Automatic Patents (Class 192/111.12)
  • Patent number: 11268456
    Abstract: An engine operating device of a working machine includes a control assembly installed in a body, an operating lever mounted on a handle, and an operating cable. The control assembly includes a base member, a stop switch secured to the base member, and a lever member supported by the base member. The operating cable includes a throttle wire, a stop wire, and a cable tube in which the throttle wire and the stop wire are fitted. As the operating lever is moved to an engine stop position, the lever member moves to a release position, causing an engine to stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Takeuchi, Ronny Borsdorf, Niels Staar
  • Patent number: 11231106
    Abstract: A method for determining the engaged gear in a manual gearbox of a vehicle comprising a number of gears is described, wherein the vehicle comprises an engine, the manual gearbox, and at least one clutch. The method comprises the following steps: determination of the revolution rate of the engine as a function of time; differentiating the determined revolution rate of the engine against time; determination of the speed of the vehicle; and determination of the engaged gear based on characteristic curves of the revolution rate of the engine as a function of time for a number of the gears in the case of a fixed rate of engagement of the clutch, the revolution rate of the engine, the differential of the revolution rate of the engine against time and the speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Grewer, Daniel Roettger, Tobias Emig, Klemens Grieser
  • Patent number: 11060567
    Abstract: An electric clutch actuator having a housing, an electric motor, a gear mechanism and a spindle which is coupled to the electric motor via the gear mechanism, wherein the spindle has an output end which acts on a relief piston which is displaceably mounted on a guide piston which is mounted so as to be displaceable in the housing, wherein the relief piston is urged elastically away from the guide piston towards the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FTE automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Ryba, Dimitri Ostrohov, Frank Sauerteig, Michael Erdmann, Christian Sperber
  • Patent number: 10935089
    Abstract: A method of detecting a ball loss condition in a ball and ramp assembly. The method includes providing a drive unit having one or more clutch pack assemblies, one or more motors with a motor output shaft and one or more ball and ramp assemblies. One or more actuation profiles are ran by the motors and an amount of motor current used and a position of the output shaft of the motor is measured during the running of actuation profiles. One or more motor current vs. motor output shaft position plots are generated having one or more characteristic curves based on the amount of current measured and the position of the output shaft measured. The amount of motor current is compared to the motor current of characteristic curve at a given output shaft position and based on that comparison a ball loss condition is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Nahrwold, Jeroen Volckaert
  • Patent number: 10677298
    Abstract: Provided is a method of learning a touch point of a dual clutch transmission (DCT), and more particularly, to a DCT touch point learning method in which a touch point is learned based on a difference between a virtual input shaft speed and a clutch non-drive shaft input speed using a virtual input shaft reference speed calculated based on the speed of a traveling vehicle. In a traveling situation in which the touch point cannot be learned using the non-drive shaft according to the related art because the input shaft behavior of the non-drive shaft is rotationally synchronized with the input shaft behavior of the drive shaft by drag characteristics of the DCT, a virtual input shaft speed may be calculated, and the touch point of the clutch may be learned using the virtual input shaft speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Hyo Kim
  • Patent number: 10280988
    Abstract: A clutch actuator includes: a reduction gear to rotate in a housing by a motor; a connecting rod having a first end connected to the reduction gear; a pair of levers provided on a hinge shaft in the housing, and connected to a second end of the connecting rod to rotate according to a rotation of the reduction gear; a push rod contacting with a clutch actuator fork; and a wear compensating unit movably coupled between the levers in a vertical direction and provided with an inclined surface contacting a first cam. In particular, the push rod has one end extended outwardly of the housing and is coupled with the first cam of which one end is movably inserted into the first hole of the levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Woo Lee, Eui Hee Jeong, Jeong Heon Kam, Jong Min Kim, In Tae Park, Jeong Kyu Lee, Seung Hun Cha
  • Patent number: 10151339
    Abstract: A cable length automatic adjustment device for a vehicle window lifter includes a housing (1) having a hollow internal, a cable axial shaft (2) arranged inside the housing (1) and an adjusting member (3). The cable axial shaft (2) includes an axle base (20), an axial shaft (21) extended from the axle base (20) and a first elastic member (22) abutted between the axle base (20) and an inner wall of the housing (1). The adjusting member (3) includes a slotted base (30), positioning pieces (32) moveably attached onto the slotted base (30) and a second elastic member (33) abutted between the axle base (20) and the positioning pieces (32). The axial shaft (21) includes indented positioning portions (210), and the positioning pieces (32) include corresponding engagement portions (320). The positioning pieces (32) are clamped onto the positioning portions (210) of the axial shaft (21) with the engagement portions (320).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: HSIN CHONG MACHINERY WORKS CO. LTD., FUZHOU MINGFANG AUTOMOBILE PARTS INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Huang, Kuang-Yu Chiang
