Abstract: An automatic transmission is disclosed including a continuously variable transmission assembly having a first pulley and a second pulley. At least one of the pulleys has a variable operating diameter to provide a variable ratio. A first gear assembly and a second gear assembly are provided each including at least one forward gear. The forward gears have different diameters and are numbered consecutively in the order of increasing diameter. The continuously variable transmission assembly also has at least one pulley actuator that selectively adjusts the variable diameter of the at least one of the pulleys to change the variable ratio of the continuously variable transmission assembly in response to a shift between the at least one forward gear of the first gear assembly and the at least one forward gear of the second gear assembly.

Abstract: A power transmitting device for a vehicle having a power plant and a drivetrain is provided. The power transmitting device includes an output shaft that provides torque to the drivetrain and a manual transmission selectable between a first gear set having a first gear ratio and a second gear set having a second gear ratio that transmits power to the output shaft at different rotational speeds. The power transmitting device also includes a hydraulic torque converter that multiplies torque. Torque is multiplied through the torque converter and is transmitted to the output shaft from the torque converter when the first gear set is selected and is not multiplied through the torque converter when the second gear set is selected.

Abstract: A two-speed transmission for a vehicle is provided including a planetary gear set selectively coupling an input shaft and an output shaft. The planetary gear set is configured to provide two forward gear ratios and neutral. The planetary gear set includes at least one sun gear, at least one pinion in meshing engagement with the sun gear, at least one ring gear meshingly engaged with the pinion, and a carrier. The carrier supports the pinion and is connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the carrier drives the output shaft. The two-speed transmission also includes one or more elements that rotatably couple different combinations of the sun gear, the pinion, the ring gear, the input shaft, and the carrier with one another or a ground. Such elements may include combinations of clutches, brakes, band brakes, dog clutches, and mechanical diodes.

Abstract: A piston ring has a body member for sitting in a ring groove of a piston. The body member has an inner periphery, upper wall, lower wall and an outer periphery. The outer periphery has a concavity therein for storing lubricant therein. The upper wall has an outer section proximate to the outer periphery is constructed to be resiliently flexible between a flexed and unflexed position such during a portion of a power stroke, the volume of the concavity to store the lubricant is decreased by the flexing of the upper wall to the flexed position for expelling lubricant therefrom to a wall of the cylinder. The wall resiliently returns to the unflexed position during other times to allow excess lubricant from the wall of the cylinder to pass into the concavity.

Abstract: A transmission includes a housing, a first shaft rotatably supported relative to the housing, and a second shaft rotatably coupled to the first shaft. A switch-type clutch assembly is movable between an engaged state having a first clutch member coupled to a second clutch member and a disengaged state having the first clutch member separated from the second clutch member. The housing rotates with the first shaft when the switch-type clutch assembly is in the engaged state. A friction clutch is movable between an engaged state having a first friction plate coupled to a second friction plate and a disengaged state having the first frication plate separated from the second frication plate. The second shaft is fixed for rotation with the first shaft via the housing when the switch-type clutch assembly and the friction clutch assembly are both in the engaged state.

Abstract: Methods for removal of condensed, blow-by contaminants with small molecular dimensions from the circulating lubricating engine oil of internal combustion engines, including automotive engines, with a positive crankcase ventilation system are disclosed. An adsorbent macroporous structure comprising alumino-silicate particles with micro-pores is at least partially immersed in the circulating oil. The micro-pores are sized to adsorb the small, condensed, blow-by, contaminant molecules but not the larger oil molecules. At low temperatures the contaminant molecules may be adsorbed and temporarily stored in the micropores. At higher temperatures some of the contaminants may desorb and be re-incorporated in the oil. The desorbed contaminants will circulate with the higher temperature oil into the engine crankcase where they may vaporize and be removed by the engine positive crankcase ventilation system.

Abstract: The volume of lubricating oil stored in the sump of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle is in significant excess of the volume of oil circulating through the engine at any one time. The circulating oil, drawn from the sump, may be rapidly heated during its passage through the engine, but the excess volume remaining in the sump dilutes and cools the circulating oil as it returns to the sump. By separating the oil volume into a portion which is circulated through the engine and a second portion which has only limited opportunity to mix with and cool the circulating oil the circulating oil may attain its operating temperature more rapidly. Once the stored volume of oil in the engine has also reached its operating temperature the circulating oil and stored oil may be recombined.

Abstract: A tribo-system includes a metal substrate having a surfactant layer chemisorbed to a side thereof, a lubricant established on the metal substrate, and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in the lubricant. Each of the nanoparticles includes i) an inorganic core having a predetermined size and shape, and ii) a surfactant shell chemisorbed to a surface of the inorganic core, where the surfactant shell has a predetermined thickness. The adhesive force and energy between the metal substrate surface and the nanoparticles is higher than the adhesive force and energy between individual particles of the nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method for controlling a coefficient of friction involves applying a magnetic force, an electro-magnetic force, and/or an electrostatic force to nanoparticles disposed on a surface. The method further involves controlling a rolling-to-sliding ratio of the nanoparticles on the surface by i) adjusting a value of the force applied to the nanoparticles, and/or ii) adjusting an orientation of the nanoparticles by adjusting a direction of the force applied to the nanoparticles.

Abstract: A lubrication system in a machine has a lubricant comprising a plurality of differently-sized species of lubricant molecules and a pump that circulates the lubricant to an area of the machine for lubrication, wherein a molecular sieve in the lubrication system adsorbs a species of lubricant molecules in a predetermined lubricant temperature range and desorbs the species of lubricant molecules at temperatures outside the predetermined lubricant temperature range.

Abstract: Disclosed are articles, lubrication systems, and methods that sequester lubricant viscosity modifiers via adsorption of the viscosity modifier molecules onto a molecular sieve material at lubricant temperatures below a threshold temperature and release of the viscosity modifier molecules from the molecular sieve material at lubricant temperatures at about the threshold temperature so that the viscosity modifier molecules are in the lubricant at temperatures from about the threshold temperature and higher. In this way, the viscosity modifier molecules are removed from the lubricant at temperatures where the lubricant has sufficient viscosity but released into the lubricant when they can useful increase the lubricant viscosity because it otherwise would be too low.

Abstract: The invention is a device for controlling the temperature and thus the viscosity of the lubricating fluid in a rear axle or differential. A first embodiment of the device comprehends a curved bi-metal strip or plate disposed proximate the ring gear and closely conforming to it. The strip extends about the periphery of the ring gear in the direction of rotation of the gear when the vehicle is moving forward. As the temperature of the lubricating fluid increases or decreases, the bi-metal strip or plate moves to direct a larger or smaller flow of the lubricating fluid toward the housing through which heat is transferred to the atmosphere. In another embodiment, a bi-metal baffle disposed adjacent the ring gear includes a plurality of flaps which open upon a rise in lubricating fluid temperature and direct more fluid to the housing to assist heat dissipation.

Abstract: Water and fuel contaminating material may be removed from a stream operating engine. A suitable membrane material is supported in a suitable housing. At least a portion of the contaminated oil stream is flowed over one side of the membrane and water and fuel material diffuses through the membrane to its other side where they are gathered and removed from the housing. The water and fuel material may be recovered separately using different membranes or different regions of a membrane. They may be swept from the membrane and housing a flow of air for disposition outside the housing.

Abstract: A piston ring has a body member for sitting in a ring groove of a piston. The body member has an inner periphery, upper wall, lower wall and an outer periphery. The outer periphery has a concavity therein for storing lubricant therein. The upper wall has an outer section proximate to the outer periphery is constructed to be resiliently flexible between a flexed and unflexed position such during a portion of a power stroke, the volume of the concavity to store the lubricant is decreased by the flexing of the upper wall to the flexed position for expelling lubricant therefrom to a wall of the cylinder. The wall resiliently returns to the unflexed position during other times to allow excess lubricant from the wall of the cylinder to pass into the concavity.

Abstract: A clutch is configured to transfer torque between a first element and a second element. The first element is coupled to a reaction plate and the second element is coupled to a friction plate disposed opposite the reaction plate. The friction plate includes a plate element, a friction layer, and a plurality of compressible members. The friction layer is fixedly attached to the plate element and defines a plurality of grooved voids. The compressible members are disposed in the grooved voids of the friction layer and fixedly attached to the plate element.

Abstract: A serviceable device for filtering lubricating oil includes an inlet and an outlet, a first filtering element and an absorption filtering element. The absorption filtering element is configured to absorb a fluidic contaminant present in the lubricating oil when in contact with the absorption filtering element. A flow path for the lubricating oil is from the inlet, through the first filtering element, and out the outlet. The flow path further includes lubricating oil contact with the absorption filtering element.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine includes an oil jet configured to communicate oil onto an internal engine surface. The oil jet is fluidly connected to a pressurized oil source via an oil flow controller that is configured to control oil flowrate to the oil jet in response to a temperature of the internal engine surface.

Abstract: A device for removing a fluidic contaminant from engine oil in an internal combustion engine includes a fluid absorbing element having a mounting element and a fluid absorption media assembled into a sump of a crankcase of the internal combustion engine. A first portion of the fluid absorption media is immersed within the engine oil contained in the sump when the engine is not operating and a second portion of the fluid absorption media is exposed to ambient air contained in a head space of the crankcase. The fluid absorption media is configured to absorb a fluidic contaminant in the engine oil during a period when the engine is not operating and to desorb the absorbed fluidic contaminant.

Abstract: A torque-transfer clutch includes a clutch reaction plate including an annular-shaped reaction element fixedly attached to a rigid plate element. The annular-shaped reaction element includes a preformed spring steel element and a plurality of undulations projecting orthogonal to a planar surface of the rigid plate element.

Abstract: Contaminating water and/or fuel material may be removed from a stream of internal combustion engine lubricating oil being circulated over parts of an operating engine. A suitable membrane material is supported in a suitable housing. At least a portion of the oil stream is flowed over one side of the membrane and water and/or fuel material diffuses through the membrane to its other side where they are gathered and removed from the housing. The water and fuel material may be recovered separately using different membranes or different regions of a membrane. They may be swept from the membranes and housings using streams of flowing air heated to a pre-selected temperatures using waste engine heat for disposition outside the housing. Application of this practice to other membrane-separable mixtures is described.