. In the driving condition changing process, an execution period from a starting of the butting control to an ending of the butting control is divided into a plurality of sections on the basis of a rotation angle of a motor. By making a torque of the motor greater and a rotation speed higher in a starting-section than in an ending-section, the execution period of the butting control is made short. By making the torque of the motor smaller and the rotation speed lower in the ending-section than in the starting-section, an amount of deformation of a component is made smaller when a part of a component is butted against a limit position so that a reference position can be learned accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10274041
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement (1), comprising an impeller (6) linkable to a drive shaft, a turbine (7) linkable to a driven shaft via a hub (11) and able to hydrodynamically coupled with the impeller (6), a lockup clutch (20) able to short-circuited the hydrodynamically coupling between the impeller (6) and the turbine (7), a torsional vibration damper arrangement (13;14,15) located between the lockup clutch (20) and the hub (11), said torsional vibration damper arrangement comprising an input element (16;17,47,24), an output element (17; 25,33,32) and a plurality of elastic elements (22;26) disposed between the input element and the output element, the output element of the torsional vibration damper arrangement forms a part of the hub, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises an absorber device (29) being linked in rotation to the hub, said absorber device comprising a unique resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Xuexian Yin
  • Patent number: 10267398
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a turbine including a turbine shell including a radially extending turbine shell wall, an impeller including an impeller shell including a radially extending impeller shell wall, a diaphragm spring rotationally fixed to one of the turbine and the impeller, and a friction material fixed to the diaphragm spring. The radially extending turbine shell wall and the radially extending impeller shell wall are engageable via the friction material and the diaphragm spring to form a lockup clutch. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: John Ramsey, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Patent number: 10267377
    Abstract: A torque transmission apparatus including an intermediate member disposed in a power transmission path between a first rotor and second rotor; a first elastic member interposed between the first rotor and the intermediate member; a second elastic member interposed between the intermediate member and the second rotor; and an inertial body connected to the intermediate member through a third elastic member. The third elastic member is placed between the first elastic member and the second elastic member in an axial direction and between the first elastic member and the second elastic member in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoya Okaji, Fumiya Nishii, Masaki Sagawa, Sota Miyahara
  • Patent number: 10151373
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine having a crankshaft, and a transmission having an input. A vibration absorption assembly includes a mechanical connection system providing a first connection node, a second connection node, and a third connection node. The crankshaft is connected to a first one of the connection nodes. The input of the transmission is connected to a second one of the connection nodes. A centrifugal pendulum absorber is connected to a third one of the connection nodes. One of the connection nodes is a mechanically advantaged node. The centrifugal pendulum absorber is connected to the mechanically advantaged node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dongxu Li, Farzad Samie, Derek F. Lahr
  • Patent number: 10145458
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a torque converter includes an axially movable turbine defining a piston of a lockup clutch; and a damper assembly including a first component including a plurality of first ramps and a second component including a plurality of second ramps, the first ramps configured for interacting with the second ramps to generate an axial force on the turbine during a coast condition of the torque converter, the damper assembly being arranged and configured to limit the axial force to prevent the piston from self-locking during the coast condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Victor Norwich, Brian Zaugg, David Avins, Daniel Gerdeman, Michael Hodge
  • Patent number: 10138951
    Abstract: A dual clutch having a first clutch which has a first pressure plate that is movable axially relative to a first counterplate for coupling a first clutch disk that is connected to a first output shaft, a second clutch, which has a second pressure plate that is axially movable relative to a second counterplate for coupling a second clutch disk that is connected to a second output shaft, a torsional vibration damper situated in the direction of flux force between the input shaft and the first counterplate wherein the torsional vibration damper includes a dual mass flywheel with a bow spring running in the circumferential direction to transmit torque, where the flux of force is introducible radially on the outside from the input shaft to the first counterplate into the dual mass flywheel, and is dispersible radially on the inside to the bow spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florian Krebs, Olaf Werner, Nils Fischer, René Daikeler, Philippe Schwederle, Thomas Janz
  • Patent number: 10122240
    Abstract: An electricity generation device with low power consumption has an operating module, a first motor, and a second motor. The electricity is inputted to the first motor to actuate the first motor in a short time, the first motor drives a transmission assembly of the operating module to rotate, and the transmission assembly drives a flywheel of the operating module to rotate. A generator rotor is mounted around the flywheel, and a generator stator is mounted around an inner peripheral surface of the body. The second motor is driven by the transmission assembly. When the flywheel reaches a certain rotational speed, the second motor only needs a low current input to keep operating. That is, the second motor can be continuously operated, and the flywheel generates rotor power, thereby achieving power generation at low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: JIE NENG POWER INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chia-Nan Tsai
  • Patent number: 10094460
    Abstract: A torque-coupling device for coupling driving and driven shafts. The torque-coupling device includes a casing having a locking surface, a torque converter, and a locking piston having an engagement surface axially moveable to and from the locking surface of the casing. The locking piston includes a vibration damper including a torque input member and a unitary radially elastic output member elastically coupled to the torque input member. The torque input member includes a radially oriented first retainer plate and at least one supporting member mounted thereto. The output member includes an output hub and at least one elastic blade configured to elastically engage the supporting member upon rotation of the first retainer plate with respect to the output member. The torque input member of the vibration damper non-rotatably engages the turbine wheel and is axially moveable relative to both the impeller wheel and turbine wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Patrick Durham
  • Patent number: 10054172
    Abstract: A drive assembly of a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes a piston having at least one tab, and a damper assembly. The piston is fixed to the damper assembly by the at least one tab. A method of forming a drive assembly for a torque convert is also provided. The method of forming a drive assembly for a torque converter includes fixing a piston and a damper assembly together by a plurality of piston tabs forming a riveted connection. A torque converter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Victor Norwich
  • Patent number: 10054208
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for a hydrokinetic torque coupling device, comprises a torsional vibration damper, and a dynamic absorber operatively connected to the torsional vibration damper. The torsional vibration damper comprises a driven member rotatable about a rotational axis, a first retainer plate rotatable relative to the driven member coaxially with the rotational axis, and a plurality of damper elastic members interposed between the first retainer plate and the driven member. The damper elastic members elastically couples the first retainer plate to the driven member. The dynamic absorber includes an inertial member. The inertial member is mounted to the torsional vibration damper rotatably relative to the driven member. The inertial member is rotationally guided and centered relative to the rotational axis by the driven member of the torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9994224
    Abstract: A shift control system that reduces drop in driving force and shocks during execution of clutch-to-clutch upshifting is provided. The control system is configured to reduce a torque transmitting capacity of a first clutch at a predetermined rate while increasing a torque transmitting capacity of a second clutch with a reduction in the torque transmitting capacity of the first clutch during execution of the upshifting, to set a target speed of the engine to a level determined by adding a predetermined speed to a synchronous engine speed corresponding to a low speed stage, during a torque phase in which the torque transmitting capacity of the first clutch is being reduced and the torque transmitting capacity of the second clutch is being increased, and to execute a feedback control of an engine torque in such a manner as to maintain the engine speed to the target speed based on a difference between the target speed and an actual engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Naoto Moriya, Kuninori Kumagai, Junya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9885407
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a torque converter is provided. The damper assembly includes a first cover plate including a spring retainer at a radial outer end of the first cover plate supporting springs; and a second cover plate including, at a radial outer end thereof, tabs for the springs, the tabs being in circumferential spaces between the springs The spring retainer and the tabs are fixed together inside the spring retainer. A method of forming a damper assembly is also provided. The method includes fixing a spring retainer at a radial outer end of a first cover plate to tabs at a radially outer end of a second cover plate inside the spring retainer. The tabs are in circumferential spaces between springs retained by the spring retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Joshua David Cerreta
  • Patent number: 9845855
    Abstract: A torque converter includes an impeller, a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, and an annular lockup resistance member. The impeller includes an impeller shell. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with a first flange surface facing an engagement surface of the impeller shell and an opposite second flange surface. The turbine-piston is movable axially toward and away from the engagement surface to position the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston flange is mechanically locked to the impeller shell. The annular lockup resistance member is coaxially aligned with the rotational axis, fixedly connected and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston flange, and configured to resist axial movement of the turbine-piston flange toward the engagement surface and into lockup with the impeller shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9777829
