Patents Examined by Roger Pang
  • Patent number: 9222550
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides between eight and ten forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio. Three planetary gear sets are located on the input axis and a fourth planetary gear set is located on an offset axis. Axis transfer gears convey power between the input axis and the offset axis. One axis transfer gear is supported by a front support while another is supported by a center support. The center support also supports a clutch module and supplies pressurized fluid to engage the clutches in the clutch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David Allen Janson
  • Patent number: 9222553
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission includes four planetary gear sets, eight rotatable shafts and six shifting elements. The eight rotatable shafts include an input shaft and an output shaft. Selective actuation of the six shifting elements brings about different transmission ratio relationships between the input shaft and the output shaft of the eight rotatable shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9222578
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods, apparatus and systems that diagnose and/or detect faults of an electro-hydraulic control system for a transmission are presented. Some embodiments, adjust a main line pressure of the electro-hydraulic control system and detect faults based upon changes in a pressure switch resulting from such adjustments of the main line pressure. The pressure switch may be incorporated into a control main valve or a clutch trim valve of the electro-hydraulic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles F. Long
  • Patent number: 9206884
    Abstract: A four-stage multi-gear transmission in which the carrier of a fourth gearset (4) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a housing (72), a ring gear of a first gearset (1) is connected rotationally fixed to a sun gear (41) of the fourth gearset (4), a drive input (70) can couple, via a first clutch (61), a sun gear (11) of the first gearset (1), a ring gear (42) of the fourth gearset (4) can couple, via a second clutch (62), a drive output (71), a carrier (13) of the first gearset (1) can couple, via a first brake (51), a housing (72) and the sun gear (11) of the first gearset (1) can couple, via a second brake (52=), the housing (72). Varying other couplings within the multi-gear transmission can provide a range of transmissions with similar properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9193257
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving device includes a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, and a clutch, wherein a sun gear of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to a first electric rotating machine, a carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to a driving wheel, a ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to an engine, a sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to a second electric rotating machine, the carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism and the engine through the clutch, and a ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Tomohito Ono
  • Patent number: 9194463
    Abstract: The present invention provides a 10-shift power train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle, comprising: a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear selectively connected to a transmission casing, a first ring gear selectively connected to the transmission casing, and a first planetary carrier for integrally connecting a plurality of single pinions engaged between the first sun gear and the first ring gear; a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear directly connected to the first sun gear, a second planetary carrier directly connected to an input shaft and selectively connected to a third sun gear, and a second ring gear selectively connected to a fourth ring gear; a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear selectively connected to the second planetary carrier, a third planetary carrier selectively connected to the second ring gear, and a third ring gear selectively connected to the second ring gear; and a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear directly c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Powertech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9182013
    Abstract: A power-shiftable transmission, in particular an automatic transmission for a vehicle, which comprises a plurality of frictional shifting elements and at least one interlocking shifting element (A, B, C, D, E) and a plurality of gearwheels which can be engaged in a power flow by the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). In order to engage a gear step, at least two associated shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) are engaged and at least one interlocking shifting element (B), as a shifting element (B) to be engaged, is associated with a gear step to be engaged with a supporting gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Bernhard Sich, Matthias Reisch, Manuel Goetz, Mark Mohr, Ralf Dreibholz, Peter Ziemer, Gert Bauknecht
  • Patent number: 9174523
    Abstract: A hybrid-electric power transmission system may include: an input shaft; an output shaft; a first planetary gear set on the input shaft, and including a first rotation element connected to a first motor/generator, a second rotation element connected to the output shaft, and a third rotation element directly connected to the input shaft; a second planetary gear set on the input shaft, and including a fourth rotation element directly connected to a second motor/generator and selectively connected to the third rotation element, a fifth rotation element connected to the output shaft, and a sixth rotation element connected to a transmission housing; transfer gears; and frictional elements selectively connecting two rotation elements among three rotation elements of the second planetary gear set, selectively connecting the third rotation element to the fourth rotation element, or selectively connecting the sixth rotation element to the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAY MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Chang Wook Lee, Jongsool Park
  • Patent number: 9169917
    Abstract: A planet gear carrier (1) for an automotive vehicle having a plurality of mounting regions (2), mounting a respective planet gear (4), and between the mounting regions (2), at least one aperture (5) such as a through-hole (6) that weakens the planet gear carrier (1), and when filled by a stiffening element (7) reinforces the planet gear carrier (1). A planet gear carrier having installed planet gears, a spur gear differential comprising such a planet gear carrier as well as a spur gear differential comprising two planet gear carriers of the aforesaid type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Biermann, Harald Martini, Richard Grabenbauer
  • Patent number: 9169924
    Abstract: A control device for controlling an automatic transmission determines whether a fluid pressure of the operation fluid acting on a friction engagement element that is switched from a released-state to an engaged-state is in a fully-decreased state. If determined that the fluid pressure is not in a fully-decreased state, control of a manual valve is delayed. In such manner, the hydraulic circuit is switched by the manual valve after the full decrease of the fluid pressure of the operation fluid acting on the just-engaged friction engagement element. As a result, an abrupt rise of the fluid pressure is prevented and a shock in the automatic transmission is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Nagata, Fuminori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9151382
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, drive wheels, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and a controller. The CVT includes an input member connected to the engine, an output member delivering output torque to the wheels, and a variator assembly connecting the input and output members. The controller determines, via a method, an input and output speed of the variator assembly, converts the output speed to an equivalent input speed using a calibrated variator speed ratio, and calculates a gross slip of the variator assembly using the input and equivalent input speeds. A gross slip flag is set only when the gross slip exceeds a calibrated slip value for a predetermined duration. A CVT assembly includes the controller, input and output members, and variator assembly. The variator assembly may include drive and driven pulleys, a drive mechanism connecting the pulleys, and an actuator applying a clamping force to one of the pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhen J. Zhang, Jesse B. Bradley, Jing Zhou, John E. Marano
