Patents Assigned to Means Industries
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Patent number: 11953060Abstract: A coupling and control assembly includes first and second rotatable coupling members. The first coupling member has a first coupling face with locking formations, and the second coupling member has a second coupling face with pockets and in opposition with the first coupling face of the first coupling member and a third face spaced from the second coupling face and with passages communicating with the pockets. Locking members in the pockets transmit torque between the first and second coupling members. A stator includes an electromagnetic source, and a translator is translatable, rotatable, and coupled to the second coupling member to be rotatable therewith. The translator may include springs in the passages to actuate the plurality of locking members, or a permanent magnetic source cooperative with the electromagnetic source to translate the translator. An apertured retainer plate may be coupled to the second coupling member to facilitate pivoting of the plurality of locking members.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Brice A. Pawley, Dustin M. Finn
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Patent number: 11906005Abstract: A coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, linear inductive position sensor is provided. The assembly includes a coupling housing and a stator structure disposed within the coupling housing and including a stator housing. A translator structure is coupled to a coupling member of the assembly to rotate therewith about a rotational axis. The sensor is mounted on one of the housings. The translator structure includes a coupler element made of an electrically conductive material. The sensor is configured to create a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive material. Movement of the coupler element changes a magnetic field caused by the eddy currents. The sensor provides a position feedback signal for vehicle transmission control. The signal is correlated with the linear position of the translator structure along the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Ryan W. Essenmacher
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Patent number: 11892040Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a first clutch in the form of a dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) and a second clutch in the form of an electrically actuated Controllable Mechanical Diode (“CMD”) clutch. The DCC and the CMD clutch each have a pocket plate and share a notch plate. The DCC pocket plate and the shared notch plate are supported for rotation in first and second directions about a rotational axis. The pocket plate of the CMD clutch is fixed in position. The DCC includes a translator to move a DCC locking element to a deployed position mechanically coupling the DCC pocket plate and the shared notch plate. The CMD clutch includes first and second actuators configured to move the first and second locking elements of the CMD clutch to a deployed position mechanically coupling the shared notch plate to the pocket plate of the CMD clutch.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Brandon J. Voelker
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Patent number: 11892065Abstract: A drivetrain component provides an electronically controlled, overrunning drivetrain disconnect, such as a differential with different operating modes. The drivetrain component includes a case and a ring gear connected to the case. A carrier is supported for movement relative to and independent of the case. The carrier includes a differential gear set. The differential gear set has a pinion shaft tied to the carrier, pinion gears mounted on the pinion shaft, differential gears engaging the pinion gears, and differential gear shafts connected to the differential gears. The drivetrain component including a first locking structure, the first locking structure coupling the case to the carrier for torque transmission from the case to the carrier in a first direction only, wherein the first locking structure does not inhibit carrier rotation in a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Conner S. Jurs, Earl A. Getchel
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Patent number: 11874142Abstract: A coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, inductive displacement sensor is provided. The assembly includes a controllable coupling assembly including first and second coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a rotational axis. The first coupling member has a first coupling face which has a sensor pocket which receives the sensor. A control member made of an electrically conductive material is mounted for controlled, small-displacement, shifting movement relative to the sensor. The sensor is configured to create a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive material of the control member wherein shifting movement of the control member changes a magnetic field caused by the eddy currents. The sensor provides a position feedback signal for vehicle transmission control, wherein the signal is correlated with the position of the control member.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventor: Ryan W. Essenmacher
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Publication number: 20230332653Abstract: A clutch assembly or module that includes multiple components and one-way clutches. The clutch assembly or module functions as a releasable torque transmitting mechanism that provides a mechanical engagement between mating parts wherein the multiple components and one-way clutches cooperate to control the torque flow path between a drive or input member and a driven or output member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dustin M. Finn, Conner S. Jurs
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Patent number: 11773916Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a first clutch having a first translator and a friction pack and a second clutch having first and second coupling members, a locking element, and a second translator. The friction pack includes a first plate fixed to the first coupling member and a second plate fixed to the second coupling member. The first translator of the first clutch is movable to an actuated position in which the plates of the friction pack are engaged with one another thereby causing angular velocities of the first and second coupling members to be synchronized. The second translator of the second clutch is movable to an extended position in which the locking element engages the first and second coupling members with one another thereby causing a power flow path through the first and second coupling members.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Ali Merat, Kenneth Gerard Walega, Spencer J. Kane
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Publication number: 20230279907Abstract: A clutch assembly or module having multiple one-way clutches, each clutch operates independently of the others to control torque transmission to and from a common or shared notch plate. The assembly or module also controls rotation, including the direction thereof, of the common or shared notch plate. Depending upon the position of each one-way clutch, multiple modes of torque transfer and common or shared notch plate rotation can be achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Carl Thomas Beiser
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Patent number: 11739801Abstract: A coupling assembly includes first and second coupling members, a locking member, and a blocking structure. The locking member may be a strut, a pawl, or the like. The locking member is disposed between the coupling members and is movable between coupling and uncoupling positions. The coupling position is characterized by abutting-engagement of the locking member with each coupling member. The uncoupling position is characterized by non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least the first coupling member. The blocking structure is associated with at least one of the first coupling member and the locking member. The blocking structure prevents the locking member from entering the coupling position, and thereby prevents abutting engagement of the locking member with the first coupling member, while rotation of the first coupling member in an engagement direction relative to the second coupling member is above a predetermined rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Thomas, Riley C. Moore, Spencer J. Kane, Scott D. Bostian
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Patent number: 11719292Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a pocket plate having a pocket and a teeter-totter strut retained in the pocket. The teeter-totter strut is pivotable to an engaged position in which an engagement face of the teeter-totter strut extends out from the pocket plate. The teeter-totter strut is pivotable from the engaged position to a disengaged position in which the engagement face of the teeter-totter strut does not extend out from the pocket plate. The clutch assembly is configured so that when a shock load force acts on the teeter-totter strut, the teeter-totter strut is prevented from moving into the engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Todd Andrzejewski, David Hacker, Kelly J. Campfield
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Patent number: 11692596Abstract: An axially oriented, two-position linear actuator includes a fixed stator having a single stator coil and a linear movable translator. The linear actuator is oriented axially in that the stator and the translator are axially offset from one another and the translator is axially movable between first and second end positions toward and away from the stator. For the translator to move between the end positions, the stator coil attracts or repels the translator depending on the polarity of the electrical current of the stator coil. The linear actuator may be part of a clutch assembly, such as a dynamically controllable clutch, for use in controlling coupling members of the clutch assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Ali Merat
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Patent number: 11680610Abstract: A clutch assembly that includes an actuator, an apply spring, a pocket plate, which has a pocket, and a strut (e.g., a teeter-totter strut) retained in the pocket, is provided. The apply spring continually acts on the strut for the strut to be in an engaged position. The strut, in response to the actuator additionally acting on the strut, pivots from the engaged position to a disengaged position. The clutch assembly is configured to prevent unintended deployment of the strut due to shock load so that, when the strut is in the disengaged position due to the actuator additionally acting on the strut, the clutch assembly prevents the shock load from causing the strut to pivot from the disengaged position to the engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventor: Todd M. Andrzejewski
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Publication number: 20230160461Abstract: A drivetrain component provides an electronically controlled, overrunning drivetrain disconnect, such as a differential with different operating modes. The drivetrain component includes a case having an annular wall portion with a plurality of pockets in one side. The carrier is supported for movement relative to and independently of the case. The carrier includes a notch plate. The differential gear set has a pinion shaft tied to the carrier, pinion gears mounted on the pinion shaft, differential gears engaging the pinion gears, and differential gear shafts connected to the differential gears. The drivetrain component includes a first locking structure and a second locking structure. Both the first and second locking structures are on the same side of the notch plate. The first locking structure couples the case to the carrier for torque transmission from the case to the carrier in a first direction only, wherein the first locking structure does not inhibit carrier rotation in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2022Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: John P. Erickson, Earl A. Getchel, Conner S. Jurs
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Publication number: 20230141381Abstract: A coupling assembly includes a multiple-position actuation mechanism and a detent assembly holding the actuation mechanism in a discrete position. The detent assembly may include a mechanical detent. In one example, the mechanical detent engages the actuation mechanism and holds the actuation member in a neutral or middle position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Brandon J. Voelker, Joshua D. Hand, Earl A. Getchel
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Publication number: 20230106800Abstract: A vehicle transmission using a gearset. Multi-mode clutches selectively couple components of the gearset. The transmission operates in and shifts between a first forward gear and a second forward gear using a change in input rotation. An electric motor coupled to the input may be used to change the input rotation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Joshua D. Hand, Steven M. Thomas
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Patent number: 11614130Abstract: A dynamic controllable dog clutch (DCDC) includes a pocket plate, a notch plate, and a linear actuator having a stator and a translator. The translator is axially movable between (i) an engaged position in which a locking member axially extends through the a pocket of the pocket plate and engages a notch of the notch plate to thereby mechanically couple the pocket plate and the notch plate together to prevent relative rotation of the pocket plate and the notch plate with respect to each other about a common rotational axis and (ii) a disengaged position in which the locking member is disengaged from the notch of the notch plate to thereby mechanically decouple the pocket plate and the notch plate together to enable relative rotation of the pocket plate and the notch plate with respect to each other about the common rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2022Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Joshua D. Hand
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Publication number: 20230059774Abstract: A drivetrain component provides an electronically controlled, overrunning drivetrain disconnect, such as a differential with different operating modes. The drivetrain component includes a case and a ring gear connected to the case. A carrier is supported for movement relative to and independent of the case. The carrier includes a differential gear set. The differential gear set has a pinion shaft tied to the carrier, pinion gears mounted on the pinion shaft, differential gears engaging the pinion gears, and differential gear shafts connected to the differential gears. The drivetrain component including a first locking structure, the first locking structure coupling the case to the carrier for torque transmission from the case to the carrier in a first direction only, wherein the first locking structure does not inhibit carrier rotation in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Conner S. Jurs, Earl A. Getchel
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Publication number: 20230009340Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a first clutch in the form of a dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) and a second clutch in the form of an electrically actuated Controllable Mechanical Diode (“CMD”) clutch. The CMD clutch functions as and may be referred to as a park-lock, hill hold clutch (“park-lock clutch”). The DCC and the CMD clutch each have a pocket plate and share a notch plate. The DCC pocket plate and the shared notch plate are supported for rotation in first and second directions about a rotational axis. The pocket plate of the CMD clutch is fixed in position. The DCC includes a translator to move a DCC locking element to a deployed position in which the DCC locking element mechanically couples the DCC pocket plate and the shared notch plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Brandon J. Voelker
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Patent number: 11542992Abstract: A coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, linear inductive position sensor is provided. The assembly includes a coupling housing and a stator structure disposed within the coupling housing and including a stator housing. A translator structure is coupled to a coupling member of the assembly to rotate therewith about a rotational axis. The sensor is mounted on one of the housings. The translator structure includes a coupler element made of an electrically conductive material. The sensor is configured to create a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive material. Movement of the coupler element changes a magnetic field caused by the eddy currents. The sensor provides a position feedback signal for vehicle transmission control. The signal is correlated with the linear position of the translator structure along the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.Inventor: Ryan W. Essenmacher
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Publication number: 20220397162Abstract: In some implementations, the device may include a first member having a locking structure and a second member having a receiving area. The device may include a locking element supported in the receiving area of the second member, the locking element moving between an engaged position where the locking element holds or transfers torque between the first and second members and a disengaged position where the locking element holds or transfers no torque between the first and second members. The locking element includes a socket. Moreover, the device may include a reciprocating member in the socket when the locking element is in the disengaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Todd M. Andrzejewski, Joshua D. Hand