Patents Examined by Mark A Manley
  • Patent number: 10288093
    Abstract: A device for vibration reduction in a hydraulic actuating system has a housing in which a pressure chamber is able to be disposed in fluid connection with the actuating system by way of at least one connection and bounded by a resilient membrane. The membrane has a pressure-loadable surface and a surface which is remote therefrom and provided with a profiling, by way of which the membrane when loaded with pressure can be supported on a fixed wall section of the housing and which has at least one web section comprising at least one web with a web foot, a web end adjacent to the wall section, and a defined web cross-section. The web is of asymmetrical construction with respect to a notional plane extending normal to the pressure-loadable surface through the web foot and perpendicularly to the web cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FTE automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Marks, Wilfried Weibelzahl
  • Patent number: 10286726
    Abstract: A hub is provided for two-wheeled vehicles having a hub axle, a hub body, a rotatable driving device, and having a toothed disk freewheel. The toothed disk freewheel includes a pair of engagement components cooperating with one another, each having at least one axial toothing. The axial toothings are biased to an engaging position via a biasing device. The biasing device is configured as a pulling force device which pulls both axial toothings together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Spahr, Martin Walthert
  • Patent number: 10288129
    Abstract: A fluid control assembly controls fluid to a disk pack, which includes a plurality of interleaved disks movable into a disengaged state of the disks, a slip state of the disks and an engaged state of the disks. An actuator assembly is configured to move the disk pack between the disengaged, slip and engaged states. A blocking member is configured to be acted upon by the actuator assembly, such that the actuator assembly and the blocking member: (i) reduce or close off flow of fluid to the disk pack when in the disengaged state, (ii) increase or open flow of fluid to the disk pack when in the slip state, and (iii) reduce or close off flow of fluid to the disk pack when in the engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Long, William G. Detrick
  • Patent number: 10281002
    Abstract: A dynamic vibration absorbing device includes a guide member having an annular shape. The dynamic vibration absorbing device also includes at least one mass body that rolls along the guide member. In addition, the dynamic vibration absorbing device includes at least one elastic member non-rotatable relatively to the guide member, the at least one elastic member disposed to restrict the at least one mass body from rotating relatively to the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kojima, Kazushi Sone, Takumi Imada
  • Patent number: 10274029
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes performing a startup operation of the motor vehicle or a stopping operation of the motor vehicle. A starting component (3) is engaged or bridged during the startup operation or the stopping operation of the motor vehicle. The startup operation is driven by a drive source (1). The method also includes comparing an actual value of an output shaft (22) based variable with a target value of the output shaft (22) based variable during the startup operation or the stopping operation and, on reaching or exceeding a specific deviation of the actual value from the target value, moving the starting component (3) into a slipping state. The starting component (3) transmits torque in the slipping state. A related drive train module for a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp
  • Patent number: 10274041
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement (1), comprising an impeller (6) linkable to a drive shaft, a turbine (7) linkable to a driven shaft via a hub (11) and able to hydrodynamically coupled with the impeller (6), a lockup clutch (20) able to short-circuited the hydrodynamically coupling between the impeller (6) and the turbine (7), a torsional vibration damper arrangement (13;14,15) located between the lockup clutch (20) and the hub (11), said torsional vibration damper arrangement comprising an input element (16;17,47,24), an output element (17; 25,33,32) and a plurality of elastic elements (22;26) disposed between the input element and the output element, the output element of the torsional vibration damper arrangement forms a part of the hub, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises an absorber device (29) being linked in rotation to the hub, said absorber device comprising a unique resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Xuexian Yin
  • Patent number: 10260572
    Abstract: A clutch assembly comprises a housing; a first drive part rotatingly drivable around an axis of rotation; a second drive part rotatable relative to the first drive part; a clutch which is arranged in the power path between the first drive part and the second drive part and which comprises a first clutch part which is connected to the first drive part in a rotationally fixed and axially movable way and a second clutch part which is drivingly connected to the second drive part; a controllable actuator for actuating the clutch; a sensor unit for determining a position signal which represents the axial position of the first clutch part, wherein the sensor unit comprises a target element which is at least indirectly connected to the first clutch part, and a sensor connected to the housing for recording a position of the target element; and adjusting means for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan Haupt, Jörg Jacoby, Falk Siebenhandl, Colin Zaers, Holger Seidl
