Patents Examined by Andrea Pitts
  • Patent number: 4967885
    Abstract: Clutch and brake apparatus that is operable by a compressible fluid, particularly pneumatically, includes input and output shafts mounted in a common housing that has a clutch chamber. A clutch plate and a clutch flange are mounted in the clutch chamber with the flange being fixed to the input shaft and the clutch plate dividing the clutch chamber into two operating chambers that are adapted to be at different fluid pressures. A friction lining is fixed to at least one of the clutch plate and clutch flange for engaging the other. A clutch plate is mounted to be axially displacable relative to the output shaft in every load condition while at least one torque plate is fixed to rotate with the output shaft and a peripheral portion of the clutch plate. The torque plate is subjected to the same fluid pressure on both sides. The apparatus is able to operated with a large pressure differences across the clutch plate without danger of damaging the clutch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Niels Arbjerg, Jesper Kirkegaard
  • Patent number: 4966262
    Abstract: A transmission safety locking lever apparatus prevents a transmission from being shifted from park or neutral into either drive or reverse unless the vehicle brakes are applied. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apertures formed in a gear shift lever connected to the gear shift shaft coupled to and extending from the transmission. A lock pin movable between extended and retracted positions is biased to the extended position to engage one of the first and second apertures in the gear shift lever when the transmission is in either park or neutral. An actuator retracts the lock pin to enable the transmission to be shifted to any gear position from park or neutral only when the vehicle brakes are applied. A sensor is provided for detecting the application of the vehicle brakes via a predetermined pressure in the vehicle brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: Walter L. Mieczkowski
  • Patent number: 4966264
    Abstract: A thrust washer has a protrusion which is formed with a projecting pawl. The rotating member is formed with a through hole, into which the protrusion of the thrust washer is inserted, such that the pawl is projected out on the opposed surface remote from the thrust washer of the rotating member, whereby the upstanding surface of the pawl is used as a stop means. Thus, the thrust washer is positively secured to the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Hayakawa, Chihiro Hosono, Masaaki Nishida, Kozo Kato
  • Patent number: 4966265
    Abstract: A clutch (1) including an inner part (3) and an outer part (4) having races (6 and 5) respectively between which are arranged rollers (4). The rollers are arranged in a cage (7) which is in two parts (8 and 9) which are connected by leaf springs (10). One part (8) of the cage may be operated upon by a brake (11) to retard it relative to the other part of the cage thus to cause the rollers to skew and jam between the races and thus transmit torque between the inner and outer member. The clutch may be associated with a viscous shear coupling (18) and the combination may be used in the driveline of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Wiese, Paul-Erich Schonenbrucher
  • Patent number: 4966268
    Abstract: A driving power transmission device having a clutch provided between a first shaft and a second shaft relatively rotatable to each other for transmitting a driving power is provided, wherein a housing to which the first shaft is connected and a piston provided in the housing for actuating the clutch define a cylindrical space in order to receive a plurality of blades rotatable with the second shaft. High viscous fluid is filled within the cylindrical space defined by the housing and the piston. Each of the blades has a convexly curved side surface and a concavely curved side surface located at opposite sides in rotational direction. When the first shaft rotates faster than the second shaft, the convexly curved side surfaces of the blades compulsorily displaces the high viscous fluid within the space in order to generate a pressure actuating the clutch through the piston. In this forward torque transmission, the tranmissive torque becomes relatively large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignees: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Asano, Kyosuke Haga, Isao Ito
  • Patent number: 4961484
    Abstract: A brake device includes a controller for inputting detection signals from an engine speed sensor, vehicle speed sensor, shift lever position sensor and engine exhaust brake sensor. When a vehicle speed upon application of engine exhaust brake is lower than a low speed set value of an effective vehicle speed corresponding to a shift lever position, a lockup clutch of a torque converter is disengaged by the controller; and when the vehicle speed is in a range from the low speed set value to a high speed set value of the effective vehicle speed, the lockup clutch is engaged by the controller; and when the vehicle speed exceeds the high speed set value, the lockup clutch is disengaged, and a transmission is down-shifted to a just lower gear range by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Sieko Sho
    Inventors: Yoshio Kato, Ichiro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 4960189
