Patents Examined by David R Morris
  • Patent number: 11698114
    Abstract: A clutch having: a fixed hub, a movable hub, and a plurality of plates interposed to selectively transmit a torque. The clutch has a centrifugal pressure plate assembly having: a mass carrier; a plurality of radially movable mass elements, in which each mass element has a pivot connected to the mass carrier for displacement towards an external position under centrifugal effects; wherein the mass elements are further configured to exert axial thrust on a thrust surface of the centrifugal pressure plate assembly, to bring the movable hub closer to the fixed hub and increase the variable axial load. Each mass element has at least one respective rolling element in contact with the thrust surface. The thrust surface has a profile that is sloped and raised towards the external position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Endurance Adler S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alfio Ersilio Morone, Federico Maldini
  • Patent number: 11692598
    Abstract: A one-way clutch, including: a case; a drive plate enclosed by the case and defining openings; a first plate non-rotatably connected to the case and defining a first opening; a rotatable actuator plate; a strut including a central portion, an engagement portion, and a control portion; and a spring. In a locked mode: the spring pivots the engagement portion into an opening of the drive plate, a rotation of the drive plate in a first direction is enabled, and a rotation of the drive plate in a second direction is blocked. To transition from the locked mode to a free-wheel mode, in which the rotation of the drive plate in the second direction is enabled, the actuator plate is rotated by an actuator to contact the control portion and pivot the strut to displace the engagement portion out of the opening of the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: John Brevick
  • Patent number: 11692599
    Abstract: A dual direction, selectable one-way clutch is provided that can be set to be fully free to rotate in both directions, can be fully locked in both directions, and can provide a one-way clutch option in both directions. The actuator to change the clutch state is an electromechanical and only requires power to change a coupling state of the clutch. The clutch is formed by two sets of gear plates and corresponding engagement pawls that are engageable/disengageable in order to provide for the different locked and one-way clutch states. One or more actuator rings are provided to activate or disengage the pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: John Brevick
  • Patent number: 11692596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ali Merat
  • Patent number: 11686355
    Abstract: An actuating apparatus has a first and a second actuating element that delimit a pressure chamber. The actuating apparatus has a rotary decoupling bearing coupled via a compensation assembly to the second actuating element for joint movement along the spatial axis. The compensation assembly comprises a first ramp element which is supported axially on the second actuating element and is preloaded relative to the second actuating element by a first preloading apparatus for rotation about the spatial axis and a second ramp element coupled to the rotary decoupling bearing. An axial overall length of the compensation group along the spatial axis changes in the case of a rotation, of the first ramp element relative to the second actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stephan Hahn, Michael Göb, Daniel Siegler, Matthias Abeska, Walter Thoma, Christopher Böhm
  • Patent number: 11686375
    Abstract: A gear unit for a powertrain of a motor vehicle includes a drive shaft, a driven shaft, first and second planetary gearsets and first and second shifting elements. The first shifting element drivingly connects the drive shaft to an input of the first planetary gearset, and the second shifting element drivingly connects the drive shaft to an input of the second planetary gearset. An output element of the second planetary gearset is connected to the input of the first planetary gearset to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it, and an output of the first planetary gearset is at least indirectly drivingly connected to the driven shaft. A shared element is fixed with respect to relative rotation and, with an inner toothing, forms a ring gear of the first planetary gearset and, with an outer toothing, forms a sun gear of the second planetary gearset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Stefan Beck
  • Patent number: 11674593
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a linkage device configured to link a working device to the vehicle body; a prime mover provided on the vehicle body; a traveling device configured to cause the vehicle body to travel; a transmission device configured to transmit power from the prime mover to the traveling device and perform a speed change process to change a speed of the vehicle body; an increase-in-speed detection device configured to detect an increase in speed of the vehicle body; and a speed change restraint unit configured such that, during the speed change process performed by the transmission device, when the increase in speed detected by the increase-in-speed detection device has become equal to or greater than a threshold, the speed change restraint unit stops the speed change process performed by the transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Azuma, Michita Kono, Hiroshi Sota
  • Patent number: 11655895
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire system comprises an integrated park module including a slider, a motor, a spring, and an actuator system. The slider can be disposed in a park position (PP) and a not-parked position (NPP) corresponding to a park mode and a not-park mode of a transmission, respectively. The motor and a gear-train cause the slider to move from the PP to the NPP and the spring urges the slider from the NPP to the PP. The actuator system retains the slider in the NPP after the motor and the gear-train have disengaged from the slider. The gear-train includes a default position (DP) corresponding to the PP and a maximum lift region (MLR) in which the actuator system retains the slider in the NPP. The gear-train rotates from the MLR to the DP while the actuator system retains the slider in the NPP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Stoneridge Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ganter
  • Patent number: 11655860
    Abstract: A sealed clutch and a clutch plate, the sealed clutch including a spline connector for connecting the sealed clutch by splined connection to a transmission shaft of an automotive transmission. The spline connector comprising a connector housing and a spline ring. The spline ring including an opening having a spline configuration for cooperating with a splined portion of a transmission shaft. The connector housing being secured within the sealed clutch and the spline ring being removably connectable to the connector housing to enable the spline ring to be removed and replaced with a different spline ring for cooperating with a splined portion of a different transmission shaft. The clutch plate has a pair of drive plates having a coaxially aligned openings and a spline connector mounted between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Clutch Industries Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Brad Davis
  • Patent number: 11649892
