Patents Examined by David D. Le
  • Patent number: 8672809
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus capable of performing engine automatic stop includes an engine automatic stop inhibition means configured to inhibit the engine automatic stop after engine restart conditions are satisfied and the engine is restarted until a vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed, a brake operation detection means configured to detect a presence of increase of the amount of a brake operation in a state of the brake operation being performed after the vehicle has been stopped, and an engine stop control means configured to release inhibition of the engine automatic stop to allow the engine to be automatically stopped, if the brake operation detection means detects presence of increase of the amount of the brake operation while the engine automatic stop is inhibited by the engine automatic stop inhibition means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Saito, Nobuhiko Shima, Tetsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 8672796
    Abstract: An adjustment device is disclosed for carrying out at least one adjustment function, such as for a motor vehicle seat. The device includes a drive in the form of a planetary gear mechanism. The mechanism has a planet carrier and an output. The output is stopped by a brake device when the drive is not actuated. The planet carrier cooperates with the brake device to release the brake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Stefan Haida
  • Patent number: 8672109
    Abstract: A narrow double clutch transmission to be mounted in a drive train with a drive unit comprises a clutch part and a transmission part with two sub-transmission units. The clutch part has one input hub connected with the drive unit and two output hubs, which are connected with two input shafts of two sub-transmission unit respectively. The two sub-transmission unit input shafts are arranged coaxially to each other. At the output side the input hub is connected with a damping mechanism, which is connected with two clutches. The two clutches and the damping mechanism are arranged in a clutch chamber filled with oil, which is sealed floatingly to a clutch cover. The output hub connected with the sub-transmission input shaft is axially supported by the sub-transmission unit input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, Shanghai Automotive Gear Works
    Inventors: Georg Quartier, Peter Nissen, Gerd Hilger
  • Patent number: 8668612
    Abstract: In a lubrication structure of a differential gear unit, a case has a guide rib that extends over a certain area with respect to a rotation path of a head of a bolt when a ring gear rotates, and that protrudes out from the case toward the head of the bolt. Also, a through-hole that extends in a vertical direction is formed in an upper portion of a hollow supporting portion, and the guide rib has an oil reservoir that curves toward an upper end opening of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Masahiro Tanae
  • Patent number: 8668624
    Abstract: A motor control device for a working vehicle includes: a travel drive device that transmits rotation of a motor to wheels through a torque converter; a first selection device to be operated so as to select one of a power mode and an economy mode; a second selection device that is different from the first selection device; a mode switching device that switches from the economy mode to the power mode if the second selection device is operated in a state where the economy mode has been selected by the first selection device; and a speed restriction device that, when the economy mode is set, restricts a maximum rotational speed of the motor to a lower speed side than that when the power mode is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Masaki Yoshikawa, Kazuo Chounan
  • Patent number: 8668065
    Abstract: A torque limiting coupling rotatably arranged around a longitudinal axis A has a coupling hub (2, 102, 202), drivers (6, 106), a coupling sleeve (3, 103, 203) and a switching disk (4, 104, 204). The switching disk (4, 104, 204) is rotatably arranged between a switched-on position and an idling position relative to the coupling hub (2, 102, 202). The drivers (6, 106) engage the coupling sleeve first recesses (7, 107,207) in the switched-on position. The drivers (6, 106) engage the switching disk second recesses (8, 108, 208) in the idling position. A first spring mechanism (25, 125, 225) urges the switching disk (4, 104, 204) in the direction towards the switched-on position. A second spring mechanism (12, 112, 212) acts axially on the switching disk (4, 104, 204) and urges the drivers (6, 106) against the coupling sleeve (3, 103, 203).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Walterscheid GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Kämpf, Bernd Carstensen
  • Patent number: 8668616
    Abstract: A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, a compound planetary gear set, a plurality of torque transmitting elements, and an output member. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of brakes, synchronizer assemblies, and clutches including a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least three reverse speed ratios and at least nine forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Darrell Lee Robinette
  • Patent number: 8663046
