Patents Examined by Mark A Manley
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Patent number: 10816093Abstract: A parking lock mechanism comprises: a parking gear disposed on a power transmission member mechanically coupled to a drive wheel; and a parking pawl provided with a lock claw configured to mesh with the parking gear and switching between a lock state in which the lock claw is meshed with the parking gear and an unlock state in which meshing between the lock claw and the parking gear is released. In the mechanism, the lock claw includes a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other in a face width direction, the lock claw includes a tooth tip surface provided with a retreated portion at a corner on the second end surface side, and a position of a center of gravity of the parking pawl is on the second end surface side relative to a center plane in the face width direction of the lock claw.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masataka Sugiyama, Kenji Tanabe, Takeshi Kuwahara, Ryoki Ii, Kenji Asai
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Patent number: 10816043Abstract: A method of making a wet friction material includes providing an outer layer on a base layer to form the wet friction material. The base layer includes a first proportion of fiber material and a first proportion of filler material. The outer layer includes a second proportion of fiber material and a second proportion of filler material. The second fiber proportion is less than the first fiber proportion and the second filler proportion is greater than the first filler proportion. The method further includes forming a modified outer layer by burning off the fiber material of the outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Rashid Farahati, Murat Bakan
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Patent number: 10808772Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Eric Carlson, David Howe, William L. Cousins, David A. Craig, Alex Kwon
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Patent number: 10808768Abstract: Linear actuator mechanisms (100) for vehicle disconnect/connect systems having a stationary guide rod (122); a shift fork (118) the stationary guide rod extends therethough; a drive nut (110); a drive screw (120) extending through the drive nut; a first spring plate (114), a second spring plate (116), and a compression spring (112) positioned between a radially extending portion of the first spring plate and a radially extending portion of the second spring plate. A second radially extending portion of the first spring plate and a second radially extending portion of the second spring plate are in contact with the drive nut on axially opposite sides of the drive nut. The first and second spring plates are moveable axially along the stationary guide rod by the drive nut to compress the compression spring.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLCInventors: Michael Z. Creech, Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz, Robert A. Wright
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Patent number: 10808735Abstract: A hydraulic park system includes a spool valve linked to a park mechanism. In some circumstances, a hold-out-of-park mechanism is utilized to hold the spool in position. To avoid wear on the aluminum spool, a steel saddle is inserted onto the spool between two lands such that the hold-out-of-park mechanism engages the steel saddle. The steel saddle is inserted from the side of the spool. To ensure that the hold-out-of-park engages the correct side of the saddle, the saddle must be held in a predefined circumferential position about the bore axis. The saddle is constrained from rotation about the spool axis by abutting flat surfaces on the spool and the saddle. The spool is constrained from rotation relative to the bore by the park mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lee John Becker, Timothy Andrew Sikowski
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Patent number: 10794431Abstract: A clutch actuation mechanism for actuating a clutch operator of a spring loaded friction clutch having at least a motor driven rotary disc for being connected to the clutch operator enables to operate the motor with an essentially constant and reduced torque, if a pin is attached to the disc with an offset from the disc's rotary axis, and if a lever has a curved contacting surface and if a spring forces the lever with its contacting surface against the pin to thereby provide an additional torque to the disc. Thus, the pin travels over the contacting surface when the disc rotates to open or close the spring loaded clutch via the clutch operator and the curvature enables to adapt the torque provided by the spring to the torque required to compensate for the clutch spring.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaAInventors: Sebastian Tiemeyer, Hagen Mueller, Frank Bewermeyer
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Patent number: 10792990Abstract: A compact hybrid module includes a separating clutch with a reliably controlled actuation pressure. The hybrid module is provided with a disengagement device having a pressure pot for the transmission of force from a disengagement bearing to a pressure plate of the separating clutch or K0 separating clutch. The separating clutch itself can be actuated via the pressure pot without an additional lever ratio. Owing to a low level of hysteresis as a result of the direct actuation, the clutch can then be precisely regulated in terms of pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller, Luben Krahtov
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Patent number: 10794436Abstract: A rotational system can include a shaft assembly rotationally coupling a first rotor, a second rotor, and a fluid pump. A fluid circuit can include the fluid pump that can be configured to motivate a working fluid through the fluid circuit. A pressurizing valve can be disposed downstream of the fluid pump wherein the rotational system can be configured to rotationally decouple the first rotor from the second rotor by closing the pressurizing valve. The pressurizing valve can be actuated by a controller. A method can include raising a pressure differential across a fluid pump driven by a shaft assembly thereby applying an increased braking torque to the shaft assembly. The pressure differential can be raised by actuating a valve in hydraulic communication with the fluid pump. The shaft assembly can rotationally couple a first rotor with a second rotor, and increasing the braking torque can decouple the rotors.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Alan Smith
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Patent number: 10787033Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: CHRISTIANSON SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
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Patent number: 10781868Abstract: A one-way clutch, including: pocket and inner rings; rollers between the rings; springs urging the rollers in a first circumferential direction; a switch ring including protrusions in contact with the rollers and having ramps. In a one-way configuration: the inner and pocket rings non-rotatably connect for relative rotation of the inner ring, with respect to the pocket ring, in the first circumferential direction; and for a free-wheel mode, the inner ring is rotatable in a second circumferential direction with respect to the pocket ring. In an open configuration: the inner and pocket rings are independently rotatable. To transition from the one-way clutch configuration to the open configuration: the actuator axially displaces the switch ring with respect to the pocket ring; the ramps slide along the pocket ring to rotate the switch ring in the second circumferential direction; and the protrusions displace the rollers in the second circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Kenneth Hunt, David Smith
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Patent number: 10767718Abstract: A rotational coupling device includes an armature configured for coupling to a shaft for rotation with the shaft about an axis, but axially movable relative to the shaft. An electromagnet assembly is disposed on one side of the armature and fixed against rotation. A collar is disposed on the opposite side of the armature. The collar is configured for rotation with the shaft, but fixed against axial movement relative to the shaft and includes a permanent magnet. When a current having a first polarity is provided to the electromagnet assembly, the armature moves in one axial direction into engagement with a member of the coupling device to transmit a torque between the member and the armature. The permanent magnet urges the armature in the opposite axial direction to disengage the armature from the member when the current is not provided to the electromagnet assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Warner Electric Technology LLCInventor: Bradley Lyn Uffelman
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Patent number: 10760660Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic unit with a housing in which a hydraulic converter is accommodated, which is coupled with a drive shaft that includes a connecting shaft piece located outside the housing for connection to a mechanical drive element The invention furthermore relates to a hydraulic driving device with such hydraulic unit and to a drive train connecting piece to which the hydraulic unit is connected. It is proposed to integrate a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the hydraulic unit into the hydraulic unit itself, so that a mechanical drive train, to which the hydraulic unit is connected, can remain unchanged or need not especially be adapted to the clutch. In accordance with the invention, a clutch for coupling and uncoupling the connecting shaft piece of the hydraulic unit to and from the hydraulic converter of the hydraulic unit is accommodated in the housing of the hydraulic unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Liebherr-Components Biberach GMBHInventors: Norbert Hausladen, Viktor Schindler
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Patent number: 10738877Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes a pocket plate, a notch plate, and a selector plate, and the selector plate is configured to rotate so as to switch the clutch between an engaged state and a non-engaged state. A lubricant passage through which a lubricant is supplied to the selectable one-way clutch has a lubricant inlet and a lubricant outlet, and the lubricant outlet is located on the lower side of the lubricant inlet in a direction of gravitational force, and connected to an inside of the selectable one-way clutch. The lubricant passage includes an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravitational force, between the lubricant inlet and the lubricant outlet, and the inclined surface has an opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Mitsuaki Tomita, Shotaro Kato, Hiroyuki Shibata
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Patent number: 10718425Abstract: In a brake device of a transmission, rotation side friction plates are engaged with a cylindrical part of a rotation side holding member, and fixed side friction plates are engaged with a spline part that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of an inner cylindrical part of a fixed side holding member opposed to a cylindrical part of the rotation side holding member. The fixed side holding member includes an inflow oil passage that supplies lubricating oil from the outside to the inside of the radial direction thereof. An annular space communicating with an inflow oil passage is provided on the inside of the cylindrical part of the fixed side holding member. Oil discharge holes supplying lubricating oil, which was flowed into the annular space, to the rotation side and fixed side friction plates are provided on the cylindrical part of the fixed side holding member.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takashi Nishioka, Tatsuhiko Iwasaki, Norio Iwashita, Tomotaka Ishizaka
