Muneer H Abusamra

6799667, Oct 5, 2004

Sep 10, 2001

09/950104

Andrzej Szadkowski - Southern Pines NC
Ronald B. Morford - Southern Pines NC
Muneer Abusamra - Southern Pines NC

ZF Sachs AG - Schweinfurt

F16D 1356

192 7025, 192 703, 192 99 A

A plurality of specially shaped clutch levers transmit rotation between an engine and a transmission in a clutch. The clutch levers are shaped such that the center of mass is on opposing sides of an axis of the clutch levers when the clutch levers are in the engaged and disengaged positions. The axis is the radial line passing through the pivot point of the clutch lever and is substantially perpendicular to the rotation of the clutch. In the engaged position, the center of mass is positioned on the pressure plate side of the axis, the moment rotating the clutch levers against the pressure plate to increase the clamp load. In the disengaged position, the center of mass is positioned on the transmission side of the axis, the moment rotating the clutch levers against the retainer to increase clutch lift. These conditions are satisfied during the entire life of the clutch.

6805228, Oct 19, 2004

Sep 10, 2001

09/950103

Andrzej Szadkowski - Southern Pines NC
Ronald B. Morford - Southern Pines NC
Muneer Abusamra - Southern Pines NC

ZF Sachs AG - Schweinfurt

F16D 1342

192 703, 74516, 74518, 74522, 192 99 A

A plurality of clutch levers transmit force to a pressure plate of a clutch. The lever ratio of the clutch lever is variable as the clutch lever moves from an engaged to a disengaged state. When the clutch is engaged, the clutch lever presses the pressure plate to engage clutch discs. The lever ratio of the clutch lever is relatively large, allowing for an acceptable clamp load. When the clutch is disengaged, the clutch lever lifts from the pressure plate, disengaging the pressure plate from the clutch discs. When the clutch is disengaged, the lever ratio is relatively small, allowing for more clearance between the pressure plate and the flywheel and an increase in pressure plate lift. By using a clutch lever having a variable lever ratio, both clamp load and clutch lift can be maximized. The conditions exist during the entire lift of the clutch.

6820731, Nov 23, 2004

Mar 8, 2002

10/094331

Muneer Abusamra - Southern Pines NC
Ronald B. Morford - Southern Pines NC

ZF Sachs AG - Schweinfurt

F16D 1375

192 7025, 192 30 V

A clutch is provided including a clutch cover assembly including a cover rotatable about and axis. The pressure plate is spaced apart from the clutch cover assembly and is moveable along the axis for engaging the clutch member. A sleeve including a retainer is moveable along the axis between engaged and disengaged positions. A lever having first and second opposing ends are respectively supported between the container and the clutch cover assembly. The lever includes a fulcrum arranged between first and second ends supported by a portion of the pressure plate. A resilient member is arranged between the portion of the pressure plate and the fulcrum for absorbing vibrational forces transmitted in the direction of the axis.

6827192, Dec 7, 2004

Apr 25, 2002

10/132362

Andrzej Szadkowski - Southern Pines NC
Robert L. Page - Southern Pines NC
Muneer Abusamra - Southern Pines NC
Ronald B. Morford - Southern Pines NC

ZF Sachs AG - Schweinfurt

F16D 1375

192 7025, 192 7027, 192 8924, 192109 A

A clutch assembly includes a diaphragm spring to bias a retainer assembly toward an engaged position. The retainer assembly actuates a lever to force a pressure plate into torque transmitting contact with a friction disc and a flywheel. Clutch straps bias the pressure plates toward a disengaged position. An adjusting ring shifts toward the flywheel to accommodate for wear of the friction disc. A resilient plate is attached to the adjusting ring and exerts a biasing force against the diaphragm spring. As the adjuster ring shifts toward the flywheel, the biasing force of the clutch straps increases and the biasing force of the resilient plate decreases to provide a substantially uniform clamp load throughout the life of the friction disc.

6843355, Jan 18, 2005

Aug 28, 2001

09/940752

Andrzej Szadkowski - Southern Pines NC, US
Ronald B. Morford - Southern Pines NC, US
Muneer Abusamra - Southern Pines NC, US

ZF Sachs AG - Schweinfurt

F16D 1344
F16D 1375

192 99A, 192 7025, 192 703

A clutch is provided that includes a sleeve having a retainer movable along a rotational axis. A clutch member, such as an adjusting ring, is movable along the rotational axis. The clutch member includes a perch spaced from the rotational axis protruding from a surface on the clutch member. The perch includes first and second opposing outer walls with the second outer wall extending from the surface on an angle toward the first outer wall. A lever including a portion having a slot is supported on the perch by the slot. The slot includes first and second opposing inner walls proximate to the first and second outer walls, respectively, with the first inner wall forming an apex with a first face of the lever adjacent to the surface. The apex defines a lever fulcrum about which the lever pivots. A connector secured to the clutch member with a portion of the second end portion arranged between the connector and the clutch member for retaining the second portion against the surface.

6886674, May 3, 2005

Mar 8, 2002

10/094186

Andrzej Szadkowski - Southern Pines NC, US
Muneer Abusamra - Southern Pines NC, US
Ronald B. Morford - Southern Pines NC, US
Matthew Girlando - Munich, DE

ZF Sachs AG - Schweinfurt

F16D013/69
F16D013/52

192 7028, 192101

A clutch assembly is provided that includes a flywheel. A clutch cover is secured to the flywheel. An intermediate plate is spaced from the flywheel, and a pressure plate is arranged between the clutch cover and the intermediate plate. The intermediate plate may be secured to the clutch cover by flexible straps or another similar device. The straps retract the pressure plate from an engaged position to a disengaged position. First and second friction discs are respectively arranged between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate and the intermediate plate and the flywheel. The pressure plate forces the intermediate plate and the friction discs toward the flywheel to couple and engine and transmission together. A separator moves the intermediate plate with the pressure plate from the engaged position to the disengaged position thereby permitting self-disengagement of the friction discs from the flywheel. The separator urges the intermediate plate in a direction toward the pressure plate, and preferably centers the intermediate plate between the pressure plate and the flywheel to permit sufficient space for the friction discs to self-disengage from the flywheel.

6939268, Sep 6, 2005

Nov 4, 2003

10/701269

James H. DeVore - Laurinburg NC, US
Winfried Sturmer - Euerbach, DE
Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann - Meckenbeuren, DE
Ludger Ronge - Eriskirch, DE
Loren C. Dreier - Vass NC, US
Robert A. Sayman - Laurinburg NC, US
Ronald P. Muetzel - Friedrichshafen, DE
Muneer AbuSamra - Southern Pines NC, US

ZF Meritor LLC - Maxton NC

B60K041/02
G06F017/00
G06F019/00

477175, 477 70, 477180, 701 67

A vehicle transmission system includes a transmission component that has an engaged condition where torque can be transferred from a vehicle engine to a drive component, and a non-engaged condition where torque is prohibited from being transferred to the drive component. A controller generates control signals to control whether the transmission component is in the engaged or non-engaged condition. The controller also identifies when a vehicle start maneuver is a coast start based on vehicle conditions existing just prior to or during the vehicle start maneuver. When a coast start is identified, the controller generates a control signal to either disengage the transmission component or to maintain the transmission component in the non-engaged condition until engine speed generally matches transmission component speed. The controller can directly control engagement by automatically actuating a movable transmission member or can indirectly control engagement by controlling engine speed. Once engine speed and transmission component speed are generally within a common speed range during coasting, the transmission component is engaged.

7000751, Feb 21, 2006

Dec 23, 2003

10/744475

Muneer AbuSamra - Southern Pines NC, US
Ludger Ronge - Eriskirch, DE
Winfried Sturmer - Euerbach, DE
Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann - Meckenbeuren, DE
Loren Christopher Dreier - Vass NC, US
Robert Anthony Sayman - Laurinburg NC, US
James Henry DeVore - Laurinburg NC, US
Ronald Peter Muetzel - Friedrichshafen, DE

ZF Meritor, LLC - Maxton NC

F16D 43/08

192105CP, 192 7022, 192103 A, 192114 R

A normally open clutch assembly includes a device holding a centrifugal weight in a position causing axial movement of pressure plates and thereby a clamping force between pressure plates and the friction disks. The clamping force holds the friction disks in a desired aligned position during assembly.