Patents Assigned to Litens Automotive Partnership
  • Patent number: 12261509
    Abstract: In an aspect, an actuator is provided and includes an axial flux motor and an epicycloid gear arrangement. The axial flux motor has a motor stator and a rotor, the rotor defining a rotor axis and having a motor output shaft. The motor output shaft has a first shaft portion that is coaxial with the rotor axis and a second shaft portion that is offset from the rotor axis. The epicycloid gear arrangement includes a ring gear, a cycloid gear, and a gear arrangement output member. The cycloid gear is rotatably mounted to the second shaft portion of the motor output shaft such that rotation of the motor output shaft drives the cycloid gear about the ring gear. The gear arrangement output member is driven rotationally by the cycloid gear about a gear arrangement output member axis that is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Geoffrey William Ryeland, Ercong Ji, Matthew Viola, Alin Pop
  • Patent number: 12209531
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided an isolation device, which includes a hub, a pulley and at least one isolation spring arrangement including first and second springs in series. The first spring rate is higher than the second spring rate. Initially during torque transfer from the first one to a second one of the hub and the pulley, the entire first isolation spring is slid along a friction surface towards the second one of the hub and the pulley during compression of the second isolation spring thereby generating a first frictional damping torque. During torque transfer the other way, at least a portion of the first isolation spring remains stationary relative to the friction surface, such that the first frictional damping torque is greater than the second frictional damping torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Kyle Pugsley, Frank Verriet, Maciej Zaczkowski
  • Patent number: 12117052
    Abstract: In an aspect, a decoupler is provided and includes an input member, an output member, a one-way clutch and an isolation spring. The one-way clutch receives torque from the input member. The isolation spring is helical, having a first helical end and a second helical end, and has first and second axial ends, and radially outer and inner surfaces. The isolation spring receives torque from the clutch, and transmits torque to the output member. The isolation spring changes size radially based on torque. The input member includes a radial projection that is positioned to frictionally engage one of the radially outer and inner surfaces of the spring when the spring reaches a selected size. Frictional engagement of the radial projection with the spring generates torque transfer directly from the input member to the spring in parallel with torque transfer from the input member to the spring through the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Maryam Talimi, Robert Ian Boersema
  • Patent number: 12085135
    Abstract: In an aspect, a decoupler is provided for mounting to a shaft in an accessory drive between an engine and an accessory in a vehicle. The decoupler includes a pulley, a hub, a wrap spring clutch, an isolation spring, and a carrier that is positioned to hold an end of the wrap spring clutch and an end of the isolation spring. The carrier has a slot for holding the end of the wrap spring clutch and wherein the slot has a slot exit through which the wrap spring clutch exits from the slot to wrap around an exterior of the carrier. The carrier has a bridge configured to fail before the end wall fails. This permits the carrier to open radially so as to bring the end wall into abutment with a wall of the pulley reducing stress in the end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Mahdi Tafreshnia, Harley Cooper
  • Patent number: 12005779
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a decoupler for an accessory drive for an engine. The decoupler includes a decoupler input member and a decoupler output member. One of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member has a clutch engagement surface. The decoupler further includes a wrap spring clutch and an isolation spring that act in series in a torque path between the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member. The wrap spring clutch has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. One of the radially inner and outer surfaces engages the clutch engagement surface in an interference fit with the clutch engagement surface. The decoupler further includes a volume of lubricant. During sufficiently high acceleration of the decoupler input member, there is slippage at the wrap spring clutch for a selected period of time after which the slippage stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Ashaad Bahri
  • Patent number: 11939911
    Abstract: A clutched pulley assembly mountable to the shaft of a motor-generator unit (MGU) has a first sheave, with first spline teeth, rotatably mounted to the MGU shaft, and a second sheave, with second spline teeth, fixed to the MGU shaft. A slider gear with slider gear spline teeth is axially moveable between a torque transfer position, where the slider gear spline teeth simultaneously intermesh with the spline teeth of the first and second sheaves to operatively connect the sheaves to each other, and a torque cut-off position, where the slider gear spline teeth intermesh with the second sheave spline teeth but not the first sheave spline teeth so as to operatively disconnect the sheaves. An actuator drives the slider gear between the torque transfer and cut-off positions. The pulley assembly can be used in a stand-cooling mode wherein the engine is stopped but the MGU powers a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Kody A. Orr, Geoffrey William Ryeland, Andrew Malcolm Boyes, Reza Farshidi, Christopher Nyholm, Jun Xu, Ercong Ji
  • Patent number: 11892038
    Abstract: A clutch system includes a rotary input member, a wrap spring clutch and a rotary output member. The wrap spring clutch has a first end, a second end, and a plurality of coils. The stiffness of the wrap spring clutch is selected such that, when transmitting less than a selected coil engagement torque, the clutch system transmits torque helically from the rotary input member, to the second end, helically through the wrap spring clutch to the first end, and into the rotary output member. When transmitting more than the selected coil engagement torque, the clutch system transmits torque in parallel from the rotary input member, to the second end, helically through the wrap spring clutch to the first end, and into the rotary output member, and from the rotary input member through the coil engagement surface, to the first end, and into the rotary output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: David Balsdon, Evan Hurry, Hao Tran, Andrew Malcolm Boyes
  • Patent number: 11879536
    Abstract: In one aspect, a rotary device is provided, and includes a shaft adapter, a chambered member, a seal member and at least one internal torque transfer member. The shaft adapter is connectible to a crankshaft or accessory shaft and defines an axis. The chambered member (e.g. a pulley) is rotatably connected to it, and at least partially encloses a chamber (e.g. for oil), and includes a circumferential portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall which is a separate member from the circumferential portion. One of the circumferential portion and the second side wall has projections thereon, and the other has valleys that mate with the projections with no clearance, so as to be able to transfer a torque of at least 10 Nm into one another without plastic deformation. A seal member is compressed between the second side wall and the circumferential portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdul Wadood Anwer, Frank Verriet, Sean Kieran, Andrew Malcolm Boyes
  • Patent number: 11732774
    Abstract: In an aspect a device for a driven shaft is provided that receives an input torque that varies cyclically between a peak input torque and a low input torque at a peak input torque frequency, which includes a shaft adapter, a rotary drive member, at least one isolation member, a torsional vibration damping structure including an inertia member and a elastomeric damping member, and a supplemental damping structure. The supplemental damping structure applies a supplemental damping torque to resist relative movement between the rotary drive member and the inertia member in addition to damping provided by the elastomeric damping member. A sum of torques including the supplemental damping torque limits a maximum twist between a first end of the driven shaft and a second end of the driven shaft, to below a yield point of the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Sean Kieran, Ahmed Abdul Wadood Anwer, Geoffrey William Ryeland, Ron Farewell, Kyle Pugsley, Frank Verriet, Andrew Malcolm Boyes
  • Patent number: 11708886
    Abstract: A decoupler pulley is provided for automotive belt-driven accessory drives, which utilizes a single torsion coil spring that provides torsional resiliency and overrunning functionality. As the torsion spring expands it increasingly pinches a bushing disposed between a radially expansible hub and pulley to thereby provide proportional damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Ali Sabti, John R. Antchak, Warren Williams, Daniel Thornton
  • Patent number: 11639720
    Abstract: A system is provided for generating vacuum in a vehicle. The system includes a vacuum pump, an engagement clutch, an actuator, and a torque limiting clutch. The engagement clutch operatively connects a camshaft to the rotor. The actuator controls the clutch. The actuator is movable, based on air pressure in a vacuum conduit, between a low-pressure position in which the actuator causes the clutch to operatively disconnect the camshaft from the rotor, and a high-pressure position in which the actuator causes the clutch to operatively connect the camshaft to the rotor. The torque limiting clutch limits torque transfer to the rotor when the engagement clutch operatively connects the camshaft to the rotor. The system also provides control for hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Gianmarc Coppola, Kody Orr, Sean Kieran, Julian Pires, Andrew M Boyes
  • Patent number: 11629762
    Abstract: In an aspect, a power transfer device, such as a decoupler, is provided for transferring torque between a shaft and a belt. The device includes: a hub configured to couple to the shaft, a pulley rotatably coupled to the hub that includes a power transmitting surface configured to engage the belt, an isolation spring to transfer a rotational load from one of the pulley and the hub to the other of the pulley and the hub, optionally a one-way clutch to permit overrunning of one of the pulley and the hub relative to the other of the pulley and the hub in a first direction, and a damping member positioned to be driven into frictional engagement with a friction surface by a force from the isolation spring acting on the damping member that varies based on the rotational load transferred by the isolation spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: John R. Antchak, Jun Xu, Warren J. Williams, Evan J. Hurry
  • Patent number: 11598403
    Abstract: In an aspect, an isolation device is provided for a belt and a component shaft in an engine. The device includes a hub, a pulley, an isolation spring and a damping member that is fixed rotationally relative to the hub and is engageable frictionally with the pulley. Torque transmission through the spring below a selected non-zero torque, irrespective of hub load on the pulley, drives a change in radius of the helical coils of the spring that is sufficiently small that the spring avoids pressing the damping member against the pulley. Torque transmission through the spring above the selected non-zero torque, irrespective of hub load on the pulley, drives a change in radius of the helical coils that is sufficiently large that the isolation spring applies a radial force to press the damping member against the pulley so as to generate frictional damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Warren J. Williams, Marek Frankowski, Jun Xu
