Radially Spaced Coaxial Clutch-assemblages Patents (Class 192/48.619)
  • Patent number: 11719289
    Abstract: A multi-clutch arrangement between a drive unit and a transmission having at least three multi-plate clutches. The multi-plate clutches include an outer plate carrier in each instance such that the outer plate carriers form the housing of a multi-clutch arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Angelika Ebert, Steffen Matschas, Johannes Friess
  • Patent number: 11286994
    Abstract: A clutch arrangement arranged between a drive unit and a transmission, with at least one multi-plate clutch having an outer plate carrier and an actuation element. The actuation element, particularly a piston, has openings for receiving the outer plate carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Angelika Ebert, Steffen Matschas, Johannes Friess
  • Patent number: 10253823
    Abstract: In a cooling structure in a clutch having drive plates and driven plates, a lower limit of a width of each of dot grooves is set to a width a at which a flow quantity of lubricating oil passing through each of the dot grooves becomes a minimum flow quantity at which the drive plates and the driven plates can be cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than an upper limit temperature (Tmax) and an upper limit of the width of each of the dot grooves is set to a width b at which an air content in lubricating oil passing through each of the dot grooves becomes a maximum air content at which, according to lubricating oil having the air content, the drive plates and the driven plates can be cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than the upper limit temperature (Tmax).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Sugimura, Atsushi Maeda, Kou Takahashi, Jumpei Hayakawa, Tadashi Naito, Takashi Kubo
  • Patent number: 10240645
    Abstract: A dual clutch device having an input side, a first output side, and a second output side, which are arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation, and having a first, radially outer friction clutch for producing frictional engagement between the input side and the first output side and a second, radially inner friction clutch for producing frictional engagement between the input side and the second output side. Each friction clutch has a first friction element, which engages in the input side in a torque-transmitting manner, a second friction element, which engages in the associated output side in a torque-transmitting manner, a control element for providing an axially pressing force on the friction elements, and a leaf spring element, which is spirally wound around the axis of rotation and which is arranged axially between the control element and the friction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Chambrion, Johannes Ruf
  • Patent number: 9970510
    Abstract: A multi-speed automatic transmission includes a housing, a transmission input shaft, and a plurality of clutches. Different combinations of clutches of the plurality of clutches are engaged to generate different gear ratios corresponding to respective forward speeds of the automatic transmission. The plurality of clutches are positioned within the housing and include a first friction clutch coupled the input shaft and having a first hub, and a second friction clutch having a second clutch hub. The second friction clutch is disposed about the input shaft and radially nested within the first clutch hub such that the second friction clutch is positioned radially between the first clutch hub and the input shaft. The first friction clutch is engaged to generate at least two forward speeds of the transmission and the second friction clutch is engaged to generate seven forward speeds of the transmission including the two forward speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Berthold Martin, Glenn Giudici
  • Patent number: 9080615
    Abstract: A fastening portion is formed from a rivet hole of a first side wall portion of a clutch drum, a rivet hole of a second side wall portion of a clutch drum, and a rivet that is inserted into the rivet hole and the rivet hole to hold together the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion. The fastening portion is provided between a first engagement side oil chamber enclosed by the clutch drum and a clutch piston, and a second engagement side oil chamber enclosed by the clutch drum and a clutch piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Takuya Ishii, Norihiro Tokunaga, Satoru Kasuya, Kenta Tamabayashi
  • Patent number: 8997961
    Abstract: A dual clutch arrangement for a transmission that is provided with a first input shaft and a second input shaft has a clutch housing that is connectable to a drive train in a rotationally fixed fashion. The first and second friction clutches can transmit a torque between the clutch housing and the first and the second input shafts, respectively. The first and second friction clutches are nested in the radial direction with respect to each other and actuated by a first and a second actuating unit that have pistons for pressuring clutch disk packs. The compressive force exerted by the piston of the first actuating unit and the compressive force exerted by the piston of the second actuating unit are directed in axially opposite directions with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Getrag Ford Trasmissions GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Absenger, Friedel Lauscher, Matthias Doelling, Andreas Hegerath, Hansi Gremplini
  • Patent number: 8950561
