Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Scott Heitzenrater

Larry Diemer

John A Diemer

Douglas John Dwenger

Huaxin Li

Daniel Richard White

James M Hart

Scott H Wittkopp

Andrew W Phillips

Chunhao J Lee

Alan G Holmes

Farzad Samie

Edward W Mellet

Anthony L Smith

Edwin T Grochowski

Boris Iosifovich Burgman

Carlos E Marin

Anthony James Corsetti

Victor M Roses

Gregory Deneszczuk

Robert Neil Paciotti

Randal William Arndt

James M Partyka

Caleb G Harmon

Manuel Martinez Sanchez

Fred D Lewis

Russell D Maki

Angela R Bertolini

An automobile vehicle transmission air vent system includes a first component of a vehicle transmission having a resilient material seal member retained in a cavity created in the first component. A second component of a metal material includes a vent groove facing toward the seal member. A clutch pack of the vehicle transmission is actuated by one of the first component or the second component being displaced into engagement with the clutch pack. The vent groove receives a portion of the seal member in a first displaced position of the displaced one of the first component or the second component defining an air and oil flow path through the vent groove between the first component and the second component. The seal member is positioned outside of the vent groove in a second displaced position of the displaced one of the first component or the second component.

Transmission air vent system

Components for an automatic motor vehicle transmission including a band brake drum, a clutch housing or hub having a seal surface or a clutch housing or hub utilized in a friction clutch assembly having a spline set. All of these components are fabricated of aluminum and the outer surface of the band brake drum, the housing or hub sealing surface and the area of the spline set includes a thin coating of a thermally sprayed steel material. The thermally sprayed steel material may be a low carbon steel such as SAE 1008 or 1010, a similar alloy, iron or other metal. The resulting components thus exhibit the weight saving of aluminum while providing excellent service life due to the enhanced strength and wear resistance provided by the thermally sprayed steel coating.

Aluminum clutch components with ferrous surface

A motor vehicle transmission assembly is provided that includes a dampening component configured to reduce at least one of noise and vibration within the transmission assembly. In some versions, the dampening component is disposed between first and second transmission components, and the dampening component may be fixed to and/or abutting one of the transmission components. The dampening component may comprise a dampening layer disposed between a pair of outer layers. In some versions, the dampening component has a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion.

Transmission assembly having dampening material

A torque transmitting device for an automotive transmission includes a clutch housing with a plurality of internal splines, a clutch hub with a plurality of external splines extending radially outwardly from the clutch hub, a plurality of friction plates with internal teeth and a first and a second surface. The first and second surface having a friction material disposed thereon and at least one of the internal teeth has an aperture and the plurality of internal teeth intermesh with the plurality of external splines on the outer surface of the clutch hub, a plurality of reaction plates having a plurality of external teeth and a first and a second surface. The plurality of external teeth intermesh with the plurality of internal splines in the clutch housing, and a spacer member disposed in the aperture separates a first of the friction plates from a second of the friction plates.

Clutch for a transmission

A weld includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a fay surface with one or more grooves. The second component includes a surface that is configured to mate with the fay surface of the first component. The fay surface of the first component and the surface of the second component form a friction weld when the two surfaces are mated together and relative motion between the first component and the second component generates heat through mechanical friction between the two components.

Friction weed

A backing plate configuration and a friction clutch assembly for an automotive transmission are provided. The backing plate configuration includes a main body having a reaction section connected to a perpendicularly disposed strength section. The thickness of the strength section may be less than or equal to the thickness of the reaction section. The friction clutch assembly includes interleaved first and second clutch plates. The main body (of the backing plate) is disposed adjacent to an end second clutch plate. The main body is piloted by and/or splined to the same transmission member as the end second clutch plate. In an engaged position, the end second clutch plate is compressed directly against and into contact with the main body. A method of forming the backing plate configuration is included, which includes stamping of the main body.

Backing plate providing axial stiffness

The present invention provides a stamped steel friction clutch hubs or housings for use in automatic motor vehicle transmissions having a sprayed on hard steel or ceramic coating on wear surfaces. The clutch hub or housing is fabricated of steel which is stamped and of unitary construction. The clutch hub or housing is complexly configured and includes a center through opening having an inner surface which is contacted by a pair of resilient, axially spaced apart seals. The housing also includes a larger diameter portion having female splines which engage male splines on the periphery of a portion of the clutch plates. The inner surface which is contacted by the resilient seals includes a thin layer of sprayed steel or ceramic material that is machined after application to a desired diameter and surface finish.

