Patents Examined by Roger L Pang
  • Patent number: 11975721
    Abstract: A mobile work machine has a drive unit for driving at least one drive element and/or a working element. The drive unit is hydromechanical drive unit with at least one internal combustion engine and hydraulic energy transmission unit with at least one hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor. In normal operation, the motor shaft of the internal combustion engine rotates at a normal speed (n_0). Conversely, in a limit temperature operation in which a sensed actual operating temperature of the internal combustion engine or another part of the drive unit is higher than or equal to a target limit temperature (T_limit), an electrical control unit and/or electronic control unit controls the internal combustion engine in such a way that the motor shaft of the internal combustion engine rotates at a first speed (n_target) that is higher than the normal speed (n_0) of the motor shaft in normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Weidemann GmbH
    Inventors: Max Weymann, Andreas Albach
  • Patent number: 11976715
    Abstract: Separate structural units for an inner gear and a housing of a planetary gear device include an inner gear with a first raised portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner gear, where the first raised portion extends towards in a direction that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the inner gear. A housing includes a second raised portion formed on an inner peripheral surface, where the second raised portion extends in a direction that is inclined in respect to the axial direction. The housing contains the inner gear such that there is a gap formed between the inner peripheral surface of the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the inner gear. Movement of the inner gear within the interior of the housing is limited through linear contact of the first raised portion and the second raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Kawada, Shohei Ishida, Takuya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11976786
    Abstract: An oil restrictor for emergency lubrication of a component for an aircraft turbine engine includes a metal cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and configured to be housed in and shrink-fitted into a cylindrical bore of a part of the turbine engine. The restrictor further includes an integrated oil circuit enabling oil to pass through the restrictor along the axial extent thereof. The body is a one-piece body, and the circuit has at least two oil channels recessed on an outer cylindrical surface of the body and extending around and/or along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Alexis Claude Michel Dombek, Patrice Jocelyn Francis Gedin
  • Patent number: 11971092
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a hydromechanical transmission. In one example, the transmission system includes a hydrostatic assembly including a variable displacement hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor and a planetary gearset coupled to a multi-speed gearbox, a hydraulic motor, and an output shaft via separate gears and shafts. In the system the variable displacement hydraulic pump is coupled to an input of the multi-speed gearbox, the multi-speed gearbox includes one or more clutches and is coupled to a prime mover and the output shaft is designed to couple to an axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Dalla Palma, Fabio Gunsch, Mario Gelmini, Giovanni Profumo
  • Patent number: 11964662
    Abstract: A method for allocating power between electric machines in a powertrain of an electric vehicle is described. The electric vehicle includes a gearbox having an input shaft and an output shaft configured to transmit a first torque to the wheels of the vehicle, a first electric machine having an output shaft coupled to the input shaft of the gearbox, and a second electric machine configured to supply a second torque to wheels of the vehicle. The method comprises: prior to a gear change of the first electric machine, allocating power to the first and second electric machines according to a first power ratio; in response of an intended gear change of the first electric machine, allocating power to the first and second electric machines according to a second power ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mattias Andreasson, Samuel Jakobsson
  • Patent number: 11958472
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hybrid drive train comprising a first partial drive train including an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a second partial drive train, which is separated from the first partial drive train by a torsional elasticity, having an electric machine with a rotor. A rotational characteristic value of the first partial drive train is detected via a sensor arranged on the torsional elasticity. A rotational characteristic value of the rotor is detected via a device engaged with the rotor. A quality index is determined based on the rational characteristic value of the first partial drive train and the rotational characteristic value of the rotor. The electric machine is controller to optimize the quality index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Holger Witt
  • Patent number: 11953090
    Abstract: A shift control device and method of controlling an axle assembly of a vehicle. The method includes electrically connecting a shift control device to the vehicle and commanding, with the shift control device, an actuator to move a coupling of the axle assembly to a neutral position, thereby disconnecting an electric motor from a wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Lee
  • Patent number: 11945438
