Patents Examined by Dirk Wright
  • Patent number: 10948064
    Abstract: A method for controlling a differential braking arrangement of a vehicle, said vehicle comprising at least one auxiliary braking arrangement and at least one differential braking arrangement, said auxiliary braking arrangement and said differential braking arrangement being connected to a pair of propelled wheels of said vehicle, wherein the differential braking arrangement is arranged to control a relative rotational speed between the pair of propelled wheels, wherein the method comprises the steps of receiving a signal indicative of a downhill slope for a road ahead of said vehicle; determining an inclination of said downhill slope; determining a braking power needed for the at least one auxiliary braking arrangement for preventing the vehicle speed of the vehicle from exceeding a predetermined speed limit when driving at the downhill slope; and engaging the at least one differential braking arrangement for reducing the relative rotational speed between the propelled wheels if the determined braking power o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Niklas Öberg, Anders Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10941855
    Abstract: A controller performs control in a vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism, a forward clutch, an engine rotation sensor. a PRI rotation sensor, and a rotation sensor. The controller determines a rotation direction of a primary pulley corresponding to a rotation direction of a carrier on the basis of a rotation speed corresponding to a rotation speed of a sun gear, a rotation speed corresponding to a rotation speed of the carrier C, and a rotation speed of a ring gear, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiya Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10940829
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes an electrical power output is described. In one example, the method includes preventing shifting of transmission gears in response to an external electric power consumer being coupled to an electrical power output receptacle of the vehicle. The method may reduce a possibility of interrupting electrical power that may be supplied to the external electric power consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Herhusky, Scott Steadmon Thompson, John Eric Rollinger, Adam J. Richards, Vincent Martinez
  • Patent number: 10933733
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for hybrid electric vehicle includes: input shaft coaxially disposed with an engine output shaft receiving engine torque; first and second output shafts coaxially disposed forward and rearward sides on the input shaft; third output shaft coaxial with the first output shaft; a shared drum connected to the input shaft and formed with a motor gear gear-meshed with a motor; an engine clutch sharing the shared drum and selectively transmitting torque between the engine output shaft and the input shaft; first and third clutches disposed in rows within the shared drum and selectively transmitting torque from the input shaft to the first and third output shafts; a planetary gear set disposed on the second output shaft and connected to the second output shaft; and a second clutch external to the planetary gear set and selectively connecting the input shaft and the planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juhyeon Park, Seong Wook Hwang, Jae Young Jeon, Dongwoo Gwak, Seongeun Yun, Wonmin Cho, Bong Hyun Cho, Seongwook Ji
  • Patent number: 10933736
    Abstract: A drive system having eCVT functionality with AMT cost advantages includes a transmission having a plurality of different operating modes. The system includes a transmission output shaft, a stationary member and a gear set including first, second, and third elements. The first element connects with the transmission output shaft. An output shaft of a non-electric power plant connects with the first element through the second element for driving the first element. A drive shaft of an electric power plant connects with the first element through the third element for driving the first element. The system includes a plurality of non-friction, controllable, coupling assemblies. A first coupling assembly has a first coupling state for grounding the second element to the stationary member, a second coupling state for grounding the third element to the stationary member and an uncoupling state to allow the second and third elements to drive the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Philip B. Woodley
  • Patent number: 10933857
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas aftertreatment device has a control system that determines a vector field of corresponding engine operating points (nEngi, MEngi) depending on a predetermined reducing agent-fuel consumption weighting qFD to be maintained during the operation of the internal combustion engine in order to derive a specific DEF-fuel consumption BSFCi for each of the engine operating points (nEngi, MEngi). The control system selects the element iSet from the identified vector field to which a minimum specific DEF-fuel consumption BSFCSet corresponds as the setpoint engine operating point (nEngSet, MEngSet), wherein the control system specifies a setpoint engine speed nEngSet according to the selected element iSet and specifies therefrom a setpoint gear ratio rSet, taking into account a current gearbox output speed nout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Manuel Billich
  • Patent number: 10933732
