Eaton Corporation

Other

Borgwarner Inc.

Wade Alan Smith

Dale Arden Stretch

David Curtis Turner

Thomas A Gee

Thomas A Genise

Kevin F Schlosser

Troy Scott Reinoehl

William Eybergen

A spring clamp for assembly fixturing includes a retainer that limits a minimum distance between jaws of the spring clamp when the spring clamp is in a relaxed state.

Hand clamp improvement and accessory

An input shaft brake and disconnect apparatus is provided in a housing between an engine and a transmission. The disconnect apparatus has a first cavity that receives pressurized fluid causing a piston to shift and disconnect an input shaft from a clutch. Pressurized fluid is provided to a second cavity to shift a piston that is associated with a single brake disk or double brake disk that are disposed on one or both sides of an input shaft rotor that is retained on an input shaft. The disconnect apparatus and brake allow for quicker shifting.

Integral input shaft brake and disconnect apparatus

An automated vehicle transmission having a wet clutch and an auxiliary motor that is operatively connected to the transmission to overcome residual torque forces in the wet clutch. Residual torque forces in the wet clutch may prevent disengagement of a gear train and also prevent the transmission from shifting into neutral. A control system determines whether residual torque is resisting the disengagement of the gear train for more than a predetermined time period. According to the method, if a shift is delayed for more than the predetermined time period, the auxiliary motor is actuated to apply an oppositely oriented torque to the transmission gear train to overcome the residual torque and allow the transmission to shift into neutral.

Method and apparatus for providing momentary torque reversal for a transmission having an automated shift system

A multiple working surface magnetic particle device for transferring torque between two rotatable members is disclosed. The magnetic particle device includes relatively rotatable members defining a gap therebetween containing a magnetically reactive medium. The magnetically reactive medium stiffens in the presence of a magnetic field interlocking the rotatable members. The multiple working surface design allows for a reduction in the size and weight of the magnetic field source resulting in a more compact, lighter weight magnetic particle device.

Lightweight magnetic particle device

A multiple working surface magnetic particle device for transferring torque between two rotatable members is disclosed. The magnetic particle device comprises relatively rotatable members defining a gap therebetween containing a magnetically reactive medium The magnetically reactive medium stiffens in the presence of a magnetic field interlocking the rotatable members. The multiple working surface design allows for a reduction in the size and weight of the magnetic field source resulting in a more compact, lighter weight device.

A water-cooled magnetorheological fluid controlled combination fan drive and water pump ( ) used in a cooling system. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber ( ) between a drive ring ( ) and a driven ring ( ) increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the magnetorheological fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid in an activated state creates additional torque to drive an output shaft ( ), and coupled fan ( ), at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The rotation of the drive ring ( ) also rotates an attached impeller assembly ( ) having impellers ( ) to move engine coolant through the cooling system. The magnetic field is induced by directing a flow of electrical current through an electronic coil ( ) coupled within the water-cooled magnetorheological fluid controlled combination fan drive and water pump ( ), and an electronic control unit coupled to the electronic coil ( ) controls the amount of electrical current flowing through the coil ( ). This maintains the temperature of the engine block within an acceptable temperature range at a particular engine speed.

Water-cooled magnetorheological fluid controlled combination fan drive and water pump

An electronically controlled magnetorheological fluid based fan drive assembly used to increase the rotational speed of a coupled radiator cooling fan. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber between a drive ring and an output member increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid can be increased to create additional torque to drive the output member and coupled radiator fan at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The magnetic field is induced by directing a flow of electrical current through an electronic coil coupled within the fan drive assembly , and an electronic control unit coupled to the electronic coil controls the amount of electrical current flowing through the coil . This maintains the temperature of the engine block within an acceptable temperature range at a particular engine speed.

Growing community of inventors

Mayville, MI, United States of America

Wade Alan Smith