Grooved Surfaces Patents (Class 192/113.36)
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Patent number: 8162123Abstract: A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch is provided with a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings is composed of plural segment pieces each have at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of its corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. The second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. Each segment piece is provided with at least one press-formed oil groove as one of the first and second oil grooves and at least one punched-out oil groove as the other one of the first and second oil grooves.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Hirayanagi
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Patent number: 8157071Abstract: The clutch of the present invention has a reaction plate, a friction plate, a friction layer, and at least one non-compressible member. The friction plate is disposed adjacent the reaction plate for frictionally engaging the reaction plate to transfer a driving torque between the reaction plate and the friction plate when the compression force is applied. The friction layer has at least one groove. The at least one non-compressible member is disposed in the at least one groove for preventing further compression of the friction layer by the reaction plate. The at least one non-compressible member is adhered to the friction plate or press fit within the friction layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
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Patent number: 8157075Abstract: Provided is a wet friction material that includes a ring shaped flat metal core and a plurality of segment-type friction material substrates joined onto one or both of surfaces of the ring shaped flat metal core with an adhesive and spaced apart along an entire circumference of the ring shaped flat metal core to form a plurality of oil grooves extending in a radial direction of the core metal by a clearance between adjacent ones of the above segment pieces. One or both of outer peripheral corner portions of each of the plurality of segment-type friction material substrates is chamfered to form a chamfered part such that a width of the oil grooves adjacent the chamfered part of the corner portions is larger than a width of a thinnest portion of the above plurality of the oil grooves.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Aisin Kako Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Okamura, Yoshihito Fujimaki
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Patent number: 8146725Abstract: The present invention provides a friction plate having a friction surface formed by sticking an annular friction material to a substantially annular core plate and wherein the friction surface is provided with a first oil groove having an opening portion opened to an inner peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end terminating at a point between the inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge, and a second oil groove having an opening portion opened to the outer peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end terminating at a point between the inner peripheral edge.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Tomoyuki Miyazaki, Masahiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8113330Abstract: A friction disk for a wet-running clutch for a motor vehicle includes a lining carrier ring, provided with connecting areas for connecting the friction disk to a drive side or to a takeoff side of a clutch, and a plurality of friction lining elements, carried on at least one side of the lining carrier ring, Fluid flow channels are provided between the friction lining elements which are directly adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, wherein at least some of the fluid flow channels have different channel widths.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jörg Sudau, Rüdiger Lotze, Arthur Schröder, Gregor Sueck
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Patent number: 8061498Abstract: A wet clutch friction plate is provided in which a plurality of oil channels (22) are formed in a friction material (21) bonded to one side face or opposite side faces of a core plate (20), the plurality of oil channels (22) providing communication between inner and outer peripheral edges of the friction material (21), and a plurality of oil channels (22) having a discharge angle (?) that discharge oil from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the friction plate (15) when the friction plate (15) rotates and a plurality of oil channels (22) having an inflow angle (?) that draw oil in from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the friction plate (15) are mixed at substantially equal intervals. In this way, the frictional properties can be stabilized when connection of the clutch is in transition, and the phenomenon of drag due to oil viscosity resistance can be suppressed when the clutch is in an off state.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.Inventors: Akira Tsuboi, Satoshi Kawamura, Mitsuo Miyatsu, Fumiyoshi Iida
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Patent number: 8051968Abstract: A clutch unit for use in the drive train of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission including at least one transmission input shaft. The clutch unit includes at least one wet clutch device that is provided with a plurality of clutch elements, in particular clutch discs, that are at least partially wetted by a coolant such as oil. The coolant carries away frictional heat that is generated by slippage between adjacent clutch discs during certain vehicle operating conditions. The heat absorbed by the clutch coolant is cooled by heat transfer from the coolant to a cooler that surrounds the clutch unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KGInventors: Johannes Arnold, Ivo Agner, Oliver Nöhl
