Patents Examined by Robert W Hodge
  • Patent number: 10280989
    Abstract: The selectable clutch may include a first actuator and a second actuator. Moreover, the selectable clutch may further include a first cam operatively associated with the first actuator and a second cam operatively associated with the second actuator. Furthermore, a first armature may be actuated by the first actuator and a second armature may be actuated by the second actuator such that the selectable clutch is configured to allow multiple modes of operation provided by a movement of the first and second cams according to different first and second armature positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Calahan B. Campton, Christopher A. Spangler, Brett Peglowski
  • Patent number: 10247253
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a component group with a friction device with at least two components that are rotatable relative to one another, in particular for actuating a clutch of a vehicle, wherein a coil spring influencing the degree of efficiency, the friction is disposed between the components that are rotatable relative to one another and wherein the component group with a friction device is integrated in a transmission or an actuator, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Lars Schumann, Lászlo Mán, Peter Greb
  • Patent number: 10221896
    Abstract: A disconnect assembly for translating torque to shafts of a driveline. A clutch is disposed in torque translating relationship between the shafts and is movable between an engaged configuration wherein torque is translated, and a disengaged configuration wherein torque is interrupted. An actuator includes a coil that generates a first magnetic field. A slider is movable between a first stable position and a second stable position, with an armature operatively attached to the slider. The armature has a magnetic polarity pattern defined by a plurality of north and south magnetic pole regions facing the coil. The pattern configured such that predetermined changes in the magnetic field generated by the coil urge the slider from one of the stable positions to the other of the stable positions so as to cause corresponding movement of the clutch assembly between the configurations to selectively translate rotational torque between the shafts of the driveline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Pritchard, Thaddeus Kopp
  • Patent number: 10220702
    Abstract: A power transfer unit for transferring power from a front wheel side to a rear wheel side comprises: a hollow transfer input shaft which is coupled to an engine and through which a right-side front-wheel axle is penetrated; a transfer output shaft disposed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the transfer input shaft; a transfer drive gear provided on an outer periphery of the transfer input shaft; and a transfer driven gear provided on an outer periphery of the transfer output shaft and meshed with the transfer drive gear. It further comprises a damper mechanism configured to absorb a fluctuation in torque input from an engine side into the transfer input shaft. The damper mechanism is disposed such that an intermediate portion and a left end-side portion thereof overlap the transfer driven gear in an extension direction of the transfer output shaft, in top plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzo Ohkawa, Eiji Mito, Seiji Hidaka
  • Patent number: 10207710
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing hydraulic line pressure and vacuum pressure to the braking and steering subsystems of a wheeled motor vehicle comprises one or more battery powered electric motors which drive one or more of a hydraulic pump and a vacuum pump. When the engine is stopped while the vehicle is moving, to save fuel, the electric motor(s) drive the pumps, so that hydraulic pressure and vacuum are provided, for safe operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Kurt Daims
  • Patent number: 10197152
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle may include a drive wheel assembly that includes a central shaft driven by a motor of the agricultural vehicle, and a planet gear system driven by the central shaft. The planet gear system includes a sun gear coupled to the central shaft, multiple planet gears disposed around the sun gear and driven by the sun gear, a ring gear disposed around the planet gears and driven by the planet gears, and a planet carrier directly coupled to each planet gear and configured to provide support to each planet gear. The drive wheel assembly may include multiple bearing assemblies, at least one of which is supported by the planet carrier. The multiple bearing assemblies may also be disposed on opposite sides of the planet gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Volkmer, Peter Douglas Bosma, Russell Victor Stoltman
  • Patent number: 10197111
    Abstract: An installation structure of a one-way clutch in which torque transmission is limited to one direction includes a flywheel, first and second rotary structures, housing and stopper plates, and a rivet. The first rotary structure is arranged coaxially with the flywheel while connected to an engine block. The second rotary structure is arranged coaxially with the first rotary structure while connected to the flywheel. The housing plate is disposed between the flywheel and the first and second rotary structures and arranged coaxially while connected to the second rotary structure. The stopper plate is attached to the second rotary structure to hold first rotary structure with the housing plate. The rivet fastens the stopper plate, the second rotary structure, and the housing plate. A first clearance between one face of the flywheel and a top face of a head of the rivet is narrower than a thickness of the stopper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 10190667
