Patents Examined by Richard Lorence
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Patent number: 9175760Abstract: A starting element for transmitting torque from a drive-side rotational input (14) of the starting element to a driven hub (8) includes a hydrodynamic torque converter (4) which has a turbine coupled to the driven hub (8) so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and which comprises a turbine shell (56) with turbine blades (22) arranged therein. A maximum extension of the turbine shell (56) opposite an axial direction (12) terminates at a first axial position (53), and an impeller (20) located opposite the turbine in the axial direction (12). A stator (24) is arranged between the turbine and the impeller (22) and is coupled via a stator flange (58) to a freewheel (52) adjoining the driven hub (8) in an axial direction (12). A center of the freewheel (52) is located at a second axial position (54). A difference between the first axial position (53) and the second axial position (54) is greater than a predetermined minimum value.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Georg Mencher, Peter Frey, Jörg Sudau
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Patent number: 9174613Abstract: A vehicle speed operating device for a work vehicle has a shift pedal that is disposed on a first lateral surface side of a body frame and is linked to an operating shaft of a continuously variable transmission via a first mechanical linkage mechanism, and a brake pedal, a speed maintenance mechanism and a second mechanical linkage mechanism are arranged on a second lateral surface side of the body frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventor: Koji Masumoto
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Patent number: 9174715Abstract: An apparatus is for a changing gear in a marine propulsion system. A cam rotates about a first axis with a shift shaft. The cam has a body and an arm that radially extends from the body with respect to the first axis. A cam follower moves parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis to cause movement of a clutch, thereby enacting a gear change. The cam follower defines a pocket that is elongated with respect to the second axis and a recess that extends from the pocket along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes. The cam is disposed in the pocket and the arm extends into the recess. During a constant rotation of the shift shaft in a first direction about the first axis, the cam follower moves with respect to the second axis to enact the gear change and also dwells with respect to the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Theodore J. Hanes, David T. Syson
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Patent number: 9163686Abstract: A brake-side clutch section on an output side transmits rotational torque input from a lever-side clutch section on an input side, for controlling transmission and interruption of the rotational torque to the output side through lever operation, to the output side, and interrupts rotational torque reversely input from the output side.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Kawai, Kouji Isoda, Naotsugu Kitayama
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Patent number: 9163677Abstract: The lock-up device includes a piston, a drive plate, a plurality of radial outer side torsion springs, a float member, a driven plate, a plurality of radial inner side torsion springs and an intermediate member. The float member is rotatable relative to the drive plate and causes the radial outer side torsion springs to act in series. The intermediate member is rotatable relative to the drive plate and the driven plate, and transmits torque from the radial outer side torsion springs to the radial inner side torsion springs.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: EXEDY CorporationInventor: Yuki Kawahara
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Patent number: 9157577Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the locking of the opening of a door preferably located between the stationary part and the rotary part of a wind power plant. According to the invention, means are provided for immobilizing or stopping the rotary part, and the door between the rotary part and the stationary part of the wind power plant comprises a lock that allows unlocking and then if required opening the door when the immobilizing or stopping means have immobilized or stopped the rotary part of the wind power plant.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Peter Geiken
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Patent number: 9157526Abstract: A torque converter includes an input connected to an engine. An output is connected with a transmission. A lockup clutch is connected with the output and is disposed to engage the input to couple the input with the output via an apply pressure corresponding to a target lockup strategy based on at least one vehicle operating condition. A pressure regulator is configured to modulate the apply pressure. Systems and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: TCI AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.Inventors: Jonathan Lunati, Justin Morse, Cody Mayer, Bradley Brown, Brian Reese
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Patent number: 9157495Abstract: An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine and selectively to an engine through a disconnect clutch, a coupler located between the rotor hub and torque converter, providing a rotational connection and an axial connection between the coupler and the rotor hub, and a flex plate providing second rotational and axial connections between the coupler and the torque converter.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
