Patents Examined by Sherry L. Estremsky
  • Automatic transmission and control method of automatic transmission
    Patent number: 11293531
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided, which includes a variator having a first pulley, a second pulley and a belt wound around the first and second pulleys, a first motor configured to give a pulley thrust force for shifting the variator to the first or second pulley, a second motor configured to cause a belt clamping force to be generated in the variator, and a power transmission mechanism provided between the second motor and the variator, to transmit an output torque of the second motor to the variator. The power transmission mechanism includes a cycloid decelerator configured to decelerate an input torque from the second motor, and transmit the decelerated input torque to the variator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Hagihara
  • Work vehicle
    Patent number: 11285958
    Abstract: This work vehicle (tractor), which is provided with an engine and an accelerator pedal capable of changing the operational state of the engine, and is configured to be free to travel by means of an operation of the accelerator pedal by an operator, is equipped with a display near an operator's seat, said display being configured to be capable of displaying a screen (travel customization screen) for selecting whether or not to allow travel in conjunction with the accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miwa, Kouhei Ogura
  • Differential locking system
    Patent number: 11287022
    Abstract: A differential locking system that can rotationally lock a shift fork and a sliding clutch assembly to ensure correct engagement of an axle shaft with a sliding clutch assembly during reassembly of an axle shaft. The differential locking system includes a first portion of a push rod is selectively engaged with a portion of the shift fork and a second portion of the push rod is selectively engaged with a portion of a carrier housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Prashant L. Chaudhari, Akash A. Aware, Virendra V. Kumbhar, Pravin V. Karande
  • Multi-speed gearbox and the drive axle made therewith
    Patent number: 11280391
    Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. At least one of a gear and a planetary gear set is operably connected to the output shaft of the electric motor. The at least one of the gear and the planetary gear set is operably connected to a differential configured to transfer torque to two axle half shafts of the vehicle. At least one clutch configured to facilitate a plurality of gear ratios between the electric motor and the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Eric M. Engerman
  • Lubricant collector
    Patent number: 11274738
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit assembly having a ring gear with a plurality of ring gear teeth extending from an outer surface thereof. At least a portion of a lubricant collector having a body portion with a first side, a second side, a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion is disposed proximate to and directly adjacent at least a portion of the ring gear. The lubricant collector has one or more first receiving portions and/or one or more second receiving portions defining a collector reservoir therein. The one or more first receiving portions and/or one or more second receiving portions of the collector reservoir receive an amount of lubricating fluid that is expelled or thrown from the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Shane T. Smith
  • Planet carrier assembly for vehicle door closing actuator
    Patent number: 11261940
    Abstract: The present application relates to a planet carrier assembly for a vehicle door closing actuator. The planet carrier assembly comprises a plurality of planetary gears and a planet carrier body. The planet carrier body comprises a disc portion, a cover portion and an output shaft portion, wherein the plurality of planetary gears are rotatably mounted on the disc portion via a corresponding number of mounting shafts fixed to the disc portion, one end of the mounting shaft protruding from a central hole of the planetary gear is pressed into a corresponding receiving hole on the cover portion, and the planet carrier body is further provided with a rotation locking device to prevent the cover portion from rotating circumferentially relative to the disc portion. The planet carrier assembly according to the present application has the advantages such as low cost, high strength, and simple assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG ZHAOQING L&V CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hongyu Gong, Yuan Jiang, Xianghuai Qiu, Qingchun Yang
  • Actuator for shift-by-wire system
    Patent number: 11255431
    Abstract: An acuator for a shift-by-wire system includes a drive motor installed inside a motor housing, the drive motor having a drive shaft, and a decelerator inside a decelerator housing coupled with the motor housing, the decelerator coupled to the drive shaft. The decelerator includes a sun gear connected to a first side of an eccentric part of the drive shaft, a ring gear engaged with the sun gear and fixed to the decelerator housing, an output shaft connected to a second side of the eccentric part, a first bearing coupled to one side of the eccentric part and supporting the sun gear, a second bearing coupled to the other side of the eccentric part and supporting the output shaft, and a power delivery unit coupled to the sun gear and the output shaft in a center region between the first and second bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Rae Cho, Byoung Hyuk Lee, Wonjin Jeong, Kyu-Jung Kim, Ki Cheol Hyun, Dae Yeon Kim
  • Upspeeded operation of alcohol-enabled gasoline engines
    Patent number: 11255276
    Abstract: Spark ignition engine operation at higher RPM so as to reduce alcohol requirements in high efficiency alcohol enhanced gasoline engines is disclosed. Control of engine upspeeding (use of a higher ratio of engine RPM to wheel RPM) so as to achieve an alcohol reduction objective while limiting any decrease in efficiency is described. High RPM alcohol enhanced gasoline engine operation in plug-in series hybrid powertrains for heavy duty trucks and other vehicles is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Transmission and compressor system
    Patent number: 11248683
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first shaft which is rotatably supported by a first radial bearing, a ring member which is connected to an end portion of the first shaft, a sun roller which is disposed inside the ring member in a radial direction, a second shaft which extends from the sun roller, a plurality of planetary rollers which are disposed in a state of being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the ring member and an outer peripheral surface of the sun roller, and a planetary roller supporting member which rotatably supports the planetary roller and restrains a movement of the planetary roller in the circumferential direction, in which the ring member is in contact with the plurality of planetary rollers in a state of pressing the plurality of planetary rollers inward in the radial direction so that the plurality of planetary rollers face the sun roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyata, Masahiro Kobayashi
  • Planetary gear carrier for a planetary gear device
    Patent number: 11236816
    Abstract: An aspect of a carrier for a planetary gear device includes two separate endplates that fit together using a snap-fit assembly. Retention protrusions extending from one of the endplates snap-fit into corresponding recesses on the other endplate to assemble the carrier. The shape of the recess is configured to reduce or eliminate any tendency for loads to force retention protrusion to disengage from the recess, which may result in loss of structural integrity of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Yamada, Koki Hisai
  • Center differential and drive system for four wheel drive
    Patent number: 11236811
    Abstract: An on-demand four-wheel drive system includes a differential for the rear axle, a differential for the front axle, and a center differential connecting to the front and rear axle differentials. All three of the differentials contain a bi-directional overrunning roller clutch to enable locking of their respective outputs. The clutches provide a superior on-demand four-wheel drive system that distributes power to each drive wheel to propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Hilliard Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Hasson, Jr., Howard J. Knickerbocker, James E. Palmer
  • Differential disconnect assembly
    Patent number: 11231098
    Abstract: An improved differential for a vehicle is provided which includes a disconnect assembly engaged between a ring gear and pinion gears and/or a gear nest associated with the pinion gears, wherein the disconnect assembly is able to disconnect torsional loading of torque between the ring gear and the pinon gears of the differential. The disconnect assembly selectively connects and disconnects the ring gear and pinon gears by preferably disconnecting from the gear nest disposed therebetween. Disconnection of the ring gear and pinion gears allows the ring gear, differential housing, bearings, and rest of the gear box to stop spinning while the wheels of the vehicle are spinning. The differential pinion gears are mechanically connected to the gear nest such that torque can be transferred from the differential gear nest to the differential pinion gears and then to the differential side gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Linamar Corporation
    Inventor: Evan Swinger
  • Axle assembly having a gear reduction module with countershaft gear sets
    Patent number: 11220176
    Abstract: An axle assembly having a gear reduction unit that is configured to operatively connect an electric motor to a drive pinion. The gear reduction unit includes at least one countershaft gear set. At least one clutch is engageable to provide a torque path between the electric motor and the drive pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Cradit, Nick Bofferding, David Zueski, Robert Martin, Eric LaMothe, Christopher Keeney, Brian Hayes
  • Static curvic joint for epicyclical gear system housing assembly
    Patent number: 11215265
    Abstract: A planet gear housing assembly in an epicyclical gear assembly comprises an aft planet gear assembly and a forward planet gear assembly. The aft planet carrier assembly comprises an aft flange defining a central aperture and an annular mounting flange positioned forward of and coaxial with said central aperture, said mounting flange forming a forward facing mounting surface comprising a curvic structure. The forward planet carrier assembly comprises a forward flange defining a central aperture and an annular mounting flange positioned aft of and coaxial with said central aperture, said mounting flange forming an aft facing mounting surface comprising a curvic structure. The curvic structures of the mounting surfaces are positioned relative to each other to thereby form a static curvic joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Winely
  • Transmission
    Patent number: 11209075
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first shaft, and a second shaft, and a shifting group arranged between the first and second shafts. The shifting group is configured such that a mechanical power transmitted via the first shaft is transmitted to the second shaft via a first power path or a second power path which is coupled-in or coupled-out. The first power path is designed as a forward gear and the second power path is designed as a reverse gear. The forward gear includes a different transmission ratio in magnitude from the reverse gear. The shifting group includes a summation planetary stage, where the mechanical power of the power paths is transmitted thereby to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Stefan Raisch
  • Inter-axle differential assembly
    Patent number: 11209077
    Abstract: An inter-axle differential (IAD) assembly including a unitary IAD case having one or more spaced-apart apertures extending therethrough, wherein each of the IAD case apertures defines a groove, and a spider having a plurality of radially, outwardly extending legs, wherein one or more of the legs include an opening at an outward end thereof, and wherein each IAD case apertures are aligned with each of the leg openings. The IAD assembly further includes a locking mechanism having one or more fastening elements, wherein the fastening elements are selectively inserted through the IAD case apertures and into the one or more leg openings and/or into the grooves of the IAD case apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory R. Andres, Akash A. Aware, Prashant L. Chaudhari, Vijay D. Kadam, Sandeep G. Nargide, Jared T. Reichert
  • Vehicle differential apparatus
    Patent number: 11204085
    Abstract: A vehicle differential apparatus including a pair of side gears arranged side by side along an axial line, a set of pinion gears disposed on a radial outside of the side gears so as to engage with the side gears and engaged with each other, and a housing forming a housing space of the pinion gears to rotate integrally with the pinion gears. Each of the side gears includes an inner and outer side gears, the inner and outer side gears include a first and second splines extended along helical gears formed on an outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the inner and outer side gears, respectively, and engaging with each other, and the helical gear of the first spline is formed so as to be crowned along a tooth trace thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Otani, Yoshinori Sato
  • Planetary gear
    Patent number: 11204079
    Abstract: A planetary gear includes a planet carrier, a sun wheel, a gear ring, and planet wheels meshing with the sun wheel and with the gear ring. Each planet wheel shaft of the planetary gear is arranged to rotatably support a respective planet wheel so that, in an unloaded situation, a geometric axis of rotation of the planet wheel is skewed (?) with respect to the axial direction (z) of the planetary gear. In a loaded situation, torque directed to the planet carrier causes twisting deformation in the planet carrier and thereby the skewedness of the geometric axis of rotation is at least partly eliminated by the twisting deformation. Thus, in the loaded situation, the direction of the geometric axis of rotation can be closer to the axial direction than in a planetary gear where there is no skewedness in an unloaded situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: MOVENTAS GEARS OY
    Inventors: Teemu Kukkola, Raine Lonnakko
  • Orbitally formed hypoid pinion gear
    Patent number: 11199251
    Abstract: A pinion shaft assembly facilitates assembly of an automotive differential. An angular contact double row ball bearing is assembled to an outer surface of a hollow pinion shaft. An axial pre-load is established and maintained by orbitally forming an outwardly turned portion of the hollow pinion shaft. In some embodiments, the two inner rings are assembled to the pinion shaft. In other embodiments, a raceway may be formed directly on an outer surface of the pinion shaft to eliminate one of the inner rings. The pinion shaft includes a spline, such as an axial spline or a face spline, for fixation to a driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alaa Makke, Cameron Gibson, Stefan Tojcic, Kyle Hassay
  • Vehicle drive system
    Patent number: 11192533
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system configured to achieve a required driving force of braking force without changing an orientation of a vehicle in the event of slippage of a wheel. The vehicle drive system comprises: a torque generating device; a differential mechanism that allows a relative rotation between a right wheel and a left wheel; a differential restricting device that restricts a differential rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel; and a steering mechanism that controls a turning angle of pairs of the wheels. A first controller controls the relative rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel to be smaller than a predetermined value and second controller further controls a turning angle of the wheels controlled by the steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Ota, Hiroshi Isono