Patents Examined by Stacy Fluhart
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Patent number: 10968982Abstract: The transmission (1) comprises a housing (2), a first motor (41), a second motor (42), a first and a second input shaft (51, 52), respectively able to be driven in rotation, one (51) by the first motor (41), the other (52) by the second motor (42), two clutch mechanisms (71, 72) and two reduction gears (91, 92), wherein the output shaft (31, 32) is formed by two output shaft sections (31, 32) interconnected such that they rotate freely, the clutch mechanisms (71, 72) are each equipped with a clutch control member operable by a user for allowing the transmission, in the engaged state of the first clutch mechanism (71), of the rotational movement of the first input shaft (51) to the first output shaft section (31), and the transmission, in the engaged state of the second clutch mechanism (72), of the rotational movement of the second input shaft (52) to the second output shaft section (32), and the reduction gears (91, 92) are at least partially received inside the housing (2).Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: FRANCE REDUCTEURSInventor: Wouter Barendrecht
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Patent number: 10788086Abstract: A wedge clutch includes a drawn outer cup that axially contains the inner components of the clutch. In particular embodiments disclosed herein, a wedge clutch includes an inner race such as a hub, an outer race such as a carrier, and a plurality of wedge segments radially therebetween. The wedge segments are arranged and moveable about a central axis, and can move into and out of a wedging engagement between the inner race and outer race to transfer torque therebetween. A unitary, single drawn cup is flanged to axially contact and border the outer race and the wedge segments. This contains the outer race and the wedge segments axially, to improve operation of the clutch and create a unitized wedge clutch.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Brian Lee, Bryan Barker
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Patent number: 10266229Abstract: A bicycle controller limits decreases in the assist force when the rotational speed of a crank changes. The bicycle controller can be mounted on a bicycle including a first transmission having at least two shift stages and configured to change a ratio of rotation of a wheel to rotation of a crank, a motor that provides assistance to human power input to the crank, and a second transmission configured to transmit a rotation force from the motor to a power transmission path extending from the crank to the wheel without changing the ratio of the rotation of the wheel to the rotation of the crank. The bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that controls the second transmission in accordance with a condition of the bicycle and either one of a condition of the first transmission and a shift instruction to the first transmission.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 10233978Abstract: A lock-up device for a torque converter is configured to transmit a torque from a front cover to a transmission-side member through a turbine. The lock-up device includes a clutch portion, a piston and an elastic member. The clutch portion is disposed between the front cover and the turbine, and includes a clutch plate. The piston is movable in an axial direction. The piston includes a pressing surface for pressing the clutch plate. The piston turns the clutch portion into a torque transmission state. The elastic member is disposed on a same side as the pressing surface of the piston. The elastic member is begins to elastically deform before the pressing surface contacts the clutch plate in conjunction with movement of the piston toward the clutch portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATIONInventor: Satoru Matsuda
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Patent number: 10047806Abstract: A clutch carrier assembly for a transmission comprising: an axis of rotation, a clutch carrier outer ring concentric about the axis of rotation and having: an outer surface including undulating peaks; and, an inner surface including an axially extending stiffening rib portion; and, an outer race having a radially outward protrusion including a notch arranged for receiving and retaining the axially extending stiffening rib portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventor: Michael Hodge
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Patent number: 9109663Abstract: The present invention provides an infinitely variable transmission for a powered vehicle which includes a power source. The transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft, the output shaft being spaced from the input shaft. The transmission further includes a variator coupled between the input shaft and output shaft. In addition, at least two planetary gearsets are disposed adjacent to the variator and an input coupler is configured to selectively couple the variator to the power source.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.Inventors: Glen S. Hawkins, Jr., Brian Schoolcraft, James A. Raszkowski, David E. Earhart, Gary Reichanadter
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Patent number: 9103392Abstract: A control mechanism for decoupling a drive ratchet on a bicycle hub makes it possible to push the bicycle backwards while the foot pedals of the pedal crank drive remain still. These functions can be applied to folding bicycles, in which pedal movements are harmful when in their folded up state. The control mechanism includes a controlling sleeve coupled to the drive ratchet, which is indirectly connected by means of a frictional device to the unmoving hub axle.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: SRAM DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Werner Steuer, Gunter Pehse, Karl-Joachim Kühne
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Patent number: 9074641Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coupling assembly for connecting an optionally drivable secondary driveline to a permanently driven primary driveline, comprising a friction coupling and an axial setting device. The friction coupling has a first coupling part and a second coupling part which are rotatable around an axis of rotation A and which, by axial forces, can be coupled to one another for transmitting torque. The axial setting device is configured for actuating the friction coupling, wherein the axial setting device comprises a first ring which is at least indirectly axially supported relative to a fixed component and a second ring which is supported at least indirectly relative to the first ring and which, when at least one of the first and second rings; is rotated around the axis A, is axially displaceable, wherein, for rotating the at least one of the first and second rings there is provided a linear driving mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbHInventors: Adrian Chludek, Mark Schmidt, Andreas Baer
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Patent number: 8827860Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The transmission input member is connected to a dry launch clutch. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices are for example clutches and brakes. A hill hold control strategy is provided for locking the transmission without using the dry launch clutch by selectively engaging combinations of the clutches and brakes.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Edward W. Mellet, Scott H. Wittkopp