Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Fox

Bruce E. Fox 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).

  • Torque converter with deflectable seal
    Patent number: 9121485
    Abstract: A torque converter assembly comprises: a cover for driving engagement with a prime mover; a piston plate including an annular surface for engaging a clutch; and, a sealing plate comprising a substantially radial wall arranged between the cover and the piston plate and disposed radially inward of the annular surface, wherein: in a lockup mode for the torque converter, the sealing plate blocks fluid flow between the cover and the piston plate; and, in a release mode for the torque converter, the sealing plate is deflectable to enable a fluid flow between the cover and the piston plate via a pathway between the cover and the sealing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilbert Greathouse, Richard Bednar, John Carrier, Rashid Farahati, Jeremy Vanni, Brian Zaugg, Jerry Munk, Bruce E. Fox
  • Torque converter with deflectable seal
    Patent number: 8839923
    Abstract: A torque converter assembly includes a cover for driving engagement with a prime mover, a piston plate including an annular surface for engaging a clutch, and a first seal disposed radially inward of the annular surface. In a lockup mode for the torque converter, the first seal blocks fluid flow through an orifice in the piston plate or between the cover and the piston plate and, in a release mode for the torque converter, the first seal is deflectable to enable a fluid flow through the orifice or between the cover and the piston plate and around the first seal. In an example embodiment, the torque converter assembly includes an apply chamber, the piston plate is displaceable in response to fluid pressure in the apply chamber, and the first seal is arranged to be deflected by the fluid pressure in the apply chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, Allison Transmissions, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbert Greathouse, Richard Bednar, John Carrier, Rashid Farahati, Jeremy Vanni, Brian Zaugg, Jerry Munk, Bruce E. Fox
  • TORQUE CONVERTER WITH DEFLECTABLE SEAL
    Publication number: 20140216880
    Abstract: A torque converter assembly comprises: a cover for driving engagement with a prime mover; a piston plate including an annular surface for engaging a clutch; and, a sealing plate comprising a substantially radial wall arranged between the cover and the piston plate and disposed radially inward of the annular surface, wherein: in a lockup mode for the torque converter, the sealing plate blocks fluid flow between the cover and the piston plate; and, in a release mode for the torque converter, the sealing plate is deflectable to enable a fluid flow between the cover and the piston plate via a pathway between the cover and the sealing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG, ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Wilbert Greathouse, Richard Bednar, John Carrier, Rashid Farahati, Jeremy Vanni, Brian Zaugg, Jerry Munk, Bruce E. Fox