Patents by Inventor Michael Van Sickle

Michael Van Sickle 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: 9080616
    Abstract: A subassembly for a transmission including a seal having a protrusion, a piston including a tab, and a lip about said piston, wherein an axial gap is formed between said tab and said lip, said piston also including a hole corresponding to said protrusion and operatively arranged to receive said protrusion for securing seal to said piston, a spring element disposed in said axial gap between said tab and said lip, wherein said spring element includes a finger corresponding to said tab, wherein said finger is aligned with said tab for axially locking said spring element between said tab and said lip, and wherein said tab includes a recess operatively arranged for receiving said finger for rotationally locking said spring element to said piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Chris Luipold, Michael Van Sickle
  • Patent number: 8739524
    Abstract: A torque converter including a cover, a turbine pump in fluid contact with the turbine, and a pump shell connected to the cover. The torque converter includes a pump hub connected to the pump shell such that the pump shell and the pump hub are fixed with respect to rotation. The pump hub also includes a portion with a distal end having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of sloped surfaces in contact with the plurality of indentations. The plurality of sloped surfaces is arranged to receive a plurality of protrusions for a transmission pump gear and to urge the pump hub or the pump gear into rotational motion to urge the plurality of protrusions into mating engagement with the plurality of indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: William Brees, Philip George, Michael Van Sickle, Edward Pasho
  • Publication number: 20120061202
    Abstract: A subassembly for a transmission including a seal having a protrusion, a piston including a tab, and a lip about said piston, wherein an axial gap is formed between said tab and said lip, said piston also including a hole corresponding to said protrusion and operatively arranged to receive said protrusion for securing seal to said piston, a spring element disposed in said axial gap between said tab and said lip, wherein said spring element includes a finger corresponding to said tab, wherein said finger is aligned with said tab for axially locking said spring element between said tab and said lip, and wherein said tab includes a recess operatively arranged for receiving said finger for rotationally locking said spring element to said piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Chris Luipold, Michael Van Sickle
  • Publication number: 20110154813
    Abstract: A torque converter including a cover, a turbine pump in fluid contact with the turbine, and a pump shell connected to the cover. The torque converter includes a pump hub connected to the pump shell such that the pump shell and the pump hub are fixed with respect to rotation. The pump hub also includes a portion with a distal end having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of sloped surfaces in contact with the plurality of indentations. The plurality of sloped surfaces is arranged to receive a plurality of protrusions for a transmission pump gear and to urge the pump hub or the pump gear into rotational motion to urge the plurality of protrusions into mating engagement with the plurality of indentations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: William Brees, Philip George, Michael Van Sickle, Edward Pasho
  • Publication number: 20110150670
    Abstract: A pump for a transmission, including: a housing with a pneumatic port; and a gear for engaging with a pump hub for a torque converter, wherein the pneumatic port is for introducing compressed air into the housing to restrict rotation of the gear. In an example embodiment, restricting rotation of the gear is to prevent rotation of the gear when the gear is interfaced with the pump hub to rotationally lock the gear with the pump hub. A pump for a transmission, including: a housing; a gear for engaging with a pump hub for a torque converter; and, an element for enabling rotation of the gear in a first rotational direction and locking the gear with respect to rotation in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction. In an example embodiment the element includes a one-way clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: William BREES, Philip GEORGE, Michael VAN SICKLE, Christopher KRAUSE, Jeffrey HEMPHILL, Chad MULLEN
  • Patent number: 7850426
    Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover arranged to accept torque from a drive unit and an impeller. The cover and the impeller are joined by a crimped connection. In some aspects, the converter includes a sealing element disposed between the cover and the impeller and the sealing element is selected from the group consisting of an o-ring and a gasket. In some aspects, the cover is a cast piece. In some aspects, the cover is formed by a process selected from the group consisting of: molding, compression molding, and pressed metal forming. In some aspects, the cover is a stamped metal piece. The present invention also broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover, an impeller, and an induction brazed connection joining the cover and impeller. In some aspects, the cover further comprises axially disposed fingers engaged with the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Nigel Gurney, Michael Van Sickle, David Avins, Michael Buck, Christopher Hensel, Aaron J. Schley
  • Patent number: 7841174
    Abstract: A torque converter cover including a protrusion extending from an outer surface of the torque converter cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion matingly engaged with the protrusion. In some embodiments, the protrusion is generally cylindrical, while in other embodiments, the recessed portion is generally cylindrical. A method of fixedly securing a pilot boss to a torque converter cover, the torque converter cover including a protrusion from an outer surface of the cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion, the method including the step of matingly engaging said recessed portion to the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Van Sickle
  • Publication number: 20080149443
    Abstract: A torque converter cover including a protrusion extending from an outer surface of the torque converter cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion matingly engaged with the protrusion. In some embodiments, the protrusion is generally cylindrical, while in other embodiments, the recessed portion is generally cylindrical. A method of fixedly securing a pilot boss to a torque converter cover, the torque converter cover including a protrusion from an outer surface of the cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion, the method including the step of matingly engaging said recessed portion to the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Michael Van Sickle
  • Publication number: 20070224046
    Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover arranged to accept torque from a drive unit and an impeller. The cover and the impeller are joined by a crimped connection. In some aspects, the converter includes a sealing element disposed between the cover and the impeller and the sealing element is selected from the group consisting of an o-ring and a gasket. In some aspects, the cover is a cast piece. In some aspects, the cover is formed by a process selected from the group consisting of: molding, compression molding, and pressed metal forming. In some aspects, the cover is a stamped metal piece. The present invention also broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover, an impeller, and an induction brazed connection joining the cover and impeller. In some aspects, the cover further comprises axially disposed fingers engaged with the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Nigel Gurney, Michael Van Sickle, David Avins, Michael Buck, Christopher Hensel, Aaron J. Schley