Patents Examined by Justin Holmes
  • Patent number: 11548384
    Abstract: When evacuation travel is performed using only a drive power from one drive power source of an engine and a rotary machine, a drive power distribution device is prohibited from switching to a four-wheel-drive state and thus evacuation travel is performed in a two-wheel-drive state in which a loss in a power transmission device is relatively small. Accordingly, in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, it is possible to increase an evacuation-travelable distance when evacuation travel is performed using only the drive power from one drive power source of the engine and the rotary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Masato Nakano, Yuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11548497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for propelling a vehicle comprising a first power source being an internal combustion engine and a second power source comprising at least one electrical machine. The vehicle is configured to be selectively driven according to a first mode and a second mode, wherein said second mode is prioritized more in relation to fuel efficiency of said vehicle than said first mode. When a maximum power for propelling said vehicle is requested, power delivered by said first power source and said second power source is controlled such that the total power delivered by said first and said second power source exceeds the maximum deliverable power of said first power source. The total power delivered by said first and said second power source is allowed to exceed the maximum deliverable power of said first power source when said vehicle is driven according to said second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Mathias Björkman, Afram Kourie
  • Patent number: 11549585
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle uses one or more inputs of a velocity request, a brake request, a speed request, travel direction indication, engine speed, and vehicle speed to determine a control strategy for a continuously variable transmission. A target engine speed is selected based upon the inputs, and the engine and continuously variable transmission ratio are controlled to achieve the target engine speed while controlling the vehicle according to the inputs. In some embodiments, the control strategy further selects the target engine speed according to accessory system demands, such as a hoist or lift system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Conor Bradley, Robert Kee
  • Patent number: 11548382
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a front frame, a rear frame, an intermediate frame, a front propeller shaft, a rear propeller shaft, and a wet oiling brake. A pair of right and left front lower arms are swingably mounted to the front frame. A pair of right and left rear lower arms are swingably mounted to the rear frame. The intermediate frame is located between the front frame and the rear frame. The front propeller shaft extends forward from the engine and the rear propeller shaft extends rearward from the engine. The wet oiling brake is located within a region defined by the intermediate frame in the front-rear direction and brakes a rotation of the front propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujimoto, Masanao Miyazaki, Shigeaki Oba
  • Patent number: 11542883
    Abstract: Disclosed is a throttle quadrant arrangement utilizing a throttle lever mechanically connected to three Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDTs). The signals from the RVDTs are monitored by a process where the processing component. More specifically, RVDT outputs are monitored by the engine control system to determine if they are outside a predetermined range of operability. If an RVDT is not operable, the engine control system establishes a thrust output using the signal from one of the functional two. If only one or none are within the range, the system moves on to a default mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sheridan Hunter, Ronald J. Parker
  • Patent number: 11541764
    Abstract: A system is configured to manage motor engagement in a vehicle by determining to engage a disengaged motor shaft with a drivetrain, and in response, activating a feedback controller based on a speed of the motor shaft and activating a feedforward controller. The system determines at least one metric for modifying an output of the feedforward controller. The at least one metric is based on the speed of the motor shaft and the desired speed, and may be applied as a gain to the output of the feedforward controller. The system generates a command based on the feedback controller, the feedforward controller, and the at least one metric, and causes the motor shaft and the drivetrain to be engaged based on the speed of the motor shaft and the desired speed. The system nulls output of the feedforward controller as the speed of the motor shaft approaches the desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kang Wang, Boru Wang, Steve Schulz, Chia-Chou Yeh
  • Patent number: 11541899
    Abstract: A vehicle management ECU comprises a diagnosis section for diagnosing electronic control units that are to be diagnosed according to a diagnosis scenario defined by a diagnosis application, and a diagnosis scenario determination section for determining whether a diagnosis scenario used for diagnosis by the diagnosis section was appropriate. If the diagnosis scenario determination section specifies that the diagnosis scenario used for the present diagnosis has not been appropriate, the diagnosis section carries out diagnosis according to a diagnosis scenario defined by a new diagnosis application different from the present diagnosis application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kawasaki, Yuzo Harata, Kazuaki Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11535057
    Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly including an axle housing, carrier assembly, and first and second axle shafts. The axle housing is formed from an upper beam and a lower beam that are positioned in a clam-shell arrangement. The carrier assembly includes a carrier housing and a differential that includes a ring gear arranged in meshing engagement with a pinion. The first and second axle shafts extend outwardly from the differential in opposite directions. The pinion is rotatably supported by a self-lubricating cartridge pinion input bearing and the outboard ends of the first and second axle shafts are rotatably supported by self-lubricating and unitized grease wheel end bearings. These bearings do not require lubrication from oil contained inside the axle housing allowing for a reduced oil fill level in the axle housing, creating less viscous losses and better efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Mahindra N.A. Tech Center
    Inventor: David E. Peck
  • Patent number: 11536356
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, a speed changing apparatus that includes a hydrostatic stepless speed changing mechanism and is configured to subject motive power transmitted from the engine to speed changing and output the motive power, a travelling apparatus configured to travel on the motive power received from the speed changing apparatus, a speed detector configured to detect a speed of the travelling apparatus, a pressure detector configured to detect a hydraulic pressure in a closed circuit of the hydrostatic stepless speed changing mechanism, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamaguchi, Ryoma Iwase, Komei Yamawaki
  • Patent number: 11529945
    Abstract: The control device controls the first MG and the second MG so that the input power to the power storage device does not exceed the input limit Win. Further, the control device controls the first MG and the engine so that the rotational speed of the engine approaches the target when the engine is operating under load, when the input limit Win is lowered in a situation where the second MG moves backward while generating torque in the forward direction, and the engine is operating under load, the control device suppresses the amount of power generated by the first MG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawata, Ben Leslie Vogler, Benjamin Michael Geller, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 11518240
    Abstract: An electric wheel-end assembly comprising a mounting portion, a spindle having an inboard end connected to the mounting portion and an outboard end distal from the mounting portion. A hub is rotatably mounted to the spindle via one or more bearings disposed between the inboard and outboard ends of the spindle. A reduction gearbox is disposed at the distal end of the spindle. An input shaft comprising an inboard end having a drive receiving portion arranged to releasably connect to a drive shaft of an electric motor, extends through the spindle to deliver a rotational input to the drive input of the reduction gearbox, the drive output of the reduction gearbox being connected to the hub to drive the hub in rotation about the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AxleTech International IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Guillaume Rebière
  • Patent number: 11519349
    Abstract: A control system includes a first control device and a second control device. The second control device transmits, to the first control device, a resonance influence torque or a first motor rotation angle speed, and information acquisition timing, which is an acquisition timing of the first motor rotation angle speed. The first control device calculates an engine inertia torque based on an engine rotation angle speed. The first control device selects the resonance influence torque based on the first motor rotation angle speed acquired at a predetermined derivation timing, based on the received information acquisition timing, and derives, as an engine torque, a sum of the resonance influence torque and the engine inertia torque, calculated based on the engine rotation angle speed derived at the predetermined derivation timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Akihiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11519140
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a machine frame, at least three travelling devices, a milling drum, and at least one hydraulic drive system. The hydraulic drive system includes at least one hydraulic pump, at least one hydraulic fixed displacement motor for driving at least one driven travelling device, and one each hydraulic variable displacement motor for driving the remaining travelling devices. A first gearbox is arranged between the fixed displacement hydraulic motor and its associated travelling device. One each second gearbox is arranged between each of the hydraulic variable displacement motors and their associated travelling devices. The transmission ratio of the first gearbox is lower than the transmission ratios of the second gearboxes and/or the displacement volume of the fixed displacement motor is smaller than the maximum displacement volume of the variable displacement motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Drumm
  • Patent number: 11505174
