Single Impeller-turbine Type Fluid Circuit Divides Or Combines Plural Power Paths Patents (Class 475/35)
  • Patent number: 10995839
    Abstract: A torque-transmitting device comprises a torque converter arranged at least partially within a housing of the torque-transmitting device. The torque converter has a pump impeller, a turbine wheel, and a guide wheel. The guide wheel is connected to a stator shaft. An actuator is coupled to the stator shaft and is configured to exert a torque on the guide wheel via the stator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: 10385949
    Abstract: A shift on the fly transmission is provided. The shift on the fly transmission includes a continuously variable transmission portion, a discrete transmission portion, at least one input shaft and a disconnect clutch. The continuously variable transmission portion is operationally coupled to receive torque from an engine. The discrete transmission portion includes a gear assembly. The at least one input shaft is operationally coupled to an output of the continuously variable transmission portion. The disconnect clutch operationally couples the at least one input shaft to the discrete transmission portion. The disconnect clutch is further configured to selectively decouple torque from the at least one input shaft to the discrete transmission portion during a range ratio shift of the discrete transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hamrin, Jeffrey Joseph Haack, Bruce H. Younggren, Brandon P. Lenk, Gregory L. Maki
  • Patent number: 10113626
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a hydrodynamic converter. The blading of the pump wheel and/or turbine wheels includes at least one adjusting blade which can be actuated by an adjusting device, and/or at least one multi-element blade having at least one adjustable blade segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Kernchen, Rainer Schips, Harmut Graf, Hans Schirle, Bernhard Ludas
  • Patent number: 9809207
    Abstract: A Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) for an off-road type vehicle includes a 2WD/4WD switch adapted to switch a drive mode of the vehicle between a two-wheel drive mode (2WD) and a four-wheel drive mode (4WD). The switch is configured to be manually activated by an associated vehicle operator. A control unit is in signal communication with the 2WD/4WD switch. The control unit is operable to activate the BTCS only if the drive mode is switched to the four-wheel drive mode and predetermined vehicle operating conditions relating to engine throttle position or opening and wheel speed are subsequently satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney M. Frijas, Rob S. Zimmerman, Chad D. Raymond, Jason A. Sovern
  • Patent number: 9625020
    Abstract: A shifting arrangement for a dual clutch transmission as a change-speed transmission for motor vehicles, with two coaxially arranged input shafts, each of which can be activated via a respective clutch, an axially parallel output shaft and gear sets arranged on the shafts and shiftable by means of synchronous clutches to form a plurality of forward gears and one reverse gear, wherein the gear sets are subdivided into a first subtransmission with one of the input shafts and a second subtransmission with the other input shaft. A pre-shifting unit and/or post-shifting unit shiftable into at least two transmission ratio stages is associated with the first subtransmission and/or the second subtransmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Frank Vollmer
  • Patent number: 9108632
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, operation of a driveline disconnect clutch is adjusted to compensate for clutch wear and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, James William Loch McCallum, Seung-Hoon Lee, Gregory Michael Pietron, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 9108614
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a transfer function of a driveline disconnect clutch is adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Yuji Fujii, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed, Gregory Michael Pietron
  • Patent number: 8974339
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device has a torque converter including an input-side rotating member, an output-side rotating member, a stator and a case including a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a bulkhead, and the first chamber and the second chamber being oil-tightly isolated from each other by an oil seal. The vehicle power transmission device is disposed with a thrust bearing between the input-side rotating member and the stator, which is disposed to partially or entirely overlap with the oil seal and a one way clutch disposed between the stator and a non-rotating member which supports the stator. A portion of the one way clutch protrudes toward the second chamber, the input-side rotating member having an annular projecting portion, and the annular projecting portion houses the thrust bearing and the portion of the one way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8939859
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a prime mover input and an impeller configured to rotate in response to the prime mover input. The torque converter further includes a turbine arranged with the impeller and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the impeller, a stator arranged with the impeller and the turbine, and a stator clutch configured to allow rotation of the stator in a first mode and configured to limit rotation of the stator in a second mode. The torque converter further including a stator clutch actuator configured to activate and deactivate the stator clutch to place the stator clutch in the second mode during particular operations and to place the stator clutch in the first mode. A vehicle and a process of converting torque for operation of a vehicle are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amarnath Rao Jawalkar Nagaraj, Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 8905883
    Abstract: A torque split type automatic transmission which transmits the torque output from an engine through two paths, adds the torque passing through and increased in each path, and outputs a final torque, wherein the torque of the engine is divided into two portions by a torque split device and each portion of the torque is transmitted respectively to first and second power delivery paths and wherein the first power delivery path is connected to a launching device, the second power delivery path is connected to a transmission device, and outputs of the launching device and the transmission device meet such that the torques increased at each power delivery path is added to each other and the final torque is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Duk Hwan Sung
