Patents Examined by David Morris
  • Patent number: 9321344
    Abstract: A transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include two shafts, two hollow shafts and two motor/generators. A first shaft connected to an engine. A first hollow shaft disposed without rotational interference with the first shaft, selectively connected to the first shaft, and provided with a first output gear. A second hollow shaft disposed without rotational interference with the first hollow shaft and provided with a second output gear. A second shaft disposed in parallel with the first shaft and operably connected to the first shaft and the first hollow shaft through a gear unit to selectively transmit torque of the first shaft to the first hollow shaft. Clutches may connect the first shaft and the second shaft selectively to the first hollow shaft. A first motor/generator operably connected to the second hollow shaft and a second motor/generator operably connected to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Baekyu Kim, SeongGon Byun, Chulmin Ahn, Kwangmin Choi, Tae Sic Park, Seok Joon Kim, Jun Hoi Huh
  • Patent number: 9308908
    Abstract: A method of down-shifting a transmission avoids output shaft oscillations by briefly increasing the torque capacity of an off-going element at the end of the inertia phase. The torque capacity of the off-going element is then reduced to zero when the measured transmission speed ratio begins to decrease. The method is suitable for downshifts that involve multiple off-going elements and multiple on-coming elements such as a shift from tenth gear to sixth gear in a ten speed transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Hong Jiang, Bradley Dean Riedle, Vladimir Ivanovic
  • Patent number: 9306430
    Abstract: An in-wheel assembly includes an in-wheel actuator and a wheel. The in-wheel actuator includes a driving motor; a hollow shaft which is disposed inside of the driving motor and driven by a rotational speed of the driving motor to rotate; a decelerator which is arranged in an inner space of the hollow shaft and configured to reduce a rotational speed of the hollow shaft and output the reduced rotational speed to an output shaft; and a shaft support which is configured to support the hollow shaft to rotate with respect to the driving motor and the decelerator. The wheel accommodates the in-wheel actuator and is driven by a rotational speed decreased by the decelerator to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Cho, Seong-Taek Lim, Sung-Hyuk Park
  • Patent number: 9303727
    Abstract: A planetary transmission includes an annulus on which a cover is arranged and a planet spider having a planet spider journal facing the cover. The planetary transmission further includes an intermediate element connected to the planet spider journal or to a sun wheel shaft such that the intermediate element is arranged at least partially between the planet spider journal or the sun wheel shaft and the cover. One or more of the planet spider journal and the sun wheel shaft are configured to be moved relative to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Reimann, Markus Magiera, Stefan Hesterberg, Christian Kapschick
  • Patent number: 9297323
    Abstract: An unlock operation of a lockup clutch and a shift-up operation of an automatic transmission are performed together when an accelerator pedal of a vehicle is released in a state where the lockup clutch is in a lockup state. An engine rotation speed immediately after the shift-up operation is estimated on the basis of the engine rotation speed and a gear ratio of the automatic transmission after the shift-up operation. If a fuel recovery operation is predicted to be performed immediately after the shift-up operation, the fuel-cut operation is prevented, thereby suppressing a shock from occurring due to the fuel recovery when a foot release shift-up operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kawamoto, Masahiro Iriyama
  • Patent number: 9297448
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing having opposite sidewalls and an outer wall extending between and connecting the opposite sidewalls, an impeller coaxial aligned with the rotational axis, a piston engagement member extending substantially radially inward from and non-moveable relative to the outer wall of the casing, and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the piston engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Alexandre Depraete, Michel Bacher, Gyubong Jeon, Zane Yang
  • Patent number: 9297456
    Abstract: The rate of change of transmission output torque is computed based on the differential speeds of the axles and of the transmission output shaft adjusting for final drive ratio. The speed of the axle is measured by an anti-lock braking system and communicated to the transmission controller over a communications bus. To compensate for the delay introduced by the communications bus, a shift register delays the signal from the transmission output shaft speed sensor. The resulting estimate of rate of change of transmission output torque may be used directly to control the torque capacity of one or more transmission clutches. Additionally, the resulting estimate may be combined with an independent output torque estimate to yield a more accurate output torque estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Glenn Fodor, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Bradley Dean Riedle, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Patent number: 9291213
    Abstract: A clutch assembly comprising a clutch housing, a central piston chamber positioned therein and a translatable clutch piston movable between a piston neutral and activated positions in response to air pressure. A rotating drive shaft member is positioned within the clutch housing. A cone clutch friction member is moved from a clutch engaged position to a clutch disengaged position in response to the translatable clutch piston moving between the piston neutral and activated positions. The cone clutch friction member engages the rotating drive shaft when in the clutch engaged position. A clutch spring biases the cone clutch friction member into the clutch engaged position with a clutch engagement force. The cone clutch friction member comprises a V-shaped member with a hollow or solid core, or a bent metal member. Friction material is positioned on at least the surfaces which engage and make contact with the rotating drive shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Borg Warner Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel E. Settineri
  • Patent number: 9291209
    Abstract: A rotation clamping mechanism includes a rotating member and at least two engagement members that are attached to the rotating member and transmit rotational power. The engagement members engage a rotated object placed in a predetermined positional relationship with the engagement members. The rotated object is rotated by rotating the rotating member. The engagement members are supported on the rotating member so as to swing to an engagement position where power is transmitted to the rotated object and to a release position where engagement is released. The rotation clamping mechanism further includes: an opening/closing mechanism that moves the engagement members between the engagement position and the release position; and a biasing member that biases the engagement members toward the engagement position. At the engagement position, the engagement members clamp the rotated object in a floating state with the engagement members pressed onto the rotated object by the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HIRATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisayuki Sueoka, Yasuhiko Wakatsuki, Hideto Maeda, Hiroaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9291245
    Abstract: The first planetary gear set is configured to integrally rotate by a first clutch. The first element is coupled with the fifth element. The second element is configured to be locked through a first brake to a stationary section and configured to be coupled through a second clutch with the ninth element. The third element is coupled with the input shaft. The fourth element is configured to be coupled through a third clutch with the ninth element. The sixth element is locked to the stationary section. The seventh element is configured to be locked through a second brake to the stationary section. The eighth element is coupled with an output shaft. The ninth element is coupled with the twelfth element. The tenth element is configured to be coupled through a fourth clutch with the output shaft. The eleventh element is coupled with the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Toru Takeuchi, Shoji Sugaya, Kazuo Oguri, Kenichi Watanabe, Kazuaki Aota, Yukiyoshi Inuta, Takayuki Okuda, Joerg Mueller, Rico Resch, Mirko Leesch
  • Patent number: 9285017
    Abstract: An automatic transmission for adjusting the relative speed between an input and output member. The transmission being configured with four planetary gears, the first having first to third rotary elements, the second having fourth to sixth rotary elements, the third having seventh to ninth rotary elements, the fourth having tenth to twelfth rotary elements. Three couplings between (i) first and sixth rotary elements, (ii) second and fifth rotary elements, and (iii) eighth and twelfth rotary elements. Three clutches are provided between (i) the second coupling and input member, (ii) third coupling and input member, and (iii) seventh rotary element and input member. Three brakes are provided at (i) the fourth rotary element, (ii) third coupling element, and (iii) tenth rotary element. The output member is connected to the third rotary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Otake, Toru Souda, Satoru Kasuya, Nobukazu Ike, Hiroshi Kato, Shinji Oita, Masaru Morise
  • Patent number: 9266519
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device includes an accumulator configured to accumulate oil supplied by a mechanical pump and supply the accumulated oil to a C1 control system (clutch) by discharging the accumulated oil; a first oil passage connected to the hydraulic route (clutch oil passage) on an upstream side of a SLC linear solenoid; a second oil passage connected to the hydraulic route on a downstream side of the manual valve; and connection control unit (a switching valve and a pressure accumulation control valve) configured to control the connection between the accumulator and the hydraulic route so that the accumulator is in communication with one of the first oil passage and the second oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuro Morino, Shuji Moriyama, Yoshio Ito
  • Patent number: 9267574
    Abstract: A method of a dual clutch transmission, a dual clutch transmission, and a vehicle equipped with the same which can reduce the load on a clutch on a start gear side to reduce the wear thereof and therefore make the clutch replacement interval longer. There are a first input shaft configured to be connected to a first clutch and a second input shaft configured to be connected to a second clutch. A set of odd-numbered gears and a set of even-numbered gears are arranged respectively across the first input shaft and second input shaft and an output shaft. When a vehicle starts, an absorbed energy Eabs by the second clutch is calculated while a start gear is partially connected to the second input shaft. The first clutch is partially connected (half clutch state) to the first input shaft, to which a support gear is synchronously engaged, when the absorbed energy exceeds a set value which is a predetermined threshold, the support gear having a gear ratio greater than that of the start gear by one speed or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Koji Terashima
  • Patent number: 9254741
    Abstract: An in-wheel assembly includes an in-wheel actuator and a wheel. The in-wheel actuator includes a driving motor, a decelerator which is disposed in the driving motor and configured to decrease a rotational speed received from the driving motor, and an output shaft which is configured to receive the rotational speed decreased by the decelerator. The wheel is configured to accommodate the in-wheel actuator in an inner space and is driven by the rotational speed of the output shaft to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Hyuk Park, Seong-Taek Lim, Jin-woo Cho
