Yielding Patents (Class 192/52.3)
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Patent number: 10036429Abstract: A wedge clutch imparts a wedging effect to selectively transfer power through powertrain components. The wedge clutch includes a hub configured to rotate about an axis and having a tapered hub surface. A rotatable member is configured to rotate about the axis. A plurality of wedge segments are arranged annularly about the axis and are disposed radially between the hub and the rotatable member. The wedge segments can collectively radially expand and contract to lock and unlock the clutch. Each wedge segment defines an aperture therethrough. A cage assembly includes a plurality of pins that each extend through a respective one of the apertures to control relative radial movement of the wedge segments.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Marion Jack Ince, Guihui Zhong
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Patent number: 9644690Abstract: A wedge clutch, including: an inner race having a radially outermost surface sloping radially outward from a first axial side to a second side; an outer race located radially outward of the inner race; a wedge plate radially disposed between the inner and outer races, the wedge plate including a radially innermost surface sloping radially outward complementary with the radially outermost surface of the inner race; and an actuation assembly arranged to displace the inner race in the first axial direction to place the wedge clutch in a locked mode in which the inner race, the wedge plate and the outer race are non-rotatably connected and in the second axial direction to place the wedge clutch in a free-wheel mode in which the inner and outer races are rotatable with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventor: Brian Lee
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Patent number: 9291213Abstract: A clutch assembly comprising a clutch housing, a central piston chamber positioned therein and a translatable clutch piston movable between a piston neutral and activated positions in response to air pressure. A rotating drive shaft member is positioned within the clutch housing. A cone clutch friction member is moved from a clutch engaged position to a clutch disengaged position in response to the translatable clutch piston moving between the piston neutral and activated positions. The cone clutch friction member engages the rotating drive shaft when in the clutch engaged position. A clutch spring biases the cone clutch friction member into the clutch engaged position with a clutch engagement force. The cone clutch friction member comprises a V-shaped member with a hollow or solid core, or a bent metal member. Friction material is positioned on at least the surfaces which engage and make contact with the rotating drive shaft member.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Borg Warner Inc.Inventor: Samuel E. Settineri
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Patent number: 8327989Abstract: A torque-transfer clutch includes a clutch reaction plate including an annular-shaped reaction element fixedly attached to a rigid plate element. The annular-shaped reaction element includes a preformed spring steel element and a plurality of undulations projecting orthogonal to a planar surface of the rigid plate element.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
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Patent number: 7143882Abstract: Disk (1, 11) for a force transmitting aggregate, in particular for wet disk clutch, with a core plate (2, 12) exhibiting a front side (V) and a backside (R), wherein the front side (V) and/or the backside (R) exhibits a friction lining (3v, 3r, 13v) which may be provided with grooves (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, 15c). In accordance with the invention, in the case of a friction lining with an essentially planar surface (O3v, O3r, O13v) at least one surface area (6) is provided which is raised in comparison to this planar surface (O3v, O3r, O13v) and exhibits a spring characteristic. Alternatively thereto, it is envisioned in accordance with the invention that the cross-sectional area of the lining increases or decreases in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Bernd Matthes, Karl-Heinz Bauer, Emilio Fabricius, Harald Merkel
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Patent number: 6892870Abstract: A friction clutch, particularly for a motor vehicle, has a rotatable clutch disk which is connected to a transmission input shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and which can be clamped in axially between two clutch pressure plates. The pressure plates, which may be a clutch pressure plate and a flywheel, have annular friction surfaces which can act upon the clutch disk. The annular friction surfaces comprise the friction surfaces of a plurality of friction segments which are arranged in a uniformly distributed manner so as to form a ring, wherein every friction segment is arranged so as to be axially flexible in a springing manner to a certain extent.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Michael Peterseim, Ingrid Hoffelner, Matthias Diemer
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Patent number: 6790153Abstract: An over-running clutch assembly comprises an outer race having a cylindrical inner surface and an inner race having a cammed outer surface coaxial with the cylindrical inner surface and defining a gap therebetween and a roller clutch disposed within the gap; a biasing element biases the roller clutch to a disengaged position; and an actuator selectively overcomes the biasing element to engage the roller clutch and lock the inner and outer races to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The actuation disk and the case end includes a first portion adapted to provide initial axial surface to surface contact between the actuation disk and the case end when the actuation disk contacts the case end and a second portion adapted to provide an surface to surface contact only after deflection of the actuation disk under the force of the actuator, thereby providing a spring back response when the actuator is de-energized.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: NTN CorporationInventor: Shiro Goto
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Patent number: 6644453Abstract: A friction plate and friction facing material assembly includes a friction plate having a waved or sinusoidal annular shape and friction material mounted on at least a portion of the friction plate. The waved friction plate defines a plurality of upwardly extending sections having no friction material thereon.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventor: John M. Kremer
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Patent number: 6619455Abstract: A clutch disk includes a hub area and a plurality of friction lining elements arranged in sequence in the circumferential direction relative to a clutch disk rotational axis, each providing at least part of an associated friction surface area. The friction lining elements are intended to make frictional contact with the associated opposing friction surface of a flywheel, a pressure plate, or the like. At least one of the friction lining elements is supported on the hub area in such a way that it can move in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AGInventors: Matthias Diemer, Andreas Orlamünder, Andreas Dau