Patents Examined by Erin D Bishop
  • Patent number: 10539234
    Abstract: A frequency of a harmonic of a drive source frequency of a rotary drive source is defined as a harmonic frequency, a resonant frequency of a torque transmitting rotary body is defined as a rotary body resonant frequency, and a resonant frequency of an endless belt is defined as a belt resonant frequency. A control device of a vehicle controls the belt resonant frequency in a manner so as to suppress a triple overlapping state in which the drive source frequency or the harmonic frequency, the rotary body resonant frequency, and the belt resonant frequency coincide with or closely approximate each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeru Kanehara
  • Patent number: 10536054
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes at least one first hole formed in a first component of the gear motor, at least one second hole formed in a second component of the gear motor, arranged coaxially with the first hole, and at least one expansion member extending into the first and second holes. The expansion member has an interference fit with one of the first and second holes, and has a transition fit with the other of the first and second holes. The present invention can effectively prevent falling off of the expansion member, and reduce the assembly difficulties of the gear motor as well as the degree of deformation of the expansion member during the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Electric International AG
    Inventors: Jing Ning Ta, Wei Xing Mao, Qiu Mei Li, Zhi Qiang Wu, Lan Gui Xing
  • Patent number: 10527162
    Abstract: A motor vehicle control system that includes a first user-operable transmission selector for selecting a transmission operating mode and a user-operable gear selector, such as paddle input controls. The gear selector is operable in a first functional mode to select between a plurality of forward direction gear ratios. The gear selector is also operable in a second functional mode to select between a forward direction and reverse direction. This allows a user to use the gear selector to control travel in forward and reverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Navid Shamshiri, Jonathan Woodley, Andrew Raftry, Rob Jerger, Roxana Ciovnicu
  • Patent number: 10527150
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle has a drive source, a power transmission device having a plurality of rotating elements coupled via a gear and a plurality of friction engagement elements selectively coupling the plurality of rotating elements for transmitting an output of the drive source, and a lubricating device supplying a lubrication oil to the friction engagement elements for lubrication, the control device comprising: a lubrication control portion configured to increase an amount of the lubrication oil to the friction engagement elements from the lubricating device in a booming sound generating region predefined with respect to a drive source rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Michikoshi, Satoshi Ito, Shintaro Goto, Masashi Ikemura
  • Patent number: 10518641
    Abstract: The control apparatus for a vehicle includes a determination unit that determines whether or not a start condition is established, the start condition including when a torque converter is in a lockup state, and when the vehicle is in an accelerating state; and a display control unit that causes an acting number of rotations to be displayed on a tachometer instead of an actual number of rotations when it is determined by the determination unit that the start condition is established. The display control unit calculates the acting number of rotations based on a target value of an input number of rotations of a continuously variable transmission, and varies the acting number of rotations with a rate of change having an absolute value that is greater than an absolute value of a rate of change of the actual number of rotations upon an abrupt change in the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teppei Tanizoe, Noritaka Aoyama, Kenji Ohmura, Masataka Ohtsuka, Nagamitsu Hiraoka, Ken Hirashita, Takahisa Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10514093
    Abstract: A shift control system for vehicle includes a transmission that performs an upshift based on an accelerator opening, comprising: a detector that detects a longitudinal acceleration the vehicle, a calculator that calculates a change amount per unit time of the accelerator opening, and a controller that controls the transmission. The controller repeatedly executes upshift to reduce a speed ratio of the transmission based on a second condition that determines a shift timing of the upshift, upon satisfaction of a first condition. The first condition is satisfied if the acceleration increasing the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined first threshold value, the change amount is in a stable state falling within a certain range, and a time period that the change amount keeps falling within the certain range has exceeded a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Tsuge, Ayumu Sagawa, Akira Takeichi, Takashi Okubo
  • Patent number: 10513264