    Abstract: A transmission includes a main gearbox and an electric machine. The main gearbox has a primary shaft, a secondary shaft and gear sets, each having a driving gearwheel carried by a respective primary shaft and a driven gearwheel carried by a respective secondary shaft. A first gearwheel and a second gearwheel meshing with each other are idly mounted on the primary shaft and on the secondary shaft, respectively, and are selectively connectable for rotation with the respective shaft by a first coupling device and of a second coupling device, respectively. The electric machine is releasably connected to the first gearwheel or to the second gearwheel, such that with the first coupling device in an engaged position the electric machine is able to transmit torque to the primary shaft on which the first gearwheel is mounted, while with the second coupling device in an engaged position, the electric machine is able to transmit torque to the secondary shaft on which the second gearwheel is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Oerlikon Graziano S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Torrelli
  • Patent number: 8662274
    Abstract: A rotational coupling device is provided having an improved actuator for compressing friction discs coupled to an input ring and an output hub disposed about a rotational axis. The actuator includes a pole structure and a field shell housing a conductor, each with aligned, axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles. An armature is coupled for rotation with the input ring, but axially movable relative thereto and axially aligned with an end wall of the pole structure extending between the inner and outer actuator poles. First and second axially spaced actuator discs are disposed radially between the pole structure and the output hub with the first actuator disc rotatably coupled to the pole structure. The discs define cam surfaces along which a plurality of balls move to expand and contract the actuator discs upon relative rotation of the actuator discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Warner Electric Technology LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Silvestrini, Richard Wayne Mayberry
  • Patent number: 8663067
    Abstract: A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The automatic transmission, when the motor vehicle is driven with an actuated accelerator and an engaged starting clutch, and then coasts with the accelerator not actuated and the starting clutch engaged, during coasting with the engaged starting clutch the transmission remaining in the gear in which it was previously driven with the gas pedal actuated. When the transmission input speed of the automatic transmission drops below a limit value, during coasting, the starting clutch is disengaged. During coasting with a disengaged starting clutch in the automatic transmission, a gear is shifted that matches the current speed of the motor vehicle so that, when the starting clutch is subsequently engaged, a gear is available that matches the speed of the motor vehicle prevailing at the time the starting clutch is subsequently engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Roland Mair, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 8662270
    Abstract: An actuator for operating a multi-mode overrunning multi-directional clutch includes an axially displaceable shaft portion, an engagement member connected to the shaft portion and having a resilient segment for displacing a piston to engage the clutch. A locking portion is connected to the shaft portion for displacing an actuator pin to lock the clutch. In an example embodiment, the clutch is a three-mode overrunning bi-directional clutch. In some example embodiments, the resilient segment is radially flexible. In some example embodiments, the engagement member includes a tubular section with a plurality of circumferentially-offset axial slots, and the resilient segment is circumferentially disposed between corresponding axial slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 8663055
    Abstract: The invention concerns an automatic transmission of planetary structure, comprising a drive input shaft (AN), a drive output shaft (AB), first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4) and six shifting element (A, B, C, D, E, F). By the selective engagement of three of a total of six shifting elements (A to F), ten forward gears and up to two reverse gears can be engaged without range shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Brehmer, Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt
  • Patent number: 8663061
    Abstract: A gear shifting method of a hybrid vehicle may include releasing a clutch and brake of a transmission and determining a neutral condition status, controlling torque of an engine connected to one operational element of a first planetary gear set in a neutral condition, and controlling speed of a first motor/generator connected to the other operational element of the first planetary gear set. Accordingly, a speed of the first and second motor/generator are controlled and a torque of the engine is controlled in a neutral or parking state of a shift lever such that a mode change becomes easy and the torque of the engine is continuously controlled to improve a shift quality and a driving performance and to save fuel, while the neutral or parking state is changed to a drive or reverse state or the drive or reverse state is changed to the neutral or parking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seok Young Yun
