Patents by Inventor Robert J. DeGowske

Robert J. DeGowske 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: 9890819
    Abstract: A clutched device including an actuator and a clutch. The actuator can include a housing and a piston having a first, second, and third face. The first face and the housing can define a first chamber. The second face and the housing can define a second chamber. The second face can have a greater surface area than the first face. The third face and the housing can define a third chamber, isolated from the first and second chambers. A conduit can couple the first and second chambers. A vent can be coupled to the third chamber. A pump can pump fluid from a reservoir to the first chamber. A valve can selectively inhibit fluid communication between the second chamber and the reservoir. A shift element can be coupled to the piston for common translation and can move a clutch member between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. DeGowske, Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Publication number: 20160230816
    Abstract: A clutched device including an actuator and a clutch. The actuator can include a housing and a piston having a first, second, and third face. The first face and the housing can define a first chamber. The second face and the housing can define a second chamber. The second face can have a greater surface area than the first face. The third face and the housing can define a third chamber, isolated from the first and second chambers. A conduit can couple the first and second chambers. A vent can be coupled to the third chamber. A pump can pump fluid from a reservoir to the first chamber. A valve can selectively inhibit fluid communication between the second chamber and the reservoir. A shift element can be coupled to the piston for common translation and can move a clutch member between first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Robert J. DeGowske, Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9249873
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a housing, a clutch, a vent, and a dam. The vent can fluidly couple a first and second cavity. The dam can include a door member. Rotation of the outer carrier through a fluid in the second cavity can sling a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity. When the piston is in a first position, the door member can be in a closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity. When the piston is in a second position, the door member can be in an open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Pump, Charles G. Stuart, John C. Hibbler, James P. Downs, Shawn S. Proctor, Robert J. DeGowske, Adrian M. Lenczewski, Firoz Ali S. Jafri, Paul J. Valente, Brian McCormick, Thomas C. Bowen, Paul W. Kornosky
  • Patent number: 9174632
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a friction clutch, a reservoir, a hydraulic ram to actuate the clutch, a motor, and first and second pumps simultaneously driven by the motor. The first pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the ram. The first pump is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the ram when the motor rotates in a first direction. The second pump is coupled to the reservoir and provides hydraulic fluid to the ram when the output shaft rotates in the first direction and a pressure differential between the ram and the second pump is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure differential. The second pump has a displacement greater than the first pump and is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the ram at a lower pressure and higher flow rate than the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. DeGowske, Charles G. Stuart
  • Publication number: 20150133266
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a friction clutch, a reservoir, a hydraulic ram to actuate the clutch, a motor, and first and second pumps simultaneously driven by the motor. The first pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the ram. The first pump is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the ram when the motor rotates in a first direction. The second pump is coupled to the reservoir and provides hydraulic fluid to the ram when the output shaft rotates in the first direction and a pressure differential between the ram and the second pump is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure differential. The second pump has a displacement greater than the first pump and is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the ram at a lower pressure and higher flow rate than the first pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. DeGowske, Charles G. Stuart
  • Publication number: 20150057125
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a housing, a clutch, a vent, and a dam. The vent can fluidly couple a first and second cavity. The dam can include a door member. Rotation of the outer carrier through a fluid in the second cavity can sling a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity. When the piston is in a first position, the door member can be in a closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity. When the piston is in a second position, the door member can be in an open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher D. Pump, Charles G. Stuart, John C. Hibbler, James P. Downs, Shawn S. Proctor, Robert J. DeGowske, Adrian M. Lenczewski, Firoz Ali S. Jafri, Paul J. Valente, Brian McCormick, Thomas C. Bowen, Paul W. Kornosky
  • Patent number: 8640842
    Abstract: A friction clutch assembly that selectively engages an input member and an output member to allow selective transfer of torque therebetween is provided. A clutch pack includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member. One of the first clutch member or the second clutch member is operatively coupled to the input member. The other of the first and second clutch members is operatively coupled to the output member. The first clutch member comprises an annular body that has a circumferential outer surface including a plurality of splines extending outwardly from the annular body. At least one of the splines has a deflected portion that is integrally formed with the annular body and curved in a circumferential direction toward a distal tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Degowske
  • Patent number: 7588508
