Patents Examined by Richard Lorence
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Patent number: 9097291Abstract: A drive assembly having an actuating piston for generating a thrust for engagement of a clutch unit. The assembly also has a bearing for transferring the engagement thrust and a pusher for discharging the engagement thrust onto the clutch unit. The actuating piston, the bearing and the pusher are assembled in succession on a transmission shaft carrying the clutch unit. A chamber is provided for supplying a fluid under pressure for generating a disengagement thrust acting on the actuating piston. At least one preloaded spring is provided that acts on the actuating piston so as to push it towards the clutch unit. The bearing for transferring the thrust is mounted with play directly on the transmission shaft. The pusher being disk-shaped and comprising a first face in lateral contact with the bearing and a second face in lateral contact with the clutch unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Dana Italia SpAInventor: Marco Pontanari
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Patent number: 9091307Abstract: A pulse vacuum hub lock system for selectively engaging a wheel hub to an axial shaft includes a cartridge housing assembly received in a bore in the wheel hub. The cartridge housing assembly supports a clutch ring for movable engagement between splines in the wheel hub and directly on the axle shaft. A diaphragm is connected to a piston assembly and is responsive to a vacuum pressure to activate the piston assembly to engage or disengage a latch mechanism that holds the clutch ring in an engaged or disengaged position. A piston spring and a helper spring are provided between primary and secondary pistons of the piston assembly and allow for separation in the vacuum levels required to activate the latch mechanism. The vacuum hub lock system is compact so as to be disposed inboard of an opening in the exterior surface of a wheel rim.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.Inventors: Craig Feusse, Adrian Simula, Bryan M. Averill, Mitchell R. Lawson, Jeff Walston, Ian Wendler, Craig Clark
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Patent number: 9086102Abstract: A clutch system may include in certain embodiments a clutch body attached to a drive member such as a drive pulley, wherein the clutch body may be removed from the drive member without disassembling the clutch body. In various embodiments, the clutch body may include two clutch plates which enclose a spring-loaded pneumatic reciprocating assembly that in operation causes the plates to selectively separate and engage one another. In certain embodiments, the clutch body may be readily attached to a associated drive pulley in a single step by installation of a single set of fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: KIT MASTERS INC.Inventors: Craig M. Swanson, Thomas M. Jagger, George S. Pieper
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Patent number: 9080613Abstract: A starting device configured with a multi-plate clutch and a damper device. The damper device may include an input element to which power from a motor is transmitted via the multi-plate clutch, an outer peripheral-side elastic body to which the power is transmitted from the input element, an inner peripheral-side elastic body that is placed on an inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral-side elastic body, an intermediate element that transmits the power from the outer peripheral-side elastic body to the inner peripheral-side elastic body, and an output element to which the power is transmitted from the inner peripheral-side elastic body. The input element may be coupled to a clutch drum of the multi-plate clutch so that the input element and the clutch drum interpose the intermediate element therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignees: ASIN AW CO., LTD., AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., EXEDY CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Masahiro Ishikawa, Junji Tanaka, Fumimasa Kasashima, Naohisa Yamashita, Takeshi Watanabe
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Patent number: 9074644Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Sato, Takahide Saito, Masahiro Kawai, Kouji Isoda, Naochika Kubota, Yumiko Mineno, Hiromitsu Hamazaki
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Patent number: 9068604Abstract: A friction material segment includes a first end and a second end, the first end including an edge having a first section having a reduced thickness and a second section having a second thickness greater than the reduced thickness section. A friction plate with a plurality of friction material segments and a wet-type friction clutch are also provided, as is a method for manufacturing the friction material segment.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Rashid Farahati, Thomas Freshly
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Patent number: 9068606Abstract: A clutch device is configured to switch between a first clutch and a second clutch. The clutch device includes a fixed sleeve having a first male thread. The fixed sleeve is coaxially arranged around an exterior of a second input shaft. A first slider has a first internal female thread and a second external male thread. The first slider is arranged externally around the fixed sleeve. The second slider has a second internal female thread. The second slider is arranged around the exterior of the first slider to rotate and move in an axial direction. A first release bearing member is interposed between a member on the first clutch side and the second slider. A second release bearing member is interposed between a member on the side of the second clutch and the first slider. A first motor rotates the first slider. A second motor rotates the second slider.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Aichi Machine Industry, Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seiji Kaminaga
