Patents Examined by Lori Wu
  • Patent number: 11873889
    Abstract: A differential for a rear wheel drive vehicle is previewed comprising a differential case for rotationally supporting and housing a pinion shaft with the pinion shaft extending axially through an opening in the differential case. A pinion seal extends around the pinion shaft and has an outer edge abutting a cavity wall defining the opening in the differential case. The pinion seal has an axial lip projecting in an axial direction. A plastic deflector has a discshaped main body formed of a plastic material, a passageway extending through the plastic deflector, and a stainless steel ring fixedly coupled to the disc-shaped main body providing a stainless steel running surface. The plastic deflector is assembled on the pinion shaft such that the pinion shaft extends through the deflector passageway and the stainless steel running surface abuts the axial lip of the pinion seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Linamar Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Cabaj
  • Patent number: 11867288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic system for a vehicle transmission, comprising: a hydraulic circuit arranged for generating a pressure, a hydraulic actuator arranged for engaging a park lock system, wherein the hydraulic actuator is hydraulically connected to the hydraulic circuit for actuation of the hydraulic actuator using the pressure, and a back-up system configured to keep the pressure above a predetermined pressure threshold for maintaining an actuation of the hydraulic actuator for a predetermined period of time in case of an operational interruption of a transmission control unit of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Punch Powertrain PSA e-transmissions NV
    Inventors: Roell Marie Van Druten, Peter Mark Smid
  • Patent number: 11859678
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes: a clutch displaceable to a connected state in which power is transmitted to a drive, a disconnected state in which the transmission is disconnected, and a half-clutch state in which power is slidably and partly transmitted to the drive; a detector that detects an operation position of a clutch pedal and outputs a detected value corresponding to the operation position detected; a control device that brings the clutch into the half-clutch state if the detected value corresponds with a threshold, and brings the clutch into the disconnected state if the detected value is less than the threshold and into the connected state if the detected value is greater than the threshold, and vice versa; and a change unit that changes the threshold to a different value in accordance with an operation on the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Horai, Yoshihiko Kuroshita
  • Patent number: 11859719
    Abstract: A parking lock device for a transmission of a vehicle. The device comprising a wheel, a pawl for locking the wheel against rotation and an actuator unit arranged for movement of the pawl relative to the wheel. The pawl has a locked position where the pawl and the wheel are engaged and an unlocked position where the pawl and the wheel are disengaged. The pawl and the actuator unit are mechanically coupled to each other by a pin and slot mechanism having a guide slot and a guide pin received by the guide slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Petersson
  • Patent number: 11841054
    Abstract: Pressure-side cam portions of a pressure plate each include a pressure-side assist cam portion including a pressure-side assist cam surface, a pressure-side body located between the pressure-side assist cam portion and a pressure-side slipper cam portion, and a first stepped portion between a main outer circumferential surface of the pressure-side body and a sub outer circumferential surface of the pressure-side assist cam portion. The sub outer circumferential surface is located radially inward of the main outer circumferential surface. The sub outer circumferential surface is inclined radially inward in a second direction. Among portions of the main outer circumferential surface, at least a stepped portion-side outer circumferential surface adjacent to the first stepped portion is inclined radially outward in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Shinji Furuhashi, Jun Komukai, Makoto Kambara, Satoshi Ota
  • Patent number: 11841053
    Abstract: Pressure-side cam portions of a pressure plate each include a pressure-side assist cam portion including a pressure-side assist cam surface, a pressure-side body located between the pressure-side assist cam portion and a pressure-side slipper cam portion, and a first stepped portion between a main outer circumferential surface of the pressure-side body and a sub outer circumferential surface of the pressure-side assist cam portion. The sub outer circumferential surface is located radially inward of the main outer circumferential surface. The sub outer circumferential surface is inclined radially inward in a second direction. Among portions of the main outer circumferential surface, at least a stepped portion-side outer circumferential surface adjacent to the first stepped portion is inclined radially outward in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Shinji Furuhashi, Jun Komukai, Makoto Kambara, Satoshi Ota
  • Patent number: 11828363
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engagement and disengagement of a vehicle transmission parking lock. A vehicle present speed is ascertained when a device for activating the parking lock is actuated. When the vehicle has not yet reached a standstill and the present speed exceeds a threshold value, engagement of the parking lock is prevented. When the vehicle has not yet reached a standstill and the present speed falls below the threshold value, the vehicle activates the parking brake and is braked until the standstill is reached or until the present speed has reached substantially zero. A present gradient value of the roadway and/or a vehicle longitudinal inclination value is also ascertained. Based on these values, it is checked whether a hydraulic brake system of the vehicle is activated or whether the already activated parking brake should be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Schlegelmilch, Fabian Meyer