    Abstract: A double retainer type sprag-synchronized one-way clutch assembly includes a plurality of sprags which are arranged in an annular space defined between an inner ring and an outer ring and a pair of inner and outer sprag retainers, which are generally ring-shaped, for retaining the plurality of sprags spaced apart from one another at a predetermined pitch. At least one of the inner and outer sprag retainers is fabricated from a plastic material or the like and includes a plurality of axial sections arranged circumferentially and a plurality of circumferential sections, each of which connects the corresponding ends of two axial sections alternately in side to thereby define a serpentine-like structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: NSK-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ogata, Noboru Kitamura
  • Patent number: 4958708
    Abstract: A drive system for a turbocharger installed in an internal combustion engine and combined with a rotary electric machine has a generator drivable by an output power of the engine. When the rotary electric machine operates as an electric motor depending on operating conditions of the engine, the generator is driven to generate electric power that is supplied to the rotary electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 4958713
    Abstract: A fluid operated coupling which includes an inflatable annular tube element of an elastomeric material moves a plurality of aligned friction shoes in a radial direction to effect a torque sustaining clutching or braking engagement. A thermal barrier is provided to retard the transfer of heat from the friction shoes to the annular tube element. The thermal barrier protects the tube element and adds mechanical strength thereto to prevent excessive elongation and extrusion of the tube element between the plurality of friction shoes when the tube element is expanded. The thermal barrier is at least partially imbedded in the exterior surface of the tube element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Latsko
  • Patent number: 4957195
    Abstract: A centrifugal hydraulic pressure cancel chamber is arranged at the back of a second piston member of a second hydraulic actuator for the second clutch. A first piston member of a first hydraulic actuator for a first clutch is situated behind the second piston. A centrifugal hydraulic pressure cancel plate is set at an inner periphery on a rotating member to prohibit axial movement and set at an outside periphery in a inside of the piston member oil-tightly. The inside surface of the second piston member and the cancel plate compose the centrifugal hydraulic pressure cancel chamber. A spring is placed between the second piston member and the cancel plate, and the centrifugal hydraulic cancel chamber and the spring work correspondingly to the first and the second piston members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takenori Kano, Haruki Takemoto, Mamoru Niimi, Isao Takase, Fumitomo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 4953679
    Abstract: A slip control system for an automatic transmission of vehicle having fuel cut device for interrupting a fuel supply in a fuel cut zone, including a torque converter, lock-up clutch means provided comprising slip control device for controlling an engaging force of the lock-up clutch ranged from a lock-up condition in which a rotation speed of the input member of the torque converter is substantially the same as the output member of the torque converter to a slip condition in which a predetermined rotation speed difference is produced between the input member and output member, transient control device for controling the engaging force of the lock-up clutch for a predetermined period in connection with a switching operation in the fuel cut device between a fuel supply condition and a fuel cut condition for the engine at a predetermined value between the slip condition and a converter condition in which the lock-up clutch is fully released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Okino
  • Patent number: 4953678
    Abstract: A clutch actuating system which is particularly suitable for connecting drive to the front wheels of a four-wheel-drive tractor. The system includes an actuating member movable between a first position in which the clutch is disengaged and a second position in which the clutch is engaged. A pair of adjacent reaction members (27,29) encircle the actuating member and have mutually inclined wedging surfaces (30,31) on confronting faces. One (27) of the reaction members is connected with the clutch (25,26) which is of the toothed-dog type. A number of elongated toggle members (33) are connected at one end with the actuating member (32) and extend between the wedging surfaces of the reaction members at their other ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Page, Alan W. Hunt
  • Patent number: 4953680
    Abstract: A clutch adjuster adapted to compensate for clutch disc wear incorporates a spring lock which in a first position secures the adjuster against rotation. On application of a disengagement force, the lock is deflected to a second position, wherein the adjuster is free for rotation. In one preferred form, the lock has an aperture which engages a bolt head on the adjuster, and upon application of the force the lock is axially displaced from the bolt head. In a second preferred form, a disc spring is adapted to normally retain the bolt head axially away from a clutch over in a first, secured, position. Upon application of force, the bolt head is depressed against the disc spring to shift the adjuster to a second position wherein the bolt head is free for rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Flotow, Patrick M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4953676
