MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140305761 | MAGNETIC SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATING MODE OF AN OVERRUNNING COUPLING ASSEMBLY AND OVERRUNNING COUPLING AND MAGNETIC CONTROL ASSEMBLY HAVING SAME - A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly is provided. The system includes a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket in an uncoupling position and is movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. An armature is connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions. A magnetic field sensor is disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the element for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on the position of the element. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to movement of the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions. | 10-16-2014 |
20140190785 | COMPACT OVERRUNNING COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY HAVING REDUCED PART COUNT AND MANUFACTURING COMPLEXITY - A compact overrunning coupling and control assembly having reduced part count and manufacturing complexity is provided. An actuator arm moves a control element from a first position which corresponds to a first mode of the assembly to a second position which corresponds to a second mode of the assembly. An actuator piston is disposed within the bore of a housing and has an outer surface in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing and a groove formed in the outer surface of the piston to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm therein. A control pressure signal within the housing causes the piston to slide within the bore against a biasing force to move the actuator arm. | 07-10-2014 |
20140116832 | CONTROLLABLE OR SELECTABLE COUPLING ASSEMBLY HAVING AN OVERRUN MODE AND A RETAINED CONTROL ELEMENT - A controllable or selectable coupling assembly having an overrun mode and a retained control element is provided. The assembly includes first and second coupling members having first and second coupling faces, respectively, in close-spaced opposition with one another. A locking member is disposed between the coupling faces of the coupling members. The locking member is movable between first and second positions. A control element is mounted for controlled movement between the coupling faces and is operable to control position of the locking member. The control element has at least one opening which extends completely therethrough to allow the locking member to extend therethrough. A retainer mechanism is operative to allow limited movement of the control element towards the first coupling face and prevent the control element from contacting the first coupling member in the overrun mode thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged. | 05-01-2014 |
20140102848 | OVERRUNNING COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY, COUPLING ASSEMBLY AND LOCKING MEMBER FOR USE THEREIN - A locking member for controllably transmitting torque between first and second coupling members of a coupling assembly is provided. The locking member includes projecting inner and outer pivots which extend laterally from a main body portion for enabling pivotal motion of the locking member about a pivot axis which intersects the pivots. The pivots are sized, shaped and located with respect to the main body portion to allow frictional engagement of an end surface of the outer pivot with an outer wall of a pocket to occur near the pivot axis during rotation of the first coupling member and the locking member above a predetermined RPM thereby reducing overall moment on the locking member about the pivot axis that has to be overcome to move the locking member between the engaged and disengaged positions. | 04-17-2014 |
20140100071 | VEHICLE DRIVE SYSTEM INCLUDING A TRANSMISSION - A vehicle drive system including a transmission has a gear set with first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission. The system has a transmission housing and a first electric motor having an output shaft connecting with the first element for driving the first element in response to a first electrical signal. A second electric motor has an output shaft connecting with the fourth element for driving the fourth element in response to a second electrical signal. The motors operate together to cause transmission ratios to change steplessly through an infinite number of ratios between maximum and minimum values. | 04-10-2014 |
20140080648 | DRIVE SYSTEM INCLUDING A TRANSMISSION FOR A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A drive system including a transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The system includes a gear set having first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission and a first output shaft of an internal combustion engine connects with the third element for driving the third element. An electric motor having an output shaft connecting with the first element drives the first element in response to an electrical signal. An electric motor-generator unit has an output shaft which connects with the fourth element for driving the fourth element in response to an electrical signal. A second output shaft of the engine also connects with the fourth element through the unit for driving the fourth element. The resulting system has a plurality of different operating modes including a reverse gear or operating mode powered electrically and by the internal combustion engine. | 03-20-2014 |
20130277164 | COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY - A coupling and control assembly includes a coupling subassembly and a control subassembly integrated with the coupling subassembly. The control subassembly has a reciprocating member and actuators operatively connected to the reciprocating movement for controlled reciprocating movement therewith to move or pivot respective struts received within pockets of a coupling member of the coupling subassembly. The reciprocating member converts a pressure of a working fluid at its working face to move linearly together with the actuators from its first position which corresponds to a first operating mode of the coupling subassembly to its second position which corresponds to a second operating mode of the coupling subassembly. | 10-24-2013 |
