Patents Examined by Stacey A Fluhart
  • Patent number: 11486452
    Abstract: A transmission device includes: a shaft member, in the outer circumferential surface of which is formed a male thread centered about a second axis perpendicular to a first axis of a friction clutch; a screw member has a female thread that meshes with the male thread; an arm reciprocates together with the screw member; a first cam member couples to the arm to regulate the rotation of the screw member and rotates around the first axis; a second cam member has a cam surface that is oriented in the direction of the first axis to oppose a cam surface of the first cam member; and a rolling member is disposed between the two cam surfaces to roll on the two cam surfaces; the first cam member or the second cam member subjects the friction clutch to a force oriented in the direction of the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVANCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasumasa Nakajo
  • Patent number: 11472281
    Abstract: A hybrid module includes a hybrid module housing which forms a housing interior divided by a partition. The housing interior includes at least one chamber designed as a dry space which is separated from a wet region by the partition, wherein the hybrid module has an electric machine and a first clutch device, in particular a separating clutch, in the dry space and has a second clutch device, in particular a dual clutch apparatus, in the wet region. An output side of the first clutch device is mechanically coupled to the input side of the second clutch device by an intermediate shaft, wherein the intermediate shaft is supported at least radially on the partition via at least one bearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jonathan Laigo
  • Patent number: 11473631
    Abstract: A clutch subassembly for a motorcycle includes a hub, a plurality of driven discs and an elastic element. The hub includes a plurality of projecting protrusions, wherein the plurality of projecting protrusions define wide through openings capable of promoting a lubrication and, at a same time, the plurality of projecting protrusions reduce a weight of the clutch subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: STM ITALY S.R.L.
    Inventor: Valerio Gaffuri
  • Patent number: 11460078
    Abstract: A modular clutch assembly with two independent power sources and a connection with an output device. The two independent power sources and the output device can take many different forms. The modular clutch assembly has a housing that connects the two power sources with the output device and controls power transfer using an inner clutch and an upper clutch. There is further provided an output hub connected to the output device, where the output hub extends into the modular clutch assembly for selective rotation. The output device in one exemplary embodiment of the invention is a transmission of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Cioc
  • Patent number: 11454316
    Abstract: A continuous variable transmission (CVT) hydraulic pressure control device includes: a pressure regulation valve regulating an operation pressure of oil supplied to a friction element of a forward-rearward device; and a switch valve to respectively switch oil discharge paths through which the oil supplied to the friction element is discharged, respectively by a pilot pressure from the pressure regulation valve and an elastic force of a return spring. In particular, the oil discharge paths switched by the switch valve have oil flow resistances different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young Joon Kim, Hyun Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 11454288
    Abstract: An actuator assembly comprises a rotatably drivable drive gear; a locking ring which is rotatably mounted in a stationary housing and is drivingly connected to the drive gear, wherein the locking ring is rotatable from a first rotational position into a second rotational position against a rotation stop; wherein at least one friction face pairing is provided in the power path between the drive gear and the locking ring, via which a torque can be transmitted to the locking ring by frictional forces; a first ramp ring drivable by the drive gear and a second ramp ring, which are axially supported against each other and are configured to convert rotary movement into axial movement; wherein the first ramp ring, after the locking ring has reached the rotary stop, can be further rotatably driven by the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Jan Haupt, Thomas Weckerling, Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 11441618
    Abstract: A conducting element for conducting a pressurized fluid and for conducting a cooling fluid, as well as a hybrid module and a drive assembly having a hybrid module are provided. The conducting element for conducting a pressurized fluid for hydraulically actuating a clutch unit and for conducting cooling fluid for cooling a clutch unit has a cylindrical section and a securing section. At least one pressurized fluid channel is formed in the securing section for transporting pressurized fluid. The conducting element also has at least one cooling fluid channel which has at least one axial direction component in the cylindrical section, wherein the flow line element is fluidically connected to the cooling fluid channel for supplying a clutch unit and/or electric machine with cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Simon Ortmann, Philipp Tepper, Dominik Weis
  • Patent number: 11441612
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a multi-speed electric axle assembly. The multi-speed electric axle assembly includes a grounding plate with an outer interface coupled to a housing interface and an inner stepped splined interface designed to selectively mate with a clutch sleeve. In the assembly, the inner stepped splined interface includes a plurality of steps that each include a first side that perpendicularly intersects a second side and the first side of each step in the inner stepped splined interface includes a clearance between the first side and a stepped surface of the clutch sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 11428317
    Abstract: A parking lock arrangement with an actuating device for engaging and disengaging a parking pawl (10) for interlocking and releasing a parking interlock gear (20) includes an axially movable actuating rod (30) with an axially displaceable actuating element (40) on an end facing the parking pawl (10). During the engagement and disengagement of the parking lock, an actuating contour (41) of the actuating element (40) is in contact with an actuating zone (13) of the parking pawl (10) and with a support contour (51) of a housing-affixed guide element (50). The actuating contour (41) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis (42) of the actuating element (40) and extends along this longitudinal axis (42). The actuating contour (41) is a circular arc as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (42) of the actuating element (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias List, Bernd Austermann, Juergen Igelmaier, Tobias Miller, Armin Gierling
  • Patent number: 11428275
    Abstract: A wet clutch system includes fluid-flow apertures in the clutch piston which allow for reduction of oil shear forces between rotating clutch plates and a stationary piston. In particular the apertures pass through the piston in the area of the piston's engagement with the clutch plates. When the piston is in its deactivated position and spaced from the clutch plates, the radially-outward position of these apertures allows high-pressure, centrifugally-driven clutch fluid to migrate away from the clutch plates through the piston to a backfill cavity on the opposite side of the piston. An air-inlet aperture may be provided in or near the clutch hub to facilitate this oil migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Tysman, Debera Schroeder, Drew Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11420613
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric drive train of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). In one example, the electric drive train may include a four-node planetary gear set with a first motor coupled to a first input node, a second motor coupled to a second input node and an engine coupled to a third input node of the planetary gear set. The third node is positioned between the first and second input nodes. Torque delivered to each input node is summed at an output node of the four-node planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. David, Travis J. Miller, Mark A. Davis
  • Patent number: 11415181
    Abstract: A clutch pack for a clutch in a drive train of a motor vehicle includes an axis defining an axial direction and a disk, rotatable about the axis, for contacting a counter-disk to transfer a torque. The disk includes a main body with a contact region for absorbing torque from or transferring a torque to the counter-disk, a toothed region for torque-transmitting contact with a disk carrier, and a region of specific elastic softness in the axial direction disposed between the contact region and the toothed region. In an example embodiment, the region of specific elastic softness in the axial direction is a steel sheet spring region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Marc Finkenzeller
  • Patent number: 11415180
    Abstract: A device to adjust the angle of rotation of a canopy of a sunshade comprises an upper clutch sleeve sleeved at a lower end of an upper tube of the sunshade, a lower clutch sleeve sleeved at an upper end of a lower tube, a rotary handle sleeve and a rotary shaft sleeved outside the upper tube and the lower tube, a rotary shaft rotationally inserted within one of the upper tube and the lower tube and fixedly connected with the other, a retaining ring disposed between the upper end of the rotary handle sleeve and the upper tube and elastically connected with the upper clutch sleeve or the upper tube, and a set of fitting parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Yotrio Group Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianqiang Xie
  • Patent number: 11415184
    Abstract: An axle includes: an electromagnet; a transmission disc provided with a first magnetic suction member; a half shaft fitted in the transmission disc, first and second gaps being arranged circumferentially between the transmission disc and the half shaft; and a transmission assembly arranged between the transmission disc and the half shaft, and provided with a second magnetic suction member, a thickness of the transmission assembly being less than the first gap, and greater than or equal to the second gap. When the electromagnet is powered off, the transmission assembly and the half shaft are relatively stationary, and the transmission assembly is located at the first gap. When the electromagnet is powered on, the first magnetic suction member and the second magnetic suction member are attracted by the electromagnet, and the transmission disc rotates synchronously with the transmission assembly and rotates to the second gap relative to the half shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Shangjian Chen, Zhengchang Deng
  • Patent number: 11402004
    Abstract: A torque converter comprising a cover arranged to receive torque, an impeller having an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover, and a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell is provided. In embodiments, the torque converter includes a lock-up clutch including a piston plate, an output hub connected to the turbine shell and arranged to non-rotatably connect to a transmission input shaft, and a seal plate disposed, at least partially, axially between the piston plate and the turbine shell, wherein the seal plate is connected to the cover and the piston plate. A flow plate may be connected to the seal plate and disposed axially between the seal plate and the turbine shell. A through-bore may be bounded in first and second opposite radial directions by the seal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Victor Norwich, Patrick Lindemann
  • Patent number: 11401978
    Abstract: Coupling mechanisms for torque transmitting shafts are provided with sliding and fixed plates operably connectable to respective torque transmitting shafts, and a leaf spring having a preloaded spring force exerted on the sliding plate when the sliding and fixed plates are operably connected to one another. A hub is attached to the leaf spring and coaxially received within the sliding plate to allow the sliding plate to be capable of reciprocal axial movements relative to the hub between engaged and disengaged positions wherein the sliding and fixed plates are engaged and disengaged with one another so as to allow and prevent torque being transmitted from one to another of the shafts, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: YABORA INDUSTRIA AERONAUTICA S.A.
    Inventors: Henrique Böckmann Alves, Expedito De Souza Ribeiro, Guilherme Cremasco Coelho, Everton Sérgio Ribeiro Da Silva, Rafael Santos Iwamura, David Dias Ferraz
  • Patent number: 11401982
    Abstract: A multiple-plate wet clutch for mounting on a shaft having an internal shaft conduit for a coolant has a clutch hub mounted on the shaft, a clutch basket rotationally supported relative to shaft, a clutch pack operationally connecting the clutch hub and the clutch basket, and a collar mounted on the shaft. The wet clutch further has a plurality of clutch conduits, each having a collar portion formed by the collar and a hub portion formed by the clutch hub. The collar portion has an inlet for receiving the coolant, and the hub portion has one or more outlets at the clutch pack for releasing the coolant. The wet clutch further has a plurality of valves, each connected to a clutch conduit to control the flow of coolant through the clutch conduit. An actuator, supported by the collar, is configured to simultaneously engage the clutch pack and operate the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIGSEGG AUTOMOTIVE AB
    Inventors: Christian Von Koenigsegg, Dag Bolenius
  • Patent number: 11396226
    Abstract: A hybrid module for a drive train of a motor vehicle includes a dual clutch which has a first sub-clutch and a second sub-clutch for selectively transmitting torque from a first drive unit to a drive shaft. The hybrid module further includes a disconnect clutch for coupling a second drive unit and for transmitting torque from the second drive unit to the drive shaft. At least one rotary feedthrough is provided which is configured on one hand for conveying actuating oil, which is designed for actuation of the disconnect clutch, or on the other hand for conveying cooling oil, which is designed for cooling the disconnect clutch and/or the dual clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Trinkenschuh, Steffen Lehmann, Dirk Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 11396913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-speed transmission for an electric driving vehicle and the two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle has only one actuator. The transmission comprises a planetary gear mechanism (12), an elastic body (44), an armature (26) to integrally rotate with an input axis, an electromagnetic coil (46) and a multi-plate friction clutch (30). A ring gear (20) is fixed to a housing. The armature (26) comprises clutch projection portions (26-1). A dog clutch is constituted by the clutch projection portions (26-1) and recess portions (18-2) of a sun gear (18). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is not electrically energized, the dog clutch is engaged. The rotation of the input axis is reduced and is transmitted to an output axis via the sun gear (18) and a carrier (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: UNIPRES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Shirosaki, Ryosuke Suzuki, Hideyuki Nezu, Takashi Matsuura, Yuuta Oono, Atsushi Kobayashi, Yutaka Murata, Yoichi Furuichi
  • Patent number: 11378140
    Abstract: A controllable one-way clutch assembly having an actuator module equipped with a solenoid actuator, an active strut moveable in response to energization of the solenoid actuator from a released position to a locked position, a strut spring biasing the active strut toward its released position, and an indirect strut actuation arrangement between the solenoid actuator and the active strut. The indirect strut actuation arrangement includes an intermediate actuation component having a first lug establishing a coupling interface with a translatable plunger of the solenoid actuator and a second lug establishing an engagement interface with the active strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN, INC.
    Inventors: Adrian Cioc, Myron Samila, David Dorigo