  • Patent number: 9255531
    Abstract: In an engine system of a machine having a multi fuel engine system, the occurrence of transient events such as gear shifts, grade changes and machine speed changes may be anticipated, and a fuel substitution strategy may be adjusted if necessary to optimize performance during the transient events. Transient events at a worksite may be anticipated and mapped by evaluating shift control logic strategies and worksite maps with truck route, speed and topographical information and determining where the fuel substitution strategy cannot meet the power requirements for the transient event. When it is determined that the machine is approaching an anticipated transient event, an appropriate fuel substitution adjustment can be executed to ensure the engine has sufficient power for the transient event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Mallikharjuna R. Boddu, Evan E. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 9239086
    Abstract: An external control type fan clutch device has a sealed housing with a torque transmission chamber incorporating a drive disk therein. The drive disk has an oil reserving chamber. The sealed housing is supported on a rotary shaft with the drive disk fixed thereto. A valve member (armature) controls opening and closing of an oil circulating flow passage hole provided on a side wall of the oil reserving chamber. The valve member has magnetism and is actuated by an electromagnet supported on the rotary shaft for opening or closing the oil circulating flow passage hole. A ring-like magnetic body is disposed between the electromagnet and the rotary shaft for efficiently transmitting a magnetic flux of the electromagnet to the armature of the valve member. The external control type fan clutch device achieves size reduction, weight reduction and power saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Kubota, Hiroki Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9234562
    Abstract: A damper device is provided between an engine and a transmission and has a torque distribution mechanism that is provided with a first input element connected to the engine, a second input element connected to the engine via a first elastic member, a first output element connected to transmission, and a second output element connected to the transmission via a second elastic member. The damper device further has a first clutch that is provided between the first output element and the transmission and that is switched between an engaged state of connecting the first output element to the transmission and a released state of disconnecting the first output element from the transmission, and a second clutch that is provided between the second output element and the transmission and that is switched between an engaged state of connecting the second output element to the transmission and a released state of disconnecting the second output element from the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ukon, Mamoru Murakami, Yuuki Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9222558
    Abstract: A geared infinitely variable transmission (GIVT) to provide a continuous output-to-input speed ratio from zero to a certain value is designed, and its working principle is illustrated. Crank-slider systems are used in the GIVT; the output-to-input speed ratio is changed with the crank length. Racks and pinions, controlled by planetary gear sets, are used to change the crank length when the cranks are rotating. One-way bearings rectify the output speeds from different crank-slider systems to obtain the output speed of the GIVT. Noncircular gears are used to minimize variations since the crank-slider systems can introduce variations of the instantaneous speed ratio. A direction control system is provided using planetary gear sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
    Inventors: Weidong Zhu, Xuefeng Wang
  • Patent number: 9222523
    Abstract: Techniques for transferring torque between a first unit, such as a mobile machine or a robot, and a second unit, such as a fixed or stationary machine. The units are arranged such that a drive coupler of the first unit designed for delivering torque about a drive axis can engage the driven coupler, which belongs to the second unit and has a driven axis, along an engagement direction that is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the driven axis. A lateral displacement mechanism of the first unit achieves a first-order coaxial alignment between the drive and driven axes. Additional measures are provided for improving engagement, coupling and reducing the level of axial misalignment. Techniques disclosed are tolerant of imprecise alignment between the drive and driven couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SOLARCITY, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel I. Fukuba, Benjamin D. Sumers, Jeremy P. Dittmer, Merritt J. Jenkins, Kevin C. Chu, Vayardo L. Ruiz
  • Patent number: 9206861
    Abstract: An integrated switchable shaft bearing having an inner ring, a circumferentially extending clutch groove, and axially extending cam pin openings. An outer ring is located about the inner ring, and rolling elements are located therebetween. A clutch ring with clutch fingers is located in the clutch groove. Cam pins are located in pin openings and extend beneath the clutch fingers. An actuator moves the cam pins from an engaged position, where cam portions each engage a respective one of the clutch fingers forcing it outwardly above a race surface of the inner ring into engagement with the rolling elements to transfer torque from the outer ring to the inner ring, to a released position, in which cam pins are disengaged from the clutch fingers, which move beneath the race surface of the inner ring so that the outer ring is rotatable relative to the inner ring via the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Vigel Russalian