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Patent number: 9062827Abstract: A power tool includes an actuator that moves an implement, an infrared sensor, and a range sensor. A controller in the power tool receives temperature data and range data corresponding to objects in a region proximate to the implement. If an object in the predetermined has a temperature within a predetermined range and is identified as being within a predetermined minimum distance of the moving implement, then the controller deactivates the actuator to halt the implement.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Niranjan Sathyanarayanarao Krishnarao, Bharadwaja Maharshi Ramaswamy
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Patent number: 9062723Abstract: A parallel double-clutch device is arranged in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and transmission of the drivetrain. The device comprises a first clutch arrangement assigned to a first transmission-input shaft for selectively transmitting torque between the drive unit and first transmission-input shaft. A second clutch arrangement is assigned to a second transmission-input shaft for selectively transmitting torque between the drive unit and second transmission-input shaft. The first clutch arrangement can be actuated by at least one hydraulically drivable first actuating piston assigned a first pressure chamber delimited by a first pressure-chamber housing and the first actuating piston. The second clutch arrangement can be actuated by at least one hydraulically drivable second actuating piston assigned a second pressure chamber delimited by a second pressure-chamber housing and the second actuating piston.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.Inventors: Hans Juergen Hauck, Christian Pilz, Jens Henze, Goetz Nicklas, Rainer Gerathewohl
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Patent number: 9061546Abstract: A hub assembly for a bicycle includes a hub shell, a plurality of pawl units, and an annular ratchet member. The hub shell is rotatably mounted on a hub axle, and the annular ratchet member is disposed to rotate with respect to the hub axle. Each pawl unit includes a pawl that is movable between driven and idle positions, an elongated mount that extends to bridge a gap formed in the pawl, and a biasing member that is mounted on the elongated mount to bias the pawl to move to the driven position so as to engage to the annular ratchet member.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Kun Teng Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hubert Chen
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Patent number: 9057407Abstract: A disconnect assembly is provided and includes a rotatably drivable input shaft including a first clutch portion, a rotating element including a second clutch portion, which is movable between a first position, at which the first and second clutch portions drivably register with each other, and a second position, at which the first and second clutch portions are displaced from each other and a disconnect bearing. The disconnect bearing is disposed at an inner diameter of the first clutch portion and configured to radially and axially secure the input shaft relative to the rotating element with the second clutch portion disposed in the first or second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Eric A. Brust, Ted A. Martin
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Patent number: 9046136Abstract: A method and a device stretches and forms a foil blank and a product is produced by this method. The foil blank is stretched in at least one direction and slides along in at least one direction during the deformation. The sliding along may be controlled, and the clamping force and the clamping speed may be regulated.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Miba Sinter Austria GmbHInventors: Juergen Buchinger, Christian Kronberger, Martin Ohler, Horst Roessler
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Patent number: 9038798Abstract: A shaft connection structure connects a pair of rotating shafts by a fit between a pair of spline shafts, wherein the pair of rotating shafts are provided with corresponding ones of the pair of spline shafts. The shaft connection structure includes a shaft connection assist device. The shaft connection assist device includes a centering ring and centering pins. The centering ring is arranged outside of a first one of the spline shafts and coaxially with the first spline shaft. The centering pins are provided outside of a second one of the spline shafts. The centering pins engage with an outer peripheral surface of the centering ring and bring a shaft axis of the first spline shaft and a shaft axis of the second spline shaft into a range enabling the fit therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Sakai, Kazutoshi Yoshida, Norihiro Maezato
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Patent number: 9038800Abstract: The invention relates to a clutch assembly (8) for providing selective engagement with a rotatable shaft, in particular for selecting between manual and powered driving of an output drive such as a door, shutter or gate. The clutch assembly (8) comprises a stop (16) arranged to rotate with the shaft (18), a cam (20) arranged to move relative to the shaft (18), and a follower (24) arranged to rotate around the shaft (18) and axially movable along the shaft in and out of engagement with the stop (16). The follower (24) is operatively associated with the cam (20) so that movement of the follower relative to the cam brings the follower into engagement with the stop (16) by axial movement, so causing rotation of the shaft (18).Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Automatic Technology (Australia) Pty. Ltd.Inventor: Toan Dang
