Patents Examined by Justin Holmes
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Patent number: 11465484Abstract: The present invention relates to electric drivetrain kits for converting all-terrain vehicles into hybrid or electric vehicles. In exemplary embodiments, a conversion kit replaces an existing standard single motor and transmission drive system with a dual set-up including a motor for each rear wheel and a split transmission that houses two sets of gear reduction components in a single housing or an all-wheel configuration with two transmission sets (front and rear). Dual output shafts in each transmission set drive the wheels independently to provide the torque needed as required and demanded by each wheel. System electronics send signals to the motors and other components to manage the system and independently control each wheel.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Peter Matthew Avenatti, Tyler Allen Mullis, Braden Matthew Yake, Jason Everett Miller, Ryan Wynne, Lucas Allison, Joseph Patrick Bailey, Al Bodey
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Patent number: 11459098Abstract: A variable speed transmission is disclosed, with a transmission apparatus which includes a planetary gear set having a ring gear and a sun gear. The variable speed transmission further includes a primary engine for powering the sun gear, a braking device engaging the ring gear, and a controller configured to alter the rotational speed of the ring gear by adjusting the braking device.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Gregory Forrest Heath, Stephen C. Slaughter, Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent, Tse-hua Shen, Bryant Scott Owen, Alice A. Murphy
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Patent number: 11460107Abstract: A selector drum for an automated manual transmission, in particular a dual clutch transmission, having a selector drum body, which can be mounted in the manual transmission for rotation about an axis of rotation, wherein at least one shifting contour is formed on the selector drum body, said shifting contour extending over a peripheral portion of the selector drum body, wherein the selector drum is designed for shifting at least one high gear stage, one middle gear stage and one low gear stage, wherein the at least one shifting contour has a shifting contour switch in a region of a switch gear portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: MAGNA PT B.V. & CO. KGInventor: Stefan Kapp
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Patent number: 11453289Abstract: A method for regulating a drive train of a motor vehicle. The drive train includes, as components, a motor, at least one mechanical component, and at least one wheel. The motor is coupled to the at least one wheel via the at least one mechanical component. A speed of the at least one component of the drive train based on a speed specification is regulated using a model depicting the drive train of the motor vehicle. A torque generated by the motor is influenced as a regulated variable as a function of at least one state variable of the drive train determined on the basis of the model.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Marc Kropf, Christian Graf, Bernd Schäfer
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Patent number: 11448299Abstract: A drive apparatus for an electric-motor four-wheel drive vehicle includes first and second motors, first and second differential mechanisms, and a propeller shaft. The vehicle includes a first wheel pair including first left and right wheels and a second wheel pair including second left and right wheels and positioned on opposite side to the first wheel pair in a front-rear direction. The first and second motors are configured to output first output torque and second output torque, respectively. The first differential mechanism is configured to distribute the first output torque to a first torque-transmitting member coupled to the first left wheel and a third torque-transmitting member coupled to the propeller shaft. The second differential mechanism is configured to distribute the second output torque to the third torque-transmitting member and a second torque-transmitting member coupled to the first right wheel.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Mamoru Murakami, Naohiro Imamura, Takahito Inoh, Koki Mitsumoto
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Patent number: 11448267Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoichiro Isami
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Patent number: 11441643Abstract: A gear assembly includes a planetary gear set having a sun gear, planet gears, and a ring gear. The planet gears are respectively rotatably mounted by a bearing on a respective planetary pin. The respective planetary pin is connected to a planetary carrier. Tilting pads arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin are provided on sides of the planetary carrier facing the planet gears. The planetary carrier has, on sides facing the planet gears, recesses arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin and corresponding to the tilting pads. The recesses are configured to receive at least part of the tilting pads.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.Inventors: Umit Kutluay, Koen Krieckemans, Yvan Berkmans, Michel Goovaerts, Roger Bogaert, Maarten Ooms
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Patent number: 11441641Abstract: A balanced speed reducer of a dual-sun gear variable-line-speed planetary row includes a dual-sun gear variable-line-speed planetary row, an input end, an output end, a locking end, and auxiliary devices such as bearings. The dual-sun gear planetary row includes a left sun gear, a right sun gear, and a planet carrier. A left planetary gear and a right planetary gear that are connected on each planetary gear shaft have the same rotation speed. The left planetary gear meshes with the left sun gear, and the right planetary gear meshes with the right sun gear. The number of gear sets is not less than two. A teeth number combination and a number of gear sets are set according to a range specifying parameter and following a principle of matching the teeth number combination with the number of gear sets.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Inventor: Can Luo
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Patent number: 11440346Abstract: A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle comprises a hub axle, a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a rotation control structure. The rotation control structure couples the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member. The rotation control structure couples the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member. The second ratio is different from the first ratio. The second ratio is larger than 0.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Kenji Kamada
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Patent number: 11441673Abstract: An eco-friendly vehicle and a transmission hydraulic pressure control method for the same are provided. The vehicle includes an oil pump that estimates an inner temperature without using a temperature sensor. The method includes determining a driver request output and determining a required hydraulic pressure corresponding to the request output. A temperature of an oil pump unit is estimated to operate an electric oil pump to supply a hydraulic pressure to a transmission, based on the required hydraulic pressure and driving status information. An output torque is then adjusted based on the estimated temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Kyung Su Kim, Hyeon Jun Kim, Yong Hyun Kim