  • Patent number: 9151383
    Abstract: A method for interactive transmission garage shifts includes receiving a request for a transmission garage shift; controlling the transmission to bring the vehicle to a stop state based on determining that the vehicle is rolling backwards on a grade above a predetermined grade threshold and at a speed below a predetermined speed threshold; controlling an electric park brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at the stop state; controlling the transmission to engage a dog clutch so as to place the transmission in a forward drive gear; and controlling the EPB to i) deactivate if the dog clutch is determined to be engaged, or ii) maintain activation to maintain the vehicle at the stop state if the dog clutch is determined to be disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Joseph B. Adams, Changwei Cao, Jason P. Frisch, David D. Dicks, Richard G. Mayer, Joseph J. Sobczak, William Mayhew, Raymond J. Tessier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9151373
    Abstract: A wet clutch arrangement includes a housing arrangement which is filled or fillable with fluid, a first friction surface formation which is rotatable with the housing arrangement around an axis of rotation and a second friction surface formation which is rotatable with a driven member around the axis of rotation and which can be brought into frictional engagement with the first friction surface formation by a piston pump. At least a portion of a torsional vibration damping arrangement is provided in a torque transmission path and includes an input region and an output region. The torsional vibration damping arrangement further includes at least in a first torque transmission path a phase shifter arrangement for generating a phase shift of rotational irregularities transmitted via the first torque transmission path relative to rotational irregularities transmitted via a second torque transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Dögel, Michael Kühner, Ingrid Hoffelner
  • Patent number: 9150216
    Abstract: A drive force control system includes an engine for controlling an output in accordance with an operation of an accelerator of a vehicle, a drive motor assisting a torque of the engine, an operation state detection portion detecting an operation state of the accelerator, and a control portion performing an advancing compensation control by the drive motor together with a drive control of the engine on the basis of an amount of change of the operation state of the accelerator generated within a predetermined time to provide greater acceleration than a case where the operation state of the accelerator is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Tojo, Kyosuke Mori, Takahiro Misu, Yo Shishido
  • Patent number: 9151363
    Abstract: A multi-stage planetary gearbox, in particular a torque split gearbox of a work machine, having a housing which accommodates four planetary gearsets, a plurality of shafts, and shift elements including brakes and clutches which implement different gear ratios between the drive and output shafts. The drive shaft couples a carrier of the third gearset which can couple, via a first clutch, a third shaft that is coupled to a ring gear of a second gearset and which can be connected, via a second clutch, to a fourth shaft connected to a sun gear of the third gearset. A fifth shaft couples a sun gear of the second gearset and can be locked, via a first brake, with the housing. A sixth shaft couples a ring gear of the third gearset and a carrier of the second gearset. The output shaft is coupled to a carrier of a fourth gearset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Fellmann, Stefan Beck, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger
  • Patent number: 9145968
    Abstract: A device for controlling shift in a vehicle may include a data detector configured to detect data for a shift control and a controller configured to determine a short-term driving tendency of a driver using the data, determine a long-term driving tendency of the driver using the short-term driving tendency of the driver, and control shift in the vehicle in consideration of a running mode of the vehicle and the long-term driving tendency which are determined from the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Byeong Wook Jeon, Joseph D. Chang, Dong Hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9133911
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission of a vehicle is disclosed. The double clutch transmission may selectively transmit power of a power source to two input shafts through two clutches and may output changed power through two output shafts after the power selectively transmitted to the two input shafts is changed. The two input shafts may respectively have a plurality of input gears fixed thereon, the two output shafts may respectively have a plurality of speed gears rotatable on the output shafts and a plurality of synchronizers operably connecting each speed gear to any one of the output shafts, and each input gear may be engaged with at least one speed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Yeo Hyoun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9127756
    Abstract: A multistage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including an input and output shafts, planetary gearsets, gear stages, shift elements and shafts. The input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5) that couples the sun gear of gearset (P3) and, via clutch (58), can couple shaft (8) connected to the ring gear of gearset (P2). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6) connected to the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun and ring gears of respective gearsets (P1, P3) and can couple, via brake (03), the housing. The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4) gear stage (S1) which couples the output shaft. The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7) gear stage (S2) which couples the output shaft. Clutch (56) can couple shafts (5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Timo Wehlen
  • Patent number: 9127754
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism comprises a planetary gear unit including input transmission, output transmission, and transmission stopping members. Torque entering the input transmission member is outputted downstream of the planetary gear unit by the output transmission member when the transmission stopping member is fixed and is not outputted downstream when the transmission stopping member is unfixed and entering a rotatable state. A rotation prohibiting target has an engaging target and is integral with the transmission stopping member. A rotation prohibiting member has a supporting shaft, a swingable portion at its one end and an engaging portion at its other end to engage the engaging target to enable the transmission stopping member to exert the stopping function. The engaging portion disengages the engaging target to bring the transmission stopping member into an unfixed state. A damper unit absorbs vibration caused in the rotation prohibiting member during a switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Yasuda, Kenji Tomita
  • Patent number: 9126592
    Abstract: A powertrain system is configured to transfer propulsion torque to a driveline of a vehicle. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a magnitude of unintended vehicle motion based upon a difference between a change in actual vehicle acceleration and a change in an operator-intended vehicle acceleration. Propulsion torque to the driveline is limited when a fault associated with unintended vehicle motion is detected and the magnitude of unintended vehicle motion is less than a predetermined first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeong J. Park, Mark A. Vernacchia, Aubrey Walter Downs, Jr., Aaron C. Bowles