Michael F O'Leary

US Patent:

6974401, Dec 13, 2005

Filed:

Jul 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/631145

Inventors:

Michael Francis O'Leary - Brighton MI, US
David Allen Gilbert - Royal Oak MI, US
Jeffrey S. Rayce - Royal Oak MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F16H057/08
B60K041/26

US Classification:

475347, 475331, 192218

Abstract:

A planetary gear arrangement having at least three rotatable members with intermeshing gears and a primary torque path defined therein. At least one active friction damper is disposed between two of the planetary gear members, for example, a sun gear and a ring gear. The active damper is selectively operable to apply frictional engagement between the two members with which it is interconnected to establish a controlled secondary torque path therebetween. The active damper is effective to reduce gear lash changes between the gear members of a planetary assembly.

US Patent:

20020170370, Nov 21, 2002

Filed:

May 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861996

Inventors:

David Gilbert - Royal Oak MI, US
Jeffrey Rayce - Royal Oak MI, US
Michael O'Leary - Brighton MI, US

International Classification:

F16H003/08

US Classification:

074/329000

Abstract:

A powertrain has a countershaft transmission and a throttle controlled engine. The transmission has an operator controlled friction clutch that is effective to connect and disconnect the transmission and the engine. The transmission also has coaxially aligned input and output shafts and a countershaft parallel therewith. The input shaft, countershaft, and output shaft are connected through meshing gears. In order to maintain the lash between the connecting gears, a selectively actuatable friction damper is disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft. The damper is actuated during transient events that would otherwise cause the gear meshes to separate resulting in noise.