    Abstract: A clutch assembly is provided. The clutch assembly includes a basket member, an input member and an actuator that is disposed within the basket member. A hub member, having a hub spline and an inclined portion is disposed adjacent to the actuator. A cam member, having a cam spline and cam lobes is rotatably disposed on the input member. A shaft member, having a shaft spline and plurality of slots is rotatably disposed on the input member. The hub spline is engaged with the cam spline in a disengaged position of the actuator. The clutch assembly further includes a plurality of balls received within the corresponding slots of the shaft member. While moving towards an engaged position of the actuator, the cam spline aligns with the shaft spline thereby the hub spline engages with the shaft spline in the engaged position of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Lister, Gaurav Vasudeva
  • Patent number: 8905211
    Abstract: A multiple clutch device, particularly a double clutch device, that has a reduced axial installation space and/or inexpensive production. The multiple clutch device has at least two friction clutch arrangements, torque-transferring friction element carriers, each of which is rotationally fixedly connected to a frictional element of the frictional clutch arrangements, and at least one roller bearing. The roller bearing is designed to support at least one of the frictional element carriers. The supported frictional element carrier is designed as a race of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Wiesneth
  • Patent number: 8875859
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch including a clutch drum with an outer cylinder fitted with a plurality of clutch plates and a side wall; a clutch piston that defines together with the clutch drum an engagement oil chamber, and moves in an axial direction to press the clutch plates by hydraulic pressure supplied to the engagement oil chamber; and a cancel plate that defines together with the clutch piston a cancel oil chamber that cancels centrifugal hydraulic pressure. The side wall of the clutch drum is formed with a first oil passage that radially extends and is in communication with the engagement oil chamber, and a second oil passage that radially extends and is in communication with the cancel oil chamber. One of the first and second oil passages is at least partially included in a range of an axial width of the other of the first and second oil passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kasuya, Hiroshi Katou, Takuya Ishii, Norihiro Tokunaga, Kenta Tamabayashi
  • Patent number: 8863617
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission having an input shaft, which can be coupled to a drive aggregate, an output shaft, which can be coupled to an output, and several shift elements. At least two shift elements, designed as clutches, are each coupled via an outer clutch plate carrier with the input shaft in such a way that an outer clutch plate carrier of a first radially outer clutch encloses an outer clutch plate carrier of a second radially inner clutch at least sectionally and radially outside. A drive gear is coupled to the input shaft through which a power take-off can be coupled to withdraw power from the input shaft or through which an auxiliary drive aggregate can supply power to the input shaft. The drive gear is linked through the outer clutch plate carrier of the radially inner clutch to the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Holder, Dietmar Illerhaus
  • Patent number: 8851254
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a rigid body that includes a contact portion coming into contact with the first or second friction member and that moves the contact portion from a position of contact with the first or second friction member to a position of no contact with the first and second friction members, an elastic body that applies to the rigid body a force moving the contact portion to a position of contact with the first or second friction member, a first pushing mechanism that applies to the rigid body a pressure of liquid moving the contact portion to a position of contact with the first or second friction member, and a second pushing mechanism that applies to the rigid body a pressure of liquid moving the contact portion to a position of no contact with the first and second friction members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Tetsuya Yamaguchi, Tomohide Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8844695
    Abstract: A hydraulic servo assembly includes a clutch support formed with first and second cylinders, spaced mutually and spaced from a longitudinal axis, first and second balance volumes, and a passage formed in the support for carrying fluid from a fluid source into the balance volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Janson, Jeffrey E. Maurer, Steven A. Frait
  • Patent number: 8839929
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch includes a clutch drum with an outer cylinder that slidably holds a plurality of clutch plates, an inner cylinder that axially extends from an inner circumference of a sidewall, and a sleeve fitted inside the inner cylinder. A clutch piston presses the clutch plates. A plate and the clutch piston define an oil chamber that cancels centrifugal hydraulic pressure. An oil passage that communicates with the oil chamber is on an inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder. One surface of the sleeve contacts a step formed on the inner cylinder. The sleeve includes a passage in communication with the oil passage and formed on an outer periphery of the sleeve to axially extend toward the end surface, and a second passage formed more axially recessed than an end surface and radially extending to provide communication between the first passage and an inner portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Toshihiko Aoki, Michio Nobata, Masaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8794412
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch including a clutch drum with an outer cylinder fitted with a plurality of clutch plates and a side wall; a clutch piston that defines together with the clutch drum an engagement oil chamber, and moves in an axial direction to press the clutch plates by hydraulic pressure supplied to the engagement oil chamber; and a cancel plate that defines together with the clutch piston a cancel oil chamber that cancels centrifugal hydraulic pressure. The side wall of the clutch drum is formed with a first oil passage that radially extends and is in communication with the engagement oil chamber, and a second oil passage that radially extends and is in communication with the cancel oil chamber. One of the first and second oil passages is at least partially included in a range of an axial width of the other of the first and second oil passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kasuya, Hiroshi Katou, Takuya Ishii, Norihiro Tokunaga, Kenta Tamabayashi
  • Patent number: 8790211
    Abstract: A gear assembly for a motor vehicle includes first clutch configured to selectively couple an input shaft to an output shaft and a second clutch configured to selectively couple the input shaft to a planetary gear train. When the first clutch is activated and the second clutch is not activated, the input torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft such that the output torque relative to the input torque is a first gear ratio. When the second clutch is activated and the first clutch is not activated, the input torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft through the planetary gear train such that the output torque relative to the input torque is a second gear ratio. When neither the first clutch nor the second clutch are activated, the input torque is not transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Newton, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Burgbacher, Bahman Haghshanas, Hans-Peter Nett, Albert John Nielsen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8739951
    Abstract: A transmission device includes a first clutch and a second clutch that is disposed circumferentially inward of the first clutch so as to overlap with the first clutch as viewed from a radial direction. The first clutch includes a first clutch drum, a first clutch piston that is axially movable by hydraulic pressure supplied to a first engagement side oil chamber on an inner circumferential side of the first clutch drum, and a first cancel plate that defines together with the first clutch piston a first cancel oil chamber that cancels centrifugal hydraulic pressure. The first cancel plate is fastened between the first clutch drum and a second clutch drum of the second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kasuya, Hiroshi Katou, Takuya Ishii, Norihiro Tokunaga, Kenta Tamabayashi
  • Patent number: 8631918
    Abstract: A torque transmission assembly is disposed between a power source and a vehicle transmission and includes an annular housing, a pump member of a fluid coupling, a turbine member of the fluid coupling, a lockup clutch, a first shaft, a first selectable clutch, a second shaft, and a second selectable clutch. The turbine member opposes the pump member and the lockup clutch is selectively engaged between the pump member and the turbine member. The first selectable clutch is selectively engaged between the turbine member and the first shaft. The second selectable clutch is selectively engaged between the turbine member and the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Darrell Lee Robinette, Victor M. Roses
  • Patent number: 8622185
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a pressurizing-agent-operable control device of a clutch arrangement, for sealing a chamber which is pressurizable with a pressurizing agent, assigned to the clutch arrangement, from the interior space of the clutch arrangement; comprising at least one elastic sealing device. The sealing device is guided on at least one sheet metal element, which is attached to an element that delimits the chamber which is pressurizable with a pressurizing agent. A double clutch arrangement having a sealing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manuel Metzinger, Ivo Agner, Oliver Noehl
  • Patent number: 8607948
    Abstract: A launch device for a vehicle transmission including a housing, an impeller, a turbine, and first and second clutches with first and second pistons, respectively. The first and second pistons are sealingly engaged with one another. The first clutch releaseably engages the impeller with the housing and the second clutch releaseably engages the turbine with the housing. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is disposed radially outside of the second clutch. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is engaged by a first pressure, and the second clutch is engaged by a second pressure greater than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Todd Jason Sturgin, Philip Andrew George, Jeffrey Alan Hemphill
  • Patent number: 8596436
