Borgwarner Inc.

Steven J Kowal

David T Vierk

Benjamin A Siegel

James Ronald Papania

Richard W Pridgen, Jr

James G Marciniak

A clutch assembly includes a first shaft extending along and rotatable about a first shaft axis, and a second shaft extending along and rotatable about a second shaft axis that is parallel with the first shaft axis. The clutch assembly also includes a first friction component coupled to and rotatable with the first shaft, and a second friction component coupled to and rotatable with the second shaft. The clutch assembly additionally includes a band clutch assembly. The band clutch assembly includes a retaining band disposed about the first and second friction components, and a retaining component coupled to the retaining band. The retaining band is engageable with the first and second friction components, and the retaining band and the retaining component are rotatable with the first and second shafts during rotation of the first and second shafts.

Clutch assembly and rotating system including the same

A clutch system includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member for transmitting torque from a vehicle power generator. The first clutch member includes a first a first clutch element having a first surface and a first friction material disposed on said first surface. The second clutch member is configured to engage the first clutch plate and includes a second clutch element having a second surface and a second friction material disposed on the second surface. The first friction material is configured to be engaged with the second friction material during operation of the vehicle power generator.

Clutch system and vehicle transmission system including the same

A composite clutch () is adapted to transmit an operational range of torques () from a driving member () to a driven member (). The composite clutch () incorporates both of a friction clutch assembly () and a dog clutch assembly (), each assembly adapted to address one of two segments () of the operational range of torques (). The clutch () further includes a spring-loaded detent system () configured to control transition () between the two segments () of operational ranges of torques (). The friction clutch assembly () includes first friction clutch elements () coupled to the driving member () and second friction clutch elements () coupled to the driven member () for providing torque control within the lower operational range of torques (). The dog clutch assembly () includes a first dog clutch element () coupled to the driving member () and a second dog clutch element () coupled to the driven member (), in which the first and second dog clutch elements () are configured to mechanically lock together during the higher operational range of torques ().

Composite friction and dog clutch

A dual gain friction clutch is adapted to transmit an operational range of torques from a drive member to a driven member. The dual gain friction clutch incorporates a first friction clutch pack and a second friction clutch pack, the pack being axially aligned and adapted to address one of two segments of the operational range of torques. The clutch further includes a spring-loaded skate detent unit configured to control transition between the two segments of operational ranges of torques. Each friction clutch pack may include identical respective friction discs coupled to the drive member and respective pressure plates coupled to the driven member for selectively providing torque control within either of the lower and higher segments of the operational ranges of torques. The first clutch pack is configured to operate alone and independently of the second clutch pack during the lower segment of operational range of torques, while and both friction clutch packs are configured to operate as a single combined friction clutch unit during the higher segment of operational range of torques.

Dual gain friction clutch

A composite clutch used to transmit an operational range of torques from a driving member to a driven member includes a friction clutch assembly and a dog clutch assembly. The friction clutch assembly includes a number of first friction clutch members coupled to the driving member and a number of second friction clutch members coupled to the driven member. The number of first friction clutch members and the number of second friction clutch members are selected to transmit torque across a first portion of the operational range of torques. An actuator assembly is operatively coupled to the friction clutch assembly and the dog clutch assembly. The composite clutch may be operated in friction clutch and dog modes to provide improved controllability in lower torque operation.

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

Steven J Kowal