    Abstract: The present invention realizes a vehicle control device that, even when power characteristics of a power generation device and a power transmission device changes, senses degradation of vehicle components, corrects a drive instruction to the power transmission device, and is thereby capable of stabilizing vehicle behavior over a long term. The present invention, in a predetermined vehicle environment state, measures fluctuation in drive power and acceleration in a transient region by using vehicle behavior sensors 4, performs comparison with a reference fluctuation, and thereby senses degradation of vehicle components. The drive instruction to the transmission 16-side is corrected in accordance with the degradation of vehicle components that is sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Okubo, Nobuhiro Akasaka, Satoshi Matsuda, Yusuke Kogure
  • Patent number: 11498362
    Abstract: A tone wheel assembly includes a tone wheel. A first member is attached to the tone wheel. A second member is at least partially disposed around a portion of the first member. The second member includes a collar portion, one or more first leg portions extending axially from the collar portion, and one or more second leg portions extending axially from the collar portion. The one or more first leg portions include a first leg portion protuberance that extends radially from an outer surface of the one or more first leg portions. The one or more second leg portions include a second leg portion protuberance that extends radially from an outer surface of the one or more second leg portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Crepas, Aaron D. Gries, Mark W. Leber, Jared T. Reichert, Adam S. Erickson
  • Patent number: 11498431
    Abstract: A drive system includes a first drive train and a second drive train coupled by a differential assembly. Each drive train include a motor, an output gear, and a clutch assembly that engages and disengages the output gear from respective halfshafts. The differential assembly is configured to couple the first and second halfshafts, and connect/disconnect the first output gear and the first halfshaft. The differential assembly includes, for example, side gears, a spider gearset, and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the differential casing from the first output gear. A control system is configured to actuate actuators of clutch assemblies and/or a differential assembly to achieve one or more drive modes for each drive axis. The control system determines the first drive mode, controls the clutch assemblies and differential assemblies, and controls one or more motors. The drive modes include, for example, torque vectoring, fully locked, single motor, and neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Mason Verbridge, Cameron P. Williams, Khwaja Rahman, Henry Huang, Vinaey Kalyanaraman
  • Patent number: 11493127
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a lower gear range to a higher gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a lower gear range to a higher gear range in a way that may reduce torque disturbances that may result from gear lash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Matthew John Shelton, Zhengyu Dai, Pinzhi Liu, Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres
  • Patent number: 11493128
    Abstract: A cam device having a drive cam and a driven cam; and a friction engagement device having at least one friction plate and at least one separation plate are provided. The friction engagement device is configured so as to be put into a connected state by pressing the friction plate and the separation plate against each other by the driven cam, and a disconnected state. Also provided are a rotation transmission state switching device having a first member and a second member coaxially arranged, and a mode selecting part configured to rotate or displace in the axial direction according to rotation of the drive cam. The rotation transmission state switching device has at least one mode of a free mode and a lock mode of the first member and the second member, and a one-way clutch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kishida, Ricardo Rodriguez Lopez, Seigou Urakami, Shohei Kaneko, Akihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11486476
    Abstract: An extension/contraction mechanism in which an extension/contraction part is able to turn is provided. An extension/contraction mechanism according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first drive source connected to a sending/pulling part so as to be able to transmit a drive force, and a second drive source connected to the sending/pulling part and a turning part that rotatably supports the sending/pulling part so as to be able to transmit a drive force via a gear group. When a rotational speed transmitted to the sending/pulling part to rotate the sending/pulling part by the first drive source is equal to a rotational speed transmitted to the sending/pulling part to rotate the sending/pulling part by the second drive source, an extension/contraction part turns via the turning part. When the above rotational speeds are different from each other, the extension/contraction part is extended or contracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Komura
  • Patent number: 11480220
    Abstract: A control device for a power transmission mechanism includes a controller. The power transmission mechanism includes an engagement mechanism and an operation mechanism including a movable member and a guide member. The guide member includes a plurality of guide areas being configured to move relative to the movable member to guide the movable member to an engaging position or to a disengaging position. The controller is configured to switch, when determining that a predetermined condition related to traveling of the vehicle is satisfied, a contact guide area that is in contact with the movable member to guide the movable member to the engaging position or to the disengaging position, from a first guide area to a second guide area that are included in the plurality of guide areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoichiro Isami