Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a plurality of one-way clutches acting in a pair of planetary gearsets with a one-way clutch acting on each planet gear and supported on a carrier ring which is frictionally connected to a ball ramp control ring upon energization by a clutch control unit of an electrical coil thereby creating relative rotational motion between the control ring and an actuation ring causing a plurality of rolling elements to travel along identical opposed variable depth ramps thereby creating an axial separation force between the control ring and the actuation ring generating the clamping force on the clutch disc.

Abstract: A brake actuator having a switch device mounted to an actuator housing with a spring member partially surrounding an actuator rod and adapted to contact a large diameter section of the actuator rod when brake wear causes the actuator rod to travel to a service limit position. In normal operation the spring member is separated from a small diameter section of the actuator rod. The switch device is mounted to a first end of the spring member having first and second electrical contacts which extend and electrically contact a conduction plate attached to a second end of the spring member as long as the brake actuator rod has not traveled to the service limit.

Abstract: A differential gear mechanism including a clutch assembly (35) for retarding rotation between a side gear (23) and a gear case (11,45), and a ball ramp actuator for actuating the clutch assembly. The ball ramp actuator includes an inner actuating plate (49) within the gear case, and an outer actuating plate (51) disposed external to the gear case. In order to initiate ramp up of the ball ramp device, an electromagnetic coil assembly (67) includes an annular coil (75) which is disposed in face-to-face relationship with the outer actuating plate (51). An annular drive plate (83) is disposed between the coil (75) and the outer actuating plate (51), and is drawn into frictional engagement with a layer of friction material (81) upon energization of the coil. The drive plate (83) is connected by pins (89) to be axially movable relative to the outer actuating plate, but fixed to rotate therewith, such that frictional engagement of the drive plate (83) retards rotation of the outer actuating plate (51).

Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator including a ball ramp mechanism supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a planetary gearset having an annulus connected to rotate with a clutch ring and a sun gear connected to rotate with the transmission input shaft.

Abstract: A brake wear sensor and a mounting clip for retaining the brake wear sensor to a brake table. A housing assembly contains a conductive wire to be worn as the brake pad wears a predetermined amount. The housing assembly partially passes through an opening slot in a brake table. A spring clip is provided to positively secured to the housing assembly to the brake table. The spring clip has clip arms which deform inwardly to pass through the opening slot and spring back to prevent reverse passage. The spring clip is also provided with preload springs to force the housing assembly against the brake table. When assembled, the housing assembly and spring clip are positively secured to the brake table.

Abstract: A driveline retarder coupled to a vehicle driveline where a ball ramp actuator having a control plate and an activation plate separated by rolling elements is energized by an electrical coil is used to apply a clamping load on a clutch pack which frictionally couples a rotating shaft to a gerotor hydraulic pump which is used to absorb rotational energy to create a braking torque on the vehicle driveline to aid in vehicle braking. A coupling plate is electromagnetically attracted to the electrical coil thereby transferring a braking torque to the control plate through a flex plate.

Abstract: A ball ramp mechanism having a control ring acting with an actuation ring to apply a clamping force on a driveline clutch during both a vehicle driving mode and a vehicle coast mode using a planetary gearset acting with a one-way clutch between a sun gear and meshing planetary gears to define rotation of the control ring with respect to the actuation ring in a direction tending to further activate the ball ramp mechanism. In the vehicle drive mode the planetary gearset is locked by the one-way clutch and in a vehicle coast mode the one-way clutch releases and the planetary gearset rotates the control ring through a coil pole in a direction to further activate the ball ramp mechanism.

Abstract: A transmission shifting system for axially displacing a jaw clutch having a plurality of axially and/or radially beveled teeth for engagement with a plurality of engagement cavities formed in a mainshaft gear where a ball ramp actuator or a cam ramp mechanism is used to axially displace the jaw clutch. An electrical coil is used to electromagnetically couple a control ring to the mainshaft gear using a clutch plate and an actuation ring is nonrotatably connected to the mainshaft. In an alternative embodiment, the actuation ring is formed as part of the jaw clutch and the control ring remains stationary relative to a mainshaft. A plurality of flux grooves are utilized to channel magnetic forces between the clutch plate and the mainshaft gear.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having first and second actuation plates with a control plate disposed therebetween where a plurality of circumferential variable depth grooves are formed in a first face of the first actuation plate and in first and second faces of the control plate where the grooves formed in the first face of the control plate are directly opposed to the grooves formed in the second face of the control plate where the actuation grooves and the control grooves form opposed pairs of grooves having a rolling member disposed within each pair of grooves for axially separating the first and second actuation plates from the control plate as the rolling members traverse their respective grooves such that the rolling members contacting the first face of the control plate directly oppose the rolling elements contacting the second face of the control plate to provide a balanced axial force on the control plate.

Abstract: A latchable rocker arm is actuated with a solenoid device having a stator and an armature where the armature is connected to an output link which is connected to a first connecting link and a second connecting link which are disposed to form a "knee" linkage where in the fully actuated state the first connecting link and the second connecting link are in substantial axial alignment. A pivoted output link is connected to the first connecting link for contacting and actuating the latchable rocker arm.

Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine which does not require synchronization with the engine rotation is disclosed. The system includes an actuator having a coil electrically energized by a control unit causing a stator to magnetically attract an armature where the armature is coupled to a plunger by an actuator spring. The plunger pushes against a pivoted actuator arm having an inner and outer housing which are biased into extension by an arm spring. The actuator arm contacts and forces a slidable latch member into an inactive position and a latch spring returns the latch member into an active position. The system includes an outer rocker arm which is engageable with an engine poppet valve, and an inner rocker arm which is engageable with a cam lobe and the latch member which rotatably links and unlinks the inner and outer rocker arms.

Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine, which is particularly adapted for selectively actuating and deactuating an engine valve. The system includes an inner rocker arm which contacts the cam and an outer rocker arm which engages the valve, the inner and outer arms being in nesting relation to one another and in pivotal contact with the output plunger of a stationary lash adjuster. A sliding latch member is movable between an active position wherein the inner and outer arms are effectively latched together to transmit the force of the cam through the inner and outer arms to the valve, and an inactive position wherein the inner and outer arms are free to move relative to one another. A spring acting between the inner and outer arms biases the inner arm into engagement with the cam and the outer arm, and the outer arm into engagement with the valve and the lash adjuster. Positive stops between the inner and outer arms are effective to limit lash adjuster leak down.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having a control ring axially separated from a pressure plate by rolling members engaging matching opposed grooves having a variable depth acting to supply an axial clamping force against a clutch disc in a clutch assembly and a releasable one-way clutch having a first race attached to the control ring and a second race attached to the pressure plate acting to only allow relative rotation between the control ring and the pressure plate in a direction to increase the clamping force on the clutch disc until a release coil is energized to release the one-way clutch thereby allowing the control ring to rotate relative to the pressure plate in a direction to decrease the clamping force on the clutch disc. A control coil is used to apply an electromagnetic force on the control ring to activate the ball ramp actuator.

Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine which does not require synchronization with the engine rotation is disclosed. The system includes an actuator having a coil electrically energized by a control unit causing a stator to magnetically attract an armature where the armature is coupled to a plunger by an actuator spring. The plunger pushes against a pivoted actuator arm having an inner and outer housing which are biased into extension by an arm spring. The actuator arm contacts and forces a slidable latch member into an inactive position and a latch spring returns the latch member into an active position. The system includes an outer rocker arm which is engageable with an engine poppet valve, and an inner rocker arm which is engageable with a cam lobe and the latch member which rotatably links and unlinks the inner and outer rocker arms.

Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine. The system includes an outer rocker arm which is engageable with an engine poppet valve, and an inner rocker arm which is engageable with a cam lobe formed in an engine camshaft and a slidable latch member which mechanically links and unlinks the inner and outer rocker arms. The latch member is axially moveable relative to the inner and outer rocker arms between an active position wherein the inner rocker arm engages the outer rocker arm to transmit a valve opening force from the camshaft to the poppet valve, and an inactive position wherein the inner and outer rocker arms are out of engagement and free to rotate relative to one another.

Abstract: A first ball ramp actuator having a control ring acting with an activation ring to supply an axial clutch clamping force in a vehicle driving mode and a second ball ramp actuator using the control ring acting with a clutch pressure plate to supply an axial clutch clamping force in a vehicle coast mode where one side of a one-way clutch is attached to the control ring and another side is attached to a support bracket that is frictionally coupled to a transmission input shaft to maintain an energized rotational relationship with the activation ring when in the coast mode.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having a control ring acting with an activation ring to supply an axial driveline clutch clamping force in a vehicle driving mode and a one-way clutch acting on the activation ring to maintain the clamping force when in a vehicle coast mode where one side of a one-way clutch is attached to the control ring and another side is attached to a support bracket that is frictionally coupled to a transmission input shaft to maintain an energized rotational relationship with the activation ring when in the coast mode.

Abstract: A ball ramp mechanism for generating a clutch disc clamping force is disclosed where an activation ring having ramped grooves is connected to a flywheel driven by a prime mover and a control ring having ramped grooves opposing those formed in the activation ring is frictionally connected to a transmission input shaft by a friction shoe contacting a friction ring nonrotatably attached to the transmission input shaft loaded by a centrifugal weight which is pivotally mounted to a coupling link which extends from the control ring.

Abstract: A gearbox having at least two parallel rotating shafts and at least two pairs of gears each pair comprising a gear on one of the shafts permanently in mesh with a freely rotating gear on the other shaft, the rotating gear on one of the shafts being connectable to the shaft by friction gear clutch packs loadable by a ball ramp mechanism having a control ring rotatably supported on a shaft and a pressure ring nonrotatably supported on the same shaft where a coil is used to electromagnetically connect the control ring to the rotating gear which causes the ball ramp mechanism to axially expand onto the gear clutch pack. The ball ramp mechanism is actuated when there is relative rotation between the control ring and the pressure ring as rolling members travel in opposed variable depth grooves formed in the opposed faces of the control ring and the pressure ring.

Abstract: A vehicle engine throttle valve control device (10;121) is applied intermediate the vehicle operator's accelerator pedal (14) and the engine's throttle body (12) to selectively override or modify the operator's ability to control vehicle/engine speed and to assert independent control thereof as a function of various input parameters (49,50,52,54). Linkages (26,28) interconnect opposed ends of a lever (18;136) respectively, with accelerator and throttle. The lever rotates upon a pivot (20;126) which is selectively displaceable to effectively shorten or lengthen the linkage in response to an operator independent signal from a control circuit (42).