Patents Examined by Scott Lund
  • Patent number: 6035735
    Abstract: The device contains an electronic control system, which, in an automatic mode, automatically determines the transmission ratio in dependence of an operating condition, and contains selector devices, which, in the automatic mode, determine the driving stages of the transmission control and, in a manual mode, change the transmission ratio in steps. After a manual selection of the transmission ratio, driving and operating situations in which the automatic mode of the control system is desirable are detected and, if such a situation is detected, a return circuit causes the electronic control system to return to the automatic mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiegesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Graf, Frank Lohrenz, Werner Hauptmann, Kai Heesche
  • Patent number: 6033340
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wherein the clutch is automatically engaged to initiate a creeping movement of the vehicle when the engine is on, the transmission is in gear, the gas pedal is not depressed and the brake or brakes is or are not applied. This entails or takes place at least substantially simultaneously with an increase of the engine torque. If the creeping movement is interrupted, e.g., as a result of the application of a brake, the clutch is disengaged and the engine torque is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Amendt, Michael Salecker
  • Patent number: 6027427
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission includes a pressure regulator for regulating hydraulic pressure produced in an oil pump, and a plurality of valves selectively supplying the regulated hydraulic pressure to a first number of friction elements. A second number of solenoid valves controls operation of the first number of friction elements by controlling supply of the regulated hydraulic pressure to the plurality of valves; wherein the second number is less than the first number. A manual valve controls supply of the regulated pressure to the second number of solenoid valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Co.
    Inventor: Pyung Hwan Yoo
  • Patent number: 6027423
    Abstract: A differential assembly which includes a differential housing is disclosed. The differential assembly also includes a spider structure positioned within the differential housing. The spider structure has (i) a spider hub and (ii) a spider shaft which extends from the spider hub. The differential assembly further includes a pinion gear positioned around the spider shaft and a fastener secured to the spider shaft. The differential assembly also includes a bearing assembly which directly contacts the spider shaft, wherein the bearing assembly is (i) interposed between the pinion gear and the spider shaft and (ii) interposed between the fastener and the spider hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas W. Bell
  • Patent number: 6023990
    Abstract: Disclosed is multi-segmented fabricated gear rim having two distinct steel layers, an inner layer, and an outer layer from which gear teeth are cut. The inner and outer layers are molecularly bonded to each other, with the inner layer being a high weldability layer and the outer layer being a high hardenability layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: John Carr, John Gamel, Stephen Lovell
  • Patent number: 6009773
    Abstract: A motion conversion apparatus having a torque compensation device which is operable to cancel a fluctuation torque, acting on an input shaft due to an inertia load and a fluctuation torque acting on the input shaft due to a frictional load. The motion conversion apparatus converts a continuous rotational motion of the input shaft into a predetermined-type motion of an output shaft through a transmission cam device with the torque compensation device comprising a cam connected to the input shaft, a cam follower, and a resilient force-producing device pressing the cam follower against the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sankyo Seisakusho Co.
    Inventors: Heizaburo Kato, Masao Nishioka, Motoo Takamura
  • Patent number: 6007448
    Abstract: An oil sump 44 and a second oil supply passage 45, which are to lead lubrication oil from a first oil supply passage 43 to where lubrication is needed, i.e., to gears and a clutch, are formed in a sun gear 21, which has a sufficient strength as a torque transmission member. In comparison with another case where an oil sump and an oil supply passage are provided in a relatively thin member such as a sleeve 3, the unfavorable effect of stress concentration around the oiling aperture and of deterioration of strength from the reduced thickness can be greatly minimized. In addition, the fabrication of the oil sump and the oil supply passage is much easier and cost-effective than if they were to be provided in a thinner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hotta, Takamichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 6007450
    Abstract: A powertrain has a planetary gear arrangement with a simple planetary gear set and a compound planetary gear set which are interconnected by a continuous drive connection and are controlled to provide five forward drive ratios, a reverse drive ratio and a neutral condition. A plurality of torque transmitting devices including four clutches and two brakes are engaged in combination of three for each drive ratio. Two of the torque transmitting devices are engaged during the lowest forward drive ratio, the reverse drive ratio and the neutral condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sekhar Raghavan, Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale, Patrick Benedict Usoro
  • Patent number: 6001038
    Abstract: Described is a method of controlling a power distribution hydromechanical branched transmission consisting of an adjustable hydrostatic unit (4), an integrating planetary gear (10) with at least two outputs (26, 27) and, connected to the integrating planetary gear, a range-changing gear (11) designed as a double planetary gear. The two outputs (26, 27) are connected to the range-changing gear (11) by a first clutch (K1) or a second clutch (K2), and one element of the range-changing gear (11) is controlled by a third clutch (KV). Additional clutches (K3, K4) are fitted for the other ranges. In conditions in which the gear-change position is uncertain, the first clutch (K1) or the second clutch (K2), depending on the instantaneous speed of the vehicle, is synchronized and engaged by adjusting the hydrostatic unit (4), and then either one of the other clutches (K3, K4) or the third clutch (KV) is synchronized and engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gebhard Wontner, Josef Leitner
  • Patent number: 5997436
    Abstract: Both shocks and time lag at the time of gear-in are reduced. For that purpose, the hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic engaging element to be engaged at the time of gear-in (in-gear pressure) QING is increased relatively rapidly at the beginning of gear-in. The speed of increase of QING is lowered after the input and output speed ratio "Gratio" of a transmission has exceeded a predetermined value YINGS which works as a basis for discriminating the start of engagement of the hydraulic engaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Shibuya, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Akio Tsuura, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 5989146
