Patents by Inventor Roman Tracz

Roman Tracz 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: 10670021
    Abstract: In an aspect, a clutched device is provided, and includes an input member, an output member, a one-way clutch that can operatively connect the input member to the output member, and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The rotor is connected for rotation with a portion of the one-way clutch. The stator is operable to apply a first magnetic driving force to cause movement of the portion of the one-way clutch in a first rotational direction to increase a force of engagement between the input and output members. The stator is operable to apply a second magnetic driving force to cause movement of the portion of the one-way clutch to disengage the input and output members from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventors: Scott D. Parsons, Gary J. Spicer, Roman Tracz
  • Patent number: 10487837
    Abstract: In an aspect, there is provided a pump impeller assembly that includes a first impeller portion arranged to drive a fluid through a fluid conduit, a second impeller portion movable between a more-rotationally engaged position in which the second impeller portion has a first amount of rotational engagement with the first impeller portion, and a less-rotationally engaged position in which the second impeller portion has a second amount of rotational engagement with the first impeller portion that is less than the first amount of rotational engagement, and an actuator operatively connected to the second impeller portion and configured to drive movement of the second impeller portion between the more-rotationally engaged position and the less-rotationally engaged position based on a fluid property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventors: Roman Tracz, Jacek Stepniak, Ivan Ferlik, Leonid Katsman
  • Patent number: 10364854
    Abstract: In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Bashar Yazigi, Scott D. Parsons, Jacek R. Stepniak, Roman Tracz
  • Patent number: 10066538
    Abstract: In an aspect, an electromechanical apparatus is provided, comprising an electromagnet, a magnetically permeable rotor, a drive, a current source, a current sensor and processing logic. The electromagnet includes a magnetically permeable housing and a wire coil disposed therein. The rotor spins and is disposed in the path of a magnetic circuit generated by the electromagnet. The drive rotates the rotor relative to the electromagnet housing. The rotor and electromagnet housing vary the reluctance therebetween as the rotor rotates. The current source applies a current to the electromagnet coil, wherein, during rotation of the rotor, fluctuations in the current result in the electromagnet coil due to the aforementioned varying reluctance are superimposed on the applied current. The current sensor senses fluctuations in current in the electromagnet coil. The processing logic reads the sensed current and determines the frequency of the fluctuations, which are correlated to rotor speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventors: Yongguang Zhu, Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Noel Abreu, Bashar Yazigi, Roman Tracz
  • Publication number: 20180003182
    Abstract: In an aspect, there is provided a pump impeller assembly that includes a first impeller portion arranged to drive a fluid through a fluid conduit, a second impeller portion movable between a more-rotationally engaged position in which the second impeller portion has a first amount of rotational engagement with the first impeller portion, and a less-rotationally engaged position in which the second impeller portion has a second amount of rotational engagement with the first impeller portion that is less than the first amount of rotational engagement, and an actuator operatively connected to the second impeller portion and configured to drive movement of the second impeller portion between the more-rotationally engaged position and the less-rotationally engaged position based on a fluid property
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Roman TRACZ, Jacek STEPNIAK, Ivan FERLIK, Leonid KATSMAN
  • Publication number: 20170102040
    Abstract: In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Bashar Yazigi, Scott D. Parsons, Jacek R. Stepniak, Roman Tracz
  • Patent number: 9556918
    Abstract: In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Bashar Yazigi, Scott D. Parsons, Jacek R. Stepniak, Roman Tracz
  • Publication number: 20160341203
    Abstract: In an aspect, a clutched device is provided, and includes an input member, an output member, a one-way clutch that can operatively connect the input member to the output member, and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The rotor is connected for rotation with a portion of the one-way clutch. The stator is operable to apply a first magnetic driving force to cause movement of the portion of the one-way clutch in a first rotational direction to increase a force of engagement between the input and output members. The stator is operable to apply a second magnetic driving force to cause movement of the portion of the one-way clutch to disengage the input and output members from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Scott D. Parsons, Gary J. Spicer, Roman Tracz
  • Publication number: 20160298527
    Abstract: In an aspect, an electromechanical apparatus is provided, comprising an electromagnet, a magnetically permeable rotor, a drive, a current source, a current sensor and processing logic. The electromagnet includes a magnetically permeable housing and a wire coil disposed therein. The rotor spins and is disposed in the path of a magnetic circuit generated by the electromagnet. The drive rotates the rotor relative to the electromagnet housing. The rotor and electromagnet housing vary the reluctance therebetween as the rotor rotates. The current source applies a current to the electromagnet coil, wherein, during rotation of the rotor, fluctuations in the current result in the electromagnet coil due to the aforementioned varying reluctance are superimposed on the applied current. The current sensor senses fluctuations in current in the electromagnet coil. The processing logic reads the sensed current and determines the frequency of the fluctuations, which are correlated to rotor speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Yongguang Zhu, Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Noel Abreu, Bashar Yazigi, Roman Tracz
  • Publication number: 20160040733
    Abstract: In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Zbyslaw Staniewicz, Bashar Yazigi, Scott D. Parsons, Jacek R. Stepniak, Roman Tracz
  • Patent number: 9038799
    Abstract: A component, such as an engine accessory for an automotive engine, that has clutch with a helical clutch coil and an axially movable armature. The helical clutch coil is normally engaged so as to transmit rotary power between a driving member and a driven member. The armature can be moved to apply a force to a tang of the helical clutch coil that causes the helical clutch coil to disengage to an extent where full rotary power is not passed through the clutch to drive the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventors: Pierre A. Mevissen, Jacek Stepniak, Roman Tracz, John Danciu, Scott Parsons
  • Publication number: 20130313068
    Abstract: A component, such as an engine accessory for an automotive engine, that has clutch with a helical clutch coil and an axially movable armature. The helical clutch coil is normally engaged so as to transmit rotary power between a driving member and a driven member. The armature can be moved to apply a force to a tang of the helical clutch coil that causes the helical clutch coil to disengage to an extent where full rotary power is not passed through the clutch to drive the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Pierre A. Mevissen, Jacek Stepniak, Roman Tracz, John Danciu, Scott Parsons