Patents Examined by David D. Le
  • Patent number: 8801561
    Abstract: A power switching device for vehicle has at least first and second power switching mechanisms, a shared operating mechanism, and a housing accommodating the power switching mechanisms and the shard operating mechanism, the housing being integrally formed with a boss portion having a waiting mechanism, wherein the waiting mechanism includes drive and driven cylindrical shafts, and a coil spring connecting between the cylindrical shafts, both of the cylindrical shafts and the coil spring are arranged in a same axis, and are supported on an inner peripheral surface of the boss portion through drive and driven side needle roller bearings respectively, the coil spring is arranged inside the cylindrical shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kii
  • Patent number: 8801572
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a transmission system is provided. One agricultural vehicle includes a vehicle controller configured to instruct an engine controller to maintain an engine at a constant speed and to receive a first signal from a transmission controller indicative of gear shift initiation. The vehicle controller is also configured to instruct the engine controller to maintain the engine at a current torque upon receipt of the first signal and to receive a second signal from the transmission controller indicative of gear shift completion. The vehicle controller is configured to instruct the engine controller to maintain the engine at the constant speed upon receipt of the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Justin Ringwald, Rex LeRoy Ruppert
  • Patent number: 8800404
    Abstract: A powertrain system in a mild hybrid vehicle includes a hydraulic device, a pilot valve, and a regulator valve. The pilot valve is operably connected to the hydraulic device and configured to actuate. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based device. The regulator valve is operably connected to the pilot valve and the hydraulic device. The regulator valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulic device based on the actuation of the pilot valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Chi-Kuan Kao, Farzad Samie, Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale, Dongxu Li, Andrew L. Bartos, Kevin B. Rober
  • Patent number: 8801565
    Abstract: A transmission is has an input member, an output member, a first planetary gear set assembly, a second planetary gear set assembly, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The second planetary gear set assembly is a stacked planetary gear set having a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth member and the first planetary gear set assembly has a first, a second, a third and a fourth member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: James M. Hart, Scott H. Wittkopp, James B. Borgerson
  • Patent number: 8794415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positively engaging shifting element which can be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated, comprising a hydraulically or pneumatically actuatable piston (I) having a piston compartment (2) containing a hydraulic medium or pressure medium, a pressure medium supply (6) for the piston (I), a jaw (3) and a mating jaw (4) with which the jaw (3) meshes when engaged. The engaging speed of the jaw (3) can be increased by decoupling the jaw (3) from the hydraulic or pneumatic volume flow when the jaws (3) and (4) are in a tooth butt position in relation to each other and by pretensioning the jaw (3) by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure reservoir (7) that is actively connected to the piston (I) and that is connected to the pressure medium supply (6). The gap between the jaws, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Peter Ziemer, Mark Mohr, Manuel Götz
  • Patent number: 8795129
    Abstract: A transmission includes epicyclic gearing including first, second, third and fourth gearsets, each gearset including first, second and third members; a first member of the first gearset and a first member of the second gearset being secured against rotation; and clutches, each clutch selectively opening and closing a drive connection between members of the gearsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Reid A. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8794414
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for use in transmitting force includes a housing which at least partially encloses a rotatable disc. The housing has a plate portion with an annular force transmitting surface which is engagable with the rotatable disc. A cooling fluid channel is at least partially defined by a side of the plate portion opposite from the force transmitting surface. A plurality of projections extend into a path of flow of cooling fluid through the cooling fluid channel. A cooling fluid inlet includes a passage having a portion with a large cross section connected in fluid communication with a radially outer portion of the cooling fluid channel. A portion of the inlet passage having a small cross section is connected in fluid communication with a radially inner portion of the cooling fluid channel. Ribs extend across the radially inner and outer portions of the cooling fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Jeremy Steven Culmer
  • Patent number: 8794413
