Patents Examined by Christopher Campbell
  • Patent number: 4932282
    Abstract: An inlet port of a manual timing valve is pressurized from a source of regulated line pressure through a manual valve when the vehicle operator selects certain gears manually. Hydraulic flow through this port enters the manual timing valve through an orifice sized to control the flow rate. A first volume of the timing valve increases in size as a first piston moves due to pressure of fluid flowing to the valve through the orifice. Pressure within the first volume is maintained constant while the first volume expands during a first interval, which ends when the first piston reaches the extremity of its motion. Thereafter, pressure entering the valve through the orifice increases abruptly and causes a second piston to move against the force of a spring due to the increased pressure force developed on the second piston after the first volume stops expanding. As the second piston moves the size of a second volume increases during a second interval until the second piston bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Lloyd Arisumi
  • Patent number: 4922787
    Abstract: An HST housing axle driving apparatus for a small-sized running vehicle, such as a tractor, in which an axle casing is divided into a left-side half axle casing and a right-side half axle casing. In one of the left- and right-side half axle casings are disposed a hydraulic pump provided with a vertical pump shaft and a hydraulic motor provided with a horizontal motor shaft. In the other of the left- and right-side half axle casings are disposed a speed reduction shaft and a differential gear unit, so that a driving force is adapted to be transmitted from the vertical pump shaft to the horizontal motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Fujisaki, Ryota Ohashi, Shusuke Nemoto
  • Patent number: 4909098
    Abstract: A harmonic drive apparatus comprises a circular spline which has internal spline teeth and which is rotatable around a rotational axis, a flexible cylindrical flexspline which is concentrically disposed within the circular spline and which has external spline teeth, the number of flexspline external teeth being less than the number of internal teeth of the circular spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline for flexing the flexspline in the radial direction thereof so as to locally engage the flexspline external teeth with the internal teeth of the circular spline, and a multi-row ball bearing flexible in the radial direction thereof which has balls equally spaced along the circumferential direction of the wave generator and which is disposed between the wave generator and the flexspline, the balls being disposed in a plurality of circumferential lines which are separated from one another along the axial direction of the wave generator, the balls in each circumferential line being disposed betwee
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Kiryu
  • Patent number: 4907471
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a V-belt type contiuously variable transmission wherein the lowest forward speed ratio is accomplished by drivingly connecting a forward low gear to a transmission input shaft when a forward low clutch is engaged, and wherein a shift to the adjacent next low forward speed ratio higher than the lowest forward speed ratio is made when a forward high clutch is engaged with the forward low clutch kept engaged, therby to allow continuous variation of speed ratio, and wherein a reverse speed ratio is accomplished by engaging a reverse gear to the transmission input shaft when a reverse clutch is engaged. There is provided a gear train meshing with the reverse gear and arranged in parallel to the one-way clutch. Thus, a power delivery path during the reverse speed ratio is established through the reverse gear and the gear train arranged in parallel to the one-way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 4903550
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission, having a gear ratio different from that of usual D range by a manual shift down from the D range to range 3 or 2, is mounted on an automobile. A first solenoid valve, a first shift valve and a second shift valve are connected so that the first solenoid valve controls the first and second shift valves. A second solenoid valve, a third shift valve and a down shift control valve are connected so that the second solenoid valve controls the third shift valve and the down shift control valve. Oil paths through which line pressure is applied in accordance with the range at which the manual valve is set are connected to certain shift valves, so that motions of the valves in the shift valves and the down shift control valve are constrained in accordance with the set range of the manual valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinari Kuwayama, Fumitomo Yokoyama, Masakatsu Miura
  • Patent number: 4901601
    Abstract: A carrier assembly has a pair of side plates with axially aligned apertures in which are disposed pin members for rotatably supporting pinion gears. Each pin member has a slot which is alignable with a groove formed in one of the side plates. A locking plate has radially extending tab members which are positionable in respective ones of the groove and slots by simultaneous rotation of the pins and locking plate about their respective axis during assembly. A spring pin or roll pin is secured in an aperture in the grooved side wall and cooperates with a notch in the locking plate to prevent rotation thereof relative to the side plate after assembly with the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Angus B. Leggat
  • Patent number: 4899621