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Patent number: 7984801Abstract: In a friction plate 40, segment pieces 42 of a friction material are bonded onto a core plate 40 at intervals in a circumferential direction. 43 denotes a spline tooth. On each segment piece, there are formed a first oil groove which is made to open to an inside-diameter side of the segment piece and has its end portion part-way along the segment piece (hereinafter, referred to as a first oil groove) and a second oil groove which is made to open to an outside-diameter side of the segment piece and has its end portion part-way along the segment piece (hereinafter, referred to as a second oil groove). Segment pieces in which a first oil groove 51 and second oil grooves 61 are pressure molded and segment pieces in which a first oil grooves 52 and second oil grooves 62 are stamped are arranged alternately.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: NSK-Warner Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsuyoshi Hirayanagi
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Patent number: 7980375Abstract: A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch is provided with a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings is composed of plural segment pieces each having at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of the friction plate and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the friction lining, and the second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the friction plate and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the friction lining. The second oil groove has an opening flared outwardly in a radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Hideaki Suzuki, Hiroyuki Kinpara, Masahiro Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Hirayanagi
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Patent number: 7958984Abstract: A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch can include a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings can include plural segment pieces bonded at angular intervals on a corresponding opposite side. The segment pieces can each include at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of its corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. The second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. Adjacent ones of the segment pieces are provided, in radially-middle parts of opposing side walls thereof, with angularly-extending recessed portions, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Kinpara
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Publication number: 20110114438Abstract: A friction disk for a wet-running clutch for a motor vehicle includes a lining carrier ring, provided with connecting areas for connecting the friction disk to a drive side or to a takeoff side of a clutch, and a plurality of friction lining elements, carried on at least one side of the lining carrier ring, fluid flow channels are provided between the friction lining elements which are directly adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, wherein at least some of the fluid flow channels have different channel widths.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2011Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jörg SUDAU, Rüdiger LOTZE, Arthur SCHRÕDER, Gregor SUECK
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Patent number: 7931134Abstract: The disclosed clutch includes a reaction plate, a friction plate, a friction layer, at least one non-compressible member and a fluid lubricant. The friction layer has a coefficient of friction that is sufficient to prevent relative rotation of the reaction and friction plates when the friction layer is compressed by the reaction plate. Further, the friction layer has at least one groove. At least one non-compressible member is disposed in the at least one groove to prevent further compression of the friction layer by the reaction plate. The at least one non-compressible member is mechanically fastened to the friction plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
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Patent number: 7886885Abstract: The clutch of the present invention has a reaction plate, a friction plate, a friction layer, at least one non-compressible member, and a fluid lubricant. The friction plate is disposed adjacent the reaction plate for frictionally engaging the reaction plate to transfer a driving torque between the reaction plate and the friction plate when the compression force is applied. The friction layer has at least one groove. The at least one non-compressible member is disposed in the at least one groove for preventing further compression of the friction layer by the reaction plate. The at least one non-compressible member is adhered to the friction plate and a fluid lubricant is disposed between the reaction plate and the friction plate for providing a lubrication layer between the plates.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
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Patent number: 7823714Abstract: A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch is provided with a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings is composed of plural segment pieces each having at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of the friction plate and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the friction lining, and the second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the friction plate and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the friction lining. The second oil groove has a shape that its angular width becomes narrower from its open end portion toward its closed end portion thereof, and at the open end portion, the angular width of the second oil groove is reduced. The first oil groove may be provided with an oil pocket at its closed end portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Kinpara
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Patent number: 7815028Abstract: A friction clutch includes an iron inner clutch plate and two iron outer clutch plates. Each clutch plate has a sliding surface that friction-engages with the other clutch plates. A diamond-like carbon film containing silicon, which functions as a solid lubricant, is formed on the sliding surface of each outer clutch plate through a conventional method such as plasma chemical vapor deposition. The diamond-like carbon film contains 1 wt % to 80 wt % of silicon. A coupling device includes a pilot clutch mechanism that has the friction clutch and an electromagnetic actuator. As a result, the friction clutch has an improved resistance to wear, and the coupling device is durable.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Junji Ando, Naoyuki Sakai, Toshifumi Sakai, Hajime Fukami, Toshiyuki Saito, Koji Nishi, Kazuyuki Nakanishi, Hiroyuki Mori, Hideo Tachikawa