  • Patent number: 11365769
    Abstract: An automotive air conditioning assembly including a scroll compressor and a wrap spring clutch. The wrap spring clutch enables the use of a comparatively smaller pulley (a diameter of at most 85 mm) which comparatively increases the compressor speed and hence cooling capacity at a given engine speed. The clutch requires low power (e.g. less than 5 Watts) for continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: David Balsdon, Hao Q. Tran, Andrew M. Boyes
  • Patent number: 11353092
    Abstract: In an aspect, a tensioner is provided for an endless drive member, and includes a shaft-and-base unit, a tensioner arm, a pulley, and a tensioner spring. The shaft-and-base unit is mountable to be stationary relative to an engine, and includes a fastener aperture for a fastener. The tensioner arm is pivotable relative to the shaft-and-base unit about a tensioner arm axis. The pulley is rotatably mounted to the tensioner arm for rotation and is engageable with an endless drive member. The tensioner spring is positioned to urge the tensioner arm in a first direction relative to the shaft-and-base unit. The tensioner spring includes a plurality of coils that are arranged generally helically about a longitudinal axis and are spaced radially from one another and generally increase in distance away from the axis in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Milos Baljozovic, Rares I. Comsa, Flaviu V. Dinca
  • Patent number: 11181171
    Abstract: In an aspect, a tensioner is provided for tensioning a belt on an engine, and includes a base mountable to a stationary member, and a first tensioner arm pivotably connected to the base. The first tensioner arm is biased in a first pivot direction. The tensioner includes a first bumper on one of the base and the first tensioner arm, which is engageable with a first travel limiter on the other of the base and the first tensioner arm to limit travel of the first tensioner arm in a second pivot direction, and a first pulley rotatably mounted to the first tensioner arm and positioned to engage a first section of the belt. The first bumper and the first travel limiter together have a selected first combined spring rate during engagement. The first combined spring rate increases progressively with compression between the first bumper and the first travel limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Wei Ma
  • Patent number: 11174921
    Abstract: In an aspect, a V tensioner is provided and includes a first arm and a second arm. A damping structure and a damping system biasing member are provided. The damping system biasing member is positioned axially in between the first and second arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Michael B. Fischer, Wei Ma
  • Patent number: 11149798
    Abstract: A rotary clutch uses a wrap spring clutch. An actuator generates a drag force to control the wrap spring clutch to engage or disengage the clutch. The actuator includes an electromagnet, a two-component armature and an axial return spring. The two-component armature includes first and second components threadingly connected one another for relative axial translation as they rotate relative to one another, and an angular position biasing member connecting them. The second component translates axially under magnetic force from the electromagnet, and when stopped by the electromagnet the first armature component translates axially due to their threaded connection. Due to the previous axial movement of the floating component the translation of the first armature component occurs in conditions where the air gap and reluctance of a magnetic circuit is reduced compared to the prior art, and thus the overall strength of the applied magnetic field can be comparatively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Bashar Yazigi
  • Patent number: 11105339
    Abstract: In an aspect, a pump is provided and includes a pump housing having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. An impeller is rotatably supported in the pump housing for rotation about an impeller axis, and has an impeller inlet configured for drawing in liquid during rotation of the impeller, and an impeller outlet configured for discharging liquid in a generally radial direction. A diverter is pivotally connected in an impeller outlet receiving chamber in the pump housing. The diverter is movable between a first position in which it provides a first restriction to flow out from the pump housing and a second position in which it provides a second restriction to flow out from the pump housing that is greater than the first restriction. In the first position, the diverter forms at least a portion of a volute around at least a portion of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Zhengjie Jia, John R. Antchak
  • Patent number: 11078993
    Abstract: In an aspect, a tensioner is provided for tensioning an endless drive member that is engaged with a rotary drive member on a shaft of a motive device. The tensioner includes a base that is mountable to the motive device, a ring that is rotatably supported by the base in surrounding relationship with the shaft of the motive device and which is rotatable about a ring axis, a tensioner arm pivotally mounted to the ring for pivotal movement about an arm pivot axis, and first and second tensioner pulleys. The first tensioner pulley is rotatably mounted to the tensioner arm. The tensioner arm is biased towards a first span of the endless drive member on one side of the rotary drive member. The second tensioner pulley is rotatably mounted at least indirectly to the ring and is biased towards a second span of the endless drive member on another side of the rotary drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Ingo Walter