Abstract: An accessories drive system, including: a clutch assembly with a drive shaft; and at least one accessory device connected to the drive shaft. In a first position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit a first torque from an output shaft for a transmission to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of a launch device for the vehicle. In a second position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit a second torque from the launch device to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and the rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of the output shaft for the transmission.

Abstract: An improved actuator assembly including an eccentric leadscrew actuator assembly with a housing having a stator and a plurality of coils is provided. A rotor is arranged radially inwardly from the stator and includes a first threading on a radially inner surface. A shaft is arranged in a fixed axial position and radially inwardly from the rotor, and includes a second threading on a radially outer surface that engages the first threading of the rotor. A bearing assembly is fixed to the rotor, and the bearing assembly supports an eccentric ring connected to the rotor. The rotor rotates eccentrically around the shaft based on energization of the plurality of coils of the stator. The rotor is axially displaceable by rotation thereof via rolling engagement of the first threading of the rotor and the second threading of the shaft along an axially extending tangent line.

Abstract: A workpiece support is provided for a pickup truck tailgate. The tailgate includes a retractable step including a pair of step support members. The attachment brackets include a workpiece support bar and a riser that are attached to the step support members and to each other at a right angle. The workpiece support bar and riser may be fixedly attached to each other or attached by a pivot connector. Detachable connectors are provided to connect a workpiece support bar and riser detachably to the step support members.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for a motor vehicle drive train is provided. The clutch assembly includes a clutch pack; a piston for engaging the clutch pack; a housing including a surface for slidably supporting the piston; a release spring for disengaging the piston from the clutch; and a bearing supporting the clutch pack. The bearing limiting axial movement of the release spring away from the piston. A method of assembling a clutch assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A pump is provided. The pump includes a fluid inlet section; a fluid outlet section; a stator axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section; a rotor axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section, the rotor and the stator defining a fluid flow space radially therebetween; a movable inlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space; and a movable outlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid flow space into the fluid outlet section. The rotor is rotatable inside of the stator by electromagnetic forces urging the rotor towards the stator. Rotation of the stator and movement of the inlet guide and the outlet guide create a pressure in a first portion of the fluid flow space that forces fluid from the fluid flow space through the fluid outlet section and create a vacuum in a second portion of the fluid flow space that pulls fluid from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space.

Abstract: A starter assembly including a starter and starting device. The starter includes: an electric motor including a motor shaft; an output shaft non-rotatably connected to the motor shaft; and a one-way clutch including a first race including an axially fixed pinion gear and a second race non-rotatably connected to the output shaft. The starting device includes a wrap spring clutch with first and second ends. For a start mode: the electric motor rotates the motor shaft and the pinion gear in a first circumferential direction; the pinion gear rotates the second end, with respect to the first end, in the first circumferential direction; and, the wrap spring clutch rotates a torque converter shell in the first circumferential direction. For a first phase of a release mode: the electric motor rotates the second race in a second circumferential direction; and the first race rotates in the second circumferential direction.

Abstract: A disconnect system for an all-wheel drive vehicle drive train is provided. The disconnect system includes a first torque transmitter, a second torque transmitter and a clutch selectively connecting the first torque transmitter and the second torque transmitter. The clutch includes an engagement section and an inner race and an outer race supporting the engagement section. The inner race is arranged to be forced against the engagement section to lock the clutch and moved away from the engagement section to unlock the clutch.

Abstract: An expandable piston assembly for a clutch pack includes an apply piston, a stator, a rotor, and at least one side cover fixed to the stator. The stator is fixed to the apply piston and includes a first arcuate segment and a first radial protrusion extending from the first arcuate segment and including a distal end. The rotor is axially aligned with and rotatable relative to the stator. The rotor includes a second arcuate segment extending proximate the first radial protrusion distal end and a second radial protrusion extending from the second arcuate segment and including a distal end proximate the first arcuate segment. In some example embodiments, the first and second arcuate segments, the first and second radial protrusions, and the at least one side cover collectively form a portion of a first chamber for receiving a pressurized hydraulic fluid to rotate the rotor relative to the stator.

Abstract: A tuned damper for a torque converter includes a piston plate with a pivot ring, an inertia ring at least partially rotatable in a circumferential direction relative to the piston plate, and a resilient element fixed to the inertia ring and frictionally engaged with the piston plate pivot ring. In some example embodiments, the pivot ring includes a pair of radially extending tabs, the resilient element includes a radially-extending leaf spring fixed to a slide roll, and an outer circumference of the slide roll is clamped by the pivot ring tabs. In an example embodiment, the pivot ring tabs each include respective distal bent segments extending toward one another to limit radial displacement of the slide roll. In an example embodiment, an inertia of the inertia ring and a torsional spring rate of the resilient element are selected so that a natural frequency of the inertia ring is less than a shudder frequency.

Abstract: A transmission clutch assembly includes at least one rotatable clutch plate or friction plate, a reaction plate, a non-rotatable piston, at least one bearing roller, and a cage. The reaction plate is arranged to rotate with and apply a force to the at least one rotatable clutch plate or friction plate. The non-rotatable piston is arranged for sealing engagement with a transmission housing. The at least one bearing roller arranged between and contactable with the reaction plate and the piston to permit relative rotational motion therebetween. The cage is for positioning the at least one roller and is retained by the reaction plate or the piston.