    Abstract: A spring coupler comprises a casing, a drive member rotatably mounted within the casing including a main portion and a core portion fixedly connected thereto by staking manner, a driven member rotatably mounted within the casing including a main portion and a core portion fixedly connected thereto by stacking manner and engageable with the core portion of the drive member upon rotation thereof, and a coil spring disposed between the drive member and the casing so as to be engaged frictionally with the casing in the free state thereof and including a first tang and a second tang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiko Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Takami Terada, Keiichi Hibino
  • Patent number: 4949828
    Abstract: A soft start electromagnetic coupling has a driven member and a driving member that are coupled together in response to a magnetic flux produced by a direct current flow through a winding on the clutch. When the members are coupled by an electromagnetic flux, they may slip relative to reach other during starting, when the load on the coupling changes or when the accessory driven by the coupling freezes or becomes jammed. Relative slippage of the members produces an alternating current component in the direct current flow that is detected to indicate the slippage. The presence of an alternating current component can be sensed through a rectifier or frequency filter. Preferably, the presence of a persistent alternating current component causes a switch to open, interrupting the flow of direct current to the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Olsen
  • Patent number: 4949830
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided which controls a motor, clutch and drive gear arrangement. The device consists of a movable control lever assembly which moves from a neutral position into at least one other operating position. The control apparatus includes a switching device that is operated as a two-part activating member. The activating member is mounted in a guide arrangement which remains in a fixed position in relationship to such control lever assembly. The activating member can be moved from a neutral position of such control lever assembly into a second position in which the activating member will act upon the switching assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Steuerungstechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Axel Kemner, Andreas Oberlander
  • Patent number: 4949822
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter assembly has a turbine and an impeller located in a converter housing and a lockup clutch construction in the converter housing that includes a one-piece stamped clutch and piston housing secured to the inner wall of the converter housing wherein the outer extremity of the stamped housing carries friction discs. An annular piston is located between the discs and the converter housing wherein the piston is stroked toward the turbine upon introduction of control pressure to a control chamber defined by the piston and the cylinder, the driven discs of the clutch being connected to a turbine shaft through a damper and the friction elements of the clutch being continuously exposed to circulating fluid within the converter wherein piston charge pressure is established without a requirement for continuous flow when the clutch is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Dale E. Martin
  • Patent number: 4949831
    Abstract: A damping mechanism for clutch disc for use in an automobile clutch, including an axially compressible cushioning plate supporting a facing in between a flywheel and a pressure plate. In order for minimizing "resonance sound" of the cushioning plate due to axial vibration, a damping member for controlling the axial vibration of the cushioning plate is installed between the cushioning plate and the clutch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daikin Seisakusho
    Inventors: Syogo Ohga, Toshiyuki Imai
  • Patent number: 4947972
    Abstract: A mechanical automatic torque limiting clutch containing an axially frangible and easily replaceable component is disclosed. The clutch is capable of limiting torque output by adjusting the friction between spring loaded input and output plates, and further is capable of preventing damage to other driveline components due to axial tension loads imparted to the driveline. The clutch allows a central axial bolt to break in tension should axial tension loads be applied which exceed the limits of the bolt, thereby protecting the remainder of the driveline components. When such a break occurs, the only damage done is to the bolt itself, which allows the input and output sides of the clutch to separate into two components which are quickly, easily and economically reassembled with a new bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Bruce K. Lea
  • Patent number: 4947977
    Abstract: An energy source apparatus which will supply current and compressed air. The energy source apparatus has an engine, a drive shaft engaged to the engine, and a face plate that is bound to the drive shaft in order to rotate therewith. A clutch is pivotally mounted to the face plate such as to respond to centrifugal force. A second drive shaft has an end rotatably positioned within the clutch such that the outside circumferential surface of the end of the second drive shaft is engaged by inner clutch pads of the clutch. A third drive shaft has a hollow end which is positioned around the clutch apparatus such that when the engine rotates the face plate at high speeds, centrifugal force causes outer clutch pads of the clutch to engage with the hollow end of the third drive shaft. A generator is engaged to the third drive shaft to be driven thereby. An air compressor is engaged to the second drive shaft in order to be driven thereby too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: William S. Raymond