Patents Assigned to Sachs Automotive of America
  • Patent number: 5503258
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber having discrete damping levels in the rebound direction includes a piston that reciprocates within a pressure tube and divides the pressure tube into rebound and pressure chambers. A passage extends through the piston for establishing fluid communication between the rebound and pressure chambers. A one-way, pressure responsive valve normally closing the passage opens in response to fluid pressure of a predetermined magnitude in the rebound chamber when the piston moves in the rebound direction. The side wall of the pressure tube has bleed holes that lead to a bypass channel that is controlled by an electronically controlled or actuated solenoid valve that opens and closes the outlet of the bypass channel to change the damping characteristics in the rebound and jounce directions in response to suspension conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignees: Ford Motor Co., Sachs Automotive of America
    Inventors: William H. Clarke, Ray A. Sackett, Matthias Raulf, Rolf Wengenroth
  • Patent number: 5404979
    Abstract: A manual transmission modular clutch assembly has a flywheel, pressure plate and interposed clutch plate mounted in a cover that is adapted to be connected to an engine crankshaft and wherein separate spring-torque straps connect the pressure plate and the flywheel to the cover for rotation therewith. At assembly the flywheel is positioned against the force of its spring-torque straps by travel limit pins that are retained on the cover, press fitted in the flywheel and contact with the pressure plate when in its clutch engaging position. A diaphragm spring normally clamps the pressure plate, clutch plate and flywheel together and is adapted to be connected to a clutch pedal to release the clutch. As wear occurs, the pressure plate is allowed to move further in the direction of the flywheel and forces the flywheel travel limit pins to move in their press fit by the same amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignees: Chrysler Corporation, Sachs Automotive of America
    Inventors: Barrie G. Craft, Joseph L. Bair, Michael B. Grosse Erdmann, Edwin R. Murray, George S. Traub, Gerda Rudolph, Peter Doll, Heiko Schulz-Andres, David G. Buckingham, Richard G. Reed