    Abstract: An enhanced control system for an electronic automatic transmission enables the transmission to operate in a full neutral idle, a reverse lock-out, and an inching mode. These functions improve the mileage and durability of the operation of the transmission. They also enable the inching mode for use especially in industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Powertrain Control Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Charles R. Turner
  • Patent number: 9731706
    Abstract: A control strategy is provided for a hybrid vehicle that will increase drivability during low or decreasing driver demands. Coordination between shifting the transmission and stopping or (non-demand) starting of the engine can increase drivability. The vehicle includes a motor/generator with one side selectively coupled to the engine and another side selectively coupled to the transmission. The control strategy acts when an engine start or stop is requested while driver demand is decreasing and a shift of the transmission is demanded. To inhibit these events from proceeding simultaneously, the control strategy delays the engine from starting or stopping until the transmission has finished shifting, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin, Matthew John Shelton, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 9671002
    Abstract: A torque converter in which a torsional vibration damping device is fastened firmly to a turbine hub in such a manner that a hermeticity test can be carried out easily. In the torque converter, a turbine runner is fixed to the turbine hub through a first rivet. The torsional vibration damping device is assembled as a unit independent from the turbine hub and a rolling mass is held in a casing liquid-tightly. The torsional vibration damping device and the driven member are fixed to the turbine hub through a second rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Miyahara, Husahiro Tsukano, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 9625001
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper, including: an axis of rotation; a drive plate; an output flange; and a spring retainer plate including a first side facing in a first axial direction, a second side facing in a second axial direction, and a plurality of spring stops formed of a same material forming the spring retainer plate. Each spring stop: extends from the first side at least partially in the first axial direction; and includes first and second circumferentially separated end surfaces separated, in the first axial direction, from the first side by first and second gaps, and a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first circumferential end engaged with a respective first end surface and a second circumferential end engaged with a respective second end surface. The spring retainer plate partially surrounds the plurality of springs and retains the plurality of springs in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alfredo Jimenez Perez Mitre, Brian C. Zaugg, Victor Norwich, Joshua David Cerreta, Frank Wolf
  • Patent number: 9599206
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque coupling device with lockup clutch is provided that includes an impeller, an axially displaceable turbine-piston, and a stop feature. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell and a turbine-piston flange. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the impeller to move an engagement surface region of the turbine-piston towards and away from an engagement surface region of the impeller for positioning the torque converter respectively into and out of a lockup mode. When the turbine-piston is out of the lockup mode, a fluid passageway connecting a torus chamber to a damper chamber extends between the engagement surface regions and between flow restriction surface regions of the turbine-piston and impeller. At a maximum axial displacement position out of lockup mode, a gap between the engagement surface regions is greater than a gap between the flow restriction surface regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9593755
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, and a biasing device. The turbine-piston is hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and includes a turbine-piston shell having a second engagement surface facing the first engagement surface. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the impeller between a hydrodynamic transmission mode and a lockup mode. The biasing device is configured to exert an axial load against the turbine-piston to urge the turbine-piston axially away from the lockup mode and towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode. The axial load exerted by the biasing device decreases as the turbine-piston moves axially towards the lockup mode and increases as the turbine-piston moves axially away from the lockup mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, David Werthman
  • Patent number: 9556765
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil supply apparatus includes an oil pump discharging hydraulic oil, a common oil passage through which the discharged hydraulic oil flows, a first oil passage branched from the common oil passage to supply the hydraulic oil to a valve opening and closing timing control apparatus, a second oil passage supplying the hydraulic oil to a main gallery, and a flow control valve decreasing a volume of hydraulic oil flowing through the first oil passage with an increase of hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil discharged from the oil pump so as to increase a volume of hydraulic oil flowing through the second oil passage. In the hydraulic oil supply apparatus, hydraulic pressure generated from the hydraulic oil passing through a valve body of the flow control valve is applied to the valve body as a force against a force of a biasing member that biases the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisashi Ono
  • Patent number: 9529965