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Patent number: 11441479Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an internal combustion engine including an output shaft, a pulley system structured to be driven by the output shaft, a first alternator and a second alternator structured to be driven by the pulley system, and an electromagnetic clutch integrated within one of the pulley system, the first alternator and the second alternator and structured to selectably couple and decouple at least one of the first alternator and the second alternator from the output shaft. The system includes a controller in operative communication with the internal combustion engine system and structured to evaluate power demand and power production capability parameters of the system and to control the electromagnetic clutch to engage or disengage in response to the evaluation.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Kieran J. Richards, David George Sharpe
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Patent number: 11440418Abstract: A control system for an electric vehicle configured to allow a driver to grasp the situation of the electric vehicle when launching the electric vehicle by operating a brake pedal, and to reduce electric consumption of a motor. A controller controls the motor to generate a signal torque when a brake pedal depressed to generate brake force is returned so as to allow the driver to sense a change in a behavior of the vehicle, and terminate generation of the signal torque by the motor before the brake force is reduced to zero.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideaki Otsubo, Daijiro Kawasaki
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Patent number: 11433891Abstract: A vehicle includes a powerplant, a front axle having first and second wheels and a differential operably coupled to the powerplant. A power-takeoff unit (PTU) is connected to the differential. A rear axle has third and fourth wheels and a gearbox connected to the PTU without a center differential. The gearbox has a first clutch configured to selectively couple the third wheel to the PTU and a second clutch configured to selectively couple the fourth wheel to the PTU. A controller is programmed to determine, during a turn, which of the third and fourth wheels is an outer rear wheel, determine whether there is a positive or negative torque on the outer rear wheel, and disengage, or keep disengaged, the one of the first and second clutches that is associated with the outer rear wheel in response to a negative torque on the outer rear wheel.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Cyril Coerman, Georg Johann Maurer
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Patent number: 11434993Abstract: A hydrostatic assembly includes a pressure medium with a variable viscosity and a control device through which at least one process variable or state variable of the hydrostatic assembly is open-loop or closed-loop controlled as a function of the viscosity. The hydrostatic assembly further includes a temperature sensing device configured to sense a temperature of the pressure medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Ralf Schueler
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Patent number: 11433766Abstract: A driving device of an electric-motor four-wheel drive vehicle includes a propeller shaft, a first differential mechanism, a second differential mechanism, a first decoupling mechanism, a second decoupling mechanism, a first motor, and a second motor. The propeller shaft transmits power between front wheels and rear wheels. The first differential mechanism is disposed in a drive shaft of the front wheels. The second differential mechanism is disposed in a drive shaft of the rear wheels. The first decoupling mechanism decouples the first differential mechanism from the propeller shaft. The second decoupling mechanism decouples the second differential mechanism from the propeller shaft. The first motor is coupled to the propeller shaft via a part closer to the front wheels than the first decoupling mechanism or a part closer to the rear wheels than the second decoupling mechanism. The second motor is coupled between the first and second decoupling mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Mamoru Murakami, Naohiro Imamura, Takahito Inoh, Koki Mitsumoto
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Patent number: 11428311Abstract: Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Bruno Re, Scott Kluemper
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Patent number: 11428037Abstract: A spindle drive assembly for opening and/or closing a vehicle hatch is described. This comprises a spindle extending along a spindle drive axis and a spindle drive motor coupled to the spindle in terms of drive, the motor shaft of which is arranged substantially coaxially with respect to the spindle drive axis. The spindle drive motor is coupled to the spindle via a two-stage epicyclic gearing. Furthermore, a vehicle hatch with such a spindle drive assembly is presented. A method for installing an epicyclic gearing of such a spindle drive assembly is additionally specified.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: U-SHIN DEUTSCHLAND ZUGANGSSYSTEME GMBHInventor: Frank Kummer
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Patent number: 11427080Abstract: A power transmission device of a four-wheel drive electrically driven vehicle comprises a transverse engine that is supported on one right side surface of two side surfaces of the gear case, and a motor that is supported on the other left side surface of the two side surfaces of the gear case. The power transmission device includes a transfer case that is supported by a gear case and the distributes power from a power source between the left and right front wheels and the left and right rear wheels. The transfer case wraps around from the side surface to a rear surface of the gear case, as seen from above, and outputs power to the left and right rear wheels from the rear surface side of the gear case.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takahiro Kuwabara
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Patent number: 11420644Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a storage device that stores relation-defining data that is data for defining a relation between a state of a vehicle and an action variable; and an executing device configured to acquire the state, operate a drivetrain device based on a value of the action variable, derive a reward such that the reward is larger when the state of the drivetrain device based on the acquired state satisfies a predetermined criterion, perform an updating of the relation-defining data using an updating map, and restrict the updating of the relation-defining data such that an updating amount of the relation-defining data is smaller when the drivetrain device is subject to a predetermined restriction.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideaki Bunazawa, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Ken Imamura, Kota Fujii, Keita Sasaki
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Patent number: 11420760Abstract: A seal system for coaxially aligned shafts includes an input shaft and an output shaft coaxially aligned with the input shaft. The seal system includes a seal adapter support housing coupled to the output shaft and a seal positioned between an end of the input shaft and an end of the seal adapter support housing. The input shaft is configured to rotate at a speed that is different than a speed of the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Charles Hubert Speller, George Matthew Thompson