    Abstract: A vehicle with an axle assembly, which has a housing, a differential, an input shaft, a pair of shafts and a pair of wheel hubs, and an auxiliary drive unit that includes an electric motor and an overrunning clutch. The differential and the input shaft are disposed in the housing for rotation therein. The differential includes a case and a ring gear that is coupled to the case. The input shaft has a pinion that is meshingly engaged to the ring gear. Each shaft couples the differential to one of the wheel hubs. The clutch includes an input portion, which is coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor, and an output portion, which is coupled to the input shaft. The output portion is de-coupled from the input portion when a rotational speed of the input portion is not greater than a rotational speed of the output portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, Robert J. Degowske, Zugang Huang
  • Patent number: 7559390
    Abstract: A drive train module with an electric motor, a clutch differential, a pair of wheel hubs and a pair of shafts, which rotatably couple the wheel hubs to the clutch differential. The clutch differential can have an input member, which can be coupled to an output shaft of the motor, and first and second overrunning clutches. The overrunning clutches permit the electric motor to drive the wheel hubs when the drive train module is activated to provide supplemental drive power, and to prevent the electric motor from being back-driven by the wheel hubs when supplemental drive power is not desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, Robert J. Degowske
  • Publication number: 20080217079
    Abstract: A vehicle with an axle assembly, which has a housing, a differential, an input shaft, a pair of shafts and a pair of wheel hubs, and an auxiliary drive unit that includes an electric motor and an overrunning clutch. The differential and the input shaft are disposed in the housing for rotation therein. The differential includes a case and a ring gear that is coupled to the case. The input shaft has a pinion that is meshingly engaged to the ring gear. Each shaft couples the differential to one of the wheel hubs. The clutch includes an input portion, which is coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor, and an output portion, which is coupled to the input shaft. The output portion is de-coupled from the input portion when a rotational speed of the input portion is not greater than a rotational speed of the output portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, Robert J. Degowske, Zugang Huang
  • Patent number: 7364524
    Abstract: A module with an axle assembly, which has a housing, a differential, an input shaft, a pair of shafts and a pair of wheel hubs, and an auxiliary drive unit that includes an electric motor and an overrunning clutch. The differential and the input shaft are disposed in the housing for rotation therein. The differential includes a case and a ring gear that is coupled to the case. The input shaft has a pinion that is meshingly engaged to the ring gear. Each shaft couples the differential to one of the wheel hubs. The overrunning clutch includes an input portion, which is coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor, and an output portion, which is coupled to the input shaft. The output portion is de-coupled from the input portion when a rotational speed of the input portion is not greater than a rotational speed of the output portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: American Axel & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, Robert J. Degowske, Zugang Huang
  • Patent number: 7363995
    Abstract: A suspension module with a suspension component, wheel hubs coupled to the suspension component, and a drive system. The drive system has a pair of units that selectively provide drive torque to an associated one of the wheel hubs. Each unit includes a motor, a first reduction gearset and an overrunning clutch. The first reduction gearset is disposed between the motor and its wheel hub and multiplies torque output from the motor. The clutch disconnects the motor from the associated wheel hub so that an output shaft of the motor is not drivingly coupled to the associated wheel hub when a rotational speed of the first portion does not exceed a rotational speed of the second portion. The clutch can be selectively operated to drivingly couple the motor to its wheel hub to permit the motor to be back-driven. A method for operating a hybrid power train is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Robert J. Degowske
  • Patent number: 7201696
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a case, a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears and an electrically operable coupling including an electromagnet. The coupling selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears and the case. The electromagnet of the coupling is axially moveable within the case to selectively place the differential assembly in an open or a locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. DeGowske
  • Patent number: 7137921
    Abstract: A method of transitioning between modes of differentiation in a differential includes measuring a vehicle parameter, determining a mode of differentiation, selectively providing an electrical signal to an electromagnet based on the determination, generating a magnetic field, moving the electromagnet and selectively operating the differential in one of an open mode of differentiation and a locked mode of differentiation in response to movement of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. DeGowske
  • Patent number: 7022040
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a case, a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears and an electrically operable coupling including an electromagnet. The coupling selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears and the case. The electromagnet of the coupling is axially moveable within the case to selectively place the differential assembly in an open or a locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. DeGowske, David M. Morse, John C. Hibbler
  • Patent number: 6958030
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a case, a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears and an electrically operable coupling including an electromagnet. The coupling selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears and the case. The electromagnet of the coupling is axially moveable within the case to selectively place the differential assembly in an open or a locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. DeGowske