Borgwarner Inc.

Borg-warner Automotive Gmbh

Dan Joseph Showalter

Roger T Simpson

Alan L Miller

Joseph W Beckerman

Drew A Sundquist

Will Watson

Diane K Ducklow

Ronald A Schoenbach

Richard K Rader

Mark A Lindsey

Mark T Joslin

Dean P Knowles

T Mark Joslin

Ray F Hamilton

Mark A Perlick

Dennis Cook

Carl Randall Vogt

Christopher John Kowalsky

Thomas Patrick Knox

Rodney E Barr

Craig B Fowler

Ward D McGinn

Scott P Wood

Todd L Perttola

Michael Wayne Miller

Paul G Kowaleski

John S Sewell

Roger J Wood

E David Ray

Gary Oliveira

A power-transmitting device () and a method of assembling a power-transmitting device () secures and releases driving continuity between driving and driven parts () through at least one clutch assembly (). The power-transmitting device () includes an apply plate () axially moveable with respect to the clutch assembly () for engaging and disengaging the clutch assembly (). A return spring () acting on the apply plate () and an apply spring () having a higher compression force than the return spring () can be located between the apply plate () and the clutch assembly (). A ball () can be engageable with a portion of the apply plate () for locking the apply plate () in engagement with the clutch assembly () during a steady state condition and a piston () can drive the ball () into engagement with the apply plate () in response to application of fluid under pressure.

Latching clutch having a ball detent latching device requiring a reduced amount of hydraulic pressure

In a permanently engaged starter system (), a one-way clutch () is located between a starter motor () and a starter gear () for initiating the start of an internal combustion engine. The clutch () can include a starter gear (), an outer race (), an inner race (), a roller cage () supporting a plurality of roller disks (), and at least one spring (). The roller cage () can include an enlarged inertia ring supported adjacent to a radially outwardly located peripheral edge () for retarding rotational movement of the roller cage () relative to the inner race () in response to acceleration of the starter motor (). The spring () biases the roller cage () relative to the inner race () toward a disengaged clutch position, such that the plurality of roller disks () engage the inner race () and are spaced from the outer race surface ().

Anti-kickback clutch for starter gear

The present invention is directed toward a shift actuator assembly that includes a housing having a retaining mechanism. A holding pawl is biased into engagement with the retaining mechanism. A solenoid releasably engages the pawl when the shift shaft is disposed in its first position such that once the solenoid disengages the pawl, the cam surfaces on the retaining mechanism cooperate with the holding surfaces on the pawl to drive the pawl out of engagement with the retaining mechanism thereby releasing the biasing force of the biasing mechanism to drive the housing and the shift fork axially on the shift shaft between engaged and disengaged positions with respect to the associated gear set.

Spring loaded shift actuator assembly having a retaining mechanism

A cam phaser () dynamically adjusts a rotational relationship of a camshaft () of an internal combustion engine with respect to an engine crankshaft (). A cam sprocket () can be driven by an endless loop power transmission member connected to a drive sprocket () mounted for rotation with the enginecrankshaft (). The cam phaser () can include a planetary gear drive train () having a centrally located sun gear () connected for rotation with the cam sprocket (), a ring gear () connected for rotation with the camshaft (), and a plurality of planet gears () supported by a carrier () in meshing engagement between the sun gear () and the ring gear (). A phase adjustment gear () can beconnected for rotation with the carrier (). The sun gear () can drive the planet gears () in rotation thereby causing the ring gear () to be driven in rotation. Rotational movement the phase adjustment gear () can adjustably vary a cam phase position of the camshaft () relative to the crankshaft ().

Electric motor driven simple planetary cam phaser

A transmission clutch module including inner and outer races, a plurality of race engaging pawls and an actuator ring incorporates an actuator having a rotatable spool header adapted to rotate an attached actuator lever between at least two angular positions. The actuator lever moves the actuator ring to selectively block the pawls so inner and outer races may freewheel relative to one another in at least one operating mode. The actuator may be electric or hydraulic powered, and may be spring-biased to a default position in event of power failure. An elongated axially moveable plunger is secured to and supported within a piston at a first end, and has a radially extending pin at its second end. A fixed spool sleeve to which the spool header is supported includes a helical slot through which the pin extends. As the plunger moves reciprocally, the pin undergoes both translational and rotational movement.

Actuator for multi-mode clutch module

An automotive accessory drive system for a motor vehicle connects to an internal combustion engine crankshaft during at least one mode of operation. The system includes an accessory drive pulley, a starter motor/generator, and an endless loop power transmission member connecting at least the starter motor/generator and the accessory drive pulley. A planetary gear set includes a sun gear, a ring gear integrally associated with the accessory drive pulley, and a planetary carrier connected to the engine crankshaft. First and second one way clutches connect the engine crankshaft to the ring gear, and the sun gear to a grounding member, respectively, to define a normal drive mode and an engine start mode, respectively. An electromagnetic disconnect includes a normally closed friction clutch connecting the grounding member to ground to define a third mode of operation corresponding to a free wheel function with the grounding member disengaged from connection to ground.

Electromagnetic clutch disconnect for accessory drive

A pump having an actuator mounted on a rotatable shaft, and a pump mounted on the shaft, which is selectively engageable with the actuator. When the actuator is actuated, the pump will receive rotational force from the shaft, creating a pumping. action.

Friction drive pump for transfer cases, etc

An outer housing for a clutch assembly that allows for the housing to be placed over an already assembled multi-disc clutch pack. The outer housing incorporates a plurality of internally splined grooves, a lead-in chamfer to assist in the alignment of the center line between the housing and the center line of the clutch pack, and an index chamfer on elevated ridges that reside between the splined grooves to assist in the alignment of the splined teeth of outer clutch plates in the assembled clutch pack with said splined grooves.

Outer housing geometry for aligning clutch plates

A coupling device () for use in a motor vehicle has an input member (), a first and a second output member (), and a planetary gear set () having gears () and a planetary gear carrier (). Each of the input member () and the first and second output members () are coupled to one of the planetary gear carrier () and a gear () of the planetary gear set (). A modulating biasing clutch assembly () selectively applies a biasing force to two of the three members. The modulating biasing clutch assembly () has an electrical clutch operator (), a first clutch plate () coupled to one of the three members and a second clutch plate () coupled to another of the three members.

Active control center differential with front output

The present invention is an axle () for a vehicle having a housing (), an input shaft () coupled to a differential on a first end, extending through the length of the housing (), and an output gear () having a first tooth profile located inside the housing () splined to the input shaft (). Also included is a drive gear () having a second tooth profile coupled to a differential housing, at least one planetary gear () having a single tooth profile mounted on a carrier (), in mesh with the first tooth profile of the output gear () and the second tooth profile of the drive gear (), a carrier ring (), and an actuatable clutch pack () coupled to the carrier ring () and the housing (). When the actuatable clutch pack () is actuated, the carrier () is slowed down, and the speeds of the planetary gear () and the output gear () are increased, increasing the speed of the input shaft ().

Electronic control torque vectoring axle

A variable biasing differential provides an adjustable torque bias between two outputs. An input shaft provides drive torque to a carrier which receives a plurality of stub shafts and a like plurality of planet gears. A first set of planet gears drives a first sun gear and first output and a second set of planet gears, which, in turn, drives additional planet gears which drive a second sun gear and second output. Secured to both ends of the carrier are first and second ring gears which each mesh with an eccentric gear which in turn includes an eccentric second ring gear which meshes with an internal gear disposed about the first and second outputs. These gears are coupled to respective first and second friction clutches which can be independently activated to adjust the torque bias of the differential.

Variable biasing differential

An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shafts overruns, i.e., exceeds, the speed of the other drive shaft by a predetermined value related to the vehicle speed, indicating that wheel slip is present, clutch current is incrementally increased to increase clutch engagement and torque transfer to the secondary axle. When wheel slip is reduced below the predetermined value the current to the clutch is incrementally reduced. The method of operating such a system is also described.

On demand vehicle drive system

A two-speed segmented transfer case includes an automatic transmission side, and a transfer case side. The transfer case side having a gear reduction set, and a shift sleeve for selecting between the high, or direct drive speed, and the low, or reduced gear speed. The transmission side includes a hydraulic clutch which is used to transfer power from the transmission, to the front wheels. The hydraulic clutch is operated and controlled by the use of automatic transmission fluid that comes from the vehicle transmission. When fully engaged, the hydraulic clutch causes the power coming into the transfer case to be split between the front and rear wheels. This configuration allows for the elimination of a separate actuation system that would normally control the engagement of the clutch.

Transfer case with forward hydraulic clutch

A method and apparatus for a four-wheel drive motor vehicle provides improved cornering by disengaging drive torque to the inside rear wheel during significant steering maneuvers. The apparatus includes a primary front wheel drive motor vehicle driveline having a center differential which provides drive energy to the primary (front) driveline and secondary (rear) driveline and a rear axle assembly having a pair of normally engaged (active) clutches which provide drive energy to the respective rear wheels. A steering angle sensor detects angular displacement of the steering column or front (steering) wheels and an associated controller disengages the clutch associated with the rear wheel on the inside of the turn as determined by the steering angle sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Dan Joseph Showalter