IP Library Granted Patent US 9,249,883
Granted Patent B2
US 9,249,883 · App. 13/743,725 · Granted Feb 2, 2016

Anti-rotate attenuation device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,249,883
App. No.
13/743,725
Granted
Feb 2, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A piston assembly, which may be part of a concentric slave cylinder for use in an automatic transmission, is provided. The piston assembly includes a piston and a piston cylinder disposed adjacent to the piston and having portions forming a receiving slot. A piston guide is attached to the piston. The piston guide has a main body portion and an alignment protrusion extending from the main body portion. The alignment protrusion is disposed in the receiving slot of the piston cylinder. The alignment protrusion includes a main alignment portion and a spring lever. The spring lever is separated from the main alignment portion by a gap. Compressible material is disposed in the gap.

Claims (31)

1. A piston assembly for use in an automatic transmission, the piston assembly comprising:

a annular piston;

an annular piston cylinder disposed concentrically within the piston and having portions forming a receiving slot on an inner facing side of the piston cylinder; and

a piston guide having a main body portion and an alignment protrusion extending from the main body portion, the piston guide being attached to the piston, the alignment protrusion being slidably disposed in the receiving slot of the piston cylinder with the piston guide separated from the piston by a wall of the piston cylinder, the alignment protrusion comprising a main alignment portion and a spring lever, the spring lever being separated from the main alignment portion by a gap, the piston guide having a compressible material disposed in the gap.

2. The piston assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compressible material is an elastomeric material, the compressible material exerting a force on the alignment protrusion acting to push the spring lever against an edge of the receiving slot.

3. The piston assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main body portion of the piston guide is attached to the piston.

4. The piston assembly of claim 3 , wherein the main body portion of the piston guide has a generally annular shape.

5. The piston assembly of claim 4 , wherein the alignment protrusion has an arcuate shape.

6. The piston assembly of claim 5 , wherein the piston guide comprises a polyamide-imide material.

7. The piston assembly of claim 6 , wherein piston guide further comprises a tab extending from the main body portion, the tab being attached to the piston.

8. The piston assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tab is splined to the piston.

9. A concentric slave cylinder piston assembly for use in an automatic transmission, the assembly comprising:

an annular inner piston;

an annular inner piston cylinder disposed concentrically within the inner piston such that the piston is axially displaceable in the piston cylinder, and having portions forming a receiving slot on an inner facing side of the piston cylinder;

an outer piston cylinder disposed adjacent to the inner piston;

an outer piston disposed adjacent to the outer piston cylinder; and

a piston guide having a main body portion and an alignment protrusion extending from the main body portion, the piston guide being attached to the inner piston, the alignment protrusion being slidably disposed in the receiving slot of the inner piston cylinder with the piston guide separated from the piston by a wall of the piston cylinder, the alignment protrusion comprising a main alignment portion and a spring lever, the spring lever being separated from the main alignment portion by a gap, the piston guide having a compressible material disposed in the gap.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the compressible material is an elastomeric material, the compressible material exerting a force on the alignment protrusion acting to push the spring lever against an edge of the receiving slot.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the main body portion of the piston guide is attached to the inner piston.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the main body portion of the piston guide has a generally annular shape.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the alignment protrusion has an arcuate shape.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the outer piston and the outer piston cylinder is annular in shape.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the inner piston is concentrically disposed within the outer piston cylinder, and the outer piston cylinder is concentrically disposed within the outer piston.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the piston guide comprises a polyamide-imide material.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein piston guide further comprises a tab extending from the main body portion, the tab being splined to the inner piston.

18. A concentric slave cylinder piston assembly for use in an automatic transmission, the assembly comprising:

an annular inner piston;

an annular inner piston cylinder disposed concentrically within the inner piston, the inner piston cylinder having portions forming a receiving slot;

an annular outer piston cylinder disposed adjacent to the inner piston, wherein the inner piston is disposed concentrically within the outer piston cylinder;

an annular outer piston disposed adjacent to the outer piston cylinder, wherein the outer piston cylinder is disposed concentrically within the outer piston; and

a piston guide having an annular main body portion and an arcuate alignment protrusion extending from the main body portion, the main body portion being attached to the inner piston, the alignment protrusion being disposed in the receiving slot of the inner piston cylinder, the alignment protrusion comprising a main alignment portion and a spring lever, the spring lever being separated from the main alignment portion by a gap, the piston guide having a compressible elastomeric material disposed in the gap, the compressible material exerting a force on the alignment protrusion acting to push the spring lever against an edge of the receiving slot.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0601 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033135/0336 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2013
From: CARLSON, ERIC THOMAS; GAYNEY, JACK M.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 029650/0234 →