  • Patent number: 11821514
    Abstract: Parking lock (1, 19, 24) for a motor vehicle, having a movable locking means for impinging a parking lock wheel (14), disposed in the interior of a transmission housing (2), with a holding force, wherein the movable locking means, by means of a shifting shaft (3) that is rotatable by a drive motor (4) and a cam (7) that is coupled to the shifting shaft (3) is pivotable between a releasing state, in which the parking lock wheel (14) is rotatable, and a blocked state, in which a rotation of the parking lock wheel (14) is blocked, wherein the drive motor (4) is disposed outside the transmission housing (2), the shifting shaft (3) penetrates the transmission housing (2), and the cam (7) is disposed within the transmission housing (2). The invention moreover relates to a transmission having a parking lock (1, 19, 24) of this type, and to a drive installation for electrically drivable motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Siemens eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Haas, Patrick Seemann, Runtian Yin
  • Patent number: 11821479
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electric brake for a wheel rotor having a brake pad associated therewith includes a housing defining a passage. An assembly is provided in the passage and includes a spindle rotatable about an axis and a piston aligned with the brake pad and axially movable in response to rotation of the spindle. A planetary gear stage includes a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears. A first motor is coupled to the sun gear. A second motor coupled to the ring gear. A control system is configured to, in response to a detected braking event, rotate the first motor in a first direction to supply torque to the sun gear while the second motor is rotated in a second direction at varying speeds to supply torque to the ring gear such that the piston is cyclically moved towards and away from the brake pad to modulate a braking force on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety US Inc., ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Galus Chelaidite, Kraig Gerber, Bogdan Draghici
  • Patent number: 11821512
    Abstract: A park lock mechanism configured to restrict or allow a rotation of a rotating shaft includes a park pole configured to restrict the rotation of the rotating shaft and having a first inclined surface, and a park wedge having a second inclined surface capable of abutting on the first inclined surface and configured to move the park pole to a lock position that restricts the rotation of the rotating shaft, in which the park pole includes a protrusion protruding from a first side surface on a park wedge side in a moving direction of the park wedge, and the protrusion is formed so as to be continuous with the first inclined surface, and has a third inclined surface capable of abutting on the second inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakata, Toshihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11808351
    Abstract: A mechanical unlocking mechanism for electronic parking is provided, which comprises a parking cam assembly, a pawl assembly, a pull rod assembly and a parking gear; the parking cam assembly comprises a parking guide shaft and a parking cam, the parking cam is sleeved on the parking guide shaft, at least a first convex part and a second convex part are provided at two sides of the parking cam, and a connecting part is provided on the second convex part; the pull rod assembly is connected with the parking cam via the connecting part, and the pull rod assembly pulls the second convex part to drive the parking cam to rotate; the parking gear can be fixed or rotatable according to the pawl assembly being in a first position where the parking gear parks in or a second position where the parking gear parks out as the parking cam rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Defeng Hou, Ran Sun, Jianwen Li
  • Patent number: 11788586
    Abstract: A method selectively locks a notch plate to a pocket plate such that the notch and pocket plates rotate together. The pocket plate includes struts that work in opposite directions. The pocket plate rotational speed and the notch plate rotational speed are identified. Once the notch plate rotational speed is close to the pocket plate rotational speed, the struts in one direction are activated. Once seated, the struts in the other direction are activated. This two-step engagement of the struts provides a smoother transition between clutch engagements (gear shifts) while not requiring the precision of having all struts activated at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: R. William Davis, Graham Scott Russell, Daniel E. Knieper, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 11788583
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a clutch center holding output-side rotating plates alternately arranged with input-side rotating plates, and a pressure plate movable toward or away from the clutch center. The pressure plate includes pressure-side fitting teeth holding the output-side rotating plates. The clutch center includes center-side fitting teeth holding the output-side rotating plates. In a half-clutch state, a portion of one of the center-side fitting teeth overlap with a portion of one of the pressure-side fitting teeth when seen in the radial directions of an output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Junichi Nishikawa, Jun Komukai, Satoshi Ota
  • Patent number: 11781648
    Abstract: A parking lock for a transmission of an electric or hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The parking lock includes a lock device including an actuatable actuating element and a setting element adjustable between a deployed position and a retracted position. The locking device is configured such that, in response to repeated actuation of the actuating element, the setting element is, via a coupling mechanism, adjusted alternately between the retracted position and the deployed position. A camshaft is provided with a cam arranged on the camshaft that is connected in terms of drive to the lock device. A ratchet wheel is provided with a pawl that is adjustable between an engagement position, where the pawl blocks a rotation of the ratchet wheel, and a release position, where the blocking of the ratchet wheel is released. The setting element adjusts the pawl between the engagement position and the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Gaiser, Hermann Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11781603
    Abstract: In examples, a cone clutch assembly includes an inner cone member rotationally coupled to a first shaft, the inner cone member defining a first friction surface; and an outer cone member rotationally coupled to a second shaft, the outer cone member defining a second friction surface opposing the first friction surface. The inner cone member and outer cone member may be selectively engaged and disengaged from another. When the inner cone member is engaged with the outer cone member, the first friction surface of the inner cone member frictionally engages the second friction surface of the outer cone member such that rotational motion is transferred between the inner cone member and the outer cone member. The inner cone member includes at least one hole including an inlet near a front edge of the inner cone member and that extends through the inner cone member adjacent to the first friction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph D. Black
  • Patent number: 11773961
    Abstract: A planetary gearbox of a gas turbine engine has a planet gear which, via a bearing, is arranged rotatably on a planet pin of a rotatable planet carrier. Oil is introduced through an opening, arranged radially within the bearing, into an oil feed which is open at a feed side and which is connected to the bearing and rotationally joined to the carrier. As the carrier rotates, the oil downstream of the opening is conducted toward the bearing unit by centrifugal force. The open oil feed is, between the opening and the bearing, configured an oil filter through which the oil is conducted. The filter extends counter to the flow direction of the oil from the opening in the direction of the bearing unit, in a flow direction of the oil in the open oil feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Stephan Uhkötter, Uwe Kracht, Jakob Violet
  • Patent number: 11773973
    Abstract: A parking mechanism includes a shaft, a movable portion rotatable with the shaft, a pawl having a claw and movable as the movable portion rotates, a parking gear meshable with the claw, and a stopper contactable with the movable portion. The pawl is switched between parking and non-parking positions in which the claw meshes with and separates from the parking gear, respectively. The movable portion has a first elastic member attached to the shaft, and a contact member connected to the shaft via the first elastic member and in contact with the pawl. The contact member is rotatable in a rotational direction relative to the shaft as the first elastic member is elastically deformed, and is contactable with the stopper in the rotational direction. The stopper faces the contact member at a distance in the rotational direction when the pawl is switched between the parking and non-parking positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsubasa Tamura, Keisuke Aso
  • Patent number: 11767912
    Abstract: A park lock system for a vehicle transmission, includes a movable primary carrier, a secondary carrier, a rod, a first biasing member, an engagement carrier, and a first actuator. The movable primary carrier defines a primary internal space. The secondary carrier is located within the primary internal space and is movable relative to the primary carrier. The rod fixedly extends from the secondary carrier and includes a rod portion located outside of the primary internal space. The first biasing member is located within the primary internal space between the secondary carrier and the primary carrier. The engagement carrier is configured to receive the rod portion and includes a terminal portion operably connected to a pawl and a park lock wheel arrangement to lock and unlock the vehicle transmission. The first actuator is configurable in a first state or a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Frister, Martin Belley, Axel Hahn
  • Patent number: 11761495
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a cam clutch that prevents cams from unwanted wedging and enables smooth operation including the switching between operation modes without involving an increase in size or number of components and with a simple structure. The cam clutch according to the present invention uses first cams and second cams having different engaging directions as sprags for transmitting and interrupting torque between an inner race and an outer race. A cam interlock mechanism tilts the second cams to a disengaging direction with a tilting motion of the first cams toward an engaging direction, to separate engaging surfaces of the second cams from raceways of the inner race and/or the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Sota Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 11746835
    Abstract: A torque limiter assembly includes a first rotational form mounted to a driving component of rotational dive system the first rotational form adapted to receive a second rotational form mounted to a driven component, the forms rotational over a shared hub, the second form adapted to engage to and be disengaged from the first form by a plurality or disconnect assemblies spaced equally around and mounted through a sidewall of the first rotational form, each disconnect assembly a spring assisted piston and a tensioner adapted to engage a detent in the second rotational form, the disconnect assemblies operable in unison to disengage from the second rotational form from the first rotational form upon detection of breach of a torque load threshold value set for each of the disconnect assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Brunel Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome James