Patents Examined by Stacey A Fluhart
  • Patent number: 12292088
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transmission clutch. In one example, the clutch has a pressure control system that includes a piston housing enclosing a piston cavity and a piston, as well as a diffusor positioned in the piston cavity. The diffusor may have tangential channels for directing flow of a fluid into the piston cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: DANA BELGIUM N.V.
    Inventors: Joachim Van Dingenen, Jessica Versini, Jan A. Bedert, Filip D. Schacht, Hein Nevejant
  • Patent number: 12287011
    Abstract: A friction washer for a limited slip differential is provided, with the friction washer including a disk body having first and second opposing surfaces. The first and second opposing surfaces define respective first and second contact planes and include recesses that extend into the disk body from the respective first and second contact planes such that only a portion of the disk body extends to the respective first and second contact plane. The recesses are defined by partial spherical or partial cylindrical surfaces. This provides improved properties for holding lubricating fluid circulated within the differential so that the hydrodynamic pressure created between the friction surfaces provides a more consistent film or boundary layer of the lubricating fluid for a more uniform coefficient of friction over various operating speeds and pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kenneth Hunt, Matthew Fowler
  • Patent number: 12281696
    Abstract: A gear system is provided for a wheel of a tractor. The gear system includes a plurality of planet gears and a plurality of rollers. The planet gears are operable to rotate to provide tractive force to the wheel. The rollers are operable to abut against an inner ring of the wheel to reduce a contact force from the wheel contacting a channel on the plurality of planet gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Whye Kwong Wai, Shiao Loong Tang
  • Patent number: 12275522
    Abstract: A powered clutch actuator assembly for integration with a clutch assembly is provided. The actuator and clutch assemblies, sized to fit within constraints of an aircraft landing gear wheel-mounted taxi drive system, are engineered to occupy a default neutral disengaged position that prevents torque transfer when torque to move the aircraft should not be transferred to the taxi drive system. Multiple solenoids and diodes power rotational motion of the actuator assembly to move a bi-directional clutch component in a desired rotational direction during torque transfer. A locking solenoid automatically locks and maintains the actuator assembly in a neutral disengaged condition when none of the solenoids are powered and disengages the actuator assembly when one solenoid is powered to cause rotation of the actuator assembly. Solenoid supports structured to operate as integral heat sinks may direct heat to an on-aircraft heat sink, prolonging the working life of the actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: WheelTug, plc
    Inventors: Robert W. Anderson, Shawn Green, Yonatan Rontenberg, Shaun Salisbury
  • Patent number: 12270441
    Abstract: A pedaled drivetrain includes a drive mechanism, a wheel, a freewheel hub, and a locking mechanism. The wheel has a rotational axis. The freewheel hub connects the drive mechanism to the wheel, and the freewheel hub transmits torque from the drive mechanism to the wheel in a first rotational direction around the rotational axis. The locking mechanism has a locked state and an unlocked state. The locked state rotationally fixes a component of the drive mechanism to the wheel relative to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: iFIT Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 12270445
    Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle includes a clutch. The clutch includes a rotational axis, a clutch housing, arranged to be rotationally fixed relative to the vehicle and sealed to an axle shaft end, a clutch carrier arranged to be rotationally fixed to a first drive portion of the axle shaft end, a clutch pack and a piston for compressing the clutch pack to brake the axle shaft end. The clutch pack includes a first plurality of clutch plates, rotationally fixed to the clutch housing, and a second plurality of clutch plates intermixed with the first plurality of clutch plates and rotationally fixed to the clutch carrier. The clutch may also include a plurality of springs disposed between individual clutch plates of the first plurality of clutch plates, or individual clutch plates of the second plurality of clutch plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Austin Hoff, Edward Goodwill
  • Patent number: 12264725
    Abstract: A device for transmitting torque and axially securing a first torque-transmitting component (1) and a second torque-transmitting component (2) is provided. The first component (1) includes axially projecting first projections (3) distributed over the circumference and have first gaps (4) arranged therebetween. The second component (2) includes radially projecting second projections (5) having second gaps (6) arranged therebetween. Each second projection (5) on the second component (2) protrudes into a respective first gap (4) in the first component (1). At least two of the second projections (5) include a section (8) that projects axially in the direction of the first component (1) and is configured in each case such that, when the device is installed, the section rests axially via an end face (9) against the first component (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hagen Doepfert, Matthias Reisch
  • Patent number: 12259010