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Patent number: 9027728Abstract: A segment-type friction material comprises segment pieces each having a supply passage formed thereon to supply lubricating oil to a surface of each of the segment pieces. The segment-type friction material further comprises oil grooves each having an outer peripheral opening portion extended in a curved shape or a linear shape. Thereby, lubricating oil is sufficiently supplied to the surface of each of the segment pieces from an outer peripheral side thereof or an inner peripheral side thereof and a clearance between the segment-type friction material and its associated separator plate is assured. Moreover, a space for the lubricating oil to flow through an outer periphery is sufficiently assured and a drag torque is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Aisin Kako Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Yoshihito Fujimaki
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Patent number: 9022191Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control device including a pump driven to generate hydraulic pressure; a first pressure regulation valve that regulates hydraulic pressure in a first passage coupled to a pump along with discharge of oil; a second pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage and regulates the hydraulic pressure to an engagement pressure to engage a lock-up clutch according to a first signal pressure to output the engagement pressure to a second passage that supplies the oil to an engagement chamber; and a third pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage or the engagement pressure output to the second passage and regulates the received pressure according to the first signal pressure or a second signal pressure that synchronizes with the first signal pressure to output the resulting pressure to a third passage that supplies the oil to the disengagement chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoya Jinno, Tetsuya Shimizu, Kazunori Ishikawa
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Patent number: 9022194Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuation assembly for applying a mechanical diode clutch. The clutch includes an outer member, an inner member, and a strut. The actuation assembly includes a plate having an apply portion and a plurality of legs, where each of the plurality of legs has a first end coupled to the apply portion and a second end adapted to couple to a shift sleeve. A mechanism is coupled to the apply portion of the plate. The mechanism includes at least one biasing member. The plate is moveable between an unapply position and an apply position such that a movement from the unapply position to the apply position induces contact between the mechanism and the strut.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.Inventors: James Raszkowski, Robert Keith Dunlap, Jeremy Turner
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Patent number: 9016453Abstract: A connecting device (1) for the rotationally fixed connection of first and second shafts (2, 3) that can rotate relative to one another. The connecting device (1) comprises an axially movable connecting element (5) designed such that, in a first axial position (A), the connecting element (5) forms an interlock between the first and second shafts (2, 3) and, in a second axial position (B), the connecting element (5) releases the interlock. The connecting device (1) also comprises an actuating system (6, 8, 9, 10, 11) for moving the connecting element between the first and second axial positions (A, B) and a stop (16) which limits the axial movement of the connecting element (5) in the first or second axial position (A, B). An impact damper (17) is provided for the stop (16) in order to reduce annoying noise when the connecting element (5) strikes against the stop (16).Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan Albrecht, David Elsdoerfer
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Patent number: 9016452Abstract: A device for generating limit torque with a function of yielding a torque change in real time includes a spring, a rotating portion having a cam surface formed therein, a transmitting portion transmitting an elastic force of the spring to the cam surface, a fixed portion with respect to which the relative rotation of the rotating portion is generated, and a limit-torque control portion provided to the fixed portion so as to control limit torque of the rotating portion by adjusting the elastic force of the spring. In the device, the limit-torque control portion controls the limit torque of the spring by changing the elastic force of the spring in real time.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Myung Ook Hyun, Sung Chul Kang, Jun Ho Choi, Seung Beum Suh
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Patent number: 9004251Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch includes a wrap spring being wound around to be in a pressure bonding state relative to an outer peripheral surface of a tubular portion of a driving-side rotation member. A first end of the wrap spring connects to a driving arm of a driving member, which connects to a driven-side rotation member. A second end of the wrap spring connects to a rim portion of an operating member formed in a disc form. The operating member is rotatable relative to the driven-side rotation member about the rotation axis as the center and movable along the rotation axis. After a rotation of the operating member is restrained, the driving member is restrained from rotation, which operates the wrap spring to twist and cancels the pressure boding state of the wrap spring relative to the driving-side rotation member, which in turn provides a power cutoff state.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kaubushiki KaishaInventor: Atsutoshi Ikegawa