  • Patent number: 10001176
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a clearance of a clutch cable for a vehicle is arranged to rotate a clutch pedal forward using an elastic force of a reverse return spring to allow a back surface of the clutch pedal be spaced apart from a pedal member, control a length of the clutch cable using a mechanical clearance adjusting mechanism, and secure a uniform gap between the pedal member and a back surface of the clutch pedal by adjusting the length of the clutch cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeong Jik Kim, Min Su Kang, Sung Keun Lim, Woo Duck Kim
  • Patent number: 9938754
    Abstract: A Bowden cable arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle door lock arrangement, wherein the Bowden cable arrangement has a cable strand and a cable conduit, and wherein an adjustment device is provided with a first coupling element and a second coupling element within the chain of operating forces of the cable strand and with a coupling mechanism. In some embodiments the coupling elements may be coupled to each other by the coupling mechanism in different coupling positions relative to each other in order to adjust the length of the cable strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: David Rosales, Michael Wittelsbuerger, Stepan Hanke
  • Patent number: 9890803
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder for a hydraulic clutch actuating system for motor vehicles has a piston subassembly with a piston and piston rod, a cylinder housing in which a pressure chamber is variably bounded at one side by the piston and fixedly bounded at the other side by a base of the cylinder housing. A spring element is arranged at the side of the piston opposite from the pressure chamber and is supported at one end on a spring plate on the housing side and operatively connected at the other end with the piston rod so as to bias the piston subassembly in a direction away from the base. A fixing section fixes the piston subassembly in a predetermined stroke setting with respect to the cylinder housing prior to first actuation of the hydraulic cylinder and is constructed to release the piston subassembly relative to the cylinder housing upon first actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FTE Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Ryba
  • Patent number: 9829411
    Abstract: A bench test calibration method for generating wet clutch torque transfer functions includes obtaining in-vehicle clutch torques at a set of shift conditions; performing a series of bench tests at various clutch pack clearances and lubrication oil flow rates at the set of shift conditions; adjusting clutch pack clearances and lubrication oil flow rates during the series of bench tests in response to a difference between a bench test measured clutch torques and the corresponding in-vehicle clutch torques exceeding a threshold; and recording relationships between first bench test measured torques and force profiles of a clutch actuator relative to the adjusted clutch pack clearances and lubrication oil flow rates for each of the set of shift conditions as a first transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Gregory Michael Pietron, Diana Yanakiev, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Vladimir Ivanovic, Jau-Wen Tseng
  • Patent number: 9822829
    Abstract: A controller including an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit is configured to determine at least one of whether a first absolute value is at least equal to a first threshold and whether a second absolute value is at least equal to a second threshold. When the electronic control unit determines that at least one of the first absolute value and the second absolute value is at least equal to the corresponding threshold, torque capacity of an automatic clutch is controlled such that the automatic clutch is brought into a slipping state. The first absolute value is an absolute value of rotational acceleration of an input shaft of a transmission, and the second absolute value is an absolute value of rotational acceleration of drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Miyazono
  • Patent number: 9702416
    Abstract: The present invention uses a sensor to determine when a pressure plate and a clutch plate of a dual clutch transmission system are in contact with one another. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of pistons connected to both the clutch plate and pressure plate. The pistons contain either magnets or couplers and are positioned adjacent one another separated by either a Hall effect sensor or an inductive sensor. As the pressure plates and clutch plates come into contact with one another the pistons move within the housing and said movement is detected by the sensor. The sensor determines if the pressure plate is in contact with the clutch plate and if the clutch plate or the pressure plate has traveled any linear distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Lingmin Shao, Jim Hartford
  • Patent number: 9469282
    Abstract: Disclosed are a clutch operating system and a driving method of a clutch operating system. The system may include a clutch master cylinder connected to a clutch pedal and generating hydraulic pressure by operation of the clutch pedal, a piston provided in the clutch master cylinder and reciprocally moving according to the operation of the clutch pedal, and an integrated sensor detecting a stroke of the piston, selectively supplying power to a starting motor according to the stroke of the piston, and providing the stroke of the piston to an ECU (electronic control unit) to control a transmission and an EPB (electronic parking brake).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Bum Jun Kim, Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9446764
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling an engine clutch of a hybrid vehicle are provided which maintain the acceleration of the vehicle substantially constant before and after release of an engine clutch to prevent a driver from feeling a sense of difference due to a change in inertia when the engine clutch is released. When an engine clutch is released to transfer the driving mode of the vehicle from a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode to an electric vehicle (EV) mode, the acceleration of the vehicle before and after release of an engine clutch is maintained substantially constant by adjusting motor torque to be decreased and gently adjusting the motor torque to be suitable for a driver request torque in the EV mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Sung Bang
  • Patent number: 9323282
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing clutch pedal effort may include a spring bracket coupled with a hinge pipe, a switching lever rotatably coupled with the hinge pipe so as to come into contact with a pedal arm during a rotation of the switching lever, thus intensifying a forward rotation of the pedal arm, and a reaction providing unit combined with a pedal member and the switching lever at opposite ends. The reaction providing unit may be operated in such a way that, when the switching lever is not rotated, the reaction providing unit sets an initial position of the switching lever by restricting a movement of the switching lever using accumulated elasticity, and when the switching lever is rotated, the reaction providing unit provides a reaction force to the pedal arm so as to cause the switching lever to come into contact with the pedal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., Dong Hee Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Seon Min, Young Seok Song
  • Patent number: 9133895
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a cable member, one end portion of which is connected to a clutch pedal and the other end portion of which is detachably held by a retaining member arranged between an engine and a wall-like member arranged in front, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the engine, the cable member being arranged running across in back, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of the wall-like member, and a protruding pressing member that is provided on a wall surface that faces a rear, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of the wall-like member so as to face the cable member, and that detaches the other end portion of the cable member from the retaining member by pushing the cable member toward the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction when a load is input from the front of the vehicle in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, VTEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Takeoka, Hitoshi Yoshimura, Tadasu Tomohiro, Shohei Tsukada
  • Patent number: 8776978
    Abstract: A friction clutch for a motor vehicle is provided. The friction clutch is disengaged when unpowered and engaged by axial movement of an actuating lever operated by an actuating device via a further lever. In the event of overtravel traversed beyond the unpowered state the friction clutch compensates for an incorrect axial gap between the friction surfaces provided in a friction clutch caused by wear. The friction clutch includes a switchable stop provided on the actuating device. The switchable stop releases an overtravel path for the further lever when a detected engagement path of the further lever exceeds a predefined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Marco Becht
  • Patent number: 8706371
    Abstract: A method for adjusting hydraulic line pressure applied to one or more clutch devices in an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and at least one electric machine includes predicting a first plurality of powertrain parameters for an upcoming event. For each of a plurality of engine torques, a predicted output torque and a predicted clutch load are determined that minimize a total powertrain operating cost based on an operator torque request and the predicted first plurality of powertrain parameters. Hydraulic line pressure is adjusted based on the engine torque having a lowest powertrain operating cost among the plurality of available engine torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Krunal P. Patel, Sean W. McGrogan, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Pinaki Gupta, Ali K. Naqvi, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8651255