  • Patent number: 8663047
    Abstract: A superimposed transmission for driving a rotational speed-variable work machine having the following design: an input shaft (2) is connected to an intermediate shaft (3); a pump wheel (5) of a hydrodynamic converter (6) rotates with the intermediate shaft (3); a turbine wheel (7) of the hydrodynamic converter (6) rotates with a superposition means; the intermediate shaft (3) and the transmission means are connected to an output shaft (14) by means of a differential gear (4); and the transmission means is designed as at least one coupling shaft (10), which connection the turbine wheel (7) of the hydrodynamic converter (6) to the differential gear (4). The at least one coupling shaft (10) runs parallel to the intermediate shaft (3). An additional hydrodynamic converter (15) can be present and/or the coupling shaft (10) can be connected in an engageable manner directly to the input shaft (2) by means of an additional transmission (18) for starting the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Schroth, Kersten Hahn, Hartmut Garf, Karl Hilpert
  • Publication number: 20130225351
    Abstract: A power split gearbox, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a mechanical power branch and a hydrostatic power branch. The mechanical power branch and hydrostatic power branch, in a parallel arrangement with respect to one another, are in contact with a common drive shaft. The branched power from the mechanical power branch and hydrostatic power branch are combined in a gear drive arranged on an end side. The mechanical power branch has two planetary gear sets with sun gears, planet gears and internal gears. A clutch is arranged on a side of one of the two planetary gear sets. An internal gear is connected to a sun gear shaft by the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Reimann, Alexander Baar, Andreas Meise, Stefan Frank, Manuel Matalla
  • Patent number: 8298105
    Abstract: A hybrid drive device, which has a motor generator on a power transmission path between an engine and an automatic transmission apparatus, includes a fluid clutch having a pump impeller, to which a rotational force generated by the engine is inputted, and a turbine impeller being rotated when receiving a fluid from the pump impeller and outputting a rotational force to the automatic transmission apparatus, a clutch mechanism connecting the pump impeller and the turbine impeller to establish a power transmission therebetween and disconnecting the pump impeller and the turbine impeller to interrupt the power transmission therebetween, and an oil pump arranged on a power transmission path between the turbine impeller and the automatic transmission apparatus, integrally rotating with the turbine impeller and generating a hydraulic pressure for actuating the automatic transmission apparatus and the clutch mechanism, wherein the motor generator is integrally rotated with the turbine impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kajigai, Yasuo Shirai
  • Publication number: 20110124456
    Abstract: A torque split type automatic transmission which transmits torque output from an engine through two paths, adds the torque passing through and increased in each path, and outputs a final torque, may be provided wherein the torque of the engine is dividedly transmitted to first and second power delivery paths, a launching device for converting the torque and a transmission device for achieving multiple-shift are disposed on the first power delivery path in series, and a torque combining device is disposed on the second power delivery path, and wherein the first power delivery path is connected to the torque combining device such that output torque of the first power delivery path is added to output torque of the second output path to output the final torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Duk Hwan SUNG
  • Patent number: 7914411
    Abstract: A drive train having a power-split transmission for distributing the power to at least one first power branch and at least one second power branch. The first power branch at least indirectly drives an electric generator, while a connection is established between the first power branch and the second power branch by a hydrodynamic circuit, which is disposed at the output end of the power-split transmission. The power flow is influenced in such a way by the hydrodynamic circuit that the speed at which the electric generator is driven is substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Voith Turbo, GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Basteck
  • Patent number: 7874953
    Abstract: A stator torque transmitting assembly for a vehicle including a stator shaft connected to a stator in a torque converter for the vehicle and arranged to transmit torque from the stator during a torque conversion mode for the torque converter. In some aspects, the assembly includes a first planetary gear set with a first sun gear, a first planetary carrier, and a first ring gear. The first sun gear is rotationally connected to the stator shaft and the first carrier is grounded. A first transmission input shaft is rotationally connected to the first ring gear and to a second carrier in a second planetary gear set in a transmission in the vehicle. A second transmission input shaft, rotationally connected to a turbine in the torque converter, is rotationally connected to a second ring gear in the second planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christopher Shamie, Jeffrey Hemphill
  • Publication number: 20090266666
    Abstract: Magneto-rheological clutch and wheel transmission apparatuses and methods are provided. According to one aspect, a magneto-rheological clutch system can include first and second drive members and first and second driven members. A first gap can be present between the first drive and first driven members. A second gap can be present between the second drive and second driven members. A drive wheel and a snow blower impeller can be connected to the first and second driven member, respectively. First and second MR fluids can be disposed in the first and second gaps, respectively. A first magnetic field can be applied to the first MR fluid for engaging the drive wheel. A second magnetic field can be applied to the second MR fluid for engaging the snow blower impeller. The provided apparatuses and methods can also be applied to mower blades and wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Andrew Joseph McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20090036247
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: David Earl Earhart, James A. Raszkowski
  • Publication number: 20080090688
    Abstract: A motor vehicle driveline that can transmits power in a 4×4 mode includes two front wheels, a rear drive shaft, a differential mechanism for transmitting power to two rear axle shafts connected driveably through the differential to the rear driveshaft, and a clutch for engaging and disengaging a drive connection in the differential mechanism. A method for controlling operation of the clutch includes the steps of operating the driveline in 4×4 mode, determining a current accelerator pedal position, determining whether a current accelerator pedal position is less than a reference position for a predetermined period, determining a current speed of each front wheel of the vehicle, determining whether a current speed difference between the front wheels of the vehicle is less than a reference wheel slip for a first predetermined period, determining during a second predetermined period whether a current time rate of speed change of the rear drive shaft is less than a reference rear wheel slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Joe J. Torres, John O'Rear, Peter J. Barrette, Patrick Meloche, Dana J. Katinas
  • Patent number: 7278942
    Abstract: A support structure for a rotor within a transmission system is provided. The cantilevered support structure is umbrella-shaped to create an area of space between the rotor and the main shaft where other vehicle components, such as a gear set or system of clutches, may be packaged. The cantilevered support structure may be a true cantilever or a steady-rested cantilever. The support structure maintains the rotor at a distance from the transmission main shaft to maintain torque within the system while compacting packaging requirements. A second cantilevered support structure is wineglass-shaped to create a second area of packaging space between the rotor and the main shaft. The support structures may be telescoped to further compact the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, DaimlerChrysler AG, DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Klemen, Boris I. Burgman, Richard A. Pashnik, John A. Diemer
  • Patent number: 7160218
    Abstract: A starter unit comprising: an input and an output; a starter element, configured as a hydrodynamic component comprising a drive element that can be coupled to the input in a rotationally fixed manner and a driven element that can be coupled to the output. A free wheel mechanism is located between the driven element of the starter element and the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Becke, Martin Nitsche
  • Patent number: 6685593
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic-mechanical multi-speed compound transmission comprising a transmission input shaft (E) and an output. Said transmission contains a hydrodynamic transmission part (2) having a hydrodynamic speed/torque converter (3), and contains a mechanical transmission part (4) connected downstream from said hydrodynamic transmission part (2) in a spatial manner relative to the transmission input shaft (E). The inventive transmission also comprises at least one speed/torque converter device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Meier-Burkamp, Franz Hertrich
  • Patent number: 6599214
    Abstract: A transmission having a starter/generator that is not mounted on the engine crankshaft is provided. The starter/generator is drivingly or directly connected to a transmission pump, and can selectively engage a torque converter and/or an internal combustion engine. The invention allows for efficient disengagement of the engine when the vehicle is stopped, and reengagement upon subsequent torque demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Harold Swales
  • Publication number: 20020111239
    Abstract: A transmission having a starter/generator that is not mounted on the engine crankshaft is provided. The starter/generator is drivingly or directly connected to a transmission pump, and can selectively engage a torque converter and/or an internal combustion engine. The invention allows for efficient disengagement of the engine when the vehicle is stopped, and reengagement upon subsequent torque demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Shawn Harold Swales
  • Publication number: 20020034997
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is driven by an engine through a torque converter. The transmission includes a plurality of friction elements which are selectively engaged to provide a selected gear thereby to transmit the power of engine to an output shaft of the transmission while changing the rotation speed. A speed change completion degree estimating system is provided, which comprises a first section that derives a difference (Nt−Ne) between an input rotation speed (Nt) of the transmission and an engine rotation speed (Ne); a second section that derives a difference (g×No−Ne) between the input rotation speed (g×No) of the transmission provided after completion of the speed change operation and the engine rotation speed (Ne); and a third section that calculates a speed change completion degree (Shift) of the transmission by using a ratio between the (Nt−Ne) and the (g×No−Ne).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: JATCO TRANSTECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Saito
  • Patent number: 6210297
    Abstract: The automatic transmission comprises a torque converter and a planetary gear train. The gear train includes a first sun gear which is keyed to the output shaft of the torque converter. A first planetary gear meshes with the sun gear and that gear is keyed to an axle. The axle is mounted for rotation to a carrier and the carrier is rotated by the input shaft of the torque converter so that as the carrier rotates so too does the axle. A second planetary gear is also keyed to the axle and that gear meshes with a second sun gear. The latter sun gear rotates a drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Ivat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Irwin W. Knight