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Patent number: 10718389Abstract: A method for controlling an engine clutch includes steps of controlling the hydraulic pressure transmitted from a master cylinder, driven by a motor, to a concentric slave cylinder using a controller outputting a motor control command for controlling an engine clutch so as to switch the engine clutch to a target state, driving the engine clutch using the concentric slave cylinder, after the step of controlling hydraulic pressure, detecting a position of a piston of the master cylinder using a first travel sensor and detecting a position of a piston of the concentric slave cylinder using a second travel sensor, and performing compensation control with respect to the motor based on the positions of the pistons detected by the first travel sensor and the second travel sensor using the controller so that the engine clutch is switched to the target state.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Jong Hyun Kim, Tae Ho Kim
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Patent number: 10704612Abstract: A cam mechanism used is provided with: a cam ring forming a circle around an axis and including a plurality of cam faces arranged circumferentially on a face of the circle facing in an axial direction, each of the cam faces sloping in a circumferential direction relative to a circumferential face perpendicular to the axis; a pressure ring adjacent axially to the face of the cam ring and including a plurality of cam faces opposed to the face of the cam ring and respectively symmetrical to the plurality of cam faces of the cam ring, the pressure ring being rotatable relatively to the cam ring about the axis; and a plurality of taper rollers interposed between the cam ring and the pressure ring, each of the taper rollers including a conical face tapering radially inwardly and capable of rolling on the cam faces.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.Inventors: Isao Hirota, Manabu Endou, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 10704611Abstract: A backing plate assembly includes a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover defines an inner surface and a front plane, and the rear cover terminates at a lip. A backing plate forms a body having an outer surface that terminates at a base portion. When the outer surface is coupled to the inner surface, the backing plate is rotationally but not axially coupled to the front cover. The lip contacts the base portion to define a maximum axial distance between the backing plate and the front plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Jezrah Horen, Michael Rietdorf, Thinh Nguyen
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Patent number: 10696284Abstract: A brake-pressure control device for a motor-vehicle braking system, with an electric motor, the rotatory motion of which is transformed by a ball screw drive into a translatory motion of a piston in a working cylinder, in order to be able to build up a defined braking pressure in a wheel brake independently of actuation of a master brake cylinder. An aspect provides that the ball screw drive is provided with a friction slip coupling engaged over a profiled tube which is fixedly connected to a nut of the ball screw drive and to which the piston is fixed.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHGInventors: Pierre Schmitt, Johannes Görlach, Theo Baukholt, Peter Geiß
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Patent number: 10683900Abstract: A clutch device for a gas turbine engine having a sliding coupling mounted to the engine and slidingly displaceable therein. The sliding coupling is mountable between the gearbox and the output shaft. The sliding coupling is continuously engageable with the gearbox and is selectively engageable with the output shaft to mechanically couple the output shaft to the gearbox. The sliding coupling is slidingly displaceable between a first position in which the sliding coupling is mechanically coupled to the output shaft to transmit a rotational drive of the output shaft to the gearbox, and a second position in which the sliding coupling is disengaged from the output shaft. A piston is disposed within the engine and acts on the sliding coupling to displace the sliding coupling to at least the second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Lazar Mitrovic, Keith Morgan
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Patent number: 10683908Abstract: A torque converter is provided in which abutment claw portions provided integrally with one of a pair of retaining plates of a dynamic damper mechanism are inserted into a cutout part, a spring retaining member fixed to a clutch piston having the cutout part, wherein the cutout part is formed so that an inner end of the cutout part along a radial direction of an output shaft is positioned further outside than an inside end of a damper spring in the radial direction, and the abutment claw portion is formed so that part of the abutment claw portion overlaps an inertia plate in a projection onto a plane passing through the abutment claw portion and an axis of the output shaft. Such arrangement shortens the axial distance between the clutch piston and the dynamic damper mechanism while maintaining function of the spring retaining member in retaining the damper spring.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kentaro Watanabe, Ayako Shibazaki