    Abstract: A clutch actuating apparatus for a double clutch transmission, may include an operation rod that constructs an operation stroke for engaging a clutch while moving straight, an electric power unit that generates a rotational force, a straight converting unit that converts the rotational force of the electric power unit into a straight movement force for moving straight the operation rod, a supplement force supplying unit for increasing the straight movement force of the operation rod and removing increased straight movement force in accordance with whether the operation rod engages or disengages the clutch, a rod locating unit that changes a position of the operation rod relative to the straight converting unit, and a housing that accommodates the straight converting unit and the supplement force supplying unit and covers the operation rod with a portion exposed to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jongyop Kim, Sungyong Cho, Hyunduk Chang
  • Patent number: 8543304
    Abstract: A method operates a clutch release system of a vehicle having an electrically actuable clutch release unit including a sensor for detecting a position of a release piston, a control unit for controlling the release piston as a function of a detected position of a clutch actuating device, and a sensor for detecting the position of the clutch actuating device. A characteristic curve function describes a relationship between the position of the clutch actuating device and the position of the release piston. The function is taken into consideration during actuation of the clutch release system to obtain a consistent clutch release at a defined position of the clutch actuating device despite progressive wear of the clutch release system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Eduard Hilberer
  • Patent number: 8517156
    Abstract: A clutch actuating apparatus for a double clutch transmission, may include an electric unit that generates rotational force, a decelerating unit coupled to the electric unit and reducing the rotational force of the electric unit, a straight-converting unit that converts the rotational force reduced by the decelerating unit into a straight motion force, a push rod that is moved straight by the straight motion force of the straight-converting unit and makes an operational stroke to selectively engage a clutch, a supplement force supplying unit engaging with the push rod to increase the straight movement force to the push rod or to remove the increased straight movement force from the push rod when the push rod engages or disengages the clutch, and a rod locating unit coupled to the push rod and changing a relative position of the push rod to the straight-converting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jongyop Kim, Sungyong Cho, Hyunduk Chang
  • Patent number: 8292055
    Abstract: In transmissions having input clutches, a lever arm configured as a second class lever is pivoted at one end, applies force to a clutch bearing near its middle and is acted upon by a linear actuator at its opposite end. The present invention relates to mechanisms for adjusting the location of the pivot to compensate for clutch wear. The fixed pivot is replaced by a linear one way clutch mechanism. As the clutch facing wears and the clutch is activated, an extension of the actuating lever arm abuts a stationary stop beyond the one way clutch pivot which translates the pivot point provided by the one way clutch mechanism toward the clutch to reduce pre-travel and compensate for clutch facing wear. Hydraulic and spring biasing of the pivot point are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daryl A Wilton, James M. Hart, Clinton E. Carey
  • Patent number: 8201679
    Abstract: An actively closed friction clutch actuated by a lever actuator and having an adjusting means, the lever actuator taking the form of a roller displaced radially by a spindle, which roller acts on a unilaterally suspended lever, the latter being displaced axially and acting axially on a clamping means such as a lever, lever spring or diaphragm spring. The adjusting means for compensating friction lining wear is enabled by an end stop position widened axially relative to a stop position of the lever, which end stop position is enabled by means of an engageable/disengageable stop. To distinguish the two stop positions, the force/travel characteristic line of the lever actuator is detected by the controller of the lever actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Burkhart, Alexander Dreher
  • Patent number: 8113327
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple clutch assembly comprising: first (5, 9) and second (7, 11) friction elements; first (15) and second (17) plates for applying pressure to said respective friction elements; first (21) and second (25) diaphragms for actuating said respective plates, each diaphragm being mobile between a disengaged position (21a, 25a or 25b) and an engaged position (21b or 21c, 25c), said first diaphragm (21) approaching the second diaphragm (25) when it passes from the disengaged position thereof to the engaged position thereof; and first (23) and second (27) means for actuating said respective diaphragms. Said second actuating means (27) comprise means for renewing the course of the second diaphragm (25), in such a way that the second diaphragm (25) follows a pre-determined course between the disengaged position (25a or 25b) and the engaged position (25c) thereof, independently of the degree of wear of the second friction element (7, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Ivan Dutier, Francois Thibaut
  • Patent number: 8100812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an automated friction clutch with a wear adjustment device that adjusts extended clutch stroke by a discrete magnitude through the wear of friction lining at maximum transmittable torque of the friction clutch. To guarantee safe self-adjustment, also during a long operation period under the maximum clutch torque, under specified preconditions, for instance, during the start of the internal combustion engine and without gear engagement, the friction clutch is closed for maximum clutch torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Laszlo Man, Alexander Dreher, Dirk Burkhart
  • Patent number: 8083044
    Abstract: A clutch actuator (6), as well as a method for operating a clutch (3), between the drive motor and the transmission (1) of a motor vehicle. The clutch actuator includes a cylinder with a piston (14) and an actuator (15), such that a clutch release bearing (4), arranged co-axially to the central axis of the clutch, may be operated to apply an axial pre-tensioning force on the clutch release bearing and conduct an operating medium into the clutch actuator for axially displacing the piston and/or the clutch release bearing. To simplify a clutch actuator of this type and enhance its utilization, the clutch actuator is configured and used for generating the pre-tensioning force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Franz Bitzer
  • Publication number: 20110024258
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to durability enhancement techniques for a dry-clutch vehicle transmission. A cooling system that provides a direct convective cooling path to friction surfaces is disclosed. Also disclosed is a continuously variable clutch wear compensation assembly configured to adjust the position of clutch assembly components on-demand or as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Eli Avny, Matthew John Shelton, Steven Gerald Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100181137
    Abstract: A clutch includes an automatic play adjusting mechanism interposed between a pressure plate and a pull rod, to allow movement of the pressure plate relative to the pull rod in a clutch axial direction in a clutch connected state, and to restrict the movement of the pressure plate relative to the pull rod in the clutch axial direction when the pull rod moves more than a prescribed play amount in the clutch axial direction. As a result, the clutch can restrict the shift of a touch point caused by thermal expansion or wear, and the play amount of the clutch can be adjusted automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yousuke ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20100063699
    Abstract: A method of determining an engagement position of a clutch of a vehicle is provided. The clutch is operable by a clutch pedal adapted to move over a travel range. The method comprises determining a rate of change of position of the clutch pedal, locating a dwelling range of the clutch pedal, the dwelling range comprising a plurality of positions of the clutch pedal along the travel range during which the rate of change of position of the clutch pedal is less than a predetermined rate of change for a predetermined length of time, and recording the travel positions of the clutch pedal in the dwelling range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: KEVIN A. O'DEA, MICHAEL P. TURSKI
  • Patent number: 7669501
    Abstract: A device for automatically compensating the length of cables comprises a length-variable receiving element (1, 3, 4) for a section of a pulling means (5), a spring element (2) for applying a tensile force on the received pulling means (5) and a locking element (4), which is rotatable relative to a section of the receiving element (1, 3) about an axis that agrees substantially with the axis of the pulling means, wherein the relative motions of two sections of the receiving device (3, 4) intended to bring about the length variations are coupled to the rotational motion of the locking element (4) by means of mechanical devices (311, 421) with clearance and detent elements (15, 43) substantially block the rotation of the locking element (4) in a direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Hendrik Rothe
  • Publication number: 20090112429
    Abstract: A method for reducing occurrence of clutch slip in electromechanical transmission adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member through selective application of a hydraulically actuated clutch includes monitoring operation of said clutch, identifying an indication of clutch wear based upon said monitoring said operation, and increasing a minimum clamping force applied to said clutch based upon said indication of clutch wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: JY-JEN F. SAH, ALI K. NAQVI
  • Patent number: 7419456
    Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having a pressure reservoir (25) and a release cylinder (5) which comprises a primary piston (14) and a secondary piston (16). A compensation volume is developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. A pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) is used for determining a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which, in case of any system error, only allows displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs, against one another, is still sufficient to maintain the vehicle at a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Rüchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Patent number: 7222708
    Abstract: A clutch actuator is provided for operating a clutch between a drive motor and a gearbox on a motor vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, including a linearly operating pin, acting on a release mechanism which is coaxial to a mid-axis of the clutch. The pin is arranged in a plane essentially perpendicular to the mid-axis of the clutch and coupled eccentrically to a rotating body of a gear mechanism, converting the rotating movement thereof into a linear movement of the release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Miller