Patents Examined by Erin D Bishop
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Patent number: 10132394Abstract: A differential assembly with at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio that can be integrated with an automatic transmission system thereby increasing the total number of available gear ratios is presented. A method of shifting to improve engine efficiency is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power LimitedInventors: Thomas Alan Genise, Gregory L. Heatwole, Richard Kukucka, Gabriela Florentina Radulescu, Daniel Stanley Frazier, Robert Joseph Kyle, Andrew P. Harman, Robert Michael Arnsparger, Patrick John McMillan, Jamie Gerad Cullen
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Patent number: 10124661Abstract: A power-split hybrid powertrain for a vehicle includes a first power-source configured to generate a first output torque, a second power-source configured to generate a second output torque, and a transmission assembly having a transmission input member. The powertrain also includes a planetary gear-set having first, second, and third nodes, wherein each of the three nodes is operatively connected to a separate one of the first power-source, second power-source, and transmission input member. The powertrain additionally includes a housing configured to retain the planetary gear-set. Also, the powertrain includes a first torque-transmitting device configured to selectively connect to the housing the node that is operatively connected to the first power-source. Furthermore, the powertrain includes a second torque-transmitting device configured to selectively connect the node that is operatively connected to the first power-source to the node that is operatively connected to the second power-source.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joseph R. Littlefield, Alan G. Holmes, Rebecca K. Risko Cattell
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Patent number: 10113631Abstract: An axle assembly that includes a housing assembly, an input pinion, a ring gear, a ring gear bearing, and a differential assembly having a differential case. The ring gear bearing supports the ring gear for rotation on the housing assembly as well as handles thrust loads between the ring gear and the housing assembly in opposite axial directions. The ring gear bearing includes an outer bearing race having a first race member, which may be unitarily and integrally formed with the ring gear, and a second race member that is received in a groove formed on the ring gear. The differential case is coupled to the ring gear and secures the second race member to the ring gear.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
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Patent number: 10112602Abstract: A driving system for a vehicle includes a drive source, a driven portion, a wet multiple disc connection/disconnection unit provided on a power transmission path between the drive source and the driven portion, and a connection/disconnection unit controller configured to control a release and an application of the connection/disconnection unit, wherein the driving system further includes a time counter configured to obtain a continuous applied time that is an elapsed time from a start of a latest application of the connection/disconnection unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuyuki Hiramatsu, Shigeru Nakayama, Keiichi Ooiso, Takabumi Suzuki
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Patent number: 10113628Abstract: An axle assembly having a clutch collar actuator mechanism. The clutch collar actuator mechanism may have a piston housing and a yoke that may move with respect to the piston housing. The piston housing may extend around the input shaft and may receive at least one piston. The yoke may connect the piston to the clutch collar.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLCInventors: Robert D. Kluck, Nicholas S. Lakin, Kristen G. Byrd, Larry Wagle, Dale Kwasniewski
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Patent number: 10112601Abstract: A driving device for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission unit configured to output a rotation of an engine while changing rotating speed of the engine; and a first rotating electric machine. The first rotating electric machine is configured to supply a torque for increasing the rotating speed of the engine at the time of starting up of the engine to the engine through the transmission unit. At the time of starting up of the engine, the gear shift stage of the transmission unit is switched to an overdrive state. Thus, a torque sufficient for starting up of the engine can be supplied to the engine, and hence the engine can be appropriately started up.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Tsuyoshi Kitahata
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Patent number: 10113639Abstract: A transmission includes a stationary member, an input member, and gear sets each having a plurality of nodes. The transmission includes a first clutch that connects a node of one gear set to the stationary member to establish an L1 mode, and a second clutch that connects a node of another gear set to the stationary member to establish a 2L mode. A SOWC is connected between nodes of two gear sets, and a controller, in response to a requested shift L1-L2 shift while engine braking, executes a method to release the first clutch and thereby enters a neutral mode. The SOWC is released when slip across the first clutch exceeds a first threshold, then the first clutch reapplied when a SOWC slip level exceeds another threshold to thereby enter a 1st gear freewheeling mode. The second clutch is reapplied to enter the L2 mode and resume engine braking.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Scott A. Kline, Patrick M. Gibson, Raj Kommareddy, Roberto Diaz
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Patent number: 10100885Abstract: A launch control method of a vehicle includes: a clutch hold step of maintaining a clutch torque until an engine torque becomes smaller than the clutch torque, when a driver releases an accelerator pedal during launch control; a time constant determination step in which a time constant for a rate of releasing the clutch torque is determined depending on a difference between the clutch torque and a target creep torque when the engine torque becomes smaller than the clutch torque; a filter processing step of processing the time constant and the target creep torque using a low-pass filter that has the time constant and the target creep torque as an input and has a nominal clutch torque as an output; and a clutch control step of controlling a clutch using the nominal clutch torque.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Jin Sung Kim, Ju Hyun Nam
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Patent number: 10099693Abstract: A control method of a dual clutch transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle, and a control system for the dual clutch transmission. The control method includes: a handover step of performing a handover process of a transmission while controlling clutch torque of an engaging-side input shaft to maintain a rotational speed change rate of the engaging-side input shaft at a reference change rate; and an actual shifting step of synchronizing a rotational speed of a motor with a rotational speed of the engaging-side input shaft when the first finish determining step determines that the handover process has finished, and of increasing a rotational speed change rate of the motor by increasing motor torque when a synchronization rate is a reference synchronization rate or less.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Sung Hyun Cho, Ju Hyun Nam, Young Jun Lee
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Patent number: 10082202Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided, which includes a double-sun-gear-type planetary gear set including coaxial first and second sun gears, a ring gear, a pinion meshed with the sun gears and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the pinion and having a pinion shaft and a carrier body. The carrier body includes first and second plates supporting the pinion shaft, a coupling part coupling the first and second plates, and a center plate extending inward in radial directions of the gear set from the coupling part by passing between the sun gears, and coupled to a rotational member. An inlet port is formed at an inner circumferential end of the center plate, and a center plate oil path extends radially outward from the inlet port. A lubricant oil supply path communicates with a bearing from the inlet port through the center plate oil path.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Tatsuhiko Iwasaki, Kensuke Ueda, Kazuhiro Yamada
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Patent number: 10077832Abstract: A planet gear bearing in a planetary gearset including a planet carrier having two side walls which are arranged parallel to one another and accommodate a plurality of planet gear pins in a plurality of axial holes opposite one another on the same axis is disclosed. A plurality of planet gears are rotatably mounted on the planet gear pins by radial rolling-element bearings inserted into central planet gear holes. Stop elements are arranged between the side walls of the planet carrier and the axial sides of the planet gears and act as wear protection of the planet carrier and the planet gears, and as an axial stop for the radial rolling-element bearings of the planet gears. The stop elements are axial needle bearings, which each include an axial bent-up disc and an axial needle ring formed by a plurality of bearing needles and an axial needle cage.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Wolfgang Fugel, Martin Gegner
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Patent number: 10077831Abstract: A component for a planetary gear train, which is cast as one piece, includes a planetary carrier and a hollow-cast hollow shaft arranged in a coaxial manner on the planetary carrier. A chamber of the hollow shaft is accessible through an opening on at least one axial end of the hollow shaft. On an outer periphery thereof, the hollow shaft supports at least one connecting element suitable for forming a shaft-hub connection.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Inventor: Jens Kiesenbauer
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Patent number: 10071622Abstract: An automated range-change transmission (CT) of a motor vehicle, has a main transmission (HG) with a lay-shaft design, which features a main shaft (WH) and at least one lay shaft (WVG1, WVG2), and a pre-shift group (GV) drivingly connected upstream on the main transmission (HG). An input shaft (WGE) of the range-change transmission (CT) is able to be coupled with an internal combustion engine (VM) of a drive unit of the motor vehicle. An output shaft (WGA) of the range-change transmission (CT) is coupled with an axle drive (AB) of the motor vehicle. An electric motor (EM) of the drive unit is able to be coupled at the pre-shift group (GV) through a planetary transmission (PG), whereas the electric motor (EM) is coupled to a first element of the planetary transmission (PG), a second element of the planetary transmission (PG) is coupled with an input shaft of the pre-shift group (GV), and a third element of the planetary transmission (PG) is coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group (GV).Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
