Patents by Inventor Albert J. Youngwerth
Albert J. Youngwerth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11644069Abstract: An improved adjuster for a clutch having an expanding friction disk. The improved adjuster allows desirable characteristics of a clutch pressure plate to be maintained while allowing an operator to bias the pressure plate into proper position to accommodate the function of the expanding friction disk.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Rekluse Racing, LLCInventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen, Logan P. Krueger, Gabe Sutherland, Sarah Haight, Dayne Konrad, Calvin Brown
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Patent number: 10180165Abstract: An improved liner and friction disk for a clutch basket is disclosed. The improved liner is easily retrofitted into a typical clutch basket and is held in place without fasteners or adhesives or special changes to the clutch basket. The improved liner is held in place without consideration to the outer diameter of the basket allowing the liner to work with a wider range of clutch basket designs and sizes. The liner provides an improved wear surface for the clutch basket's engagement surface with the driving friction surface. A friction disk with tabs adapted to fit inside the narrowed space provided by the improved liner is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Danny S. Youngwerth
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Publication number: 20190003533Abstract: An improved adjuster for a clutch containing and expanding friction disk is disclosed. The improved adjuster allows desirable characteristics of a clutch pressure plate to be maintained while allowing an operator to bias the pressure plate into proper position to accommodate the function of the expanding friction disk.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: ALBERT J. YOUNGWERTH, SEAN G. BROWN, KARL E. JENSEN, LOGAN P. KRUEGER, GABE SUTHERLAND, SARAH HAIGHT, DAYNE KONRAD, CALVIN BROWN
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Patent number: 9995347Abstract: An improved clutch pack is disclosed. The clutch pack incorporates liners, improved driving friction disks and driven disks where the thickness of the improved driving friction disks and driven disks are selected in order to allow more driving friction disks and more driven disks to be used within the improved clutch pack while maintaining approximately the same overall height as compared to the standard clutch pack the vehicles clutch system was designed for.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Rekluse Motor Sports, Inc.Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen
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Publication number: 20170343054Abstract: An improved clutch pack is disclosed. The clutch pack incorporates liners, improved driving friction disks and driven disks where the thickness of the improved driving friction disks and driven disks are selected in order to allow more driving friction disks and more driven disks to be used within the improved clutch pack while maintaining approximately the same overall height as compared to the standard clutch pack the vehicles clutch system was designed for.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen
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Publication number: 20150292569Abstract: An improved clutch pack is disclosed. The clutch pack incorporates liners, improved driving friction disks and driven disks where the thickness of the improved driving friction disks and driven disks are selected in order to allow more driving friction disks and more driven disks to be used within the improved clutch pack while maintaining approximately the same overall height as compared to the standard clutch pack the vehicles clutch system was designed for.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen
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Patent number: 9157489Abstract: An adjuster is disclosed, to be placed “in-line” to a clutch disengagement system. The adjuster provides a means for lifting the pressure plate above the clutch pack without significantly affecting the operation or feel of the clutch disengagement system to the operator. Such an adjuster is particularly well suited for use with an automatic centrifugal clutch incorporating a friction disk that expands when rotated above a threshold speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Daniel S. Youngwerth
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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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Publication number: 20150152923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: Rekluse Motor SportsInventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen
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Patent number: 8978858Abstract: A novel adjustable slave cylinder is disclosed. The improved slave cylinder is particularly well suited for use with a clutch incorporating an expanding friction disk. The adjustable slave cylinder provides a means for adjusting a clutch pressure plate's position via an adjustment mechanism external to the inside of an engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen, Logan P. Krueger
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Publication number: 20140166427Abstract: A novel clutch separator plate is disclosed. The improved clutch separator plate incorporates openings which pass over the friction pads of a friction plate to improved thermal stability, reduce drag and provide consistent and positive engagement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: REKLUSE MOTOR SPORTSInventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen, Logan P. Krueger
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Publication number: 20130334003Abstract: A novel adjustable slave cylinder is disclosed. The improved slave cylinder is particularly well suited for use with a clutch incorporating an expanding friction disk. The adjustable slave cylinder provides a means for adjusting a clutch pressure plate's position via an adjustment mechanism external to the inside of an engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: REKLUSE MOTOR SPORTSInventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Karl E. Jensen, Logan P. Krueger
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Publication number: 20130168198Abstract: An improved liner and friction disk for a clutch basket is disclosed. The improved liner is easily retrofitted into a typical clutch basket and is held in place without fasteners or adhesives or special changes to the clutch basket. The improved liner is held in place without consideration to the outer diameter of the basket allowing the liner to work with a wider range of clutch basket designs and sizes. The liner provides an improved wear surface for the clutch basket's engagement surface with the driving friction surface. A friction disk with tabs adapted to fit inside the narrowed space provided by the improved liner is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: REKLUSE MOTOR SPORTSInventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Sean G. Brown, Danny S. Youngwerth
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Patent number: 8464853Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for automatic centrifugal engagement of a pressure plate. The apparatus includes a center clutch coupled rotationally with a transmission input shaft, a clutch basket coupled rotationally with an engine output shaft, and a clutch pack disposed between the center clutch and the clutch basked. The clutch pack includes a plurality of drive plates rotationally coupled to the center clutch and a plurality of friction plates rotationally coupled with the clutch basket. The apparatus also includes a pressure plate assembly that is spring-loaded and disposed between the center clutch and the clutch basket. The pressure plate assembly comprises a pressure plate, a spring plate, and a spring disposed between the pressure plate and the spring plate. The system includes the apparatus and a manual override capable of use with cable actuated and hydraulic actuated clutch levers.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Rekluse Motorsports, IncInventors: Albert J Youngwerth, Daniel S Youngwerth, Sean G Brown
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Patent number: 8286774Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for automatic centrifugal engagement of a pressure plate. The apparatus includes a clutch basket, a clutch pack capable of coupling the clutch basket with a center clutch, a pressure plate axially moveable toward the clutch pack, and a top plate coupled to a rotating hub. The rotating hub is configured to pass through an opening in the pressure plate. The apparatus also includes at least one centrifugal actuating member disposed between the pressure plate and the top plate, and at least one spring disposed between the rotating hub and the center clutch to bias the pressure plate relative to the top plate. The system includes the apparatus and a rotating hub lifter coupled with the rotating hub and configured to position the rotating hub in one of a manual clutch mode position and an automatic clutch mode position.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Michael E. Dougherty, Zane A. Patterson, Sean G. Brown, Daniel S. Youngwerth
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Publication number: 20090211872Abstract: An improved apparatus for varying the pressure applied to a clutch system that can be used to couple a rotational input with a rotational output. Depending on the load and direction of torque in the clutch system, the improved apparatus will engage a spring with more force or less force to affect the amount of torque transferred by the clutch system and the force required by an operator to manually disengage the clutch system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventors: ALBERT J. YOUNGWERTH, Danny S. Youngwerth, Sean Brown
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Publication number: 20080308380Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for automatic centrifugal engagement of a pressure plate. The apparatus includes a center clutch coupled rotationally with a transmission input shaft, a clutch basket coupled rotationally with an engine output shaft, and a clutch pack disposed between the center clutch and the clutch basked. The clutch pack includes a plurality of drive plates rotationally coupled to the center clutch and a plurality of friction plates rotationally coupled with the clutch basket. The apparatus also includes a pressure plate assembly that is spring-loaded and disposed between the center clutch and the clutch basket. The pressure plate assembly comprises a pressure plate, a spring plate, and a spring disposed between the pressure plate and the spring plate. The system includes the apparatus and a manual override capable of use with cable actuated and hydraulic actuated clutch levers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Inventors: Albert J. Youngwerth, Danny S. Youngwerth, Sean Brown
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Patent number: 6957730Abstract: An automatic clutch consisting of a centrifugally actuated pressure plate apparatus axially moveable relative to a clutch inner hub and rotationally coupled to a clutch outer basket. As the engine spins the clutch outer basket, the rotational coupling between the clutch outer basket and the centrifugal pressure plate causes the centrifugal pressure plate to move axially relative to the clutch inner hub and apply a force to driven clutch plates and driving clutch plates. The force exerted by the centrifugal pressure plate upon driven clutch plates and driving clutch plates causes the plates to couple, forcing engagement between the engine and transmission. Optionally, a variable spring tension may be applied through the clutch release mechanism to adjust the engine speed at which the clutch begins to engage.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Inventor: Albert J. Youngwerth