Abstract: A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a duel-mass flywheel. The vehicle includes crankshaft, an engine block, and a transmission. The dual-mass flywheel includes an engine side primary, a transmission side primary mass, and a secondary mass. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer race disposed about the axis, and an inner race disposed about the axis and disposed between the outer race and the axis. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch, with the other of the inner race and the outer race being rotatably coupled to the transmission side primary mass of the dual-mass flywheel. The one-way clutch is nested within the dual-mass flywheel with respect to the axis.

Abstract: A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle, with the vehicle including a crankshaft and an engine block, includes a dual-mass flywheel and a permanently engaged starter assembly. The dual-mass flywheel extends along an axis and has an inner diameter portion disposed about and adjacent the axis and an outer diameter portion disposed about the axis such that the inner diameter portion is disposed between the outer diameter portion and the axis. The permanently engaged starter assembly includes a one-way clutch and a ring gear. The one-way clutch extends along the axis and includes an inner member disposed about the axis and an outer member disposed about the inner member. The ring gear is rotatably coupled to the one-way clutch and is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the outer diameter portion of the dual-mass flywheel through the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A rotatable inner race is disclosed. The inner race may include a plurality of arcuate segments each having a first end with a first end geometry and a second end with a second end geometry. The first and second end geometries may be complimentary to each other to join adjacent arcuate segments at an interlocking joint. The rotatable inner race may further include a plurality of race engagement notches extending radially from an outer circumferential surface of each arcuate segment and the plurality of arcuate segments are joined together at the interlocking joints to form a race ring and the plurality of race engagement notches of each arcuate segment align with one another to define an array of race engagement notches around an outer circumference of the race ring.

Abstract: A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle, with the vehicle including a crankshaft and an engine block, includes a dual-mass flywheel and a permanently engaged starter assembly. The dual-mass flywheel extends along an axis and has an inner diameter portion disposed about and adjacent the axis and an outer diameter portion disposed about the axis such that the inner diameter portion is disposed between the outer diameter portion and the axis. The permanently engaged starter assembly includes a one-way clutch and a ring gear. The one-way clutch extends along the axis and includes an inner member disposed about the axis and an outer member disposed about the inner member. The ring gear is rotatably coupled to the one-way clutch and is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the outer diameter portion of the dual-mass flywheel through the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a dual-mass flywheel. The vehicle includes a crankshaft, an engine block, and a transmission. The dual-mass flywheel includes an engine side primary mass, a transmission side primary mass rotatably coupled to the engine side primary mass, and a secondary mass rotatably coupled to the transmission side primary mass. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an inner race disposed about the axis. The permanently engages starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to the inner race of the one-way clutch. The transmission side primary mass or the secondary mass of the dual-mass flywheel is configured to be an outer race for the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a dual-mass flywheel. The vehicle includes a crankshaft, an engine block, and a transmission. The dual-mass flywheel includes an engine side primary mass, a transmission side primary mass rotatably coupled to the engine side primary mass, and a secondary mass rotatably coupled to the transmission side primary mass. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an inner race disposed about the axis. The permanently engages starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to the inner race of the one-way clutch. The transmission side primary mass or the secondary mass of the dual-mass flywheel is configured to be an outer race for the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a duel-mass flywheel. The vehicle includes crankshaft, an engine block, and a transmission. The dual-mass flywheel includes an engine side primary, a transmission side primary mass, and a secondary mass. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer race disposed about the axis, and an inner race disposed about the axis and disposed between the outer race and the axis. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch, with the other of the inner race and the outer race being rotatably coupled to the transmission side primary mass of the dual-mass flywheel.

Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch can function with one or no races as opposed to conventional prior art one-way clutches. In so doing, the overall size and weight requirements of the one-way clutch are drastically reduced, which in turn drastically reduces the overall size and weight requirements of the transmission and vehicle employing the transmission as well. The present disclosure also provides a one-way clutch having an outer race provided by axially spaced plates. An inner race is rotatably mounted with respect to one of the plates and the inner race has a ratchet surface. Ratchet pawls are pivotably mounted with respect to the plates and have unidirectional engagement with the ratchet surface of the inner race. In addition to reducing material and labor production costs, such lessened size and weight penalties translate into higher transmission efficiency and better vehicle fuel economy.

Abstract: A torque converter (10) translates torque between an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission. The torque converter (10) includes a rotatable torque input member (20) adapted to be operatively coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and an impeller assembly (12) operatively coupled to rotate with the torque input member (20). The torque converter (10) further includes a turbine assembly (14) and a one-way clutch assembly (62). The turbine assembly (14) is fluidly connected in driven relationship with the impeller assembly (12) and adapted to be coupled to a rotatable transmission input shaft (56). The one-way clutch assembly (62) is disposed radially between the turbine assembly (14) and the transmission input shaft (56).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a circular laminated component are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises stamping an inlet stock of material to form a line of arc segments, the line of arc segments having: a plurality of notches along a first edge; a first longitudinal end; and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end; wrapping the line of arc segments to form a circular segment having the first edge along an inner-circumferential diameter of the circular segment; joining the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end to form a circular laminate layer; and stacking a plurality of circular laminate layers to form a laminate disc.

