Casings Patents (Class 192/112)
  • Patent number: 11965561
    Abstract: An inner drum that includes a coupling part having an external surface and an internal surface, wherein the internal surface contains splines. An annular trough is engaged to the exterior surface of the coupling part. A circular wall contains a plurality of appendages extending upward from the circular wall. At least one slot is disposed within the appendages for receiving a snap ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: RevMax Performance, LLC
    Inventor: Frank C. Kuperman
  • Patent number: 11852200
    Abstract: A power take-off includes bell housing disposed about an axis and configured for coupling to a housing of an engine or other driving device at a first axial end and to a housing of a driven device at a second axial end. The bell housing defines an air inlet port and an air outlet port between the first and second axial ends. A clutch is disposed within the bell housing and configured to transfer torque from an input member coupled to the engine to an output member coupled to the driven device. A fan is configured for rotation with the input member to draw air into the bell housing through the air inlet port, move air through the bell housing from the air inlet port to the air outlet port in a substantially radial direction across the clutch and exhaust air from the bell housing through the air outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Warner Electric Technology LLC
    Inventors: Rodney R Laisure, George Patrick Gill, Gary R. Haasch
  • Patent number: 11686352
    Abstract: A clutch assembly comprising a sealed clutch and an adapter. The clutch being connected to the adapter and the adapter being connectable to a flywheel. The adapter including openings positioned for registration with the connection pattern of a flywheel for connecting the adapter to the flywheel. The openings of the adapter comprising at least two groups of openings for registration with the connection patterns of at least two different flywheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Clutch Industries Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Brad Davis
  • Patent number: 11434075
    Abstract: A container-handling vehicle includes a vehicle body and a lifting device for lifting a storage container from a grid. The lifting device includes a lifting band drive assembly connected to the vehicle body, a horizontal lifting frame for releasable connection to a storage container, and four lifting bands connecting the lifting band drive assembly to the lifting frame. The lifting band drive assembly includes a lifting shaft assembly having a lifting shaft and at least one motor for rotating the lifting shaft. The lifting shaft includes a first end section and a second end section. Two of the lifting bands are connected at each of the first and second end sections. The lifting shaft assembly includes at least one electrical insulating element arranged such that the lifting bands connected at the first end section is electrically insulated from the lifting bands connected at the second end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 11320000
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a clutch plate and a clutch outer. The clutch plate includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially disposed apart from each other. The clutch outer includes a bottom portion, a plurality of cover portions, and a plurality of openings. The bottom portion has a disc shape and is greater in diameter than the clutch plate. The cover portions axially extend from an outer peripheral edge of the bottom portion so as to cover the teeth. The cover portions are circumferentially disposed apart from each other. Each opening is disposed between each adjacent pair of the cover portions. Each opening is radially opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenori Kitazawa, Noriko Matsuyoshi
  • Patent number: 11223157
    Abstract: A first connector includes a first case and a screw member. The first case includes a first fitting part having a tubular shape. The screw member includes a first screw part and is disposed opposite to an outer peripheral surface of the first fitting part at an interval and held rotatably about a screw axis relative to the first case. The screw axis is aligned with a direction in which the first connector and a second connector are inserted and removed relative to the second connector. The second connector includes a second case and a second screw part. The second case includes a second fitting part having a tubular shape. The second screw part is provided in a connector fixation wall to which the second case is fixed and to which the first case is fixed outside of an outer peripheral surface of the second fitting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuya Nakano
  • Patent number: 10919748
    Abstract: A machine for handling heavy components in a heavy equipment environment. In an example implementation, the machine includes a truck having at least two front wheels and at least one rear wheel. A outrigger portion extends forward from the truck. The front wheels are attached at a forward end of the outrigger portion. A mast extends vertically from a track extending forward from the truck on a base of the outrigger portion. The mast is movably extendable or retractable along the track. A carriage is mounted on the mast and configured to move vertically on the mast. A pair of forks are mounted on the carriage to move vertically when the carriage is controlled to move. A personnel platform is mounted on the carriage independent of the mounting of the forks on the carriage. A remote control panel is configured to override a cab control panel under operator control. The remote control panel includes a plurality of controls for moving the carriage and for extending or retracting the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Anthony Calomino, William Healy