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring torque from a prime mover to a transmission includes a coupling device, a hydraulic control system and a control module. The coupling device includes a torque converter clutch (TCC), where the coupling device is located between an output of the prime mover and an input of the transmission. The TCC is actuated between a fully engaged position, a slip mode where slip occurs, and a fully disengaged position. The hydraulic control system includes a controller device that communicates an actuation pressure to the TCC. The actuation pressure actuates the TCC between the fully engaged position, the slip mode, and the fully disengaged position. The controller is in communication with the TCC, the output of the prime mover, the input of the transmission, and the controller device of the hydraulic control system. The controller regulates the actuation pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Otanez, Chunhao J. Lee, Xu Chen
  • Patent number: 9441718
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features a casing including an impeller shell, a casing shell, and an intermediate casing component connecting the impeller and casing shells. The intermediate casing component includes a casing wall portion and a piston engagement portion extending inward from and being non-rotatable relative to the casing wall portion. The device further features an impeller including the impeller shell. The turbine-piston is coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, and includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement portion to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device respectively into and out of a lockup mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Michel Bacher
  • Patent number: 9394981
    Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover; an impeller including an impeller blade, and an impeller shell with a first surface extending beyond the impeller blade in a radial direction and at an acute angle with respect to a first line in the radial direction; a turbine including a turbine blade, and a turbine shell with a second surface axially aligned with the first surface and at the acute angle with respect to the first line; a turbine clutch including the first and second surfaces and friction material disposed between the first and second surfaces; a torus at least partially enclosed by the impeller and turbine shells; and a pressure chamber at least partially formed by the turbine shell and the cover. For torque converter mode, the turbine and the impeller are independently rotatably with respect to each other. For lock-up mode, the first and second surfaces are non-rotatably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick M. Lindemann, Matthew Payne
  • Patent number: 9204933
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to robotically controlled systems, such as medical robotic systems. In one variation, a robotic catheter system is configured with a sterile barrier capable for transmitting a rotary force from a drive system on one side of the barrier to surgical tool on the other side of the sterile barrier for performing minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Modularized drive systems for robotics are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gene Reis, Gregory F. Hirth, Enrique Romo
  • Patent number: 9151375
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly hydrodynamic torque converter, wherein at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement comprises at least two torsional vibration dampers which are arranged so as to be radially staggered and substantially aligned axially with respect to one another, wherein the first torsional vibration damper is arranged on the radially outer side of the second torsional vibration damper, and wherein the at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement is coupled with the other torsional vibration damper arrangement in an area radially between the first damper element unit and the second damper element unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Kram, Michael Wirachowski, Monika Rössner, Jörg Sudau, Erwin Wack, Reinhard Feldhaus, Ralf Fambach
  • Patent number: 9051977
    Abstract: The lock-up device includes: a clutch part disposed between a front cover and a turbine; and a damper mechanism for transmitting torque from the clutch part to the turbine and for absorbing and attenuating a torsional vibration. The damper mechanism includes: an input plate into which torque is inputted from the clutch part; an output plate connected to the turbine; a plurality of torsion springs; an intermediate member; and a restriction member. The intermediate member is rotatable relatively to the input plate and the output plate, and causes two torsion springs to act in series. The restriction member is mounted to the input plate, and restricts the intermediate member from moving in both of an axial direction and a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Kawahara, Yoshihiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: RE48949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a force transmission device for power transmission between an input and an output, comprising at least an input and an output, and a vibration damping device disposed in a cavity that can be filled at least partially with an operating medium, in particular oil, the vibration damping device coupled with a rotational speed adaptive absorber, wherein the rotational speed adaptive absorber is tuned as a function of an oil influence to an effective order qeff, which is greater by an order shift value qF than an order q of an exciting vibration of a drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Krause, Dominique Engelmann
  • Patent number: RE49270
    Abstract: A force transmission device, in particular or power transmission between a drive engine and an output, comprising a damper assembly with at least two dampers, which can be connected in series, and a rotational speed adaptive absorber, wherein the rotational speed adaptive tuned mass damper is disposed between the dampers at least in one force flow direction through the force transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Degler, Thorsten Krause, Kai Schenck, Markus Werner, Dominique Engelmann