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Patent number: 10065455Abstract: An axle assembly having a planetary gear set and an internal brake assembly. The brake assembly may have a piston that may be disposed between a disc pack and the planetary gear set. Rotation of a sun gear of the planetary gear set may be inhibited when the piston urges the disc pack against a flange of an axle housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLCInventor: I-Chao Chung
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Patent number: 10066739Abstract: Every time a specified time ?T elapses, this shift control device calculates a target drive force Fd (a step S5), calculates a absolute value AF of a difference between an optimum fuel consumption rate Fopt [Fd] for the target drive force Fd and a fuel consumption rate FN [Fd] for the target drive force Fd in each of the gear stages N (a step S8), determines candidate gear stages Nc from the gear stages N (as step S13), and integrates the absolute value AF that is calculated for each of the candidate gear stages Nc in a period from last shift to the present time to determine the candidate gear stage Nc for which an integrated value J is the smallest as a target gear stage Nm (a step S15).Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takaaki Tokura, Hideaki Otsubo
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Patent number: 10059323Abstract: A vehicle driving system includes: a left wheel driving system having a first motor and a first speed changer; a right wheel driving system having a second motor and a second speed changer; a motor controller which controls the first motor and the second motor, a rotation restricting unit which can be shifted between a released state and an applied state; and a rotation restricting unit controller which controls the rotation restricting unit. When the rotation restricting unit controller shifts the rotation restricting unit from the applied state to the released state, the motor controller controls the first motor and the second motor so that a torque sum of the first motor and the second motor approaches zero while maintaining a torque difference between the first motor and the second motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Ando, Sei Shinohara
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Patent number: 10059399Abstract: A product may include a gear set that may have a first gear, a second gear that may be engaged with the first gear and a third gear. The third gear may be held from rotation and may be engaged with the second gear. A carrier may carry the second gear for rotation. A crank may be continuously connected with the carrier to provide input thereto. A torque measurement device may be connected to the third gear.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Steven L. Hayslett, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 10053101Abstract: A method for controlling a driving mode of a vehicle using a device for controlling a driving mode is provided. The method includes collecting position information and forward road information of the vehicle and predicting whether the vehicle enters an acceleration section requiring acceleration by using the collected position information and forward road information of the vehicle. A driving mode of the vehicle is then changed when the vehicle is predicted to enter the acceleration section.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Byeong Wook Jeon
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Patent number: 10046765Abstract: A method is provided to control an engine braking operation of a vehicle provided with a dual clutch transmission. The dual clutch transmission is adapted to be set into different gear-combinations, each including an active gear selection through which torque can be transmitted, and a passive gear selection through which no torque can be transmitted. In a pre-set number of gear-combinations, the first input shaft and the main shaft have a synchronised rotation. When an engine braking operation is performed when the transmission is set in one of the pre-set number of gear-combinations modifying said engine braking operation such that a damaging load upon said spigot bearing is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventors: Klas Bergström, Lars Karlsson, Johan Bjernetun, Lennart Brusved
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Patent number: 10030364Abstract: A hydraulic system is provided for a mobile machine having a lift arm attached to a bucket and a transmission. The hydraulic system may have a hydraulic actuator configured to move the lift arm and bucket. The hydraulic system may further have an accumulator configured to store pressurized fluid and an accumulator valve configured to control fluid flow between the accumulator and the hydraulic actuator, for a ride control mode of operation configured to cushion movement of the bucket. The hydraulic system may also have a lift arm sensor associated with the mobile machine and configured to generate an angle signal indicative of an angle of the lift arm and a speed sensor associated with the mobile machine and configured to generate a speed signal indicative of the speed of the mobile machine. The hydraulic system may further have a controller in communication with the accumulator valve, the lift arm sensor, the speed sensor, and the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Aristoteles Rosa Neto