  • Patent number: 10570967
    Abstract: Some OEM clutch suppliers provide a clutch system that is welded closed and accordingly these systems are difficult to maintain, service and/or upgrade, for example after drive or driven (friction) disks have worn out. Typically, these systems are intended to be entirely replaced. Alternatively, in order to access the clutch internals the welded assembly needs to be cut open and only then can the disks can be replaced. After re-assembly, re-welding is required in which alignment of components is difficult to achieve and costly. The serviceable clutch housing system provides a solution to overcome the disadvantages of a non-serviceable OEM clutch product by providing a means to retrofit to the clutch allowing assembly and disassembly of the clutch, while maintaining many of the original OEM parts. This results in reduction in the maintenance cost and time required for assembly after servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DUAL CLUTCH IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Glenn Cupit
  • Patent number: 10371217
    Abstract: A starter freewheel is provided. The starter freewheel has a first race, a second race, a wedging gap formed between the first and second races, at least one wedging element arranged in the wedging gap, and at least one further component. The further component is in rotary drive connection with one of the races. The component is formed by at least two sheet-metal parts connected to one another in sandwich-fashion. A freewheel arrangement having a starter freewheel of this kind is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Jochen Boelling, Dirk Achim Schmitt, Richard Baeumier
  • Patent number: 10056803
    Abstract: There are provided a hub for a flywheel and an energy storage flywheel. The hub for a flywheel is provided between a rotor and a rotational shaft of a flywheel to allow the rotor to have the same rotation speed as that of the rotational shaft. The hub includes a hollow main dome in which a through hole into which the rotational shaft is inserted is formed in one end and an opening is formed in the other end in a longitudinal direction of the rotational shaft, and that is formed by winding a composite material therearound; and a sub dome that is bonded to the rotor and is formed by winding the composite material around an outer surface of the main dome. Any one of the main dome and the sub dome expands in a radial direction of the rotational shaft along with the rotation of the rotational shaft and the rotor to allow the sub dome and the rotor to be maintained at a bonded state therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Sung Kyu Ha
  • Patent number: 9869367
    Abstract: A balancing element for balancing a friction clutch, including a balancing head for providing a balancing mass, and a shaft that is connected to the balancing head, is to be inserted into an opening in the friction clutch, and has a shaft end which points away from the balancing head and which includes a face pointing away from the balancing head substantially in the axial direction of the shaft. The shaft end has a weakening in the material in a subsection between the face and the balancing head in order for the shaft end to plastically deform radially outward in relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft when a compressive force is applied to the balancing head in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Holger Lietzenmaier
  • Patent number: 9863486
    Abstract: A driven accessory that includes an input member, a cover, an output member, a clutch and a clutch actuator. The input member is rotatable about an axis and has a hub, an outer rim, and a radially extending web that couples the hub to the outer rim. The cover is coupled to the input member for common rotation about the axis and cooperates with the input member to define a clutch cavity. The clutch is received in the clutch cavity and selectively transmits rotary power between the input member and the output member. The clutch actuator is selectively operable to change the operational state in which the clutch operates. The clutch actuator has an electromagnetic coil that is disposed outside the clutch cavity. The hub is disposed along the axis between the clutch and the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Shiwei Qin, James Ignatovich
  • Patent number: 9382952
    Abstract: A balancing element for balancing a clutch, including a shaft for inserting into a housing opening of a clutch cover, a head axially protruding from the shaft for limiting an insertion depth, and cutting edges radially protruding from the shaft for plastically deforming a wall surrounding the housing opening. A deforming stop is arranged at a distance from the cutting edges between the cutting edges and the head in order to plastically deform a part of the wall between the cutting edges and the deforming stop. By the plastic deformation of the wall into an area between the cutting edges and the deforming stop, the balancing element can be accommodated captively even under operating conditions without additional tools, whereby simple and economical production of an operationally reliable clutch is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Hauss, Stefan Steiger, Holger Lietzenmaier
  • Patent number: 9360097
    Abstract: A multi-use drive plate for a torque converter that includes an annular shaped inner portion defining a openings for connection to a front cover of a torque converter and an outer portion with a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for connection to a motive force, such as an engine. A plurality of test tabs disposed axially from the annular shaped inner portion and extending radially outward each define a receiver opening with ramp surfaces on the annular shaped inner portion that extend between each one of the plurality of test tabs. Each of the ends of the ramping surfaces terminate at the receiver opening displaced from a middle portion of the ramp surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: David Burky, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9209664
