Patents by Inventor Joaquin J. Affonso, III

Joaquin J. Affonso, III 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).

  • Publication number: 20210116024
    Abstract: A torque transmitting device and a mechanism for applying a force to engage the torque transmitting device include a piston having an inner apply face and an outer apply face, where the inner apply face is offset from the outer apply face along an apply axis of the piston. A spring is disposed adjacent to the inner apply face or the outer apply face. The spring is configured to contact an adjacent plate of the torque transmitting device. The mechanism is movable between a first engaged position, a second engaged position, and a disengaged position. The mechanism is configured to apply force to the adjacent plate through the spring and one of the inner and outer apply faces in the first engaged position, and the mechanism is configured to apply force to the adjacent plate through the spring and through both apply faces in the second engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Joaquin J. Affonso, III
  • Publication number: 20200224700
    Abstract: A snap ring is configured to retain components within a clutch assembly. The snap ring has an annular body defining an opening through a center thereof. The annular main body defines a distal-facing surface and an opposite proximal-facing surface. A number of retention features extend from the distal-facing surface of the annular main body. Each retention feature has an axially-extending body portion a radially-extending engagement portion. The engagement portion is configured to engage a backing plate. A friction clutch assembly including a snap ring pair is also provided, which includes a clutch snap ring disposed adjacent to the snap ring including the retention features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory W. Deneszczuk, Ryan Du Tour, Manuel Martinez Sanchez, Jonathan Kline, Joaquin J. Affonso, III
  • Patent number: 10697489
    Abstract: A snap ring is configured to retain components within a clutch assembly. The snap ring has an annular body defining an opening through a center thereof. The annular main body defines a distal-facing surface and an opposite proximal-facing surface. A number of retention features extend from the distal-facing surface of the annular main body. Each retention feature has an axially-extending body portion a radially-extending engagement portion. The engagement portion is configured to engage a backing plate. A friction clutch assembly including a snap ring pair is also provided, which includes a clutch snap ring disposed adjacent to the snap ring including the retention features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory W. Deneszczuk, Ryan Du Tour, Manuel Martinez Sanchez, Jonathan Kline, Joaquin J. Affonso, III
  • Patent number: 10267368
    Abstract: A torque transmitting device having a spring pack assembly, includes a first spring retainer ring abutting the hydraulically actuated piston, a second spring retainer ring abutting the piston housing, and a plurality of coiled springs biasing the first spring retainer ring apart from the second retainer ring, thereby urging the hydraulically actuated piston slideably apart from the fixed piston housing. The first and second spring retainer rings includes a plurality of radially extending spring support surfaces defining center openings and a plurality of axially extending tabs. The first and second spring retainer rings are coaxially disposed such that the plurality of tabs of one spring retainer ring extends through the opening of the other spring retainer ring. The tab includes a width sufficiently wide to support the inner diameter of the coiled spring to prevent the spring from bowing out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory W. Deneszczuk, Joaquin J. Affonso, III, Douglas J. Dwenger
  • Patent number: 10233980
    Abstract: A torque transmitting device having a spring pack assembly, includes a first spring retainer ring abutting a hydraulically actuated piston, a second spring retainer ring abutting a piston housing, and a plurality of coiled springs biasing the first spring retainer ring apart from the second retainer ring, thereby urging the hydraulically actuated piston slideably apart from the fixed piston housing. A composite spring support ring is coaxially disposed between the first spring retainer ring and the second spring retainer ring. The spring support ring includes cylindrical walls defining cylindrical passageways configured to receive the coiled springs. Each of the cylindrical passageway includes include a diameter (d) that is sufficiently narrow such that the cylindrical wall completely surrounds the mid-portion of the coiled spring thus preventing the coiled spring from bending lengthwise, but sufficiently wide such that the coiled spring does not saw into the cylindrical walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory W. Deneszczuk, Joaquin J. Affonso, III
  • Publication number: 20180163794
    Abstract: A torque transmitting device having a spring pack assembly, includes a first spring retainer ring abutting a hydraulically actuated piston, a second spring retainer ring abutting a piston housing, and a plurality of coiled springs biasing the first spring retainer ring apart from the second retainer ring, thereby urging the hydraulically actuated piston slideably apart from the fixed piston housing. A composite spring support ring is coaxially disposed between the first spring retainer ring and the second spring retainer ring. The spring support ring includes cylindrical walls defining cylindrical passageways configured to receive the coiled springs. Each of the cylindrical passageway includes include a diameter (d) that is sufficiently narrow such that the cylindrical wall completely surrounds the mid-portion of the coiled spring thus preventing the coiled spring from bending lengthwise, but sufficiently wide such that the coiled spring does not saw into the cylindrical walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory W. Deneszczuk, Joaquin J. Affonso, III
  • Publication number: 20180156283
    Abstract: A torque transmitting device having a spring pack assembly, includes a first spring retainer ring abutting the hydraulically actuated piston, a second spring retainer ring abutting the piston housing, and a plurality of coiled springs biasing the first spring retainer ring apart from the second retainer ring, thereby urging the hydraulically actuated piston slideably apart from the fixed piston housing. The first and second spring retainer rings includes a plurality of radially extending spring support surfaces defining center openings and a plurality of axially extending tabs. The first and second spring retainer rings are coaxially disposed such that the plurality of tabs of one spring retainer ring extends through the opening of the other spring retainer ring. The tab includes a width sufficiently wide to support the inner diameter of the coiled spring to prevent the spring from bowing out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory W. Deneszczuk, Joaquin J. Affonso, III, Douglas J. Dwenger