    Abstract: An automatic transmission for motor vehicles, including a first shaft rotatably supported by the automatic transmission case and consisting of an input shaft coupled with the engine output shaft through a joint like a fluid joint or a friction clutch and an output shaft disposed in series and coaxially with the input shaft and mounting an output gear; a second shaft consisting of a long shaft rotatably supported by the transmission case parallel with the first shaft and a short shaft rotatably mounted on the long shaft, one of the long and short shafts having an input gear connected to the output gear of the first shaft by direct meshing engagement therewith or through a chain or an idler gear while the other one having an output gear mounted thereon; a differential having a large drive gear connected to the output gear of the second shaft by direct meshing engagement therewith or through a chain or an idler gear; a first speed-changing planetary gear mechanism provided between the input and output shafts of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shiro Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 4898065
    Abstract: A planetary reduction gear has an inscribe type planetary gear mechanism (100; 600) and a planetary gear mechanism (130; 630) combined therewith. The inscribed type planetary gear mechanism has an internally-toothed gear (108; 602) and a flange (115; 608) either one of which serves as an output member while the other serves as a stationary member. Rotation of the input shaft (131; 631) of the planetary gear mechanism is transmitted to a planet carrier through an externally-toothed sun gear (132; 635) and planet gears (133; 636) so as to rotate the planet carrier in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the input shaft. The rotation of the planet carrier is transmitted to the output member through at least one eccentric member (102a, 102b; 61a, 613b) and at leat one externally-toothed gear (103a, 103b; 601b) in the inscribe type planetary gear mechanism so that the output member is rotated in the direction counter to the direction of rotation of the planet carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seishiro Ogata, Katsumi Taki
  • Patent number: 4896553
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a fluid-pressure differential cylinder for select operation of the transmission and a fluid-pressure differential cylinder for shift operation of the transmission, each of the differential cylinders being built up into one block and joined with the mating differential cylinder with intake and discharge holes in one block held in communication with intake and discharge holes, respectively, in the other block. A piston rod of each of the differential cylinders has an annular groove and a cylinder block is provided with a locking member engageable with the groove to provide a reference position for the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Diesel Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Sato, Hiromi Kono, Akifumi Tanoue, Yoshiyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 4891999
    Abstract: A shift control system for automatically shifting a multi-speed hydromechanical transmission one gear ratio at a time. The shift control system includes a cam element and an electronically controlled shifter assembly. The cam element is shiftable between distinct angular positions corresponding to different and distinct gear ratios for the transmission. The shifter assembly includes an actuator for imparting movement to the control element and a pair of stop assemblies. The stop assemblies limit angular movement of the cam element in incremental steps and, thereby, sequence transmission operation to one gear ratio at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Leonard A. Scott
  • Patent number: 4889016
    Abstract: A hydraulic servo regulating device of an automatic transmission, which according to the present invention applies enough line pressure quickly to a hydraulic servo and obviates a delay when the line pressure is to be drained, is disposed in an oil path between a shift valve and an accumulator. The device employs regulator valve which has an application port connected to a shift valve, a regulating port in selective communication with the application port, a first feedback port through which feedback pressure is applied to one end of a spool, a second feedback port through which feedback pressure is applied to the other end of the spool, a spring and a drain port connected to the regulating port. Furthermore, the regulating port communicates with a hydraulic servo through a first oil path, and an accumulator chamber through a second oil path having an orifice and branched off from the first oil path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Aisin-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinari Kuwayama, Fumitomo Yokoyama, Masakatsu Miura
  • Patent number: 4889013
    Abstract: An inertial torque converter for converting a first torque into a second torque includes first and second unidirectional clutches which operate in opposite directions and which allow an output torque shaft to freewheel between received torque pulses. The converter includes a driving sun gear rotatable about a first axis, at least one planetary gear driven by the sun gear and a first eccentric mass mounted for rotation with the planetary gear about a second axis parallel to and radially spaced from the first axis. Preferably, two such planetary gears and masses are provided. The masses are connected through their journals to a carrier having a shaft portion which is connected to the first and second clutches. The second clutch is connected to the output torque shaft and the first clutch is connected to a housing of the converter to transmit the reaction torque of the converter thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Vincent E. Pitassi
    Inventors: Vincent E. Pitassi, Angel Fernandez
  • Patent number: 4887478
    Abstract: In a multiple-step gear drive there are two stationary toothed wheels, comprising a driving wheel and a driven wheel. Their spacing and positions remain constant as the housing that supports gear trains is rotated. For each gear step or position there is a gear train. Each train comprising one or several gear-wheels and in engagement with each other, all these gear-wheels being rotatably jounalled in a housing. The housing is movable substantially parallel to a plane running perpendicular to the shafts of the stationary toothed wheels, to be brought into a specific engagement position for each gear step in which the gear train is in engagement with both stationary toothed wheels. The housing and gear wheels are thus arranged so that in at least one gear step the housing can be disengaged from its engaged position in two substantially opposite directions, thus moving the corresponding gear train in the selected direction and thereby breaking the driving connection between the two stationary toothed wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Neos Products HB, Karlsson, Neuman, Tamm
    Inventor: Karl E. Neuman
  • Patent number: 4885959
    Abstract: There is disclosed a gear system wherein a gear (5) is mounted on a conical main shaft (8) in such a manner to move axially thereon, the gear being in meshing engagement with a gear (3) and a receiving device is provided to receive thrust generated at the gear (5). When a plurality of gears (5) are employed, a clearance (S) formed between the surface of the conical shaft (8) and the inner peripheral surface of a bearing (17) of each gear (5) is changed according to axial position of the gear (5) on the conical shaft (8) under the influence of thrust counterbalance device. Thus, a distance between the center axis of the conical shaft (8) and that of the ger (5) is thereby increased or decreased so as to effect even application of load to each gear (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventors: Kinichi Shinjo, Mutsukazu Go
  • Patent number: 4878399
    Abstract: A planetary sub-transmission for a vehicle has a planetary gear unit with a carrier member fixedly mounted on an output shaft, a sun gear mounted on the output shaft for rotation, and a ring gear fixedly supported by the sub-transmission case. A remotely operable shift member supported by an input shaft for axial movement selectively couples the input shaft to the output shaft, either directly or through the sun gear of the planetary unit, to shift the sub-transmission between high speed and low speed drive ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Kameda
  • Patent number: 4876907
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle gearbox with two concentrically mounted input shafts (6,9), each driving an individual countershaft (12,15). The countershafts have gear wheels (16,18,17,19,41) in engagement with gear wheels (21,22,40) on an output shaft. The shafts are arranged in a V-configuration and one countershaft has a disengageable gear wheel (23) in engagement with a gear wheel (11) on the second countershaft to reverse the rotational direction of the latter for driving in reverse. One countershaft (12) has a central synchronizing device (30), by means of which the countershaft, which is drivingly coupled to the temporarily non-driven input shaft, can be accelerated up to a rotational speed determined by the gear speed selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Lars Andersson, Sven Andersson
  • Patent number: 4876920
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission having a driving sheave assembly connected to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and coaxially mounted with respect to the crankshaft, an intermediate shaft upon which is mounted a driven pulley assembly, a drive chain or belt drivably connected the pulley assemblies, high range and low range gearing coaxially disposed with respect to the driven pulley assembly, a countershaft arranged in parallel and spaced disposition with respect to the secondary shaft wherein the countershaft is adapted to support forward and reverse gearing and improved bearing means for supporting the countershaft and wherein a differential output assembly connects torque output elements of the countershaft to each of two axle half shafts thus providing improved torque transmitting capacity with reduced overall dimensions due to reduced shaft spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Peter Eichenberger
  • Patent number: 4876924
    Abstract: An extended range splitter type compound transmission (10) comprising a main transmission section (12) connected in series with a splitter type auxiliary transmission section (14) connected in series with an extended range section (15) is provided. The extended range section includes a sleeve shaft (200) fixed for rotation with the auxiliary section output gear (112) and coaxial and independently rotatable relative to the mainshaft (28) and the output shaft (74). A range section output shaft gear (202) is constantly meshed with a range section countershaft gear (204) fixed for rotation with the auxiliary section countershaft (78, 80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Melvern W. Fletcher, David G. Wylie
  • Patent number: 4872373
    Abstract: A differential control device for controlling the differential of a differential gear having a limited slip differential includes a sensor for detecting drive torque, a controller for receiving the detected torque from the sensor to compare the size of the torque with a predetermined value and an actuator. The actuator is controlled by the controller to operate the limited slip differential for limiting the differential when the detected torque exceeds the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Ouchi, Koichi Aono
  • Patent number: 4870874
    Abstract: A power transmission, particularly adapted for motorcycle application, in which a first planetary gear reduction system reduces power output from the starter motor for starting the engine and a second planetary gear reduction system operated in cooperation with the first system enables power output from the starter motor to operate the vehicle in reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Ito