Patents Examined by David J Hlavka
  • Patent number: 11480222
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a clutch assembly in an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. In one example, a clutch assembly in a gear train is provided that includes a locking clutch. The locking clutch includes a gear including a plurality of teeth having at least one tooth with a tapered end, an indexing shaft rotationally connected to an output shaft, a shift collar mounted on the indexing shaft, configured to translate on the indexing shaft into an engaged and disengaged configuration, and including a plurality of teeth on a face, where at least one tooth in the plurality of teeth in the shift collar includes a tapered end, and an indexing mechanism coupled to the shift collar and the indexing shaft and configured to accommodate for indexing between the indexing shaft and the shift collar during shift collar engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Eric M. Engerman
  • Patent number: 11480247
    Abstract: A control device controls a lockup clutch interposed between an engine and an automatic transmission mechanism of a vehicle. The control device includes a control part supplying hydraulic pressure to the lockup clutch and controlling differential pressure of the lockup clutch. The control part supplies the hydraulic pressure to the lockup clutch so that the differential pressure is lower than a reference differential pressure in a disengaged state of the lockup clutch. In a case of shifting the lockup clutch from the disengaged state to an engaged state, the control part supplies the hydraulic pressure to the lockup clutch so that the differential pressure increases as a filling ratio of an oil passage of the lockup clutch decreases. The reference differential pressure is a lower limit of the differential pressure that increases a slip ratio of the lockup clutch or reduces a slip amount of the lockup clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Egashira
  • Patent number: 11466774
    Abstract: In a hydraulic control device switchable between a first state in which a first oil is supplied from a first pump to a hydraulic operation part via a bypass valve and a second state in which the first oil supplied from the first pump is pressurized by using the second pump and the pressurized first oil is supplied, as a second oil, to the hydraulic operation part, when the second pump is stopped in the second state, control that gradually decreases a target rotation speed of the second pump is performed, and rates at which the target rotation speed of the second pump decreases differ in a case where the second pump is stopped in an operation-allowed region and in a case where the second pump is stopped when the second pump is determined as in an operation-disallowed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makito Nakasone, Koji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11465485
    Abstract: A method of assembling a modular hybrid transmission (MHT) is provided including (a) assembling an emotor clutch on a clutch shaft to form a clutch assembly, (b) press-fitting a bushing into a centering plate to form a centering assembly, (c) connecting the centering assembly to a torque converter, (d) assembling the torque converter to the clutch assembly with the bushing on an end of the clutch shaft, and (e) inserting the clutch assembly and the torque converter into a transmission housing while maintaining the centering of the clutch shaft to the transmission housing via the centering assembly connected to the torque converter. The assembled MHT is also provided which eliminates the needle bearing according to the prior art, avoiding the potential for damage during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Edward Goodwill, Brandon Heitger
  • Patent number: 11466773
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a hydraulic control device. The operating/stopping of the second pump is determined based on a value of a difference between a reduced work rate of the first pump when the second pump is operated and a power consumption of the second pump. In a state where the second pump is stopped, the power consumption of the second pump is calculated based on an estimated value of a pressure of oil supplied to the hydraulic operation part and an estimated value of a pressure of oil supplied from the first pump to another hydraulic operation part or a lubrication target operating at a lower pressure than the hydraulic operation part. In a state where the second pump is operated, the power consumption of the second pump is calculated based on an actual rotation speed and an actual torque of the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makito Nakasone, Koji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11466772
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic control device in which in the rotation control of the second pump, the required discharge pressure of the second pump can be more reliably maintained below a predetermined pressure in the control that keeps the target rotation speed constant after the feedback control ends. In the rotation control of the second pump, in the control which keeps the target rotation speed constant after the feedback control ends, the rotation of the second pump is controlled by adding a predetermined addition rotation speed to the target rotation speed corresponding to the required discharge pressure. Since the required discharge pressure of the second pump can be maintained below a predetermined pressure in the fixed mode by the addition rotation speed, it can reliably obtain the effect of reducing the work load of the first pump and contribute to the improvement of the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makito Nakasone, Koji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11453287
    Abstract: A method for determining transmission and/or clutch parameters of a motor vehicle automatic transmission having at least one clutch, in particular for basic calibration of the transmission, in particular an automated manual transmission and/or a dual-clutch transmission, includes determining drag torque and/or kiss point of the clutch using an actuable synchronization device. The clutch has at least one drive side connected to an internal combustion engine output shaft and at least one output side connected to a transmission input shaft. The transmission output and/or drive shaft is blocked. The drive side of the clutch is driven. Basic calibration of the transmission is improved by driving the drive side of the clutch by an electric motor, providing a freewheel-shifted gear stage, and driving the drive side of the clutch by the electric motor in a rotation direction opposite the internal combustion engine output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jannis Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11453371
    Abstract: A vehicle including: (i) a drive-force transmission unit including a casing and installed in a offset position that is offset from a widthwise center of the vehicle in an offset direction; (ii) a component protruding away from the casing toward a front side of the vehicle, and including first and second region portions such that the first region portion is located on a front side of the second region portion in the offset direction; and (iii) an attachment member through which the component is attached to a vehicle-front side portion of the casing. The attachment member is provided with a displacement adjustment portion that is configured, upon application of an external force to the component from the front side of the vehicle, to facilitate the first region portion of the component to be displaced toward a rear side of the vehicle, more than the second region portion of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mizuki Bingo, Takeshi Kuwahara, Kazuki Iwakura
  • Patent number: 11448315
    Abstract: A control device controls a lockup clutch interposed between an engine and an automatic transmission mechanism of a vehicle. The control device includes a control part supplying hydraulic pressure to the lockup clutch and controlling differential pressure of the lockup clutch. The control part supplies the hydraulic pressure to the lockup clutch so that the differential pressure is lower than a reference differential pressure in a disengaged state of the lockup clutch. In a case of shifting the lockup clutch from the disengaged state to an engaged state, the control part supplies the hydraulic pressure to the lockup clutch so that the differential pressure increases as a filling ratio of an oil passage of the lockup clutch decreases. The reference differential pressure is a lower limit of the differential pressure that increases a slip ratio of the lockup clutch or reduces a slip amount of the lockup clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Egashira
  • Patent number: 11440512
    Abstract: A double-lifting device for a towing type traveling vehicle, has an active leg, a driven leg, a transmission member, a geared motor, a gear reduction structure, a first reverse gear reduction structure, and a second reverse gear reduction structure; the geared motor, the gear reduction structure, and the first reverse gear reduction structure are sequentially and drivably connected; the output end of the gear reduction structure is also used to drive the transmission member, and the transmission member is used to drive the second reverse gear reduction structure. The double-lifting device is able to achieve synchronous lifting and lowering. With a simple structure, ifs stable, easy to operate, and provides mechanical overload protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Guozhong Wang, Laiming Yu, Jigang Yan, Jinming Shi, Jiangqiang Lu, Feng Tian, Congcong Wang, Lingling Wang
  • Patent number: 11440396
    Abstract: A hybrid module for a motor vehicle for coupling an internal combustion engine, comprises a first drive shaft, a first electrical machine and a first coupling device, as well as a second drive shaft and, associated therewith, a second electrical machine, and a second coupling device; and further comprises an output element, the first or second drive shaft being connectable to the output element by way of a first or second coupling device, wherein the two coupling devices can be simultaneously actuated by a movement of an actuation element which is mechanically coupled to the two coupling devices. The hybrid module disclosed provides a drive device for a motor vehicle that offers energy-efficient operation in a plurality of different operating modes while requiring a small installation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Benjamin Stober, Dierk Reitz, Steffen Lehmann
  • Patent number: 11441669
    Abstract: A hydraulic controlling system including: a cooling and lubricating oil line and a main controlling oil line; an oil-liquid storage; a first pump, wherein an inlet of the first pump is connected to the oil-liquid storage and an outlet of the first pump is connected to the main controlling oil line; a second pump, wherein an inlet of the second pump is connected to the oil-liquid storage and an outlet of the second pump selectively communicates with the cooling and lubricating oil line or the main controlling oil line; and a gearbox-gear-shifting oil line including a gear-shifting-pressure regulating valve, a plurality of gear-shifting-flow-rate controlling valves and a plurality of gear-shifting selector valves. The gear-shifting-flow-rate controlling valves are connected to the main controlling oil line via the gear-shifting-pressure regulating valve. At least some of the gear-shifting-flow-rate controlling valves are connected to a gear-shifting executing piston via the gear-shifting selector valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GREAT WALL MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ralf Trutschel, Huaxue Liu, Guangqing Tang, Wei Zhang, Lin Zhou
  • Patent number: 11441652
    Abstract: An electric drive axle assembly of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. At least one of a gear and a planetary gear assembly is coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor. The at least one of the gear and the planetary gear assembly is coupled to a differential mechanism configured to transfer torque to two axle shafts of the vehicle. The electric drive axle assembly configured to produce a plurality of speed ratios between the electric motor and the differential mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Eric M. Engerman
  • Patent number: 11433755
    Abstract: A drive device includes a fluid coupling and a rotary electrical machine. The fluid coupling is configured such that a torque is inputted thereto from a first side in an axial direction and is outputted therefrom to a second side in the axial direction. The rotary electrical machine includes a first stator and a rotor. The first stator is disposed in a non-rotatable manner. The rotor is disposed to be rotated about a rotational axis of the fluid coupling. The rotary electrical machine is disposed on the second side with respect to the fluid coupling in the axial direction. The rotary electrical machine overlaps the fluid coupling in an axial view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kitada, Yuki Kawahara, Tomohiro Wada, Takuma Shimada, Yukiyoshi Takada
  • Patent number: 11433756
    Abstract: A drive device includes a fluid coupling, a rotary electrical machine, and a damper device. The fluid coupling includes an input unit and an output unit. The input unit includes an impeller. The output unit includes a turbine. The rotary electrical machine includes a first stator and a rotor. The first stator is disposed in a non-rotatable manner. The rotor is attached to the output unit. The damper device is disposed axially adjacent to the fluid coupling. The damper device is connected to the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kitada, Yuki Kawahara, Tomohiro Wada, Takuma Shimada, Yukiyoshi Takada
  • Patent number: 11428291
    Abstract: A damper device for transmitting power to an output-side member is disclosed. The damper device includes input-side and output-side rotors, a plurality of elastic members, and a hysteresis generating mechanism. The input-side rotor, to which power is inputted, is rotatable. The output-side rotor is rotatable relative to the input-side rotor. The output-side rotor includes a hub and a plurality of flanges. The hub is coupled to the output-side member. The plurality of flanges extend radially outward from the hub. The plurality of flanges are disposed at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. The plurality of elastic members are disposed circumferentially between the plurality of flanges, and elastically couple the input-side rotor and the output-side rotor in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tomita, Yusuke Okamachi
  • Patent number: 11427069
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device that includes a rotary electric machine that serves as a driving force source for wheels; a first rotation member coupled to a rotor of the rotary electric machine; and a fluid coupling that is disposed on an axial first side, which is one side in an axial direction with respect to the rotary electric machine, and that has a rotation housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ota, Ken Shimizu, Ren Okazawa, Masashi Ikemura, Guo Dong Tan, Takao Oki
  • Patent number: 11427432
    Abstract: A spindle unit includes a support shaft, an electromagnetic air-gap brake, a spindle member, and a coupler. The support shaft is attached to the stationary frame of a creel. The brake is connected to the front end of the support shaft. The spindle member is rotatably supported by the support shaft in a state in which the support shaft and the brake are inserted in the spindle member. The coupler couples the spindle member and the brake shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: OGURA CLUTCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Mitsuhashi, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Nobuyuki Shuto
  • Patent number: 11421778
    Abstract: As a driving source, an engine and an assist motor are provided. An engine control module includes a torque assist control unit for controlling the assist motor by a plurality of types of switching patterns having different torque assist levels. A CVT control unit includes a torque assist coordination control unit that, when a torque assist request is input from the torque assist control unit, carries out the control that increases commanded hydraulic pressure so as to increase the hydraulic pressure of hydraulically operated members. When carrying out the control that increases the commanded hydraulic pressure, the torque assist coordination control unit unifies the levels of the commanded hydraulic pressure regardless of the types of the switching patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Hirata, Hironori Miyaishi
  • Patent number: 11413953
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis, a power source coupled to the chassis, and a track assembly. The track assembly includes an electric motor coupled to the chassis, a first drive wheel coupled to the electric motor and pivotally coupled to the chassis, a second drive wheel coupled to the engine and pivotally coupled to the chassis, and a track engaging the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel. The engine is configured to provide mechanical energy to the second drive wheel to drive the track and propel the vehicle. The electric motor is configured to receive electrical energy from the power source and provide mechanical energy to the first drive wheel to drive the track and propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Payne