20130256078 | ELECTROMECHANICALLY ACTUATED COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY - An electromechanically actuated coupling and control assembly is provided. In one embodiment, an overrunning clutch and control assembly having first and second operating modes is provided. The clutch and control assembly includes first and second clutch members supported for rotation relative to one another about a common rotational axis. The first and second clutch members have respective coupling faces that oppose each other. The coupling face of one of the clutch members has a pocket. The coupling face of the other clutch member has a locking formation. The assembly further includes a strut received within the pocket in the coupling face of the one clutch member and has an end that is pivotally movable outwardly of the pocket. The assembly still further includes a biasing spring. The assembly further includes an electromechanical apparatus including an actuator mounted for controlled linear reciprocating motion and in communication with the pocket. The assembly still further includes communication apparatus for wirelessly communicating electrical power from a source of electrical power to the electromechanical apparatus to cause the actuator to linearly move and pivot the strut end against the bias of the spring from a first position which corresponds to the first operating mode to a second position which corresponds to the second operating mode. | 10-03-2013 |
20130062151 | COUPLING ASSEMBLY HAVING AN OVERRUN MODE AND RATCHETING REVERSE STRUT OR RADIAL RATCHET FOR USE THEREIN - A coupling assembly having an overrun mode and a ratcheting reverse strut or radial ratchet for use in the assembly are provided. The size and shape of the strut or ratchet and corresponding notches (i.e. geometry) of a notch plate of the assembly are specifically configured so that the strut or ratchet “ratchets” during the overrun condition. The strut or ratchet will not engage the notch plate until relative notch plate speed drops below a predetermined speed. | 03-14-2013 |
20120152687 | ELECTROMECHANICAL ASSEMBLY TO CONTROL THE OPERATING MODE OF A COUPLING APPARATUS - An electromechanical assembly to control the operating mode of a coupling apparatus is provided. The assembly includes a first subassembly including a stator having at least one electromagnetically inductive coil to create a magnetic flux when the at least one coil is energized. At least one bi-directionally movable rod has a free end adapted for connection to a strut of the coupling apparatus for selective, small displacement strut movement. An actuator is operatively connected to the at least one rod for selective bi-directional shifting movement along a rotational axis between a first position of the actuator which corresponds to a first mode of the coupling apparatus and a second position of the actuator which corresponds to a second mode of the coupling apparatus. A magnetic control force is applied to the actuator when the at least one coil is energized to cause the actuator to move between positions. | 06-21-2012 |
20120152683 | CONTROLLABLE COUPLING ASSEMBLY - A controllable coupling assembly includes first, second and third coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a common rotational axis. A face of the first coupling member has pockets spaced about the axis. A face of the second coupling member has locking formations that are engaged by struts upon projecting outwardly from the pockets to prevent relative rotation of the first and second coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis. A face of the third coupling member has pockets spaced about the axis. A different face of the second coupling member has locking formations that are engaged by struts from the third member to prevent relative rotation of the second and third coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis. | 06-21-2012 |
20120149518 | VEHICLE DRIVE SYSTEM INCLUDING A TRANSMISSION - A vehicle drive system including a transmission is provided. The system includes a compound planetary gear set including first, second, third and fourth elements. The second element connects with an output shaft of the transmission. The system further includes a transmission housing. The system still further includes an electric motor which has an output shaft connecting with the first and fourth elements for driving the first and fourth elements in response to an electrical signal to obtain a desired transmission ratio. The system further includes a non-friction controllable clutch assembly which is non-hydraulically controlled to change between a coupling state for coupling the fourth element to the motor output shaft and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the fourth element from the motor output shaft. | 06-14-2012 |
20120145505 | STRUT FOR A CONTROLLABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH - A strut for a controllable one-way clutch wherein a projecting leg portion on the strut provides an attachment location for a free end of a rod which reciprocates. The strut includes a member-engaging first end surface. The strut further includes a member-engaging second end surface diametrically opposite the first end surface. The strut still further includes a main body portion between the end surfaces. The projecting leg portion extends from the main body portion. | 06-14-2012 |
20110297500 | DIECAST COUPLING MEMBER INCLUDING A POCKET HAVING A MACHINED SURFACE PORTION, METHOD FOR MAKING THE COUPLING MEMBER AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE COUPLING MEMBER - A diecast pocket plate or coupling member including a pocket with a machined surface layer or portion, a method for making the coupling member and an overrunning clutch assembly including the coupling member are provided. The member is formed as a unitary diecasting from a die-casting material in a die-casting process. The diecast member includes a coupling face having at least one pocket which is sized and shaped to receive and retain a locking member that moves in the pocket during an overrun condition of the assembly. The pocket is defined by a plurality of surface portions including an angled, slightly positive surface portion which is machined vertical or slightly negative to improve performance of the assembly during the overrun condition. | 12-08-2011 |
20110233026 | OVERRUNNING COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR SUBASSEMBLY - An overrunning coupling or clutch and control assembly including first and second coupling members and an electromechanical actuator subassembly having an electromagnetically inductive coil which creates a magnetic flux when the coil is energized is provided. A control force caused by the magnetic flux is applied to an armature member of the subassembly to move the armature member and cause the coupling members to be either coupled to or uncoupled from each other by means of struts. | 09-29-2011 |
20110214962 | DIECAST COUPLING MEMBER FOR USE IN AN ENGAGEABLE COUPLING ASSEMBLY - A diecast pocket plate or member having a sacrificial surface layer or portion is provided. The member is formed as a unitary die-casting from a die-casting alloy strengthened by an alloying material in a die-casting process. The diecast member includes a coupling face having a pocket which is sized and shaped to receive and nominally retain a locking member that moves in the pocket during an overrun condition of an engageable coupling assembly. The diecast member also includes a relatively hard base portion including particles of the strengthening alloying material of the die-casting alloy. The diecast member further includes a plurality of surface portions which define the pocket. At least one generally vertical surface portion of the surface portions is soft relative to the hard base portion and is substantially devoid of the particles of the alloying material so that the at least one generally vertical surface portion wears or deforms (i.e., is sacrificial) during contact of the locking member against the at least one generally vertical surface portion during the overrun condition. | 09-08-2011 |
20110192697 | ENGAGEABLE COUPLING ASSEMBLY HAVING REDUCED SPIN LOSSES AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SUCH ASSEMBLY WITHIN AN AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSION TO REDUCE SUCH LOSSES - An engageable coupling assembly having reduced spin losses and method of assembling such assembly within an automotive transmission to reduce such losses are provided. The assembly is adapted for use with pressurized fluid. The assembly includes first and second coupling members that are supported with respect to each other for relative rotation about a common rotational axis. The coupling members have a first pair of annular faces that oppose each other and define an annular space therebetween. A first face of the first pair has a set of pockets spaced about the rotational axis. A second face of the first pair has a set of locking formations. The coupling members have a second pair of annular faces that oppose each other. A first face of the second pair defines a first set of fluid grooves fluidly communicating the annular space with an exterior surface of the assembly. The fluid grooves are configured to conduct the pressurized fluid from the annular space and out of the assembly in an axial direction during an overrun condition of the assembly, thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged. | 08-11-2011 |
20110177900 | HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVE SYSTEM AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVE SYSTEM - A hybrid electric vehicle drive system and a control system for controlling a hybrid drive system are provided. The drive system includes a housing, an input shaft for inputting motive power from an internal combustion engine and an output shaft operatively linked to at least one drive wheel. The drive system also includes a first electric motor disposed within the housing and having a first rotor and a stator fixed to the housing and a second electric motor disposed within the housing and having a second rotor and a stator fixed to the housing. The drive system further includes gearing disposed within the housing and coupled to the second rotor to transmit revolutions of the second rotor to the output shaft. The drive system still further includes a planetary gear set disposed within the housing. The gear set includes a first rotary element coupled to the input shaft, a second rotary element coupled to the first rotor and a third rotary element coupled to the gearing. The gearing transmits revolutions of the third rotary element to the output shaft. The drive system also includes a controllable overrunning coupling assembly including a first coupling member fixed to the housing and a second coupling member coupled to the second rotary element and supported for rotation relative to the first coupling member in an overrun mode and coupled to the first coupling member in a locked mode. The second rotary element is locked to the housing in the locked mode of the coupling assembly. | 07-21-2011 |
20100252384 | CONTROLLABLE COUPLING ASSEMBLY AND OVERRUNNING COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY UTILIZING SAME - A controllable coupling assembly including a coupling member and an overrunning coupling and control assembly utilizing same are provided wherein a set of actuators are supported on a control member of the assembly for movement therewith to move or pivot respective struts received within pockets of the coupling member. Apparatus is responsive to a control pressure signal to exert a control force on the control member to cause the control member to move from its first position which corresponds to a first mode of the coupling assembly to its second position which corresponds to a second mode of the coupling assembly. The coupling assembly may be an overrunning clutch assembly. | 10-07-2010 |
20100230226 | OVERRUNNING ONE-WAY CLUTCH OR COUPLING ASSEMBLY - An overrunning one-way clutch or coupling assembly includes a first outer coupling member and an inner coupling member which together have a first pair of annular coupling faces therebetween and a second outer coupling member which together with the inner coupling member have a second pair of annular coupling faces therebetween. Both pairs of coupling faces are formed with sets of pockets and locking formations. Forward and reverse sets of struts are located in pockets axially spaced apart from each other. | 09-16-2010 |
20100200358 | OVERRUNNING COUPLING AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING APPARATUS HAVING A LATCHING MECHANISM - Overrunning coupling and control assemblies, each of which includes control apparatus having a latching mechanism are provided. Each latching mechanism prevents an actuator arm of an overrunning coupling assembly from moving in a first direction substantially parallel to a shift direction of a control plate of the coupling assembly within a housing slot in a locked condition of the mechanism in a first position of the control plate. A control pressure signal within a bore of the housing changes the condition of the latching mechanism from locked to unlocked to unlock the actuator arm and causes the unlocked actuator arm to move along the first direction within the slot and the control element to move along the shift direction to a second position. The control pressure signal also causes a piston which has a groove formed in its outer surface to receive and retain a free end portion of the actuator arm to slide within the bore in the housing against the biasing force of the at least one biasing member. In the absence of a control pressure signal, the at least one biasing member moves the piston and thereby the unlocked actuator arm in a second direction opposite the first direction within the slot and the control element along the shift direction from the second position back to the first position and changes the condition of the latching mechanism from unlocked to locked to lock the actuator arm. | 08-12-2010 |
20090211863 | Controllable Overrunning Coupling Assembly - A controllable overrunning coupling assembly includes a control member mounted for controlled shifting movement between a first pair of coupling faces of first and second coupling members relative to reverse pockets formed in one of the coupling faces. The first pair of coupling faces oppose each other and are oriented to face axially along a common rotational axis. The control member is operable for controlling position of only reverse struts in the reverse pockets without controlling the position of forward rockers in forward pockets formed in a coupling face of a second pair of coupling faces of the coupling members that oppose each other and are oriented to face radially with respect to the rotational axis. | 08-27-2009 |
20090159391 | Overrunning Coupling Assembly - An overrunning coupling assembly includes a control element mounted for controlled shifting movement between coupling faces of annular coupling members relative to a first set of pockets in the first member. The control element is operable for controlling position of only reverse struts in the first set of pockets without controlling the position of forward struts in a second set of pockets in the coupling face of the second member. The control element allows at least one of the reverse struts to engage at least one of a set of locking formations on the coupling face of the second coupling member in a first position of the control element. The control element maintains the reverse struts in their pockets in a second position of the control element. | 06-25-2009 |
20090098970 | High-Efficiency Vehicular Transmission - A high-efficiency vehicular transmission is provided. The transmission includes a transmission housing, a set of torque delivery elements which include first and second elements supported for rotation within the housing and an electric motor for changing angular velocity of at least one of the elements in response to an electrical signal during a shift to obtain a desired transmission ratio. At least one non-friction controllable coupling assembly has a coupling state for coupling the first element to either the second element or the housing and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the first element from either the second element or the housing, respectively. The at least one coupling assembly is non-hydraulically controlled to change state to maintain the desired transmission ratio. | 04-16-2009 |
20090045024 | Overrunning Radial Coupling Assembly Having Dual Bearing Support - An overrunning radial coupling assembly having dual bearing support is provided. The assembly includes an inner member having an outer peripheral surface and an outer member having an inner peripheral surface adjacent the outer peripheral surface in radially inner and radially outer relationship. At least one of the members is mounted for rotation about an axis. One of the members includes pockets angularly spaced about the axis. Each of the pockets has a closed end and an open end located axially opposite the closed end. The assembly further includes a plurality of pawls. Each of the pawls is located in a pocket and is supported to pivot toward the peripheral surface of the other of the members. The assembly still further includes a retainer secured to one of the members. The retainer covers the open end of the pockets. The inner and outer peripheral surfaces define a first radial bearing interface adjacent the closed end of each of the pockets. The retainer has a bearing surface which together with one of the peripheral surfaces define a second radial bearing interface adjacent the open end of each of the pockets. The first and second radial bearing interfaces react and carry an internal moment load to prevent contact of the peripheral surfaces during overrunning. | 02-19-2009 |