Patents Examined by David R Morris
  • Patent number: 10962096
    Abstract: A differential transmission for transmitting a torque to an axle of a motor vehicle, has at least one driveshaft and at least one output shaft, which are connectable in torque-transmitting manner via a clutch within a housing of the differential transmission, wherein the clutch is actuatable via an actuating device, wherein the actuating device is mounted on the housing, wherein the at least one output shaft is mounted in a rotatable manner via a bearing, wherein the bearing is mounted on the actuating device; wherein a stop is arranged on the at least one output shaft such that an actuating force that is provided for actuating the clutch and acts at least in an axial direction is supported on the stop at least via the actuating device and the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventor: Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 10955012
    Abstract: An electromagnetic connecting device includes a flange of a hub, an armature supported by the flange via a leaf spring, a rotor accommodating an electromagnetic coil, and an anti-vibration member. When an electric current is supplied to the electromagnetic coil, the armature moves in the axial direction of the hub against the spring force of the leaf spring, and is attracted to the rotor. The leaf spring includes a moving portion that moves in the axial direction together with the movement of the armature. The anti-vibration member is fixed to the moving portion of the leaf spring. The anti-vibration member includes a stopper that comes in contact with the flange, and a damper that comes in contact with the armature. With this configuration, an electromagnetic connecting device capable of reducing an impact sound both when the armature is attracted and released can be manufactured at a low manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: OGURA CLUTCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kurosu, Yoshinori Fujisawa, Daichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10948050
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle. The transmission (G) has a drive shaft (GW1), an output shaft (GW2-A), first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4) and first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth shift elements (B1, K1, K2, B2, K3, K4). Selective actuation of the six shift elements (B1, K1, K2, B2, K3, K4) implements eleven forward gears and two reverse gears between the drive shaft (GW1) and the output shaft (GW2-A). A drive train for a motor vehicle having such a transmission (G) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Michael Trübenbach, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 10935131
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a park lock assembly for a rotary component of a vehicle includes a lock body having at least one void, a lock member having an engagement portion selectively received within one of said at least one void, an actuator that drives the lock member to a position wherein the engagement portion may be received within one of said at least one void, and a biasing member received between the actuator and the lock member to permit the lock member to move relative to the actuator. The biasing member providing a force on the lock member tending to move the lock member toward the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Aubrey J. Nofzinger, David K. Wright, Michael Goatley, Clément G. Corselli
  • Patent number: 10935081
    Abstract: A clutch device is disclosed. The present device includes a driven plate having an annular shape and a clutch center. The driven plate includes a plurality of engaging recesses. The clutch center is rotatable about an rotational axis and makes the driven plate movable in an axial direction and non-rotatable relatively thereto when the driven plate is assembled thereto. Additionally, the clutch center includes a body having a cylindrical shape, one or more first teeth and one or more protruding teeth as a guide portion. The one or more first teeth are provided on the body and are configured to engage with the engaging recesses of the driven plate. The one or more protruding teeth function as a slide guide when the driven plate is slid onto the clutch center so as to be assembled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Imanishi, Hidenori Kitazawa, Koji Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 10927944
    Abstract: A planet carrier for an epicyclic gear train of a gas turbine engine gearbox includes a centrally disposed torque transfer coupling, a pair of carrier plates parallel to each to each other and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, and center arms radially extending radially outward from the torque transfer coupling to the carrier plates. A central bore is concentric with the longitudinal axis and forming a torque transmission point on the planet carrier. The center arms are axially disposed between the axially spaced apart carrier plates and have radially outer ends which terminate at an outer perimeter of the carrier plates. The center arms are thus entirely radially disposed within a radial outer perimeter of the carrier plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michel Desjardins, Louis Brillon
  • Patent number: 10920858
    Abstract: In a power-shift two-speed transmission for transmitting propulsion power, in particular propulsion power from an electric motor, within a motor vehicle drivetrain, possibly driven by electric motor, of a passenger car, by means of which a direct drive and a transmission stage with a transmission ratio that differs from the direct drive can be implemented and which has the three assembly units comprising an outer gear unit, a planet gear unit and a sun unit, it is provided for the propulsion power to be introduced into the transmission via the outer gear unit when propulsion power is being transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan Haupt, Moritz Abbenhaus, Maximilian Werkhausen