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Patent number: 7798301Abstract: Segmented steel core plates for either double sided or single sided wet clutch friction plates or separator plates and a process for making the same are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Martin P. Keating, Michael Roche, Michael Wagner, Dirk Neubauer
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Patent number: 7789209Abstract: The present invention provides a friction plate having a friction surface formed by adhering a friction material to a substantially annular core plate and wherein the friction surface is provided with an oil passage communicated with inner and outer peripheral edges of the friction plate, a first oil groove having an opening portion opened to the inner peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end portion terminating at a position between the inner and outer peripheral edges, and a second first oil groove having an opening portion opened to the outer peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end portion terminating at a position between the inner and outer peripheral edges.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: NSK Warner K.K.Inventors: Tomoyuki Miyazaki, Ritsuo Toya, Tsuyoshi Hirayanagi, Masahiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7775336Abstract: Lubricating oil supply holes are drilled into a first member that is fitted to a plurality of first annular plates by a spline. Of splines to which each lubricating oil supply hole corresponds, lubricating oil grooves provided in the plurality of first annular plates do not overlap the splines on at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the first annular plates, and therefore lubricating oil flowing out of the lubricating oil supply holes is dispersed in a circumferential direction and flows from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the first annular plates, rather than gathering in each lubricating oil groove and flowing in an outer peripheral direction. As a result, a force generated by an axial lubricating oil flow, which acts in a direction for causing the second annular plates to contact friction materials on the first annular plates, is suppressed, leading to a reduction in drag torque.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aishin Kako Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Nishida, Satoru Kasuya, Masashi Kito, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Akitomo Suzuki, Masato Fujikawa, Ryuji Ibaraki, Masatoshi Adachi, Tsuyoshi Mikami, Hideo Ono
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Patent number: 7766144Abstract: A clutch plate assembly is provided having a friction interface and internal fluid passages for delivering pressurized fluid to the friction interface to cool the interface, and to reduce spin losses through the clutch assembly. The fluid passages comprise a plurality of primary passages extending inward from a clutch plate inner or outer diameter, and a plurality of secondary fluid passages intersecting the primary fluid passages for conducting fluid to the friction interface. Fluid is directed to the friction interface during clutch engagement for cooling thereof when the clutch assembly is engaging, and separates the clutch plates to reduce spin losses when the clutch assembly is disengaged. A method is also provided for controlling fluid flow at the friction interface, including providing fluid directly to the interface for cooling when the clutch plate assembly is engaging, and for reducing spin losses when the clutch plate assembly is substantially disengaged.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Mordukhovich, Paul D. Stevenson
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Patent number: 7721865Abstract: A segment-type friction material has blocks each composed of four segment pieces. Five blocks are stuck by adhesion to a core metal 2 along an entire circumference thereof so as to constitute one surface of the segment-type friction material. Gaps are provided between the five blocks to form oil grooves that make an automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to flow. Five oil grooves are formed in total on one surface as a whole of the segment-type friction material.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Aisin Kako Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Tominaga, Masayuki Mizuno
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Patent number: 7677375Abstract: A drive force transmission device has an outer clutch plate and an inner clutch plate, which are rotatable relative to each other about a common rotational axis. The inner and outer clutch plates become frictionally engaged with each other with lubricant oil provided in between. The outer and inner clutch plates each have a sliding surface. The sliding surfaces face each other. A diamond-like carbon film is formed on the sliding surface of the outer clutch plate. Fine grooves are formed in the sliding surface of the inner clutch plate. The proportion of the sliding area to the sliding surface of the inner clutch plate at the initial stage of use is 55 to 90%.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Junji Ando, Naoyuki Sakai, Toshifumi Sakai, Toshiyuki Saito, Hajime Fukami, Kazuyuki Nakanishi, Hiroyuki Mori, Hideo Tachikawa
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Publication number: 20100044182Abstract: The present invention provides a wet type multi-plate clutch comprising a friction plate including friction materials secured to both surfaces of a core plate provided at its inner diameter side with a spline portion, a notch groove opened to the inner diameter side and having a terminal portion positioned between the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side and a through groove extending from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side, and a separator plate provided at its outer diameter side with a spline portion, and wherein a retracting amount at the inner diameter side of the friction material secured to the friction plate is greater than a retracting amount at the outer diameter side.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventors: MASAKI SAKABE, Atsushi Sagae