Steel clutch housing having sprayed on coating

A selectable one way clutch includes a reverse strut pocket plate having a first plurality of struts or pawls, a reverse notch and forward strut pocket plate having a second plurality of struts or pawls, a selector plate disposed between the plates controlled by a selector plate actuator and a forward notch plate. The reverse notch and forward strut pocket plate includes a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed about its periphery which cooperate with a pin or pushrod of a linear actuator. When the reverse notch plate and forward strut pocket plate is stationary but the one way clutch is still carrying torque, the linear actuator may be actuated to rotate the reverse notch plate and forward strut pocket plate to unlock or release the torque carrying struts which would otherwise remain in their locked torque transmitting positions until all or substantially all torque across the clutch was removed.

Selectable one way clutch loaded member release

The present invention is directed to apply plates, clutch plates, reaction plates and backing plates utilized of friction clutch packs, brake housings, clutch hubs, clutch housings, accumulators, spline sets, valve bodies and wear surfaces against which bushings, seals, springs and similar components slide and contact which are utilized in motor vehicle automatic transmissions, are fabricated of aluminum and include an electro ceramic coating deposited thereon. Such components exhibit reduced weight relative to similar components fabricated of steel as well as extended service life due to both the hardness and porosity of the ceramic coating.

Electro ceramic coated aluminum transmission components

A clutch housing for an automatic transmission includes an aluminum hub and a drum portion which is laser or friction welded to the hub. Due to the different strength requirements of the hub and drum, the hub is fabricated of 6082-T6 aluminum or a material of similar strength and malleability and is forged or die cast. The hub includes male splines or gear teeth disposed on its periphery. The cylindrical drum is fabricated of 7075-T6 aluminum or a material of similar or greater strength and similar malleability and is roller died or stamped and includes female splines or gear teeth on its inner surface as well as a plurality of radially oriented lubrication openings or slots which facilitate flow of lubricating fluid from the interior to the exterior of the cylindrical drum.

Multi-grade aluminum laser welded clutch components

A transmission and a clutch assembly for a vehicle are disclosed. The clutch assembly includes a housing defining a cavity presenting an interior surface. The interior surface defines a pocket along a longitudinal axis. The clutch assembly further includes a piston disposed in the pocket and movable between an initial position and a final position relative to the pocket along the longitudinal axis. The piston includes a plurality of flanges extending outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. The clutch assembly also includes a biasing member attached to the interior surface of the housing and engaging the piston to continuously bias the piston toward the initial position. The biasing member abuts the flanges of the piston to prevent rotation of the piston about the longitudinal axis as the piston moves between the initial and final positions along the longitudinal axis.

Transmission and a clutch assembly for a vehicle

A torque transmitting mechanism includes a drum attached to one of a first member and a second member, and a shell attached to another of the first member and the second member. The drum and the shell are concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis, with the shell concentrically disposed about the drum. An electric motor includes a stator, and a first rotor rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the stator. A band is coupled to the shell, wrapped around the drum between four and twelve complete revolutions, and includes a first end attached to the first rotor for rotation with the first rotor. The band includes a second end attached to a reaction member. Rotation of the first rotor tightens the band against the drum to bias the drum against the shell, to transmit torque between the first member and the second member.

Electrically actuated rotating band torque transmitting mechanism for hybrid and other transmissions

A composite, i.e., two element, two material clutch hub includes an inner sleeve of a heavy, high strength material to and about which is cast an outer element of a lighter, lower strength material. The sleeve typically includes a splined opening that is received on one or two complementarily splined shafts and a plurality of radially oriented pins or lugs or a discontinuous flange about which the outer element is cast. The outer element is splined to the friction plate of a clutch or other component. The high strength material is preferably, though not necessarily, steel and the lighter material is preferably, though not necessarily, an aluminum alloy. Alternatively, the sleeve may be a high strength aluminum alloy such as a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the outer element may be a lower strength, different aluminum alloy.

Cast-in spline sleeve for clutch hub

A hybrid powertrain includes a plurality of torque generative devices, a transmission input shaft, and a planetary gear set connecting the torque generative devices to the transmission input shaft. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring a desired configuration of the powertrain and selectively grounding a gear of the planetary gear set with a selectable one way clutch based upon the desired configuration of the powertrain.

Growing community of inventors

Orion, MI, United States of America

Scott Heitzenrater