Means Industries, Inc.

Exedy Globalparts Corporation

Todd M Andrzejewski

Joshua D Hand

Kenneth G Walega

Bryant David Grytzelius

Ali Merat

Cody Kelly

David Hacker

Kelly J Campfield

Spencer J Kane

Spencer Kane

Brandon J Voelker

George J Coppens

George Coppens

An architecture for coupling an output member from a prime mover to an input member of a device to be driven. The architecture includes a torque transfer device defining an indirect coupling for transferring torque therethrough, a direct drive connection member providing a direct coupling for transferring torque therethrough, and a dynamically controllable clutch that selectively and rotationally drives either the torque transfer device or the direct drive connection member. The torque transfer device is rotatably disconnected from the dynamically controllable clutch and undriven when the dynamically controllable clutch is driving the direct drive connection member.

Selectable torque path torque converter

In some implementations, the device may include stationary and rotatable members. A locking element supported on the stationary member moves between an engaged, torque hold or transfer position where the locking element holds or transfers torque between the stationary member and the rotatable member and a disengaged, torque-free position where the locking element holds or transfers no torque between the stationary member and the rotatable member. The device may include a threaded shaft, with the locking element threadably received on the threaded shaft.

Clutch assembly for coupling and decoupling members

A gear reduction unit for coupling the output member of a prime mover to the input member of a device that is to be driven thereby. The gear reduction unit includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a primary gear set arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, a secondary gear set arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a gear selection device. The gear selection device is configured to selectively and alternately couple the input shaft to the output shaft for driving thereof by one of the primary gear or the secondary gear set.

Three position gear selection unit

A clutch assembly includes a pocket plate, and a teeter-totter strut retained in a pocket plate pocket and pivotable to engaged and disengaged positions. A strut center of mass is configured so that when a shock load force acts on the strut, the strut is prevented from moving into the engaged position. A torque locking mechanism includes a strut housing having a strut pocket, a strut having ears, and a cover. The strut has a center of mass between the ears and a portion of the pocket. A clutch strut includes ears extending transversely from a body. A first portion of the body between the ears and an abutment surface has a first length and width, and a second portion of the body between the ears and a load bearing surface has a second length longer than the first length and a second width narrower than the first width.

Clutch strut, torque locking mechanism, and clutch assembly

A clutch assembly, the assembly may include a first member having a locking structure and a second member having a receiving area. The assembly may include a locking element supported in the receiving area of the second member, the locking element moving between an engaged position where the locking element holds or transfers torque between the first and second members and a disengaged position where the locking element holds or transfers no torque between the first and second members. The locking element includes a socket. Moreover, the assembly may include a reciprocating member in the socket when the locking element is in the disengaged position.

Clutch assembly for coupling and decoupling clutch members

A clutch assembly includes a pocket plate having a pocket and a teeter-totter strut retained in the pocket. The teeter-totter strut is pivotable to an engaged position in which an engagement face of the teeter-totter strut extends out from the pocket plate. The teeter-totter strut is pivotable from the engaged position to a disengaged position in which the engagement face of the teeter-totter strut does not extend out from the pocket plate. The clutch assembly is configured so that when a shock load force acts on the teeter-totter strut, the teeter-totter strut is prevented from moving into the engaged position.

Strut clutch assembly torque locking mechanism, and clutch strut

A clutch assembly that includes an actuator, an apply spring, a pocket plate, which has a pocket, and a strut (e.g., a teeter-totter strut) retained in the pocket, is provided. The apply spring continually acts on the strut for the strut to be in an engaged position. The strut, in response to the actuator additionally acting on the strut, pivots from the engaged position to a disengaged position. The clutch assembly is configured to prevent unintended deployment of the strut due to shock load so that, when the strut is in the disengaged position due to the actuator additionally acting on the strut, the clutch assembly prevents the shock load from causing the strut to pivot from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

Clutch assembly having normally on strut configured to prevent shock load deployment

A coupling member for an engageable coupling assembly includes a coupling face having at least one pocket. Each pocket is sized and shaped to receive and nominally retain a locking member that lays down in its pocket during an overrunning condition of the assembly at a laydown angular velocity of the coupling member about a rotational axis of the assembly. Each pocket has a pocket axis which is angled with respect to a normal to a centerline of the coupling member to improve locking member dynamics with regards to strut laydown speed during the overrunning condition.

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Montrose, MI, United States of America

Todd M Andrzejewski