Patents Examined by Erin D Bishop
  • Patent number: 9945454
    Abstract: A motorized gear reducer is provided with an axial support shaft in a housing; a speed reduction device including at least three stages of a sunless planetary gear train, each stage including a stationary ring gear, a rotatable ring gear served as a torque output, and a carrier on the support shaft and served as a torque input of each stage; planet gear sets, each in the carrier and including a first planet gear meshing the stationary ring gear, and a second planet gear meshing the rotatable ring gear, the rotatable ring gear of the last stage extending out of the housing to serve as a torque output of the speed reduction device; and a hollow motor surrounding the first stage and including a stator, a rotor surrounded and driven by the stator, and windings for rotating the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: SAFEWAY ELECTRO-MECHANICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chia-Sheng Liang
  • Patent number: 9944163
    Abstract: A power train and related vehicle are described for multi-mode power transmission. A first continuously variable power source (“CVP”) may convert rotational power received by the engine for transmission to a second CVP. A variator assembly may receive rotational power from the second CVP at a first input and directly from the engine at a second input. A control assembly may include one or more output components and a plurality of clutch devices arranged between the one or more output components and the variator assembly and engine. In a first state of the control assembly, the plurality of clutch devices may collectively provide direct power transmission between the engine and the one or more output components. In a second state of the control assembly, the plurality of clutches may collectively provide power transmission between the variator and the one or more output components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Kyle K. McKinzie
  • Patent number: 9945476
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle includes a torque converter including a lockup clutch, and a lockup controller configured to controllably move the lockup clutch from a released state in an engagement direction when the vehicle has just started. The apparatus further includes a rolling-down sensor configured to sense whether or not the vehicle that has just started has rolled down, and a lockup retarder configured to retard the movement of the lockup clutch in the engagement direction if the vehicle is sensed to have rolled down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Saito, Yasunari Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9933047
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle having advantages of improving power transfer performance and fuel efficiency by implementing ten forward speeds and one reverse speed. The planetary gear train includes: first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets disposed on the same shaft line; an input shaft; an output shaft; eight shafts connected to the respective rotational elements of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets; four clutches and two brakes which are control elements; and a transmission housing H. With this arrangement, rotation power from an engine which is input from the input shaft is shifted by a mutual complementing operation between the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets, and is then output through the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Wonmin Cho, Seong Wook Hwang, Hyun Sik Kwon, Ki Tae Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Seongwook Ji
  • Patent number: 9932039
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: (i) control rotation speed of internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is increased with an increase in a traveling speed of a vehicle, (ii) execute a pseudo gear shift to control the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a first rotation speed, (iii) execute a mechanical gear shift to change a second gear ratio according to a gear shift line determined by the traveling speed and a value according to the acceleration request, and (iv) execute adjustment control to adjust the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in advance in a period before executing the mechanical gear shift such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine matches the pseudo gear shift threshold value when the mechanical gear shift is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iketomi, Shinichi Sasade, Munehiro Katsumata, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 9933060
    Abstract: A locking differential assembly includes a differential case defining an axis of rotation and a gear chamber. A first side gear is at a first end of the differential case. A second side gear is at a second end of the differential case opposite the first end for selectable rotation relative to the differential case. A solenoid is at the first end. The solenoid is directly wound onto a stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Cochren, Daniel Stanley Frazier, Chad Robert Hillman, John Kimmel Vandervoort
  • Patent number: 9914456
    Abstract: A rotation state of each rotating element of a four-wheel drive vehicle and an operating state of each engagement element of a disconnect mechanism, corresponding to an operating state of the disconnect mechanism, are displayed on or near a vehicle model image on a vehicle display. Thus, it is possible to inform a driver of the operating state of the disconnect mechanism at any time. Thus, the driver is able to recognize the operating state of the disconnect mechanism at any time, so the driver is able to carry out driving based on the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimizu, Yoshiro Obayashi, Ryota Horie, Norihiro Mizoguchi, Shintarou Mukougawa, Kunihiro Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 9902261
    Abstract: A transmission device of a motor vehicle is disclosed, wherein the motor vehicle has a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle, and wherein the second wheel axle consists of at least one first subaxle and one second subaxle. The transmission device has a first connecting shaft which is operatively connectable to the first subaxle a second connecting shaft which is operatively connectable to the second partial axle and a coupler mechanism having a drive shaft which is operatively connectable to a drive unit of the motor vehicle and an output shaft which is operatively connectable to the first wheel axle, wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected via the coupler mechanism in a torque-dividing manner to the output shaft and to the first and the second connecting shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Meixner
  • Patent number: 9896103
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with cylinders, a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, and a variable mechanism to vary an intake air amount sucked into the cylinders. The running control device performs a normal running mode by transmitting engine drive force to the wheels, a neutral inertia running mode by disconnecting the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode by resting at least a part of the cylinders while the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels is connected. The running control device makes the intake air amount sucked into the cylinders larger at the time of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode as compared to the case of return from the cylinder resting inertia running mode to the normal running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9889834
