Patents Examined by David Morris
  • Patent number: 9726284
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a vehicle including a shift-by-wire transmission in a neutral-hold mode is provided. The system includes a transmission control unit in signal communication with the shift-by-wire transmission and an internal control unit of the vehicle. The transmission control unit is configured to control a gear configuration of the shift-by-wire transmission. An external control unit is in signal communication with the transmission control unit. The external control unit is configured to transmit a neutral-hold mold activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Virgil Philip Adams, Jr., Ryo Harada, Takashi Tezuka, David B. Jackson, Hiroyuki Kuki, Dennis P. Parker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9718529
    Abstract: A marine transmission located within drive housing includes a torque transmitting gear set and a clutch mechanism. The torque transmitting gear set includes top and bottom bevel gears and opposing side idler bevel gears mounted to a pinion shaft. The pinion shaft is mounted on a carrier and the clutch mechanism engages the carrier to rotate with the input shaft to drive the output shaft in the forward direction and engages the carrier to a reaction plate fixed to the drive housing to drive the output shaft in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Cameron Philip Williams, Carl David Schleuder, Jefferey R. Ziemba
  • Patent number: 9709145
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features an impeller including an impeller shell and impeller blades, and a turbine-piston including a turbine-piston shell and turbine blades. The turbine-piston is movable axially toward and away from the impeller shell to position the torque converter (or a hydrokinetic torque coupling device containing the torque converter) into and out of lockup mode. The impeller shell comprises a toroidal impeller shell portion that terminates at a first distal end clutch surface. The turbine-piston shell comprises a toroidal turbine-piston shell portion and a folded-over portion folded over onto the toroidal turbine-piston shell portion so as to engage the toroidal turbine-piston shell portion of the turbine-piston shell. The turbine-piston shell terminates at a second distal end clutch surface defined by the toroidal turbine-piston shell portion and the folded-over portion so that the second distal end clutch surface faces the first distal end clutch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Sungchul Lee
  • Patent number: 9709101
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for transmitting power from an output shaft of an engine to an input shaft of a gearbox includes annular friction surfaces on at least one of the flywheel and the pressure plate. The annular friction surface has a plurality of grooves that extend across the annular friction surface away from an inner rim of the friction surface toward an outer rim of the friction surface to prevent a reduction in friction caused by outgassing or abraded particles trapped between engaging friction surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: EXEDY GLOBALPARTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Evan Cline
  • Patent number: 9709136
    Abstract: Planetary gear systems, transmissions, and apparatuses include a plurality of compound planet gears, each having three gear stages, a first non-fixed annular gear, a second non-fixed annular gear, a fixed annular gear, and a non-fixed sun gear. A rotational input to the non-fixed sun gear results in opposite rotational outputs of the first non-fixed annular gear and the second non-fixed annular gear. Compound planet gears and carriers for planetary gear systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott Hendrik Bouwer, Christopher C. Pierce, Mark Joseph Robuck
  • Patent number: 9689490
    Abstract: Methods for machine velocity change gear selection and shift execution are disclosed. A current velocity and a maximum velocity change for a work machine from the current velocity may be determined. The maximum velocity change may be based on a maximum amount of energy expended to change the velocity of the work machine without exceeding an operational limit of a work machine component. A selected machine velocity change target gear may be a highest one of the available gears that will not cause a difference between the current velocity and an end of shift velocity of the work machine that is greater than the maximum velocity change so that the maximum amount of energy will not be exceeded. Factors affecting the maximum velocity change may include the grade, the mass of the work machine, and a transmission oil temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jaspen Tanner Patenaude, Matthew Donald Meads, Kranthi Kumar Kothamachu, John Bernard Hessling, III
  • Patent number: 9683635
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a first planetary gearset and a second planetary gear set is provided. In particular, the first planetary gearset includes a plurality of first rotational elements, one of which is coupled with an output shaft of the engine and one of which is coupled with a first motor generator, and two of which are allowed to be directly selectively connected directly by a clutch. The second planetary gearset includes a plurality of second rotational elements, one of which is permanently coupled with one of the first rotational elements of the first planetary gearset, one of which is coupled with a second motor generator and one of which is connected directly with drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seong Ik Park
  • Patent number: 9671015
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device includes: a torque upper limit setting module that sets an upper limit of torque based on an allowable input torque for the continuously variable transmission, the upper limit of torque limiting an output torque of an engine; a determination torque calculation module that determines an acceleration requested by a driver based on an amount of operation of an accelerator, obtains a running resistance of a vehicle according to the requested acceleration, and calculates a determination torque for determining abnormality of the upper limit of torque based on the running resistance of the vehicle and a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission; and an abnormality determination module that determines the upper limit of torque to be abnormal in the case where the upper limit of torque is less than or equal to the determination torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9657822
    Abstract: A gear system for combining inputs is provided. The gear system can includes: a first power source that generates a rotational force; a second power source that generates a rotational force identical to or different from the rotational force of the first power source; a third power source that generates a rotational force identical or different from the rotational forces of the first power source and the second power source; and a gear unit that generates a resultant output by combining the rotational forces from the first power source to the third power source, in which the gear unit generates a resultant output by combining torque of any two of the first power source to the third power source and combining a speed of the other power source. According to this configuration, it is possible to generate various outputs from various power sources having the same or different characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: HYCORE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Park, Ho Yul Lee
  • Patent number: 9657826