  • Patent number: 8663056
    Abstract: A transmission comprising four gear sets (P1, P2, P3, P4), eight shafts and six shift elements. The drive shaft is connected with sun gear of set (P1) and carrier of set (P4). Carrier of set (P1) is connected to shaft (3) which is connectable to a housing, via a first brake, and connectable to shaft (5), via clutch (35). Shaft (5) interconnects the ring gear of set (P2) with the sun gears of sets (P3, P4). Shaft (6) interconnects ring gear of set (P1) with carrier of set (P2). Shaft (4) couples sun gear of set (P2) to the housing, via a brake. Ring gear of set (P3) is connected to the housing. The output shaft is connectable, via clutch (27), with shaft (7) which is connected to ring gear of set (P4) and, via clutch (28), with shaft (8) which is connected to carrier of set (P3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Stefan Beck, Josef Haupt, Gert Bauknecht, Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 8663063
    Abstract: A first slip travel mode is traveling or starting in a state where a first clutch is fully connected and a third clutch is fully disconnected while a second clutch is slipped. A second slip travel mode is traveling or starting in a state where the first clutch is fully connected and the second clutch is fully disconnected while the third clutch is slipped. An overheat avoidance mode is traveling or starting in a state where the first clutch is fully disconnected and the second clutch is fully connected while the third clutch is slipped. When the second clutch is in a high-temperature state under the first slip travel mode or the third clutch is in a high-temperature state under the second slip travel mode, the slip travel mode is switched into the overheat avoidance mode. This reduces a heat value of the second clutch or third clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Saito, Hiroshi Okada
  • Patent number: 8663054
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew W. Phillips, Scott H. Wittkopp, James M. Hart, Clinton E. Carey
  • Patent number: 8662271
    Abstract: A differentially controllable two-way clutch including an outer wheel with a cam portion on an inner circumference, an inner wheel arranged apart from the outer wheel and toward an inner diameter of the two-way clutch as well as rotatably and concentrically with respect to the outer wheel, a torque transmission member located between the outer wheel and the inner wheel to transmit torque, a cage configured to hold the torque transmission member and to be slidable in a circumferential direction and which is differentially controlled, and a spring supported by the cage and configured to be capable of biasing the torque transmission member so that the torque transmission member engages with a cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Akira Iwano, Kazuhiko Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8657716
    Abstract: A drivetrain component is provided that may include a housing, a component, a cover and a pair of bearings. The housing may define an internal cavity and a pair of bearing bulkheads. The component may be received in the internal cavity. The cover may be coupled to the housing and may close a side of the internal cavity. The cover may include a pair of bearing caps. Each of the bearing caps may be mounted to a corresponding one of the bearing bulkheads. The pair of bearings may be received on the component. Each bearing may be engaged to an associated one of the bearing bulkheads and an associated one of the bearing caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil John Whyte, Paul Noble, Tony Pistagnesi, Michal Drwiega
  • Patent number: 8657092
    Abstract: The safety coupling includes a driving part (10) and a driven part (12) able to rotate around the same rotation axis (X) and respectively provided with first torque transmission means (14, 24) and with second torque transmission means (30, 36, 40, 52, 60, 62) having front toothings (24, 40, 60, 62) normally meshing with each other for the transmission of torque between the two parts of the coupling (10, 12). The safety coupling also includes torque-sensitive opening means (66, 72, 110) arranged to disengage the front toothings (24, 40, 60, 62) of the first (14, 24) and second (30, 36, 40, 52, 60, 62) torque transmission means, thus interrupting the torque transmission, when the torque transmitted between the two parts of the coupling (10, 12) exceeds a given maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Maina Orani di Transmissione S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesare Padovan
  • Patent number: 8657090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clutch actuated by initial limit-torque sliding damping capable of controlling a clutch device to perform operations of coupling or releasing with the driving torque, characterized in that a relay transmission structure assembly (104) is installed between a rotary prime motive end (101) and an output-end clutch structure (1052), the relay transmission structure assembly (104) is installed with a relay coupling structure (204) having an active side of relay coupling structure and a passive side of relay coupling structure, and a limit-torque sliding damping device (106) is installed between the relay transmission structure assembly (104) and the output end (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang