Patents Examined by Benjamin Levi
  • Patent number: 5277673
    Abstract: A planetary gear transmission typically for use on automobiles has first, second, and third planetary gear trains arranged coaxially with each other and each having elements including a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear. Two of the elements of each of the first, second, and third planetary gear trains are directly or disengageably coupled to elements of the other planetary gear trains between input and output members. The elements of the first, second, and third planetary gear trains are corotatably coupled into first, second, third, fourth, and fifth rotational members the first, second, and fifth rotational members being coupled to the input member, the fourth rotational member being coupled to the output member. The planetary gear transmission also has a separating clutch disposed between the elements of the second rotational member, for disengageably connecting the elements of the second rotational member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Takashi Hotta, Yukio Morita, Yoichi Kojima, Kimihiko Kikuchi, Tsunefumi Niiyama, Yorinori Kumagai, Shinichi Sakaguchi, Tomoharu Kumagai
  • Patent number: 5273497
    Abstract: A transmission (26) of continuously-engaged gear teeth of standard gear design is provided for infinitely or steplessly varying the ratio of output angular velocity to torque across a range which can include zero output angular velocity. In one embodiment, the transmission comprises a planetary gear assembly including planetary gear (28), intermediary gear (30) and sun gear (32). The transmission ratio of the transmission (26) is varied by changing the orientation of the planetary gear (28) relative to the orbital plane thereof. The gears can remain continuously engaged as the transmission ratio is varied for more efficiently matching the power source torque and angular velocity properties to those of a load, as well as reducing or substantially eliminating the need for a clutch mechanism. Novel mechanisms are provided for varying the orientation of the planetary gear (28) and for interconnecting the planetary shaft (110) to the orbital shaft (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Wallace Associated Research
    Inventor: Henry W. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5267492
    Abstract: In an automatic automotive transmission system having a torque converter and a gear transmission unit, the gear transmission unit is shifted from one speed stage to another normally according to current vehicle speed and engine load, but is upshifted from one speed stage to a subsequent speed stage according to a vehicle speed and a stored value of the engine load at the time of the preceding upshift so that a series of upshifts may be carried out at regular intervals, and the vehicle operator may accomplish a smooth acceleration of the vehicle substantially without any efforts even when the engine load wavers from the level at the time when the preceding upshift took place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Furukawa, Yutaka Ohyama
  • Patent number: 5263377
    Abstract: A motor vehicle accessory drive system which powers vehicle accessories by diverting power from a primary motor to accessories by use of friction drive wheels, gears or other drive members mounted on the motor and drive shafts for the accessories. The system the rolling drive interfaces into contact and to constantly compensate for wear of the drive interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Richard M. Kleber
  • Patent number: 5261298
    Abstract: A control system (104)/method for semi-automatically executing manually or automatically selected upshifts and downshifts of a mechanical transmission system (10) is provided. The control system includes a central processing unit (106) for receiving input signals indicative of transmission input shaft (16) and output shaft (90) speeds, the throttle pedal position (THD) and from a driver control console (108) indicative of selection of upshifts or downshifts from a currently engaged gear ratio and processing the same in accordance with predetermined logic rule to issue command output signals to a transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) and to a fuel controller operator to implement a shift substantial synchronization of the transmission after manual initiation of the shift sequence by a manually caused torque break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald K. Markyvech
  • Patent number: 5257552
    Abstract: Improved handlebars for bicycles, motorcycles, power vehicles such as two wheeled power vehicles and all terrain vehicles, including off road bicycles, motorcycles, dirt bikes, all terrain bicycles, all terrain vehicles and jet skis. The improved handlebars eliminate the need of a crossbar by increasing the diameter and sidewall thickness of the central section of the handlebars, and diminish the stiffness of the handlebars by decreasing the respective diameter and sidewall thickness of the two grip sections of the handlebars. The improved handlebars are incorporated with unique tapered sections and are manufactured through a process that causes greater amount of metal to be located in the widest diameter section of the handlebars, and smaller amount of metal to be located in the narrowest diameter section of the handlebars. The handlebars have a longer unsupported span than conventional handlebars, thereby providing more cushioning strength and greater steering control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Boyer, Charles R. Teixiera, IV
  • Patent number: 5247858
    Abstract: A hydraulic relief valve according to the invention comprises; a housing having a clutch port communicating with a hydraulic chamber of a given hydraulic clutch and a drain port communicating with a drain, a spool inserted in the housing and being movable between an operational position at which the clutch port is isolated from the drain port and a relief position at which the clutch port communicates with the drain port, and biasing means to push the spool toward the operational position. The housing further includes an up-shift port communicating with a hydraulic chamber of an up-shift clutch which is engaged when the speed range is shifted up from the given speed range and a down shift port communicating with a hydraulic chamber of a down-shift clutch which is engaged when the speed range is shifted down from the give speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsunefumi Niiyama
  • Patent number: 5239887
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-step speed-change transmission. An intermediate transmission (9) is situated between an input group (7) and a main group (8). A double gear (28, 29) forms an additional overdrive. The speed-change transmission according to the invention is provided for use in motor vehicles utilized in agriculture or construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Franz Muller, Jurgen Pohlenz, Hubert Lehle, Edwin Baur, Herbert Simon
  • Patent number: 5240462
    Abstract: A planetary reduction gear comprising pairs of partial planetary gears, two partial internal gears and a sun gear or comprising pairs of partial planetary gears, two partial sun gears and an internal gear in which partial planetary gears mesh with partial internal gears or with partial sun gears independently. One of the partial gears is fixed to the input shaft or to the casing. The other partial gear is loosely connected to the input shaft or to the casing by a spiral coupling which allows the partial gear to move in spiral direction. A pressing means pushes the partial gear in the axial direction. Force of the pressing means moves the partial gear in the spiral direction. The partial gear slightly rotates relatively to the other partial gear. Relative rotation of the partial gears cancels backlashes. In the case of helical gears, the spiral coupling can be replaced by an axial coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Isel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Mochizuki, Katsuhiro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 5239896
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a hydraulic servomechanism control system in an automatic transmission, for modulating the oil pressure of any hydraulic servomechanism to engage or release frictional engagement devices. The control system comprises: two pressure modulating mechanisms for modulating the oil pressure of said hydraulic servomechanisms; and a shutoff mechanism for shutting off, when one of said pressure modulating mechanisms is caused to communicate with said hydraulic servomechanism, the communication between the other pressure modulating mechanism and said hydraulic servomechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Otsubo, Kunihiro Iwatsuki, Hiromichi Kimura, Yukihiro Kobayashi, Kazunori Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5238460
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a vehicle has a first power transmission path having a forward-reverse shift mechanism and a reduction gear, a second power transmission path having an infinitely variable gear, and a path switching mechanism which switches the power transmission path between the first and second power transmission paths according to the running condition of the vehicle. The infinitely variable gear is a toroidal speed change mechanism having an output disk fixed to the output shaft of the power transmission system, an input disk which can be displaced in the axial direction of the output shaft and a roller which is in contact with both the input and output disks to rotate about an axis in response to rotation of the input disk and transmit rotation of the input disk to the output disk, the transmission ratio of the toroidal speed change mechanism being changed by changing the inclination of the axis about which the roller rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Esaki, Kazuhiko Ueda, Osamu Sado, Seiji Terauchi
  • Patent number: 5235871
    Abstract: An operating lever assembly is provided for attachment to a bicycle handlebar which itself includes a pair of end grips. The lever assembly comprises a mount bracket fixable to the handlebar, and an operating lever pivotally connected to the mount bracket. The mount bracket is formed with an auxiliary grip which is usable for manual gripping in addition to the handlebar end grips, thereby enabling the rider to selectively assume at least two different riding postures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Maeda Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Yamazaki, Mitsuo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5234388
    Abstract: A differential (1) has a housing (2) made in one piece with two side openings (10) via which parts can be introduced into and removed from the housing. The pinion gears and side gears rest against the inside of the housing via respective support members (17-20). At least for the pinion gears (13,14) there is in the support member (17, 18) a bearing member (22) of the roller bearing type and a support plate (21), where the bearing member is intended to cooperate with, on the one hand, a first bearing surface (25) on the support plate and, on the other hand, a second bearing surface (26) on the actual pinion gear. Assembly of the support member is made possible by means of the fact that the side (24) of the support plate which is to rest against the inside (16) of the housing is convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: SAAB Automobile Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Kjell Nordkvist
  • Patent number: 5233888
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine vehicle having a two-shaft type gas turbine engine including a gas generator constituted by a compressor and a compressor turbine arranged coaxially with the compressor, a combustion chamber, a variable nozzle, and a power turbine rotatable about a turbine shaft independently of a shaft of the compressor and the compressor turbine, a transmission speed ratio is shifted to a higher stage than the current transmission speed ratio when an engine acceleration requirement is greater than a predetermined value. As a result, a lowering of a vehicular acceleration characteristics due to a response lag in a variation of revolution speed at the compressor turbine can be prevented, and thus an enhanced acceleration and deceleration of the automotive vehicle is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daiki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 5233889
    Abstract: An existing maximum engine speed during the upshift of a transmission at the time when the engine load is higher than a predetermined level is detected. The existing maximum engine speed is compared with a reference maximum engine speed to correct an engine speed based upshift characteristic line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Jatco Corporation
    Inventor: Naonori Iizuka
  • Patent number: 5231898
    Abstract: In a configuration in which electronically operated pressure control valves (31-36) are respectively connected to clutches of a two-stage transmission (3) composed of main transmissions (1st, 2nd, R, 4th, 3rd) and sub transmissions (L, H), when a downshift is effected from a present speed stage to a next speed stage with power on, the supply of oil pressure to a speed-changing clutch for the present speed stage is stopped on the basis of a speed-change command, the pressure control valve is actuated when a relative number of revolutions of the speed-changing clutch for the next speed stage becomes zero, which commences the supply of oil pressure to that speed-changing clutch, and the supply of oil pressure is gradually increased upon confirming the completion of a filling time of the speed-changing clutch. Thus discomfort owing to a speed-change shock is prevented in whatever state the amount of an accelerator operated and the state of operation of a brake are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yasunori Okura
  • Patent number: 5232413
    Abstract: The device comprises a driving hub (4, 18) coaxially connected to one shaft (20) and oscillatably engaging a number of planetary gear elements (8, 25) homogeneously distributed around the axis of said hub. The planetary gear elements (8, 25) are engaged between a driven crown wheel (6, 21) which is coaxially fastened to a second shaft (3, 23) and an intermediate crown wheel (7, 24) oscillatably linked to the driven crown wheel (6, 21). The planetary gear elements (8, 25) driven in rotation by the hub (4, 18), are guided by the driven crown wheel (6, 21) and the intermediate crown wheel (7, 24) according to an elliptic path submitting them to a cyclic reciprocating movement relative to the axis of the driving hub (4, 18). An actuator (12, 35) tends to cause the driven crown wheel (6, 21) and intermediate crown wheel (7, 24) to rotate in opposite ways in view of transmitting resultant forces counteracting their being driven by the hub (4, 18) to the planetary gear elements (8, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Mercantile Lombard Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Modesto Pratolongo
  • Patent number: 5228354
    Abstract: A multispeed, shaft-driven drive for a human propelled vehicle has a driving gear set of concentric ring gears, a driven gear set of concentric ring gears, a rotatable drive shaft having a pinion on each end and a control mechanism for moving the pinions axially of the shaft and into and out of engagement with selected ring gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dantar P. Oosterwal, Katherien L. Oosterwal
  • Patent number: 5226351
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a vehicle automatic transmission, including: a device for determining whether an intake air quantity (Q/N) per revolution of a vehicle engine exceeds a predetermined threshold; a memory for storing a first and a second shift control data map for shifting a vehicle transmission, the first shift control data map representing first shift boundary lines each representing a relationship between the vehicle speed (SPD) and the intake air quantity, while the second shift control data representing second shift boundary lines each representing a relationship between the vehicle speed and a shift control parameter (TA, PA) which reflects an operation amount of an accelerator pedal; a map switching device for selecting one of the first and second shift control data maps, the map switching device replacing the first shift control data map by the second shift control data map when the intake air quantity exceeds the predetermined threshold; and a device for shifting the transmission, accordin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5226339
    Abstract: A manual two-speed automotive transmission adapted to being driven by an electric motor. The transmission includes an input shaft assembly driven by the motor via its armature, a flywheel and a clutch, an input gear assembly axially aligned with and separated from the input shaft assembly, and a transfer shaft assembly parallel to the input assemblies. A two-gear speed reducer rotatably mounted on the transfer shaft assembly connects a fixed gear of the input shaft assembly to a fixed gear of the input gear assembly. Additional gears are rotatably mounted on the transfer shaft assembly and secured to the input gear assembly, such that a synchronizer assembly on the transfer shaft cooperates with the various gears to drive the transfer shaft and a final output gear mounted thereon at a low or high speed. Reverse is accomplished by reversing the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Donato, John C. McCoy, Robert S. McKee, Ralph D. Salle, Richard A. Bakowski