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle includes an electric motor with a stator disposed circumferentially around a rotor. The rotor connects to a support frame that extends radially inwards to couple the rotor to a first planetary gear assembly and a second planetary gear assembly. The stator, rotor and the first and second planetary gear assemblies are disposed within a stationary housing. The first and second planetary gear assemblies couple to first and second clutch packs respectively, that are disposed outside of the stationary housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Morgan
  • Patent number: 9656658
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a power distribution mechanism including a plurality of rotation components; a friction engagement device which is interposed between the engine and the rotation component connected to the engine; and a control device which performs a stop control for the engine and a release control for the friction engagement device so as to cause the vehicle to travel only by the power of the second rotary machine and performs an engagement control for the friction engagement device while the vehicle travels only by the power of the second rotary machine so as to perform a push-start of the engine, and the control device controls the first rotary machine so that the friction engagement device is maintained in a half engagement state at a differential rotation speed higher than a predetermined rotation speed during the push-start of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Seitaro Nobuyasu
  • Patent number: 9651148
    Abstract: Within of the method for improving the shifting quality at the start of the commissioning of a new automatic transmission or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle, a filling pressure adaptation is carried out by individual gearshifts. At least one adaptation counter is monitored, which indicates the number of the carried out filling pressure adaptations of at least one shifting element with one individual gearshift from the commissioning of the new automatic transmission or automated transmission. As long as the value of a specified number of monitored adaptation counters falls below a specified threshold value, no D-R and R-D reversing operations are permitted by the transmission control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hess, Philipp Koelbl
  • Patent number: 9650760
    Abstract: A control device of a wheel loader obtains a first ratio between a value corresponding to a target traveling distance for the wheel loader, when it travels to a discharge position where an excavated substance is discharged after an excavation with a bucket, and a value corresponding to a target elevation amount for an elevation of a boom after a motion is started. The control device also obtains a second ratio between a value corresponding to an actual traveling distance after the wheel loader starts its motion to the position where the excavated substance is discharged after the excavation with the bucket, and a value corresponding to an actual elevation amount of the boom after the motion is started. The control device then controls a transmission toque transmitted to a drive wheel from an engine in order that a difference between the first ratio and the second ratio becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuu Sakon
  • Patent number: 9649927
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain unit comprises an engine and a gearbox device with a primary shaft connectable to a shaft of the engine via a clutch device. The gearbox device comprises a secondary shaft with an output pinion meshing with a first crown wheel of a differential, the casing of which is rigidly connected to a casing of the gearbox device. The unit comprises an electric machine configured to operate as an electric motor and as an electric generator, and having a shaft connected by a transmission to a second crown wheel of the differential. In the transmission, arranged between the electric machine shaft and the second crown wheel is an engagement device that can be operated via an electronically controlled actuator. The transmission that connects the electric machine shaft to said second crown wheel includes an auxiliary shift device configured for providing at least two different selectable transmission ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Piazza, Marco Garabello, Gianluigi Pregnolato, Fabio Pesola
  • Patent number: 9643590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting a transmission of a hybrid driveline that include a torque converter with a lockup clutch are presented. The systems and methods may adjust a feedforward motor torque command to match application of motor torque to a time that a gear clutch closes so that shifting may be improved and so that driveline torque disturbances may be less noticeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Matthew John Shelton, Stuart N. Ford, Todd McCullough
  • Patent number: 9644733
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Benjamin Berger, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 9643608
    Abstract: A vehicular power transmission device that includes a parking gear that is drivingly coupled with wheels; a parking pawl that is capable of meshing or unmeshing with or from the parking gear; a hydraulic pressure actuator that unmeshes the parking pawl from the parking gear when a release hydraulic pressure is supplied; a first oil pump that generates a hydraulic pressure; a second oil pump that generates a hydraulic pressure, the second oil pump having a capacity smaller than the first oil pump; a hydraulic pressure control device that is capable of deriving the release hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure generated by the second oil pump or the hydraulic pressure generated by the first oil pump and supplying the release hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pressure actuator; and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kasuya, Masashi Kito, Yuichi Seki, Makoto Iwanaka
  • Patent number: 9638314
    Abstract: A number of variations may comprise a method comprising: a lubrication system for a transfer case comprising: actively managing an oil level in a plurality of sumps in a transfer case by rotating at least one rotating element in the transfer case to transfer oil through the transfer case to lubricate the transfer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy L. Cradit, Christopher J. Kowalsky, Kristoffer Nilsson, Daniel Kent Rosengren, John Rode
  • Patent number: 9631716
    Abstract: A pin assembly for use in a planetary gear, including a pin defining a blind bore therein, the blind bore extending axially from an opening and terminating with an end face, the pin defining an inlet bore and an outlet bore, and a plug including a substantially cylindrical body including a circular base wall and a sidewall extending from its outer perimeter, the sidewall defining an inlet recess and an outlet recess. The inlet recess and outlet recess of the plug are aligned with the inlet bore and outlet bore, respectively, of the pin when the plug is inserted in the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Koyo Bearings North America LLC
    Inventors: Giovanni DiMatteo, Dan Watson
  • Patent number: 9624989
    Abstract: A freewheel (4) having a first running ring (28), a second running ring (30), a clamping gap (32) formed between the first and second running rings (28, 30), and at least one clamping element (34) in the clamping gap (32), the clamping gap (32) being assigned a side wall (40; 52) on which the at least one clamping element (34) can be or is supported. A side (60; 64) of the clamping element (34) which faces toward the side wall (40; 52) and/or that side (68; 72) of the side wall (40; 52) which faces toward the clamping element (34) is provided with a friction-reducing, wear-reducing and/or corrosion-reducing coating (62, 66; 70, 74) or surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Baeumler, Erwin Josef Lipp, Dirk Achim Schmitt