Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Michael S Powell

Darrell Lee Robinette

Randall S Beikmann

Robert A Muchmore

Joseph Young-Long Chen

Paul A Piorkowski

Arvo J Siismets

Michael Partridge

Scott R Zechiel

A starting system for an engine of a vehicle includes a starter motor and a motion control mechanism. The starter motor includes a starter pinion gear configured to selectively mesh with a primary mass of the engine. The starter pinion gear is selectively rotatable about a first axis of rotation to cause the primary mass to rotate about a second axis of rotation. The motion control mechanism includes a mechanism pinion gear that is configured to selectively mesh with the primary mass of the engine. The mechanism pinion gear is configured to rotate about a third axis of rotation in response to rotation of the primary mass about the secondary axis of rotation.

Method and mechanism configured for reducing powertrain rigid body motion during start/stop

A selectable mass flywheel assembly for a powertrain of a motor vehicle includes a first mass and a second mass. The first mass is connected to a crankshaft of an engine and the second mass engages with a clutch to transfer torque from the engine to a transmission. The two masses are rotationally coupled to each other with a spring and damper assembly. The flywheel assembly further includes a locking mechanism that engages both masses during the startup of the engine to lock the two masses together to minimize the vibrations and pulsations in the powertrain during startup of the engine.

Selectable mass flywheel

A powertrain for a motor vehicle includes an engine disposed in a front of the motor vehicle and having an output member, an automatic transmission disposed in a rear of the motor vehicle and having an input member, a torque converter connected to the input member of the automatic transmission, and a shaft disposed along a length of the motor vehicle and connected to the torque converter. A first damper is connected to the output member of the engine and is connected to the shaft. The first damper has a first spring set interconnected to the output member of the engine and a second spring set interconnected to the first spring set and to the shaft. The first damper is operable to isolate torsional vibration between the engine and the shaft and isolate the shaft from torsional resonant behavior.

Powertrain having multi-stage damper

A scissor gear assembly may include first and second gears, a friction plate, and a biasing member. The first gear may have a first number (n) of gear teeth extending from a perimeter thereof. The second gear may have a second number (m) of gear teeth extending from a perimeter thereof and may be concentrically mounted relative to the first gear and rotatable relative to the first gear. The second number (m) of gear teeth may be greater than the first number (n) of gear teeth. The friction plate may be rotationally fixed relative to the first gear. The biasing member may have a first end axially fixed relative to the first gear and a second end axially biasing the second gear and the friction plate into engagement with one another.

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Holt, MI, United States of America

Michael S Powell