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure calculation apparatus is applied to a gear shifting system including a transmission configured to switch between a connected state and a disconnected state of a friction engagement element depending on a hydraulic pressure supplied from a hydraulic circuit, and a hydraulic controller configured to control the hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic pressure calculation apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores pieces of mapping data of a plurality of phases obtained by dividing a period from a start to an end of switching between the connected state and the disconnected state of the friction engagement element. Each piece of the mapping data defines a mapping. The processor is configured to output, as an output variable, an estimated hydraulic pressure variable indicating an estimated value of an actual hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic circuit to the friction engagement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota Fujii, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Ken Imamura, Hideaki Bunazawa, Keita Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11642960
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively engaging an electric machine to an electric axle of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include engaging or disengaging the electric machine to a differential of the electric-axle by adjusting pressure in a piston coupled to an axle shaft of the electric-axle via a disconnect clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. Brammer, Mark Leber, Benjamin J. Passino, George A. Willford
  • Patent number: 11644069
    Abstract: An improved adjuster for a clutch having an expanding friction disk. The improved adjuster allows desirable characteristics of a clutch pressure plate to be maintained while allowing an operator to bias the pressure plate into proper position to accommodate the function of the expanding friction disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rekluse Racing, LLC
    Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen, Logan P. Krueger, Gabe Sutherland, Sarah Haight, Dayne Konrad, Calvin Brown
  • Patent number: 11624170
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a work vehicle has a drive housing including at least one housing element forming a reaction member, a drive shaft rotatable about a drive axis, and a planetary gear set coupled to the drive shaft and configured to selectively rotate an output element. The drive assembly also includes at least one clutch arrangement having at least one clutch ring configured to selectively interact with the planetary gear set to effect a rotation speed of the output element. At least one actuator is configured to axially drive the clutch ring along the drive axis. A retention mechanism is configured to retain the clutch ring at an axial position along the drive axis. The retention mechanism includes a detent ball, a detent groove and a resilient member configured to urge the detent ball into the detent groove to retain the clutch ring at the axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Yuvraj V. Dhanal, Yuvraj B. Gosavi, Jeffrey S. Turner, Lisa R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 11624411
    Abstract: A non-backdrivable clutched module for a bi-directional actuator such as actuators used for active aerodynamics on vehicles. The module has both a stopper mode and a clutch mode. During the stopper mode a back-driving force gets diverted away from the actuator using a locking bearing member. If the force is too great a clutch mode will disengage the back-driving force completely from the shaft connected to the actuator, thereby preventing damage to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Braendon R. Lindberg, Anthony J. Povinelli, Martin R. Matthews, Yao Wang
  • Patent number: 11585420
    Abstract: An actuator assembly including a housing. The housing having an actuator component, an armature, and at least a portion of a sensor disposed therein. The armature is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. The sensor includes at least one sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent to the armature. The sensing element has a physical property which varies based upon a position of the armature within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Z. Creech, Justin S. Davis, Robert D. Keller, Terry W. McGraner, Timothy R. Zuehlke
  • Patent number: 11585392
    Abstract: A wet friction disc includes a friction surface and a lubrication groove through which a lubricant supplied to the friction surface flows. The lubrication groove has a plurality of circumferential groove portions that extends in a circumferential direction and a plurality of intersecting groove portions that extends in directions intersecting the circumferential direction. At least one of the circumferential groove portions has a through-hole that extends through the wet friction disc between an opposite surface facing s mating member and a surface on the opposite side in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takeuchi, Hiroshi Takuno, Kazuaki Kamimura, Takeshi Nakamura, Takahiro Yoshimura, Masaya Michishita
  • Patent number: 11585391
    Abstract: A clutch assembly including a sealed clutch and a spacer. The clutch is connected to the spacer and the spacer is connectable to a flywheel along a common axis and the spacer facilitates connection of the clutch to the flywheel in at least two different axially spaced positions. A connection ring can connect the spacer connection to flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Clutch Industries Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Brad Davis
  • Patent number: 11555523
    Abstract: A four-mode rocker clutch, including: a clutch gear supported for rotation around an axis of rotation; a housing; a first pawl including a portion disposed within the housing; a first actuator; a second pawl including a portion disposed within the housing; and a first resilient element. For a first one-way mode of the four-mode rocker clutch: the first actuator is arranged to hold the first pawl in contact with the clutch gear; the first pawl is arranged to block rotation of the clutch gear, with respect to the housing, in a first circumferential direction around an axis of rotation; and the first resilient element is arranged to hold the second pawl out of contact with the clutch gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 11542990
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a power transmission device of a clutch system can transmit power to precisely control and operate a clutch assembly, in conjunction with pressing and releasing of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: AUTODYN SYS INC.
    Inventor: Jongyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11541740
    Abstract: A hybrid module for a motor vehicle for coupling an internal combustion engine includes a disconnect clutch, an electrical machine, a clutch, a dry space and a wet space, and a seal. The disconnect clutch is for transmitting a first torque from the internal combustion engine to the hybrid module, and disconnecting the hybrid module from the internal combustion engine. The electrical machine is for generating a drive torque and includes a rotor. The clutch is for transmitting a second torque from the electrical machine or the disconnect clutch to a drivetrain. The seal is for sealing off the dry space with respect to the wet space. A one of the disconnect clutch or the clutch is a dry clutch in the dry space and the other of the disconnect clutch or the clutch is a wet clutch in the wet space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Reimnitz