    Abstract: A vehicle rotating electrical machine includes a pulley unit and a cap that covers an opening portion of the pulley unit. The pulley unit includes a pulley shaft that has a hollow cylindrical shape and is mechanically connected to a rotation shaft. On an inner peripheral surface of the pulley shaft, a polygonally-shaped hole portion, a first and a second circular hole portions, and an inner diameter thread portion are formed. The cap includes a planar section and a plurality of pillar sections. The planar section covers the opening portion. The pillar sections extend from the planar section to the inner diameter thread portion, and include a bulge portion that bulges outward in a radial direction of the pulley shaft. The bulge portion is located at a position corresponding to the second circular hole portion in a state where the opening portion is covered by the planar section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Sugitani
  • Patent number: 9021697
    Abstract: A housing member for a friction clutch and a method for making it. The housing member is made for use with two differently sized fan members. Two annular raised mounting pilot surfaces are provided, one of which is machine finished for mounting one of the two fan members. Two sets of fan member mounting holes are also provided, one set of which is used to mount one of the two fan members thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kandell, David D. Martinson, James E. Benson
  • Publication number: 20150114791
    Abstract: A fan clutch, in particular for a fan of a cooling system of a motor vehicle having a housing and an annular flange for connecting the fan, wherein the flange is arranged centrally around a housing axis, wherein the flange forms a flat flange-ring plane substantially perpendicular to the housing axis and has a flange-ring inner side and a flange-ring outer side which bound the flange-ring plane, wherein the flange is contorted in the flange-ring plane in certain areas in a direction substantially parallel to the housing axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Stephanie LARPENT
  • Patent number: 8985291
    Abstract: A vehicle differential unit (DU), including: a torsional damper assembly having a plurality of independently sprung damper assemblies positioned with respect to the DU, each damper assembly configured to reduce noise or vibration generated by the DU in a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Javed Iqbal, Amir E. Keyvanmanesh, Yitzongn Chern, Tony Ge, Wan Joe Chen
  • Patent number: 8978859
    Abstract: A fluid clutch device having a fluid clutch in a body and a cover. A fan member is attached to the device. The body and fan member are both centered on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Rothoff, Frank M. Haase
  • Patent number: 8813934
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Szuba Consulting, Inc., Value Extraction LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Szuba
  • Patent number: 8757344
    Abstract: An automotive clutch housing and a method of manufacture thereof is provided. The clutch housing has a cylindrical body that is formed from a form folded strip metal sheet that is later formed into a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is then joined to a hub to form a clutch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Martin P. Keating
  • Patent number: 8746431
    Abstract: A flanged coupling member is provided with a shaft portion to which a drive force is input, and a flange portion formed in one end of the shaft portion. The flanged coupling member is coupled to a front housing member with a bolt in which a shaft portion thereof is coaxially arranged in a front housing member and a flange portion contacts an outer surface in an axial direction of a bottom portion of the front housing member. The flange portion is provided with a tubular engagement portion that extends in an axial direction from an outer peripheral edge thereof. The engagement portion is arranged on an outer circumference of the front housing member on the basis of the fastening, and the engagement portion and the front housing member are engaged via a spline. The flanged coupling member is fastened to the front housing member at the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8671906
    Abstract: A clutch actuator mounting structure for internal combustion engine has excellent maintainability such that clutch actuator maintenance and the like can be carried out without dismounting an engine case. The clutch actuator mounting structure for an internal combustion engine includes, in the engine case, a power transmission mechanism designed to transmit rotational power of a crankshaft to an output shaft through a shift clutch and a transmission. The engine case is formed with a clutch actuator containing part in which a clutch actuator for engaging/disengaging the shift clutch is contained. The clutch actuator containing part has a clutch actuator mounting/dismounting port through which to mount and dismount the clutch actuator. The clutch actuator mounting/dismounting port is formed to be exposed to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujimoto, Kinya Mizuno, Yoshiaki Tsukada
  • Patent number: 8636129
    Abstract: An automotive clutch housing and a method of manufacture thereof is provided. The clutch housing has a cylindrical body that is formed from a form folded strip metal sheet that is later formed into a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is then joined to a hub to form a clutch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Martin P. Keating
  • Publication number: 20140021005
    Abstract: A power transfer unit comprising a first shaft configured to receive an input torque from a first vehicle component, a second shaft configured to selectively receive the torque from the first shaft and transmit the torque to a second vehicle component, an engaging mechanism, a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the power transfer unit, and a seal system having a first seal and a second seal. The engaging mechanism configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. When in the first mode, the engaging mechanism selectively couples the second shaft to the first shaft, and when in the second mode, the second shaft is de coupled from the first shaft. The first seal is disposed between the housing and a first end of the second shaft, and the second seal is disposed between the housing and a second end of the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: GKN Driveline Newton, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Greiss, Austin R. Gerding
  • Patent number: 8607952
    Abstract: A clutch has an outer aluminum housing and an inner housing arranged coaxially with respect to one another to support a plurality of first and second alternating, interiorly arranged, radially extending, friction members for axial movement between engaged and disengaged positions. The outer aluminum housing can have a cylindrical side wall and a radially inwardly extending end wall. A plurality of spline teeth can be formed at angularly spaced locations along the cylindrical side wall. Each spline tooth can have radial wall portions extending inwardly and longitudinally terminating at a circumferential wall portion extending between the radial wall portions to define the spline teeth. A sheet metal liner can be wrapped around to form a continuous, generally cylindrical, corrugated ring with inwardly extending spline teeth covers connected to a collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin P Keating, Kenneth C Yuergens, Yosuke Kimpara, Keith Honkala
  • Patent number: 8602193
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement is provided that reduces effects of differences in rates of thermal expansion between transmission housings and shaft assemblies that are made from different materials. The bearing arrangement locates the bearings with respect to other components of a shaft assembly in a manner that establishes a bearing setting stack path along components that are made from materials having common coefficients of thermal expansion, despite the shaft assembly and bearing arrangements being mounted within a housing that is made from a material which has a dissimilar coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Clark
  • Publication number: 20130153325
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a tool less maintainable drive system, and having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. The vehicle has a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame, a steering mechanism attached at least one of the plurality of wheels, an engine mounted to the frame, and a clutch attached to the engine. The vehicle contains a system of features that can be removed without the use of tools. The system has a support attached to and extending outward from the frame, a removable footrest, a receiver attached to the removable footrest and configured to mate with the support, a locking mechanism attached to the receiver to secure the removable footrest with respect to the footrest support; and a removable clutch housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: BEAMCO, Inc.
    Inventor: BEAMCO, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8459431
    Abstract: A housing member for a friction clutch and a method for making it. The housing member is made for use with two differently sized fan members. Two annular raised mounting pilot surfaces are provided, one of which is machine finished for mounting one of the two fan members. Two sets of fan member mounting holes are also provided, one set of which is used to mount one of the two fan members thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kandell, David D. Martinson, James E. Benson
  • Publication number: 20130134009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a basic drive (1), which, by means of few manual actions, can be coupled securely and with an exact fit to desired modules (2) one or more times by means of a quick-acting closure (8, 8a), and which has different technical functions, ranging from the lifting functions by means of a spindle lift module (16), gas spring (60), electromagnetic locking mechanism (27), turning module (38), controller (14) and sensor module (54), through to the basic drive (1), to which a solar cell enclosure (42) may be attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Peter A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 8448768
    Abstract: A housing for a multi-stage clutch assembly is formed to include a shoulder upon which a backing plate of a first stage clutch pack may be positioned to transfer a load from the first stage clutch pack to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen S. Hawkins, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130087426
    Abstract: An engine system providing exceptional fuel efficiency is one that has two powerplants coupled by an electrically-actuated clutch. Packaging the two powerplants, the clutch, and the engine accessories presents a challenge. By driving the accessories via a shaft associated with the clutch, the accessories can be mounted between the two engines. Furthermore, this may facilitate providing one of each accessory rather than one per engine. The housing of the clutch is provided with tabs extending outwardly on which the accessories and associated components, such as mounting plates, mounting brackets, shafts, idler pulleys, tensioners, and pulleys, are mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ECOMOTORS, INC.
    Inventor: ECOMOTORS, INC.