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism used in a system in which first and second driven members are driven using one driving source. The mechanism includes a driving member, a driving side engaging member, an idler side engaging member, an urging unit, a releasing member provided with a cam surface configured to cause the driving side engaging member to move axially, and to perform engagement or release of the driving side engaging member with or from the idler side engaging member, and a cam member provided with a cam surface configured to engage with the cam surface of the releasing member. In at least one of the releasing member and the cam member, at least a portion where collision occurs when the releasing member has moved in an axial direction to approach the cam member, is formed of an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rin Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8795114
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first motor/generator having a first rotor that is selectively rotatable about a first axis and a second motor/generator having a second rotor that is selectively rotatable about a second axis. A first planetary gearset and a second planetary gearset each has a respective first planetary member, a respective second planetary member, and a respective third planetary member. One of the members of the first planetary gearset is operatively connected to the first rotor to receive torque therefrom. One of the members of the second planetary gearset is operatively connected to the second rotor to receive torque therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Norman Schoenek, Elizabeth I. Wooden, Min-Joong Kim, Shawn H. Swales, Xiaohui Du, Leonid Basin, John Czubay
  • Patent number: 8795121
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with a drive mechanism for transmitting torque to at least a first and a second output member as well as to such a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes, but is not limited to a torque generating drive member operably coupled to the first and second output members, a switching element operably coupled to the drive member for selectively coupling the drive member with the first and second output members either in a propulsion mode or in a vector mode. In the propulsion mode, the drive member's torque is inducted to first and second output members uni-directionally and in the vector mode, the drive member's torque is inducted to first and second output members in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Matthijs Klomp
  • Patent number: 8789673
    Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a hub assembly is located between the hub and the tubular portion, and includes a driving member which is movable linearly in the tubular portion. One side of the driving member has a cone-shaped first ratchet portion located axially and is composed of two triangular contact surfaces. A passive member is fixed in the hub and has a cone-shaped second ratchet portion which is engaged with the first ratchet portion. A returning member is located between the hub and the driving member. The passive member is fixed to the hub easily. By the triangular cone-shaped first and second ratchet portions, the contact are and the friction between the ratchet portions are reduced, and the engagement and disengagement is more quick and smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kunshan Henry Metal Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kee Ping Tho
  • Patent number: 8789675
    Abstract: A clutch device having at least one torque transfer device that can be engaged and disengaged in the axial direction and is frictionally engaged in the engaged state, and at least one wear adjustment device, which has at least one rotatable adjusting ring, at least one rotatably supported spindle drive with a drive pinion, which acts on the adjusting ring, and at least one drive assembly which may be made to engage with the drive pinion and which is pre-tensioned in the axial direction, to turn the spindle drive in the case of wear, the pre-tensioning force of the drive assembly being stepped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerd Ahnert, Christophe Acker
  • Patent number: 8789676
    Abstract: An emergency release mechanism for an automatic transmission includes a shift lever adapted to release a parking position when engaged in an operating position. The shift lever has a hooked or tooth-shaped end portion and is moved by a manually-operated tackle which has an end defined by a surface area of increased diameter to establish an undercut for engagement of the end portion of the shift lever during disengagement of the parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Harald Merklein, Lars Baruth
  • Patent number: 8789674
    Abstract: A torque transmission system, particularly for a vehicle, includes a housing arrangement (26) with a hub region (36) which engages in a shaft opening (22) of the gearbox housing (16) and is rotatably supported so as to be substantially fluid-tight with respect to the gearbox housing (16) by means of a bearing/seal arrangement (42); at least one first fluid port (97) which opens toward an intermediate space region (98) formed between the housing arrangement (26) and the gearbox housing (16) is provided in the housing arrangement (26) in or in the vicinity of the hub region (36), and at least one second fluid port (104) which bypasses the bearing/seal arrangement (42) and opens toward the intermediate space region (98) is provided in the gearbox housing (16) and/or in the bearing/seal arrangement (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Sudau, Gregor Sueck, Arthur Schröder
  • Patent number: 8790208
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for a brake actuator which is provided, for example, for an electromechanically operated parking brake. The assembly comprises a drive device and a gear device for generating and transmitting a torque to a brake device, a carrier element having a first mounting device to which the drive device and the gear device are mechanically secured, and a housing having a housing lower portion which has a second mounting device, on which the carrier element together with the drive device and gear device is arranged in a self-supporting manner by means of the first mounting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Poertzgen, Wilfried Giering, Christian Dilla, Michael Schaefer, Michael Possmann
  • Patent number: 8790219
    Abstract: In order to maintain a high NOx purification rate of a NOx reduction catalytic converter even in the case in which an NOx emission amount from an engine changes suddenly, in an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an engine that reduces and purifies NOx in exhaust gas using ammonia generated from an injection-supplied urea aqueous solution, after engine starting, when an exhaust temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature T (step S1), an amount of urea aqueous solution corresponding to an actual engine operating state is injection-supplied (steps S3 to S5). On the other hand, at a change of the transmission speed ratio based on a driver's shift operation, an engine operating state after the change of the transmission speed ratio is predicted (steps S2, S6), and an amount of urea aqueous solution corresponding to the predicted engine operating state is injection-supplied before the change of the transmission speed ratio is completed (steps S7, S8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: UD Trucks Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Yano, Kiminobu Hirata, Nobuhiko Masaki
  • Patent number: 8784252
    Abstract: A drive system for a wind turbine includes a transmission unit with a planet wheel stage. A coupling flange on a first shaft of the transmission unit can be connected to a driven machine shaft or rotor shaft which is mounted above a planet carrier. The transmission unit and a motor/generator unit connected with a second shaft of the transmission unit are enclosed by a gear case. A rotor of the motor/generator unit is connected to a hollow rotor shaft which surrounds an end section of the second shaft and is connected to the end section via an interior coupling or clamping connection. A connecting-piece is arranged between the transmission unit and the motor/generator unit, and concentrically surrounds a transmission-side end section of the rotor shaft, forming a bearing seat for the rotor shaft, which also supports the second shaft of the transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Martin Dinter, Arno Klein-Hitpass, Jan-Dirk Reimers
  • Patent number: 8784251
    Abstract: A C1 switching valve 80 establishes a first supply state, in which a C1 solenoid pressure Pslc1 can be supplied to a clutch C1, when a line pressure PL is supplied as a holding pressure, and when a modulator pressure Pmod is supplied as a holding pressure and a B1 solenoid pressure Pslb1 is not supplied. The C1 switching valve 80 establishes a second supply state, in which the line pressure PL can be supplied to the clutch C1, when the modulator pressure Pmod is supplied as a holding pressure and the B1 solenoid pressure Pslb1 is supplied. The C1 switching valve 80 is supplied with the modulator pressure Pmod as a holding pressure when an abnormality occurs in supply of the C1 solenoid pressure Pslc1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Ishikawa, Koji Makino, Kenichi Tsuchida, Naoyuki Fukaya, Kazunori Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8784258
    Abstract: A multiple speed power transmission comprises: an epicyclic gearing assembly comprising first, second, third, and fourth rotating members with linearly related speeds; a double pinion planetary gear set with grounded carrier and input driven sun gear; two brakes; four clutches; and specified interconnections. The brakes and clutches are operated in combinations of two to produce eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, David Allen Janson
  • Patent number: 8776971
    Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises a stator and clutch assembly in a torque converter. The stator has a segment radially disposed between stator blades and a stator axis. The one-way clutch has a plate connected to a hub. The segment forms a portion of the clutch and the stator is axially displaceable to control operation of the clutch. A displacement element urges the stator in a first axial direction. The stator is arranged to move in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, in response to pressure from fluid in the torque converter. In some aspects, the displacement element is selected from the group consisting of a coil spring and a wave spring. In some aspects, the one-way clutch is arranged to disengage when the stator is sufficiently displaced in the first direction and to engage when the stator is sufficiently displaced in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hemphill, Michael Vansickle, Christian Huegel, Yannick Strub, J. Kevin Brown, Peter Kennedy