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: 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 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: 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 waste heat recovery system for use with a cooling system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The waste heat recovery system comprises a condenser, a pump, a fluid reservoir, a heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an auxiliary cooling device. The condenser is in thermal communication with the cooling system of the internal combustion engine. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the pump and thermal communication with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The expansion device is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the condenser. The auxiliary cooling device is in fluid communication with at least one of the condenser, the expansion device, and the fluid reservoir. In response to an effectiveness of the condenser in dissipating heat from the waste heat recovery system to the cooling system of the internal combustion engine, the auxiliary cooling device is selectively actuated.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system and control system and method of controlling a waste heat recovery system and control system is provided. The waste heat recovery system and control system comprises a pump, a heat exchanger, an expansion device, a condenser, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. The heat exchanger is in thermal communication with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The condenser is in thermal communication with the expansion device and the pump. The plurality of sensors is in communication with the waste heat recovery system. The controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors. In response to information obtained from the plurality of sensors, the controller calculates an efficiency of the waste heat recovery system based on models of the waste heat recovery system and implements a set of control inputs to implement the calculated efficiency on the waste heat recovery system.

Abstract: A system and a method for data collection and analysis that uses a multi-level network are provided. The system comprises a first client device and a central network. The first client device and the central network form the multi-level network. The first client device is configured to receive a first data and perform a first data fusing process based on the first data. The first data fusing process generates a second data. The central network is in communication with the first client device. The central network receives the second data from the first client device. The central network is configured to perform a second data fusing process based on the second data to generate a third data. The third data is communicated to the first client device so that the first client device can perform a third data fusing process based on the third data to generate a fourth data.

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

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 transmitting large amounts of power. Variable transmissions comprising three clutches, three grounding clutches or brakes, and a variator comprising a plurality of tilting variators balls disposed between a first drive ring and a second drive ring allow a single variator to function as an infinitely variable transmission when power is inputted to the carrier assembly and as a continuously variable transmission when power is inputted through a first ring assembly. Certain embodiments include a differential that allows a parallel power path around the variator to improve the variator torque capacity and a direct drive mode to improve the efficiency of the variator.

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 transmission is provided. The transmission includes an input portion drivingly engaged with a power source, a planetary gear, a continuously variable variator, and a clutching device. The planetary gear arrangement has a portion drivingly engaged with the input portion. The continuously variable variator includes a portion which is drivingly engaged with at least one of the planetary gear arrangement and the input portion. The clutching device may be selectively drivingly engaged with a portion of the continuously variable variator. The clutching device and the planetary gear arrangement facilitate a transition between at least two operating modes of the continuously variable variator.

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 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 controller for a vehicle system and a method for updating a plurality of control settings and system parameters for a controller for a vehicle system are provided. The controller comprises a control unit portion, a prognostic module, a diagnostic module, and a telematics interface. The control unit portion is in communication with the vehicle system to initiate a vehicle system procedure. The prognostic module is in two way communication with the control unit portion. The diagnostic module is in communication with the prognostic module and is in two way communication with the control unit portion. The telematics interface is in two way communication with the control unit portion. A plurality of control settings and system parameters are sent to one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module to be compared with previously stored data stored in one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module.

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: A method for estimating a total mass of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of speed sensors configured to sense a rotational speed of a plurality of components of a driveline of the vehicle, estimating an output torque of the driveline of the vehicle, calculating gear losses based on the output torque of the driveline, estimating friction losses based on a rotational speed of a torque converter, calculating a rolling resistance of the vehicle, calculating an inertia of the vehicle, and estimating the total mass of the vehicle based on the inertia of the vehicle. The method uses currently available sensors found in a vehicle transmission to estimate a total mass of a vehicle or a vehicle payload.

Abstract: A parallel, torque additive torsional compensating device for an internal combustion engine is provided. The torsional compensating device comprises a first gear, a first joint assembly, an intermediate shaft, a second joint assembly, a torsional element, and a second gear. The first gear and the second gear are in respective driving engagement with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion of an output of the engine. The intermediate shaft is in driving engagement with the first joint assembly and the second joint assembly. The torsional element is in driving engagement with the second joint assembly and the second gear. An angular deviation of at least one of the first joint assembly and the second joint assembly causes a cyclical acceleration of the torsional element. The cyclical acceleration applies a torque to the output of the internal combustion engine through the second gear and the second engagement portion.

Abstract: A variable transmission comprises an input shaft; three planetary gear sets; a Ravigneaux gear set; a variator comprising, a first ring assembly, a second ring assembly, a carrier assembly; various arrangements of brakes and clutches; and the output shaft. The variable transmissions comprise a continuously variable mode, an infinitely variable mode, or a combination thereof and can provide an input-coupled powersplit solution function. At least one configuration of the variable transmission comprises a direct drive mode.

Abstract: A torque vectoring device includes a drive member engaged with a power source, a plurality of variator ball assemblies configured to be tiltable and rotatable with respect to the drive member, a first output frictionally engaged with the variator ball assemblies, and a second output frictionally engaged with the variator ball assemblies. A torque distribution between the first output and the second output may be adjusted by tilting the plurality of variator ball assemblies. The variator ball assemblies also facilitate a differential action between the first output and the second output.