Patents by Inventor Zane Yang

Zane Yang 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: 11143280
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device includes an impeller wheel, a turbine wheel, a stator, a casing, a stationary shaft operatively coupled to the stator so that a driven shaft axially extends through the stationary shaft, a first fluid passage formed axially through the driven shaft, a second fluid passage formed between the stationary shaft and the driven shaft, a third fluid passage formed radially adjacent to the stationary shaft, and a lock-up clutch including a piston housing member non-moveably attached to a center hub of the casing, and a lockup piston mounted to the center hub so as to be axially movable along the center hub. The first fluid passage hydraulically connected to a first hydraulic chamber. The second fluid passage hydraulically connected to a second hydraulic chamber. The third fluid passage hydraulically connected to a torus chamber defined between the impeller shell and the turbine shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: VALEO KAPEC CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Liguang Cai, Sungchul Lee, Suhas Kulkarni, Seiji Momoi, Atsushi Inoue, Zane Yang, Vijayakumar Velayudham, Shintaro Ishizaka, Yoshiaki Mizuta
  • Publication number: 20210140524
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device includes an impeller wheel, a turbine wheel, a stator, a casing, a stationary shaft operatively coupled to the stator so that a driven shaft axially extends through the stationary shaft, a first fluid passage formed axially through the driven shaft, a second fluid passage formed between the stationary shaft and the driven shaft, a third fluid passage formed radially adjacent to the stationary shaft, and a lock-up clutch including a piston housing member non-moveably attached to a center hub of the casing, and a lockup piston mounted to the center hub so as to be axially movable along the center hub. The first fluid passage hydraulically connected to a first hydraulic chamber. The second fluid passage hydraulically connected to a second hydraulic chamber. The third fluid passage hydraulically connected to a torus chamber defined between the impeller shell and the turbine shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Liguang CAI, Sungchul LEE, Suhas KULKARNI, Seiji MOMOI, Atsushi INOUE, Zane YANG, Vijayakumar VELAYUDHAM, Shintaro ISHIZAKA, Yoshiaki MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 10428925
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device for coupling driving and driven shafts. The torque-coupling device includes a casing, an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller wheel, and a lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch includes a lockup piston axially movable toward and away from the casing, a first disc carrier non-movably secured to the casing, a second disc carrier radially offset from the first disc carrier and drivingly coupled to the turbine wheel, at least one drive disc non-rotatably and axially movably mounted to the first disc carrier, at least one driven disc non-rotatably and axially movably mounted to the second disc carrier and disposed adjacent to the at least one drive disc so as to define a clutch pack, and a clutch biasing spring disposed between the casing and the clutch pack so as to bias the clutch pack toward the lockup piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Liguang Cai, Zane Yang
  • Patent number: 10422407
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a driven plate, an intermediate plate, and elastic drive elements. The intermediate plate includes a radially outer base wall and opposite side walls. The elastic drive elements are interposed, between tabs of the driven plate and tabs of the intermediate plate to permit relative rotational movement therebetween. The elastic drive elements reside in cavities defined, in part, by a substantially annular radially inwardly facing surface of the intermediate plate. A first region of the radially inwardly facing surface in closest proximity to the elastic drive elements has a first radius. A second region of the radially inwardly facing surface axially interposed between the first region and the first side wall has a second radius that is greater than the first radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Zane Yang
  • Patent number: 10393248
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing having opposite sidewalls and an outer wall extending between and connecting the opposite sidewalls, an impeller coaxial aligned with the rotational axis, a piston engagement member extending substantially radially inward from and non-moveable relative to the outer wall of the casing, and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the piston engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Michel Bacher, Gyubong Jeon, Zane Yang
  • Patent number: 10352423
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device for coupling driving and driven shafts. The torque-coupling device includes a casing having a locking surface, an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller wheel, a lockup piston axially movable toward and away from the locking surface, a friction disc including a generally radially orientated friction ring and at least one driving tab, and a torsional vibration damper comprising the friction disc, elastic members and an engagement member elastically coupled to the friction disc through the elastic members. The friction ring has a radially outer peripheral surface defining a centering surface of the friction disc. The engagement member includes at least one centering tab extending toward the friction ring and having a centering surface disposed adjacent to and facing the centering surface of the friction disc to center the friction disc with respect to the engagement member of the torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Liguang Cai, Sungchul Lee, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20180363749