    Abstract: A controller for a motor vehicle includes means for receiving information indicative of a current vehicle speed; means for receiving information indicative of an amount of brake force a braking system is developing or is capable of developing; means for receiving information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface on which the vehicle is driving; and torque transmission reduction means for causing a powertrain torque reduction operation to be performed in which the controller causes one or more components in a torque transmission path from a torque delivery device to driven wheels to assume a torque reduction condition in which torque transmission is reduced or substantially terminated. The controller is configured automatically to cause the torque reduction operation to be performed in dependence at least in part on the information indicative of current vehicle speed, information indicative of brake force amount and information indicative of driving surface gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Rob Jerger, David Parry, Neil Dixon, Timothy Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10514096
    Abstract: The continuously variable transmission (CVT) assembly includes a CVT including a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and an endless rotatable device coupled between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The CVT assembly also includes an actuator coupled to the drive pulley. The CVT assembly also includes an angle sensor coupled to the endless rotatable device such that the angle sensor is configured to measure an angular position of the endless rotatable device. The CVT assembly also includes a controller in communication with the actuator and the angle sensor. The controller is programmed to: (a) determine a speed ratio of the CVT based on the angular position of the endless rotatable device; and (b) control the actuator to adjust the clamping force exerted on the drive pulley in response to determining the speed ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Farzad Samie, Chunhao J. Lee, Derek F. Lahr, Dmitriy Bruder
  • Patent number: 10508693
    Abstract: A clutched device can include a differential, a clutch, and a gate. The differential can transmit torque between an input member and first and second output members. A housing can define a sump and a reservoir spaced apart from the sump. A first aperture open to the sump and reservoir can be above a static fluid level of the sump. A second aperture can couple the sump and reservoir below the static fluid level. An outer clutch plate carrier can rotate through the sump and sling fluid through the first aperture. The outer carrier can be coupled for rotation with the second output member and an inner clutch plate carrier can be coupled to a third output member. The gate can be movable between first and second positions. In the first position the gate can block the second aperture. In the second position the second aperture can be open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Kleinhardt, Shawn S. Proctor, Paul F. Reichert
  • Patent number: 10502313
    Abstract: A selector lever for a transmission of a vehicle may include a monostable control element. Actuation of the monostable control element, without moving the selector lever, may triggers engagement of a parked position of the transmission when the transmission is not in the parked position and the drive motor is running. Further, actuation of the monostable control element may trigger a start process of the drive motor when the drive motor is off. Further, actuation of the monostable control element may trigger a shutdown process of the drive motor when the transmission is in the parked position and the drive motor is in on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Spoerl, Walter Hecht, Franz-Josef Schuler
  • Patent number: 10495208
    Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus including a case member having a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion to form a reservoir space of oil which includes a first reservoir space radially inward of a shaft support member, a second reservoir space between the shaft support member and a ring gear, and a third reservoir space radially outward of the ring gear, a first passage provided in the shaft support member to communicate the first reservoir space and the second reservoir space, a second passage provided in the ring gear to communicate the second reservoir space and the third reservoir space, and an oil passage forming part configured to form an oil passage to communicate with the first reservoir space at a first end of the oil passage and communicate with an oil pump at a second end of the oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrii Pydin
  • Patent number: 10495183
    Abstract: A gear device includes an outer cylinder; an internal member at least partially housed in the outer cylinder and configured to rotate relative to the outer cylinder about a predetermined rotation axis; a first main bearing fitted into an annular space formed between the outer cylinder and the internal member; and a second main bearing fitted into the annular space and configured to define the rotation axis in cooperation with the first main bearing. A distance between a first intersection where a load action line of the first main bearing intersects with the rotation axis and a second intersection where a load action line of the second main bearing intersects with the rotation axis is set to fall within a range expressed by a predetermined inequality expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yoshida, Kazuya Furuta, Tomohiko Masuda
  • Patent number: 10487933
    Abstract: An axle assembly that includes a housing assembly, an input pinion, a ring gear, a ring gear bearing, and a differential assembly having a differential case. The ring gear bearing supports the ring gear for rotation on the housing assembly as well as handles thrust loads between the ring gear and the housing assembly in opposite axial directions. The ring gear bearing includes an outer bearing race having a first race member, which may be unitarily and integrally formed with the ring gear, and a second race member that is received in a groove formed on the ring gear. The differential case is coupled to the ring gear and secures the second race member to the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 10486296
    Abstract: A power tool includes a motor in a motor housing. A rotary shaft is rotatably driven by a motor rotor. A first bearing radially surrounds and rotatably supports a rotatable portion of an oil unit. An internal gear retaining part is disposed between the motor and the oil unit and contains planet gears that mesh with a pinion on the rotary shaft. Pins connect the planet gears to the oil unit for transmitting rotational movement to the rotatable portion of oil unit. The pins extend along axes that pass through an inner diameter of the first bearing. A case encloses the oil unit, which rotatably drives a tool holder. The oil unit is disposed axially between the motor and the tool holder. A fan is affixed to the rotary shaft on a side of the motor axially opposite of the oil unit and generates a cooling air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 10486517
    Abstract: A planetary gear assembly for transferring torque in a transmission includes first and second planetary gear sets, each including a ring gear, a sun gear, and a carrier bearing a plurality of planet gears. A bridge portion connects a first carrier of the first planetary gear set to a second ring gear of the second planetary gear set. The bridge portion may be disposed radially outward of the first sun gear, and the bridge portion may be connected to an outer side of the first carrier. In some examples, a first ring bearing assembly is constrained by the first ring gear and the bridge structure; a first carrier bearing assembly is constrained by a first case portion and a bridge extension extending from the first carrier; and a second ring bearing assembly is constrained by a second case portion and a second bridge extension extending from the second ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Boris Burgman, Goro Tamai, John A Diemer
  • Patent number: 10486703
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes a controller configured to cause a transition of distribution of driving forces of front wheels and rear wheels, from first distribution to second distribution at a predetermined time change rate, until the vehicle arrives at a point of change. The point of change is a point at which a friction coefficient of a road surface changes frontward of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoneda, Hiroshi Ienaga, Takahiro Kobayashi, Shinichi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10480639
    Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus including a rotor having a plate portion formed in a substantial ring shape to cover a planetary gear from above and a cylindrical portion erected from an outer periphery of the plate portion to transmit a torque through a planetary gear mechanism to a rotating shaft, and an oil passage forming part forming an oil passage so as to lead a lubricating oil supplied from a hydraulic power source from above the rotor through an upper surface of the plate portion to the planetary gear. The oil passage forming part includes plate through-holes formed vertically in the plate portion and a shaft through-hole formed inside the planetary shaft from an upper surface to an outer peripheral surface thereof. The plate through-holes are arranged along a circle defined a distance from the axial line to the planetary shaft as a radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrii Pydin
  • Patent number: 10473192
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission, an engagement oil chamber and a centrifugal oil pressure cancel chamber of a clutch corresponding to a third ring gear of a Ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism are defined by a drum member, a piston, and a cancel plate that rotate integrally with the third ring gear. An engagement oil chamber and a centrifugal oil pressure cancel chamber of a clutch corresponding to a third sun gear of the Ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism are defined by a shaft portion, a piston, and an oil-chamber defining member that rotate integrally with the third sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Nakajima, Hiroshi Kato, Naoya Jinnai
  • Patent number: 10465779
    Abstract: An electrical axle comprising an electrical motor selectively connected to a differential via a reduction gear and a planetary gear set, the planetary gear set having one input and two outputs, the electrical axle further comprises a gear shift mechanism configured to selectively connect a differential housing to one of the outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Sweden AB
    Inventor: Kristoffer Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10464563
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a vehicle. A first axle is operatively connected permanently and a second axle is operatively connected at least intermittently via a clutch to a drive device. For the second axle coupled to the drive device, a maximum torque of the drive device is reduced by a specific safety value. At drive start, the safety value is set to a specific initial value and subsequently is reduced or increased throughout a specific period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl