Spring Released Patents (Class 192/66.23)
  • Patent number: 11098767
    Abstract: A clutch for use in actuating an aircraft wing tip device is disclosed. The clutch includes first and second friction members each having a frusto-conical friction surface, and a third friction member arranged coaxially with, and between, the first and second friction members. The third friction member has first and second frusto-conical friction surfaces. When the clutch is engaged, the first and second friction surfaces of the third friction member are brought into contact with the friction surfaces of the first and second friction members, respectively. The clutch also includes spacer means operable to separate the friction surfaces from one another when the clutch is in a disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Gaetan Dussart, Ciaran O'Rourke, Thomas Wilson, Mudassir Lone
  • Patent number: 9822844
    Abstract: A shifting device for a transmission unit of a vehicle, in particular a vehicle that is driven by muscle force. The transmission unit has a first shaft, which is formed as a hollow shaft, on which a plurality of free gears is mounted. The free gears are in engagement with a corresponding plurality of gearwheels, which are mounted on a second shaft, wherein the free gears are connectable to the first shaft by means of selecting devices. The selecting devices can be actuated by means of a camshaft arranged coaxially in the first shaft, wherein the camshaft is connected to a driving device in order to be rotated relative to the first shaft to actuate the selecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Pinion GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Christoph Lermen
  • Publication number: 20150047943
    Abstract: A cone clutch having a male cone driven by a shaft transferring torque from a power source to a female cone, the male cone moveable along spiral splines on the shaft from a first position disengaged from said female cone to a second position engaged with the female cone, a spring located on said shaft between said male and female cones forcing the male cone towards the first position, the male cone forced to move towards the second position by the action of the spiral splines during rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Gile Jun Yang Park
  • Patent number: 8196725
    Abstract: A device for connecting, in a rotationally fixed manner, a shaft to at least one component which is rotationally supported on the shaft, such as a gear wheel of a gear in a transmission. The device includes an actuating element that is rotationally fixed, but axially slides on the shaft, such that when the element is actuated by an actor, the element actively, frictionally communicates with the component to at least approximately equalize a rotational speed difference, between the component and the shaft. The actuating element can be actuated by the actor with a force to frictionally connect the component to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The device further includes a holding device, which retains the actuating element in a shift condition essentially equivalent to the rotationally fixed condition of the component without further actuation of the actor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mark Mohr, Matthias Reisch
  • Patent number: 8056696
    Abstract: A control element for opening and closing a drive connection between a first member and a second member includes a first ring engaged with the first member, displaceable among a disengaged position, a stroked position and an engaged position and formed with first serrations, a second ring engaged with the first member and including second serrations, a third ring engaged with the second member and including third serrations for alternately engaging with and disengaging from the first and second serrations, and a detent for resisting displacement of the first ring relative to the second ring when the first ring is in the stroked position and permitting displacement of the first ring relative to the second ring when the first ring moves from the stroked position to the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Janson
  • Publication number: 20100051404
    Abstract: A separable clutch for a motor vehicle has a clutch plate including a moveably mounted release unit for engaging and disengaging the clutch. The clutch plate is pressure-medium actuated and includes an actuating piston which acts on the release unit in order to engage and disengage the clutch, and a pressure chamber which can be pressurized, and relieved of pressure, by pressure medium and which is delimited at one side by at least one part of the actuating piston and at the other side by at least one part of a clamping piston. At least the actuating piston, the pressure chamber and the clamping piston are resiliently supported in a defined position against the release unit by spring force. The force exerted by the spring is smaller than a limit force required for actuating the release unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer
    Inventor: Michael Herges
  • Patent number: 7231845
    Abstract: A multi cone selector in a transmission employs sandwiched cone friction surfaces 19A, 20A and 21A and these are shown in free or unengaged state while the corresponding friction surfaces as numerals 19, 20 and 21 are shown as engaged. This comparative illustration shows the relative positions of the surfaces at different times since the “A” surfaces and the non “A” surfaces are the same circumferential surfaces. The cone selector is used to engage free rotating gear a female part 22 of a multi-cone selector. A hydraulic actuator 23 is received by internal gear case wall 24 formed so as to prevent any radial or axial movement of the actuator itself. A hydraulic coupling, in this case the hydraulic coupling is formed as hydraulic springs or bags illustrated at 26. The crown of hydraulic spring outlet piston is formed so as to clip in a housing of a thrust bearing 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Select Design Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Boris Klaricic
  • Patent number: 7121393
    Abstract: A synchronizer clutch assembly includes a clutch hub which is axially movably mounted on a shaft, a gear which is axially spaced from the hub and which is journally mounted on the shaft and rotatable independent thereof, one of the hub or the gear having a conical friction surface formed thereon, and a synchronizer ring positioned between the hub and the gear. The synchronizer ring is coupled to the hub or the gear for rotation therewith and has a complementary conical friction surface formed thereon which is engageable with the conical friction surface on the hub or the gear. The synchronizer ring is composed of a plurality of separate arcuate segments arranged in a ring, which are movable between a first expanded configuration and a second, contracted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Gary I. Skipper, Keith Roberts
  • Patent number: 7017438
    Abstract: In a transmission of the constant mesh type a number of gear selectors are driven by using a hydraulic coupling between input and output pistons. The hydraulic coupling functions as a hydraulic spring and force multiplier. A hydraulic actuator (23) is received by internal gear case wall (24) formed so as to prevent any radial or axial movement of the actuator itself. A hydraulic coupling, in this case the hydraulic coupling is formed as hydraulic springs or bags illustrated at (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Select Design Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Boris Klaricic
  • Patent number: 6405822
    Abstract: A torque distribution system for four-wheel-drive vehicle includes an idle gear mounted on one of a front or rear propeller shaft, a transfer gear mounted on the other propeller shaft, a chain connecting the idle gear and the transfer gear, a clutch coaxially mounted with the idle gear on the propeller shaft where the idle gear is mounted, and a clutch controller for selectively engaging the clutch. The clutch includes an external drum integrally fixed to the idle gear and having an inner circumferential friction plane, and an internal drum slidably mounted on the propeller shaft and having an outer circumferential friction plane such that the internal drum selectively slides into and engages with the external drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae-Hyung Lee