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device for coupling driving and driven shafts. The torque-coupling device includes a casing, an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller wheel, and a lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch includes a lockup piston axially movable toward and away from the casing, a first disc carrier non-movably secured to the casing, a second disc carrier radially offset from the first disc carrier and drivingly coupled to the turbine wheel, at least one drive disc non-rotatably and axially movably mounted to the first disc carrier, at least one driven disc non-rotatably and axially movably mounted to the second disc carrier and disposed adjacent to the at least one drive disc so as to define a clutch pack, and a clutch biasing spring disposed between the casing and the clutch pack so as to bias the clutch pack toward the lockup piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Liguang CAI, Zane YANG
  • Patent number: 10138988
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a damper assembly, a turbine-piston including a drive component with a second engagement surface, and a clutch plate having clutch plate engagement surfaces interposed between and axially movable relative to at least one of the first and second clutch plate engagement surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the casing to move the second engagement surface axially towards and away from the first engagement surface for positioning the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces and the clutch plate engagement surfaces frictionally interlock with one another to non-rotatably lock the casing relative to the input part of the damper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Sungchul Lee, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20180335119
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device for coupling driving and driven shafts. The torque-coupling device includes a casing having a locking surface, an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller wheel, a lockup piston axially movable toward and away from the locking surface, a friction disc including a generally radially orientated friction ring and at least one driving tab, and a torsional vibration damper comprising the friction disc, elastic members and an engagement member elastically coupled to the friction disc through the elastic members. The friction ring has a radially outer peripheral surface defining a centering surface of the friction disc. The engagement member includes at least one centering tab extending toward the friction ring and having a centering surface disposed adjacent to and facing the centering surface of the friction disc to center the friction disc with respect to the engagement member of the torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Liguang CAI, Sungchul LEE, Zane YANG
  • Publication number: 20180202514
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper is provided that includes a drive-side transmission element, a driven-side transmission element, and an energy-storage member rotatable relative to the drive-side transmission element and rotationally coupled to the driven-side transmission element. The energy-storage member includes radially inner elastic blades, and radially outer elastic blades positioned radially outward relative to the radially inner elastic blades. The drive-side transmission element is operatively associated with the energy-storage member to cause the radially inner elastic blades and the radially outer elastic blades to be displaced radially and elastically in response to relative rotation between the drive-side and driven-side transmission elements about a rotational axis of the torsional vibration damper. A hydrodynamic torque converter including the torsional vibration damper is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Zane YANG
  • Patent number: 10006531
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device comprises a casing rotatable about a rotation axis, a torque converter including an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel disposed in the casing coaxially with the rotation axis, a locking piston including an annular piston body and a plurality of drive teeth unitary with the piston body, and a torsional vibration damper comprising a input member non-rotatably coupled to the drive teeth of the locking piston, elastic members and an output member elastically coupled to the input member trough the elastic members. The locking piston is axially moveable so as to selectively engage the locking piston against the casing. The input member has window-shaped mating openings complementary to each of the drive teeth. The drive teeth drivingly engage the mating openings of the input member so as to non-rotatably couple the locking piston and the input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Zane Yang, Sungchul Lee, Rabah Arhab, Josip Kovac, Alfonso Medellin
  • Publication number: 20180058562
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device comprises a casing rotatable about a rotation axis, a torque converter including an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel disposed in the casing coaxially with the rotation axis, a locking piston including an annular piston body and a plurality of drive teeth unitary with the piston body, and a torsional vibration damper comprising a input member non-rotatably coupled to the drive teeth of the locking piston, elastic members and an output member elastically coupled to the input member trough the elastic members. The locking piston is axially moveable so as to selectively engage the locking piston against the casing. The input member has window-shaped mating openings complementary to each of the drive teeth. The drive teeth drivingly engage the mating openings of the input member so as to non-rotatably couple the locking piston and the input member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Zane YANG, Sungchul LEE, Rabah ARHAB, Josip KOVAC, Alfonso MEDELLIN
  • Publication number: 20170268650
