Craig Edward Kneidel

US Patent:

7753183, Jul 13, 2010

Filed:

Apr 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/788138

Inventors:

Kevin Parks - Wooster OH, US
Craig Kneidel - Wooster OH, US

Assignee:

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG - Buehl

International Classification:

F16H 45/02

US Classification:

192 329, 192 7017, 192 7018, 192212, 192107 M, 192 7014, 248634

Abstract:

A torque converter with a casing, a turbine, and a piston having a first friction surface located at a radially outer portion of the piston, and a first drive ring having second and third friction surfaces. The piston is displaceable to engage the first and second friction surfaces. The torque converter also includes a second drive ring having fourth and fifth friction surfaces. The first drive ring is displaceable to engage the third and fourth friction surfaces. The second drive ring is driveably connected to the piston and to an elastic member of a damper. The torque converter includes a sixth friction surface for the casing. The second drive ring is displaceable to engage the fifth and sixth friction surfaces, the first drive ring and the casing are nonreleasably connected, and the first drive ring is axially displaceable with respect to the casing.

US Patent:

7770705, Aug 10, 2010

Filed:

Jun 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/811771

Inventors:

Craig Kneidel - Massillon OH, US

Assignee:

Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG - Buehl

International Classification:

F16H 45/02
F16H 41/24

US Classification:

192 329, 192205, 464 6892

Abstract:

A drive lug for a piston plate in a torque converter, including a base operatively arranged for attachment to the piston plate and a protruding portion integral to the base and extending axially from the base. The protruding portion is operatively arranged to engage with a damping element in the torque converter. In some aspects, the plate is arranged for attachment with a plurality of drive lugs, while in other aspects, the drive lug is arranged for attachment to the plate with at least one rivet. In some aspects, the lug is made of a hardenable material or by forging. In some aspects, the piston plate further includes an outer circumference and the drive lug is arranged to be secured proximate the outer circumference. In some aspects, the damping element further includes a spring and the drive lug is arranged to engage with the spring. In some aspects, the piston plate further includes an axial width, the drive lug further includes a radial width, and the radial width is greater than the axial width.

US Patent:

7980369, Jul 19, 2011

Filed:

Dec 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/001180

Inventors:

Craig Kneidel - Wooster OH, US
Jens Schroeter - Karlsbad, DE

Assignee:

Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG - Herzogenaurach

International Classification:

F16H 45/02
F16D 3/12

US Classification:

192 328, 192 553, 192 556, 192207, 192212

Abstract:

The present invention comprises a lash prevention spring of unique design having a plurality of spring legs shaped into an s-curve and an inner circumference formed into at least one spline. The invention also comprises a lash prevention assembly in which the disclosed lash spring is attached to a damper hub and is biased against the several teeth from a turbine hub that extend through the damper hub from its opposite side.

US Patent:

8096885, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Jul 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/220423

Inventors:

Fraser MacDonald - Farmington Hills MI, US
Jens Schroeter - Karlsbad, DE
Steven Olsen - Wooster OH, US
Craig Kneidel - Massillon OH, US

Assignee:

Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG - Herzogenaurach

International Classification:

F16F 15/121

US Classification:

464 686, 464 681, 29446, 4033594

Abstract:

A vibration damper including a first spline having a plurality of first teeth, a second spline having a plurality of second teeth, a third spline having a plurality of third teeth and at least one spring interconnected between the first and second splines, wherein the plurality of third teeth are intermediate the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth, and the at least one spring biases the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth against the plurality of third teeth. A method of preventing lash in a vibration damper, the vibration damper including a first spline having a plurality of first teeth, a second spline having a plurality of second teeth, a third spline having a plurality of third teeth and at least one spring interconnected between the first and second splines, the method including the steps of: introducing the plurality of third teeth intermediate the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth; and, biasing the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth against the plurality of third teeth with the at least one spring.

US Patent:

8127905, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Oct 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/288859

Inventors:

Craig Kneidel - Massillon OH, US
Andre Soto - Tallmadge OH, US
Patrick Lindemann - Wooster OH, US

Assignee:

Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Herzogenaurach

International Classification:

F16H 45/02

US Classification:

192 329, 1922132, 19221322

Abstract:

A series damper, including: a first damper with a flange and a cover plate; and a second damper with first and second cover plates and a flange. The flange and the cover plate for the first damper are rotationally frictionally engaged and the flange for the second damper rotates free of frictional engagement with the first and second cover plates. The series damper includes a resilient element arranged to cause the frictional engagement of the flange and the cover plate for the first damper. In some aspects, the resilient element is frictionally engaged with the cover plate for the first damper and is arranged to frictionally engage a turbine hub for a torque converter. In some aspects, the resilient element is rotationally connected to the flange for the first damper. In some aspects, the flange for the first damper includes the second cover plate for the second damper.

US Patent:

8287389, Oct 16, 2012

Filed:

Jan 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/692186

Inventors:

Craig Kneidel - Massillon OH, US
Srivatsan Kannan - Hyderabad, IN

Assignee:

Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Herzogenaurach

International Classification:

F16D 3/12

US Classification:

464 671

Abstract:

An arc spring damper, including: a plurality of arc springs, a driving flange having a plurality of driving spring segment, a driven flange having a plurality of driven spring segments, and a ring plate including a plurality of radially extending retention segments. Each arc spring in the plurality of arc springs includes a passageway with first and second openings at first and second longitudinal ends, respectively, for the arc spring. Each driving spring segment includes a circumferentially extending driving portion and each driven spring segment includes a circumferentially extending driven portion. For each spring, a respective driving portion passes through the first opening into the passageway and a respective driven portion passes through the second opening into the passageway. Each radially extending segment from the plurality of radially extending segments is connected to and rotatable with a spring from the plurality of arc springs and radially restrains the arc spring.

US Patent:

8328646, Dec 11, 2012

Filed:

Feb 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/703890

Inventors:

Peter Droll - Karlsruhe, DE
Stefan Jung - Kehl, DE
Craig Kneidel - Massillon OH, US
Srivatsan Kannan - Hyderabad, IN
Nathan Yensho - Chippewa Lake OH, US
Thorsten Krause - Buehl, DE
Markus Werner - Buehl, DE

Assignee:

Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Herzogenaurach

International Classification:

F16F 15/123

US Classification:

464 689

Abstract:

A torsional vibration damper with a friction device. The friction device is formed on at least one friction surface on two contra-rotationally and oppositely disposed disc parts that are in frictional contact with one another. In order to propose how to determine the initial stressing effect of the frictional action independently of external support of the disc parts, the frictional surfaces are pressurized against one another by means of at least one spring element.

US Patent:

8328647, Dec 11, 2012

Filed:

Jan 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/695269

Inventors:

Michael C. Davis - Sterling OH, US
Craig Kneidel - Massillon OH, US
Adam Uhler - Sterling OH, US

Assignee:

Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Herzogenaurach

International Classification:

F16D 3/52

US Classification:

464100

Abstract:

A connection for a torque converter including a cover, a piston plate, and at least one leaf spring having a first portion with a resilient segment and a second portion rotationally connected to one of the cover or the piston plate. The other of the cover or the piston plate comprises a first protrusion and the resilient segment grips the first protrusion. In an example embodiment, the second portion is riveted to the one of the cover or the piston plate. In an example embodiment, the one of the cover or the piston plate includes a second protrusion and the second portion includes a resilient segment that grips the second protrusion.