Patents Assigned to JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  • Patent number: 11841068
    Abstract: A differential gearing device includes a base gearing device and an actuator. The base gearing device including a first gear connected to a first output of the differential gearing device, a second gear connected to a second output of the differential gearing device, differential gearing connected to each of the first gear and the second gear, and a clutch connected between the first gear and the second gear. The actuator actuates the clutch to change a torque bias ratio between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Noel R Barnes, II, Michael Kocevar
  • Publication number: 20230349457
    Abstract: A differential gearing device includes a base gearing device and an actuator. The base gearing device including a first gear connected to a first output of the differential gearing device, a second gear connected to a second output of the differential gearing device, differential gearing connected to each of the first gear and the second gear, and a clutch connected between the first gear and the second gear. The actuator actuates the clutch to change a torque bias ratio between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick DESING, Noel R. BARNES, II, Michael KOCEVAR
  • Patent number: 11725702
    Abstract: An axle disconnect device including a shift collar slidable in an axial direction of the axle disconnect device, the shift collar switchable between a connect mode and a disconnect mode; a first solenoid including a threaded end; a second solenoid including locker arm; a return spring configured to bias a movement of the shift collar towards the connect mode; a groove on the shift collar configured to receive the locker arm when the shift collar is in the connect mode; and a lead screw on the shift collar configured to mesh with the threaded end to move the shift collar toward the disconnect mode against the bias force of the return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Shun Ono
  • Patent number: 10975921
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a drive unit assembly for a vehicle. The drive unit assembly includes a housing and a clutch in a cavity of the housing. Rotation of a drum of the clutch expels a fluid from the cavity. The apparatus also includes a vehicle controller configured to disengage the clutch via an actuator. Actuation of the actuator reduces a flow of the fluid into the cavity. The vehicle controller is also configured to maintain engagement of a vehicle transfer device operatively coupled between a vehicle transmission and the drum such that the drum continues to rotate for a time interval during which the clutch is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Shun Ono, Evan Swinger, Sean Hayes, Masaki Mita
  • Patent number: 10975924
    Abstract: Fluid control apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed clutch coupling assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a cavity. The clutch coupling assembly also includes a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the cavity. The clutch coupling assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the cavity. Rotation of the clutch is to convey a fluid from the cavity to the fluid reservoir. The clutch coupling assembly also includes a pump operatively coupled to the housing to control the fluid. Operation of the pump is to convey the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the cavity when the clutch is in an engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Shun Ono, Mike Kocevar, Junji Ando, Kenji Korenaga
  • Patent number: 10975954
    Abstract: Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed drive unit assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity fluidly coupled together. The drive unit assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the first cavity. Rotation of the clutch conveys a fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity. The drive unit assembly also includes a port extending from the second cavity to the first cavity to receive the fluid. The drive unit assembly also includes a piston positioned in the first cavity proximate to the port and configured to operate the clutch. Movement of the piston relative to the port controls a flow of the fluid through the port from the second cavity to the first cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Shun Ono, Evan Swinger, Sean Hayes
  • Publication number: 20200378450
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a drive unit assembly for a vehicle. The drive unit assembly includes a housing and a clutch in a cavity of the housing. Rotation of a drum of the clutch expels a fluid from the cavity. The apparatus also includes a vehicle controller configured to disengage the clutch via an actuator. Actuation of the actuator reduces a flow of the fluid into the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick DESING, Shun ONO, Evan SWINGER, Sean HAYES, Masaki MITA
  • Publication number: 20200362924
    Abstract: Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed drive unit assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity fluidly coupled together. The drive unit assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the first cavity. Rotation of the clutch conveys a fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity. The drive unit assembly also includes a port extending from the second cavity to the first cavity to receive the fluid. The drive unit assembly also includes a piston positioned in the first cavity proximate to the port and configured to operate the clutch. Movement of the piston relative to the port controls a flow of the fluid through the port from the second cavity to the first cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick DESING, Shun ONO, Evan SWINGER, Sean HAYES
  • Publication number: 20200217375
    Abstract: Fluid control apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed clutch coupling assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a cavity. The clutch coupling assembly also includes a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the cavity. The clutch coupling assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the cavity. Rotation of the clutch is to convey a fluid from the cavity to the fluid reservoir. The clutch coupling assembly also includes a pump operatively coupled to the housing to control the fluid. Operation of the pump is to convey the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the cavity when the clutch is in an engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick DESING, Shun ONO, Mike KOCEVAR, Junji ANDO, Kenji KORENAGA
  • Patent number: 10563745
    Abstract: A wear compensator to compensate wear between a rack and a pinion including a yoke plug, a pin affixed to the yoke plug, jaws that surrounds the pin, a disc spring sandwiched between the yoke plug and the jaws, a stage compensator that receives and slides along the jaws to provide a frictional force, a rack guide in contact with the rack, a spring extending between the stage compensator and the rack guide, wherein when the rack guide transfers to the stage compensator a first load above a predetermined threshold, the frictional force overcomes prevents the spring disc to push the stage compensator towards the rack, and when the rack guide transfers to the stage compensator a second load below the predetermined threshold, the frictional force allows the spring disc to push the stage compensator towards the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Brown
  • Patent number: 10550898
    Abstract: A torque coupling system including an input shaft, a main cam affixed to the input shaft, a clutch housing that surrounds the input shaft and provides an inter space, a scoop plate affixed to the clutch housing, an external housing that encloses the clutch housing and provides an outer space, and a main clutch that is articulable between a disconnected drive mode and a all-wheel drive mode. In the disconnected drive mode the main clutch disengages the input shaft from the clutch housing and the main cam rotates with the input shaft to transfer lubricant from the inner space to the outer space while in the all-wheel drive mode the main clutch engages the input shaft with the clutch housing and the scoop plate rotates with the clutch housing to scoop the lubricant from the outer space to inner space through the catch tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Shun Ono, Jeremy Grunn, Junji Ando, Michael Kocevar
  • Publication number: 20190178311
    Abstract: A torque coupling system including an input shaft, a main cam affixed to the input shaft, a clutch housing that surrounds the input shaft and provides an inter space, a scoop plate affixed to the clutch housing, an external housing that encloses the clutch housing and provides an outer space, and a main clutch that is articulable between a disconnected drive mode and a all-wheel drive mode. In the disconnected drive mode the main clutch disengages the input shaft from the clutch housing and the main cam rotates with the input shaft to transfer lubricant from the inner space to the outer space while in the all-wheel drive mode the main clutch engages the input shaft with the clutch housing and the scoop plate rotates with the clutch housing to scoop the lubricant from the outer space to inner space through the catch tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Jtekt Automotive North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Shun Ono, Jeremy Grunn, Junji Ando, Michael Kocevar
  • Publication number: 20190063581
    Abstract: A wear compensator to compensate wear between a rack and a pinion including a yoke plug, a pin affixed to the yoke plug, jaws that surrounds the pin, a disc spring sandwiched between the yoke plug and the jaws, a stage compensator that receives and slides along the jaws to provide a frictional force, a rack guide in contact with the rack, a spring extending between the stage compensator and the rack guide, wherein when the rack guide transfers to the stage compensator a first load above a predetermined threshold, the frictional force overcomes prevents the spring disc to push the stage compensator towards the rack, and when the rack guide transfers to the stage compensator a second load below the predetermined threshold, the frictional force allows the spring disc to push the stage compensator towards the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas BROWN