Patents by Inventor Alexandre Depraete

Alexandre Depraete 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).

  • Publication number: 20170268653
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter includes an impeller, an axially displaceable turbine piston, and impeller and turbine-piston lockup clutch core plates. The impeller lockup clutch core plate is situated between the impeller shell and the turbine-piston shell, is connected to an impeller core ring, and has a first surface. The turbine-piston lockup clutch core plate is situated between the impeller shell and the turbine-piston shell, is connected to a turbine-piston core ring, and is axially displaceable with the turbine-piston to move a second surface of the turbine-piston lockup clutch core plate axially towards and away from the first surface for positioning the torque converter respectively into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically interlocked to the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170268652
    Abstract: A torque converter includes an impeller, a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, a stator, and an annular lockup resistance member. The impeller includes an impeller shell. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell. The turbine-piston shell includes a turbine-piston flange having a first flange surface facing an engagement surface of the impeller shell. The turbine-piston is movable axially toward and away from the engagement surface to position the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston flange is mechanically locked to the impeller shell. The annular lockup resistance member is in the form of an annular elastomeric sandwich washer coaxially aligned with the rotational axis and including turbine-side and stator-side members, and an elastomeric inner member sandwiched between the turbine-side and stator-side members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: David WERTHMAN, Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Patent number: 9765872
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a damper assembly, a turbine-piston and a drive-clutch component non-moveably attached to the turbine-piston and having a second engagement surface. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the casing to move the second engagement surface axially towards and away from the first engagement surface for positioning the hydrokinetic torque coupling device respectively into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces frictionally interlock with one another to mechanically lock the casing non-rotatably relative to the input part of the damper assembly. The drive-clutch component is configured to engage and rotationally drive a torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO EMBRAYAGES
    Inventors: David Werthman, Sungchul Lee, Michel Bacher, Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9752667
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided that includes an impeller having an impeller shell with a first surface, an axially displaceable turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and including a turbine-piston shell and a turbine-piston flange with a second surface, and a clutch plate interposed between and axially displaceable relative to at least one of the first and second surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially movable relative to the impeller to move the second surface of the turbine-piston flange towards and away from the first surface for positioning the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second surfaces and the clutch plate surfaces frictionally interlock with one another so that the impeller is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20170241529
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for a hydrokinetic torque converter. The turbine assembly is rotatable about a rotational axis and hydrokinetic torque converter and comprises a first turbine component coaxial with the rotational axis, and a second turbine component non-moveably secured to the turbine component coaxially therewith. The first turbine component is formed separately from the second turbine component. The first turbine component has a plurality of first turbine blade members integrally formed therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170241530
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter comprises a stator assembly and a turbine assembly rotatable about a rotational axis. The stator assembly comprises a stator comprising an annular stator hub coaxial to the rotational axis, an annular turbine core ring coaxial to the rotational axis, and a plurality of stator blades integral with and interconnecting the stator hub and the turbine core ring. The turbine assembly comprises a first turbine component coaxial with the rotational axis, and a second turbine component non-moveably secured to the turbine component coaxially therewith. The first turbine component is formed separately from the second turbine component. The first turbine component has a plurality of first turbine blade members integrally formed therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Subramanian JEYABALAN, Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Patent number: 9739358
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing shell having a first engagement surface, a torque converter including an impeller and a turbine that is hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and includes a turbine shell, an output hub, a damper-piston assembly including torsional vibration damping members and a piston retainer plate having a second engagement surface facing the first engagement surface, and a transmission component through which the torsional vibration damping members are interconnected to the output hub. The piston retainer plate engages the first ends of the damping members and the transmission component engages the second ends of the torsional vibration damping members. The damper-piston assembly is axially displaceable between a lockup mode and a hydrodynamic transmission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Publication number: 20170227101
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features a casing (12) including an impeller shell (18), a casing shell (20), and an intermediate casing component (22) connecting the impeller and casing shells. The intermediate casing component (22) includes a casing wall portion and a piston engagement portion (26) extending inward from and being non-rotatable relative to the casing wall portion. The device further features an impeller (30) including the impeller shell (20). The turbine-piston (32) is coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller (30), and includes a turbine-piston shell (35) having a turbine-piston flange (38) with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement portion to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device respectively into and out of a lockup mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Alexandre DEPRAETE, Michel Bacher
  • Publication number: 20170227100
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing having opposite sidewalls and an outer wall extending between and connecting the opposite sidewalls, an impeller coaxial aligned with the rotational axis, a piston engagement member extending substantially radially inward from and non-moveable relative to the outer wall of the casing, and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the piston engagement member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Alexandre DEPRAETE, Michel Bacher, Gyubong JEON, Zane YANG
  • Patent number: 9719589
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter comprises an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis, a coaxial turbine, and a stator disposed between the impeller and the turbine. The stator includes an annular stator hub, an annular radially outer stator rim, a plurality of stator blades radially outwardly extending between the stator hub and the stator rim, and an annular outer stator flange extending radially outwardly from the stator rim thereof and disposed between an impeller core ring and a turbine core ring. The stator further includes a plurality of hydraulic pressure grooves provided on at least one of axially opposite impeller and turbine side surfaces of the stator flange. The hydraulic pressure grooves face at least one of the impeller and turbine core rings so as to create a hydrodynamic lift between the stator and at least one of the impeller and turbine core rings in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Publication number: 20170204952
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for a hydrokinetic torque coupling device, comprises a torsional vibration damper and a dynamic absorber operatively connected to the torsional vibration damper. The torsional vibration damper comprises a driven member rotatable about a rotational axis, a first retainer plate rotatable relative to the driven member coaxially with the rotational axis, and a plurality of damper elastic members interposed between the first retainer plate and the driven member. The damper elastic members elastically couple the first retainer plate to the driven member. The dynamic absorber includes an inertial member. The dynamic absorber is mounted to the torsional vibration damper and is rotationally guided and centered relative to the rotational axis by one of the first retainer plate and the driven member of the torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9709145
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features an impeller including an impeller shell and impeller blades, and a turbine-piston including a turbine-piston shell and turbine blades. The turbine-piston is movable axially toward and away from the impeller shell to position the torque converter (or a hydrokinetic torque coupling device containing the torque converter) into and out of lockup mode. The impeller shell comprises a toroidal impeller shell portion that terminates at a first distal end clutch surface. The turbine-piston shell comprises a toroidal turbine-piston shell portion and a folded-over portion folded over onto the toroidal turbine-piston shell portion so as to engage the toroidal turbine-piston shell portion of the turbine-piston shell. The turbine-piston shell terminates at a second distal end clutch surface defined by the toroidal turbine-piston shell portion and the folded-over portion so that the second distal end clutch surface faces the first distal end clutch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Sungchul Lee
  • Publication number: 20170159783
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for a hydrokinetic torque coupling device, comprises a torsional vibration damper, and a dynamic absorber operatively connected to the torsional vibration damper. The torsional vibration damper comprises a driven member rotatable about a rotational axis, a first retainer plate rotatable relative to the driven member coaxially with the rotational axis, and a plurality of damper elastic members interposed between the first retainer plate and the driven member. The damper elastic members elastically couples the first retainer plate to the driven member. The dynamic absorber includes an inertial member. The inertial member is mounted to the torsional vibration damper rotatably relative to the driven member. The inertial member is rotationally guided and centered relative to the rotational axis by the driven member of the torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170146105
    Abstract: A torque converter comprising a torque input element (19), an impeller wheel (3) rotationally coupled to the torque input element (19) and able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine wheel (4), a torque output element (8), clutch means (10, 38) movable between an engaged position in which the torque input element (19) and the torque output element (8) are rotationally coupled through damping means (12, 43, 44, 45), and a disengaged position in which the torque input element (19) and the torque output element (8) are rotationally coupled through the impeller wheel (3) and the turbine wheel (4), with a first bearing (31) being axially mounted between the impeller wheel (3) and the reactor (5), with a second bearing (31?) being axially mounted between the reactor (5) and the turbine wheel (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Alexandre DEPRAETE, Xuexian YIN
  • Publication number: 20170138454
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device for a motor vehicle comprises an impeller wheel intended to be coupled to a crankshaft and adapted to hydrokinetically rotate a turbine wheel. The impeller wheel rotationally coupled to a cover at least partially accommodating the impeller wheel, the turbine wheel and the reactor. The turbine wheel is axially moves between an engaged position in which the turbine wheel and the impeller wheel are axially moved closer to each other and rotationally coupled together, and a disengaged position in which the turbine wheel and the impeller wheel are axially moved away from each other and rotationally uncoupled. The device comprises a bracing member axially extending between the turbine wheel and a part of the cover, with the bracing member being adapted to limit the axial motion of the turbine wheel toward the above-mentioned part of the cover, opposite the turbine wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170138455
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter comprises an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis, a coaxial turbine, and a stator disposed between the impeller and the turbine. The stator includes an annular stator hub, an annular radially outer stator rim, a plurality of stator blades radially outwardly extending between the stator hub and the stator rim, and an annular outer stator flange extending radially outwardly from the stator rim thereof and disposed between an impeller core ring and a turbine core ring. The stator further includes a plurality of hydraulic pressure grooves provided on at least one of axially opposite impeller and turbine side surfaces of the stator flange. The hydraulic pressure grooves face at least one of the impeller and turbine core rings so as to create a hydrodynamic lift between the stator and at least one of the impeller and turbine core rings in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170097080
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrokinetic torque coupling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a torque input element (11) intended to be coupled to a crankshaft (1), an impeller wheel (3) rotationally coupled to the torque input element (11) and able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine wheel (4) through a reactor (5), a torque output element (8) intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft (2), clutch means (10) adapted to rotationally couple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in an engaged position, through damping means (22, 26), and adapted to rotationally uncouple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in a disengaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170097079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrokinetic torque coupling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a torque input element (11) intended to be coupled to a crankshaft (1), an impeller wheel (3) rotationally coupled to the torque input element (11) and able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine wheel (4) through a reactor (5), a torque output element (8) intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft (2), clutch means (10) able to rotationally couple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in an engaged position, through damping means (21, 25) and able to rotationally uncouple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in a disengaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170097075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrokinetic torque coupling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a torque input element (11) intended to be coupled to a crankshaft (1), an impeller wheel (3) rotationally coupled to the torque input element (11) and able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine wheel (4), a torque output element (8) intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft (2), clutch means (10) able to rotationally couple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in an engaged position, through damping means (21, 25) and able to rotationally uncouple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in a disengaged position
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE
  • Publication number: 20170097077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrokinetic torque coupling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a torque input element (11) intended to be coupled to a crankshaft (1), an impeller wheel (3) rotationally coupled to the torque input element (11) and able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine wheel (4), a torque output element (8) intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft (2), clutch means (10) able to rotationally couple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in an engaged position, through damping means (18, 22) and able to rotationally uncouple the torque input element (11) and the torque output element (8) in a disengaged position, the damping means (18, 22) being adapted to act against the rotation of the torque input element (11) relative to the torque output element (8), in the engaged position of the clutch means (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre DEPRAETE