    Abstract: A power transmission interrupting device includes: an interrupting member that is restrained from rotating relative to the first rotating member, has engaging teeth engaging with a second rotating member, and is movable in an axial direction between a coupling position at which the engaging teeth engage with the second rotating member and an uncoupling position at which the engaging teeth do not engage with the second rotating member; and a moving mechanism that moves the interrupting member in the axial direction. The moving mechanism has an annular electromagnet, a yoke, and a moving member. The moving member has a cylindrical part facing an inner circumferential surface or an outer circumferential surface of the electromagnet, and an annular cover extending from one end of the cylindrical part in a radial direction and covering one of axial end faces of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Onitake, Yasunori Kamitani
  • Patent number: 10190644
    Abstract: Power transmission systems including clutch arrangements and systems are adapted to be used in marine and other environments. Such power transmission systems may include clutch arrangements that provide more effective power transmission capabilities as well as greater durability and longer life. Slipping clutch arrangements may effectively vary the output speed of a clutch arrangement from the speed of the engine or other driver as desired for the particular application. Various clutch arrangements also provide for greater flexibility and drive options, lighter weight, and diverse types of capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LOGAN CLUTCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: W. Andrew Logan, Scott W. Stevens, Michael S. Vining, Robert S. Tekesky, Stefan Vinca
  • Patent number: 10190660
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a planetary gear assembly, a first gear assembly, and a second gear assembly. The first gear assembly is engaged to provide a first rotational input to the planetary gear assembly when an input shaft is rotating in a first direction and is disengaged when the input shaft is rotating in a second direction. The second gear assembly provides a second rotational input to the planetary gear assembly when the input shaft is rotating in the first direction and provides a third rotational input to the planetary gear assembly when the input shaft is rotating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BISON GEAR & ENGINEERING CORP.
    Inventors: Robert Lewton, Tyler Brauhn, Aaron Hansen, Jordan Kapitanoff, James Parejko
  • Patent number: 10184530
    Abstract: An electromagnetic connection device includes an armature (4), a rotor (3), an electromagnetic coil (14), and a spring member (24) that biases the armature (4) in a direction in which the armature (4) is separated from the rotor (3). The electromagnetic connection device includes a damping member (25) mounted on the armature (4) so as to face the rotor (3). The armature (4) includes a flat portion (22) and a tubular portion (8). The damping member (25) includes a damper cover (26) including an abutment portion along the flat portion (22) and an engaging portion along the tubular portion (8), and an elastic member (27) sandwiched between the abutment portion and the flat portion (22). The damper cover (26) is put on the armature (4) from the side of the rotor (3) and movably held on the tubular portion (8). The flat portion (22) includes a concave portion (35) configured to store the abutment portion of the damper cover (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: NTN CORPORATION, OGURA CLUTCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahide Saito, Koji Sato, Naotsugu Kitayama, Yoshihiro Kurosu, Haruhiko Ushirode
  • Patent number: 10184531
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device includes torque cams provided between opposed surfaces of a flange of a control retainer and a flange of a rotary retainer and configured to convert an axial movement of the control retainer to relative rotational motion between the two retainers. All of the torque cams are circumferentially offset from all of the pillars of the control retainer and all of the pillars of the rotary retainer, and a pair of cam grooves forming each torque cam are heat-treated only at their areas that are brought into contact with a ball of the torque cam, to increase the hardness of these areas, thus improving the durability of the retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahide Saito, Koji Sato, Naotsugu Kitayama
  • Patent number: 10180166
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism includes an input shaft defining a drive axis. A disconnect shaft is selectably engaged with the input shaft to be driven about the drive axis by the input shaft. A disconnect ramp shaft is operatively connected to the disconnect shaft to axially move the disconnect shaft between a first axial position wherein the disconnect shaft is engaged to the input shaft and a second axial position wherein the disconnect shaft is disengaged from the input shaft. The disconnect ramp shaft includes a ramp defined around an outer surface thereof. A disconnect pawl is selectably engaged with the ramp of the disconnect ramp shaft to engage or disengage the disconnect shaft from the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Grosskopf, Aaron M. Finke, Duane C. Johnson, William B. Beard
  • Patent number: 10179505
    Abstract: A power transmission device PT includes a clutch input part 120, a clutch output part 130, a start clutch 110 which can connect the clutch input part 120 and the clutch output part 130 to each other, and an electric motor MG having a rotor MGa. The clutch input part 120, the clutch output part 130, and the start clutch 110 are arranged in the rotor MGa. The power transmission device PT includes a switching mechanism 140 which is switchable between an output side correction state in which the rotor MGa and the clutch output part 130 are connected to each other and an input side connection state in which the rotor MGa and the clutch input part 120 are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masao Izumi
  • Patent number: 10161485
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting changed torque; a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements; a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements; a first shaft connecting the first rotation element and the fourth rotation element; a second shaft connected with the second rotation element and connected with the input shaft; a third shaft connecting the third rotation element and the fifth rotation element; a fourth shaft connecting the sixth rotation element and the ninth rotation element; a fifth shaft connecting the eighth rotation element and the twelfth rotation element; and a sixth shaft connected with the tenth rotation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jinseok Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Dong Hwan Hwang, Seong Wook Hwang, Woo Jin Chang, Tae Whan Kim, Seongwook Ji, Chon Ok Kim, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Jong Sool Park, Kyeong Hun Lee, Jong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10161502
    Abstract: An axle assembly having a dam module. The dam module may include a dam, an upper brace, and a lower brace. The dam may be at least partially disposed in an arm portion of a housing of the axle assembly. The upper brace and the lower brace may be disposed proximate the dam. The upper brace may transport lubricant to the dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Kwasniewski, Andrew Bodary
  • Patent number: 10151382
    Abstract: An improved planetary gear carrier assembly is disclosed including a carrier and a ring. The carrier has a hub extending in an axial direction. The hub has splines on a radially-outward facing surface that extend in an axial direction and further has a first set of groove sections on the radially-outward facing surface in which the first set of groove sections extends circumferentially around the hub and through the splines. The ring is received around the hub of the carrier and has splines on a radially-inward facing surface. The splines in the ring are received in the first set of groove sections by axially nesting the splines of the carrier and ring into one another and then angularly rotating the ring relative to the carrier. With the splines of the ring twisted in the groove sections of the carrier, the ring can be axially restricted relative to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Lemke
  • Patent number: 10151376
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes an impeller including a plurality of impeller blades and a radially extending wall radially outside of the impeller blades and a turbine piston axially movable with respect to the impeller. The turbine piston includes a plurality of turbine blades and an outer radial extension radially outside of the turbine blades. The torque converter also includes a clutch assembly axially between the radially extending wall of the impeller and the outer radial extension of the turbine piston. The clutch assembly includes a first clutch plate rotationally fixed to the impeller and a second clutch plate rotationally fixed to the turbine piston. A portion of the clutch assembly extends between the turbine blades or the impeller blades. A method of constructing a torque converter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Adam Saleh, Justin Clark, Drew Hilty, Jeremy Vanni, Matthew Payne, Larry Chad Boigegrain
  • Patent number: 10151357
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device is configured such that when an electromagnet of an electromagnetic clutch is energized, an armature is attracted toward a rotor, so that a control retainer defining a two-way clutch is moved in an axial direction, whereby the control retainer and a rotary retainer are rotated relative to each other in a direction in which circumferential widths of pockets decrease, thereby disengaging pairs of rollers from an inner periphery of an outer ring and an outer periphery of an inner ring. The rotation transmission device includes a shock absorbing member on a surface of the armature facing the rotor, the shock absorbing member being configured to absorb impact force when the armature is attracted to the rotor by being elastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naotsugu Kitayama, Marina Fukunari, Kyohei Sasanuma, Koji Akiyoshi, Masahiro Kawai, Takahide Saito, Koji Sato
  • Patent number: 10144248
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a torque transmitting bicycle freewheel coasting mechanism comprising a drive body, a driven body and rolling bearing elements supporting and spacing these bodies during coasting. The rolling element bearings are elastically deformable and, during the application of a sufficiently large driving force to the drive body, they deform to allow relative movement between the bodies to bring one body into contact with the other body. This movement is small and the load is carried directly from one body to the other body without damage to the rolling element bearings. The bodies are only highly loaded by drive loads during torque transmission. During coasting, the flexible balls or rollers spring back and support the bodies in a spaced relationship in a normal bearing fashion. The flexible rolling bearing elements are not hard so bearing raceways can be formed directly into the bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: William Shook