Patents Examined by Dirk Wright
  • Patent number: 11383783
    Abstract: A bicycle control system may be configured to automatically control a bicycle, or components thereof. The bicycle control system may include a system control device configured to provide a simplified shifting system wherein large changes in speed associated with starting and stopping do not require the full attention of the automatic shifting system. The shifting system, or a system control device configured for controlling the shifting system, may be configured to determine when to enter an automatic shifting control mode, establish parameters for the automatic shifting of the automatic shifting control mode, and/or compare detected activities and values of the bicycle to the established parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Wesling
  • Patent number: 11383717
    Abstract: A pedal device includes a first link, a second link, and a return spring that biases the first link toward a standard position at which a pivot angle of the first link is zero. A ratio of a pivot angle of the second link to the pivot angle of the first link is maximum when the pivot angle of the first link is a reference angle. A target acceleration/deceleration of a vehicle is calculated so that in the range in which the pivot angle of the first link is smaller than the reference angle, a target deceleration of the vehicle increases as the pivot angle of the first link is smaller, and in the range in which the pivot angle of the first link is larger than the reference angle, a target acceleration of the vehicle increases as the pivot angle of the first link increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 11376951
    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: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz
  • Patent number: 11376954
    Abstract: A method for shifting a PTO transmission includes selecting a PTO output speed from one of a first PTO speed and a second PTO speed of the PTO transmission, operating the PTO transmission in a reduced power mode at the selected PTO speed, the reduced power mode providing lower power to the PTO transmission at the selected PTO speed than a normal operating mode, comparing an instantaneous drive power to a maximum drive power in the reduced power mode, and when the instantaneous drive power exceeds the maximum drive power, automatically shifting the PTO transmission under load from the reduced power mode to the normal operating mode and automatically adjusting a transmission ratio of a vehicle transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David Müller, Rainer Gugel
  • Patent number: 11376943
    Abstract: A driveline for a military vehicle includes an engine, an energy storage system, an accessory drive coupled to the engine, a transmission configured to couple to at least one of a front axle or a rear axle of the military vehicle, a second motor coupled to the transmission and electrically coupled to the energy storage system, and a clutch positioned between the engine and the second motor. The accessory drive includes an air compressor and a first motor. The first motor is electrically coupled to the energy storage system. The clutch is spring-biased into engagement with the engine and pneumatically disengaged by an air supply selectively provided thereto based on operation of the air compressor. The driveline is operable in a plurality of modes including an engine-only mode and an electric-only mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Smith, Dave Marek, Neil Dekarske, Mike Bolton, Ryan Crabtree, Joseph Dehaan, Rachell Harsh, Michael Koenigs, Shawn Naglik, Mitchel Nordahl, Evan Schertz, Mikel Ullman, Jessica Szymanski, Bradon Zeitler, Deepak Shukla, Ed Trinklein, Tim Voight, Mike Yanacek, Matt Mathison, Nader Nasr
  • Patent number: 11370407
    Abstract: A collinear relationship is satisfied in which rotation speeds of first to third rotation elements and rotation speeds of fourth to sixth rotation elements are arranged respectively in this sequence on a single straight line in a collinear diagram. The first and fourth rotation elements are connected with first and second power sources respectively. The second and fifth rotation elements are connected with first and second driven units respectively. The second and sixth rotation elements are connected with each other by a first connecting mechanism in a way that rotating directions thereof are the same, and rotation speed of the former is greater than that of the later. The third and fifth rotation elements are connected with each other by a second connecting mechanism in a way that rotating directions thereof are the same, and rotation speed of the former is greater than that of the later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kawahara, Noriyuki Abe, Shigemitsu Akutsu
  • Patent number: 11371585
    Abstract: An oil pump drive device (1) may include a housing (G), an oil pump drive shaft (AN), an electric motor, and a planetary gear set (RS). The planetary gear set (RS) may be supported by the housing (G) and have a first element (E1) connected to a rotor (R) of the electric motor, a second element (E2) connected to the oil pump drive shaft (AN), and a third element (E3) drivable by a drive source located outside the oil pump drive device (1). A first bearing (L1) may be supported on the housing (G) and may support at least one of the elements (E1, E2, E3) of the planetary gear set (RS) in a radial direction. The stator (S) of the electric motor is at least partially surrounded by a plastic mass (K), where the stator (S) is attached to the housing (G) via the plastic mass (K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Pöhnlein, Ingo Lippenberger, Ralf Schmieder
  • Patent number: 11365797
    Abstract: A motor assembly includes a motor including a rotor that rotates about a motor axis, a transmission that transmits motive power of the motor to an axle, a housing that accommodates the motor and the transmission, and an oil pump fixed to the housing. The housing includes a tubular motor housing extending along the motor axis, and the motor housing includes a rib on a side surface facing the oil pump. The rib protrudes to a radially outer side from the side surface, and has a plate shape extending along the motor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Ogasawara, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Jun Murakami, Yuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11364786
    Abstract: A transmission including an electric machine, a torque converter and a planetary gearset in a transmission housing that is connected to an engine. A turbine shaft is configured to transfer torque from the engine and the electric machine to the planetary gear set. A disconnect clutch selectively couples the input shaft from the engine to the torque converter housing of the torque converter. The disconnect clutch includes a disconnect clutch piston and a first balance dam. A torque converter clutch selectively connects the torque converter housing to the turbine and the turbine shaft. The torque converter clutch includes a torque converter clutch piston and a second balance dam. Ports in the housing permit automatic transmission fluid to flow between the turbine shaft and the torque converter clutch piston; the turbine shaft and the torque converter clutch piston; and the turbine shaft, the first balance dam, and the second balance dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew David Hammond, Gregory Daniel Goleski, Bryant L. Poynter, David Gon Oh
  • Patent number: 11359570
    Abstract: A method for automatically starting and stopping engine(s) of a vessel based on the position of a handle. Automatic starting occurs by activating an ignition circuit, receiving a signal indicating handle position, and providing a signal to start the engine when the handle is out of neutral position. A signal to shift the transmission into gear is sent when the handle is in an idle position. Automatic stopping of the engine includes receiving a signal the handle is in neutral, receiving status information of the engine, and providing a signal to stop the engine when the handle is in neutral and either the engine is not running or at least one of a number of conditions are met. A shutoff timer may delay auto stop of the engine, which may reset whenever any of the conditions ceases to be true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Company
    Inventor: Carver Buis
  • Patent number: 11358588
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an inverter of a hybrid vehicle traveling using a motor connected to a vehicle drive shaft through a transmission and an engine connected to the motor through an engine clutch, the apparatus includes: a hybrid control unit for requesting neutral control of the transmission according to a state of the inverter applying electric power of a battery to the motor, a state of a relay disposed between the battery and the inverter, and a speed of the motor during coasting of the vehicle; and a transmission control unit for controlling the transmission in a neutral mode at the request of the hybrid control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Tae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11353107
    Abstract: A valve system for a hydraulic emergency driving gear function of a hydraulic control unit for a motor vehicle automatic transmission includes a position valve (104) with a first piston slide (120) and an electromagnetic pressure regulator (86) having a decreasing characteristic curve. The first piston slide (120) is preloaded in a first position. When the first piston slide (120) is in a second position, the electromagnetic pressure regulator (86) is configured for connecting a system pressure-carrying line (18) of the motor vehicle automatic transmission to a first emergency driving gear clutch (12) of the motor vehicle automatic transmission and to a second emergency driving gear clutch (15) of the motor vehicle automatic transmission, whereby the first emergency driving gear clutch (12) and the second emergency driving gear clutch (15) are actuated, so that an emergency driving gear of the motor vehicle automatic transmission is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Markus Herrmann, Thilo Schmidt, Alexander Haberstock, Adriano Handrich
  • Patent number: 11345227
    Abstract: A transmission (2) includes a first input shaft (7) for a first prime mover (3), a second input shaft (8) for a second prime mover (4), as well as a first output shaft (9) and a second output shaft (10), which are each coupleable to a drive output (11). A first sub-transmission (5) includes the first input shaft (7), and fixed gears (12, 13) are arranged on the first input shaft (7). Each of these fixed gears (12, 13) meshes with a respective idler gear (14, 15) on the first output shaft (9) and with a respective idler gear (16, 17) on the second output shaft (10). Shift elements (A, B, C, D) are associated with the output shafts (9, 10), depending on which the idler gears of the output shafts are coupleable to the particular output shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. A second sub-transmission (6) includes the second input shaft (8) and is designed as a planetary transmission. A ring gear (22) forms the second input shaft (8). A carrier (23) is coupled to one of the output shafts (9, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Patent number: 11339869
    Abstract: A lubricating and cooling core for a mechanical reduction gear of a turbine engine, for example of an aircraft, is configured to be mounted in an axis of a planet gear of the reduction gear. The core includes first and second coaxial and substantially frusto-conical shields, each having a first end with a greater diameter and a second opposite end with a smaller diameter, the shields being secured to one another by their second ends and being configured to extend inside the axis and to cover at least a radially internal surface of the axis to define with the latter at least one annular cavity for the circulation of oil for lubricating and cooling the axis, the second ends of the first and second shields having fluid connection means configured to connect the at least one cavity to a source of lubricating and cooling oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Adrien Louis Simon, Jean-Charles Michel Pierre Di Giovanni, Boris Pierre Marcel Morelli
  • Patent number: 11338660
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle, including a gear assembly including a gear assembly housing defining a hollow portion therein, a first gear shaft having a first gear, a second gear shaft having a second gear and a third gear, wherein at least a portion of the second gear is drivingly connected to the first gear and the third gear, and at least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within the hollow portion of the gear assembly housing; a motor assembly having an output shaft that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the gear assembly; and a first mounting assembly including a portion integrally connected to the modular electric head assembly and a portion integrally connected to a support member of the vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the third gear is drivingly connected to a pair of drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Laforce, Steven G. Slesinski, Harry W. Trost, George A. Willford
  • Patent number: 11338661
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with such a transmission (G) and to a method for operating same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Patent number: 11338663
    Abstract: A transmission (2) of a motor vehicle includes a first input shaft (7) for a first prime mover (3), a second input shaft (8) for a second prime mover (4), and an output shaft (9). A first sub-transmission (5) includes the first input shaft (7) and a countershaft (11) coupled to the first input shaft (7) via a constant ratio. Gearwheels (16, 17, 18) are arranged on the countershaft (11), which mesh exclusively into gearwheels (12, 13, 15) arranged coaxially to the first input shaft (7). At least some of these gearwheels (14, 15) mesh into gearwheels (20, 21) arranged on the output shaft (9). Shift elements (A, B, C, D) are associated with the first input shaft (7) as well as with the countershaft (11), which provide either a gear with a first number of instances of gearwheel meshing or a winding-path gear with a second number of instances of gearwheel meshing. A second sub-transmission (6) includes the second input shaft (8) and is designed as a planetary transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Patent number: 11331996
    Abstract: A transmission has an input shaft, an output shaft coaxial to the input shaft, an intermediate shaft, a differential gear, and only one electric machine for driving a hybrid vehicle. The rotational axes of the input shaft, the intermediate shaft, the differential gear, and a rotor of the electric machine are axially parallel. The differential gear includes torque-transmitting interfaces to drive shafts connected to driving wheels of the hybrid vehicle. Torque is transmitted between the output shaft and the differential gear via the intermediate shaft. The rotor is permanently connected, via a constant gear ratio, to either the input shaft or a further shaft of the transmission. The rotational axis of the intermediate shaft is arranged spatially below a connection line between the rotational axes of the input shaft and the differential gear, and the rotational axis of the rotor is arranged spatially above the connection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Oliver Bayer, Martin Brehmer, Leschek Debernitz, Christian Michel, Fabian Kutter, Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 11333236
    Abstract: A drivetrain system including an axle assembly that may have an electric motor module, a gear reduction module, a drive pinion, a differential assembly, an auxiliary shaft, and a shift collar. The shift collar may selectively couple the auxiliary shaft, the drive pinion, and the gear reduction module in various combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Chetankumar Ghatti, Rodrigo Soffner, Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 11326687
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an electric motor module that may be operatively connected to a planetary gear set. A lubricant catching ring may be mounted to a planet gear carrier of the planetary gear set. A deflector may deflect lubricant through a lubricant opening in a wall of a shift mechanism housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Chetankumar Ghatti, Mark Smith