Patents by Inventor Craig Kneidel

Craig Kneidel 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: 20100187066
    Abstract: An arc spring damper, including: a plurality of arc springs, a driving flange having a plurality of driving spring segment, a driven flange having a plurality of driven spring segments, and a ring plate including a plurality of radially extending retention segments. Each arc spring in the plurality of arc springs includes a passageway with first and second openings at first and second longitudinal ends, respectively, for the arc spring. Each driving spring segment includes a circumferentially extending driving portion and each driven spring segment includes a circumferentially extending driven portion. For each spring, a respective driving portion passes through the first opening into the passageway and a respective driven portion passes through the second opening into the passageway. Each radially extending segment from the plurality of radially extending segments is connected to and rotatable with a spring from the plurality of arc springs and radially restrains the arc spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Craig KNEIDEL, Srivatsan KANNAN
  • Patent number: 7753183
    Abstract: A torque converter with a casing, a turbine, and a piston having a first friction surface located at a radially outer portion of the piston, and a first drive ring having second and third friction surfaces. The piston is displaceable to engage the first and second friction surfaces. The torque converter also includes a second drive ring having fourth and fifth friction surfaces. The first drive ring is displaceable to engage the third and fourth friction surfaces. The second drive ring is driveably connected to the piston and to an elastic member of a damper. The torque converter includes a sixth friction surface for the casing. The second drive ring is displaceable to engage the fifth and sixth friction surfaces, the first drive ring and the casing are nonreleasably connected, and the first drive ring is axially displaceable with respect to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Kevin Parks, Craig Kneidel
  • Publication number: 20090139819
    Abstract: A torque converter including a lock up clutch, the lock up clutch including a piston and a clutch plate, a spring, and a connector plate, the connector plate connecting to the clutch plate at a connection and drivingly engaged with the spring at a spring engagement, the connection to the clutch plate being radially outside of the spring engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Jonathan Jameson, Craig Kneidel
  • Publication number: 20090107792
    Abstract: A series damper, including: a first damper with a flange and a cover plate; and a second damper with first and second cover plates and a flange. The flange and the cover plate for the first damper are rotationally frictionally engaged and the flange for the second damper rotates free of frictional engagement with the first and second cover plates. The series damper includes a resilient element arranged to cause the frictional engagement of the flange and the cover plate for the first damper. In some aspects, the resilient element is frictionally engaged with the cover plate for the first damper and is arranged to frictionally engage a turbine hub for a torque converter. In some aspects, the resilient element is rotationally connected to the flange for the first damper. In some aspects, the flange for the first damper includes the second cover plate for the second damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Craig Kneidel, Andre Soto, Patrick Lindemann
  • Publication number: 20090032364
    Abstract: A vibration damper including a first spline having a plurality of first teeth, a second spline having a plurality of second teeth, a third spline having a plurality of third teeth and at least one spring interconnected between the first and second splines, wherein the plurality of third teeth are intermediate the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth, and the at least one spring biases the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth against the plurality of third teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Fraser MACDONALD, Jens SCHROETER, Steven OLSEN, Craig KNEIDEL
  • Publication number: 20080173509
    Abstract: In a torque converter, a piston mounted on a turbine hub, sealed on the turbine hub, having a first friction surface at a radially outer portion of the piston, a first drive ring having a second friction surface and a third friction surface, the second friction surface arranged to engage the first friction surface, the first drive ring having means for connecting to the piston and for connecting the first drive ring to an elastic member of a damper, a second drive ring having a fourth friction surface and a fifth friction surface, the fourth friction surface arranged to engage the third friction surface of the first drive ring, means for connecting the second drive ring and the casing while permitting axial displacement of the second drive ring relative to the casing, the casing having a sixth friction surface which engages the fifth friction surface of the second drive ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Kevin Parks, Craig Kneidel
  • Publication number: 20080153604
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a lash prevention spring of unique design having a plurality of spring legs shaped into an s-curve and an inner circumference formed into at least one spline. The invention also comprises a lash prevention assembly in which the disclosed lash spring is attached to a damper hub and is biased against the several teeth from a turbine hub that extend through the damper hub from its opposite side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Craig Kneidel, Jens Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20070284207
    Abstract: A drive lug for a piston plate in a torque converter, including a base operatively arranged for attachment to the piston plate and a protruding portion integral to the base and extending axially from the base. The protruding portion is operatively arranged to engage with a damping element in the torque converter. In some aspects, the plate is arranged for attachment with a plurality of drive lugs, while in other aspects, the drive lug is arranged for attachment to the plate with at least one rivet. In some aspects, the lug is made of a hardenable material or by forging. In some aspects, the piston plate further includes an outer circumference and the drive lug is arranged to be secured proximate the outer circumference. In some aspects, the damping element further includes a spring and the drive lug is arranged to engage with the spring. In some aspects, the piston plate further includes an axial width, the drive lug further includes a radial width, and the radial width is greater than the axial width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Craig Kneidel