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Patent number: 7650977Abstract: The present invention provides a friction plate for a wet-type multi-plate clutch, to which a wet-type friction material is secured and in which there are provided an oil passage communicated with inner and outer peripheral edges, an oil groove opened toward the inner peripheral edge and having a terminal end disposed between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and at least one circumferential groove communicated with the oil passage and extending in a circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Hideaki Suzuki, Masahiro Kobayashi, Masaki Sakabe
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Publication number: 20100006388Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction part for a frictionally acting device, having an annular friction face which has an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein at least one set of grooves is provided in the friction face, which set of grooves has a first groove which extends from the inner edge or the outer edge to a branching point between the inner edge and the outer edge, and a second and third groove which extend in each case from the branching point to the other edge. According to the invention, the second groove is inclined in the one peripheral direction and the third groove is inclined in the other peripheral direction of the direction face with respect to a radial line through the branching point. The present invention also describes a frictionally acting device having a frictions part of said type.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.Inventors: Emilio Luciano Giuseppe Fabricius, Salvatore Contrino
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Patent number: 7597180Abstract: A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch is provided with a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings is composed of plural segment pieces bonded at angular intervals on the corresponding one of said opposite sides. The segment pieces each have at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of its corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece, and the second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. The segment pieces are each provided in a friction surface thereof with at least one oil pocket closed at a circumference thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Hirayanagi, Ritsuo Toya, Masahiro Yamada, Hirokazu Hino
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Patent number: 7513346Abstract: A power transmission device, in particular for use in vehicles, having one input and at least one output, comprising a hydrodynamic component and a lockup clutch. The lockup clutch includes at least one friction surface arrangement which is coupled at least indirectly in a rotationally fixed manner with the input of the power transmission device, or is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner with the pump wheel, and can be brought into an operative connection with a second frictional surface arrangement which is connected to the output in a rotationally fixed manner. An actuating mechanism is assigned to the lockup clutch. The actuating mechanism forms one structural unit with a friction surface carrying element of the first friction surface arrangement, and is coupled in an axially movable and rotationally fixed manner with the input of the power transmission device, or with the connection between the input and the pump wheel.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KGInventors: Mario Degler, Bruno Mueller
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Patent number: 7513345Abstract: The present invention is one or more torque converter clutch friction pad attached to a friction plate configured to more easily remove heat generated by the friction of a clutch engaging the friction plate. The invention resides in one or more circular grooves set into the friction surface of the friction pad and connected to a plurality of radial grooves. One or more boats or protrusions functionally attached to the clutch pressure plate and/or the torque converter housing fits into the circular groove. When the clutch is engaged, the boats rotate through the circumferential groove pulling oil from the rear radial groove into the circumferential groove and pushing oil into the forward radial groove. The heat generated in the friction plate is transferred to the oil in the circumferential groove and removed from the friction pad when the rotating boat pushes it into the forward radial groove.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs, KGInventor: Aliihsan Karamavruc
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Publication number: 20090050434Abstract: In a wet friction material, to be able to obtain a more significant drag torque reduction effect certainly even in case of a specification that there is no lubricating oil supply from an inner peripheral side or in case that a stirred torque increases by generating oil retained at an outer periphery. In case of the specification (without axis core lubrication) that there is no lubricating oil (ATF) supply from the inner peripheral side of the wet friction material, that is, in case that there is the lubricating oil supply only from the outer peripheral side, in segment-type friction materials 1, 1A and 1C, by making R processing or chamfering processing to one or both corner portions of the outer periphery of segment pieces 3, 3A, 3B and 3C, it can obtain a significant drag torque reduction effect by a peeling effect that ATF runs from the processing portion into front surfaces of the segment pieces 3, 3A, 3B and 3C and goes into between a counterpart material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: AISIN KAKO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki OKAMURA, Yoshihito Fujimaki
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Publication number: 20090036249Abstract: A flywheel includes a hub portion concentrically defined around a center of the flywheel. A body portion located peripherally around the hub portion has a driver-side face and a driven-side face. A plurality of passageways in the body portion extend through the flywheel and fluidly connect the driver-side face with the driven-side face. Each of the plurality of passageways is adapted to receive a flow of lubricant spilling onto the driver-side of the body portion when the flywheel is rotating, and to expel lubricant out of the driven-side face of the body portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Satish Savant, David Fee, Bradford Kough, Jonathan Baumann, Perry Cruce, Matthew Dames
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Patent number: 7481305Abstract: A lock-up mechanism for a torque converter comprising a lock-up clutch secured thereto with a friction liner having a friction surface, and a front cover having an engaging surface adapted to be engaged with the friction surface, is wherein either the friction surface or the engaging surface is formed therein with a substantially annular circumferential groove.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignees: NSK-Warner K.K., Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Aisin AW Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakai, Makoto Ogawa, Takamitsu Kuroyanagi, Osamu Yoshida, Eiji Hayashi, Hideki Ogawa, Tamotsu Fujii, Kenji Maruo, Hideaki Takabayashi
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Patent number: 7455162Abstract: A friction lining plate for a wet-running frictional shift element that can rotate in the assembled condition with no preferred rotation direction, with at least one annular disk-like friction surface that serves for frictional engagement, having grooves through which coolant can flow. The grooves form two overlapping groove sets. Each groove of the first groove set extends at a first angle inclined obliquely to the radial direction and backward relative to a first rotation direction. Each groove of the second groove set extends at a second angle inclined obliquely to the radial direction and forward relative to a first rotation direction. Each groove of the second groove set intersects a groove of the first set in such manner that a groove intersection point is located at the inside diameter of the friction surface or a groove intersection point is located at the outside diameter of the friction surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Epple, Jörg Beckmann, Bruno Campaner, Andreas Donges
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Patent number: 7448483Abstract: Clutch cooling grooves formed on a friction plate are provided. The grooves are shaped to provide for substantially uniform steel disk temperatures in friction launch of a vehicle. The grooves are shaped such that the largest cross-sectional area is located adjacent to what would otherwise have been a hot area on the steel disk and the smallest cross-sectional area is located at the coolest location on the steel disk, at the cooling fluid inlet. Thus, the groove is shaped such that the smallest cross-sectional area is located at the cooling fluid inlet, the largest cross-sectional area is located between the cooling fluid inlet and the cooling fluid outlet, and the cooling fluid outlet has a cross-sectional area larger than the cooling fluid inlet and smaller than the cross-sectional area adjacent to the hot spot of the steel disk, between the cooling fluid inlet and the cooling fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Murali Krishnan S. Arcot, Paul D. Stevenson
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Patent number: 7434673Abstract: In a segment-type wet friction material, an inner peripheral left corner of one segment piece and an inner peripheral right corner of another segment piece are respectively cut off at a fixed angle to a center line of an oil groove. The oil grooves have first oil grooves and second oil grooves. The second oil groove has nearly a uniform width. The first oil groove has an inner peripheral corner portion that is broadened to the center line of the oil groove from a fixed height. In case of being assembled in an automatic transmission, when the segment-type friction material rotates in one direction, an automatic transmission fluid supplied from an inner circumference bumps and touches the portion that is broadened at the fixed angle at a rear side in the rotating direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2005Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Aisin Kako Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Muranaka, Takatora Sugiura, Masato Suzuki
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Patent number: 7392889Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch device includes a clutch housing connected to a drive, a pump wheel connected to the clutch housing, and a turbine wheel connected to a takeoff, the turbine wheel and the pump wheel forming a hydrodynamic circuit. A bridging clutch which is essentially surrounded by the hydrodynamic circuit includes a piston and a friction surface which can be acted on by the piston to connect the drive to the takeoff independently of the hydrodynamic circuit, the piston having one surface facing a pressure space and an opposite surface facing the hydrodynamic circuit. A pressure circuit includes a first pressure medium line to supply the hydrodynamic circuit with clutch fluid and a second pressure medium line to supply the pressure space with clutch fluid. A seal at least reduces the exchange of fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space, and a throttle allows a defined exchange of fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Jürgen Ackermann
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Patent number: 7392891Abstract: A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch provided with a core plate and friction linings fixed on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings is formed such that at a section thereof located on a side radially inner than a radial center line thereof, the friction lining has a thickness that gradually increases from an inner circumferential portion of the section toward an outer circumferential portion of the section.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.Inventors: Yoshio Kinoshita, Shiro Takeuchi, Tatsuro Miyoshi, Shigeki Umezawa, Shun Kitahara, Tamotsu Fujii, Hiroyuki Kinpara, Kenji Maruo, Tomoyuki Miyazaki, Xiaoming Gu, Fumimasa Muramatsu, Shigeharu Nishimura
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Patent number: 7389861Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch device includes a clutch housing connected to a drive, a pump wheel connected to the clutch housing, and a turbine wheel connected to a takeoff, the turbine wheel and the pump wheel forming a hydrodynamic circuit. A bridging clutch which is essentially surrounded by the hydrodynamic circuit includes a piston and at least one friction surface which can be acted on by the piston to connect the drive to the takeoff independently of the hydrodynamic circuit, the piston having one surface facing the hydrodynamic circuit and an opposite surface facing a pressure space. A pressure circuit includes a first pressure medium line to supply the hydrodynamic circuit with clutch fluid and a second pressure medium line to supply the pressure space with clutch fluid. A seal at least reduces the exchange of fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space, and a throttle allows a defined exchange of fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Jürgen Ackermann
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Patent number: 7357233Abstract: The torque converter includes a torque input member and an impeller assembly operatively coupled with the torque input member. A turbine assembly is connected with the impeller and a lock-up clutch is interposed between the turbine assembly and the torque input member. The lock-up clutch provides torque translation between the torque input member and the turbine assembly and includes an annular piston mounted to the turbine assembly and a friction plate movably supported relative to the annular piston and operatively disposed between the annular piston and torque input member. A first friction member is operatively disposed between the friction plate and the torque input member, and a second friction member is operatively disposed between the friction plate and the annular piston. Torque is translated from the torque input member through the first friction member, the friction plate, the second friction member, and the annular piston to the turbine assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Thomas Kos, Anthony Grzesiak, Andrew Horner
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Publication number: 20080006504Abstract: A friction disk for a wet-running clutch for a motor vehicle includes a lining carrier ring, provided with connecting areas for connecting the friction disk to a drive side or to a takeoff side of a clutch, and a plurality of friction lining elements, carried on at least one side of the lining carrier ring, Fluid flow channels are provided between the friction lining elements which are directly adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, wherein at least some of the fluid flow channels have different channel widths.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jorg Sudau, Rudiger Lotze, Arthur Schroder, Gregor Sueck
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Publication number: 20070205075Abstract: A segment-type friction material has blocks each composed of four segment pieces. Five blocks are stuck by adhesion to a core metal 2 along an entire circumference thereof so as to constitute one surface of the segment-type friction material. Gaps are provided between the five blocks to form oil grooves that make an automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to flow. Five oil grooves are formed in total on one surface as a whole of the segment-type friction material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2007Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: AISIN KAKO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaki Tominaga, Masayuki Mizuno
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Patent number: 7264101Abstract: A start-up clutch and torsional-vibration damper assembly including a disk clutch having an outer disk carrier and an inner disk carrier, and a torsional vibration damper having a primary element, a secondary element, and a spring dampening mechanism. The spring dampening mechanism is disposed between and operatively couples the primary element and the secondary element. The torsional vibration damper connected in series to the disk clutch such that the torsional vibration damper and the disk clutch are juxtaposed to each other along a common axis with the primary element having substantially the same outside radius as the outer disk carrier.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Hans Juergen Hauck, Michael Schaefer, Johannes Heinrich, Dietmar Strauss
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Patent number: 7249663Abstract: The present invention provides a friction plate with features to provide additional cooling for use within a wet clutch system. The friction plate has a core plate with a friction facing layer affixed to each face of the core plate. The first friction facing layer has a plurality of radially oriented lubrication grooves formed by a plurality of friction pads having porosity. Additionally, the second friction facing layer has a plurality of friction pads formed by radially oriented lubrication grooves whose centerline is coincident with the radial centerline of the friction pads of the first friction facing layer. Each of the lubrication grooves has at least one hole provided therein to introduce fluid to effect cooling of the friction pad opposite the groove. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of enhancing the performance of a wet clutch system.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Mordukhovich, Paul D. Stevenson
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Patent number: 7234580Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optimizing method for a groove structure of a friction disk of a wet-type friction engaging element, which can reduce drag torque by increasing outgoing flow of lubricating oil on the friction surface and increasing the content of air in the lubricating oil.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Dynax CorporationInventors: Chen Yu Li, Jin Takahashi
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Patent number: 7172062Abstract: A friction plate for a wet type multiplate clutch has a substantially ring-shaped core plate and a friction member attached to the core plate. The friction member has a surface which includes a passage formed on a surface of the friction member, the passage extending from an inner peripheral edge of the friction member to an outer peripheral edge of the friction member, and a groove having an opened end which opens to the inner peripheral edge of the friction member and a closed end which is closed at a middle of the surface of the friction member. A width of the groove decreases towards a direction to the outer peripheral edge from the inner peripheral edge of the friction member.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: NSK-Warner Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shun Kitahara, Tomoyuki Miyazaki, Hiroaki Matsushima, Kazuyuki Fujita
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Patent number: 7168544Abstract: A facing material for a power transmission—absorption assembly is shown and described. In one embodiment, the facing material includes a plurality of first channels having a first, deep depth and a plurality of second channels having a second, shallow depth. One or more of the plurality of second channels may be superimposed or in fluid communication with the first channels to enable fluid to flow across the surface 12c and through the first channel to achieve the desired fluid flow characteristics. The second channels may be defined by a connector that has varying shapes to further facilitate the desired fluid flow characteristics. The material may be used in a power transmission—absorption environment such as on a blocker synchronizer ring, clutch plate or the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Sulzer Euroflamm US Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Guthrie, Terry E. Nels, Jonathan M. Rich, Eric A. Schueler
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Patent number: 7165664Abstract: A wet-type segmented friction material has a tape-like friction material substrate which is passed through and pressed between a roller having a dent at a center and a flat roller. At the same time, the friction material substrate is heated from an inside and an outside of the rollers so as to carry out a heat press compression processing. Then, a processed friction material substrate has a predetermined cross-section. The processed friction material substrate is cut into segment pieces each having a segment shape by a rotary push cutter having a sharp cutting edge. A cut position of the segment piece is selected such that two straight lines at two lateral sides of the segment shape is located within an area of a compressed portion of the processed friction material substrate. That is, a stepped or sunken compressed portion is provided on both sides of the segment piece.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2003Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Aisin Kako Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masato Suzuki, Yoshihito Fujimaki, Masayuki Mizuno, Hideto Nakagawa
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Patent number: 7114605Abstract: A multiple disk clutch device for arrangement in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, includes at least an inner and an outer disk clutch arrangement that are radially staggered and associated with a transmission input shaft of the transmission. Each of the plural clutch disk arrangements includes a set of disks, the set of disks have an outer disk associated with an outer disk carrier and an inner disk associated with an inner disk carrier. The outer disks are operable to mutually engage the inner disks in a driving arrangement. Each of the plural disk sets includes at least one disk having a lining and at least one disk being unlined where one of the inner and outer disks of the inner and the outer disk clutch arrangements of the plural disk clutch arrangements is the lined disk.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2001Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Wolfgang Kundermann, Volker Stampf, Angelika Ebert, Wolfgang Reisser
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Patent number: 7108119Abstract: The present invention relates to a synchronizing ring comprising a tapered internal bore provided with sharp axial teeth. The synchronizing ring comprises axial grooves distributed on the tapered internal bore, each groove extending over a surface corresponding to at least three consecutive axial teeth, two successive grooves being separated by at least ten axial teeth.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Federal Mogul Operations France SASInventors: Pierre Blanchard, Christophe Durand
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Patent number: 7073650Abstract: A plate (1) for a multiple-plate clutch has at least one friction surface (4) for transmitting a torque, in particular for a wet-running switchable multiple disk clutch. The plate (1) has at least one friction surface (4) which has grooves (7.1, 7.2, 10.1, 10.2) with an inside bordering edge (6) and an outside bordering edge (5), and at least one groove (7.1, 7.2, 10.1, 10.2) that runs from the inside bordering edge (6) to the outside bordering edge (5). The at least one groove (7.1, 7.2, 10.1, 10.2) has at least one bending point (8.1, 8.2, 9.1, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.2) at which the at least one groove (7.1, 7.2, 10.1, 10.2) is bent at an angle (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4).Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Emilio Fabricius, Erik Seeber, Dieter Zimprich, Nico Sigel
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Patent number: 7069636Abstract: A facing material for a power transmission-absorption assembly is shown and described. In one embodiment, the facing material includes a plurality of first channels having a first, deep depth and a plurality of second channels having a second, shallow depth. One or more of the plurality of second channels may be superimposed or in fluid communication with the first channels to enable fluid to flow across the surface 12c and through the first channel to achieve the desired fluid flow characteristics. The second channels may be defined by a connector that has varying shapes to further facilitate the desired fluid flow characteristics. The material may be used in a power transmission-absorption environment such as on a blocker synchronizer ring, clutch plate or the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Euroflamm Select Inc.Inventors: Douglas B Guthrie, Terry E Nels, Jonathan M Rich, Eric A Schueler
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Patent number: 7040471Abstract: A friction member for engagement in a torque-transmitting mechanism includes an outer layer comprising a first material. The outer layer has a friction surface for sliding contact with an opposing reaction member in the torque-transmitting mechanism. An inner layer is connected to the outer layer opposite the friction surface and comprises a second material. The inner layer is characterized by a first modulus of elasticity and the outer layer is characterized by a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Gregory Mordukhovich