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Patent number: 9156442Abstract: A parking mechanism for a vehicle includes an automatic transmission, a parking gear, a parking pawl, and a parking-pawl turn member. The parking gear is fixed to a part formed by any of an output shaft of the automatic transmission and an intermediate member connected to the output shaft. The parking pawl is turnably attached to a turn shaft that is supported by a plate fastened to a transmission case by a first bolt and a second bolt. The parking-pawl turn member turns the parking pawl into engagement with the parking gear. An extending part formed by extending a support member that turnably supports the part of the automatic transmission is substituted for the plate. The extending part is fastened to the transmission case by the first bolt.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toyokazu Tsubono, Hiroyuki Kita
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Patent number: 9145113Abstract: A parking pawl actuation assembly for a transmission includes a shaft, a hub member rotatably supported by the shaft, a cam plate and lever plate rotatably supported by the hub member, a first resilient member disposed between the cam plate and the lever plate, and wherein the resilient member applies a rotational force on the cam plate in a first rotational direction when the lever plate is rotated in the first rotational direction, an actuator configured to selectively rotate the lever plate to one of a plurality of positions, and a parking pawl member configured to engage the cam plate and the parking gear of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher J. Landino, Stephen W. Powell
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Patent number: 9140313Abstract: A compact-size electromagnetic clutch reaches a blocking state as an electromagnetic solenoid is switched from a non-driving state to a driving state and can save wasteful consumption of energy under this blocking state. This electromagnetic clutch includes a wrap spring in pressure-contact with an outer face of a cylindrical portion of a drive pulley provided on the center side thereof. One end of the wrap spring is coupled to a drive arm of a drive member operably connected to a shaft. The other end of the wrap spring is coupled to an operational member rotatable relative to the shaft and movable along the rotational axis thereof. An electromagnetic solenoid attracts the operational member. An operational mechanism permits realization of the blocking state by preventing rotation of the drive member after a twisting operation of the wrap spring subsequent to the attraction of the operational member by this electromagnetic solenoid.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Atsutoshi Ikegawa
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Patent number: 9140314Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch is configured to achieve a cutoff state by changing a winding diameter of a wrap spring. The electromagnetic clutch includes a driving element connected to a shaft and supporting one end of the wrap spring, an operating element fitted on the shaft and supporting the other end of the wrap spring, and an armature rotatable in unison with the shaft between the driving element and operating element and movable along a rotational axis. A main aperture is formed in the operating element while an auxiliary aperture is formed in the armature to achieve a positional relationship to electrify an electromagnetic solenoid to attract the operating element and then allow rotation of the driving element by dynamic inertia and attract the armature to the operating element with the wrap spring being remote from an inner surface of an input pulley.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Atsutoshi Ikegawa
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Patent number: 9133896Abstract: In a roller type one-way clutch comprising: an outer race; an inner race that is apart from the outer race on an inner diameter side in a radial direction and concentrically arranged to allow its relative rotation; a plurality of rollers that are arranged between the outer race and the inner race and transmit a torque between the outer race and the inner race; and a plurality of block bearings that are arranged between the rollers and between the outer race and the inner race, the roller type one-way clutch is characterized in that a curvature in a circumferential direction of a bearing surface of the block bearing facing an outer peripheral surface of the inner race is higher than a curvature in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the inner race.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: NSK Warner K.K.Inventors: Norihiro Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ohishi
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Patent number: 9127730Abstract: A clutch module which includes a first rotating member including at least one strut actuation module and a second engaged member including cam surfaces thereon for engagement by said strut actuation module. The strut actuation module includes a frame with a strut pivotally movable with respect to the frame. The strut includes an engagement end and a base end including a first side and a second side thereof. A pin or post portion extends from the frame and has an insulated bobbin with an energizable coil surrounding the bobbin. A U-shaped member including a pair of actuation legs is attached to the pin member and forms a magnetic gap between the base end of the strut and peripheral ends of the legs, such that when the coil is energized the peripheral ends of the legs are polarized in a first polarity and the frame and the strut are polarized with an opposite polarity thereby biasing the strut toward the peripheral ends and pivoting the actuation end into engagement with a cam surface of the engagement member.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Greene, Adrian Cioc