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission (100) for a hybrid drive arrangement which can be coupled to two drive assemblies (7, 8), comprising an input shaft (10), and an output shaft (11), at least one first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth shifting element (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6), and at least one planetary gear (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Lucius Dempel, Dominik Eszterle, Thomas Huber, Christian Wirth, Simon Brummer, Tom Smejkal
  • Patent number: 10926779
    Abstract: A vehicle has an accelerator pedal in communication with a prime mover, a transmission, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to receiving a first input indicative of a vehicle state and a second input indicative of a curve along a vehicle path within a predetermined time interval, downshift the transmission and modify a driver torque request map associated with the accelerator pedal to reduce a percentage of pedal travel associated with positive drive torque. A method of controlling a vehicle includes downshifting a transmission and modifying a driver torque request map associated with an accelerator pedal to reduce a percentage of pedal travel associated with positive drive torque when a vehicle state and a curve from an electronic horizon system predict a vehicle lateral acceleration in the curve being above a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Sullivan, Jianbo Lu, Sanghyun Hong, Zhengyu Dai
  • Patent number: 10920733
    Abstract: A combination starter-generator device includes an electric machine and a gear set configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the engine and to couple the electric machine and the engine in a first power flow direction and a second power flow direction. The gear set is configured to operate in one of multiple gear ratios in the first power flow direction and at least one gear ratio in the second power flow direction. The starter-generator device further includes a clutch arrangement with at least one active clutch selectively coupled to the gear set to effect the gear ratios in the first power flow direction and in the second power flow direction. The clutch arrangement further includes at least one drag clutch to apply a drag force on the gear set to slow the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Lisa R. Lloyd, Jeffrey S. Turner
  • Patent number: 10920730
    Abstract: A combination starter-generator device is provided for a work vehicle having an engine. The starter-generator device includes an electric machine; a gear set configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the engine and to couple the electric machine and the engine in a first power flow direction and a second power flow direction. The gear set is configured to operate in one of at least a first gear ratio, a second gear ratio, or a third gear ratio in the first power flow direction and at least a fourth gear ratio in the second power flow direction. The starter-generator device further includes a dog clutch arrangement selectively coupled to the gear set to effect the first, second, and third gear ratios in the first power flow direction and the fourth gear ratio in the second power flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Lisa R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10919534
    Abstract: A slip control method and arrangement for a driveline is described herein. The driveline includes a clutch that is so controlled as to slip when a torque higher than the usable torque attempts to pass through. Accordingly, the clutch prevents the prime mover from stalling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSMISSION CVTCORP INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Guerin, Jean-Francois Dionne
  • Patent number: 10920705
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reduction of VDE harmonics and improvement in the phase alignment of powertrain sensor signals that are asynchronously tasked. In one example, torque converter slip control is improved in a variable displacement engine by processing a raw torque converter turbine speed signal with a moving average filtered engine speed signal. By determining an actual delay between the sampled signals and adjusting a downstream filter parameter, a desired delay can be provided between the samples to align the phases and reduce the signal harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Bradley Dean Riedle, Stuart N. Ford
  • Patent number: 10919385
    Abstract: Provided herein is an electric powertrain including a differential assembly operably coupled to a drive axle having a set of wheel coupled to the ends thereof; a planetary gear set connected to the differential, the planetary gear set having a sun gear, a planet carrier supporting a plurality of planet gears, and a ring gear, wherein the planet carrier is drivingly engaged with the differential assembly; a first electric motor/generator; a second electric motor/generator; a first gear pass drivingly connected the first electric motor/generator and the ring gear; and a second gear pass drivingly connected the first electric motor/generator and the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 10920865