Abstract: A transmission including first and second input shafts rotatable about a first axis of rotation; at least one output shaft rotatable about at least one second axis of rotation, the at least one second axis of rotation non-collinear with the first axis of rotation; a plurality of lay shafts; a plurality of gears; and a plurality of half synchronizer clutches arranged to non-rotatably connect at least a portion of the plurality of gears to the plurality of lay shafts to transmit respective torque from the first and second input shafts to the at least one output shaft and disconnect the at least a portion of the plurality of gears from the plurality of lay shafts.

Abstract: A system including: at least one accessory device connected to an accessories drive shaft; a motor/generator including an input/output shaft; a first clutch arranged to receive torque from an engine and connected to the accessories drive shaft; a second clutch connected to the input/output shaft; and first and second torque transfer elements. The first torque transfer element is connected to the input/output shaft and the accessories drive shaft to reduce a rotational speed of the input/output shaft. The second torque transfer element is arranged to connect to a transmission input shaft, is connected to the second clutch, and is arranged to increase a rotational speed of the transmission input shaft. For a generator mode, the first clutch is arranged to be opened, the second clutch is arranged to be closed; and the transmission input shaft is arranged to rotate the input/output shaft via the second torque transfer element.

Abstract: A dual clutch having a flywheel comprising an inner conical surface and an outer conical surface, a first clutch comprising a first contact member that is axially movable along an axis relative to first and second transmission-side input shafts for engaging a first conical clutch disc connected to a first input shaft with the inner conical surface of the flywheel, a second clutch comprising a second contact member that is axially movable along the axis relative to the first and second transmission-side input shafts for engaging a second conical clutch disk connected to a second input shaft with the outer conical surface of the flywheel, a mounting means connected to a clutch housing of the dual clutch or to a transmission housing of a motor vehicle transmission, and, actuation means for moving the first clutch and/or the second clutch along the axis.

Abstract: A harmonic balancer assembly is provided including a drive plate adapted to be attached to a crankshaft or other drive shaft. A first circumferentially extending elastomeric ring is connected to an axial face of the drive plate. An inertia ring is provided which also includes an axial face that is connected to the first elastomeric ring. A drive element can be connected to or engaged with the inertia ring in order to transmit torque from the drive plate to a further element in a drive train. The inertia ring can be connected to a pulley, a torque converter, or other transmission element in order to, for example, transfer torque from a crankshaft to a further transmission component or to transfer torque to a separate power take off.

Abstract: An improved actuator assembly including an eccentric leadscrew actuator assembly with a housing having a stator and a plurality of coils is provided. A rotor is arranged radially inwardly from the stator and includes a first threading on a radially inner surface. A shaft is arranged in a fixed axial position and radially inwardly from the rotor, and includes a second threading on a radially outer surface that engages the first threading of the rotor. A bearing assembly is fixed to the rotor, and the bearing assembly supports an eccentric ring connected to the rotor. The rotor rotates eccentrically around the shaft based on energization of the plurality of coils of the stator. The rotor is axially displaceable by rotation thereof via rolling engagement of the first threading of the rotor and the second threading of the shaft along an axially extending tangent line.

Abstract: An accessories drive system, including: a clutch assembly with a drive shaft; and at least one accessory device connected to the drive shaft. In a first position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit a first torque from an output shaft for a transmission to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of a launch device for the vehicle. In a second position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit a second torque from the launch device to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and the rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of the output shaft for the transmission.

Abstract: An accessories drive system, including: a clutch assembly with a drive shaft; and at least one accessory device connected to the drive shaft. In a first position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit first torque from an output shaft for a transmission to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of a launch device for the vehicle. In a second position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit second torque from the launch device to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and the rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of the output shaft for the transmission.

Abstract: A transmission including first and second input shafts rotatable about a first axis of rotation; at least one output shaft rotatable about at least one second axis of rotation, the at least one second axis of rotation non-collinear with the first axis of rotation; a plurality of lay shafts; a plurality of gears; and a plurality of half synchronizer clutches arranged to non-rotatably connect at least a portion of the plurality of gears to the plurality of lay shafts to transmit respective torque from the first and second input shafts to the at least one output shaft and disconnect the at least a portion of the plurality of gears from the plurality of lay shafts.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly, including a camshaft phaser with: stator; rotor including first plurality of circumferentially aligned ramps; and second plurality of circumferentially aligned ramps offset from the first plurality of ramps in a first axial direction; first and second wedge plates radially disposed between the rotor and the stator; and camshaft non-rotatably connected to the rotor. In a drive mode: the stator is arranged to receive first torque and to rotate in a first direction; the assembly is arranged to operate in successive cycles of a first phase followed by a second phase; in the first phase the first wedge plate non-rotatably connects the stator and the rotor while the second wedge plate is rotatable with respect to the stator; and in the second phase, the second wedge plate non-rotatably connects the stator and the rotor while the first wedge plate is rotatable with respect to the stator.

Abstract: An accessories drive system, including: a accessory device; and a clutch assembly including: an electric machine; a drive shaft connected to the machine and accessory device; at least one clutch; and a control unit to: connect, using the clutch, the drive shaft to the crankshaft or the input shaft; rotate the drive shaft with the crankshaft or the input shaft; disconnect, using the clutch, the drive shaft from the crankshaft or the input shaft; accelerate or decelerate, using the machine, rotation of the drive shaft at a first absolute rate less than a second absolute rate of acceleration or deceleration of the engine or the input shaft; and when a speed of rotation of the drive shaft is within a predetermined range of a speed of rotation of the crankshaft or the input shaft, close the clutch to engage the drive shaft with the crankshaft or the input shaft.