Patents Assigned to Means Industries
  • Publication number: 20070056825
    Abstract: An overrunning coupling assembly and a method of controlling the engagement of planar first and second members are provided wherein the assembly includes clustered pawls and their respective pawl-holding portions. The planar first and second members have inside surfaces extending generally normal to a first axis. The pawls include a forward set of free-floating pawls and a reverse set of free-floating, clustered pawls. The forward and reverse sets of pawls are movable between a notch-engaging, engaged position and a disengaged position. Because of the clustering, a control element, disposed between the first and second surfaces, need not be fully circular and is controllably rotatable about the first axis between first and second angular positions relative to the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Fetting, Brice Pawley
  • Patent number: 7178375
    Abstract: Stamped and deburred clutch discs (20a, 20b) are provided by progressive stamping apparatus (46) whose method of use performs a two step stamping of the clutch disc blank and a third deburring stamping step that removes burrs on opposite axial faces by contact in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Badour
  • Publication number: 20070034470
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch (24) has first and second clutch members (30, 32) having coupling faces (34) and (36) between which spring biased pivotal struts (40) and locking formations (44) cooperate to prevent relative rotation in only one direction. A snap ring (48) and thrust plate (50) cooperate to axially secure the clutch members (30) and (32) to each other and the thrust plate has a retainer (52) projecting therefrom to prevent rotation. The retainer (52) in certain embodiments is received between ends (58) of the snap ring (48) to prevent thrust plate rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Fetting, Gregory Eisengruber
  • Patent number: 7150347
    Abstract: A drum assembly for use with a coupling arrangement includes an outer member and an inner member that is mountable on the outer member. The outer member includes first and second annular portions connected together. The first annular portion has a first mating surface that defines a first opening having a first diameter, and the second annular portion defining a second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The inner member includes a generally radially extending portion and a flange portion extending generally axially from the radially extending portion. The radially extending portion includes a second mating surface that is engageable with the first mating surface to interlock the inner and outer members together. When the inner member is mounted on the outer member, the radially extending portion extends into the first opening, and the flange portion extends into the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Doherty, Thomas Meier
  • Publication number: 20060278487
    Abstract: The overrunning radial coupling assembly or clutch and a method of controlling the engagement of inner and outer plates or members of the assembly are provided wherein adjacent engaging radial locking pawls are selectively controlled by a single, rotatable control plate or element to obtain full lock, one-way lock and one-way overrun conditions. The assembly includes free-floating, forward pawls and free-floating, reverse pawls adjacent to their respective forward pawls. The forward and reverse pawls are movable between a notch-engaging, engaged position (i.e., full lock condition) and a disengaged position in which the outer member is permitted to free-wheel relative to the inner member in the one-way overrun condition in one direction about a first axis and the outer member is locked to the inner member in the one-way lock condition in the opposite direction. A number of different embodiments of the assembly and method are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Pawley, Brian Smithwick
  • Publication number: 20060278486
    Abstract: An overrunning coupling assembly and a method of controlling the engagement of planar first and second members are provided wherein two sets of opposed engaging struts are applied with one motion of a single control plate or member. The planar first and second members have inside surfaces extending generally normal to a first axis. The assembly includes free-floating, forward keys and free-floating, reverse keys opposed to the forward keys. The forward and reverse keys are movable between a notch-engaging, engaged position and a disengaged position in which the second member is permitted to free-wheel relative to the first member. The planar control member is disposed between the first and second surfaces and is controllably rotatable about the first axis between first and second angular positions relative to the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Pawley, Brian Smithwick
  • Publication number: 20060278488
    Abstract: An overrunning coupling assembly having improved shift feel and/or noise reduction is provided. The assembly includes planar first and second members rotatable about a first axis. In a locked position, torque transfer is permitted between the first and second members in a first direction about the first axis. In a disengaged position, the first and second members are permitted to free-wheel relative to each other in a second direction opposite the first direction. A compliant retaining device retains the first and second members together and absorbs axial impact loads. The retaining device is less compliant in the locked position than in the disengaged position to decrease axial force at time of axial impact and improve shift feel and/or noise reduction. In a first embodiment, the retaining device includes a wave spring. In a second embodiment, the retaining device includes a stepped weir plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Pawley, Jeffrey Prout
  • Publication number: 20060249345
    Abstract: A planar overrunning coupling assembly for a geared transmission. The coupling assembly has a circular pocket plate, a notch plate, and torque transmitting struts in pockets formed in the pocket plate. The geometry of the pockets prevents displacement of the struts toward the notch plate under the influence of centrifugal force when the pocket plate overruns the notch plate. The pocket plate and the notch plate define in part friction disc coupling assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Ruth
  • Publication number: 20060124425
    Abstract: A planar overrunning coupling for a geared transmission. The coupling has a circular pocket plate, a notch plate, and torque transmitting struts in pockets formed in the pocket plate. The notch plate has a snap ring groove that receives a snap ring, the geometry of the snap ring resisting disassembly of the coupling without the use of a special tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Fetting, Gregory Eisengruber
  • Publication number: 20060086171
    Abstract: Stamped and deburred clutch discs (20a, 20b) are provided by progressive stamping apparatus (46) whose method of use performs a two step stamping of the clutch disc blank and a third deburring stamping step that removes burrs on opposite axial faces by contact in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James Badour
  • Publication number: 20060065506
