US Patent Issued to FCA US on June 30 for "Torque limiting flex plate assembly" (Michigan Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,669,152, issued on June 30, was assigned to FCA US LLC (Auburn Hills, Mich.).

"Torque limiting flex plate assembly" was invented by Andrew R Lessley (Ferndale, Mich.) and Michael E Fingerman (West Bloomfield, Mich.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A torque limiting flex plate assembly includes a flex plate configured to couple to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, and a torque limiting clutch assembly integrated with the flex plate. The torque limiting clutch assembly is in frictional engagement with the flex plate such that the torque limiting clutch assembly and the flex plate are coupled for common rotation duri...