Abstract: A torque converter (10) translates torque between an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission. The torque converter (10) includes a rotatable torque input member (20) adapted to be operatively coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and an impeller assembly (12) operatively coupled to rotate with the torque input member (20). The torque converter (10) further includes a turbine assembly (14) and a one-way clutch assembly (62). The turbine assembly (14) is fluidly connected in driven relationship with the impeller assembly (12) and adapted to be coupled to a rotatable transmission input shaft (56). The one-way clutch assembly (62) is disposed radially between the turbine assembly (14) and the transmission input shaft (56).

Abstract: A rotatable inner race is disclosed. The inner race may include a plurality of arcuate segments each having a first end with a first end geometry and a second end with a second end geometry. The first and second end geometries may be complimentary to each other to join adjacent arcuate segments at an interlocking joint. The rotatable inner race may further include a plurality of race engagement notches extending radially form an outer circumferential surface of each arcuate segment and the plurality of arcuate segments are joined together at the interlocking joints to form a race ring and the plurality of race engagement notches of each arcuate segment align with one another to define an array of race engagement notches around an outer circumference of the race ring.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a circular laminated component are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises stamping an inlet stock of material to form a line of arc segments, the line of arc segments having: a plurality of notches along a first edge; a first longitudinal end; and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end; wrapping the line of arc segments to form a circular segment having the first edge along an inner-circumferential diameter of the circular segment; joining the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end to form a circular laminate layer; and stacking a plurality of circular laminate layers to form a laminate disc.

Abstract: A race for a mechanical clutch assembly may be formed from multiple race layers that assembled from pluralities of stamped arcuate segments. First and second race layers may have the same shape when their arcuate segments are assembled are assembled. The arcuate segments of the first race layer may be identical to each other, and the arcuate segments of the second race layer may be identical to each other, but the first layer arcuate segments are not identical to the second layer arcuate segments. Interlocking joints between the first layer arcuate segments are not aligned with interlocking joints between the second layer arcuate segments when the race layers are joined together and aligned for use in the mechanical clutch assembly.

Abstract: A one-way or selectable clutch with multiple circumferential rows of ratchet elements is disclosed. The clutch may include two or more rows of ratchet elements extending between two or more races. The device may be either a one-way clutch or a selectable mechanical clutch, and afford the benefits of reduced backlash and multiple modes of operation. Those modes may include free-wheel/overrun in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, locked/transmit torque in both directions, locked in clockwise and overrun in counterclockwise directions, and locked in counterclockwise and overrun in clockwise directions.

Abstract: A transmission clutch module includes first and second races, and a plurality of race engagement mechanisms situated between the races. The module incorporates an integrated hydraulic actuator having an actuator cam ring that includes cam ramps configured for moving the race engagement mechanisms between positions adapted to selectively interact with the races. As such, the actuator, designed to be contained entirely within a generally circumferential envelope of the clutch module, may control rotation of the actuator cam ring between at least two spaced angular positions in at least one embodiment. In various other embodiments within the scope of this disclosure, the actuator cam ring may be adapted to rotate among any number of pre-determined positions to operatively permit or prevent the transmittal of torque between the first and second races.

Abstract: A race for a mechanical clutch assembly may be formed from multiple race layers that assembled from pluralities of stamped arcuate segments. First and second race layers may have the same shape when their arcuate segments are assembled are assembled. The arcuate segments of the first race layer may be identical to each other, and the arcuate segments of the second race layer may be identical to each other, but the first layer arcuate segments are not identical to the second layer arcuate segments. Interlocking joints between the first layer arcuate segments are not aligned with interlocking joints between the second layer arcuate segments when the race layers are joined together and aligned for use in the mechanical clutch assembly.

Abstract: A one-way or selectable clutch with multiple circumferential rows of ratchet elements is disclosed. The clutch may include two or more rows of ratchet elements extending between two or more races. The device may be either a one-way clutch or a selectable mechanical clutch, and afford the benefits of reduced backlash and multiple modes of operation. Those modes may include free-wheel/overrun in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, locked/transmit torque in both directions, locked in clockwise and overrun in counterclockwise directions, and locked in counterclockwise and overrun in clockwise directions.

Abstract: A transmission clutch module includes first and second races, and a plurality of race engagement mechanisms situated between the races. The module incorporates an integrated hydraulic actuator having an actuator cam ring that includes cam ramps configured for moving the race engagement mechanisms between positions adapted to selectively interact with the races. As such, the actuator, designed to be contained entirely within a generally circumferential envelope of the clutch module, may control rotation of the actuator cam ring between at least two spaced angular positions in at least one embodiment. In various other embodiments within the scope of this disclosure, the actuator cam ring may be adapted to rotate among any number of pre-determined positions to operatively permit or prevent the transmittal of torque between the first and second races.

Abstract: A composite clutch used to transmit an operational range of torques from a driving member to a driven member includes a friction clutch assembly and a dog clutch assembly. The friction clutch assembly includes a number of first friction clutch members coupled to the driving member and a number of second friction clutch members coupled to the driven member. The number of first friction clutch members and the number of second friction clutch members are selected to transmit torque across a first portion of the operational range of torques. An actuator assembly is operatively coupled to the friction clutch assembly and the dog clutch assembly. The composite clutch may be operated in friction clutch and dog modes to provide improved controllability in lower torque operation.