    Abstract: A drum assembly for use with a coupling arrangement includes an outer member and an inner member that is mountable on the outer member. The outer member includes first and second annular portions connected together. The first annular portion has a first mating surface that defines a first opening having a first diameter, and the second annular portion defining a second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The inner member includes a generally radially extending portion and a flange portion extending generally axially from the radially extending portion. The radially extending portion includes a second mating surface that is engageable with the first mating surface to interlock the inner and outer members together. When the inner member is mounted on the outer member, the radially extending portion extends into the first opening, and the flange portion extends into the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Doherty, Thomas Meier
  • Publication number: 20050279602
    Abstract: A planar overrunning coupling assembly for a geared transmission. The coupling assembly has a circular pocket plate, a notch plate, and torque transmitting struts in pockets formed in the pocket plate. The geometry of the pockets prevents displacement of the struts toward the notch plate under the influence of centrifugal force when the pocket plate overruns the notch plate. The pocket plate and the notch plate define in part friction disc coupling assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Ruth
  • Publication number: 20050263366
    Abstract: A mechanically applied coupling assembly (10) includes an annular housing (12) and an inner member (14) that are selectively rotatively coupled by a coupling pack (16) through operation of a set of actuating levers (26). The actuating levers have interlocking formations provided by a projection (36) and an opening (38) on opposite sides of each actuating lever so as to retain the actuating levers to each other and maintain positioning of the actuating levers with respect to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Eisengruber
  • Publication number: 20050067250
    Abstract: A coupling assembly includes a housing disposed about an axis and having a retainer. The assembly further includes a coupling pack disposed about the axis, and an actuator lever having an end engaged with the retainer of the housing such that the actuator lever is pivotable with respect to the housing for applying an axial force on the coupling pack. Moreover, the retainer inhibits axial movement of the end of the actuator lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Willett, Dennis Berryhill, Michael Doherty
  • Patent number: 6869257
    Abstract: A method for deburring and tool for use therein wherein workpiece-engaging portions of a cutter of the tool prevent the cutting of chamfers to hole edges of boreholes. The tool removes burrs from a drilling operation performed on a steering yoke. The yoke includes two boreholes on parallel legs that are drilled in line with one another. The boreholes must be burr-free with little or no chamfer. The cutter is spring-urged or loaded to pivot on a cylindrical shaft to expose cutting edges of the cutter after a predetermined amount of angular movement from a substantially vertical position. The workpiece-engaging portions prevent the cutter from digging in and cutting the chamfers. The cutter rotates into retracted positions within the shaft to allow the cutter to pass through the drilled boreholes so that the cutting edges of the cutter can deburr surfaces of the yoke at both sides of each of the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Wiles
  • Patent number: 6854577
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a first member having multiple first recesses, and a second member having multiple second recesses that are alignable with the first recesses. Each recess includes a load-bearing surface. The clutch also includes multiple engaging elements that are engageable with the load-bearing surfaces of the recesses to effect one-way torque transfer between the first and second members. At least one of the engaging elements comprises a non-metallic, compressible material and is configured to compress upon engagement with a respective load-bearing surface of each member to inhibit relative movement of the members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Ruth
  • Publication number: 20040216975
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a first member having multiple first recesses, and a second member having multiple second recesses that are alignable with the first recesses. Each recess includes a load-bearing surface. The clutch also includes multiple engaging elements that are engageable with the load-bearing surfaces of the recesses to effect one-way torque transfer between the first and second members. At least one of the engaging elements comprises a non-metallic, compressible material and is configured to compress upon engagement with a respective load-bearing surface of each member to inhibit relative movement of the members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Ruth
  • Publication number: 20040101378
    Abstract: A method for deburring and tool for use therein wherein workpiece-engaging portions of a cutter of the tool prevent the cutting of chamfers to hole edges of boreholes. The tool removes burrs from a drilling operation performed on a steering yoke. The yoke includes two boreholes on parallel legs that are drilled in line with one another. The boreholes must be burr-free with little or no chamfer. The cutter is spring-urged or loaded to pivot on a cylindrical shaft to expose cutting edges of the cutter after a predetermined amount of angular movement from a substantially vertical position. The workpiece-engaging portions prevent the cutter from digging in and cutting the chamfers. The cutter rotates into retracted positions within the shaft to allow the cutter to pass through the drilled boreholes so that the cutting edges of the cutter can deburr surfaces of the yoke at both sides of each of the legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Wiles
  • Patent number: 6571926
    Abstract: A planar one-way clutch includes a pair of clutch members whose operative faces are disposed in close-spaced opposition, with each clutch face including a plurality of recesses defining respective load-bearing shoulders. A plurality of struts, disposed between the coupling faces of the members, and movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, mechanically couple the members for rotation when one member rotates in one direction relative to the other member, while further permitting clutch overrun when the one member rotates in the other direction relative to the other member. The recesses of one member each include a ramped surface opposite the member's load-bearing shoulder. Each ramped surface includes a convex surface portion which engages the struts during clutch overrun so as to urge the struts into the non-coupling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Brice Pawley
  • Patent number: RE38498
    Abstract: A one-way clutch apparatus comprising a driving member having a plurality of recesses, a corresponding plurality of biasing members disposed in the recess, a corresponding number of keys or struts disposed over the biasing members in the recesses, and a driven member having a plurality of key-engaging notches formed circumferentially about an inside surface. Each of the keys includes a pair of laterally protruding arm portions and each of the arm portions has a ramp formed thereon which acts as a relief to allow the inside surface of the driven member to be placed to close proximate relationship with the inside surface of a driving member and to overlay portions of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Ruth, Brian D. Klecker, A. Richard Frank