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a follow-up-running control portion configured to execute a follow-up running control for causing a vehicle to run following a preceding vehicle with a target inter-vehicle distance; and a shift control portion configured to change a gear ratio of an automatic transmission in accordance with a predetermined shifting condition. The shift control portion is configured to set a high fluid-temperature determination value, based on information relating to the preceding vehicle that affects an air flow rate. When a fluid temperature of the automatic transmission is not lower than the high fluid-temperature determination value, the shift control portion is configured to change the shifting condition such that a higher-speed gear position making the gear ratio lower is more frequently established in the automatic transmission than when the fluid temperature of the automatic transmission is lower than the high fluid-temperature determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Masafumi Yamamoto, Yoshito Sekiguchi, Yuuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11938920
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an energy storage circuit, an input circuit, and a hybrid management circuit. The energy storage circuit is structured to receive information regarding a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of an energy storage device structured to store energy. The input circuit is structured to receive an indication of a torque demand. The hybrid management circuit is structured to: determine a SOH adjustment factor based on the SOH of the energy storage device; determine a first torque output for a genset based on the SOH adjustment factor and the SOC of the energy storage device, the genset including an engine and a first motor-generator; and operate the genset to provide the first torque output and to generate an amount of energy for a second motor-generator to meet the torque demand according to the SOH adjustment factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Booth, Martin T. Books
  • Patent number: 11938809
    Abstract: A universal driving device includes a sun gear rotatably provided; a ring gear disposed on a rotation plane coplanar to a rotation plane of the sun gear and provided so that a rotation shaft of the ring gear is movable relative to a rotation shaft of the sun gear; and a gear train engaging the sun gear to the ring gear and configured to allow a relative motion between the rotation shaft of the sun gear and the rotation shaft of the ring gear and define a continuous power transmission state between the sun gear and the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Jong Sool Park
  • Patent number: 11932254
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to generate power. The transmission is configured to transfer power from the engine to at least one drive wheel to propel the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to shift the transmission and a corresponding command to decrease a torque of the engine to less than a threshold corresponding to a spark retard limit during the shift, (i) increase the pressure of an oncoming clutch to engage the oncoming clutch, (ii) retard an engine spark at the spark retard limit to reduce the torque of the engine to the threshold during the engagement of the oncoming clutch, and (iii) shutdown at least one cylinder of the engine to further reduce the torque of the engine to less than the threshold during the engagement of the oncoming clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cory Benson LaRoche, Stephen Michael Cicala, Jianping Zhang, Bradley Dean Riedle, Jesse D. L. Brunais, Michael Simon, Leonard Dziubinschi
  • Patent number: 11933390
    Abstract: A multiple speed transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a first planetary gearset having a first member, a second member, and a third member, and a second planetary gearset having an input member, a reaction member, a second member, and a third member. The transmission also includes a plurality of interconnecting members each connected between at least one of the first and second planetary gearsets and at least another of the first and second planetary gearsets. The transmission includes a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms which are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios and a plurality of reverse speed ratios between the input shaft and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventor: Edmond M. Etchason
  • Patent number: 11927253
    Abstract: A powertrain for an electric vehicle includes: a planetary gear having a first rotating element, a second rotating element, and a third rotating element, wherein a first rotating element is connected to a first shaft and the second rotating element is connected to a second shaft; a first motor configured to selectively supply power to the first shaft at two or more gear ratios; a first shift assembly configured to transfer power of the first motor to the first shaft through one of two or more external engagement gear trains having different gear ratios; and a second motor configured to selectively supply power to the first shaft and the second shaft. The third shaft is fixedly disposed on a transmission housing, and any two shafts among the first, second and third shafts restrain each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jae Joon Lee, Jong Sool Park, Jin Young Hwang, Jong Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 11927266
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dual-speed final drive control method and terminal device, and a storage medium. The method includes: when an absolute value of a gradient value of a road ahead is greater than a gradient threshold, determining, according to the gradient value, whether the road ahead is an uphill section or a downhill section, thereby controlling all gears of a transmission to correspond to a higher final drive ratio or a lower final drive ratio in the dual-speed final drive. The disclosure can make use of the dual-speed-ratio final drive to the greatest extent to improve the economy in energy consumption of the entire vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Xiamen Yaxon Network Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yankai Tu, Hejie Zhou
  • Patent number: 11920666
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a clutch, an actuator and a stop member. The clutch is received within a first housing and has a first clutch member coupled to the second housing and a second clutch member coupled to the first housing, the second clutch member is movable and selectively engageable with the first clutch member. The actuator has a coil and a plunger driven for movement by a magnetic field generated by the coil so that the plunger moves axially to move the second clutch member relative to the first clutch member. The stop member has a retracted position spaced from the plunger and an advanced position within a path of movement of the plunger to limit movement of the plunger when the stop member is in the advanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin DeLand, Varadarajan Balaraman, Brent M. Peura
  • Patent number: 11920675
    Abstract: A method for determining an actuating-travel range between two shift-element halves of a form-locking shift element (A, F) during an engagement of the shift element (A, F) and in the presence of a tooth-on-tooth position between the two shift-element halves is provided. An actuating movement of the at least one movable shift-element half with respect to the other shift-element half is monitored by a sensor. A tooth-on-tooth position is detected when it is determined, by the sensor, within an actuating-travel range of the at least one movable shift-element half between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition of the shift element, that the actuating movement of the movable shift-element half in the engagement direction is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Zerlaut, Martina Jehle
  • Patent number: 11913543
    Abstract: Disclosed is method for operating a multi-gear vehicle transmission having a plurality of shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging gears of the vehicle transmission. In a neutral gear a transmission input (1) and a transmission output (2) of the vehicle transmission are decoupled from one another. In a driving gear the transmission input (1) and the transmission output (2) of the vehicle transmission are coupled with one another by closing the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) associated with the driving gear in order to propel the vehicle. When the neutral gear is engaged, a transmission condition is determined, and if a transmission condition with elevated drag losses exists, then in addition to the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) of a driving gear, at least one further shifting element (A, B, C, D, E) of the vehicle transmission is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Sascha Fiesel
  • Patent number: 11913506
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a hydraulic circuit and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: obtain (20) a target pressure specification; convert (26) the target pressure specification into a target volume flow rate; determine (42) a valve volume flow rate as a function of the target volume flow rate and as a function of parameters that represent system properties of the hydraulic circuit; determine (46) a pressure drop at a valve due to flow forces as a function of the valve volume flow rate; determine (48) a compensated valve output pressure as a function of the valve volume flow rate and the pressure drop; determine (58) the electric control current as a function of the compensated valve output pressure; and activate a valve with the electric control current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Anton Fritzer, Thilo Schmidt, Andreas Schmidt, Valentine Vincent, Christoph Köhler, Jonas Knör, Michael Miller, Mario Hasel, Jakob Mayer, Christian Hunger, Fabian Schöniger
  • Patent number: 11913544
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a drill-free curve-CVT including a ring wheel, a set of planet wheels, and a sun wheel, wherein the ring and sun wheel are clamped together. The normal forces between the ring and sun wheel on the one hand and the planet wheels on the other hand are well defined when the transmission ratio is constant. The normal forces for constant ratio are called the static values. The method is configured so that during a continuous increase or decrease of the transmission ratio, any force component added to the static values of the first and/or the second normal force is either zero or smaller than a predefined force component to maintain a microslip condition of the rolling contacts between the planet wheels and the ring and sun wheels. This control of the forces is applied regardless of the speed of the ratio change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MAZARO N.V.
    Inventors: Filip De Maziere, Lucas Present
  • Patent number: 11913538
    Abstract: A wind turbine transmission including a first planetary stage and a second planetary stage, wherein a sun gear of the first planetary stage and a planet carrier of the second planetary stage are interconnected for conjoint rotation by means of a spline joint, the sun gear integrally forms an internal toothing, and a first web of the planet carrier or a sun shaft integrally connected to the first web integrally forms an external toothing of the spline joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventor: Warren Smook