Patents Examined by Eric Williams
  • Patent number: 6830141
    Abstract: A friction-based clutch actuation system includes a rotatable input shaft, an output shaft, at least one input clutch plate operatively supported by the input shaft, and at least one output clutch plate operatively supported by the output shaft and moveable thereon. The friction-based clutch actuation system also includes at least one electric motor and at least one piezoelectric actuator operatively connected to the at least one electric motor. The friction-based clutch actuation system further includes a controller electrically connected to the at least one electric motor and the at least one piezoelectric actuator to activate said at least one electric motor to move the piezoelectric actuator relative to the at least one output clutch plate and to activate the piezoelectric actuator to apply a force to the at least one output clutch plate to engage the at least one input clutch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Norman Kenneth Bucknor
  • Patent number: 6609600
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch comprises a driving wheel, an operative disc connected to the driving wheel to move therewith, a transmission disc mounted to an outer periphery of the operative disc, a follower shaft, a friction mechanism, and a coupling device for releasable coupling with a gear train of a gearbox. The follower shaft extends through the driving wheel, the operative disc, and the transmission disc. The friction mechanism is fixed to the transmission disc and in frictional engagement with a friction portion of the driving wheel. When the driving wheel turns at an idling speed, the friction portion drives the friction mechanism, the transmission disc, and the follower shaft to turn slowly with a constant torque, thereby allowing easy gear shifting through the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Chin Hua Shen
  • Patent number: 6370982
    Abstract: A device for fastening cable pull elements of cables, preferably for gear shift systems in motor vehicles. The device including fastening elements and the cable pull core. A fastenin rod with a cable pull core is arranged at a coupling element and a fastening element is enclosed by the coupling element and a rubber element with a gap dimension, so that oscillations are not transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: United Parts FHS Automobil Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Scheidling, Arnd Bürger