    Abstract: A transmission for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a multi-speed geartrain and power transfer mechanism incorporated into a common housing assembly. The multi-speed geartrain includes a input shaft, a mainshaft, and a plurality of constant-mesh gearsets arranged for selectively coupling the mainshaft to the input shaft for driven rotation at various speed ratios. The mainshaft can be selectively coupled to the power transfer mechanism for establishing two alternative power transmission routes. In particular, a synchronized range shift mechanism is provided for establishing a high-range transmission route and a low-range transmission route from the mainshaft to a primary driveline to define a two-wheel drive mode. A portion of the drive torque delivered to the primary driveline can be transferred automatically through a transfer clutch to the secondary driveline to establish an on-demand four-wheel drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: New Venture Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: David Brown, Alan P. Zajac
  • Patent number: 5984834
    Abstract: Even if a rotational speed of an engine has already increased due to slipping of a fluid torque converter at the time of start of downshifting, a smooth downshifting is performed. For that purpose, there is obtained a speed change developing degree function K(etrm) of the rotational speed of the engine at the time of start of downshifting, the developing degree being dependent on an increase in the rotational speed of the engine due to slipping in the fluid torque converter. The function K(etrm) is obtained with a speed ratio "etrm" of the fluid torque converter at the time of starting of downshifting as a parameter. A boosting correction value QDNOFFZ is computed by multiplying a reference correction value QDNOFFZO by K(etrm) (step S108-5). The hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side during downshifting is boosted by the amount of QDNOFFZ (step S108-6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osahide Miyamoto, Tatsuyuki Ohashi, Hiromitsu Ishibashi, Yoshiharu Saito, Kaname Tokita
  • Patent number: 5984835
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control system having a hydraulic control circuit for supplying operating pressure selectively to a plurality of friction coupling elements to place the transmission in desired gears includes a pressure generator for generating operating pressure and supplying it to specific coupling elements which operate in response to operating pressure at different highest levels and an accumulator having a spring loaded piston which provides an increase in operating pressure at a rate variable according to movement of the piston, the rate being greater for greater piston movement as compared with for smaller piston movement, the accumulator being brought into communication selectively with the specific coupling elements by means of a switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Kawa, Tomoo Sawazaki, Hiroshi Shinozuka, Junichi Doi
  • Patent number: 5980422
    Abstract: The hydraulic control system includes a pressure regulating valve regulating hydraulic pressure generated by a hydraulic pump, and a pressure control valve controlling the regulated hydraulic pressure. A hydraulic pressure distributing valve set distributes the controlled regulated hydraulic pressure to a plurality of friction elements, and a shift control valve controls operation of the hydraulic pressure distributing valve set by controlling distribution of an application hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pressure distributing valve set. A creep control unit selectively prevents the vehicle from creeping without depressing a brake pedal by supplying the application hydraulic pressure from the shift control valve to at least one of the friction elements. To this end, the creep control unit includes a creep control valve and a solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Donghoon Park
  • Patent number: 5980412
    Abstract: A fully automatic infinitely variable torque converter bicycle transmission makes use of cam followers acting between a driver wheel connected with an input and a follower wheel connected with an output. Torque is varied by varying a radial position of the cam followers relative to the driver wheel and the follower wheel, wherein a return of the cam followers toward an outer radial position is delayed. All force transmitting components of the apparatus are mechanically engaged without relying on friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Frank D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5967928
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems for improving the operation of a transmission for an automotive vehicle, and in particular the transmission as installed by the original automobile manufacturer. The methods and systems of the present invention modify the original hydraulic fluid circuits of the automotive transmission provided by the automobile manufacturer to enable the transmission to select first gear at any time, and to enable the transmission to produce quick applies during upshifts and fast releases during downshifts for high performance operation with only minimum ratio sharing or overlap during gear changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Gilbert W. Younger
  • Patent number: 5964678
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a planetary gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple rotational force transmission paths. The planetary gear mechanism includes a planet gear supported by a planet gear rack for rotation around the hub axle, and a ring gear engaging the planet gear. The ring gear includes a transmission pawl that can be displaced between a first position for transmitting rotational motion between the ring gear and the hub body and a second position for inhibiting the transmission of rotational motion between the ring gear and the hub body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsugu Hanada, Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5964121
    Abstract: An improved vehicular automated splitter-type mechanical transmission system. The splitter section is retained engaged in its currently engaged splitter ratio at power-down until vehicle speed falls below a reference (OS<REF?) or the main section (12) is shifted into neutral (GR=N?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Jon A. Steeby, Daniel P. Janecke
  • Patent number: 5964334
    Abstract: A wet type friction contact device comprises a non-driving member; a driving member which drives to the non-driving member; and fluid which is intervened between the non-driving member and driving member; wherein the coefficient of dynamic friction of the contact area between the non-driving member and the driving member is not less than 0.2. Therefore, the present invention provides a wet type friction contact device which secures a large amount of torque capacity compared with that of the conventional wet type contact device without bringing about large-size unit thereof and also without requiring disassembly and exchange thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Powder Metallurgy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Shimoda, Teikou Oobucht, Yoshitaka Tomiyama, Satoru Nakano
  • Patent number: 5961416
    Abstract: An internally mounted bicycle transmission includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple transmission paths. The gear mechanism includes a sun gear rotatably supported around the axle, a planet gear supported by a planet gear carrier for rotation around the hub axle and for engaging the sun gear, and a ring gear engaging the planet gear. According to the invention, the ring gear is integrally formed with the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge