Patents Assigned to Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
  • Patent number: 9657788
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Mark R. J. Versteyhe, Arnout R. L. De Mare
  • Patent number: 8622860
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline and a method for transferring energy from a flywheel is provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a transmission drivingly engaged with the clutch, a power transmission device drivingly engaged with one of the power source, the clutch, and the transmission, a controller in communication with the power transmission device, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the power transmission device. The power transmission device facilitates a transfer of energy from the flywheel to one of the clutch and the transmission. The power transmission device also facilitates a transfer of energy from one of the power source, the clutch, and the transmission to the flywheel. The controller directs the transfer of energy to and from the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Mark R. J. Versteyhe, Steven J. Wesolowski, Donald J. Remboski, Timothy J. Morscheck
  • Publication number: 20130192413
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline and a method for transferring energy from a flywheel is provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a transmission drivingly engaged with the clutch, a power transmission device drivingly engaged with one of the power source, the clutch, and the transmission, a controller in communication with the power transmission device, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the power transmission device. The power transmission device facilitates a transfer of energy from the flywheel to one of the clutch and the transmission. The power transmission device also facilitates a transfer of energy from one of the power source, the clutch, and the transmission to the flywheel. The controller directs the transfer of energy to and from the flywheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Mark R.J. Versteyhe, Steven J. Wesolowski, Donald J. Remboski, Timothy J. Morscheck
  • Publication number: 20130192915
    Abstract: A flywheel energy storage assembly and a method for dissipating energy stored in a flywheel assembly is provided. The flywheel energy storage assembly includes a flywheel rotatably disposed in a flywheel housing, a fluid source, a braking actuator in fluid communication with the fluid source and an interior of the flywheel housing, a sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the braking actuator. In response to a stimulus detected by the sensor, the controller directs the braking actuator to facilitate fluid communication between the fluid source and the interior of the flywheel housing to dissipate energy stored in the flywheel energy storage assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Mark R.J. Versteyhe, Steven J. Wesolowski, Donald J. Remboski, Timothy J. Morscheck
  • Publication number: 20130150210
    Abstract: A method for shifting a transmission capable of operating in a hydrostatic power transmission mode or a blended hydrostatic and mechanical power transmission mode is provided. The transmission includes a mechanical portion and a hydraulic portion. The method comprises the steps of placing the transmission in the hydrostatic power transmission mode, reducing an amount of engagement of a primary clutch, adjusting a rotational speed of the hydraulic portion, increasing an amount of engagement of a secondary clutch, and engaging the secondary clutch and disengaging the primary clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SPICER OFF-HIGHWAY BELGIUM, N.V.
    Inventor: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium, N.V.
  • Publication number: 20130090210
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SPICER OFF-HIGHWAY BELGIUM, N.V.
    Inventor: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium, N.V.
  • Publication number: 20120240564
    Abstract: A hydrostatic driveline for a vehicle, a method for minimizing a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle, and a method for tracking an optimal state of charge function for a hydrostatic accumulator are provided. The driveline includes a power source, a drive axle, a first fluid accumulator, a second fluid accumulator, an auxiliary circuit including a first pump drivingly engaged with the power source, and a drive circuit including a second pump drivingly engaged with the power source, a motor drivingly engaged with the drive axle, and a directional valve. The second pump is in fluid communication with the directional valve and the directional valve in fluid communication with the first fluid accumulator and the second fluid accumulator. The directional valve may be selectively controlled to direct fluid from the second pump and the motor to the first fluid accumulator and the second fluid accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Steven J. Wesolowski, Timothy J. Morscheck, Donald J. Remboski, Mark R.J. Versteyhe, Veerle VanDoorsselaere, Bart De Beer, Bruno Meertens, Mathieu P.E. Dutré
  • Patent number: 6986554
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a power dissipation management system for a vehicle where a thermal condition of a plurality of driveline components is determined. The quantity of energy for each driveline component can absorb is determined based upon its thermal condition. A braking signal to one or more of the driveline components is provided based upon the quantity of energy each component can absorb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium, N.V.
    Inventors: Mark RJ Versteyhe, Ivana A. Duskunovic, Steven Dumoulin, Christophe Thomas
  • Patent number: 6971971
    Abstract: A clutch is operated by an actuating pressure pressure during an engaging process of the clutch. The actuating pressure is controlled over time such that predetermined characteristics for an engagement of said clutch are approximated by starting a process for changing a rotational speed of an output shaft of the torque converter for an adaptation of the rotational speed to an actual velocity of the vehicle during engagement of the clutch. An ideal signal for the rotational speed is determined which corresponds to an estimate for an engagement of the clutch with the predetermined characteristics. An actual signal of the rotational speed of the output shaft over time is measured during said process. Deviations are determined between the actual signal and the ideal signal. Finally the signal of the actuating pressure over time is automatically changed in order to reduce the deviations between the actual signal and the ideal signal if the deviations exceed a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Spicer Off-Highway Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Ivana Duskunovic, Dries T'Hooft, Kris Vanstechelman