Abstract: A vehicle driveline and a method for synchronizing a flywheel and the vehicle driveline are provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a primary clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a primary transmission drivingly engaged with the primary clutch, a secondary transmission drivingly engaged with one of a portion of the primary clutch and an input of the primary transmission, a controller in communication with the secondary transmission, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the secondary transmission. The vehicle driveline facilitates a transfer of energy to and from the flywheel based on at least one of a state of charge of the flywheel, a power requirement of the vehicle driveline, and a state of operation of the power source.

Abstract: A transmission having a variator drive capable of being placed in a continuously variable operating mode or an infinitely variable operating mode, capable of having a wide ratio range, and capable of integrating a clutching capability within the transmission. The variable transmissions can be operated in at least two different operating modes, depending on an engagement status of the clutches therein. Methods of running the variable transmissions and drivelines that incorporate such variable transmissions are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a remaining useful life of a portion of a wet clutch system is provided. The system comprises a first clutch assembly, a proportional valve, a sensor, and a controller. The proportional valve regulates a pressure applied to the first clutch assembly. The sensor measures a response of the first clutch assembly during one of engaging and disengaging a first portion of the first clutch assembly with a second portion of the first clutch assembly. The controller controls the proportional valve, calculates a mean coefficient of friction of the first clutch assembly based on the sensed response of the first clutch assembly, and determines a remaining useful life of a portion of the wet clutch system based on the mean coefficient of friction of the first clutch assembly.

Abstract: A system and a method for monitoring a lubricant in a transmission are provided. The system comprises a first speed sensor, a temperature sensor, and a processing unit. The first speed sensor is positioned adjacent a first clutch, which forms a portion of the transmission. The first speed sensor is configured to detect a rotational difference between portions of the first clutch. The temperature sensor is disposed within the transmission. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the lubricant. The processing unit is in communication with the first speed sensor and the temperature sensor. In response to information from the first speed sensor and the temperature sensor, the processing unit determines a condition of the lubricant used in the transmission.

Abstract: A method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of a clutch actuation system. The method includes engaging an actuation motor to apply a set point force to the clutch pack and monitoring a position of the actuation motor when the set point force is applied. Additionally, the method includes determining one or more clutch clamping curves and one or more clutch releasing curves based on a relationship between the position of the actuation motor and an amount of torque applied by the actuation motor at position of the actuation motor. The method further includes modeling one or more frictional characteristics of the clutch actuation system and estimating an amount of clamping and releasing force within the clutch pack by using a control unit. The amount of torque applied to the clutch pack between the clutch clamping and releasing curves at the set point force is maintained.

Abstract: A torsional compensator for an internal combustion engine is provided. The torsional compensator comprises a rotor portion and a stator portion. The rotor portion is in driving engagement with an output of the internal combustion engine. The first rotor portion comprises at least one of first magnetic array and a first ferromagnetic array. The stator portion is disposed about the rotor portion. The stator portion is coupled to at least one of the internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a compensator housing. The stator portion comprises at least one of a second magnetic array and a second ferromagnetic array. In response to rotation of the rotor portion within the stator portion, a magnetic reluctance force is generated. The magnetic reluctance force applies a torque to the output of the internal combustion engine to dampen a torque ripple of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for selecting a trajectory for container locking uses at least one twistlock sensor on a machine to sense a location of a twist lock hole on an object. The sensed location is transmitted to a processor to calculate a sensed trajectory for a twistlock to engage the twist lock hole. At least one operator input sensor is used to sense an input from an operator moving the twist lock to engage the twist lock hole. The sensed operator input is transmitted to the processor to calculate an operator trajectory for the twist lock to engage the twist lock hole. The sensed trajectory is compared with the operator trajectory to determine which should be used.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power can be transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner, with smaller and even less mechanical components, by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A power transmission apparatus comprises a power input shaft, a planetary gear set coupled to the power input shaft, and a variator, such as a continuously variable transmission (CVT), coupled to the gear set. The various components of the planetary gear set and the variator are arranged such that torque is split between two or more torque paths and then recombined before power is output to a gear box and a differential of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable output ratios.

Abstract: A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged with various combinations of brakes and clutches to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable torque output ratios.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline and a method for synchronizing a flywheel and the vehicle driveline are provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a primary clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a primary transmission drivingly engaged with the primary clutch, a secondary transmission drivingly engaged with one of a portion of the primary clutch and an input of the primary transmission, a controller in communication with the secondary transmission, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the secondary transmission. The vehicle driveline facilitates a transfer of energy to and from the flywheel based on at least one of a state of charge of the flywheel, a power requirement of the vehicle driveline, and a state of operation of the power source.

Abstract: A system and method for updating a set of filling parameters for a wet clutch system is provided. The clutch comprises a piston, a proportional valve, a controller, and a sensor. The method comprises the steps of providing the wet clutch system, providing the set of filling parameters, actuating the wet clutch system based on at least one of the set of filling parameters, sensing a response of the wet clutch system during actuation of the wet clutch system, comparing an observed filling parameter to at least one of the set of filling parameters, calculating a fill error between the observed filling parameter and the at least one of the set of filling parameters, and adjusting a plurality of the set of filling parameters based on the fill error.

Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine changes the volume in a piston chamber of an expander device. The expander device generally operates at a fixed expander device speed to perform work on an expander shaft. The expander shaft is connected to a first end of a piston in the piston chamber.

Abstract: A turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine is provided. The turbocharger comprises a differential device having a carrier portion, a compressor portion, and a turbine portion. The compressor portion is in driving engagement with a first portion of the differential device. The turbine portion is in driving engagement with a second portion of the differential device. The carrier portion of the differential device is in driving engagement with an infinitely variable transmission. The infinitely variable transmission is in driving engagement with the internal combustion engine. The turbocharger is simply controlled, reduces turbo lag, decreases a boost threshold of the turbocharger, and increases an efficiency of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Variable transmissions and drivelines using such transmissions having a direct drive mode, a reverse mode, and a continuously variable mode of operation using a continuously variable variator in combination with a gearbox having a one or two speed forward gear, a reverse gear, and a direct drive clutch. The direct drive clutch transfers power from the input shaft directly to the gearbox by running the variator in a unitary (1) speed ratio configuration, or by bypassing the variator altogether by using a set of clutches that disconnect the variator from the input shaft. Additional gears may be provided in the gearbox.

Abstract: A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable output ratios.

Abstract: A driveline for a vehicle is provided. The driveline includes a power source, a planetary gearset, a lockout clutch, a transmission, and a kinetic energy recovery system. The planetary gearset includes a sun gear, a carrier having a plurality of planet gears rotatably disposed thereon, and a ring gear. The power source is in driving engagement with a portion of the planetary gearset. The lockout clutch is capable of placing the planetary gearset in a locked out condition. The transmission is in driving engagement with another portion of the planetary gearset. The kinetic energy recovery system includes an accessory clutch and a flywheel. The accessory clutch facilitates driving engagement between the flywheel and another portion of the planetary gearset. The lockout clutch and the accessory clutch are selectively engaged to facilitate a transfer of energy to and from the transmission and the flywheel.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline and a method for synchronizing a flywheel and the vehicle driveline are provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a primary clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a primary transmission drivingly engaged with the primary clutch, a secondary transmission drivingly engaged with one of a portion of the primary clutch and an input of the primary transmission, a controller in communication with the secondary transmission, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the secondary transmission. The vehicle driveline facilitates a transfer of energy to and from the flywheel based on at least one of a state of charge of the flywheel, a power requirement of the vehicle driveline, and a state of operation of the power source.

Abstract: A torque ripple compensation device for a motor vehicle. The device includes an outer ring, an inner ring and a linkage. A first end portion of the linkage is connected a constraint and a second end portion of the linkage is connected to the inner ring and the outer ring. A torque in a rotating shaft is compensated, reduced and/or canceled using the device by identifying a torque spike, calculating the amplitude and/or phase of the torque spike, comparing the amplitude and/or phase of the torque spike to a pre-determined torque profile, calculating the amount of amplitude and/or phase shift from the pre-determined torque profile, determining the amount of eccentricity and/or elliptical trajectory needed to compensate, reduce and/or cancel the amount of phase and/or amplitude shift, and applying a force to the first end portion of the linkage to compensate, reduce and/or cancel the phase and/or amplitude shift calculated.

Abstract: A transmission having a variator drive capable of being placed in a continuously variable operating mode or an infinitely variable operating mode, capable of having a wide ratio range, and capable of integrating a clutching capability within the transmission. The variable transmissions can be operated in at least two different operating modes, depending on an engagement status of the clutches therein. Methods of running the variable transmissions and drivelines that incorporate such variable transmissions are provided.