Abstract: In a transmission inertia brake a ball ramp mechanism is used to load a clutch pack to slow a rotating transmission shaft where the clutch pack is carried on a one piece drive assembly having a gear section for meshing with a transmission gear, an extension section for engaging a thrust plate in an isolator assembly, a clutch section for engaging plurality of driven clutch plates in the clutch pack and a bearing section for rotational support within a brake housing. An armature having an angled peripheral surface engages a mating friction surface formed in an end plate to form a core clutch, the armature being magnetically pulled upon energization of an electrical coil energized by a power signal from a control unit supplied through a sealed electrical connector thereby introducing a frictional braking force on the armature to activate the ball ramp mechanism. The armature is nonrotatably connected to the control ring of the ball ramp mechanism through at least one connecting pin.

Abstract: A diagnostic driveline vibration analyzing tool for measuring and characterizing the torsional vibration of a rotating component such as a transmission output shaft in a vehicle driveline. An electronic control unit and sensor cooperate to measure speed fluctuations occurring between the passing of adjacent teeth of a rotating gear. These time measurements are then filtered using an order tracked pass band filter to isolate frequencies of interest the results of which are then used to calculate a total torsional energy level by taking the root mean square of the filtered signal over a predetermined period of time. The total torsional energy level is then compared to a predetermined maximum amplitude and if the total torsional level exceeds this predetermined maximum amplitude then the operator is notified through a display device.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a plurality of one-way clutches acting in a pair of planetary gearsets with a one-way clutch acting on each planet gear and supported on a carrier ring which is frictionally connected to a ball ramp control ring upon energization by a clutch control unit of an electrical coil thereby creating relative rotational motion between the control ring and an actuation ring causing a plurality of rolling elements to travel along identical opposed variable depth ramps thereby creating an axial separation force between the control ring and the actuation ring generating the clamping force on the clutch disc.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator including a ball ramp mechanism supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a planetary gearset having an annulus connected to rotate with a clutch ring and a sun gear connected to rotate with the transmission input shaft.

Abstract: Grooved friction materials (12 or 14) each include a single-layer pyrolytic-carbon fabric material formed of woven or nonwoven yarn strands (20 and 22). The pyrolytic-carbon fabric material (12 or 14) has a top surface (16) and a bottom surface (18), the top surface (16) having molded grooves (28) therein. The yarn strands (20 and 22) at the grooves (28) exhibit superior integrity because they are generally whole, undamaged yarn strands. Wet friction members for friction engaging mechanisms include a support member (54, 56, or 58) and at least one piece (48, 50, or 52) of grooved friction material (14) adhered to a surface of the support member. The bulk grooved friction material (14), from which the individual pieces (48, 50, or 52) are cut, is a single-layer pyrolytic-carbon fabric material formed of yarn strands (20 and 22) and has a top surface (16) with grooves (28) therein. The yarn strands (20 and 22) at the grooves (28) are generally whole and undamaged.

Abstract: A driveline retarder coupled to a vehicle driveline where a ball ramp actuator having a control plate and an activation plate separated by rolling elements is energized by an electrical coil is used to apply a clamping load on a clutch pack which frictionally couples a rotating shaft to a gerotor hydraulic pump which is used to absorb rotational energy to create a braking torque on the vehicle driveline to aid in vehicle braking. A coupling plate is electromagnetically attracted to the electrical coil thereby transferring a braking torque to the control plate through a flex plate.

Abstract: A ball ramp mechanism having a control ring acting with an actuation ring to apply a clamping force on a driveline clutch during both a vehicle driving mode and a vehicle coast mode using a planetary gearset acting with a one-way clutch between a sun gear and meshing planetary gears to define rotation of the control ring with respect to the actuation ring in a direction tending to further activate the ball ramp mechanism. In the vehicle drive mode the planetary gearset is locked by the one-way clutch and in a vehicle coast mode the one-way clutch releases and the planetary gearset rotates the control ring through a coil pole in a direction to further activate the ball ramp mechanism.

Abstract: A transmission shifting system for axially displacing a jaw clutch having a plurality of axially and/or radially beveled teeth for engagement with a plurality of engagement cavities formed in a mainshaft gear where a ball ramp actuator or a cam ramp mechanism is used to axially displace the jaw clutch. An electrical coil is used to electromagnetically couple a control ring to the mainshaft gear using a clutch plate and an actuation ring is nonrotatably connected to the mainshaft. In an alternative embodiment, the actuation ring is formed as part of the jaw clutch and the control ring remains stationary relative to a mainshaft. A plurality of flux grooves are utilized to channel magnetic forces between the clutch plate and the mainshaft gear.

Abstract: A control strategy for an electronically controlled X-Y shifting mechanism for a vehicle transmission which takes advantage of the extra supply voltage available on European vehicles while maintaining commonality with U.S. shifter systems. A variable voltage pulse width modulated duty cycle percentage is maintained at or below a 50% nominal value to make the 24V source appear as a 12V source, allowing commonality in X-Y shifting mechanism hardware and basic control algorithms for both 12V and 24V vehicle systems. However, this percentage is increased to greater than the nominal 50% limit when the available supply voltage drops below 24V, as well as between an initial movement of the shift finger and engagement of the finger with a shift block, in order to provide faster motor acceleration to obtain top speeds quicker and during low force but top speed movement conditions.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having first and second actuation plates with a control plate disposed therebetween where a plurality of circumferential variable depth grooves are formed in a first face of the first actuation plate and in first and second faces of the control plate where the grooves formed in the first face of the control plate are directly opposed to the grooves formed in the second face of the control plate where the actuation grooves and the control grooves form opposed pairs of grooves having a rolling member disposed within each pair of grooves for axially separating the first and second actuation plates from the control plate as the rolling members traverse their respective grooves such that the rolling members contacting the first face of the control plate directly oppose the rolling elements contacting the second face of the control plate to provide a balanced axial force on the control plate.

Abstract: A viscous damped driveline coupling has two concentric tubes concentric with a torsion bar where the torsion bar is nonrotatably connected to both a drive coupling and a driven coupling. An outer tube has a first end connected to the drive coupling and a second end connected to a driven ring where the driven ring contacts ring forks contacting the driven coupling at travel stops thereby providing for lost motion between the driven coupling and the outer tube. A concentric inner tube is connected to the driven coupling and is viscously coupled to the outer tube. As the torsion bar transfers relatively low levels of torque between the drive and driven couplings, the viscous layer between the outer and inner tubes provides viscous damping. Upon contacting the travel stops, the outer tube then carries any additional torque in the driveline coupling.

Abstract: A vehicle brake assembly where the actuator tube is positioned in a relief portion formed in the periphery of a brake spider and a pair of separated return springs are respectively attached to a pair of brake shoes pivotably mounted to the spider where an actuator mounting flange is positioned against a shoulder formed in the actuator tube. The brake assembly overall size is minimized for use in a reduced diameter wheel while maximizing the travel of the brake shoes using a cam type actuator.

Abstract: A trailer electrical monitor function is implemented into a microprocessor based truck tractor and trailer electrical communication system where a programmable memory unit connected to a trailer electronic control unit is used by the trailer electronic control unit to store a trailer identification code, the result of which is connected through an interface circuit to the trailer electronic control unit where the result is then transmitted to a tractor electronic control unit and/or to an external programming unit. The tractor and trailer electronic control units control the state of a plurality of switching devices to establish the appropriate electrical connection into and out of a standard seven pin tractor/trailer electrical connector where high speed data communication links are used for control diagnostics.

Abstract: A latchable rocker arm is actuated with a solenoid device having a stator and an armature where the armature is connected to an output link which is connected to a first connecting link and a second connecting link which are disposed to form a "knee" linkage where in the fully actuated state the first connecting link and the second connecting link are in substantial axial alignment. A pivoted output link is connected to the first connecting link for contacting and actuating the latchable rocker arm.

Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine which does not require synchronization with the engine rotation is disclosed. The system includes an actuator having a coil electrically energized by a control unit causing a stator to magnetically attract an armature where the armature is coupled to a plunger by an actuator spring. The plunger pushes against a pivoted actuator arm having an inner and outer housing which are biased into extension by an arm spring. The actuator arm contacts and forces a slidable latch member into an inactive position and a latch spring returns the latch member into an active position. The system includes an outer rocker arm which is engageable with an engine poppet valve, and an inner rocker arm which is engageable with a cam lobe and the latch member which rotatably links and unlinks the inner and outer rocker arms.

Abstract: A high pressure fluid is used to power an actuator for opening and closing an engine poppet valve when the actuator has a valve stem supporting an upper piston and an adjacent lower piston which axially transverse an actuator housing in response to the flow of high pressure fluid as determined by the position of a control valve. The upper piston has a larger diameter than the lower piston which has a larger diameter than the valve stem. An upper chamber is defined by the upper piston and the actuator housing while a lower chamber is defined by an outside peripheral surface of the lower piston and the actuator housing.

Abstract: A computerized electronic system (10) for use in conjunction with a fleet of vehicles for complying with pre- and post-trip vehicle inspection reporting requirements while improving fleet maintenance and operations efficiency. An on-board computer (OBC) (12) having integrated or interfaced communications capability is used to receive and store data input by the driver and maintenance personnel. The OBC (12) may electronically store at least the current driver's inspection report and previous driver's inspection report to satisfy regulatory requirements. A copy of these reports can be produced on the vehicle in either electronic or paper form as required by an inspector. A ground support system (GSS) (16) may receive certain inspection information from an OBC (12) on a real time basis and thereby is provided ready access to pertinent vehicle data.

Abstract: A method to estimate the thickness of a brake lining based on the periodic sampling of the output of a temperature sensor embedded in the brake lining. A temperature histogram is created which is compared to calibration histograms stored in an electronic processing unit to yield an estimated brake lining thickness which is transmitted to the vehicle cab or to another on-board electronics unit. A brake wear factor is calculated from the temperature histogram by multiplying the average value of each temperature range by the frequency of occurrence and then summing the results.

Abstract: A method for detection of wear of a brake lining using a temperature sensor embedded in a brake lining adjacent to a brake table. A temperature versus time history recorded upon application of the brake system is transmitted to a microprocessor based processing unit which estimates the thickness of the remaining brake lining based on comparison with calibration data stored in the processing unit.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having a control ring axially separated from a pressure plate by rolling members engaging matching opposed grooves having a variable depth acting to supply an axial clamping force against a clutch disc in a clutch assembly and a releasable one-way clutch having a first race attached to the control ring and a second race attached to the pressure plate acting to only allow relative rotation between the control ring and the pressure plate in a direction to increase the clamping force on the clutch disc until a release coil is energized to release the one-way clutch thereby allowing the control ring to rotate relative to the pressure plate in a direction to decrease the clamping force on the clutch disc. A control coil is used to apply an electromagnetic force on the control ring to activate the ball ramp actuator.