Patents Examined by Stacey A Fluhart
  • Patent number: 11767888
    Abstract: A hybrid module includes a housing with a multiple clutch accommodated therein having a first, a second and a third clutch device and a support in an axial end position, and an electric machine which is arranged in an axially parallel manner on the housing and is coupled to the multiple clutch via a gear connection which transmits a torque. The housing is closed axially either by a housing cover portion axially and radially adjoining the support or by a transmission wall, axially adjoining the support, of a transmission connected downstream. A lubricant to be delivered to the multiple clutch can be delivered to the support either radially via at least one feed conduit or axially via at least one feed conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Massimo Merola, Stefan Mackowiak, Robert Maier
  • Patent number: 11767889
    Abstract: A cooling oil guiding device for a clutch actuatable by an axially movable piston. The piston is radially inward of the clutch, and separates a pressure space and a compensation space. The compensation space is delimited by an axially stationary compensation space cover and a seal cover coupled to the piston. The compensation space cover and the seal cover axially overlap radially outwardly and are axially movable relative to one another via a sealing element. An overflow opening connects the compensation space to an oil channel in the seal cover between the seal cover and the piston, the oil channel opens radially outward. A control edge is provided at a component part axially immovable relative to the piston, by which an oil flow exiting from the oil channel is guided through the clutch when the clutch is closed and is guided past the clutch when the clutch is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Steffen Matschas, Axel Rohm, Ingo Krafft, Monika Rößner, Angelika Ebert, Julian Larbig
  • Patent number: 11760336
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus of a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a first motor-generator and a second motor-generator includes a compound planetary gear set engaged to a first motor shaft of the first motor-generator, and configured to receive an engine torque from the engine through a one-way clutch, to receive a motor torque of the first motor-generator, and to output an output torque as a combination of the engine torque and the motor torque through a drive gear, a motor shaft gear fixedly connected to a second motor shaft of the second motor-generator, and an output shaft disposed in parallel to and between an engine torque shaft connected to the engine and the second motor shaft connected to the second motor, and gear-meshed with the drive gear and the motor shaft gear respectively through a driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 11761521
    Abstract: A gear unit for a powertrain of a vehicle includes a stepped planetary gearset, a first gear shifting element and a second gear shifting element. The stepped planetary gearset has at least a first ring gear, a second ring gear and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first planet carrier drivingly connects to an electric machine. The second ring gear is connected to an output shaft of the gear unit so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The first gear shifting element fixes the first ring gear relative to a housing in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element brings the stepped planetary gearset into direct drive in a closed state. One of the two gear shifting elements is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11752849
    Abstract: A gear unit for a powertrain and gear unit having a stepped planetary gearset, a first gear shifting element and a second gear shifting element. The stepped planetary gearset has a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a second ring gear, and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first sun gear is connected to an electric machine. The first planet carrier is fixedly connected to a housing with respect to rotation. The first gear shifting element connects the second ring gear to an output shaft of the gear unit in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element connects the first ring gear to the output shaft of the gear unit in a closed to state, and one of the two gear shifting elements) is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11746847
    Abstract: A clutch system includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member for transmitting torque from a vehicle power generator. The first clutch member includes a first a first clutch element having a first surface and a first friction material disposed on said first surface. The second clutch member is configured to engage the first clutch plate and includes a second clutch element having a second surface and a second friction material disposed on the second surface. The first friction material is configured to be engaged with the second friction material during operation of the vehicle power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Siegel, Steven J. Kowal, Richard W. Pridgen, Jr., David T. Vierk
  • Patent number: 11739798
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a claw coupling for interlockingly connecting a first rotatable component to a second rotatable component, wherein a sliding sleeve is non-rotatably and axially slidably arranged on the first rotatable component and a coupling body is non-rotatably arranged on the second rotatable component, the sliding sleeve being axially movable for interlocking connection to the coupling body in order to connect the first component to the second component, at least one spring-loaded shifting ring being movably mounted, non-rotatably and axially relative to the sliding sleeve, on the sliding sleeve, and a damping chamber, formed in dependence on the relative motion, is provided in order to delay the axial motion. The disclosure further relates to an electrical drive axle of a vehicle having at least the claw coupling. In addition, the disclosure relates to a method for interlockingly connecting the first rotatable component to the second rotatable component via a claw coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Ruider, Patrick Isele, Kim Führer, Marcel Müller, Matthias Winkel, Werner Herbert Brandwitte, Klaus Ventzke, Fernando Jesus Ramos Zuniga, Stephan Demmerer
  • Patent number: 11739800
    Abstract: A first multi-plate brake device and a second multi-plate brake device are arranged side by side in a direction of a rotating axis X along an inner peripheral surface of a transmission case. In the second multi-plate brake device, the snap ring is supported by a supporting portion which is formed on the first multi-plate brake device side of the snap ring and protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the transmission case radially inward to the rotating axis X. The piston retainer of the first multi-plate brake device includes an abutting portion that protrudes to the second multi-plate brake device side and abuts the supporting portion from the opposite side of the snap ring of the second multi-plate brake device. The abutting portion includes a thick portion whose radial thickness on a lower side in a vertical direction is increased as compared to on an upper side in the vertical direction based on a state of mounting the automatic transmission on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Toyama, Yuya Kimura
  • Patent number: 11738633
    Abstract: A gear unit includes: a stepped planetary gearset, and first and second gear shifting elements. The stepped planetary gearset has first and second sun gears, a first ring gear and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first ring gear is connected to an output shaft of the gear unit thus being fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The first planet carrier is connected to a housing and fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The first gear shifting element drivingly connects the second sun gear to an electric machine in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element drivingly connects the first sun gear to an electric machine in a closed state. One of the two gear shifting elements is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11732764
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission includes an input shaft and a first clutch, which has a first input disc carrier, a first output disc carrier, a first force transfer region, and a first actuating piston. The transmission has a second clutch having a second input disc carrier, a second output disc carrier, a second force transfer region, and a second actuating piston. The transmission includes a first partial transmission having a first partial transmission input shaft, and a second partial transmission having a second partial transmission input shaft. The input shaft, the first input disc carrier, and the second input disc carrier are non-rotationally connected to one another. The first output disc carrier is non-rotationally connected to the first partial transmission input shaft. The second output disc carrier is non-rotationally connected to the second partial transmission input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventor: Peter Hahn
  • Patent number: 11732762
    Abstract: A clutch arrangement (3) with a friction clutch (8) and a dog clutch (9), wherein the output side of the friction clutch (8) and the output side of the dog clutch (9) are connectible to a flywheel mass device (4). A powertrain unit having such clutch arrangement is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Guido Schmitt, Alexander Bartha, Wolfgang Kundermann, Axel Rohm, Gerald Viernekes, Alessio Paone, Monika Rössner, Michael Kunth
  • Patent number: 11732780
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
  • Patent number: 11725701
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a shaft, a seal plate supported by the shaft, and a cap connect to the shaft. The shaft includes a first end and a second end axially spaced from each other. The cap is disposed at the second end. The cap includes a base covering the second end, and a wall extending from the base towards the first end. The wall is configured to axially constrain the seal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Edward Goodwill
  • Patent number: 11718172
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a gearbox are provided. A multi-speed gearbox system in an electric vehicle includes, in one example, a planetary assembly designed to rotationally coupled to an electric machine and including a first planetary gear set that is rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set that includes a first set of pinion gears and a second set of pinion gears. The multi-speed gearbox system further includes a first clutch designed to selectively ground a first component in one of the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Eric M. Engerman
  • Patent number: 11719288
    Abstract: A torque transmission arrangement includes a cylindrical friction element carrier and a snap-ring, the friction element carrier carries a pressing plate and a reaction plate of an outer friction-based torque-transmission mechanism rotationally secured to an outer surface and a pressing plate and a reaction plate of an inner friction-based torque-transmission mechanism rotationally secured to an inner surface. The friction element carrier includes through-holes distributed around the circumference of the friction element carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventor: Henrique Budacs
  • Patent number: 11718170
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a vehicle transmission are provided herein. The vehicle transmission includes an input interface configured to mechanically couple to a motive power source. The vehicle transmission further includes a first disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a first output to a first drive axle and a second disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a second output to a second drive axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Kurt Cattoor, Filip D. Schacht
  • Patent number: 11713720
    Abstract: A turbomachine dual spool transmission system can include a transmission assembly configured to connect to a combination output of a dual spool differential at a transmission input to be driven by the combination output to turn a transmission output. The transmission assembly can be configured to provide a first output gear ratio in a first state and a second output gear ratio in a second state. The system can include the dual spool differential. The dual spool differential can include a gear assembly configured to combine a low pressure spool input and a high pressure spool input into a combination output to provide an output speed range smaller than a low pressure speed range alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron M. Finke, Stephen Michael Bortoli, Jonathan C. Dell
  • Patent number: 11712956
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a drive configuration for a skid-steered vehicle that has a pair of traction motors for rotationally driving opposite outputs of the drive configuration. The traction motors are operatively connected to the outputs via respective gearing arrangements for selectively varying gear reduction between each of the traction motors and the corresponding output. The drive configuration also has a steer differential in a torque connection with the first and second outputs of the drive configuration. The drive configuration additional has a steer motor operatively connected to the steer differential for selectively varying the rotational speed of the first and second outputs in use. Also, the traction and steer motors define a volume in which the gearing arrangements and steering differential are at least partially located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventor: Robert John Bonner Flaxman
  • Patent number: 11708863
    Abstract: A quick disconnect system includes a main shaft, a sprocket shaft mounted around the main shaft, a coupler configured to move relative to the main shaft and the sprocket shaft between a connected configuration wherein the coupler is configured to connect the main shaft to the sprocket shaft such that torque is transferred between the main shaft and the sprocket shaft, and a disconnected configuration wherein the main shaft is configured to rotate relative to the sprocket shaft, and a release button configured to be actuated to release the coupler from the connected configuration or the disconnected configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: James A K Libby
  • Patent number: 11708862
    Abstract: A clutch arrangement for between an engine and a propeller of a drivetrain of a roadable aircraft. The arrangement includes an engine shaft, a propeller shaft, a stationary clutch arrangement housing, and an engagement member which is rotationally locked to and axially slidable relative to propeller shaft. The engagement member includes a first engagement structure for engaging a corresponding engagement structure associated with the engine shaft for setting the clutch arrangement in a propeller propulsion mode, in which rotational propulsion torque is transmitted from the engine shaft to the propeller shaft via the engagement member. The engagement member further includes a second engagement structure for engaging a corresponding engagement structure associated with the clutch arrangement housing for setting the clutch arrangement in a propeller locked mode, in which the propeller shaft is rotationally locked to the clutch arrangement housing by means of the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventor: Johannes Larsson