    Abstract: A power transfer unit for a motive device comprises an outer housing, an inner housing, and a torque transferring clutch. A piston housing is located between the outer housing and the torque transferring clutch. A piston is located in the piston housing. The piston is configured to provide actuation forces to the torque transferring clutch. And, when the torque transferring clutch receives the actuation forces, the torque transferring clutch causes the inner housing to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Allen Grogg, Mark James Shewchuck
  • Patent number: 8544628
    Abstract: An assembly includes a support including a first passage having a opening along a length of the passage and facing outward from the passage, a clutch support including a second passage having a second opening along a length of the second passage and facing toward the opening, and a sleeve fitted over the first passage, enclosing said open length, and formed with a third passage that hydraulically connects the first passage and the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Janson, Jeffrey E. Maurer, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Patent number: 8534437
    Abstract: A centrifugally balanced hydraulic clutch assembly includes a hydraulic chamber configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and a clutch piston that is partially situated within the hydraulic chamber and defines both an apply volume and a release volume. The clutch piston includes an inner surface and an outer surface, where a portion of the outer surface faces the apply volume and defines an apply area, and a portion of the inner surface faces the release volume and defines a release area. Additionally each portion of the apply area is provided at a respective distance from the axis of rotation, and, for each portion of the apply area, there is a corresponding portion of the release area provided at the same radial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Daryl A. Wilton
  • Patent number: 8528714
    Abstract: A clutch arrangement of disc-type design, which has two clutch parts that have at least one element which forms a surface of a friction pairing and which bears friction surfaces. The clutch parts can be operatively connected to one another by an actuating device, which has a pressure element. The actuating force, which acts on the clutch parts, is supported centrally on a support surface which is situated opposite the effective piston surface and which is aligned in the direction of the piston surface. The final element, which forms a surface of a friction pairing, in the line of action of the actuating force has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the other elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ivo Agner
  • Patent number: 8511450
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple clutch device having a first clutch which is assigned a first actuating piston with a first pressure chamber and a first pressure equalization chamber, and having a second clutch which is assigned a second actuating piston with a second pressure chamber and a second pressure equalization chamber, a first crossflow channel being provided for setting the hydraulic fluid column in the first pressure equalization chamber and a second crossflow channel being provided for setting the hydraulic fluid column in the second pressure equalization chamber. According to the invention, the first and second crossflow channels are arranged in such a way that both the oil which is discharged via the first crossflow channel and the oil which is discharged via the second crossflow channel can be fed to the first and second clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Borgwarner Inc.
    Inventors: Eckart Gold, Marcus Hertel, Tobias Groepper
  • Patent number: 8479906
    Abstract: A clutch device comprises an engine-side input hub (6) including a driver disk (10) and a cutout (70), a transmission-side output hub (46) adapted to be indirectly coupled to the engine-side input hub (6), a fastener (68) for axially fixing the transmission-side output hub (46) to a transmission shaft (60) and adapted to be accessed for actuation through the cutout (70) after the engine-side input hub is indirectly coupled to the transmission-side output hub, and a cup-shaped stopper (72) for opening and closing the cutout (70) and, in an installed state, has a guide section (108) that projects in an axial direction out of the cutout (70) and can be supported in an end-side depression (110) of an engine output shaft (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Juergen Hauck
  • Patent number: 8453818
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes first and second clutches disposed adjacent, wherein each of the first and second clutches includes a friction plate; a clutch drum in spline engagement with the friction plate; a piston that with the clutch drum forms a hydraulic oil chamber therebetween; a return spring that biases the piston toward the hydraulic oil chamber side; and a cancel plate that is disposed on a side opposite the hydraulic oil chamber of the piston to form a cancel oil chamber that cancels outs a centrifugal hydraulic pressure that acts on the hydraulic oil chamber, and that receives a reaction force of the return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Kito, Hiroshi Kato, Norihiro Tokunaga, Tomoko Nishida
  • Patent number: 8454468
    Abstract: An assembly includes a clutch support formed with multiple cylinders, each cylinder connectable to a source of hydraulic pressure that actuates a clutch, and a planetary gearset including a ring gear driveably connected to the clutch support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Janson, Jeffrey E. Maurer, Laurence A. Deutsch
  • Patent number: 8403121
    Abstract: A device for sealing a double clutch transmission of a motor vehicle, with a transmission housing, in which are arranged a clutch chamber with clutch oil and a double clutch, a transmission chamber with transmission oil and a double clutch transmission wheel set and two co-axial drive shafts disposed, one inside the other. One drive shaft is an interior central shaft which extends inside the transmission chamber from the end of the second hollow drive shaft. The two drive shafts each have a sealing element to seal the clutch chamber from the transmission chamber. A mounting component is situated inside and fixed to the transmission housing to support two adjacent sealing elements. A first sealing element forms a seal radially on the hollow drive shaft and a second sealing element forms a seal radially on the central drive shaft to provide a reliable seal and offer a simple ventilation and leakage detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Dieter Kraxner, Peter Höbel, Markus Rettenmaier, Jens Patzner
  • Patent number: 8376108
    Abstract: A multiple clutch device 1 includes a first clutch component 10, a second clutch component 20, a first oil channel 51, and a second oil channel 51. The first clutch component 10 is able to link an input shaft 2 and a first output shaft 3 by frictional engagement. The second clutch component 20 is able to link the input shaft 2 and a second output shaft 4 by frictional engagement. The first oil channel 51 serves to supply lubricating fluid to the first clutch component 10. The second oil channel 52 is substantially independent from the first oil channel 51, and serves to supply lubricating fluid to the second clutch component 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 8297422
    Abstract: A multiple clutch device which includes a drive unit, a downstream transmission connected to a drive shaft of the drive unit and accommodated in a clutch bell that does not co-rotate with the drive shaft, two wet multi-plate clutches, which include a plate support at the input and output end and plates alternating axially, and an actuation mechanism. A housing of the actuation mechanism is supported on the clutch bell, and the plate support at the input end of at least one of the multi-plate clutches is connected to the housing by a supporting metal sheet or a supporting pot and a footstep bearing such that a flow of an actuation force generated by the actuation mechanism is redirected to the housing of the actuation mechanism via the supporting metal sheet or the supporting pot and the footstep bearing, thus creating a closed force flow within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Oliver Noehl, Ivo Agner
  • Patent number: 8276728
    Abstract: A clutch unit (1) including at least one wet clutch (28, 29) and a torsional vibration damper (12) which are accommodated in a housing (8) driven by the drive unit. In order to simplify assembly, pre-assembled modular units (3, 4, 5) are formed that are joined together during the final assembly process. Advantageously, a separation point is provided between two modular units in the torsional vibration damper, wherein one modular unit (3) includes the energy accumulators (11) captively accommodated in a housing part (6), while the other modular unit (4) includes the output part of the torsional vibration damper as an input part (13) of the at least one wet clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Oliver Nohl, Philippe Schwederle
  • Publication number: 20120241278
    Abstract: A dual clutch arrangement for a transmission that is provided with a first input shaft and a second input shaft has a clutch housing that is connectable to a drive train in a rotationally fixed fashion. The first and second friction clutches can transmit a torque between the clutch housing and the first and the second input shafts, respectively. The first and second friction clutches are nested in the radial direction with respect to each other and actuated by a first and a second actuating unit that have pistons for pressuring clutch disk packs. The compressive force exerted by the piston of the first actuating unit and the compressive force exerted by the piston of the second actuating unit are directed in axially opposite directions with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Marc Absenger, Friedel Lauscher, Matthias Doelling, Andreas Hegerath, Hansi Gremplini
  • Patent number: 8235192
    Abstract: A clutch unit, which has at least one wet clutch that is arranged in a housing, which is driven by a drive unit. The clutch is effectively connected to an input part. To simultaneously associate a torsional vibration damper, e.g. a centrifugal pendulum, with the input part, a support disk of the torsional vibration damper is connected to the input part so that no or only minor vibrations are generated, allowing the frequency of the torsional vibration damper to be sufficiently adjusted. For this purpose, at least one plate support is connected to a single support disk which is fixedly mounted on the clutch hub and is thus made rigid. Preferably, the plate support further reduces vibration tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Oliver Noehl
  • Patent number: 8220608
    Abstract: A clutch assembly and damper arrangement is provided that includes a driver hub and a driven element coupled to the driver hub by a compliance element. A clutch is provided that is selectively engageable to the driven element. The clutch has a housing supporting the compliance element and is torsionally unitary with the driven element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Hans-Jürgen Hauck, Thomas E. Braford, Jr., Till Ebner
  • Patent number: 8162116
    Abstract: A twin clutch assembly for a drive train including a twin clutch transmission, and a drive unit coupled to the twin clutch transmission through a wet running twin multi disk clutch. A drive side output hub is non-rotatably connected with a transmission input shaft that is rotatably disposed within a hollow transmission input shaft that includes a free end facing the drive unit and is non-rotatably connected to a transmission side output hub. A clutch cover is axially disposed between the twin clutch and the drive unit, and a drive element is axially supported and is non-rotatably connected to the drive unit. The transmission side output hub is axially supported toward the transmission by an axial support device at the free end of the hollow transmission input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Nöhl, Ivo Agner
  • Patent number: 8157070
    Abstract: A marine reduction and reverse gear unit having an output shaft disposed at an acute (or obtuse) angle with respect to an input shaft 7 comprises: a drive gear 15 for transmitting torque from the input shaft 7; first and second driven gears 30, 31 engaged with the drive gear and disposed on the right and left sides thereof to sandwich the drive gear between the first and second driven gears; a reverse gear 16 connected to the drive gear 15 via a reverse hydraulic clutch 16; a first forward speed gear 33 connected to the first driven gear 30 via a hydraulic clutch; a second forward speed gear connected to the second driven gear 31 via a hydraulic clutch; and an output gear 26 fixed on the output shaft and engaged directly with one of the reverse gear 16, first forward speed gear 33 and second forward speed gear 36, or engaged therewith via idle gears to thereby receive the transmitted torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Okanishi, Kazuyoshi Harada
  • Patent number: 8109374
    Abstract: A production method for coned disk springs includes: preparing a plate member; punching plural annular blanks from the plate member by pressing; and forming the blanks into coned disk springs. In the pressing, plural slits are formed at one of a peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion of at least one of the blanks, and a smaller outer diameter blank among the blanks is punched from an inner region of a larger outer diameter blank among the blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuji Ando
  • Patent number: 8083627
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes first and second clutches, a clutch drum, a piston, a plurality of friction plates, a hydraulic oil chamber, a cancel oil chamber, a return spring, and a cancel plate, wherein a plate member that forms a cylinder portion of the hydraulic oil chamber is provided between the piston and the clutch drum of the first clutch that is located on an inner diameter side, and an oil passage that supplies an oil to the cancel oil chamber of the second clutch that is located on an outer diameter side is formed between the clutch drum and the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Kito, Norihiro Tokunaga, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8056692
    Abstract: A sealing system with at least one sealing device for a pressurizing-agent-operable actuating device, for sealing off a pressure chamber assigned to the latter from the surroundings. The individual sealing element being placed in a groove formed by the actuating device and a thin sheet metal element connected to the actuating device, where at least two contact surfaces that describe the groove are formed on the actuating device for the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Philip George
  • Patent number: 8041483
    Abstract: Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 8002663
    Abstract: An automatic transmission that includes two adjacent clutches. Two clutches each include a clutch drum, a piston that structures an operating oil chamber with a portion of the clutch drum used as a cylinder, a plurality of friction plates that engage with the clutch drum, a cancel oil chamber that is arranged on a back surface side of the piston and that cancels a centrifugal oil pressure acting on the operating oil chamber, and a return spring that is provided within the cancel oil chamber and that is structured between a cancel plate and a back surface of the piston and that biases the piston toward the operating oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Katou, Masashi Kitou, Kohei Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7954615
    Abstract: A device for actuating a disk clutch (B) in a transmission, which consists of an actuating piston-cylinder arrangement with rotation pressure compensation, whose actuating piston (6) is associated with a pressure chamber (4) for a pressure medium fluid to produce the actuating force, and in which a pressure compensation chamber (26) is provided, in which by virtue of centrifugal action a pressure medium fluid produces on the actuating piston a compensation force directed in opposition to the actuation direction of the actuating piston, the pressure chamber and the pressure compensation chamber each having a delivery line (9, 21) for pressure medium fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Tiesler, Christoph Margraf
  • Patent number: 7914413
    Abstract: An automatic transmission that is structured such that the first clutch, the third clutch, and the fourth clutch are disposed in an axial direction more toward the speed-reduction planetary gear than the planetary gear unit; friction plates of the first clutch are disposed so as to be offset in the axial direction with respect to friction plates of the third clutch and friction plates of the fourth clutch; and the friction plates of the fourth clutch are disposed such that at least a portion thereof coincides in the axial direction with the friction plates of the third clutch on an inner peripheral side of the friction plates of the third clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Katou, Masashi Kitou, Yuichi Seki, Hiroki Shintani
  • Patent number: 7914269
    Abstract: A positive-displacement pump having an eccentrically positioned internal ring gear and pinion within a pump housing. Pressurized operating fluid is provided by the pump to actuate an actuation piston of a clutch unit, such as a double clutch unit. The clutch unit is drivingly coupled with the pump for movement between engaged and disengaged positions. At least one throughbore is provided in the pump housing within which throughbore the clutch actuation piston is guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Marco Grethel, Oswald Friedmann, Christoph Vetter, Eric Müller
  • Patent number: 7900761
    Abstract: To provide a smaller clutch system with fewer component parts, the clutch system includes a first hydraulic clutch, which is provided between a power source and a first driven shaft, and a second hydraulic clutch, which is provided between the power source and a second driven shaft. An input member includes an annular plate portion, an inner cylindrical portion, and an outer cylindrical portion. The input member is provided commonly to a first and a second hydraulic clutches, while the inner and the outer cylindrical portions are made to be the input sides respectively of the first and the second hydraulic clutches. First and a second clutch pistons, which are included respectively in the first and the second hydraulic clutches, are placed on an opening end side of the input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tsukada, Masahiro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 7896145
    Abstract: An automatic transmission including a first clutch, a second clutch, a first drum in which a first piston of the first clutch is axially slidably received and that cooperates with the first piston to define a first oil chamber, a second drum disposed coaxially with the first drum, so as to accommodate the first drum, and in which a second piston of the second clutch is axially slidably received, the second drum cooperating with the second piston to define a second oil chamber, a first fluid supply portion for feeding a working fluid into the first oil chamber through the first drum and the second drum, to operate the first piston, and a second fluid supply portion for feeding the working fluid into the second oil chamber through the second drum, to operate the second piston, and wherein the second fluid supply portion is located radially outwardly of the first fluid supply portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kato, Terufumi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7862461
    Abstract: An automatic transmission that includes one clutch that includes a clutch drum; a piston that forms a hydraulic oil chamber using a part of the clutch drum as a cylinder; a plurality of friction plates that engage with the clutch drum; and a cancel oil chamber that is provided on a rear side of the piston and that cancels a centrifugal oil pressure that acts on the hydraulic oil chamber. Oil is supplied to the cancel oil chamber from a boss portion formed in the clutch drum on a radially inner side, and the oil is discharged from discharge holes formed in the boss portion to an outside of a hydraulic oil chamber side of the clutch drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Katou, Masashi Kitou, Kohei Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7841457
    Abstract: A transmission having a shaft driven by a prime mover such as an engine or motor is provided. The transmission includes a first stationary element for supporting the shaft for rotation, and a torque transmitting device connectable to the shaft and rotatable about an axis. The torque transmitting device is actuated by a hydraulic fluid. A first passage is connected to the torque transmitting device and is in communication with the hydraulic fluid. The first passage extends radially inward from the torque transmitting device. A vent passage is located within the first stationary element and is in communication with the first passage. Rotation of the torque transmitting device about the axis separates entrained air from the fluid and urges air radially inward through the first passage and into the vent passage, thereby removing air from the hydraulic fluid and circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew A. Crafton, Charles F. Long, Randall S. Conn
  • Patent number: 7823711
    Abstract: A dual automatic mechanically actuated wet clutch device, for operation within a fluid tight housing, for a dual input shaft transmission that includes tightly specified average spacing between friction plate surfaces where the average spacing is selected from between about 0.05 mm to about 0.25 mm in an open position. The clutch has at least first and second independently actuatable clutch portions, and at least one clutch pack in the first or second clutch portion; and mechanical apparatus provided to move friction plates in at least one of the clutch portions toward each other so that they engage. The invention also includes apparatus and methods for adjusting and maintaining the spacing between the friction plate surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Adam Uhler, Philip George, Todd Sturgin, Jeffrey Hemphill, Gabor Izso, Patrick Lindemann