  • Patent number: 8381892
    Abstract: In a motorcycle, a cable linked with a clutch release lever is reduced in length and arranged without being bent so much. A release mechanism for a friction type clutch device is provided with a clutch release lever on a lateral surface of a crankcase that is linked with a cable connected to a clutch operational lever disposed on the left side of a steering handlebar that is turned to perform a clutch release operation. The clutch release lever includes an arm portion linked with the cable and a release rod turned together with the arm portion to press the push rod. The release rod is disposed on a left side portion of the crankcase and the arm portion is attached to project outwardly of the crankcase. The clutch release lever is turned clockwise as viewed from above a vehicle body to perform clutch release operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Sakuyama
  • Publication number: 20130037374
    Abstract: A housing for use with a clutch assembly includes an annular wall disposed around an axis and extending between an open end of the housing and a floor of the housing with the floor extending toward the axis. A plurality of splines are spaced around the annular wall and extends between the open end and the floor. The splines define a work surface for engaging teeth of a clutch plate with the work surface being fractured from the annular wall providing a substantially normal relationship to the annular wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicants: Value Extraction LLC, SZUBA CONSULTING, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph Szuba
  • Publication number: 20130032446
    Abstract: A housing for a multi-stage clutch assembly is formed to include a shoulder upon which a backing plate of a first stage clutch pack may be positioned to transfer a load from the first stage clutch pack to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Glen S. HAWKINS, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120298471
    Abstract: A backing plate connection includes a hub having an outer surface comprised of flat surfaces and arcuate surfaces and a backing plate including an inner bore surface complementary to and press-fit onto the hub outer surface. The hub and the plate are sealingly connected and drivingly connected at the complementary surfaces. In some example embodiments, the hub includes a groove for receiving a snap ring. In an example embodiment, the groove is a plurality of groove segments extending circumferentially through the arcuate surfaces and ending at the flat surfaces. In an example embodiment, the hub is arranged to be fixed to a torque converter cover. In an example embodiment, the hub is integrally formed with a torque converter cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Heck
  • Patent number: 8281916
    Abstract: A housing for a multi-stage clutch assembly is formed to include a shoulder upon which a backing plate of a first stage clutch pack may be positioned to transfer a load from the first stage clutch pack to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen S. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8276728
    Abstract: A clutch unit (1) including at least one wet clutch (28, 29) and a torsional vibration damper (12) which are accommodated in a housing (8) driven by the drive unit. In order to simplify assembly, pre-assembled modular units (3, 4, 5) are formed that are joined together during the final assembly process. Advantageously, a separation point is provided between two modular units in the torsional vibration damper, wherein one modular unit (3) includes the energy accumulators (11) captively accommodated in a housing part (6), while the other modular unit (4) includes the output part of the torsional vibration damper as an input part (13) of the at least one wet clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Oliver Nohl, Philippe Schwederle
  • Patent number: 8240446
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Szuba Consulting, Inc., Value Extraction LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Szuba
  • Publication number: 20120186936
    Abstract: A clutch cover for use with virtually any combination of make and model of engine components and method of making the same is disclosed. The clutch cover is made by spin forming a sheet of metal and removing material as needed to coincide with the corresponding engine components. Therefore, the exact design of the cover including attaching holes and apertures related to release levers may be quickly and easily formed in the clutch cover. Furthermore, a heat management system is provided that includes the addition of fins or other apertures through the clutch cover to increase the air flow to reduce the temperature within the clutch cover to cool engine components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: PRESTOLITE PERFORMANCE LLC.
    Inventor: Ross A. McCombs
  • Patent number: 8091697
    Abstract: A driver module for clutches, in particular wet-running double clutch assemblies, including a clutch housing and a cover which are connected with each other, enclosing an interior space. The cover is rotationally fixed in relation to the clutch housing in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction by a connecting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Vural Ari
  • Publication number: 20110315505
    Abstract: A clutch has an outer aluminum housing and an inner housing arranged coaxially with respect to one another to support a plurality of first and second alternating, interiorly arranged, radially extending, friction members for axial movement between engaged and disengaged positions. The outer aluminum housing can have a cylindrical side wall and a radially inwardly extending end wall. A plurality of spline teeth can be formed at angularly spaced locations along the cylindrical side wall. Each spline tooth can have radial wall portions extending inwardly and longitudinally terminating at a circumferential wall portion extending between the radial wall portions to define the spline teeth. A sheet metal liner can be wrapped around to form a continuous, generally cylindrical, corrugated ring with inwardly extending spline teeth covers connected to a collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Martin P. Keating, Kenneth C. Yuergens, Yosuke Kimpara, Keith Honkala
  • Publication number: 20110297503
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SZUBA CONSULTING, INC. AND VALUE EXTRACTION LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Szuba
  • Publication number: 20110278131
    Abstract: A clutch has an outer housing and an inner housing arranged coaxially with respect to one another to support a plurality of first and second alternating, interiorly arranged, radially extending, friction members for axial movement between engaged and disengaged positions. The outer housing can have a longitudinally extending cylindrical side wall and a radially inwardly extending end wall. A plurality of longitudinally extending, teeth-receiving notches can be formed at evenly angularly spaced locations along the cylindrical side wall. Each notch can have radially inwardly bent wall portions extending longitudinally to define teeth-receiving sidewalls of the outer housing. The inner housing assembly can have a hub and an elongate sheet metal strip having bent tabs and evenly spaced corrugations stamped along an entire longitudinal length. The strip can be wrapped around to form a continuous, generally cylindrical, corrugated ring with inwardly extending bent tabs connected to the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Martin P. Keating, Kenneth C. Yuergens, Yosuke Kimpara, Keith Honkala
  • Publication number: 20110203897
    Abstract: An automotive clutch housing and a method of manufacture thereof is provided. The clutch housing has a cylindrical body that is formed from a form folded strip metal sheet that is later formed into a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is then joined to a hub to form a clutch housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Martin P. Keating
  • Patent number: 7878313
    Abstract: A torque converter having a transverse axis of rotation, a cover having an inner diameter and an inner annular surface, an impeller shell having an inner diameter and an inner annular surface, and an annular backing plate having an outer diameter and an outer annular surface, wherein the cover, impeller shell, and backing plate are operatively arranged to rotate about the axis of rotation, wherein the backing plate is substantially orthogonal with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the inner diameter of the cover is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the impeller shell, and wherein the inner annular surface of the cover and the inner annular surface of the impeller shell are fixedly attached to the outer annular surface of the backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ryan Cmich
  • Publication number: 20110017567
    Abstract: A housing member for a friction clutch and a method for making it. The housing member is made for use with two differently sized fan members. Two annular raised mounting pilot surfaces are provided, one of which is machine finished for mounting one of the two fan members. Two sets of fan member mounting holes are also provided, one set of which is used to mount one of the two fan members thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kandell, David D. Martinson, James E. Benson
  • Patent number: 7721864
    Abstract: A fluid actuated rotational coupling device is provided with improved sealing of fluid passages. The device includes a fluid actuated rotational coupling that is disposed on a rotatable shaft. The coupling defines a fluid port. A key is received within a keyway in the coupling and/or shaft and defines a fluid passage extending therethrough having fluid ports at either end aligned with the fluid port in the coupling and a fluid port in the shaft. The key also defines grooves formed in surfaces of the key and surrounding the fluid ports. Seals are disposed within the grooves in the key. By locating the fluid passage and seals in the key, the seals may be removed and replaced without removing the coupling from the shaft. Further, the seals are less likely to be damaged during installation of the coupling device on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Warner Electric Technology LLC
    Inventor: Brenton Charles Bluhm
  • Patent number: 7717244
    Abstract: A replacement torque converter cover designed to withstand mechanical stresses generated in the torque converter lock-up clutch of ALLISON transmissions when such transmissions are utilized with diesel engines and other high-torque truck engines. The original equipment cover includes through-drilled holes for receiving unitary threaded stud pins, which function to attach the cover to the engine crankshaft externally and to drive the lock-up clutch piston internally during operation. The present replacement cover provides a lock-up clutch piston interface wherein such through-drilled holes and unitary threaded stud pins are eliminated, which substantially reduces stress concentration and mechanical fatigue in the replacement cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Sonnax Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian G. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20100051409
    Abstract: A device for encapsulating fine clutch dust is proposed which comprises caverns (5) provided in the clutch housing (4) for collecting fine dust by the rotation-related centrifugal force. During servicing of the clutch, the fine dust received in the caverns (5) can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Hardtle