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a roller door operator, the clutch assembly providing selective engagement with a drive wheel, the clutch assembly comprising: a rotatable shaft rotatable relative to the drive wheel; a clutch disc supported in a clutch lever and arranged to rotate with the rotatable shaft, the clutch disc and clutch lever configured to rotate relative to one another around the axis of rotation of the shaft; and a clutch cam supported in a clutch base, the clutch base configured to permit operative rotation of the clutch cam around the axis of rotation of the shaft in a first direction; wherein the clutch lever is operatively associated with the clutch cam so that rotational movement of the clutch lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction actuates movement of the clutch disc and the clutch lever axially along the rotatable shaft to engage or disengage the clutch disc with the drive wheel, and subsequent rotational movement of the clutch lever in the first direction actuates rotational m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Automatic Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Toan Dang, George Matthews
  • Patent number: 12259011
    Abstract: An electric driving apparatus includes: a housing; an electric machine; a speed shifting unit; and a double clutch unit. The double clutch unit includes: a clutch housing; a first clutch hub and a second clutch hub; a first clutch plate package; and a second clutch plate package. The speed shifting unit comprises a first output gear and a second output gear that can be independently rotationally driven by the motor shaft, and the clutch housing comprises a first gear and a second gear configured to be engaged with the first and second output gears to implement rotational driving force at different rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: ERAE AMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Geun Kim, Jung Rak Son, Myung Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 12257904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid drive module, which may ensure pressing pressure for a lock-up clutch while reducing, through a simple structure, operating pressure of a piston for pressing a lock-up clutch disposed in a space to which fluid pressure of a torque converter is applied, the hybrid drive module having a small number of components and being capable of being easily assembled. The present invention is accomplished by providing a compensation chamber of the piston and filling the compensation chamber with a low-pressure fluid. In addition, the low-pressure fluid may be used as a fluid for lubricating and cooling an engine clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: VALEO KAPEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jung-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 12259031
    Abstract: A harmonic drive, having: a housing; an output shaft within the housing; an input shaft within the housing, the input shaft is configured for being in a first position in which rotation of the input shaft rotates the output shaft, and a second position that is axially offset from the first position, in which rotation of the input shaft does not rotate the output shaft; a solenoid coil within the housing that, when energized, moves the input shaft to the second position; and a spring within the housing that, when the solenoid coil is not energized, moves the input shaft to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick S. Balsiger, Keith A. Bloxham
  • Patent number: 12258000
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid power system including a computing core, a power converter, a driving motor, an engine generator, a charging stand, and a battery pack. The power converter is coupled to the computing core. The driving motor is coupled to the power converter. The engine generator is coupled to the power converter. The charging stand is coupled to the power converter. The battery pack is coupled to the power converter. When inputting a required torque to the computing core and switching to a charging mode, an electric energy source is coupled to the charging stand and provides power to the battery pack through the power converter. The computing core executes an optimal power allocation algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: APh ePower Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Hsien Su, Chien-Hsun Wu, Shang-Zeng Huang
  • Patent number: 12252233
    Abstract: A system includes an electrically-actuated clutch arranged to selectively connect a shaft to a motor shaft. Ratchets brake the shaft against rotation in either direction when the output is not within either of the predetermined ranges. Thus, when the motor shaft is connected, via the clutch, to the shaft, the ratchets may act as a brake on the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS SAS
    Inventors: Karl Potier, Raphael Medina
  • Patent number: 12253166
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10), encompassing a drive motor (42) and a working apparatus (22) drivable by the drive motor (42) so as to move rotationally, the drive motor (42) being connected to the working apparatus (22), for transfer of a torque, with interposition of a shiftable transmission (50; 150) comprising at least two gearing stages having different torque transfer ratios, is characterized in that by means of a first gearing stage of the shiftable transmission (50), an input shaft (48), coupled on the input side to the drive motor (42), of the shiftable transmission (50) is connectable in torque-transferring fashion directly to an output shaft (52), coupled on the output side to the working apparatus (22), of the shiftable transmission (50) so as to rotate together at the same rotation speed; and by means of a second gearing stage of the shiftable transmission (50), the input shaft (48) is connectable in torque-transferring fashion, with interposition of a transmission assemblage (64), to the outpu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Cyrus Barimani, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 12253126
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a clutch assembly in an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. In one example, a clutch assembly in a gear train is provided that includes a locking clutch. The locking clutch includes a gear including a plurality of teeth having at least one tooth with a tapered end, an indexing shaft rotationally connected to an output shaft, a shift collar mounted on the indexing shaft, configured to translate on the indexing shaft into an engaged and disengaged configuration, and including a plurality of teeth on a face, where at least one tooth in the plurality of teeth in the shift collar includes a tapered end, and an indexing mechanism coupled to the shift collar and the indexing shaft and configured to accommodate for indexing between the indexing shaft and the shift collar during shift collar engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Eric M. Engerman
  • Patent number: 12247630
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch includes friction plates to transmit motive power, a piston movable between (i) a pressing position, at which the piston presses the friction plates for the hydraulic clutch to be engaged to transmit motive power, and (ii) a separated position, at which the piston is spaced apart from the friction plates for the hydraulic clutch to be disengaged to block motive power, the piston being movable into the pressing position in response to receiving hydraulic fluid to move the piston toward the pressing position, and a holder to (i) hold the piston at an intermediate position between the pressing position and the separated position in response to the piston coming into contact with the holder and (ii) release the piston from the intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Jinnai, Tomonari Tsuchida, Ryoma Iwase, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Yoshiki Fujiyama, Koki Date
  • Patent number: 12241530
    Abstract: Provided is a power transmitting device including an input side gear assembly that includes a single power input terminal and two power output terminals, an output side gear assembly that includes two power input terminals and a single power output terminal, the two power input terminals configured to operate using power received from the two power output terminals of the input side gear assembly, respectively, and a stopper module configured to block power to be transmitted through one of two power transmitting paths connecting the two power output terminals of the input side gear assembly and the two power input terminals of the output side gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwon Lee, Youn Baek Lee, Se-Gon Roh, Jeonghun Kim, Minhyung Lee, Byungjune Choi, Jungyun Choi, Hyun Do Choi
  • Patent number: 12203509
    Abstract: An actuator and clutch assembly for a power transmission device includes a first and second clutch members arranged to selectively define a connected state of the clutch when the second clutch member is drivingly engaged with the first clutch member and a disconnected state of the clutch when the second clutch member is not drivingly engaged with the first clutch member. An electric motor drives an input member driven for rotation about an axis, and an output member is driven axially relative to the input member when the input member rotates, wherein the second clutch member moves axially with the output member. A spring provides a force on the output member that biases the output member in a direction in which the second clutch member is moved toward the first clutch member. The spring is radially and axially overlapped by the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Simon Broicher, Waldemar Rupp, Jan Haupt, Marc Absenger
  • Patent number: 12202379
    Abstract: A method is for operating a trailer vehicle having an electric drive and friction brakes. The method includes determining a differential mass between a first mass of a driven axle of the trailer vehicle and a second mass of a non-driven axle of the trailer vehicle, and determining a deceleration torque depending on the differential mass. The method further includes generating at least or exactly the determined deceleration torque with the electric drive when the friction brakes are activated. A trailer brake control unit is for the trailer vehicle. The trailer vehicle includes the trailer brake control unit. A combination includes a towing vehicle and a trailer vehicle having the trailer brake control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Global GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Heseding, Felix Müller-Deile, Alexander Rodenberg, Michael Schomburg
  • Patent number: 12203507
    Abstract: A fluid guide assembly for a friction disk clutch comprises an inner disk carrier having a carrier portion, a shoulder portion, and a shaft portion. The carrier portion has a connecting structure for receiving inner disks in a rotationally fixed and axially movable manner; and a fluid guide element which is fixedly connected to the inner disk carrier and which comprises an annular catching portion in which inflowing fluid can be caught, and a plurality of circumferentially distributed tab portions which extend in the axial direction and which each have a radial through-opening. The inner disk carrier has, directed radially outwardly, a plurality of longitudinal grooves which extend axially from the shoulder portion into the carrier portion and which are covered by tab portions of the fluid guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Kurt Thomaser, Peter Raffin, Thomas Messner, Hanspeter Putzer