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake assist vacuum maintenance system includes a vacuum source, a vacuum booster/master cylinder interfacing with the vacuum source, a brake pedal interfacing with the vacuum booster/master cylinder, a brake control unit interfacing with the vacuum booster/master cylinder, wheel brakes interfacing with the brake control unit and a hydraulic brake assist interfacing with the brake control unit and adapted to hydraulically operate the wheel brakes upon reduction or cessation of vacuum pressure from the vacuum source to the vacuum booster/master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Dale Scott Crombez
  • Patent number: 9879770
    Abstract: Locking differentials are described that include a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the locking differential has a default unlocked position and must be actuated to be locked. In the second orientation, the locking differential has a default locked position and must be actuated to be unlocked. The user selects whether the locking differential is in the first orientation or the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TAP Worldwide, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Miyamoto, Jacob A. Hunt
  • Patent number: 9878435
    Abstract: A rotary power tool, such as an oil pulse driver, includes: a motor, a pinion rotated by the motor, planet gears that mesh with the pinion, an internal gear that meshes with the planet gears and a shaft that is rotationally driven by the planet gears and disposed frontward of the planet gears. The internal gear comprises an internal gear part and an internal gear retaining part for holding the internal gear part. An oil unit bearing is disposed frontward of the internal gear part, and the oil unit bearing is held at a front part of the internal gear retaining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9874276
    Abstract: An automatic transmission having an operator control which has at least one manually actuable switching rocker which is arranged on a steering wheel. A sensor senses the actuation of the switching rocker and is connected via a signal path to a transmission control device of the automatic transmission. The switching rocker and the transmission control device are additionally connected to one another via a second signal path which is independent of the signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Martin Bauer, Johann Eichler, Hennig Schmahl, Iwo Heidrich
  • Patent number: 9863505
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle having an input shaft for receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft for outputting torque; a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements; and a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements, improves power delivery performance and fuel economy by achieving at least ten forward speed stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Soo Kim, Jinseok Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Dong Hwan Hwang, Jin Ho Kim, Seong Wook Hwang, Woo Jin Chang, Kyeong Hun Lee, Seongwook Ji, Chon Ok Kim, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Jong Sool Park, Tae Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 9863508
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting torque of the engine, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft, a fourth shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a fifth shaft, a sixth shaft selectively connectable to each of the first, second, and fourth shafts, a seventh shaft, and an eighth shaft selectively connectable to the seventh shaft, and directly connected to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Chang Kook, Hyun Sik Kwon, Seongwook Ji, Wonmin Cho, Wookjin Jang, Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 9849778
    Abstract: A transfer case of a motor vehicle drivetrain includes a planetary gear set including a ring gear to receive input torque, and a pinion assembly having pinion gears in mesh with the ring gear and a carrier to carry the pinion gears and transmit output torque. A sun gear is in mesh with the pinion gears, is selectively connectable to the carrier and rotatable therewith in a two-wheel drive mode and in a four-wheel-drive high range mode, and is selectively fixable against rotational motion in a four-wheel drive low range mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Pritchard, Mallikarjun Rudagi, William C. Dodge, Sathya Vaidyanathan
  • Patent number: 9850984
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission in planetary design for a vehicle includes a housing, a first shaft (1) as a drive (An), and a second shaft (2) provided as an output (Ab) that is arranged in a manner axially parallel to the drive. Three planetary gear sets, additional shafts, along with six shifting elements are also provided, through which the actuation of several gears are realized. Machine elements are provided for the transfer of torque between the drive and the output. The first shaft is connectable to the planetary gear carrier of the second planetary gear set, to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set, to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set, to the planetary gear carrier of the first planetary gear set, and to the first spur gear stage. The second shaft is connected or connectable to the first machine element and to the second machine element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9835140
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system HCS for controlling a variable ratio transmission of a power generating system. A hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 is operably connected to a superposition gear, and is connected to a hydraulic circuit that comprises an orifice 28 and/or a relief valve 29 that opens at a predetermined hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic circuit switches between a variable low-speed operating mode and a torque limiting high-speed operating mode. In the torque limiting high-speed operating mode the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 is driven by the superposition gear and drives hydraulic fluid through the orifice 28 and/or relief valve 29 to provide a passive torque limiting function. In the variable low-speed operating mode the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 drives the superposition gear and the hydraulic control system provides a desired rotor 101 speed by controlling hydraulic fluid flow rate through the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: WINDFLOW TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Geoffrey Morgan Henderson, Peter John Scott, Matthew James Silvester, Richard James Trudgian
  • Patent number: 9829077
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle having an input shaft for receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft for outputting torque; a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements; and a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements, improves power delivery performance and fuel economy by achieving at least ten forward speed stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jong Soo Kim, Jinseok Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Dong Hwan Hwang, Jin Ho Kim, Seong Wook Hwang, Woo Jin Chang, Kyeong Hun Lee, Seongwook Ji, Chon Ok Kim, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Jong Sool Park, Tae Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 9829084
    Abstract: An integrated gear assembly includes a conjoined carrier assembly coupling a reducing gear set to a differential gear set. This includes first, second and third coaxial sun gears. The first sun gear meshingly engages first gear elements of stepped pinion gears of the reducing gear set. The second sun gear meshingly engages third pinion gears of the differential gear set. The third sun gear meshingly engages fourth pinion gears of the differential gear set. The third pinion gears of the differential gear set axially overlap second gear elements of the stepped pinion gears of the reducing gear set. The fourth pinion gears of the differential gear set axially overlap the third pinion gears of the differential gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shawn H. Swales, Ionel I. Zanoaga, Scott Vaubel, Gary R. Valler