Patents Examined by Robert W Hodge
  • Patent number: 10138952
    Abstract: A coupling for an AWD vehicle comprises a disc package with alternate discs (6,7; 56, 57; 76, 77), which are connected for rotation with, but are axially movable in relation to an ingoing (1; 52, 71) and an outgoing axle (2; 51; 72), respectively, of the coupling, and a hydraulic piston (9; 59; 79) for pressing the disc package together under the action of hydraulic pressure, hereby establishing a connect mode, in which the ingoing axle is connected to the outgoing axle. A coupling slack adjuster (13-15; 64, 65; 83-85) is provided for mechanically establishing a rest position for the hydraulic piston (9; 59; 79) in a disconnect mode, in which a predetermined slack in the disc package is established, irrespective of the wear of the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Sweden AB
    Inventor: Johan Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10132405
    Abstract: A processor is to determine, based on a first revolution speed of a drive source and a second revolution speed of an input shaft, whether or not a load toward a second direction is applied to a mechanical engagement mechanism having regulation states out of a first state in which at least one of plurality of rotating elements is rotatable only in a first direction opposite to the second direction and a second state in which the at least one of the plurality of rotating elements is not rotatable in both of the first direction and the second direction. The processor is to control the first revolution speed when the load toward the second direction is applied to the mechanical engagement mechanism to reduce the load toward the second direction, and to switch the regulation states from the second state to the first state after the first revolution speed is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishikawa, Yuya Tachibanada
  • Patent number: 10132366
    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: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LOGAN CLUTCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: W. Andrew Logan, Scott W. Stevens, Michael S. Vining, Robert S. Tekesky, Stefan Vinca
  • Patent number: 10119578
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline having a torque transfer device and a fluid circuit for operating the torque transfer device. The fluid circuit has a motor, a pump driven by the motor, an actuator, and a pair of valves. The valves are arranged in the fluid circuit to control fluid circulation within the fluid circuit and can be operated such that fluid pressure in the actuator can be maintained (i.e., to maintain engagement of the torque transfer device) without operating the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Pump, Charles G. Stuart, John C. Hibbler, Chad Umscheid
  • Patent number: 10118180
    Abstract: A releasable pneumatically operated coupling for an industrial drive such as for a grinding mill. A variable speed motor has its output shaft provided with a flange rotating therewith on which are mounted a plurality of radially moveable arcuate elements having friction pads on their radially inner surfaces. An inflatable ring surrounds the arcuate elements and, upon inflation, urges the pads into driving contact with an annular friction surface on a coupling output shaft. The arcuate elements have U-shaped undercuts in the axial torque bar passages therethrough for stress relief. Separate speed sensors on the motor shaft and coupling output shaft provide signals to a comparator which, upon sensing a predetermined speed difference, provide a signal to an electrically operated valve which exhausts air pressure from the inflatable ring to release the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Ahmed Shaaban Khodari, Donald Alan Keck
  • Patent number: 10094433
    Abstract: A rocker one-way clutch including an outer race including a pocket and a strut including a main body rotatable within the pocket and a locking member including a first neck portion extending from the main body and a cutout operatively arranged within the first neck portion to prevent displacement of a spring member. A rocker one-way clutch including an inner race, an outer race arranged radially outward of the inner race concentrically, the outer race including a pocket, a strut including a main body rotatable within the pocket and a locking member, the locking member including a first neck portion extending from the main body, a cutout operatively arranged within the first neck portion to prevent displacement of a spring member and a protrusion operatively arranged within the first neck portion opposite of the cutout to ensure proper assembly of the strut within said inner and outer races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Aditya Dattawadkar
  • Patent number: 10088044
    Abstract: A parking brake actuator includes a motor, a power transfer assembly or gearing connected to an output shaft of the motor, a planetary gear set including a linear gear connected to the power transfer assembly, a planetary gear engaged with the linear gear, and a ring gear engaged with the planetary gear and including an insertion protrusion formed on a bottom, and a housing including a motor seating recess in which the motor is accommodated and a ring gear seating in which the ring gear is accommodated, in which the ring gear accommodating portion includes an insertion groove formed on a bottom surface into which the insertion protrusion is forcibly inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byeong Jong Yu
  • Patent number: 10065489
    Abstract: An electric drive axle comprises: a housing; a drive motor having an output shaft for outputting torque; a main reducer configured to perform two-stage reduction to amplify the torque outputted from the output shaft; a differential including a differential housing, a planetary gear shaft, a left and right drive shafts rotating about an axis of rotation; a torque vectoring motor; a double row planetary gear reduction mechanism configured to amplify power outputted from the torque vectoring motor; a double row planetary gear torque vectoring mechanism connected to the double row planetary gear reduction mechanism and configure to receive torque outputted from the double row planetary gear reduction mechanism and output reverse torque in contrast to the torque received; and a single row double planetary gear coupling mechanism providing opposite direction torques to the left and right drive shafts respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: JILIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Junnian Wang, Nana Sun, Xiusen Li
  • Patent number: 10054173
    Abstract: A brake or clutch assembly includes a piston that moves within a housing in response to fluid pressure and is engaged with a clutch pack. A ring-shaped return spring includes a plurality of coil springs extending axially from a face of the return spring. An outer periphery of the return spring is disposed in an annular groove in the housing which axially fixes the return spring in the housing. The springs are engaged with and bias the piston away from the clutch pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke A. Rippelmeyer
  • Patent number: 10054209
    Abstract: The invention relates to a torque transmitting device comprising a torque input element (17a, 17b) and a torque output element (8) able to pivot about a shaft (X) with respect to one another, at least one elastic leaf (22), rotationally coupled to the torque output element (8) or to the torque input element (17a, 17b) respectively, the elastic leaf (22) being able to be elastically and radially supported by a supporting member (18) carried by the torque input element (17a, 17b) or the torque output element (8) respectively, the elastic leaf (22) being able to bend upon rotation of the torque input element (17a, 17b) with respect to the torque output element (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Gyubong Jeon
  • Patent number: 10036430
    Abstract: A clutch device comprising a counterplate, a pressure plate displaceable to a limited extent in an axial direction to frictionally clamp a clutch disc between the pressure plate and the counterplate, a lever element acting on the pressure plate to displace the pressure plate in an axial direction, a central flange at least partially disposed between the pressure plate and the lever element and having at least one opening for the pressure plate and/or the lever element to pass through, and a wear compensation device for automatically adapting to clutch wear, wherein to prevent any undesired wear compensation, the lever element is engageable with the central flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florian Nachtmann, Felix Vogel, Willi Ruder
  • Patent number: 9987952
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat pumping device for a vehicle. The present invention provides a seat pumping device for a vehicle, the seat pumping device including: a clutch device which is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by receiving external manipulation force, and has one or more manipulation flanges that are disposed at a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction and protrude in an axial direction; and a brake device which has one or more manipulation grooves in which the manipulation flanges are accommodated to come into contact with the manipulation grooves clockwise or counterclockwise so that the brake device is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by receiving the external manipulation force from the clutch device, and performs a brake function such that the brake device is not rotated clockwise and counterclockwise by external force that is not through the clutch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Dymos Incorporated
    Inventor: Soo Young Chae
  • Patent number: 9982765
    Abstract: An object is to provide a fluid coupling capable of effectively utilizing an internal space of a cover member and of sufficiently exerting a performance of a device damping torsional vibration. In a fluid coupling including a cover member accommodating a fluid, a pump impeller, a turbine runner, a lockup clutch operated by a fluid pressure and selectively connecting the cover member and an output shaft, a damper mechanism having an elastic member, and a pendulum damper having a rotary member rotating integrally with the output shaft and an inertial mass capable of relative rotation with respect to the output shaft, the turbine runner, the damper mechanism, the lockup clutch, and the pendulum damper are arranged in this order in an axial direction of the output shaft inside the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Amano, Yu Miyahara, Shingo Aijima, Hirotsugu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9982771
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear system is provided. The gear system may comprise an annular gear centered about an axis, a star gear radially inward from the annular gear, a journal pin inside the star gear and comprising an internal bore with a recessed wall, and a sun gear radially inward from the star gear. A journal pin is also provided. The journal pin may include an internal bore formed along an axis of rotation of the journal pin, and a recessed wall of the internal bore with a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 9982723
    Abstract: A transmission having a rotating clutch pack assembly is provided, The rotating clutch pack having an interconnecting member, a plurality of friction discs, a rotating member, a first and a second axial bearing, and a biasing member. The interconnecting member is connected for common rotation with a member of the planetary gear set. The rotating member is connected to the second set of friction discs for common rotation. The first axial bearing is disposed between the clutch piston and the plurality of friction discs and the second axial bearing is disposed between the plurality of friction discs and the transmission housing. The biasing member is disposed between the interconnecting member and the rotating member. A clutch piston selectively applies an axial force through the first axial bearing, the plurality of friction discs, and the second axial bearing to the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Boris Burgman, John A. Diemer
  • Patent number: 9976615
    Abstract: A force transmitting assembly includes a mounting flange having a central opening to receive a shaft, wherein the mounting flange is mountable on a frame, a rotor disc mountable on the shaft and rotatable with the shaft, the rotor disc having a first planar face and a second planar face, a float plate having a first friction surface engageable with the first planar face, and a pressure plate having a second friction surface engageable with the second planar face. The brake assembly also includes a spring housing, which operates as a piston, and a cylinder coupled to the spring housing to form a fluid pressure chamber, wherein the spring housing moves in a first direction when pressurized fluid enters the fluid pressure chamber and the spring housing moves in a second direction when pressurized fluid exits the fluid pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Yogesh Bhanudas Patil, Daniel Eino Wepplo
  • Patent number: 9976616
    Abstract: A pawl return spring includes a surface contacting portion adapted to contact a transmission housing. The surface contacting portion includes a first connection region and a second connection region opposite the first connection region. The pawl return spring includes an active coil region connected to the first connection region and disposed about a central longitudinal axis to provide torsional effort to the system. The pawl return spring also includes an inactive coil region connected to the second connection region and disposed about the central longitudinal axis that does not provide torsional effort to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Curtis Spaulding, Susan Wyatt, Mihir M. Pai
  • Patent number: 9970420
    Abstract: A dual horsehead block and tackle beam pumping unit including a steel frame, a walking beam installed on top of the steel frame, horseheads with movable pulleys, pulling wire ropes, load wire ropes, damping extension springs, a reversing reducer, an output drum, a counterweight box, reversing brake mechanisms, and an electric motor is provided for single well and dual well operations. The horseheads are installed on opposing ends of the walking beam. The movable pulley of each horsehead has a pulling wire rope. The first and second ends of each pulling wire rope are connected to the damping extension spring and the output drum respectively. A lower end of the load wire rope hanging on the right hand side horsehead is connected to the counterweight box. On the bottom of the steel frame, the electric motor, the reversing reducer, and the output drum are installed on a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Yi Wang, Jin Wang, Zijiang Yang
  • Patent number: 9964160
    Abstract: A transfer case includes an input shaft, a primary output shaft, a secondary output shaft, and an actuator. The primary output shaft is coupled to the input shaft with a gear reduction mechanism. The secondary output shaft is selectively coupleable to the primary output shaft with a secondary torque transfer mechanism. The actuator includes a first actuation mechanism, a second actuation mechanism, and a driver gear assembly. The first actuation mechanism is configured to operate the gear reduction mechanism. The second actuation mechanism is configured to operate the secondary torque transfer mechanism. The drive gear assembly includes a gear plate member, a sense plate member configured to engage the first actuation mechanism, and a hub member configured to engage the second actuation. The sense plate member and the hub member are independently coupled to the gear plate member to rotate in unison with the gear plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Palazzolo, Christopher Anthony Chirco, Travis J. Wentz, Paul Matthew Riggs
  • Patent number: 9951828
    Abstract: A torque coupling comprising a drive body, an output side body which is coaxially arranged, a pressure disk which is coaxially arranged, movable in rotation coaxial direction, and having a first torque transmission surface on its face side, and a torque transmission device. The torque transmission device (5) comprises rigid pressure transfer elements (6) loadable by compressive forces only upon a gripping of the non driven by the driven torque transmission surface which points in drive direction (A), thereby moving in rotation coaxial direction contrary to the pressure disk (3), and pressing the same in direction of the second torque transmission surface (4B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ulrich Fahl
    Inventor: Ulrich Fahl