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a damper assembly, a turbine-piston including a drive component with a second engagement surface, and a clutch plate having clutch plate engagement surfaces interposed between and axially movable relative to at least one of the first and second clutch plate engagement surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the casing to move the second engagement surface axially towards and away from the first engagement surface for positioning the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces and the clutch plate engagement surfaces frictionally interlock with one another to non-rotatably lock the casing relative to the input part of the damper assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Sungchul LEE, Zane YANG
  • Patent number: 9752667
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided that includes an impeller having an impeller shell with a first surface, an axially displaceable turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and including a turbine-piston shell and a turbine-piston flange with a second surface, and a clutch plate interposed between and axially displaceable relative to at least one of the first and second surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially movable relative to the impeller to move the second surface of the turbine-piston flange towards and away from the first surface for positioning the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second surfaces and the clutch plate surfaces frictionally interlock with one another so that the impeller is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20170227100
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing having opposite sidewalls and an outer wall extending between and connecting the opposite sidewalls, an impeller coaxial aligned with the rotational axis, a piston engagement member extending substantially radially inward from and non-moveable relative to the outer wall of the casing, and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the piston engagement member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Alexandre DEPRAETE, Michel Bacher, Gyubong JEON, Zane YANG
  • Publication number: 20170108075
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a driven plate, an intermediate plate, and elastic drive elements. The intermediate plate includes a radially outer base wall and opposite side walls. The elastic drive elements are interposed, between tabs of the driven plate and tabs of the intermediate plate to permit relative rotational movement therebetween. The elastic drive elements reside in cavities defined, in part, by a substantially annular radially inwardly facing surface of the intermediate plate. A first region of the radially inwardly facing surface in closest proximity to the elastic drive elements has a first radius. A second region of the radially inwardly facing surface axially interposed between the first region and the first side wall has a second radius that is greater than the first radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventor: Zane YANG
  • Patent number: 9574649
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a damper assembly, a turbine-piston including a drive component with a second engagement surface, and a clutch plate having clutch plate engagement surfaces interposed between and axially movable relative to at least one of the first and second clutch plate engagement surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the casing to move the second engagement surface axially towards and away from the first engagement surface for positioning the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces and the clutch plate engagement surfaces frictionally interlock with one another to non-rotatably lock the casing relative to the input part of the damper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Sungchul Lee, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20160160974
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, and a bearing device. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable into and out of a lockup mode. The bearing device includes a non-axially oriented spring and a substantially incompressible rolling member urged by the spring against an oblique contact surface associated with the turbine-piston to thereby exert a variable axial force against the turbine-piston shell for biasing the turbine-piston out of the lockup mode. The variable axial force exerted by the bearing device against the turbine-piston shell decreases as the turbine-piston is axially displaced towards the lockup mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Alexandre DEPRAETE, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20160160975
    Abstract: A torque converter is provided that includes an impeller having an impeller shell with a first surface, an axially displaceable turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and including a turbine-piston shell and a turbine-piston flange with a second surface, and a clutch plate interposed between and axially displaceable relative to at least one of the first and second surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially movable relative to the impeller to move the second surface of the turbine-piston flange towards and away from the first surface for positioning the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second surfaces and the clutch plate surfaces frictionally interlock with one another so that the impeller is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Alexandre DEPRAETE, Zane Yang
  • Publication number: 20160160976
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a damper assembly, a turbine-piston including a drive component with a second engagement surface, and a clutch plate having clutch plate engagement surfaces interposed between and axially movable relative to at least one of the first and second clutch plate engagement surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the casing to move the second engagement surface axially towards and away from the first engagement surface for positioning the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces and the clutch plate engagement surfaces frictionally interlock with one another to non-rotatably lock the casing relative to the input part of the damper assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Sungchul LEE, Zane Yang