Patents Examined by Dirk Wright
  • Patent number: 11447110
    Abstract: When braking of the electric vehicle is performed, the braking is controlled based on a target braking split ratio which is a target value of the ratio of the braking force that is applied to the rear wheels to a total braking force that is applied to the front and rear wheels. In this case, an initial value of the target braking split ratio is set to a value within an allowable range about a transmission split ratio when braking of the electric vehicle is started while the electric vehicle is being braked by the motor, the transmission split ratio being the ratio of a braking force that is transmitted from a drive shaft to the rear wheels via a driving force split device to a total braking force that is transmitted from the drive shaft to the front and rear wheels via the driving force split device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Yuuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11447137
    Abstract: Provided are a travel control device, a vehicle, a driving assistance device, and a travel control method that are capable of improving travel control responsiveness. The travel control device comprises: an automatic travel control unit that, when an automatic travel function is active for vehicle travel control, performs a process for calculating and outputting a target output torque for an engine installed in the vehicle through feedback calculation based on the difference between a target value for a control parameter related to the automatic travel function and the actual value of the control parameter; and an engine control unit that controls the engine such that the outputted target output torque and the output torque of the engine match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Hayashi, Masaichi Takahashi, Shinichirou Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 11440395
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle torque transfer system includes, among other things, an engine having an engine shaft, an electric machine having an electric machine shaft, a first clutch that is selectively engaged to rotatably couple together the engine shaft and the electric machine shaft such that the engine can drive rotation of the electric machine, and a second clutch that is selectively engaged to rotatably couple together the engine shaft and the electric machine shaft such that the electric machine can drive rotation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Zhengyu Dai, Michael Tekletsion Berhan
  • Patent number: 11441676
    Abstract: A rotary actuator used in a shift-by-wire system of a vehicle includes: a motor; an output shaft arranged parallel to a rotation shaft of the motor; and a deceleration mechanism that decelerates rotation of the motor and transmits it to the output shaft. The deceleration mechanism includes a drive gear provided over a rotation axis of the rotation shaft and a driven gear provided over a rotation axis of the output shaft to mesh with the drive gear. The driven gear is a separate member from the output shaft and is loosely fitted to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikine Kume, Kiyoshi Kimura, Hiroyuki Kado
  • Patent number: 11440531
    Abstract: An MG1 torque at a time of decreasing an engine speed of an engine is made larger when a turbocharging pressure by a turbocharger is higher than when the turbocharging pressure is lower. In this way, even if the losses of pumps of the engine differ due to the remaining turbocharging pressure during a transition of stopping the engine in turbocharging, it is possible to appropriately reduce the engine speed. Therefore, when the engine is being brought to a stop, it is possible to appropriately suppress vibration generated in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Yasutaka Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 11440434
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric generator, a drive motor, a power storage device, a power consuming device, and a controller. The controller is configured to control driving of the power consuming device. The controller is configured to execute power consumption increasing control when a vehicle power balance value is larger than a first threshold while the drive motor operates in a braking-period power generation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Asuka Takasaki
  • Patent number: 11440530
    Abstract: A speed change control system for a vehicle configured to reduce uncomfortable feeling of a driver when shifting an operating mode via the fixed mode. When a required drive force to propel the vehicle is increased, a controller shifts the operating mode from a first continuously variable mode to a second continuously variable mode via a fixed mode. In this case, the controller increases an engine speed to a first target speed from a point when shifting from the fixed mode to the second continuously variable mode, and further increase the engine speed to a second target speed calculated based on the required drive force. In addition, the controller reduces the first target speed with an increase in at least any one of a first elapsed time and a second elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro Shimura, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Patent number: 11434829
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may include a high speed spool, a low speed spool, a first epicyclic gear system, and a second epicyclic gear system. Generally, the high speed spool mechanically connects a high pressure turbine to a high pressure compressor, and the low speed spool mechanically connects a low pressure turbine to at least one of a fan and a prop via the first epicyclic gear system and to a low pressure compressor via the second epicyclic gear system, according to various embodiments. The first epicyclic gear system and the second epicyclic gear system may include a common sun gear shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 11427178
    Abstract: An HV-ECU calculates requested output torque Tec based on requested power and compares the requested output torque with controlled upper limit torque Teth. When requested output torque Tec has attained to controlled upper limit torque Teth, the HV-ECU restricts output torque of engine to controlled upper limit torque Teth and calculates actual output torque Ter at that time. Then, the HV-ECU calculates a difference (differential torque ?Te) between controlled upper limit torque Teth and actual output torque Ter. The HV-ECU learns controlled upper limit torque Teth based on differential torque ?Te.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11427204
    Abstract: A method for mitigating powertrain abuse on a grade can include determining the grade a machine is on, the machine including an impeller clutch located between an engine and a powertrain so as to connect and disconnect engine power from the powertrain; and if the grade is over a threshold, a controller ignores any operator input to the impeller clutch such that machine speed retarding is utilized to keep the machine at a proper speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Austin J. Scott, Jeffrey K. Berry, Amanda C. Doolittle, Bryan K. Schache, Sameer S. Marathe, Subrat S. Kamat
  • Patent number: 11420512
    Abstract: An integrated transmission includes a transmission housing having a first housing face through which the input shaft extends; a CVP housed within the housing; and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes an input arrangement contained within the housing and having at least one input transmission component selectively coupling the engine power and the CVP power; a variator arrangement contained within the housing, configured to receive the engine and CVP power and to selectively transfer the engine power, CVP power, and a summing of engine and CVP power as variator output power; and a transmission gear arrangement contained within the transmission housing engaged with the variator arrangement and configured to provide a selective gear reduction for transmission to an output shaft that extends out of the transmission housing. The integrated transmission includes a power electronics apparatus arranged within or on the transmission housing and electrically coupled to the CVP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stacy K. Worley, Ronald D. Bremner
  • Patent number: 11420535
    Abstract: The disclosure is a battery temperature raising device for hybrid vehicle that raises the temperature of a battery. In an engine travelling mode, when an engine water temperature is higher than a specified cooling water temperature, a first battery circuit is connected to a main circuit and the temperature of the battery is raised by cooling water in the main circuit (first temperature raising control). In a motor travelling mode, when a motor generator temperature is higher than a battery temperature, the first battery circuit and a heat exchanger flow path are connected to the main circuit, and thereby a closed circuit through which cooling water circulates without passing through an engine is formed, and the temperature of the battery is raised by the cooling water that is raised in temperature by heat exchange with a refrigerant in a heat exchanger (second temperature raising control).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Takazawa, Naoaki Takeda, Masayuki Toyokawa, Hajime Uto
  • Patent number: 11413946
    Abstract: An electric drive can comprise a housing assembly; an electric machine with a hollow shaft; a planetary gearing; and a power distribution unit having an input part and two output parts, the input part being connected to the planet carrier, one of the output parts being connected to an intermediate shaft extending through the hollow shaft; wherein the housing assembly comprises a motor-sided first housing part, a gearing-sided second housing part, and an intermediate housing part disposed therebetween, wherein the intermediate housing part includes, integrally formed, an intermediate wall, a motor-side jacket portion and a gearing-side jacket portion, wherein a sealed cavity for a coolant flowing therethrough is formed between an outer face of the motor-side jacket portion and the inner face of the first gearing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Marc Absenger, Waldemar Rupp, Mario Besgen, Dominic Eichholz, Tobias Sander, Hans-Joachim Schmeink, Colin Zaers
  • Patent number: 11407301
    Abstract: A first case portion includes an end wall portion disposed on a first axial side with respect to a transmission. A second case portion is disposed on the first axial side with respect to a rotor of a rotary electric machine, and includes a first support portion that supports a rotor shaft and a second support portion disposed on a second axial side with respect to the rotor of the rotary electric machine to support the rotor shaft. The second support portion includes a bearing attachment portion to which a rotor bearing for supporting the rotor shaft is attached, and radially extending portion that extends from bearing attachment portion toward an outer side in a radial direction. A speed reducer is disposed between the radially extending portion and the end wall portion in axial direction to face the radially extending portion and the end wall portion in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Daiki Suyama, Takuyo Maeda, Keita Inda, Kohei Ono, Toshihisa Mizutani, Ryosuke Muramatsu, Wataru Takaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11407398
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes a drive shaft, an engine coupled to the drive shaft, an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft, and a control unit. The control unit increases a torque of the electric motor when an accelerator pedal opening increases to equal to or more than a predetermined degree of opening during switching of driving sources, and decreases the torque of the electric motor while increasing the torque of the engine after a change of the torque of the engine turns to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Nishihiro, Masaharu Mochizulki, Takashi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 11400804
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle. The transmission arrangement has a change-speed transmission (1), in particular a group transmission (1) with a drive output side (1b), a drive output flange (2) and a countershaft (VW). An add-on transmission (3) is arranged on the change-speed transmission (1) and has at least one electric machine (EM) and at least one gear ratio step (Ü1). The at least one electric machine (EM) is connected to the countershaft (VW) by way of the at least one gear ratio step (Ü1) and can be engaged as an additional electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernard Hunold, Michael Preuss, Johannes Glueckler
  • Patent number: 11390155
    Abstract: A transmission for vehicles with hybrid propulsion systems. In particular agricultural or industrial vehicles, wherein the propulsion system comprises a motor of the non-regenerative type, a motor of the regenerative type which is associated with an energy accumulator and with a generator. The transmission includes an input shaft which is connected to the motor of the non-regenerative type and to which the generator is connected, a low-speed shaft and a high-speed shaft which can be selectively coupled to the input shaft by respective clutches, a movement combination device, an output shaft which is connected to the movement combination mechanism, and a blocking element which is configured to block the low-speed shaft or the high-speed shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CARRARO S.P.A.
    Inventor: Enrico Mangiaracina
  • Patent number: 11391368
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes: (a) a hybrid drive unit having (a-1) an automatic transmission, (a-2) a first rotating machine and (a-3) an engine connected to the first rotating machine through a hydraulically-operated connecting/disconnecting device; (b) an electric drive unit including a second rotating machine; and (c) a hybrid control device configured, in event of an anomaly that disables a shift control of the automatic transmission, to generate an electric power by causing the first rotating machine to be rotated by the engine and drive the hybrid vehicle to run by causing the second rotating machine of the electric drive unit to be operated with use of the generated electric power, in a state in which a power transmission through the automatic transmission is cut off and the connecting/disconnecting device is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Kitai, Kazuhiro Yamamoto, Kazuki Kojima, Hironori Sugiura, Ryuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11383693
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle with an engine and a rotary machine each coupled to a drive wheel in a power transmittable manner, comprises: an electronic control device that makes the rotary machine output a starting-time compensation torque to compensate a drop in a drive torque caused in a starting process of the engine in addition to a running torque when the engine is started while the vehicle is in a running state in which the drive torque is generated by the rotary machine and the engine is in a stopped state. The electronic control device starts the engine such that a starting-time inertia torque that is generated according to starting of the engine and causes the drop in the drive torque is made smaller when a torque margin of the rotary machine which is applied to the starting-time compensation torque is relatively small than when the torque margin is relatively large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tooru Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Koichi Okuda, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 11383594
    Abstract: A hybrid module includes a driveshaft connection point for receiving a first torque, a transmission shaft connection point for outputting a second torque, a torque-receiving means for receiving a third torque from an electrical machine, and a dry multiplate clutch. The dry multiplate clutch includes an outer plate holder, torsionally rigidly connected to the transmission shaft connection point and to the torque-receiving means, an inner plate holder, torsionally rigidly connected to the driveshaft connection point, at least one outer plate axially movably mounted in the outer plate holder, and a plurality of inner plates, axially movably mounted in the inner plate holder to form a stack of plates together with the at least one outer plate. When the stack of plates is axially pressed with a target contact pressure, a target torque can be transmitted from the driveshaft connection point to the torque-receiving means and the transmission shaft connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Meinhard