Patents Examined by Ernesto Suarez
  • Patent number: 11378176
    Abstract: Differential assembly covers and methods are provided for filtering and cooling lubricant circulating within a differential assembly of a wheeled vehicle without the use of a pump. Systems for filtering and cooling lubricant are also provided, that include the disclosed covers in fluid communication with an auxiliary cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Verlyn Ray Fast
  • Patent number: 11370290
    Abstract: A friction clutch includes a reference plane aligned perpendicular to a rotational axis, a first clutch component, and a second clutch component. The first clutch component has a first friction element, a first support part that receives the first friction element, a leaf spring unit including a leaf spring that rotationally fixes the second support part to the first support part. The second clutch component has a second friction element. The first friction element lies against the second friction element in a frictionally locking manner in a closed position, and is axially spaced from the second friction element in an open position. The leaf spring is designed and positioned relative to the reference plane in a set angle in the closed position such that an additional axial force is applied to the first friction element and the second friction element in a drive rotational direction of the first clutch component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Finkenzeller, Aurelie Keller
  • Patent number: 11371590
    Abstract: A gear transmission for aeronautical applications including an input shaft rotating about an axis, an output shaft rotating about the axis, and a transfer group for transferring the torque from the input shaft to the output shaft. The transfer group includes a first torque splitting stage, receiving the torque from the input shaft, and a second torque splitting stage, receiving the torque from the first stage. The first stage presents at least one first rotating member and the second stage presents at least one second rotating member. The input shaft and the first rotating member cooperate with one another at respective interaction surfaces. The rotating members cooperate with one another at respective friction surfaces. One of the interaction surfaces has first engagement elements, and another of the interaction surfaces has second engagement elements that are clutch coupled to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: GE AVIO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Michele Gravina
  • Patent number: 11371574
    Abstract: A friction device has a carrier element and friction lining segments arranged thereon. The friction lining segments each include a sintered friction lining, which is arranged on a friction lining carrier, the friction lining carrier is connected to the carrier element, and preferably the carrier element includes multiple fastening lugs and/or lining spring elements for the friction lining segments. In the design of the carrier element with the fastening lugs and/or lining spring elements, the friction lining segments each connect two fastening lugs or two lining spring elements to one another and/or the friction lining segments have an angle coverage between 25° and 55°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Miba Frictec GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Muehlegger
  • Patent number: 11371569
    Abstract: A bi-directional clutch assembly includes an outer race defining first and second strut pockets, an inner race defining ratchet teeth, a passive one-way clutch including at least two passive struts each supported in a corresponding first strut pocket for pivotal movement relative to the ratchet teeth, passive strut springs for normally biasing the passive struts into engagement with the ratchet teeth on the inner race, and a selectable one-way clutch having at least one active strut supported in the second strut pocket for pivotal movement between a non-deployed position disengaged from the ratchet teeth and a deployed position engaged with the ratchet teeth, and an armature ring fixed for rotation with the outer race and axially moveable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position, in which a strut engagement feature moves the active strut from its non-deployed position to its deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.
    Inventor: Adrian Cioc
  • Patent number: 11365795
    Abstract: A locking differential assembly includes a differential case, a first output shaft and a second output shaft. A first side gear is non-rotatably coupled to the first output shaft and a second side gear is non-rotatably coupled to the second output shaft. A differential pin is also included, the differential pin having differential gears. The differential gears are rotatably supported by the differential case and drivingly engaged with the first and second side gears to allow differential rotation thereof. A lock mechanism is actuated when a first torque force is applied to a drive cam and a driven cam. Finally, an electromagnetic coil actuates a brake plate, wherein the brake plate comes into frictional with a brake disc. Furthermore, the electromagnetic coil is discontinuous around the circumference of the brake disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Linamar Corporation
    Inventors: Todd R Ekonen, Mitchell Holland, Sean Hayes
  • Patent number: 11365805
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a variator and a sub-transmission mechanism, a controller serving as a shift control unit adapted to, as shift of the transmission, shift the sub-transmission mechanism and the variator so that a through speed ratio becomes a target speed ratio, and an engine serving as a torque increasing portion adapted to increase a torque inputted to the transmission in association with the shift of the transmission. The controller has a torque setting unit adapted to make a magnitude of an inclination larger as an increase amount of the engine rotation speed in association with the shift of the transmission is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Kitagawa, Tomoaki Honma
  • Patent number: 11358468
    Abstract: A two-speed transmission system integrated with an inner rotor hub motor, including an inner rotor hub motor, a steering knuckle, a fastening screw, a first transmission casing, a second transmission casing, a screw, a first planetary gear train, a second planetary gear train, a first electromagnetic brake, a second electromagnetic brake, a tire, a wheel rim, a rim bolt, a rim nut, a wheel hub, a shaft end bolt, a brake disc and a brake caliper. This invention also provides an electric vehicle, which balances the requirements for dynamics performance and driving economics and achieves better overall performances. The two-speed transmission system of this invention realizes gear shifting and long-term no-power parking braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Jilin University
    Inventors: Junnian Wang, Kai Wang, Dachang Guo, Chunlin Zhang, Rui Luo, Zhenhao Zhang, Jiulong Gao, Jiantu Ni
  • Patent number: 11359701
    Abstract: A multiple speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets each having first, second and third members, and a plurality of interconnecting members each connected between at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets and at least another of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets. The transmission includes a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms between the input and output members, wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least four to establish at least ten forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventor: Rayman E. Bazilio
  • Patent number: 11353100
    Abstract: A differential gear including a rotatably mounted differential housing and a final driven gear mounted rotationally fixed to the differential housing. The differential housing, on the outer circumferential surface thereof, includes two mating surfaces and that the final driven gear, on the inner circumferential surface thereof, includes two radially opposite mating surfaces. The mating surfaces formed on the outer circumferential surface of the differential housing and the mating surfaces formed on the inner circumferential surface of the final driven gear are each designed as separate mating surfaces which, when viewed in axial direction (a), are arranged geometrically separated from each other by a spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Kurt Hornung, Markus Schäfer, Andrej Merz
  • Patent number: 11353097
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an electric machine including a rotor defining a hollow center and a fluid-coupling assembly at least partially disposed within the hollow center. The fluid-coupling assembly includes an input shaft, a turbine fixedly coupled to the rotor and having a hub configured to connect with a transmission input shaft, and an impeller configured to fluid couple with the turbine. The impeller is selectively coupled to the rotor and selectively coupled to the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Peter Rentfrow
  • Patent number: 11353098
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component includes a case defining lever apertures, a coupling having a movable member that is movable along a movement axis between a first and a second position, a linear having a motor output member movable along the movement axis, and a plurality of levers. Each lever is disposed in an associated lever aperture and coupled to the case for pivoting motion about a respective lever pivot axis. The levers urge the movable member in a first direction along the movement axis from one of the first and second positions to the other one of the first and second positions in response to pivoting motion of the levers about the lever pivot axes caused by contact between the levers and the motor output member when the motor output member is driven in a second direction along the movement axis that is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Chemelli, Joseph S. Balenda, II, Peter Barta
  • Patent number: 11346406
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch (1) for a drive train of a motor vehicle, has an input component (2) which serves for the introduction of torque, an output component (3) which serves for the discharge of torque. The clutch includes an engine-side centrifugal mass (5) and a transmission-side centrifugal mass (6) for actuating the friction unit (4), which centrifugal masses (5; 6) are operatively connected to an engine-side and transmission-side bent sheet metal piece (7, 8). At least one of the centrifugal masses (5; 6) has a cut-out (9) which is such that at least one device (10) which is fixed to the input component has an arm (11) which engages into the cut-out (9) in such a way that guidance of the radial displacement of at least one of the centrifugal masses (5; 6) is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Roman Heck
  • Patent number: 11346433
    Abstract: An actuator is used to longitudinally move a spline sleeve for controlling drive mode of a differential on an off-road vehicle. The actuator's motor rotates an eccentric knob through a drive train including intermediate gears and a worm gear. The eccentic knob is linked to the spline sleeve through a torsion spring carried on a pivot plate, with legs of the torsion spring pushing a slide block, transferring a moment provided by the eccentric knob into a linear slide force. The pivot plate and torsion spring are jointly mounted on the actuator housing by a hub, opposite the rotational axis of the eccentric knob from the slide block. The slide block includes a contact which completes a circuit through conductive pads on the actuator housing, so the position of the slide block can be directly sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fuying Cheng
  • Patent number: 11346431
    Abstract: A lock-up device includes a clutch part and a damper part. The clutch part is disposed between a front cover and a turbine. The clutch part transmits or blocks torque. The damper part transmits torque from the clutch part to the turbine, and absorbs torsional vibration. The damper part includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of elastic members, and a support member. The input member is connected to the clutch part. The output member is rotatable relative to the input member and is connected to the turbine. The elastic members are accommodated in the input member, and elastically connect the input member and the output member in a rotational direction. The support member has a connecting part and a plurality of support parts. The connecting part is connected to the input member. The plurality of support parts support inner peripheral surfaces of the plurality of elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11333206
    Abstract: The actuator (20) comprises an electric drive means (22) and a drive member (26) being rotationally driven upon activation of the electric drive means (22), an output member (24) being rotationally connected to the drive member (26) by means of a first spring (28), and a second spring (32) being connected to the output member (24) and forming a one way clutch between the output member (24) and a fixed tube (34), wherein the electrical actuator (20) further comprises a regulation cup (30) being configured to engage with the second spring (32) to disconnect the output member (24) from the fixed tube (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Sweden AB
    Inventor: Lars Severinsson
  • Patent number: 11333204
    Abstract: Provided are a wet friction plate and a wet multiplate clutch device including the wet friction plates capable of improving the performance for discharging lubricant oil adhering to surfaces of friction members. A wet friction plate includes oil grooves and friction members on a flat plate annular core metal. At a surface of a porous layer of the friction member, a friction slide surface and lubricant oil recessed portions are formed. The lubricant oil recessed portion has no sharp portion in a pointed shape, such as a corner portion, and is formed with a smooth continuous surface. The multiple lubricant oil recessed portions depressed in a recessed shape with respect to the friction slide surface are formed. In the porous layer, hollow portions are formed to have the same formation rate between a portion forming the friction slide surface and a portion forming the lubricant oil recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kazuya Uehara, Masatoshi Miyagawa, Nobuyuki Katayama
  • Patent number: 11331991
    Abstract: An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. In one form, the first electric motor and second electric motor are the same type of electric motor, and in another form, the first electric motor and second electric motor are different types of electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. McGrew, Jr., Isaac Mock, George S. Pelton, James Allen Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 11333232
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a sensor assembly for a differential apparatus. In one example, the sensor assembly includes a microcontroller and an eddy current sensor communicatively coupled to the microcontroller and configured to detect a distance between an axially slidable and an axially stationary component of a differential apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Terry W. McGraner, Perry M. Paielli
  • Patent number: 11325459
    Abstract: A transmission assembly includes a transmission assembly housing; a continuously variable power source (CVP) configured to generate CVP power; an input arrangement selectively coupled to receive the engine power from the input shaft and the CVP power from the CVP; a variator configured to receive the engine power and the CVP power through the input arrangement; and an output arrangement including an output shaft defining an output axis and at least one output component connected to the output shaft. A transmission gear arrangement is configured to provide a selective gear reduction for transmission of selected output power of the CVP power or combined power of the CVP power and the engine power. The transmission gear arrangement includes a plurality of range clutches supported about the output shaft and configured to be selectively engaged to transfer the selected output power from the variator shaft to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas G. Ore