  • Patent number: 10260611
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing including a casing shell and an impeller shell, a piston engagement member non-rotatably coupled to the casing and having a first engagement surface, a turbine-piston including a turbine-piston shell partitioning an interior volume of the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into a torus chamber and a damper chamber and including a turbine-piston flange having a second engagement surface movable axially toward and away from the first engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device respectively into and out of a lockup mode, and a restricting washer disposed between the impeller shell and the turbine-piston shell for restricting a hydraulic fluid flow into and from the torus chamber for increasing a hydraulic fluid pressure in the torus chamber and pushing the turbine-piston shell toward the first engagement surface of the reaction plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Subramanian Jeyabalan
  • Patent number: 10247305
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic transmission including: an input section to which power generated by a drive source is input; an output section configured to output a drive force; and a gear shifting mechanism configured to change a gear ratio. The power is input to the input section without intervention of a hydraulic power transmission device. The gear shifting mechanism includes a predetermined frictional engagement element for achieving a starting gear ratio of a vehicle. The frictional engagement element includes: a plurality of friction plates arranged with clearances therebetween; a piston movable between a releasing position where the friction plates are brought into a released state, and an engaging position where the friction plates are brought into an engaged state by pressing the friction plates; and an urging mechanism configured to urge the piston so that the piston abuts against the friction plates and the clearances are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Sasahara, Yuki Tsuchitori, Koshiro Saji, Tadashi Saito, Tomotaka Ishizaka, Tatsuhiko Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10247260
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus has a clutch member and a pressure member. The cam surfaces of the pressure-contact assist cam face each other. The cam surfaces of the back torque limiter cam face each other. A receiving portion for a clutch spring (10) on the pressure member (5) side has a receiving member (11) separate from the pressure member (5). A first cam surface (C1) and a second cam surface (C2), constituting the back torque limiter cam, are, respectively, formed on the receiving member (11) and the clutch member (4). A third cam surface (C3) and a fourth cam surface (C4), constituting the pressure-contact assist cam, are, respectively, formed on the pressure member (5) and the clutch member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Makoto Kataoka, Han Hiong Chen, Kaoru Aono
  • Patent number: 10240645
    Abstract: A dual clutch device having an input side, a first output side, and a second output side, which are arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation, and having a first, radially outer friction clutch for producing frictional engagement between the input side and the first output side and a second, radially inner friction clutch for producing frictional engagement between the input side and the second output side. Each friction clutch has a first friction element, which engages in the input side in a torque-transmitting manner, a second friction element, which engages in the associated output side in a torque-transmitting manner, a control element for providing an axially pressing force on the friction elements, and a leaf spring element, which is spirally wound around the axis of rotation and which is arranged axially between the control element and the friction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Chambrion, Johannes Ruf
  • Patent number: 10234034
    Abstract: A parking lock apparatus includes a parking gear rotatable together with a rotating body of a transmission. A slider is to be switched between a parking lock position in which a parking pawl is in engagement with the parking gear and a parking release position in which the parking pawl is out of engagement with the parking gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Mukai, Shunsuke Yoshida, Tetsuya Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10221902
    Abstract: A temperature-sensitive fluid fan clutch device includes an oil reservoir chamber in a case supported by a rotating shaft that has a drive disk fixed thereto. Plural dams are provided outward of the drive disk, and oil circulating flow passages contiguously to the dams extend between a torque transmission chamber and the oil reservoir chamber. A valve opens and closes an oil circulation flow hole of the oil reservoir chamber due to a change in temperature of a temperature-sensitive body. An oil effective contact area in a torque transmission gap between a drive side and a driven side is varied to control rotation torque transmission from the drive side to the driven side. An oil collection valve member independently opens and closes at least one of the oil circulating flow passages. The temperature-sensitive fluid fan clutch device inhibits a cold “drag” phenomenon and reduces fan power loss and fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
    Inventor: Satoshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 10215239
    Abstract: The present clutch operating device includes a drive motor and a speed reduction mechanism. The speed reduction mechanism includes a link bar receiving a driving force of the drive motor, a clutch lever that is rotatably coupled to a first end of the link bar while being disposed rotatably with respect to a second cover, and a main roller that is rotatably attached to a second end of the link bar while being disposed to roll on the second cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Eguchi, Hiroaki Kato
  • Patent number: 10208814
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a clutch assembly which is comprised of (1) a cam plate which includes cams which are spaced about a central axis; (2) a rocker plate which includes at least one pocket, wherein the pocket includes a first rocker plate engagement surface and a second rocker plate engagement surface; and (3) at least one rocker which is pivotally situated within the pocket of the rocker plate, (4) a first solenoid, and (5) a second solenoid, wherein the solenoids can be activated or deactivated to allow for the clutch to be in a neutral position (to allow for free rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions), to prevent rotation in a clockwise direction while allowing for free rotation in a counterclockwise direction, or to prevent rotation in a counterclockwise direction while allowing for free rotation in a clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Keystone Powdered Metal Company
    Inventors: Bradley Reiter, Gary L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10197113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device for a drive train of a motorcycle or other motor vehicle, in particular for suppressing a so-called hopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Kurth, Ralph Schimpf
  • Patent number: 10183566
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, motor, transmission, and electronically controlled one-way clutch. The engine includes an output. The motor includes a rotor and a stator. The transmission includes an input that is rotatably coupled to the rotor. The transmission is configured to receive power from the engine and the motor. The electronically controlled one-way clutch has an inner race that is secured to the output of the engine and an outer race that is secured to the rotor. The electronically controlled one-way clutch is configured to rotatably couple the output to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Trent
  • Patent number: 10167908
    Abstract: A clutch actuator structure provided for an internal combustion engine and a hydraulic clutch mechanism for transmitting a rotational driving force of a crankshaft of said engine includes a clutch actuator for controlling an oil pressure for engaging and disengaging the hydraulic clutch mechanism. The clutch actuator structure ensures that noises generated at the times of operation of the clutch actuator for actuating a hydraulic clutch are prevented from being transmitted to the exterior. The clutch actuator structure includes an oil sump part for reserving oil provided in the periphery of a clutch actuator. The clutch actuator is disposed in the oil sump part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kinya Mizuno, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Takashi Ozeki, Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Yasushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 10161402
    Abstract: A motor vehicle vacuum pump includes a pump rotor, a coupling element, and a clutch arrangement. The clutch arrangement locks or releases the coupling element to/from the pump rotor so that the coupling element rotates together with or is released from the pump rotor. The clutch arrangement comprises a bolt holder connected to the pump rotor or to the coupling element to rotate therewith, an axially displaceable guide body, and a catch body connected to the coupling element or to the pump rotor to rotate therewith. The bolt holder comprises a bolt guide and a bolt body displaceable therein. The guide body is assigned to the bolt holder and comprises a guiding surface inclined with respect to an axial plane. The bolt body is forced radially into a locking position via the guiding surface. The catch body has a catch depression wherewith the bolt body engages in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PIERBURG PUMP TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventor: Sebastian Cramer
  • Patent number: 10161506
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a multiple speed motor vehicle automatic transmission having electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) provides both a forward gear ratio and Park options during default conditions where the transmission loses electronic control when the ETRS system is in a drive mode. The hydraulic control system includes a two position default disable solenoid valve, an ETRS valve, a park servo, position sensors, a default disable valve, a drive select valve, various orifices and blow-off valves as well as main and auxiliary pumps, a torque converter, a torque converter regulator and control valve and a plurality of linear force solenoid valves and clutch regulation valves which control a like plurality of clutch and brake actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chinar S. Ghike, Brian W. Whitmarsh, Joel H. Gunderson