    Abstract: A differential includes a housing, an internal gear pair having an oscillating gear A and an output gear A, an internal gear pair consisting of an oscillating gear B and an output gear B, at least two A-type intermediate gears, and at least two B-type intermediate gears. Each A-type intermediate gear is radially fixed to the housing, and an axis of rotation of each A-type intermediate gear is parallel to an axis of rotation of the housing. Each A-type intermediate gear is meshed with at least one B-type intermediate gear, and the gear ratio of each gear pair consisting of an A-type intermediate gear and a B-type intermediate gear is the same. Each A-type intermediate gear includes an eccentric shaft having an axis parallel to its axis of rotation, and the eccentric shaft on each A-type intermediate gear has the same distance from the axis of rotation of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Zilong Ling
    Inventor: Zilong Ling
  • Patent number: 10914256
    Abstract: An in-vehicle controller prohibits engagement of a lock-up clutch when a temperature of a fluid that actuates the lock-up clutch is lower than a prescribed temperature. In addition, the in-vehicle controller stops fuel injection by a fuel injection valve when fuel cut conditions including such a condition that the lock-up clutch is engaged are established. Under a situation where the temperature of the fluid is lower than the prescribed temperature, in the case where a PM accumulation amount on a filter is equal to or larger than an accumulation amount threshold, the in-vehicle controller executes speed increase processing so as to execute gear shift control of a continuously variable transmission such that a rotational speed of a turbine impeller in a torque converter is increased to be higher than that in a case where the PM accumulation amount is smaller than the accumulation amount threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryota Iwasaki, Yoshitsugu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 10906385
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain with a flywheel-based short-term energy storage system (SESS), including control and design optimization for a hybrid electric vehicle with the flywheel as a third energy storage system. The powertrain comprises three different propulsion systems including: an internal combustion engine (ICE); an electric motor (EM) with battery; and a flywheel and continuously variable transmission (CVT) that comprise the SESS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jifei Yan, Andrew Frank
  • Patent number: 10907731
    Abstract: A control device for a power transmission mechanism, includes: a continuously variable transmission including a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, an oil pump; and a hydraulic control device to control a primary thrust for moving a primary movable sheave of the primary pulley and a secondary thrust for moving a secondary movable sheave of the secondary pulley, so that in a case where a secondary target pressure for generating the secondary thrust is smaller than an oil pump discharge capacity when a maximum gear ratio is requested, a primary target pressure for generating the primary thrust is made smaller than that in a case where the secondary target pressure is larger than an oil pump discharge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 10899224
    Abstract: A ride-on vehicle, such as for a child, includes a vehicle body and one or more wheels that support the vehicle body relative to a surface. At least one of the wheels includes a hub motor arrangement that provides a drive torque for propelling the vehicle. The hub motor arrangement includes a housing defining an interior space. An axle or other mounting element(s) define an axis of rotation of the housing. Preferably, the axle or other mounting element(s) do not pass completely through the housing. A motor drives the housing through a transmission. Preferably, the motor is a standard, compact motor that is positioned on the axis of rotation and can be laterally offset from a central plane of the housing. In some embodiments, a traction element is carried directly by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RAZOR USA LLC
    Inventor: Joey Chih-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 10883548
    Abstract: An electric axle is configured to selectively enable an electric motor to power a drive shall of a vehicle. The electric axle includes a differential planetary gearset configured to transmit drive torque to a drive shaft. The differential planetary gearset has a sun gear configured to circumscribe the drive shaft. A clutch is configured to selectively non-rotatably couple the sun gear to the drive shaft. The clutch may include a sleeve moveable in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 10875409
    Abstract: A power transmission control device includes a first rotation shaft, a first power source to adjust rotation speed of the first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft interlocked with an axle, a first switching mechanism to connect/disconnect switching between the first and second rotation shafts, a third rotation shaft, a second power source to adjust rotation speed of the third rotation shaft, and a second switching mechanism to connect/disconnect switching between the third rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft. At least one switching mechanism of the first switching mechanism and the second switching mechanism is a dog clutch type, and reliably and stably performs the connection switching thereof. A control stores information on a rotation phase of the first/third rotation shafts. At least one of the first/second switching mechanisms is held in a connected state, and the rotation phase is adjusted based on stored information at the connection switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideto Manta, Hiroki Inoue, Mitsutoshi Kamiya