Patents Represented by Attorney Simpson & Simpson, PLLC
  • Patent number: 8352141
    Abstract: A method for actuating a clutch in the drive train of a motor vehicle, including: generating a respective position setpoint for each predetermined target interval to actuate the clutch; in each predetermined target interval, actuating the clutch in a plurality of predetermined controller sampling intervals; discretizing a respective position setpoint change into a plurality of intermediate position setpoints; determining a number of intermediate position setpoints in the plurality of intermediate position setpoint depending on the ratio of the target interval to the controller sampling interval; and specifying the respective position setpoint changes in steps to actuate the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co., KG
    Inventor: Michael Schuhen
  • Patent number: 8348037
    Abstract: A torque converter having three sealed chambers in which a piston for engaging and disengaging a lock-up clutch is attached to the torque converter using a plurality of leaf springs. The assembly includes a plurality of access or pass-through holes for effecting the attachment of the leaf spring to the cover using rivets. Also included is plurality of plugs to seal the pass-through holes. A method of using the plugs to prevent uncontrolled leakage from one sealed chamber to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: John Carrier, Nathan Yensho
  • Patent number: 8348036
    Abstract: A multi-function torque converter including: an apply pressure chamber for a torque converter clutch; a first pressure chamber including a torus; and a resilient flow control element in fluid communication with the apply chamber and the first pressure chamber and arranged to control fluid flow to the apply pressure chamber. The resilient flow element is displaceable to block fluid flow to the apply pressure chamber in torque converter mode for the torque converter and to enable fluid flow to the apply chamber in lock-up mode. The torque converter includes a second pressure chamber and the clutch includes a piston plate at least partially bounding the apply pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Vural Ari, Todd J. Sturgin, Kevin Parks
  • Patent number: 8342306
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter (1), comprising a turbine wheel (9) driven by an impeller (8) and connected to an output part, and comprising a housing (34), in which a torsional vibration damper (19) having several damper stages (17, 20) and a centrifugal force pendulum (11), and also a converter lockup clutch (18) connecting a housing and an output part (3), are accommodated. In order to avoid any striking of the pendulum masses of the centrifugal force pendulum in internal combustion engines having large oscillating angles driving the torque converter, a turbine damper is connected in the power flow upstream of the centrifugal force pendulum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Werner, Jan Loxtermann
  • Patent number: 8339433
    Abstract: A print head, including: a plurality of chips disposed in a linear array; respective pluralities of first and second matrix drivers on each the chip connected to first and second channels, respectively; and for each chip, first groups of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Each first group of LEDs includes: a second group of LEDs, with a first number of LEDs, connected to a respective first matrix driver; and a third group of LEDs, with the first number of LEDs, connected to a respective second matrix driver. LEDs in each first group of LEDs are disposed in a staggered arrangement; and the respective pluralities of first and second matrix drivers are for activating in sequence the LEDs in the second and third groups of LEDs, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Scott L. Tewinkle
  • Patent number: 8337316
    Abstract: A torsion damper including a plurality of elastic elements, a first plate drivingly engaged with the plurality of elastic elements and adapted to drivingly engage with a transmission shaft, a gear, and a second plate drivingly engaged with the gear and the plurality of elastic elements. At least one of the first or second plate is adapted to hydraulically seal with respect to a housing for the transmission. The gear may be adapted to be a power take-off gear for the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Philip George
  • Patent number: 8337171
    Abstract: A pump drive system having a pump drive element that is driven by a first or a second drive mechanism. The pump drive element is connectable or connected by a coupling element in a rotationally fixed connection either through a first free-wheel device to the first drive mechanism or through a second free-wheel device to the second drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ivo Agner, Dierk Reitz, Reinhard Berger, Johannes Lamers
  • Patent number: 8334744
    Abstract: A tether system for an underwater vehicle, including: a drum including a substantially cylindrical spooling segment, the spooling segment including: an axially aligned first portion with an outer circumference including a first opening; and a second portion at an axial end of the first portion and including a second opening. The system also includes a tether cable connected to the storage drum. The first and second openings form a portion of a passage from an exterior of the drum through the first portion to the outer circumference of the first portion. A tether cable for an underwater vehicle, including: a core including conductive wire or optical fiber and a buoyant jacket surrounding the core of conductive material. The buoyant jacket includes a plurality of first portions with a first outside diameter and a plurality of second portions having respective second outside diameters less than the first outside diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Company
    Inventor: Paul D. Tibbetts
  • Patent number: 8333054
    Abstract: A method for producing a plurality of packages of liquid containers including the steps of dividing the liquid containers into groups representing the packages, applying handles to a film, wherein the film is located in a feeding area for the film, supplying one film to each of the groups of liquid containers via the feeding area, and wrapping each group of liquid containers with the film and the applied handle, thereby completing the packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Michael Hartl
  • Patent number: 8328490
    Abstract: A sheet metal rivet, a body with a centerline and first side and second sides oppositely disposed with respect to the centerline; at least one first protrusion extending from the first side of the body and having a first width; and at least one second protrusion extending from the second side of the body and having a second width. The first and second widths are different or the at least one first and second protrusions are at least partially misaligned in a direction orthogonal to the centerline. In one embodiment, the at least one first and second protrusions include first and second pluralities of protrusions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Brian C. Zaugg
  • Patent number: 8327986
    Abstract: A force transmission device having a hydrodynamic component, disposed between an input and an output, comprising at least a pump shell and a turbine shell, forming an operating cavity in combination, with an actuatable clutch device for at least partially bridging the hydrodynamic component, comprising a clutch component for at least partially bridging the hydrodynamic component, comprising a first clutch component connected with the input and a second clutch component at least indirectly connected to the output, which can be brought into operative engagement with one another through an actuation device, with a vibration absorber disposed in the force flow at least subsequent to the actuatable clutch device, with a housing coupled with the input or with an element coupled non-rotatably to the input and coupled with the pump shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominique Engelmann, Mario Degler, Bruno Mueller
  • Patent number: 8328684
    Abstract: A method for controlling a creeping process of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a torque converter with a pump shell driven by the internal combustion engine and a turbine shell driving an automated transmission and a separation clutch disposed in the torque flow between the internal combustion engine and the torque converter, wherein a creeping process is initiated when a gas pedal for driver control of the internal combustion engine and a brake pedal are not actuated and a driving velocity of the motor vehicle is less than a predetermined value. In order to be able to perform the creeping process with converter slippage and also with slippage of the separation clutch a creep torque transmitted through the separation clutch is adjusted as a function of the slippage of the torque converter for initiating the creeping process and during the creeping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Klump
  • Patent number: 8328646
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper with a friction device. The friction device is formed on at least one friction surface on two contra-rotationally and oppositely disposed disc parts that are in frictional contact with one another. In order to propose how to determine the initial stressing effect of the frictional action independently of external support of the disc parts, the frictional surfaces are pressurized against one another by means of at least one spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Droll, Stefan Jung, Craig Kneidel, Srivatsan Kannan, Nathan Yensho, Thorsten Krause, Markus Werner
  • Patent number: 8328647
    Abstract: A connection for a torque converter including a cover, a piston plate, and at least one leaf spring having a first portion with a resilient segment and a second portion rotationally connected to one of the cover or the piston plate. The other of the cover or the piston plate comprises a first protrusion and the resilient segment grips the first protrusion. In an example embodiment, the second portion is riveted to the one of the cover or the piston plate. In an example embodiment, the one of the cover or the piston plate includes a second protrusion and the second portion includes a resilient segment that grips the second protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael C. Davis, Craig Kneidel, Adam Uhler
  • Patent number: 8322501
    Abstract: A force transmission device having a hydrodynamic component, disposed between an input and an output, comprising at least a pump shell and a turbine shell, forming an operating cavity in combination, with an actuatable clutch device for at least partially bridging the hydrodynamic component, comprising a clutch component for at least partially bridging the hydrodynamic component, comprising a first clutch component connected with the input and a second clutch component at least indirectly connected to the output, which can be brought into operative engagement with one another through an actuation device, with a vibration absorber disposed in the force flow at least subsequent to the actuatable clutch device, with a housing coupled with the input or with an element coupled non-rotatably to the input and coupled with the pump shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Toros Guelluek, Bruno Mueller, Stephan Maienschein, Thorsten Krause, Mario Degler
  • Patent number: 8322515
    Abstract: A conveyor system and a method for feeding articles of at least two different types to a downstream processing unit are disclosed. The conveyor system comprises an infeed unit for the articles, an arrangement zone downstream from the infeed unit, and a lane zone downstream from the arrangement zone. In the lane zone the articles are transported to the downstream processing unit in an ordered state. The infeed unit comprises at least two conveyor belts, to each of which there corresponds a direction of transport for the articles in a section of the arrangement zone, wherein the directions of transport enclose an angle between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Karl Rausch, Josef Mayer, Bruno Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8322288
    Abstract: The invention presented comprises an operation system in which items to be processed by an operator, such as a washer/dryer, bulk sterilizer, or kiln, are fed into and removed from the operator by a continuous conveyor. A microcontroller controls actuators in loading zones distributed along the conveyor that switch the individual loading zones from bypass to push mode to alternately allow the items to remain stationary on the moving conveyor or be moved to a downstream loading zone when in the push mode. In a preferred embodiment, at least one loading zone is located at least partly within the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lynx Product Group, LLC
    Inventors: Mark M. Misso, Frank D. Darrow, James Tomasine
  • Patent number: 8322504
    Abstract: A combined power transmission and drive unit for the application in drive trains in hybrid systems with at least two prime movers that can be coupled via a power transmission unit with a consumer, in particular transmission. Between a first prime mover and the power transmission unit, a device is provided for connecting/disconnecting the power flow between the latter and the power transmission unit, including a friction clutch that can be actuated by a pressure medium, including a first clutch part and a second clutch part which can be brought in active connection with one another via a servo unit featuring a piston element that can be pressurized by a pressure medium. A combined power transmission and drive unit according to the invention, with control of a rotation speed difference of a flow medium on either face side of a piston element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bruno Mueller, Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: D672783
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Walter Robert Robinson
  • Patent number: D673750
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Umbra LLC
    Inventor: David Quan