  • Patent number: 10914378
    Abstract: A shift by wire parking system includes a park gear including a gear body and a plurality of teeth. The teeth are circumferentially spaced from one another. The park gear defines a plurality of void spaces between each pair of the plurality of teeth. The shift by wire parking system includes a circumferential body sized to fit inside each of the plurality of void spaces to lock a position of the park gear. The circumferential body is movable towards and away from the park gear between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the circumferential body is disposed outside each of the plurality of void spaces, thereby allowing the park gear to rotate. In the engaged position, the circumferential body is disposed inside one of the void spaces to lock the position of the park gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dumitru Puiu, Gurdeep Singh, Alan G. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10914348
    Abstract: A vehicle control system in a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system with a clutch mechanism modulates a torque capacity of the clutch mechanism. The CVT system in the vehicle further includes a primary pulley, a secondary pulley and a CVT belt for transmitting a torque to wheels from a power source rotatably connected with an input shaft. The clutch mechanism includes a forward (FWD) clutch between the power source and a CVT pulley assembly. The vehicle control system detects a wheel slip of the CVT system and controls a torque capacity of the FWD clutch, and the system is configured for avoiding a slip of the CVT belt by dissipating a spike torque generated by the wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tucker Biallas, Taijin Jung, HyungHee Lee, Se Jin Kim, Ju Hyun Nam
  • Patent number: 10895062
    Abstract: Provide is a loading vehicle capable of quickly operating an object handling device in the upward direction while traveling forward. A wheel loader 1 comprises an engine 3, an HST pump 41, an HST motor 42, a forward/reverse changeover switch 62, a step-on amount sensor 610, a pressure sensor 73, and a controller 5. In a case where a specific condition for specifying lifting operation of a lift arm 21 during forward traveling of the vehicle body is satisfied, the controller 5 increases maximum rotational speed of the engine to a predetermined value Nmax2 which is greater than maximum engine rotational speed Nmax1 during traveling on the flat ground, and limit maximum vehicle speed to a predetermined value Vmax2 which is smaller than maximum vehicle speed Vmax1 prior to the lifting operation of the lift arm 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Yuki Ahiko, Tetsuji Tanaka, Isamu Aoki, Masaki Nukii, Masashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10895288
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a clutch pack retention system. The system may comprise a backup plate assembly. The backup plate assembly may comprise a pair of plates that are coupled together. The pair of plates may comprise first and second plates. The first and second plates comprise teeth. The teeth of the first plate may be removably engageable with corresponding portions of a circumferential groove extending along an inner diameter of a drum of a clutch system. The teeth of the second plate may be removably engageable with corresponding grooves extending longitudinally into the drum of the clutch system. Coupling the first and second plates together may angularly offset teeth of the first plate relative to teeth of the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: BD Engine Brake Inc.
    Inventors: Amritpal Singh Mann, Shayne Donovan Harder, Demissie Yigebiru
  • Patent number: 10889270
    Abstract: Differentials having plate packs for exerting a braking torque onto the output shafts of the gear unit are known. The brake device is intended to be designed such that effective braking can be achieved using it and that it is easy to service. To this end, the invention makes provision for the brake device to be a drum brake having a passive element, exhibiting a cylindrical frictional surface, and brake shoes, the frictional surfaces of which brake shoes can be placed against the cylindrical frictional surface of the passive element. The passive element can be a brake drum or a radial brake disk, the cylindrical edge of which serves as a frictional surface. The passive element is fastened to the differential cage and/or one of the shafts. The brake shoes are held in a pivotable manner on a carrier plate fastened to the outside of the differential housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Ulrike Meyer, Martin Semsch, Uwe Bach, Jens Hoffmann, Ahmed Sefo, Wolfgang Ritter, Martin Gädke, Holger von Hayn, Adrian Messner
  • Patent number: 10889284
    Abstract: An electric vehicle allows a user to experience changes in acceleration g-force, as with a conventional power plant, including: a transmission that sets a gearshift position based on a gearshift position command value to be supplied, and reduces a rotation speed of a motor with the gear ratio based on the gearshift position to rotationally drive wheels; a user operation unit that outputs the gearshift position command value and a speed control amount, based on user operation; and a controller that sets a DC voltage command value or an AC voltage command value to an operation-based value corresponding to the gearshift position and the speed control amount, and, on the condition that operation on the user operation unit satisfies a predetermined condition, sets the DC voltage command value or the AC voltage command value to a value higher than the operation-based value for causing a change in acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumiya Nishii
  • Patent number: 10883298
    Abstract: A lid controlling apparatus includes a casing having a target region, a lid, and a rod driving mechanism connected between the casing and the lid. The rod driving mechanism includes a first rod pivoted to the casing, a non-rotatable gear fixed to the casing, a driven gear pivoted to a side of the first rod and connected to the lid, and a planetary gear device pivoted to the side of the first rod and engaged with the non-rotatable gear and the driven gear for rotating between lifting and closed positions. When the planetary gear device rotates to the lifting position, the first rod pivots with rotation of the planetary gear device to have a first included angle relative to the casing, and the planetary gear device rotates the driven gear to make the lid have a second included angle relative to the first rod for exposing the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Tsun Hsieh, Po-Jen Liau
  • Patent number: 10876583
    Abstract: A clutch control device includes an engine, a gearbox, a clutch device configured to disconnect and connect power transmission between the engine and the gearbox, a clutch actuator configured to drive the clutch device and vary a clutch capacity, an engine rotational number sensor configured to detect an engine rotational number, a throttle opening angle sensor configured to detect a throttle opening angle, and a controller configured to calculate a control target value of the clutch capacity, wherein the controller calculates an estimated engine torque and causes the clutch device to change a slip clutch capacity according to the estimated engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ryuzaki, Go Morita, Junya Ono, Kohei Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10875507
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a floor panel; an under cover disposed below the floor panel in the vehicle; a parking lock mechanism, disposed between the floor panel and the under cover, switching, using an actuator, a locked state for constraining rotation of a wheel and an unlocked state for not constraining rotation of the wheel; and a parking lock manual releasing mechanism, disposed between the floor panel and the parking lock mechanism, switching, when the parking lock mechanism is in the locked state, the state of the parking lock mechanism to the unlocked state on a basis of manual operation of an operation portion. Further, the under cover includes a visual recognition hole for viewing the operation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawanishi, Yoshinori Morita, Eiji Ito
  • Patent number: 10865837
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided, which includes a friction engaging element. The friction engaging element includes a plurality of friction plates disposed inside a transmission case, a piston configured to cause the plurality of friction plates to be engaged with each other, and a spring configured to bias the piston. The spring includes a first spring and a second spring with a longer free length than the first spring, and the first spring and the second spring are aligned in circumferential directions of the transmission case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shota Yamakawa, Tatsuhiko Iwasaki, Tomotaka Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 10865865
    Abstract: A powertrain may include drive gears provided in an input shaft; an output shaft configured such that a differential is connected thereto; a first driven gear and a second driven gear rotatably provided in the output shaft to be engaged with the drive gears to form respective gear stages; a first clutch and a second clutch; two driveshafts provided to output power in opposed directions from the differential; and a third clutch configured to change a connection relationship among a selected driveshaft of the two driveshafts, the second driven gear, and the output shaft by sliding along an axial direction of the input shaft while being connected to the output shaft via the second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min Ho Chae, Yong Uk Shin, Soon Ki Eo, Sun Sung Kwon, Chon Ok Kim
  • Patent number: 10865878
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to improve acceleration response and shift feel by executing a power-on downshifting in a suitable manner. An evaluation of a skip shifting and an evaluation of a stepwise shifting are compared to each other when executing the downshifting, based on an evaluation index calculated in advance in accordance with an operating condition of an accelerator. The downshifting operation to be executed is selected from the stepwise shifting and the skip shifting whose evaluation is higher than the other one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Takeichi, Ayumu Sagawa
  • Patent number: 10859159
    Abstract: A control system to control slip of a torque converter clutch includes a clutch plant model configured to predict a value of a parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip as a function of clutch plant model inputs comprising commanded clutch pressure and of torque from the torque generative device. The control system also includes a model predictive controller configured to receive signals that allow determination of a desired value of the parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip and a predicted value of the parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip, receive a signal representing reported torque of the torque generative device, identify an optimal commanded clutch pressure value that will result in an optimal value of an objective function based on the clutch plant model, and provide a command signal to an actuator effective to control commanded clutch pressure to the torque converter clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jose C. Zavala Jurado, Gionata Cimini, Bryan P. Jagielo, Zhen Zhang, Yue-Yun Wang, Harinath Atmaram