Patents by Inventor Jacob Rufener

Jacob Rufener 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).

  • Patent number: 10267398
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a turbine including a turbine shell including a radially extending turbine shell wall, an impeller including an impeller shell including a radially extending impeller shell wall, a diaphragm spring rotationally fixed to one of the turbine and the impeller, and a friction material fixed to the diaphragm spring. The radially extending turbine shell wall and the radially extending impeller shell wall are engageable via the friction material and the diaphragm spring to form a lockup clutch. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: John Ramsey, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Patent number: 9874251
    Abstract: A strut for a rocker one-way clutch comprising: a body having: a center point; an outer circumferential edge having a first radius with respect to the center point; and, an inner circumferential edge having a second radius with respect to the center point; and, a retention segment having: a neck portion directly connected to the body and extending from the body in a first direction; and, a spring retention portion extending from the neck portion. Also discloses is a rocker one-way clutch comprising: an axis of rotation; an outer race including at least one pocket; an inner race; a strut as above, wherein the body is at least partially locatable in the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Aditya Dattawadkar, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20170102039
    Abstract: A strut for a rocker one-way clutch comprising: a body having: a center point; an outer circumferential edge having a first radius with respect to the center point; and, an inner circumferential edge having a second radius with respect to the center point; and, a retention segment having: a neck portion directly connected to the body and extending from the body in a first direction; and, a spring retention portion extending from the neck portion. Also discloses is a rocker one-way clutch comprising: an axis of rotation; an outer race including at least one pocket; an inner race; a strut as above, wherein the body is at least partially locatable in the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Aditya Dattawadkar, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20160084364
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a turbine including a turbine shell including a radially extending turbine shell wall, an impeller including an impeller shell including a radially extending impeller shell wall, a diaphragm spring rotationally fixed to one of the turbine and the impeller, and a friction material fixed to the diaphragm spring. The radially extending turbine shell wall and the radially extending impeller shell wall are engageable via the friction material and the diaphragm spring to form a lockup clutch. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: John RAMSEY, Markus STEINBERGER, Jacob RUFENER
  • Publication number: 20160017937
    Abstract: A rocker one-way clutch includes a stator housing, an inner race, and a strut. The stator housing has a strut pocket and a plurality of stator blades. The inner race has a first angled contact face. The strut is disposed in the strut pocket and has a second angled contact face arranged to contact the first angled contact face. In an example embodiment, an angle between a line passing from the contact face to a rocker pivot center and a line parallel to the contact face is acute. In an example embodiment, the acute angle is approximately 10 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Trevor McConnell, Gregory Blough, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener, Bohua Zhang
  • Patent number: 9140346
    Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover; a pump shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine shell; and a one-way clutch including: an outer race non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell and including a groove; an output hub including a first outer surface with first ramps; and at least one wedge plate including a second inner surface with second ramps engaged with the first ramps and a second outer surface disposed within the groove. For rotation of the outer race with respect to the output hub in a first direction, the outer race is rotatable with respect to the at least one wedge plate and the output hub. For rotation of the outer race with respect to the hub in a second direction, opposite the first direction, the at least one wedge plate is arranged to non-rotatably connect the outer race and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Patent number: 9091312
    Abstract: A one-way clutch, including: an outer race including a pocket and a strut. The strut includes a body and a retention segment. The body is at least partially locatable in the pocket. The retention segment includes a neck portion and a spring retention portion. The neck portion is directly connected to the body and extends from the body in a first direction. The spring retention portion extends from the neck portion in the first direction and includes first and second segments extending in second and third opposite directions, orthogonal to the first direction, from the neck portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Scaheffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick M. Lindemann, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20150096857
    Abstract: A stator assembly for a torque converter includes a housing, a blocking element, an inner race, and a first ring. The housing includes a plurality of stator blades, a central axis, and a pocket. The blocking element is disposed in the pocket and is pivotable about an axis parallel to the central axis. The inner race includes an outer notch for engaging the blocking element, an inner spline for engaging a transmission shaft, and a first outer piloting surface. The first ring is for radially positioning the housing on the inner race first outer piloting surface. In some example embodiments, the housing includes a bore and the first ring is pressed into the housing bore. In some example embodiments, the housing includes a radially extending surface in contact with the first ring. In an example embodiment, the radially extending surface limits axial displacement of the inner race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jacob Rufener, Markus Steinberger, Michael Resh, David Burky, JR., Patrick Lindemann
  • Publication number: 20150037158
    Abstract: A stamped stator for a torque converter includes a first blade plate, a second blade plate, an outer race, at least one wedge plate, and an inner race. The first blade plate includes a first blade portion, a first radial wall connected to the first blade portion, a first plurality of radially inwardly extending tabs, and a second radially inwardly extending surface. The second blade plate includes a second blade portion axially aligned with the first blade portion, and a second radial wall axially aligned with the first radial wall. The outer race is disposed axially between the first and second blade plates and includes a third radial wall radially and axially aligned with the first radial wall, a fourth radial wall radially and axially aligned with the second radial wall, and an inwardly facing circumferential notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20140326566
    Abstract: A one-way clutch, including: a housing including a top side and a plurality of indentations in the housing, each indentation including: a respective opening in a portion of the top side; a respective bottom wall opposite the respective opening in an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation for the one-way clutch; and a respective side wall. The respective side wall: connects the respective opening and the respective bottom wall and tapers inward from the respective opening to the respective bottom wall. The clutch includes a plurality of struts, each strut including a first segment disposed in a respective indentation and including a respective side surface substantially parallel to the respective side wall. Each strut is pivotable in the respective indentation to enable rotation of the housing in a first rotational direction and to block rotation of the housing in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick M. Lindemann, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20140251744
    Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover; a pump shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine shell; and a one-way clutch including: an outer race non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell and including a groove; an output hub including a first outer surface with first ramps; and at least one wedge plate including a second inner surface with second ramps engaged with the first ramps and a second outer surface disposed within the groove. For rotation of the outer race with respect to the output hub in a first direction, the outer race is rotatable with respect to the at least one wedge plate and the output hub. For rotation of the outer race with respect to the hub in a second direction, opposite the first direction, the at least one wedge plate is arranged to non-rotatably connect the outer race and the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20140197002
    Abstract: A one-way clutch, including: an outer race including a pocket and a strut. The strut includes a body and a retention segment. The body is at least partially locatable in the pocket. The retention segment includes a neck portion and a spring retention portion. The neck portion is directly connected to the body and extends from the body in a first direction. The spring retention portion extends from the neck portion in the first direction and includes first and second segments extending in second and third opposite directions, orthogonal to the first direction, from the neck portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick M. Lindemann, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener
  • Publication number: 20140178192
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a stator including positioning a cutting device, with a diameter equal to a desired pocket diameter, with respect to pockets in a side of a housing. Each pocket has an end wall with an indentation. The method axially displaces the device to remove material from side and end walls for the pockets to form desired diameters and lengths for the pockets, while leaving a portion of the respective indentation in place. The housing includes a plurality of blades. Each pocket is arranged to receive an engagement assembly for a one-way clutch. Each pocket includes a first opening facing in a second axial direction and a second opening in communication with the first opening and at least partially facing in a circumferential direction. The first side faces the second axial direction and the side walls are in communication with the first and second openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick M. Lindemann, Markus Steinberger, Jacob Rufener, Nigel Gurney