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Patent number: 9121484Abstract: A torque converter includes an impeller, a turbine and a stator. The torque converter may also include an impeller clutch configured to releasably couple the impeller to a power source, the impeller clutch having a disc stack with a plurality of splined friction discs and a plurality of separator plates. The friction discs may be rotationally engaged with the impeller. Each of the separator plates has an ear extending radially outward from an outer diameter and an opening formed in the ear, the openings in the ears of the stator plates being circumferentially aligned to define a channel. A pin is received in the channel and in a recess defined by the rotating housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jeremy A. Gibbs, Aurelian I. Furcoiu
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Patent number: 9121461Abstract: A clutch device for a clutch system has an input member that rotates at a first speed. A friction medium is disposed between the input member and an output member. The output member rotates on a bearing coupled to a piston. The piston translates relative to the input member, between an engaged position in which the friction ring frictionally engages with the input member, thereby driving the output member to rotate at the first speed, and a disengaged position in which the friction ring is spaced apart from the input member. A biasing member urges the piston toward the engaged position. A pressurized fluid in a fluid receiving chamber selectively urges the piston toward the disengaged position. A resistance member disposed in a chamber containing a viscous fluid transfers torque from the input member to rotate the output member at a second speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: KIT MASTERSInventors: Dale Scherman, Daniel Huwe
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Patent number: 9103385Abstract: To be able to promote discharge of lubricating oil in a disengaged state while maintaining a large lining area to such an extent that it does not affect torque transmission capacity, heat resistance, and peeling resistance thereby to obtain an excellent effect to reduce a drag torque in a wide range of relative rotation speeds. In a segment friction material 1A as a wet friction material, drag torque reducing grooves 5A are provided only on top surfaces of part of segment pieces 3A among thirty pieces of segment pieces 3, 3A. A series of drag torque reducing grooves 5A extend over five segment pieces 3A along a direction almost at right angles to a straight line connecting a center point 5Aa thereof and a center O of a circumference. The series of drag torque reducing grooves 5A are provided at three places on the circumference. Thereby, discharge of ATF is promoted without reducing a lining area and an oil film is formed on the top surface of the segment piece 3A.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: AISIN KAKO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuko Higashijima, Masato Okada, Masato Suzuki
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Patent number: 9097335Abstract: An isolating decoupler comprising a hub for connection to a driving shaft, a pulley journalled to the hub, the pulley having a belt engaging surface, a spring engaged between the hub and a spring carrier, the spring radially expandable in a loading direction, a one-way clutch spring disposed radially inward of the spring engaged with the spring carrier and frictionally engagable with the pulley in a loading direction that is opposite the loading direction of the spring, the one-way clutch spring engagable with the hub whereby the frictional engagement of the one-way clutch spring with the pulley can be progressively released in an unloading direction, and an inertial member engaged with the hub through a damping member.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Gates CorporationInventor: Alexander Serkh
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Patent number: 9097289Abstract: An improved friction plate is disclosed. The friction plate incorporates friction pads having substantially V Shaped Grooves having an angle offset to the axis of rotation to improve oil flow characteristics to the center of the friction plate to reduce parasitic drag when the clutch system is in a disengaged state. The improved friction pad design optionally incorporates a V shaped groove extending to the tab portion of the friction plate to improve the capture of oil as the friction plate rotates through an oil bath.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: REKLUSE MOTOR SPORTSInventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen
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Patent number: 9097330Abstract: It is provided a vehicle power transmission device having a hydraulic power transmission device and a power transmission mechanism, the hydraulic power transmission device including an input-side rotating member that houses an output-side rotating member disposed with turbine blades and fluid flowing from pump blades to turbine blades, the vehicle power transmission device having an engine intermittent clutch and a lockup clutch disposed closer to an engine relative to the turbine blades in the input-side rotating member, one of the engine intermittent clutch and the lockup clutch being a single plate clutch, the vehicle power transmission device further comprising an electric motor, and the hydraulic power transmission device including a first damper inserted in a power transmission path between the crankshaft of the engine and the electric motor, and a second damper inserted in a power transmission path between the first damper and the output-side rotating member.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato