Patents by Inventor Michael W. Nank

Michael W. Nank 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).

  • Viscous actuated ball ramp clutch having through shaft capability
    Patent number: 6182808
    Abstract: A differential device (11) of the type including a clutch pack (23), engaged by a ball ramp actuator (21), which is initiated by a viscous coupling (19;101). The output of the device (11) is an output shaft (13) which is hollow and extends through the entire axial extent of the device. The viscous coupling (19;101) includes, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an annular input coupling member (25) and an annular output coupling member (27), within the input member, to define therebetween a cylindrical viscous shear chamber (29). The output coupling member (27) at least partially surrounds the first ramp plate (41) of the ball ramp actuator (21), and is in driving engagement therewith, for improved packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erlen B. Walton, Michael W. Nank, William N. Eybergen, James K. Spring